Genetic Determination of Resistance to Acriflavine, Phenethyl Alcohol, and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate in Escherichia coli

Abstract

Wild-type strains of Escherichia coli K-12 are resistant to acriflavine. Gene acrA + which determines resistance to acriflavine is located near the lac region of the chromosome. This gene determines not only resistance to basic dyes but also resistance to phenethyl alcohol. Acriflavine resistance was transmitted, together with phenethyl alcohol resistance, from a resistant Hfr strain to a sensitive recipient by mating. Reversion of the mutant gene acrA1 (phenotypically acriflavine-sensitive) to acriflavine resistance was accompanied by a change from phenethyl alcohol sensitivity to resistance, and conversely the revertants selected for phenethyl alcohol resistance were resistant to acriflavine. A suppressor mutation, sup-100 , closely linked to the acr locus, suppresses the acrA1 gene (phenotypically acriflavine-resistant), but does not determine resistance to phenethyl alcohol and basic dyes other than acriflavine. The genetic change in the locus acrA1 to types resistant to basic dyes and phenethyl alcohol was accompanied by an increase in resistance to sodium dodecyl sulfate, a potent solvent of lipopolysaccharide and lipoprotein. It is suggested that gene acrA determines synthesis of a membrane substance. The system seemed to be affected strongly by the presence of inorganic phosphate.

Genes acrA and acrB encode a stress‐induced efflux system of Escherichia coli

“…Mutations in the acrA locus are known to render Escherichia coli hypersusceptible to basic dyes, detergents and antibiotics (Nakamura, 1965;1968), The observation that Received 23 September t994;revised 30 November 1994;accepted 13 December, 1994. ^'For correspondence, Tel.…”

DISCUSSION PAPER: ANTIBIOTIC‐SENSITIVE MUTANTS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI POSSESS ALTERED OUTER MEMBRANES

“…In the past several years, similar mutants have been isolated by other workers. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] By their spectrum of sensitivity to antibiotics and to other agents, and other properties which we will discuss later, it is obvious that most of these independently isolated mutants are probably the result of a similar defect.…”

Membrane Mutation Associated with Sensitivity to Acriflavine in Escherichia coli

“…Previously, one (H.N.) of us found that the cellular response to acriflavine (AF), a derivative of acridine, of E. coli K-12 was determined by a gene acrA located near the lac gene (17,18). The acrA mutants accumulate more and thus are more sensitive to acriflavine and other basic dyes than acrA+ strains (15,16).…”

“…The acrA mutants accumulate more and thus are more sensitive to acriflavine and other basic dyes than acrA+ strains (15,16). The AF-sensitive mutants are also sensitive to lipophilic substances such as phenethyl alcohol and sodium dodecyl sulfate (18,19).…”