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Updated: May 12, 2026

DNA-affinity-purified Chip (DAP-chip) Method to Determine Gene Targets for Bacterial Two component Regulatory Systems
Published on: July 21, 2014
Single-domain response regulator involved in the general stress response of Methylobacterium extorquens
Lisa C Metzger1, Anne Francez-Charlot1, Julia A Vorholt1
1Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The general stress response of alphaproteobacteria is regulated by a partner-switching mechanism that involves the alternative sigma factor σ(EcfG), the anti-sigma factor NepR and the anti-sigma factor antagonist PhyR. To address the question of how the PhyR-NepR-σ(EcfG) cascade is activated and modulated in Methylobacterium extorquens, a forward genetic screen was applied. The screen identified the single-domain response regulator Mext_0407 as a novel regulatory element in the general stress response of M. extorquens. Analysis of phenotypes and of transcriptional fusions of PhyR-dependent genes shows that the mext_0407 deletion mutant fails to respond to various stresses. Mext_0407 requires the putative phosphorylatable aspartate-64 for its activity in vivo and genetic evidence indicates that Mext_0407 operates upstream of the PhyR-NepR-σ(EcfG) cascade.
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