title: Shedding light on betL*: pPL2-lux mediated real-time analysis of betL* expression in Listeria monocytogenes.
abstract: We propose a mechanism of action for the betL* mutation which is based on DNA topology. Removing a single thymine residue from the betL σ(A) promoter's -10 and -35 spacer results in a 'twist'-mediated activation of transcription which accounts for the osmotolerance phenotype observed for strains expressing betL*.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biological Sciences , Cork Institute of Technology , Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork , Ireland.
authors.forename: Shauna M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biological Sciences , Cork Institute of Technology , Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork , Ireland.
authors.forename: Eamonn P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Culligan
authors.affiliation: b APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork , College Road, Cork , Ireland.
authors.forename: Roland F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: b APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork , College Road, Cork , Ireland.|c School of Microbiology, University College Cork , College Road, Cork , Ireland.|d School of Pharmacy, University College Cork , College Road, Cork , Ireland.
authors.forename: Cormac G M
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Gahan
authors.affiliation: b APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork , College Road, Cork , Ireland.|c School of Microbiology, University College Cork , College Road, Cork , Ireland.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: e Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University , Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Snelling
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biological Sciences , Cork Institute of Technology , Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork , Ireland.|b APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork , College Road, Cork , Ireland.
authors.forename: Roy D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sleator
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001622:Betaine / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D001622:Betaine
keywords: Listeria; betL*; lux; osmotolerance