title: Expression of the transcripts of the sigma factors and putative sigma factor regulators of Chlamydia trachomatis L2.
abstract: The steady state levels of the transcripts of the beta' subunit of RNA polymerase gene (rpoC), three sigma factor genes (rpoD, rpoN, and rpsD), and four putative sigma factor regulatory genes (rsbW, rsbV1, rsbV2, and rsbU) of Chlamydia trachomatis L2 were examined during the chlamydial developmental cycle by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. rpoC and the major sigma factor rpoD transcripts were detected at all times post-infection, consistent with their expected function in the expression of housekeeping genes. Transcripts of the alternative sigma factors and the putative regulatory genes (with the exception of those of rsbV2, which were present at near constant levels at all times) were present at low or undetectable levels at the time of elementary body (EB) to reticulate body conversion early in the cycle, but were easily detected during the logarithmic growth phase of RBs, indicating that these genes are not expressed in a cascade fashion and that it is unlikely that their major role is to recognize the promoters of stage-specific genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Hatch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics*; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D007739:L Cells; D051379:Mice; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051877:RNA Polymerase Sigma 54; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; C086522:RsbV protein, Bacteria; C080358:RsbW protein, bacteria; D012808:Sigma Factor; C114590:omc A protein, Shewanella putrefaciens; C081775:RNA polymerase sigma 70; C108570:beta' subunit of RNA polymerase; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D051877:RNA Polymerase Sigma 54; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; C091162:RsbU protein, Bacillus subtilis