title: Thermogenetic tools to monitor temperature-dependent gene expression in bacteria.
abstract: Free-living bacteria constantly monitor their ambient temperature. Drastic deviations elicit immediate protective responses known as cold shock or heat shock response. Many mammalian pathogens use temperature surveillance systems to recognize the successful invasion of a host by its body temperature, usually 37°C. Translation of temperature-responsive genes can be modulated by RNA thermometers (RNATs). RNATs form complex structures primarily in the 5'-untranslated region of their transcripts. Most RNATs block the ribosome binding site at low temperatures. Translation is induced at increasing temperature by melting of the RNA structure. The analysis of such temperature-dependent RNA elements calls for adequate test systems that function in the appropriate temperature range. Here, we summarize previously established reporter gene systems based on the classical β-galactosidase LacZ, the heat-stable β-galactosidase BgaB and the green fluorescent protein GFP. We validate these systems by testing known RNATs and describe the construction and application of an optimized bgaB system. Finally, two novel RNA thermometer candidates from Escherichia coli and Salmonella will be presented.
authors.affiliation: Microbial Biology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klinkert
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cimdins
authors.forename: Lena C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gaubig
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roßmanith
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aschke-Sonnenborn
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Narberhaus
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000502:physiology*; D007763:Lac Operon / Q000235:genetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012313:RNA; D001616:beta-Galactosidase