Analysis of a complete library of putative drug transporter genes in Escherichia coli

J Bacteriol. 2001 Oct;183(20):5803-12. doi: 10.1128/JB.183.20.5803-5812.2001.

Abstract

The complete sequencing of bacterial genomes has revealed a large number of drug transporter genes. In Escherichia coli, there are 37 open reading frames (ORFs) assumed to be drug transporter genes on the basis of sequence similarities, although the transport capabilities of most of them have not been established yet. We cloned all 37 putative drug transporter genes in E. coli and investigated their drug resistance phenotypes using an E. coli drug-sensitive mutant as a host. E. coli cells transformed with a plasmid carrying one of 20 ORFs, i.e., fsr, mdfA, yceE, yceL, bcr, emrKY, emrAB, emrD, yidY, yjiO, ydhE, acrAB, cusA (formerly ybdE), yegMNO, acrD, acrEF, yhiUV, emrE, ydgFE, and ybjYZ, exhibited increased resistance to some of the 26 representative antimicrobial agents and chemical compounds tested in this study. Of these 20 ORFs, cusA, yegMNO, ydgFE, yceE, yceL, yidY, and ybjYZ are novel drug resistance genes. The fsr, bcr, yjiO, ydhE, acrD, and yhiUV genes gave broader resistance spectra than previously reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents / metabolism
  • Antiporters / genetics
  • Biological Transport
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Gene Library*
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Plasmids

Substances

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antiporters
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • EmrE protein, E coli