The relA homolog of Mycobacterium smegmatis affects cell appearance, viability, and gene expression.
The modification of metabolic pathways to allow for a dormant lifestyle appears to be an important feature for the survival of pathogenic bacteria within their host. One regulatory mechanism for persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections is the stringent response. In this study, we analyze the stringent response of a nonpathogenic, saprophytic mycobacterial species, Mycobacterium smegmatis. The use of M. smegmatis as a tool for studying the mycobacterial stringent response was demonstrated by measuring the expression of two M. tuberculosis genes, hspX and eis, in M. smegmatis in the presence and absence of rel(Msm). The stringent response plays a role in M. smegmatis cellular and colony formation that is suggestive of changes in the bacterial cell wall structure.
Dahl
John L
JL
School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Science Hall, Room 301, Pullman, WA 99164, USA. johndahl@wsu.edu
Arora
Kriti
K
Boshoff
Helena I
HI
Whiteford
Danelle C
DC
Pacheco
Sophia A
SA
Walsh
Olaus J
OJ
Lau-Bonilla
Dalia
D
Davis
William B
WB
Garza
Anthony G
AG
D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D020102:Mycobacterium smegmatis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013997:Time Factors
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C118127:HspX protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D000123:Acetyltransferases; C430563:Eis protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis