title: Transcriptional regulation of MG_149, an osmoinducible lipoprotein gene from Mycoplasma genitalium.
abstract: Transcriptional regulation remains poorly understood in Mycoplasma genitalium, the smallest self-replicating cell and the causative agent of a spectrum of urogenital diseases. Previously, we reported that MG_149, a lipoprotein-encoding gene, was highly induced under physiological hyperosmolarity conditions. In this study we further analysed MG_149 transcription with a focus on the identification of promoter elements and regulatory mechanisms. We established MG_149 as a genuine osmoinducible gene that exhibited the highest transcript abundance compared with other lipoprotein genes. Using genetic approaches, we demonstrated that the -10 region of the MG_149 promoter was essential for osmoinduction. Moreover, we showed that MG_149 osmoinduction was regulated by DNA supercoiling, as the presence of novobiocin decreased MG_149 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results indicate that DNA supercoiling participates in controlling MG_149 expression during in vivo-like conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Joel B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Baseman
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001483:Base Sequence; D027081:DNA Gyrase / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D045704:Mycoplasma genitalium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009675:Novobiocin / Q000378:metabolism; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009675:Novobiocin; D027081:DNA Gyrase