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Signal transduction in bacteria: kinases that control gene expression
M M Igo1, J M Slauch, T J Silhavy
1Department of Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08544-1014.
The New Biologist
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Two-component regulatory systems in bacteria, like E. coli's Omp system, control gene expression. This involves a receptor kinase sensing environmental changes and a DNA-binding protein activating transcription.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Bacterial Genetics
Background:
- Two-component regulatory systems represent a novel paradigm in bacterial signal transduction.
- The Omp regulon in Escherichia coli serves as a model system for studying these pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the components and mechanism of the Omp regulon in Escherichia coli.
- To understand signal transduction from the cell surface to DNA regulation.
Main Methods:
- The study focuses on the Omp regulon of Escherichia coli.
- It identifies EnvZ as the receptor kinase and OmpR as the DNA-binding transcriptional activator.
Main Results:
- The Omp regulon controls the expression of outer membrane porin proteins (OmpF and OmpC) in response to osmolarity.
- The signal transduction pathway involves EnvZ and OmpR, linking cell surface sensing to DNA regulation.
Conclusions:
- The Omp system in E. coli exemplifies a two-component regulatory system.
- Bacterial signal transduction pathways may offer insights into similar mechanisms in higher organisms.