Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 2, 2026

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
08:58

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Published on: March 3, 2023

8.4K

The Pathogen-Derived Aminoglycoside Resistance 16S rRNA Methyltransferase NpmA Possesses Dual m1A1408/m1G1408

Natalia Zelinskaya1, Marta A Witek1, Graeme L Conn2

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|September 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Pathogen enzyme NpmA uniquely modifies both adenine and guanine on 16S rRNA, conferring high-level aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance. This discovery has implications for developing new inhibitors against emerging resistance mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Chemical modification of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a key mechanism for high-level aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance.
  • Aminoglycoside resistance 16S rRNA methyltransferases are critical targets for understanding and combating antibiotic resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the enzymatic activity of the pathogen-derived enzyme NpmA.
  • To characterize the specific modifications NpmA confers on 16S rRNA and their implications for antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Enzymatic assays to determine NpmA activity.
  • Biochemical analysis of 16S rRNA modifications.
  • Assessment of antibiotic resistance conferred by NpmA-mediated modifications.

Main Results:

  • NpmA exhibits a unique dual methylation activity, modifying both adenine at position 1408 (m(1)A1408) and guanine at position 1408 (m(1)G1408) on 16S rRNA.
  • This dual activity is unprecedented among known aminoglycoside resistance 16S rRNA methyltransferases.
  • The biological significance of this dual m(1)A1408/m(1)G1408 activity requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • The discovery of NpmA's unique dual methylation activity highlights mechanistic diversity in acquired antibiotic resistance enzymes.
  • Understanding such variations is crucial for the development of novel inhibitors targeting emerging resistance determinants in pathogens.

More Related Videos

Antibiotic Dereplication Using the Antibiotic Resistance Platform10:49

Antibiotic Dereplication Using the Antibiotic Resistance Platform

Published on: October 17, 2019

11.9K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System05:06

Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System

Published on: January 5, 2024

1.2K

Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and...
107
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within...
34
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis01:25

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...
46
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
1.9K
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
882