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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

DNA-affinity-purified Chip DAP-chip Method to Determine Gene Targets for Bacterial Two component Regulatory Systems
Published on: July 21, 2014
A biochemical characterization of the DNA binding activity of the response regulator VicR from Streptococcus mutans
Eduardo Ayala1, Jennifer S Downey1, Lauren Mashburn-Warren2
1Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, Division of Biomedical Science, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, The University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Abstract:
Two-component systems (TCSs) are ubiquitous among bacteria and are among the most elegant and effective sensing systems in nature. They allow for efficient adaptive responses to rapidly changing environmental conditions. In this study, we investigated the biochemical characteristics of the Streptococcus mutans protein VicR, an essential response regulator that is part of the VicRK TCS. We dissected the DNA binding requirements of the recognition sequences for VicR in its phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms. In doing so, we were able to make predictions for the expansion of the VicR regulon within S. mutans. With the ever increasing number of bacteria that are rapidly becoming resistant to even the antibiotics of last resort, TCSs such as the VicRK provide promising targets for a new class of antimicrobials.
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