MONDAY, March 29, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- A newly discovered class of enzymes may prove a major advance in helping scientists understand more about how bacterial cells self-destruct when they're under stress.
The enzymes were identified by New Jersey University of Medicine and Dentistry researchers.
"These enzymes, called RNA interferases, attack extremely accurately targeted sequences in bacterial messenger RNA," Masoyori Inouye, a professor in the department of biochemistry at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, says in a prepared statement.
"When these interferases attack, they split the bacteria cells' genetic material -- its RNA -- completely, stopping the microbe from making protein vital for its cell growth, which eventually kills the bacteria stone dead," Inouye says.
It may be possible to produce synthetic versions of this enzyme that could target multi-drug resistant bacteria, which are a serious infection threat to hospital patients.
"This is the first enzyme discovered which cuts messenger RNA at a specific sequence. When bacteria are persuaded to make the enzyme, virtually all the messenger RNA inside the bacterial cell is chopped up, without seriously affecting any of the other protein-making machinery," Inouye says.
The research will be presented March 31 at a meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Bath, England.
More information
The American Society for Microbiology has more about bacteria.
