Abstract
Transcription from the mer promoter of transposon Tn501 is repressed by MerR (the product of the merR gene) in the absence of Hg2+, and activated by MerR in the presence of Hg2+. In the absence of MerR, the mer promoter has weak constitutive activity. The DNA sequence of the mer promoter shows candidate -35 and -10 sequences at the unusually high spacing of 19 base-pairs. We have selected for spontaneous mutations in the mer promoter that confer an up-promoter phenotype. Four different mutants have been isolated. Three of these are single base-pair deletions between the -10 and -35 sequences. A fourth removes the -10 sequence entirely, and places a second potential -10 sequence 17 base-pairs from the -35 sequence. None of these mutant promoters are induced by MerR in the presence of Hg2+. Two of them are repressed by MerR irrespective of the presence or absence of Hg2+. Models for the mode of action of the MerR protein are discussed in the light of these results. Our data support a mechanism in which the MerR protein in the presence of Hg2+ acts to change the conformation of DNA in the mer promoter.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 5517-27 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Nucleic Acids Research |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 14 |
Publication status | Published - 25 Jul 1989 |
Keywords
- Genes, Bacterial
- beta-Galactosidase
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- Transcription, Genetic
- Plasmids
- Base Sequence
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Bacterial Proteins
- Genes
- DNA Transposable Elements
- Escherichia coli
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Mutation