title: Dual promoters control expression of the Bacillus anthracis virulence factor AtxA.
abstract: The AtxA virulence regulator of Bacillus anthracis is required for toxin and capsule gene expression. AtxA is a phosphotransferase system regulatory domain-containing protein whose activity is regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of conserved histidine residues. Here we report that transcription of the atxA gene occurs from two independent promoters, P1 (previously described by Dai et al. [Z. Dai, J. C. Sirard, M. Mock, and T. M. Koehler, Mol. Microbiol. 16:1171-1181, 1995]) and P2, whose transcription start sites are separated by 650 bp. Both promoters have -10 and -35 consensus sequences compatible with recognition by sigma(A)-containing RNA polymerase, and neither promoter depends on the sporulation sigma factor SigH. The dual promoter activity and the extended untranslated mRNA suggest that as-yet-unknown regulatory mechanisms may act on this region to influence the level of AtxA in the cell.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cellular Biology, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bongiorni
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: M Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mansilla
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoch
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perego
mesh_terms: D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C082932:ATXA protein, Bacillus anthracis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators