title: Lessons from Escherichia coli genes similarly regulated in response to nitrogen and sulfur limitation.
abstract: We previously characterized nutrient-specific transcriptional changes in Escherichia coli upon limitation of nitrogen (N) or sulfur (S). These global homeostatic responses presumably minimize the slowing of growth under a particular condition. Here, we characterize responses to slow growth per se that are not nutrient-specific. The latter help to coordinate the slowing of growth, and in the case of down-regulated genes, to conserve scarce N or S for other purposes. Three effects were particularly striking. First, although many genes under control of the stationary phase sigma factor RpoS were induced and were apparently required under S-limiting conditions, one or more was inhibitory under N-limiting conditions, or RpoS itself was inhibitory. RpoS was, however, universally required during nutrient downshifts. Second, limitation for N and S greatly decreased expression of genes required for synthesis of flagella and chemotaxis, and the motility of E. coli was decreased. Finally, unlike the response of all other met genes, transcription of metE was decreased under S- and N-limiting conditions. The metE product, a methionine synthase, is one of the most abundant proteins in E. coli grown aerobically in minimal medium. Responses of metE to S and N limitation pointed to an interesting physiological rationale for the regulatory subcircuit controlled by the methionine activator MetR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Prasad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gyaneshwar
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Paliy
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
authors.forename: Adriane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kustu
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D005407:Flagella / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000502:physiology; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012808:Sigma Factor; C069567:sigma factor KatF protein, Bacteria; D013455:Sulfur; D009584:Nitrogen
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