Gene-specific silencing induced by parallel complementary RNA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Biotechnol Lett. 2009 Oct;31(10):1571-5. doi: 10.1007/s10529-009-0046-x. Epub 2009 Jun 20.

Abstract

To investigate whether parallel complementary RNA (pRNA) could induce gene-specific silencing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pRNA of the mexA gene was expressed in it. Compared to the control strains, the strain expressing pRNA of mexA showed a 50% decrease in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of several antimicrobial agents and a twofold increase in the initial accumulation rate of ethidium bromide, all of which are substrates of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. These results suggest that gene-specific silencing was induced by pRNA. This is the first time that such a route for gene silencing has been reported in a bacterium other than Escherichia coli. Gene-specific silencing induced by pRNA may be useful as a novel biotechnology tool for gene regulation in prokaryotes.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques / methods*
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics*
  • RNA, Complementary / genetics*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • MexA protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • RNA, Complementary