title: LRP and H-NS--cooperative partners for transcription regulation at Escherichia coli rRNA promoters.
abstract: The synthesis of ribosomal RNAs in bacteria is tightly coupled to changes in the environment. This rapid adaptation is the result of several intertwined regulatory networks. The two proteins FIS and H-NS have previously been described to act as antagonistic transcription factors for rRNA synthesis. Here we provide evidence for another player, the regulatory protein LRP, which binds with high specificity to all seven Escherichia coli rRNA P1 promoter upstream regions (UAS). Comparison of the binding properties of LRP and H-NS, and characterization of the stabilities of the various complexes formed with the rRNA UAS regions revealed different binding modes. Binding studies with LRP and H-NS in combination demonstrated that the two proteins interacted with obvious synergism. The efficiency of LRP binding to the rRNA regulatory region is modified by the presence of the effector amino acid leucine, as has been shown for several other operons regulated by this transcription factor. The effect of LRP on the binding of RNA polymerase to the rrnB P1 promoter and in vitro transcription experiments indicated that LRP acts as a transcriptional repressor, thus resembling the activity of H-NS described previously. The results show for the first time that LRP binds to the regulatory region of bacterial rRNA promoters, and very likely contributes in combination with H-NS to the control of rRNA synthesis. From the known properties of LRP a mechanism can be inferred that couples rRNA synthesis to changes in nutritional quality.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pul
authors.forename: Reinhild
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wurm
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lux
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D051756:Leucine-Responsive Regulatory Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D012407:rRNA Operon
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C031908:H-NS protein, bacteria; C497278:Lrp protein, E coli; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051756:Leucine-Responsive Regulatory Protein; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases