Distinct regulatory pathways control expression of Borrelia burgdorferi infection-associated OspC and Erp surface proteins.
Deciphering the mechanisms by which Borrelia burgdorferi controls the synthesis of proteins associated with mammalian infection will be an important step toward understanding the pathogenic properties of Lyme disease-causing bacteria. We present results of studies indicating that B. burgdorferi senses a wide variety of environmental stimuli, including soluble chemicals, which enables it to independently control synthesis of the Erp and OspC proteins. Regulation of OspC and Erp expression appears to occur at the level of transcription. In this regard, we observed that one or more DNA-binding proteins interact specifically with erp promoter DNA but not with the ospC promoter.
Babb
K
K
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington 40536-0298, USA.
El-Hage
N
N
Miller
J C
JC
Carroll
J A
JA
Stevenson
B
B
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D008074:Lipoproteins; C079616:OspC protein; C084998:OspE protein, Borrelia burgdorferi; C084999:OspF protein, Borrelia burgdorferi