Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2009

Publication Title

Journal of Bacteriology

Department

Geisel School of Medicine

Abstract

In Staphylococcus aureus, the sigB operon codes for the alternative sigma factor σBand its regulators that enable the bacteria to rapidly respond to environmental stresses via redirection of transcriptional priorities. However, a full model of σBregulation in S. aureus has not yet emerged. Earlier data has suggested that mazEF, a toxin-antitoxin (TA) module immediately upstream of the sigB operon, was transcribed with the sigB operon. Here we demonstrate that the promoter PmazE upstream of mazEF is essential for full σB activity and that instead of utilizing autorepression typical of TA systems, sigB downregulates this promoter, providing a negative-feedback loop for sigB to repress its own transcription. We have also found that the transcriptional regulator SarA binds and activates PmazE. In addition, PmazE was shown to respond to environmental and antibiotic stresses in a way that provides an additional layer of control over sigB expression. The antibiotic response also appears to occur in two other TA systems in S. aureus, indicating a shared mechanism of regulation.

DOI

10.1128/JB.01713-08

Original Citation

Donegan NP, Cheung AL. Regulation of the mazEF toxin-antitoxin module in Staphylococcus aureus and its impact on sigB expression. J Bacteriol. 2009 Apr;191(8):2795-805. doi: 10.1128/JB.01713-08. Epub 2009 Jan 30. PMID: 19181798; PMCID: PMC2668418.

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