Antibiotic resistance by high-level intrinsic suppression of a frameshift mutation in an essential gene

Copyright © 2020 the Author(s). Published by PNAS..

A fundamental feature of life is that ribosomes read the genetic code in messenger RNA (mRNA) as triplets of nucleotides in a single reading frame. Mutations that shift the reading frame generally cause gene inactivation and in essential genes cause loss of viability. Here we report and characterize a +1-nt frameshift mutation, centrally located in rpoB, an essential gene encoding the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase. Mutant Escherichia coli carrying this mutation are viable and highly resistant to rifampicin. Genetic and proteomic experiments reveal a very high rate (5%) of spontaneous frameshift suppression occurring on a heptanucleotide sequence downstream of the mutation. Production of active protein is stimulated to 61-71% of wild-type level by a feedback mechanism increasing translation initiation. The phenomenon described here could have broad significance for predictions of phenotype from genotype. Several frameshift mutations have been reported in rpoB in rifampicin-resistant clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). These mutations have never been experimentally validated, and no mechanisms of action have been proposed. This work shows that frameshift mutations in rpoB can be a mutational mechanism generating antibiotic resistance. Our analysis further suggests that genetic elements supporting productive frameshifting could rapidly evolve de novo, even in essential genes.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:117

Enthalten in:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America - 117(2020), 6 vom: 11. Feb., Seite 3185-3191

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Huseby, Douglas L [VerfasserIn]
Brandis, Gerrit [VerfasserIn]
Praski Alzrigat, Lisa [VerfasserIn]
Hughes, Diarmaid [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Antibiotic resistance
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
EC 2.7.7.6
Escherichia coli Proteins
Evolution
Frameshift suppression
Gene regulation
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Rifampin
RpoB
RpoB protein, E coli
VJT6J7R4TR

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 11.05.2020

Date Revised 11.05.2020

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1073/pnas.1919390117

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM305887181