Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

Transcriptional regulation of hemO encoding heme oxygenase in Clostridium perfringens

Sufi Hassan1, Kaori Ohtani, Ruoyu Wang

  • 1Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.

Journal of Microbiology (Seoul, Korea)
|March 12, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium perfringens uses heme oxygenase (hemO) for iron acquisition. This process is regulated by the VirR/VirS-VR-RNA system, crucial for bacterial survival during infection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene by degrading host tissues.
  • Iron acquisition is essential for bacterial pathogens to cause disease.
  • The role of heme oxygenase in C. perfringens iron metabolism was previously unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of the heme oxygenase homologue (hemO) in Clostridium perfringens.
  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms controlling hemO expression.
  • To understand the role of hemO in iron acquisition and bacterial survival.

Main Methods:

  • Gene cloning and protein expression to obtain purified recombinant HemO.
  • Enzymatic assays to determine HemO activity.
  • Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR to analyze hemO transcription.
  • Investigated the role of the VirR/VirS-VR-RNA regulatory system.

Main Results:

  • Purified recombinant HemO exhibited heme oxygenase activity, converting heme to biliverdin.
  • hemO transcription was upregulated by extracellular hemin in a dose-dependent manner.
  • The VirR/VirS-VR-RNA system positively regulated hemO transcription.

Conclusions:

  • Heme oxygenase (hemO) plays a significant role in iron acquisition and cellular metabolism in C. perfringens.
  • The VirR/VirS-VR-RNA regulatory system is involved in controlling cellular iron homeostasis.
  • These findings highlight potential mechanisms for C. perfringens survival in host environments.

More Related Videos

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues07:10

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues

Published on: February 19, 2019

Creating Defined Gaseous Environments to Study the Effects of Hypoxia on C. elegans11:07

Creating Defined Gaseous Environments to Study the Effects of Hypoxia on C. elegans

Published on: July 20, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Prokaryotic Transcriptional Activators and Repressors01:58

Prokaryotic Transcriptional Activators and Repressors

The organization of prokaryotic genes in their genome is notably different from that of eukaryotes. Prokaryotic genes are organized, such that the genes for proteins involved in the same biochemical process or function are located together in groups. This group of genes, along with their regulatory elements, are collectively known as an operon. The functional genes in an operon are transcribed together to give a single strand of mRNA known as polycistronic mRNA.
Transcription of prokaryotic...
Prokaryotic Transcriptional Activators and Repressors01:58

Prokaryotic Transcriptional Activators and Repressors

The organization of prokaryotic genes in their genome is notably different from that of eukaryotes. Prokaryotic genes are organized, such that the genes for proteins involved in the same biochemical process or function are located together in groups. This group of genes, along with their regulatory elements, are collectively known as an operon. The functional genes in an operon are transcribed together to give a single strand of mRNA known as polycistronic mRNA.
Transcription of prokaryotic...
General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
Gene Regulation During Sporulation01:17

Gene Regulation During Sporulation

Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...
Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes02:42

Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

Transcriptional attenuation occurs when RNA transcription is prematurely terminated due to the formation of a terminator mRNA hairpin structure.  Bacteria use these hairpins to regulate the transcription process and control the synthesis of several amino acids including histidine, lysine, threonine, and phenylalanine. Transcription attenuation takes place in the non-coding regions of mRNA.
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...
Constitutive and Regulated Gene Expression01:27

Constitutive and Regulated Gene Expression

Gene expression in prokaryotes is governed by constitutive and regulated systems, allowing cells to balance the production of essential proteins with adaptive responses to environmental changes.Constitutive Gene ExpressionConstitutive, or housekeeping, genes are continuously expressed as they encode proteins vital for fundamental cellular processes. These include enzymes for glycolysis, ribosomal components for protein synthesis, and proteins involved in DNA replication. Their constant...