How Yersinia pestis Regulates a Key Gene for Virulence
Author Information
Author(s): Zhang Yiquan, Gao He, Wang Li, Xiao Xiao, Tan Yafang, Guo Zhaobiao, Zhou Dongsheng, Yang Ruifu
Primary Institution: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Hypothesis
How do the transcriptional regulators PhoP and RovA interact to control the expression of the rovA gene in Yersinia pestis?
Conclusion
RovA acts as a direct transcriptional activator for its own gene, while PhoP negatively regulates its transcription in response to low magnesium levels.
Supporting Evidence
- RovA is shown to recognize both promoters of its gene in Yersinia pestis.
- PhoP negatively controls one of the two promoters of rovA in response to low magnesium signals.
- The autoregulation of RovA is a conserved mechanism shared by Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis.
Takeaway
This study shows that a bacteria called Yersinia pestis has a special way of controlling a gene that helps it cause disease, using two proteins that work together.
Methodology
The study used various molecular biology techniques including LacZ fusion, primer extension, gel mobility shift, and DNase I footprinting assays to analyze gene regulation.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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