Regulation of Salmonella typhimurium ilvYC genes

The Salmonella typhimurium LT2 ilvYC genes were studied by fusion of each gene to the Escherichia coli K-12 galK gene. The expression of ilvY and ilvC could then be determined by measurement of the galK-encoded galactokinase enzyme. The promoter for ilvC, pC, was located by this technique to a 0.42-kilobase BglII-EcoRI fragment of the S. typhimurium ilvGEDAYC gene cluster. This sequence was completely sufficient for alpha-acetohydroxyacid-inducible galK expression. The ilvY gene was located within a 1.0-kilobase XhoI-SalI fragment. ilvY gene expression was constitutive with respect to ilv-specific control signals. The ilvY gene was transcribed in the same direction as the other two transcriptional units in the ilvGEDAYC gene cluster, ilvGEDA and ilvC. Transcription of the ilvC gene was completely dependent upon the activity of its own promoter, pC, and independent from transcription of the ilvY gene. The role of the intervening region between ilvY and ilvC in regulation of ilvC expression was explored.