Regulation of the atrazine-degradative genes in Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP.
The Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP is the best-characterized organism able to mineralize the s-triazine herbicide atrazine. This organism has been the subject of extensive biochemical and genetic characterization that has led to its use in bioremediation programs aimed at the decontamination of atrazine-polluted sites. Here, we focus on the recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of genetic regulation operating on the atrazine-degradative genes. The Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP atrazine-degradation pathway is encoded by two sets of genes: the constitutively expressed atzA, atzB and atzC, and the strongly regulated atzDEF operon. A complex cascade-like circuit is responsible for the integrated regulation of atzDEF expression in response to nitrogen availability and cyanuric acid. Mechanistic studies have revealed several unusual traits, such as the upstream activating sequence-independent regulation and repression by competition with sigma(54)-RNA polymerase for DNA binding occurring at the sigma(54)-dependent PatzR promoter, and the dual mechanism of transcriptional regulation of the PatzDEF promoter by the LysR-type regulator AtzR in response to two dissimilar signals. These findings have provided new insights into the regulation of the atrazine-biodegradative pathway that are also relevant to widespread bacterial regulatory phenomena, such as global nitrogen control and transcriptional activation by LysR-type transcriptional regulators.
Govantes
Fernando
F
Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide-CSIC, Carretera de Utrera, Km. 1, Seville, Spain. fgovrom@upo.es
García-González
Vicente
V
Porrúa
Odil
O
Platero
Ana Isabel
AI
Jiménez-Fernández
Alicia
A
Santero
Eduardo
E
D001280:Atrazine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D009876:Operon; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014157:Transcription Factors; D001280:Atrazine