Peptide Deformylase (def) is essential in Mycobacterium smegmatis, but the essentiality is compensated by inactivation of methionine formylation.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Co-translational processes in bacteria are attractive drug targets, but while some processes are essential, others are not. The essentiality of Peptide Deformylase (PDF, def) for vitality of mycobacteria was speculated, but never unequivocally proven. RESULTS:Here we show by targeted deletion experiments that def can only be deleted from M. smegmatis when an additional copy is present; that prior deletion of tRNAfMet-Formyl Transferase (FMT, encoded by fmt) renders def completely dispensable; and that re-introduction of fmt into a Δdef mutant is not possible - constituting a definitive proof for the essentiality of def in mycobacteria. CONCLUSIONS:Peptide deformylase is essential in M. smegmatis, but the fact that inactivation of fmt renders the gene completely dispensable, and

SUBMITTER: Naor N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6815462 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature