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The tRNA methyltransferase TrmB is critical for Acinetobacter baumannii stress responses and pulmonary infection.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

As deficiencies in tRNA modifications have been linked to human diseases such as cancer and diabetes, much research has focused on the modifications' impacts on translational regulation in eukaryotes. However, the significance of tRNA modifications in bacterial physiology remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we demonstrate that the m⁷G tRNA methyltransferase TrmB is crucial for a top-priority pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii, to respond to stressors encountered during infection, including oxidative stress, low pH, and iron deprivation. We show that loss of TrmB dramatically attenuates a murine pulmonary infection. Given the current efforts to use another tRNA methyltransferase, TrmD, as an antimicrobial therapeutic target, we propose that TrmB, and other tRNA methyltransferases, may also be viable options for drug development to combat multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.

SUBMITTER: McGuffey JC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10653896 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The tRNA methyltransferase TrmB is critical for <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> stress responses and pulmonary infection.

McGuffey Jenna C JC Jackson-Litteken Clay D CD Di Venanzio Gisela G Zimmer Aubree A AA Lewis Jessica M JM Distel Jesus S JS Kim Kyusik Q KQ Zaher Hani S HS Alfonzo Juan J Scott Nichollas E NE Feldman Mario F MF

mBio 20230817 5

<h4>Importance</h4>As deficiencies in tRNA modifications have been linked to human diseases such as cancer and diabetes, much research has focused on the modifications' impacts on translational regulation in eukaryotes. However, the significance of tRNA modifications in bacterial physiology remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we demonstrate that the m<sup>7</sup>G tRNA methyltransferase TrmB is crucial for a top-priority pathogen, <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, to respond to stressors en ...[more]

PMID: 37589464

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