title: Cloning and characterization of pvdS, a gene required for pyoverdine synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: PvdS is probably an alternative sigma factor.
abstract: Cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa secrete a fluorescent yellow-green siderophore, pyoverdine, when grown under iron-deficient conditions. We describe here the cloning and characterization of a gene, pvdS, which is required for this process. The pvdS gene is required for expression from promoters of at least two pyoverdine synthesis genes and can cause expression from these promoters in Escherichia coli, where they are otherwise inactive. Sequencing of pvdS revealed that it is a member of a subfamily of RNA polymerase sigma factors which direct the synthesis of extracellular products by bacteria. The pvdS gene is expressed only in iron-starved bacteria, and in E. coli cells at least, expression is regulated by the Fur repressor protein. We propose that in iron-rich cells of P. aeruginosa, Fur binds to the pvdS promoter and prevents expression of the gene; under conditions of iron starvation, repression is relieved and PvdS is made, reprogramming the cells for pyoverdine synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Cunliffe
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Merriman
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Lamont
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010453:Peptide Synthases / Q000235:genetics; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D017262:Siderophores / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010860:Pigments, Biological; C093593:PvdS protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D017262:Siderophores; D012808:Sigma Factor; C068477:ferric uptake regulating proteins, bacterial; C042453:pyoverdin; D007501:Iron; D010453:Peptide Synthases; C091136:pyoverdine synthetase protein, Pseudomonas