title: An epigenetic switch mediates bistable expression of the type 1 pilus genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
abstract: Expression of the pneumococcal type 1 pilus is bistable and positively regulated by the transcription factor RlrA. RlrA is also known to positively control its own expression. Here we present evidence that bistable expression of the type 1 pilus is mediated by the positive-feedback loop controlling rlrA expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basset
authors.forename: Keith H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boush
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sayeed
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dove
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malley
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008954:Models, Biological; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C470697:rlrA protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae