The global, ppGpp-mediated stringent response to amino acid starvation in Escherichia coli

The stringent response to amino acid starvation, whereby stable RNA synthesis is curtailed in favour of transcription of amino acid biosynthetic genes, is controlled by the alarmone ppGpp. To elucidate the extent of gene expression effected by ppGpp, we designed an experimental system based on starvation for isoleucine, which could be applied to both wild-type Escherichia coli and the multiauxotrophic relA spoT mutant (ppGpp(0)). We used microarrays to profile the response to amino acid starvation in both strains. The wild-type response included induction of the general stress response, downregulation of genes involved in production of macromolecular structures and comprehensive restructuring of metabolic gene expression, but not induction of amino acid biosynthesis genes en masse. This restructuring of metabolism was confirmed using kinetic Biolog assays. These responses were profoundly altered in the ppGpp(0) strain. Furthermore, upon isoleucine starvation, the ppGpp(0) strain exhibited a larger cell size and continued growth, ultimately producing 50% more biomass than the wild-type, despite producing a similar amount of protein. This mutant phenotype correlated with aberrant gene expression in diverse processes, including DNA replication, cell division, and fatty acid and membrane biosynthesis. We present a model that expands and functionally integrates the ppGpp-mediated stringent response to include control of virtually all macromolecular synthesis and intermediary metabolism.