Affiliation:
1. GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426
Abstract
ABSTRACT
We have identified the gene for transcription termination factor Rho in
Staphylococcus aureus
. Deletion of
rho
in
S. aureus
reveals that it is not essential for viability or virulence. We also searched the available bacterial genomic sequences for homologs of Rho and found that it is broadly distributed and highly conserved. Exceptions include
Streptococcus pneumoniae
,
Streptococcus pyogenes
,
Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Ureaplasma urealyticum,
and
Synechocystis
sp. strain PCC6803, all of which appear not to possess a Rho homolog. Complementation studies indicate that
S. aureus
Rho possesses the same activity as
Escherichia coli
Rho and that the Rho inhibitor bicyclomycin is active against
S. aureus
Rho. Our results explain the lack of activity of bicyclomycin against many gram-positive bacteria and raise the possibility that the essentiality of
rho
may be the exception rather than the rule.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Pharmacology (medical),Pharmacology
Cited by
41 articles.
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