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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans
Published on: May 21, 2020
Two paralogous EcfG σ factors hierarchically orchestrate the activation of the General Stress Response in
Rubén de Dios1, Elena Rivas-Marin1, Eduardo Santero1
1Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía. Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Seville, Spain.
Abstract:
Under ever-changing environmental conditions, the General Stress Response (GSR) represents a lifesaver for bacteria in order to withstand hostile situations. In α-proteobacteria, the EcfG-type extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors are the key activators of this response at the transcriptional level. In this work, we address the hierarchical function of the ECF σ factor paralogs EcfG1 and EcfG2 in triggering the GSR in Sphingopyxis granuli TFA and describe the role of EcfG2 as global switch of this response. In addition, we define a GSR regulon for TFA and use in vitro transcription analysis to study the relative contribution of each EcfG paralog to the expression of selected genes. We show that the features of each promoter ultimately dictate this contribution, though EcfG2 always produced more transcripts than EcfG1 regardless of the promoter. These first steps in the characterisation of the GSR in TFA suggest a tight regulation to orchestrate an adequate protective response in order to survive in conditions otherwise lethal.
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