Absence of accumulation of ppGpp and RNA during amino acid starvation in Rhizobium meliloti

Lack of three different amino acids or treatment with the analogue DL-serine hydroxamate does not induce the accumulation of ppGpp and pppGpp, the 3'-pyrophosphates of GDP and GTP, respectively, in Rhizobium meliloti strain 41. Surprisingly, RNA accumulation is controlled under the above mentioned conditions stringently. Moreover, no significant RNA accumulation was found during chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and streptomycin treatment, suggesting that R. meliloti, unlike any other bacteria in investigated so far, is not able to accumulate RNA without ongoing protein synthesis. On the other hand, lack of carbon source and ammonium starvation result in a significant ppGpp accumulation.