Protective action of ppGpp in microcin J25-sensitive strains.
As Escherichia coli strains enter the stationary phase of growth they become more resistant to the peptide antibiotic microcin J25. It is known that starvation for nutrients such as amino acids or glucose leads to increases in guanosine 3',5'-bispyrophosphate (ppGpp) levels and that the intracellular concentration of this nucleotide increases as cells enter the stationary phase of growth. Therefore, we examined the effects of artificially manipulating the ppGpp levels on sensitivity to microcin J25. A direct correlation was found between ppGpp accumulation and microcin resistance. Our results indicate that the nucleotide is required to induce production of YojI, a chromosomally encoded efflux pump which, in turn, expels microcin from cells. This would maintain the intracellular level of the antibiotic below a toxic level.
Pomares
María Fernanda
MF
Departamento de Bioquímica de la Nutrición, INSIBIO (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional de Tucumán), Chacabuco 461, 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
Vincent
Paula A
PA
Farías
Ricardo N
RN
Salomón
Raúl A
RA
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D006159:Guanosine Tetraphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D008025:Ligases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001430:Bacteriocins; C020411:microcin; D006159:Guanosine Tetraphosphate; D008025:Ligases; C028812:guanosine 3',5'-polyphosphate synthetases