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Related Concept Videos

Repressible Operon: trp Operon01:21

Repressible Operon: trp Operon

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The trp operon in Escherichia coli exemplifies a repressible operon. It regulates the synthesis of tryptophan through repressor-mediated transcriptional control and attenuation. This dual regulatory mechanism ensures tryptophan biosynthesis occurs only when needed, conserving cellular resources.Structure of the trp OperonThe trp operon consists of five structural genes (trpE, trpD, trpC, trpB, and trpA) that encode enzymes for tryptophan biosynthesis. These genes are transcribed as a single...
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Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes02:42

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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...
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Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

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Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
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Transduction01:16

Transduction

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Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome...
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Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria

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The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Transposon-insertion Sequencing as a Tool to Elucidate Bacterial Colonization Factors in a Burkholderia gladioli Symbiont of Lagria villosa Beetles
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Tryptophanase disruption promotes insect-bacterium mutualism.

Yayun Wang1,2, Minoru Moriyama1,2, Ryuichi Koga3,4

  • 1Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan.

Nature Microbiology
|February 27, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Disrupting the tryptophanase gene (tnaA) in bacteria like Escherichia coli enables mutualism with stinkbugs. This disruption reduces toxic indole, facilitating insect-microbe symbiosis evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Insect Biology
  • Symbiosis Research

Background:

  • Animal-microorganism mutualisms are common, benefiting both partners.
  • A previous study showed a mutation in Escherichia coli's carbon catabolite repression system enabled stinkbug symbiosis, but this mutation is absent in natural symbioses.
  • The carbon catabolite repression pathway influences over 500 downstream genes, suggesting other genetic factors may be involved in natural symbioses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of downstream genes in the carbon catabolite repression pathway in establishing mutualistic relationships between bacteria and insects.
  • To identify specific genes responsible for the mutualistic interaction between Escherichia coli and the stinkbug Plautia stali.
  • To explore the evolutionary implications of bacterial gene disruption in insect symbiosis.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the effect of disrupting the tnaA gene (encoding tryptophanase) in Escherichia coli on its mutualism with Plautia stali.
  • Surveyed wild stinkbug populations and their microbial symbionts (Pantoea species) for the presence or absence of the tnaA gene.
  • Genetically modified Pantoea ananatis lacking tnaA and a natural Pantoea mutualist by transforming them with a functional tna operon to assess symbiotic capability.

Main Results:

  • Disruption of the tnaA gene in Escherichia coli resulted in a mutualistic relationship with Plautia stali, characterized by increased tryptophan and reduced toxic indole levels.
  • Wild Plautia stali and other stinkbugs typically host Pantoea symbionts that lack the tnaA gene.
  • While Pantoea ananatis with a functional tnaA gene could not establish symbiosis with P. stali, tnaA-disrupted P. ananatis showed partial symbiotic capability. Transforming a natural Pantoea mutualist with a functional tna operon significantly reduced its symbiotic ability.

Conclusions:

  • The disruption of the tryptophanase (tnaA) gene is a key factor enabling bacterial mutualism with Plautia stali.
  • The absence of the tnaA gene in natural insect gut symbionts suggests its disruption has facilitated the evolution of insect-microbe mutualisms.
  • Targeted gene disruption, specifically in tryptophanase, represents a significant evolutionary step in the development of bacterial mutualists within insect hosts.