Small RNAs altering antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli

Abstract

Small RNAs (sRNAs) in Escherichia coli, exert diverse roles in regulating gene expression. Especially sRNAs modulate genes responding to a variety of environmental stresses or physiological changes. Although recent studies discovered that a few of sRNAs are involved in antibiotic resistance, their number would be much greater. In this study, we searched for sRNAs that could affect gene expression for efflux pumps that play a major role in the antibiotic resistance phenotype or those that directly alter antibiotic resistance. We found that the ArcZ sRNA represses expression of mdtE, which encodes a component of the multidrug efflux pump MdtEF. We also identified several sRNAs that are associated with resistance of the antibiotic fosfomycin, which inhibits bacteria cell wall biosynthesis.