Kasugamycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is used as a bactericide in many countries, but originally developed as a fungicide for controlling rice blast in 1965. The mode of action is suggested that kasugamycin binds 30S ribosomal subunit and indirectly inhibits transfer RNA binding, thereby interfering with translation initiation. This specific action is different from actions of streptomycin or other antibiotics used clinically. Recently, it is disclosed that kasugamycin is effective for streptomycin-resistant Erwinia amylovora, a causal agent of fire blight in the USA. On the other hand, emergence of kasugamycin-resistant pathogenic bacteria in rice has been known in Japan. To use kasugamycin sustainably, it is important to understand the molecular mechanism of resistance. We identified a novel kasugamycin acetyltransferase gene from kasugamycin-resistant isolates of rice seed-born bacteria, Burkholderia glumae and Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae, respectively. Detection of this gene will be a useful tool of monitoring kasugamycin-resistant bacteria in crop field.

Kasugamycin, a unique antibiotic: Mode of action and resistance mechanism

248th National Meeting (2014)

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