Oligopeptide uptake and aminoglycoside resistance in Escherichia coli K12.

Previous reports have suggested that Escherichia coli K12 mutants defective in the expression of oligogopeptide permease protein A (OppA) exhibit reduced sensitivity to aminoglycosides due to altered permeability of the cell envelope. In this work, the role of the OppA protein, and the oligogopeptide permease (Opp) transport system has been evaluated, in the resistance to aminoglycosides using derivatives of the E. coli K12 SS320 strain selected for triornithine resistance or with a deletion of the complete opp operon.