Cited by 227Bacterial Genetics and BiotechnologyRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsEvolution and Genetic Dynamics

Nonoptimal microbial response to antibiotics underlies suppressive drug interactions

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Bollenbach, Tobias, Quan, Selwyn, Chait, Remy, Kishony, Roy·2009·Cell

Abstract

Suppressive drug interactions, in which one antibiotic can actually help bacterial cells to grow faster in the presence of another, occur between protein and DNA synthesis inhibitors. Here, we show that this suppression results from nonoptimal regulation of ribosomal genes in the presence of DNA stress. Using GFP-tagged transcription reporters in Escherichia coli, we find that ribosomal genes are not directly regulated by DNA stress, leading to an imbalance between cellular DNA and protein content. To test whether ribosomal gene expression under DNA stress is nonoptimal for growth rate, we sequentially deleted up to six of the seven ribosomal RNA operons. These synthetic manipulations of ribosomal gene expression correct the protein-DNA imbalance, lead to improved survival and growth, and completely remove the suppressive drug interaction. A simple mathematical model explains the nonoptimal regulation in different nutrient environments. These results reveal the genetic mechanism underlying an important class of suppressive drug interactions.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2009.10.025

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  • This difference in cell density at similar OD is important to consider when performing experiments that depend on the number of cellular divisions or cells present, such as cellular communication, antibiotic susceptibility, and biofilms.

    “This difference is important to consider when performing experiments that depend on the number of cellular divisions or cells present, such as cellular communication [12, 13] and antibiotic susceptibility [14–17] and biofilms [18].”

    From Estimating microbial population data from optical density (2022) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Results section, “Protein-DNA ratio is skewed under DNA stress” (page unavailable), reports that DNA-synthesis inhibitors alter cell division and cell size. The Experimental Procedures describe measuring cell counts and antibiotic susceptibility, but the paper does not establish that cultures at similar OD have different cell densities or that this difference affects susceptibility experiments. This citation falls within the antibiotic-susceptibility group, not the citations for communication or biofilms. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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Authors
Bollenbach, T., Quan, S., Chait, R., & Kishony, R.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author
Kishony, Roy
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-11
Volume
139
Issue
4
Pages
707-718
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2145744900
Cited by
227
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 10
FWCI
6.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM081617)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Keywords
antibiotic synergy, ribosomal RNA operon, growth rate, Escherichia coli, transcriptional regulation, protein synthesis inhibitors, DNA synthesis inhibitors
MeSH terms
Anti-Infective Agents, DNA, Drug Interactions, Escherichia coli, Ribosomes, Protein Biosynthesis, Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors

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