Abstract 2266 RpoS levels are lowered by Ribose through the rbsD gene

During stationary phase, Escherichia coli can withstand long periods of time in nutrient deficient environments. Understanding how metabolic pathways signal a shift in environmental conditions can further knowledge about how E coli survives starvation, which affects antibiotic resistance. RpoS is the stationary sigma factor that is present in cells during times of starvation and is reduced to low levels when nutrients return to the environment. A genetic screen identified the rbsD gene, which plays a role in ribose metabolism, to regulate RpoS translation.