Cell wall-affecting antibiotics induce expression of a novel gene, drp35, in Staphylococcus aureus

A novel gene, drp35, of Staphylococcus aureus, which was inducible especial ly with cell wall-affecting antibiotics, has been cloned. Analysis of diffe rential hybridization with mRNAs enhanced in the presence of beta-lactams r esulted in two positive clones that harbored a new gene encoding a 35,845-D a protein (Drp35) and the penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2), Immunoblot a nalysis revealed that the Drp35 protein band was evidently enhanced after 3 0 min in the presence of beta-lactams, The Drp35 expression was also enhanc ed with not only beta-lactams, but also vancomycin, bacitracin, and fosfomy cin. Homology search revealed that Drp35 was a new protein. Our results rev ealed that it was specific in S, aureus and respondent to these agents in b oth methicillin-resistant and -sensitive strains of S, aureus, (C) 1999 Aca demic Press.