title: Characterization of FarR as a highly specialized, growth phase-dependent transcriptional regulator in Neisseria meningitidis.
abstract: Transcriptional regulators play an important role for the survival of Neisseria meningitidis within its human host. We have recently shown that FarR acts as transcriptional repressor of the adhesin nadA in N. meningitidis. Here, we examined the FarR regulon by microarray analyses, qRT-PCR, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, revealing that FarR is a highly specific repressor of nadA. We demonstrate by reporter gene fusion assays that alterations of the FarR binding site within the nadA promoter are sufficient to induce transcription of nadA. Furthermore, farR expression is growth phase-dependent. The highest transcription rate was observed in the late-exponential growth phase of meningococci. Upon contact with active components of the complement system in normal human serum, expression of farR is slightly downregulated. Concluding, we present FarR as an exquisitely specialized, growth phase-dependent, possibly complement-responsive transcriptional regulator in N. meningitidis.
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schielke
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spatz
authors.forename: Roland Felix
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Biju
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.forename: Sabine Marita
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frosch
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schubert-Unkmeir
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kurzai
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D018085:Regulon; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors