Role of RelA-synthesized (p)ppGpp and ROS-induced mutagenesis in de novo acquisition of antibiotic resistance in E. coli.

ABSTRACT: The stringent response of bacteria to starvation and stress also fulfills a role in addressing the threat of antibiotics. Within this stringent response, (p)ppGpp, synthesized by RelA or SpoT, functions as a global alarmone. However, the effect of this (p)ppGpp on resistance development is poorly understood. Here, we show that knockout of relA or rpoS curtails resistance development against bactericidal antibiotics. The emergence of mutated genes associated with starvation and (p)ppGpp, among others, indicates the activation of stringent responses. The growth rate is decreased in ΔrelA-resistant strains due to the reduced ability to synthesize (p)ppGpp and the persistence of deacylated tRNA impeding protein synthesis. Sluggish cellular activity causes decreased product

SUBMITTER: Qi W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11015494 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature