Transcriptional control of RfaH on polysialic and colanic acid synthesis by Escherichia coli K92.
The transcriptional antiterminator RfaH promotes transcription of long operons encoding surface cell components important for the virulence of Escherichiacoli pathogens. In this paper, we show that RfaH enhanced kps expression for the synthesis of group 2 polysialic acid capsule in E. coli K92. In addition, we demonstrate for the first time that RfaH promotes cps expression for the synthesis of colanic acid, a cell wall component with apparently no role on pathogenicity. Finally, we show a novel RfaH requirement for growth at low temperatures.
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain.
Nicolás
N
Navasa
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain. Electronic address: leandro.rodriguez@unileon.es.
Leandro B
LB
Rodríguez-Aparicio
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain.
Miguel Ángel
MÁ
Ferrero
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain.
Andrea
A
Monteagudo-Mera
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain. Electronic address: hmarb@unileon.es.
Honorina
H
Martínez-Blanco
D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D009876:Operon; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D033903:Periplasmic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D033903:Periplasmic Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; C106401:RfaH protein, E coli; D012794:Sialic Acids; D015534:Trans-Activators; C021319:polysialic acid; C004275:colanic acid
Capsular polysaccharides; Gene expression; Thermoregulation; Transcriptional antiterminator