Ascribing a novel role for tmRNA of Escherichia coli in resistance to mitomycin C

The ssrA mutants were found to be more sensitive to mitomycin C (MMC) and our aim was to study this phenomenon in detail. Strains were constructed by P1 transduction. pssrA plasmid was constructed by PCR-based cloning and transformation was done by CaCl method. Relative viability analyses were done to assess the extent of viability of strains in relevant conditions. Gram staining was used for microscopic analysis. ssrA mutants become sensitive specifically to MMC, that too in a strain-specific manner. Precise tagging function of SsrA is necessary for conferring resistance to MMC. sulA::kan restored the viability of ssrA::cat mutants in a strain-specific manner. This study for the first time implicates SsrA in progression of efficient cell division and resistance to MMC.