The algT (algU) Gene of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, a Key Regulator Involved in Alginate Biosynthesis, Encodes an Alternative σ Factor (σE)

Chronic infection by alginate-producing (mucoid) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of mortality among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. During the course of sustained infection, the production of an alginate capsule protects the bacteria and allows them to persist in the CF lung. One of the k...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1995-08, Vol.92 (17), p.7941-7945
Main Authors: Hershberger, C. Douglas, Ye, Rick W., Parsek, Matthew R., Xie, Zhi-Dong, Chakrabarty, A. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alginates
Alginates - metabolism
Bacteria
Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Proteins - isolation & purification
Base Sequence
Binding Sites
Biochemistry
Biosynthesis
Cystic fibrosis
DNA
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases - metabolism
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli - enzymology
Gels
Gene Expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Genes
Genes, Bacterial
Glucuronic Acid
Hexuronic Acids
Inclusion bodies
Lungs
Molecular Sequence Data
Plasmids
Promoter regions
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - genetics
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - metabolism
Recombinant Proteins - biosynthesis
Recombinant Proteins - isolation & purification
RNA
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Sigma Factor - biosynthesis
Transcription Factors
Transcription, Genetic
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Summary:Chronic infection by alginate-producing (mucoid) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of mortality among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. During the course of sustained infection, the production of an alginate capsule protects the bacteria and allows them to persist in the CF lung. One of the key regulators of alginate synthesis is the algT (algU) gene encoding a putative alternative σ factor (σE). AlgT was hyperproduced and purified from Escherichia coli. The N-terminal sequence of the purified protein matched perfectly with that predicted from the DNA sequence. The purified protein, in the presence of E. coli RNA polymerase core enzyme, was able to initiate transcription of an algT promoter. Deletion of the -35 region of this promoter abolished this activity in vitro as well as in vivo. These data indicate that the algT gene encodes a σ factor that is autoregulatory.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.92.17.7941