title: Characterization of the 5' subtilisin (aprE) regulatory region from Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: The aprE gene of Bacillus subtilis encodes the major serine alkaline protease known as subtilisin. It is expressed during the transition state and transcribed by the sigma(A) form of the RNA polymerase (RNAP). In this work, we characterized the regulatory region of the aprE gene (rraprE) from B. subtilis. By computer analysis and site-directed mutagenesis, we localized the aprE promoter sequence 7 bp upstream from its transcription initiation site (TIS). We also characterized the static curvature properties of the rraprE DNA and found two different areas of DNA bending, within the first 400 bp upstream of its TIS. We postulate that these particular curved DNA regions could play a role in the interaction with some regulatory proteins and discuss possible implications related to aprE transcription regulation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolivar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merino
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012808:Sigma Factor; D013381:Subtilisins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C088074:AprE protein, Bacteria; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004270:DNA, Circular; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D013381:Subtilisins