Differential expression of over 60 chromosomal genes in Escherichia coli by constitutive expression of MarA.
In Escherichia coli, the MarA protein controls expression of multiple chromosomal genes affecting resistance to antibiotics and other environmental hazards. For a more-complete characterization of the mar regulon, duplicate macroarrays containing 4,290 open reading frames of the E. coli genome were hybridized to radiolabeled cDNA populations derived from mar-deleted and mar-expressing E. coli. Strains constitutively expressing MarA showed altered expression of more than 60 chromosomal genes: 76% showed increased expression and 24% showed decreased expression. Although some of the genes were already known to be MarA regulated, the majority were newly determined and belonged to a variety of functional groups. Some of the genes identified have been associated with iron transport and metabolism; other genes were previously known to be part of the soxRS regulon. Northern blot analysis of selected genes confirmed the results obtained with the macroarrays. The findings reveal that the mar locus mediates a global stress response involving one of the largest networks of genes described.
Barbosa
T M
TM
Center for Adaptation Genetics and Drug Resistance and the Departments of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
Levy
S B
SB
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009876:Operon; D018085:Regulon; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C080002:MarA protein, E coli; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C070724:SoxR protein, Bacteria; C070725:SoxS protein, E coli; D007501:Iron