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Effect of Neisseria meningitidis fur mutations on global control of gene transcription.

ABSTRACT: The ferric uptake regulator Fur is a well-known iron-responsive repressor of gene transcription, which is used by many bacteria to respond to the low-iron environment that pathogens encounter during infection. In this study we used comparative transcriptome analysis to define the role of the Fur protein in the global control of gene transcription and iron regulation in Neisseria meningitidis. By using the Fur-null mutant and its complemented derivative, we identified 83 genes whose transcription is controlled by Fur. We report that Fur may control differential expression of these genes by binding directly to their promoters or through indirect mechanisms. In addition, mutation of the fur gene resulted in the induction of the heat shock response, and transcription of these genes does not respond to iron limitation. Furthermore, analysis of the iron starvation stimulon in the Fur-null mutant provided evidences of iron-responsive regulation that is independent of Fur. We began to dissect the regulatory networks of Fur and the heat shock (stress) response in N. meningitidis, and the observed interlink between the two circuits is discussed.

SUBMITTER: Delany I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1428404 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effect of Neisseria meningitidis fur mutations on global control of gene transcription.

Delany Isabel I Grifantini Renata R Bartolini Erika E Rappuoli Rino R Scarlato Vincenzo V

Journal of bacteriology 20060401 7

The ferric uptake regulator Fur is a well-known iron-responsive repressor of gene transcription, which is used by many bacteria to respond to the low-iron environment that pathogens encounter during infection. In this study we used comparative transcriptome analysis to define the role of the Fur protein in the global control of gene transcription and iron regulation in Neisseria meningitidis. By using the Fur-null mutant and its complemented derivative, we identified 83 genes whose transcription ...[more]

PMID: 16547035

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Project description:Neisseria meningitidis remains an important cause of septicemia and meningitis. One of its major virulence traits is its ability to avoid killing by human serum. In the present work, the effect of growth phase (exponential versus stationary) and growth medium (THB versus Catlin) on normal human serum (NHS) sensitivity was assessed on two N. meningitidis serogroup B strains (MC58 and M982). Both strains were found to be dramatically more resistant to 20% NHS killing at early exponential phase than at stationary phase (73-100% survival after 1 to 2 hours of growth compared to less than 10% survival after 7 hours of growth). This growth phase effect was detected only when a rich medium (THB) was used while no such effect was observed using Catlin medium. KDO (2-Keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid) and sialic acid content were measured on serum-resistant and serum-sensitive bacteria and were found comparable, indicating that differences in LPS and capsule expression were not at the origin of the observed phenotypes. Transcriptome profiling using a PCR-array was used to compare serum-resistant and serum-sensitive bacteria. A set of 255 genes was found to be differentially expressed with 159 genes up-regulated in serum-resistant bacteria, among them 12 genes involved in glucose catabolism and 22 are known virulence factors. Overall, this study shows that serum-resistant phenotype of N. meningitidis could be obtained through modulating growth conditions. The nature of growth media and growth phases have a major impact on the ability of N. meningitidis to resist to NHS killing. Consequently, the present work underlines the critical importance of carefully controlling those parameters in any studies aimed at investigating the mechanisms and factors involved in N. meningitidis serum-resistance. All experiments were performed in dye swap. These experiments were performed with 2 strains of N. meningitidis serogroup B. In one set of experiments, the gene expression profile of bacteria cultured in THB medium during 7h was compared with the corresponding profile of bacteria cultured during 1h in the same medium. In a second set of experiments, the gene expression profile of 1 strain cultured in THB medium during 7h was compared with the corresponding profile of the same strain cultured in Catlin medium during 7h. 3 biological replicates were performed for each comparison.

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Effect of Neisseria meningitidis fur mutations on global control of gene transcription.

Publications

Effect of Neisseria meningitidis fur mutations on global control of gene transcription.

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