title: The algR gene, which regulates mucoidy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, belongs to a class of environmentally responsive genes.
abstract: The Pseudomonas aeruginosa capsule, composed of polysaccharide alginate, is an important Pseudomonas virulence factor encountered primarily in cystic fibrosis. The regulatory algR gene positively controls transcription of a key alginate biosynthetic gene, algD. The algR gene was subcloned and sequenced by creating a set of nested deletions in M13 bacteriophage. DNA sequence analysis of algR revealed the homology of its gene product with a recently recognized class of environmentally responsive bacterial regulatory genes, including ompR, phoB, sfrA, ntrC, spoOA, dctD, and virG; these transcriptional activators control cellular reactions to osmotic pressure, phosphate limitations, or specific chemical compounds present in the medium or released from wounded host tissue. These findings indicate that novel conditions in lungs affected by cystic fibrosis may be participating in the control of mucoidy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deretic
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dikshit
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Konyecsni
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chakrabarty
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Misra
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: C110681:AlgR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D000464:Alginates; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators