Growth of Escherichia coli in acetate as a sole carbon source is inhibited by ankyrin-like repeats present in the 2′,5′-linked oligoadenylate-dependent human RNase L enzyme

Expression of low levels of the 2′,5′-linked oligoadenylate-dependent human RNase L, an enzyme induced by interferons, is highly toxic in Escherichia coli. This protein contains an ankyrin domain responsible for RNase L toxicity. The only known ORF in E. coli containing ankyrin repeats is yjaC in the acetate metabolic cluster. We have investigated if expression of mutant forms of RNase L interfere with metabolism of acetate in E. coli. Our findings demonstrate that E. coli expressing RNase L ankyrin repeats is unable to grow in medium containing acetate as the sole carbon source, while it can grow when expressing other domains of the protein. This defect correlates with a severe decrease in the levels of induction of enzymes in the glyoxylate bypass.