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Metal-Responsive Transcription Factors Co-Regulate Anti-Sigma Factor (Rsd) and Ribosome Dimerization Factor
Hideji Yoshida1, Tomohiro Shimada2, Akira Ishihama3
1Department of Physics, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-8686, Osaka, Japan.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 11, 2023
Summary
Metal-responsive transcription factors (TFs) and ions regulate bacterial stress response genes rsd and rmf. This study reveals how these factors control gene expression and ribosome activity in Escherichia coli.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Bacterial Stress Response
Background:
- Bacteria employ transcriptional and translational regulation for stress survival.
- In Escherichia coli, stress response involves sigma factors (RpoD, RpoS) and ribosome modulation (RMF).
- Metal ion homeostasis is crucial and mediated by metal-responsive transcription factors (TFs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the binding of metal-responsive TFs to the promoter regions of rsd and rmf genes.
- To determine the effect of these TFs on rsd and rmf gene expression.
- To analyze the impact on translational activity and 100S ribosome formation.
Main Methods:
- Promoter-specific TF screening.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) for gene expression analysis.
- Western blot imaging for protein level analysis.
- 100S ribosome formation assays.
Main Results:
- Several metal-responsive TFs (CueR, Fur, KdpE, MntR, NhaR, PhoP, ZntR, ZraR) bind to rsd and rmf promoter regions.
- These TFs and specific metal ions (Cu2+, Fe2+, K+, Mn2+, Na+, Mg2+, Zn2+) significantly influence rsd and rmf gene expression.
- The identified TFs and metal ions affect transcriptional and translational regulation.
Conclusions:
- Metal-responsive TFs and ions play a critical role in regulating bacterial stress response genes rsd and rmf.
- This regulation impacts both transcriptional and translational control mechanisms in Escherichia coli.
- Findings provide insights into bacterial adaptation strategies under metal ion stress.
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