Abstract
THE antibiotic, thiostrepton, produced by Streptomyces azureus, inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to 50S ribosomal subunits with 1:1 stoichiometry. Recently1, we showed that S. azureus prevents its own death by methylating 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) so that its ribosomes do not bind the drug. Intact ribosomes are not substrates for the methylase and those experiments involved methylation of ‘core particles’ derived from the (thiostrepton-sensitive) ribosomes of Streptomyces coelicolor. Ribosomes can be reconstituted from core particles by adding back the missing ‘split proteins’. Presumably, in S. azureus, methylation of 23S rRNA occurs before assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit is completed. Here we report that the ‘thiostrepton-resistance’ methylase of S. azureus is an RNA-ribose methylase which introduces a single methyl group into adenosine in 23S rRNA. This is a novel antibiotic-resistance mechanism.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cundliffe, E. Nature 272, 792–795 (1978).
Sanger, F. & Brownlee, G. G. Meth. Enzym. 12A, 361–381 (1967).
Smith, J. D. Meth. Enzym. 12A, 350–361 (1967).
Hall, R. H. Meth. Enzym. 12A, 305–315 (1967).
Helser, T. L., Davies, J. E. & Dahlberg, J. E. Nature new Biol. 233, 12–14 (1971).
Lai, C. J. & Weisblum, B. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 68, 856–860 (1971).
Graham, M. Y. & Weisblum, B. in Microbiology 78 (ed. Schlessinger, D.) 253–254 (American Society for Microbiology, 1978).
Yamada, T., Mizugichi, Y., Nierhaus, K. H. & Wittmann, H. G. Nature 275, 460–461 (1978).
Fellner, P. in Ribosomes (eds Nomura, M., Tissières, A. & Lengyel, P.) 169–191 (ColdSpring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1974).
Maden, B. E. H., Salim, M. & Robertson, J. S. in Ribosomes (eds Nomura, M., Tissières, A. & Lengyel, P.) 829–839 (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CUNDLIFFE, E., THOMPSON, J. Ribose methylation and resistance to thiostrepton. Nature 278, 859–861 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/278859a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/278859a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.