Unusual organization, complexity and redundancy at the Escherichia coil hcp-hcr operon promoter

David Chismon, Douglas Browning, GK Farrant, Stephen Busby

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Expression from the Escherichia coli hcp-hcr operon promoter is optimally induced during anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrite. This expression depends on transcription activation by FNR (fumarate and nitrate reduction regulator), which binds to a target centred at position -72.5 upstream of the transcript start site. Mutational analysis was exploited to identify the corresponding 10 and 35 hexamer elements. A DNA site for NarL and NarP, located at position -104.5, plays only a minor role, whereas NsrR binding to a DNA target centred at position +6 plays a major role in induction of the hcp-hcr operon promoter. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays show that NsrR binds to this target. The consequences of this for the kinetics of induction of the hcp-hcr operon are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)61-68
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical Journal
Volume430
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2010

Keywords

  • promoter
  • Escherichia coil
  • reactive nitrogen species
  • nitrite
  • nitrate
  • NsrR
  • NarL

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