title: The Highly ConservedEscherichia coliTranscription Factor YhaJ Regulates Aromatic Compound Degradation.
abstract: The aromatic compound 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), a common impurity in 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) production, has been suggested as a tracer for the presence of TNT-based landmines due to its stability and high volatility. We have previously described anEscherichia colibioreporter capable of detecting the presence of DNT vapors, harboring a fusion of theyqjFgene promoter to a reporter element. However, the DNT metabolite which is the direct inducer ofyqjF, has not yet been identified, nor has the regulatory mechanism of the induction been clarified. We demonstrate here that the YhaJ protein, a member of the LysR type family, acts as a transcriptional regulator ofyqjFactivation, as well as of a panel of additionalE. coligenes. This group of genes share a common sequence motif in their promoters, which is suggested here as a putative YhaJ-box. In addition, we have linked YhaJ to the regulation of quinol-like compound degradation in the cell, and identifiedyhaKas playing a role in the degradation of DNT.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Palevsky
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shemer
authors.affiliation: College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: James P R
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Shimshon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belkin
keywords: Escherichia coli; YhaJ; bioreporters; dinitrotoluene; transcriptional regulation; trinitrotoluene; yqjF