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Broto A, Gaspari E, Miravet-Verde S, Dos Santos VAPM, Isalan M. A genetic toolkit and gene switches to limit Mycoplasma growth for biosafety applications. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1910. [PMID: 35393441 PMCID: PMC8991246 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29574-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasmas have exceptionally streamlined genomes and are strongly adapted to their many hosts, which provide them with essential nutrients. Owing to their relative genomic simplicity, Mycoplasmas have been used to develop chassis for biotechnological applications. However, the dearth of robust and precise toolkits for genomic manipulation and tight regulation has hindered any substantial advance. Herein we describe the construction of a robust genetic toolkit for M. pneumoniae, and its successful deployment to engineer synthetic gene switches that control and limit Mycoplasma growth, for biosafety containment applications. We found these synthetic gene circuits to be stable and robust in the long-term, in the context of a minimal cell. With this work, we lay a foundation to develop viable and robust biosafety systems to exploit a synthetic Mycoplasma chassis for live attenuated vectors for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Broto
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Erika Gaspari
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Samuel Miravet-Verde
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vitor A P Martins Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- LifeGlimmer GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark Isalan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
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Horne CR, Venugopal H, Panjikar S, Wood DM, Henrickson A, Brookes E, North RA, Murphy JM, Friemann R, Griffin MDW, Ramm G, Demeler B, Dobson RCJ. Mechanism of NanR gene repression and allosteric induction of bacterial sialic acid metabolism. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1988. [PMID: 33790291 PMCID: PMC8012715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22253-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria respond to environmental changes by inducing transcription of some genes and repressing others. Sialic acids, which coat human cell surfaces, are a nutrient source for pathogenic and commensal bacteria. The Escherichia coli GntR-type transcriptional repressor, NanR, regulates sialic acid metabolism, but the mechanism is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that three NanR dimers bind a (GGTATA)3-repeat operator cooperatively and with high affinity. Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structures reveal the DNA-binding domain is reorganized to engage DNA, while three dimers assemble in close proximity across the (GGTATA)3-repeat operator. Such an interaction allows cooperative protein-protein interactions between NanR dimers via their N-terminal extensions. The effector, N-acetylneuraminate, binds NanR and attenuates the NanR-DNA interaction. The crystal structure of NanR in complex with N-acetylneuraminate reveals a domain rearrangement upon N-acetylneuraminate binding to lock NanR in a conformation that weakens DNA binding. Our data provide a molecular basis for the regulation of bacterial sialic acid metabolism. The GntR superfamily is one of the largest families of transcription factors in prokaryotes. Here the authors combine biophysical analysis and structural biology to dissect the mechanism by which NanR — a GntR-family regulator — binds to its promoter to repress the transcription of genes necessary for sialic acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Horne
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Hariprasad Venugopal
- Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Santosh Panjikar
- Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - David M Wood
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Amy Henrickson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Emre Brookes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Rachel A North
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - James M Murphy
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Rosmarie Friemann
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Michael D W Griffin
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Georg Ramm
- Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Borries Demeler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Renwick C J Dobson
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. .,Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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3
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Dudek M, Dieudonné A, Jouanneau D, Rochat T, Michel G, Sarels B, Thomas F. Regulation of alginate catabolism involves a GntR family repressor in the marine flavobacterium Zobellia galactanivorans DsijT. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:7786-7800. [PMID: 32585009 PMCID: PMC7641319 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine flavobacteria possess dedicated Polysaccharide Utilization Loci (PULs) enabling efficient degradation of a variety of algal polysaccharides. The expression of these PULs is tightly controlled by the presence of the substrate, yet details on the regulatory mechanisms are still lacking. The marine flavobacterium Zobellia galactanivorans DsijT digests many algal polysaccharides, including alginate from brown algae. Its complex Alginate Utilization System (AUS) comprises a PUL and several other loci. Here, we showed that the expression of the AUS is strongly and rapidly (<30 min) induced upon addition of alginate, leading to biphasic substrate utilization. Polymeric alginate is first degraded into smaller oligosaccharides that accumulate in the extracellular medium before being assimilated. We found that AusR, a GntR family protein encoded within the PUL, regulates alginate catabolism by repressing the transcription of most AUS genes. Based on our genetic, genomic, transcriptomic and biochemical results, we propose the first model of regulation for a PUL in marine bacteria. AusR binds to promoters of AUS genes via single, double or triple copies of operator. Upon addition of alginate, secreted enzymes expressed at a basal level catalyze the initial breakdown of the polymer. Metabolic intermediates produced during degradation act as effectors of AusR and inhibit the formation of AusR/DNA complexes, thus lifting transcriptional repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Dudek
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Anissa Dieudonné
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Diane Jouanneau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Tatiana Rochat
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UVSQ, VIM, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Gurvan Michel
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Benoit Sarels
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions, Université de Paris, 75252 Paris, France
| | - François Thomas
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), 29680 Roscoff, France
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Jain D, Narayanan N, Nair DT. Plasticity in Repressor-DNA Interactions Neutralizes Loss of Symmetry in Bipartite Operators. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:1235-42. [PMID: 26511320 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.689695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor-DNA interactions are central to gene regulation. Many transcription factors regulate multiple target genes and can bind sequences that do not conform strictly to the consensus. To understand the structural mechanism utilized by the transcription regulators to bind diverse target sequences, we have employed the repressor AraR from Bacillus subtilis as a model system. AraR is known to bind to eight different operator sites in the bacterial genome. Although there are differences in the sequences of four of these operators, ORE1, ORX1, ORA1, and ORR3, the AraR-DNA binding domain (AraR-DBD) as well as full-length AraR unexpectedly binds to each of these sequences with similar affinities as measured by fluorescence anisotropy experiments. We have determined crystal structures of AraR-DBD in complex with two different natural operators ORE1 and ORX1 up to 2.07 and 1.97 Å resolution, respectively. These structures were compared with the previously reported structures of AraR-DBD bound to two other natural operators (ORA1 and ORR3). Interactions of two molecules of AraR-DBD with the symmetric operator, ORE1, are identical, but their interaction with the non-symmetric operator ORX1 results in breakdown of the symmetry in protein-DNA interactions. The novel interactions observed are accompanied by local conformational change in the DNA. ChIP-sequencing (ChIP-Seq) data on other transcription factors has shown that they can bind to diverse targets, and hence the plasticity exhibited by AraR may be a general phenomenon. The ability of transcription factors to form alternate interactions may be important for employment in new functions and evolution of novel regulatory circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Jain
- From the Transcription Regulation Lab and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR), UAS-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, and
| | - Naveen Narayanan
- the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR), UAS-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, and the Genomic Integrity and Plasticity Lab, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Bhankri Village, Faridabad 121001, Manipal University, Manipal, 576104 Karnataka, India
| | - Deepak T Nair
- the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR), UAS-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, and the Genomic Integrity and Plasticity Lab, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Bhankri Village, Faridabad 121001
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AraR, an l-Arabinose-Responsive Transcriptional Regulator in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 31831, Exerts Different Degrees of Repression Depending on the Location of Its Binding Sites within the Three Target Promoter Regions. J Bacteriol 2015; 197:3788-96. [PMID: 26416832 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00314-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED In Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 31831, a LacI-type transcriptional regulator AraR, represses the expression of l-arabinose catabolism (araBDA), uptake (araE), and the regulator (araR) genes clustered on the chromosome. AraR binds to three sites: one (BSB) between the divergent operons (araBDA and galM-araR) and two (BSE1 and BSE2) upstream of araE. L-Arabinose acts as an inducer of the AraR-mediated regulation. Here, we examined the roles of these AraR-binding sites in the expression of the AraR regulon. BSB mutation resulted in derepression of both araBDA and galM-araR operons. The effects of BSE1 and/or BSE2 mutation on araE expression revealed that the two sites independently function as the cis elements, but BSE1 plays the primary role. However, AraR was shown to bind to these sites with almost the same affinity in vitro. Taken together, the expression of araBDA and araE is strongly repressed by binding of AraR to a single site immediately downstream of the respective transcriptional start sites, whereas the binding site overlapping the -10 or -35 region of the galM-araR and araE promoters is less effective in repression. Furthermore, downregulation of araBDA and araE dependent on l-arabinose catabolism observed in the BSB mutant and the AraR-independent araR promoter identified within galM-araR add complexity to regulation of the AraR regulon derepressed by L-arabinose. IMPORTANCE Corynebacterium glutamicum has a long history as an industrial workhorse for large-scale production of amino acids. An important aspect of industrial microorganisms is the utilization of the broad range of sugars for cell growth and production process. Most C. glutamicum strains are unable to use a pentose sugar L-arabinose as a carbon source. However, genes for L-arabinose utilization and its regulation have been recently identified in C. glutamicum ATCC 31831. This study elucidates the roles of the multiple binding sites of the transcriptional repressor AraR in the derepression by L-arabinose and thereby highlights the complex regulatory feedback loops in combination with l-arabinose catabolism-dependent repression of the AraR regulon in an AraR-independent manner.
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Suvorova IA, Korostelev YD, Gelfand MS. GntR Family of Bacterial Transcription Factors and Their DNA Binding Motifs: Structure, Positioning and Co-Evolution. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132618. [PMID: 26151451 PMCID: PMC4494728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The GntR family of transcription factors (TFs) is a large group of proteins present in diverse bacteria and regulating various biological processes. Here we use the comparative genomics approach to reconstruct regulons and identify binding motifs of regulators from three subfamilies of the GntR family, FadR, HutC, and YtrA. Using these data, we attempt to predict DNA-protein contacts by analyzing correlations between binding motifs in DNA and amino acid sequences of TFs. We identify pairs of positions with high correlation between amino acids and nucleotides for FadR, HutC, and YtrA subfamilies and show that the most predicted DNA-protein interactions are quite similar in all subfamilies and conform well to the experimentally identified contacts formed by FadR from E. coli and AraR from B. subtilis. The most frequent predicted contacts in the analyzed subfamilies are Arg-G, Asn-A, Asp-C. We also analyze the divergon structure and preferred site positions relative to regulated genes in the FadR and HutC subfamilies. A single site in a divergon usually regulates both operons and is approximately in the middle of the intergenic area. Double sites are either involved in the co-operative regulation of both operons and then are in the center of the intergenic area, or each site in the pair independently regulates its own operon and tends to be near it. We also identify additional candidate TF-binding boxes near palindromic binding sites of TFs from the FadR, HutC, and YtrA subfamilies, which may play role in the binding of additional TF-subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna A. Suvorova
- Research and Training Center on Bioinformatics, Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS (The Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia
- * E-mail:
| | - Yuri D. Korostelev
- Research and Training Center on Bioinformatics, Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS (The Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail S. Gelfand
- Research and Training Center on Bioinformatics, Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS (The Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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Correia IL, Franco IS, de Sá-Nogueira I. Towards novel amino acid-base contacts in gene regulatory proteins: AraR--a case study. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111802. [PMID: 25364981 PMCID: PMC4218819 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AraR is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of carbon catabolism in Bacillus subtilis. This regulator belongs to the vast GntR family of helix-turn-helix (HTH) bacterial metabolite-responsive transcription factors. In this study, AraR-DNA specific interactions were analysed by an in vitro missing-contact probing and validated using an in vivo model. We show that amino acid E30 of AraR, a highly conserved residue in GntR regulators, is indirectly responsible for the specificity of amino acid-base contacts, and that by mutating this residue it will be possible to achieve new specificities towards DNA contacts. The results highlight the importance in DNA recognition and binding of highly conserved residues across certain families of transcription factors that are located in the DNA-binding domain but not predicted to specifically contact bases on the DNA. These new findings not only contribute to a more detailed comprehension of AraR-operator interactions, but may also be useful for the establishment of a framework of rules governing protein-DNA recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Lopes Correia
- Departamento de Ciências da Vida (DCV), Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos (CREM), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT-UNL), Caparica, Portugal
- Instituto Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB-UNL), Oeiras, Portugal
| | | | - Isabel de Sá-Nogueira
- Departamento de Ciências da Vida (DCV), Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos (CREM), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT-UNL), Caparica, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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The LacI-Type transcriptional regulator AraR acts as an L-arabinose-responsive repressor of L-arabinose utilization genes in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 31831. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:2242-54. [PMID: 24706742 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01655-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 31831 araBDA operon consists of three l-arabinose catabolic genes, upstream of which the galM, araR, and araE genes are located in opposite orientation. araR encodes a LacI-type transcriptional regulator that negatively regulates the l-arabinose-inducible expression of araBDA and araE (encoding an l-arabinose transporter), through a mechanism that has yet to be identified. Here we show that the AraR protein binds in vitro to three sites: one upstream of araBDA and two upstream of araE. We verify that a 16-bp consensus palindromic sequence is essential for binding of AraR, using a series of mutations introduced upstream of araB in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Moreover, the DNA-binding activity of AraR is reduced by l-arabinose. We employ quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses using various mutant strains deficient in l-arabinose utilization genes to demonstrate that the prominent upregulation of araBDA and araE within 5 min of l-arabinose supplementation is dependent on the uptake but independent of the catabolism of l-arabinose. Similar expression patterns, together with the upregulation by araR disruption without l-arabinose, are evident with the apparent galM-araR operon, although attendant changes in expression levels are much smaller than those realized with the expression of araBDA and araE. The AraR-binding site upstream of araB overlaps the -10 region of the divergent galM promoter. These observations indicate that AraR acts as a transcriptional repressor of araBDA, araE, and galM-araR and that l-arabinose acts as an intracellular negative effector of the AraR-dependent regulation.
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Jain D, Nair DT. Spacing between core recognition motifs determines relative orientation of AraR monomers on bipartite operators. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:639-47. [PMID: 23109551 PMCID: PMC3592433 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors modulate expression primarily through specific recognition of cognate sequences resident in the promoter region of target genes. AraR (Bacillus subtilis) is a repressor of genes involved in L-arabinose metabolism. It binds to eight different operators present in five different promoters with distinct affinities through a DNA binding domain at the N-terminus. The structures of AraR-NTD in complex with two distinct operators (ORA1 and ORR3) reveal that two monomers bind to one recognition motif (T/ANG) each in the bipartite operators. The structures show that the two recognition motifs are spaced apart by six bases in cases of ORA1 and eight bases in case of ORR3. This increase in the spacing in the operators by two base pairs results in a drastic change in the position and orientation of the second monomer on DNA in the case of ORR3 when compared with ORA1. Because AraR binds to the two operators with distinct affinities to achieve different levels of repression, this observation suggests that the variation in the spacing between core recognition motifs could be a strategy used by this transcription modulator to differentially influence gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deepak T. Nair
- *To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +91 80 2366 6405; Fax: +91 80 2363 6662;
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Procházková K, Čermáková K, Pachl P, Sieglová I, Fábry M, Otwinowski Z, Řezáčová P. Structure of the effector-binding domain of the arabinose repressor AraR from Bacillus subtilis. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA. SECTION D, BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY 2012; 68:176-85. [PMID: 22281747 PMCID: PMC3337009 DOI: 10.1107/s090744491105414x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 12/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In Bacillus subtilis, the arabinose repressor AraR negatively controls the expression of genes in the metabolic pathway of arabinose-containing polysaccharides. The protein is composed of two domains of different phylogenetic origin and function: an N-terminal DNA-binding domain belonging to the GntR family and a C-terminal effector-binding domain that shows similarity to members of the GalR/LacI family. The crystal structure of the C-terminal effector-binding domain of AraR in complex with the effector L-arabinose has been determined at 2.2 Å resolution. The L-arabinose binding affinity was characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry and differential scanning fluorimetry; the K(d) value was 8.4 ± 0.4 µM. The effect of L-arabinose on the protein oligomeric state was investigated in solution and detailed analysis of the crystal identified a dimer organization which is distinctive from that of other members of the GalR/LacI family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Procházková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nam. 2, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Čermáková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nam. 2, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Pachl
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nam. 2, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Sieglová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nam. 2, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Fábry
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | | | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nam. 2, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic
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Abstract
Geobacillus stearothermophilus T-6 is a thermophilic soil bacterium that has a 38-kb gene cluster for the utilization of arabinan, a branched polysaccharide that is part of the plant cell wall. The bacterium encodes a unique three-component regulatory system (araPST) that includes a sugar-binding lipoprotein (AraP), a histidine sensor kinase (AraS), and a response regulator (AraT) and lies adjacent to an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) arabinose transport system (araEGH). The lipoprotein (AraP) specifically bound arabinose, and gel mobility shift experiments showed that the response regulator, AraT, binds to a 139-bp fragment corresponding to the araE promoter region. Taken together, the results showed that the araPST system appeared to sense extracellular arabinose and to activate a specific ABC transporter for arabinose (AraEGH). The promoter regions of the arabinan utilization genes contain a 14-bp inverted repeat motif resembling an operator site for the arabinose repressor, AraR. AraR was found to bind specifically to these sequences, and binding was efficiently prevented in the presence of arabinose, suggesting that arabinose is the molecular inducer of the arabinan utilization system. The expression of the arabinan utilization genes was reduced in the presence of glucose, indicating that regulation is also mediated via a catabolic repression mechanism. The cluster also encodes a second putative ABC sugar transporter (AbnEFJ) whose sugar-binding lipoprotein (AbnE) was shown to interact specifically with linear and branched arabino-oligosaccharides. The final degradation of the arabino-oligosaccharides is likely carried out by intracellular enzymes, including two α-l-arabinofuranosidases (AbfA and AbfB), a β-l-arabinopyranosidase (Abp), and an arabinanase (AbnB), all of which are encoded in the 38-kb cluster.
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Hoskisson PA, Rigali S. Chapter 1 Variation in Form and Function. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2009; 69:1-22. [DOI: 10.1016/s0065-2164(09)69001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Liu S, Endo K, Ara K, Ozaki K, Ogasawara N. Introduction of marker-free deletions in Bacillus subtilis using the AraR repressor and the ara promoter. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2008; 154:2562-2570. [PMID: 18757790 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.2008/016881-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We have developed a system for the induction of marker-free mutation of Bacillus subtilis. The system features both the advantages of the use of antibiotic-resistance markers for mutant selection, and the ability to efficiently remove the markers, leaving unmarked mutations in the genome. It utilizes both a selective marker cassette and a counter-selective marker cassette. The selective marker cassette contains a chloramphenicol-resistance gene and the araR gene, which encodes the repressor for the arabinose operon (ara) of B. subtilis. The counter-selective marker cassette consists of a promoterless neomycin (Nm)-resistance gene (neo) fused to the ara promoter. First, the chromosomal araR locus is replaced with the counter-selective marker cassette by double-crossover homologous recombination and positive selection for Nm resistance. The selective marker cassette is connected with upstream and downstream sequences from the target locus, and is integrated into the upstream region of the target locus by a double-crossover event. This integration is also positively selected for, using chloramphenicol resistance. In the resultant strain, AraR, encoded by araR on the selective marker cassette, represses the expression of neo in the absence of l-arabinose. Finally, the eviction of the selective marker cassette together with the target locus is achieved by an intra-genomic single-crossover event between the two downstream regions of the target locus, and can be selected for based on Nm resistance, because of the excision of araR. The counter-selective marker cassette remaining in the genome, whose expression is switched on or off based on the excision or introduction of the selective marker cassette, is used again for the next round of deletion. Using this system, the 3.8 kb iolS-csbC region and the 41.8 kb hutM-csbC region have been efficiently and successfully deleted, without leaving markers in the target loci. The positive selection and simple procedure will make it a useful tool for the construction of multiple mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghao Liu
- Biological Science Laboratories, Kao Corporation, 2606 Akabane, Ichikai, Tochigi 321-3497, Japan
| | - Keiji Endo
- Biological Science Laboratories, Kao Corporation, 2606 Akabane, Ichikai, Tochigi 321-3497, Japan
| | - Katsutoshi Ara
- Biological Science Laboratories, Kao Corporation, 2606 Akabane, Ichikai, Tochigi 321-3497, Japan
| | - Katsuya Ozaki
- Biological Science Laboratories, Kao Corporation, 2606 Akabane, Ichikai, Tochigi 321-3497, Japan
| | - Naotake Ogasawara
- Graduate School of Information Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan
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Inácio JM, de Sá-Nogueira I. trans-Acting factors and cis elements involved in glucose repression of arabinan degradation in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2007; 189:8371-6. [PMID: 17827291 PMCID: PMC2168706 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01217-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Bacillus subtilis, the synthesis of enzymes involved in the degradation of arabinose-containing polysaccharides is subject to carbon catabolite repression (CCR). Here we show that CcpA is the major regulator of repression of the arabinases genes in the presence of glucose. CcpA acts via binding to one cre each in the promoter regions of the abnA and xsa genes and to two cres in the araABDLMNPQ-abfA operon. The contributions of the coeffectors HPr and Crh to CCR differ according to growth phase. HPr dependency occurs during both exponential growth and the transitional phase, while Crh dependency is detected mainly at the transitional phase. Our results suggest that Crh synthesis may increase at the end of exponential growth and consequently contribute to this effect, together with other factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel Inácio
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, Apartado 127, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
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16
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Franco IS, Mota LJ, Soares CM, de Sá-Nogueira I. Probing key DNA contacts in AraR-mediated transcriptional repression of the Bacillus subtilis arabinose regulon. Nucleic Acids Res 2007; 35:4755-66. [PMID: 17617643 PMCID: PMC1950556 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkm509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of arabinose, the AraR transcription factor represses the expression of genes involved in the utilization of arabinose, xylose and galactose in Bacillus subtilis. AraR exhibits a chimeric organization: the N-terminal DNA-binding region belongs to the GntR family and the C-terminal effector-binding domain is homologous to the GalR/LacI family. Here, the AraR-DNA-binding interactions were characterized in vivo and in vitro. The effect of residue substitutions in the AraR N-terminal domain and of base-pair exchanges into an AraR-DNA-binding operator site were examined by assaying for AraR-mediated regulatory activity in vivo and DNA-binding activity in vitro. The results showed that residues K4, R45 and Q61, located in or near the winged-helix DNA-binding motif, were the most critical amino acids required for AraR function. In addition, the analysis of the various mutations in an AraR palindromic operator sequence indicated that bases G9, A11 and T16 are crucial for AraR binding. Moreover, an AraR mutant M34T was isolated that partially suppressed the effect of mutations in the regulatory cis-elements. Together, these findings extend the knowledge on the nature of AraR nucleoprotein complexes and provide insight into the mechanism that underlies the mode of action of AraR and its orthologues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Saraiva Franco
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Laboratory of Protein Modeling, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Av. da República, Apt. 127, 2781-901 Oeiras and Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Luís Jaime Mota
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Laboratory of Protein Modeling, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Av. da República, Apt. 127, 2781-901 Oeiras and Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Cláudio Manuel Soares
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Laboratory of Protein Modeling, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Av. da República, Apt. 127, 2781-901 Oeiras and Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Isabel de Sá-Nogueira
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Laboratory of Protein Modeling, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Av. da República, Apt. 127, 2781-901 Oeiras and Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- *To whom correspondence should be addressed.+351 21 4469524+351 21 4411277
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Franco IS, Mota LJ, Soares CM, de Sá-Nogueira I. Functional domains of the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR and identification of amino acids important for nucleoprotein complex assembly and effector binding. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:3024-36. [PMID: 16585763 PMCID: PMC1446991 DOI: 10.1128/jb.188.8.3024-3036.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis AraR transcription factor represses at least 13 genes required for the extracellular degradation of arabinose-containing polysaccharides, transport of arabinose, arabinose oligomers, xylose, and galactose, intracellular degradation of arabinose oligomers, and further catabolism of this sugar. AraR exhibits a chimeric organization comprising a small N-terminal DNA-binding domain that contains a winged helix-turn-helix motif similar to that seen with the GntR family and a larger C-terminal domain homologous to that of the LacI/GalR family. Here, a model for AraR was derived based on the known crystal structures of the FadR and PurR regulators from Escherichia coli. We have used random mutagenesis, deletion, and construction of chimeric LexA-AraR fusion proteins to map the functional domains of AraR required for DNA binding, dimerization, and effector binding. Moreover, predictions for the functional role of specific residues were tested by site-directed mutagenesis. In vivo analysis identified particular amino acids required for dimer assembly, formation of the nucleoprotein complex, and composition of the sugar-binding cleft. This work presents a structural framework for the function of AraR and provides insight into the mechanistic mode of action of this modular repressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Saraiva Franco
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Apt. 127, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
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Real G, Pinto SM, Schyns G, Costa T, Henriques AO, Moran CP. A gene encoding a holin-like protein involved in spore morphogenesis and spore germination in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:6443-53. [PMID: 16159778 PMCID: PMC1236627 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.18.6443-6453.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We report here studies of expression and functional analysis of a Bacillus subtilis gene, ywcE, which codes for a product with features of a holin. Primer extension analysis of ywcE transcription revealed that a single transcript accumulated from the onset of sporulation onwards, produced from a sigma(A)-type promoter bearing the TG dinucleotide motif of "extended" -10 promoters. No primer extension product was detected in vivo during growth. However, specific runoff products were produced in vitro from the ywcE promoter by purified sigma(A)-containing RNA polymerase (Esigma(A)), and the in vivo and in vitro transcription start sites were identical. These results suggested that utilization of the ywcE promoter by Esigma(A) during growth was subjected to repression. Studies with a lacZ fusion revealed that the transition-state regulator AbrB repressed the transcription of ywcE during growth. This repression was reversed at the onset of sporulation in a Spo0A-dependent manner, but Spo0A did not appear to contribute otherwise to ywcE transcription. We found ywcE to be required for proper spore morphogenesis. Spores of the ywcE mutant showed a reduced outer coat which lacked the characteristic striated pattern, and the outer coat failed to attach to the underlying inner coat. The mutant spores also accumulated reduced levels of dipicolinic acid. ywcE was also found to be important for spore germination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Real
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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Kato JY, Ohnishi Y, Horinouchi S. Autorepression of AdpA of the AraC/XylS family, a key transcriptional activator in the A-factor regulatory cascade in Streptomyces griseus. J Mol Biol 2005; 350:12-26. [PMID: 15907934 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2005.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2005] [Revised: 04/21/2005] [Accepted: 04/26/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
AdpA belonging to the AraC/XylS family is a key transcriptional activator in the A-factor regulatory cascade in Streptomyces griseus, activating a number of genes required for physiological and morphological differentiation. On the other hand, AdpA repressed its own transcription by cooperative binding to the promoter region containing multiple operator sites. AdpA contained three operator sites, site 1 approximately at nucleotide position -100, site 2 at the promoter elements, and site 3 at position +80. AdpA bound to a strong binding site 1 increased the affinity for AdpA of a weak site 2, probably by forming a DNA loop via the two molecules of AdpA dimer, thus preventing RNA polymerase from access to the promoter. AdpA bound to site 3 with rather weak affinity repressed the AdpA promoter activity independently of sites 1 and 2, perhaps preventing RNA polymerase from chain elongation. Consistent with this model, the in vivo transcription of AdpA containing mutated site 1 or site 3 was greatly increased. In addition, streptomycin production, one of the phenotypes controlled positively by AdpA, was greatly increased in the mutants containing AdpA with a mutation at site 1 and site 3. The in vitro transcription of AdpA containing mutated site 1 was also increased. Thus, the transcription of AdpA, encoding an important transcriptional factor for ordered physiological and morphological development, is self-controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ya Kato
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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20
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Raposo MP, Inácio JM, Mota LJ, de Sá-Nogueira I. Transcriptional regulation of genes encoding arabinan-degrading enzymes in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2004; 186:1287-96. [PMID: 14973026 PMCID: PMC344415 DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.5.1287-1296.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis produces hemicellulases capable of releasing arabinosyl oligomers and arabinose from plant cell walls. In this work, we characterize the transcriptional regulation of three genes encoding arabinan-degrading enzymes that are clustered with genes encoding enzymes that further catabolize arabinose. The abfA gene comprised in the metabolic operon araABDLMNPQ-abfA and the xsa gene located 23 kb downstream most probably encode alpha-L-arabinofuranosidases (EC 3.2.1.55). Here, we show that the abnA gene, positioned immediately upstream from the metabolic operon, encodes an endo-alpha-1,5-arabinanase (EC 3.2.1.99). Furthermore, by in vivo RNA studies, we inferred that abnA and xsa are monocistronic and are transcribed from sigma(A)-like promoters. Transcriptional fusion analysis revealed that the expression of the three arabinases is induced by arabinose and arabinan and is repressed by glucose. The levels of induction by arabinose and arabinan are higher during early postexponential growth, suggesting a temporal regulation. Moreover, the induction mechanism of these genes is mediated through negative control by the key regulator of arabinose metabolism, AraR. Thus, we analyzed AraR-DNA interactions by in vitro quantitative DNase I footprinting and in vivo analysis of single-base-pair substitutions within the promoter regions of xsa and abnA. The results indicate that transcriptional repression of the abfA and xsa genes is achieved by a tightly controlled mechanism but that the regulation of abnA is more flexible. We suggest that the expression of genes encoding extracellular degrading enzymes of arabinose-containing polysaccharides, transport systems, and intracellular enzymes involved in further catabolism is regulated by a coordinate mechanism triggered by arabinose via AraR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Paiva Raposo
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
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Bertram R, Schlicht M, Mahr K, Nothaft H, Saier MH, Titgemeyer F. In silico and transcriptional analysis of carbohydrate uptake systems of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). J Bacteriol 2004; 186:1362-73. [PMID: 14973030 PMCID: PMC344420 DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.5.1362-1373.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces coelicolor is the prototype for the investigation of antibiotic-producing and differentiating actinomycetes. As soil bacteria, streptomycetes can metabolize a wide variety of carbon sources and are hence vested with various specific permeases. Their activity and regulation substantially determine the nutritional state of the cell and, therefore, influence morphogenesis and antibiotic production. We have surveyed the genome of S. coelicolor A3(2) to provide a thorough description of the carbohydrate uptake systems. Among 81 ATP-binding cassette (ABC) permeases that are present in the genome, we found 45 to encode a putative solute binding protein, an essential feature for carbohydrate permease function. Similarity analysis allowed the prediction of putative ABC systems for transport of cellobiose and cellotriose, alpha-glucosides, lactose, maltose, maltodextrins, ribose, sugar alcohols, xylose, and beta-xylosides. A novel putative bifunctional protein composed of a substrate binding and a membrane-spanning moiety is likely to account for ribose or ribonucleoside uptake. Glucose may be incorporated by a proton-driven symporter of the major facilitator superfamily while a putative sodium-dependent permease of the solute-sodium symporter family may mediate uptake of galactose and a facilitator protein of the major intrinsic protein family may internalize glycerol. Of the predicted gene clusters, reverse transcriptase PCRs showed active gene expression in 8 of 11 systems. Together with the previously surveyed permeases of the phosphotransferase system that accounts for the uptake of fructose and N-acetylglucosamine, the genome of S. coelicolor encodes at least 53 potential carbohydrate uptake systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Bertram
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Inácio JM, Costa C, de Sá-Nogueira I. Distinct molecular mechanisms involved in carbon catabolite repression of the arabinose regulon in Bacillus subtilis. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2003; 149:2345-2355. [PMID: 12949161 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.26326-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis proteins involved in the utilization of L-arabinose are encoded by the araABDLMNPQ-abfA metabolic operon and by the araE/araR divergent unit. Transcription from the ara operon, araE transport gene and araR regulatory gene is induced by L-arabinose and negatively controlled by AraR. Additionally, expression of both the ara operon and the araE gene is regulated at the transcriptional level by glucose repression. Here, by transcriptional fusion analysis in different mutant backgrounds, it is shown that CcpA most probably complexed with HPr-Ser46-P plays the major role in carbon catabolite repression of the ara regulon by glucose and glycerol. Site-directed mutagenesis and deletion analysis indicate that two catabolite responsive elements (cres) present in the ara operon (cre araA and cre araB) and one cre in the araE gene (cre araE) are implicated in this mechanism. Furthermore, cre araA located between the promoter region of the ara operon and the araA gene, and cre araB placed 2 kb downstream within the araB gene are independently functional and both contribute to glucose repression. In Northern blot analysis, in the presence of glucose, a CcpA-dependent transcript consistent with a message stopping at cre araB was detected, suggesting that transcription 'roadblocking' of RNA polymerase elongation is the most likely mechanism operating in this system. Glucose exerts an additional repression of the ara regulon, which requires a functional araR.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel Inácio
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida de República, Apartado 127, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Carla Costa
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida de República, Apartado 127, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Isabel de Sá-Nogueira
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida de República, Apartado 127, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
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