title: Modeling the Overproduction of Ribosomes when Antibacterial Drugs Act on Cells.
abstract: Bacteria that are subjected to ribosome-inhibiting antibiotic drugs show an interesting behavior: Although the drug slows down cell growth, it also paradoxically increases the cell's concentration of ribosomes. We combine our earlier nonlinear model of the energy-biomass balance in undrugged Escherichia coli cells with Michaelis-Menten binding of drugs that inactivate ribosomes. Predictions are in good agreement with experiments on ribosomal concentrations and synthesis rates versus drug concentrations and growth rates. The model indicates that the added drug drives the cell to overproduce ribosomes, keeping roughly constant the level of ribosomes producing ribosomal proteins, an important quantity for cell growth. The model also predicts that ribosomal production rates should increase and then decrease with added drug. This model gives insights into the driving forces in cells and suggests new experiments.
authors: Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology and Departments of Chemistry and Physics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York. Electronic address: arijitmaitra1@gmail.com.
authors: Arijit
authors: A
authors: Maitra
authors: Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology and Departments of Chemistry and Physics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
authors: Ken A
authors: KA
authors: Dill
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins