title: MsrR, a putative cell envelope-associated element involved in Staphylococcus aureus sarA attenuation.
abstract: A novel membrane-associated protein, MsrR, was identified in Staphylococcus aureus which affects resistance to methicillin and teicoplanin, as well as the synthesis of virulence factors. MsrR belongs to the LytR-CpsA-Psr family of cell envelope-related transcriptional attenuators and was shown to be inducible by cell wall-active agents, such as beta-lactams, glycopeptides, and lysostaphin. The expression of msrR peaked in the early exponential growth phase and decreased sharply thereafter. msrR mutants showed increased sarA transcription and an earlier and higher expression of RNAIII, resulting in altered expression of virulence factors such as alpha-toxin and protein A. These observations suggest that MsrR is a new component involved in sarA attenuation and the regulatory network controlling virulence gene expression in S. aureus.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, CH-8028 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berger-Bächi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001329:Autolysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017931:DNA Primers; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C477297:MsrR protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; C492107:SarA protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D037521:Virulence Factors; D008156:Luciferases