Direct interaction between quorum-sensing regulator SmcR and RNA polymerase is mediated by integration host factor to activate vvpE encoding elastase in Vibrio vulnificus.

ABSTRACT: It has been suggested that quorum sensing is an important signal transduction system regulating the expression of numerous virulence genes in bacterial pathogens. We previously revealed that SmcR, a LuxR homologue of Vibrio vulnificus, activates promoter S, an RpoS-dependent promoter of vvpE encoding a potential virulence factor elastase and binds in vitro to a binding site centered at -196.5. In this study, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and promoter deletion analyses demonstrated that SmcR binds to the vvpE regulatory region in vivo and directly interacts with RNAP for activation of the vvpE expression. A search for regulatory genes involved in the regulation of elastase production singled out ihfA, which encodes for a subunit of integration host factor (IHF). Levels of both elasta

SUBMITTER: Jeong HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2843184 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature