title: ClpP-dependent and -independent activities encoded by the polycistronic clpK-encoding locus contribute to heat shock survival in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
abstract: The family of Clp ATPases plays an important role in bacterial physiology. Here we characterize the genetic locus encompassing a newly described plasmid-encoded ClpK protein protecting Klebsiella pneumoniae cells during heat shock. We demonstrate that the clpK gene is located in a polycistronic operon and that the variable downstream gene content correlates with heat-resistant phenotypes of different isolates. ClpK is encoded by a multifunctional transcriptional unit characterized by both ClpP-dependent and -independent activities. Notably, our data show that ClpP is indispensible for thermoprotection exerted by ClpK alone, suggesting that ClpK is a new member of the family of ClpP-interacting Clp ATPases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark. min@ssi.dk
authors.forename: Martin Saxtorph
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bojer
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Struve
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ingmer
authors.forename: Karen Angeliki
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Krogfelt
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049071:Endopeptidase Clp / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000235:genetics*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050296:Microbial Viability; D009876:Operon / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D049071:Endopeptidase Clp