General transcription factor from Escherichia coli with a distinct mechanism of action.

ABSTRACT: Gene expression in Escherichia coli is controlled by well-established mechanisms that activate or repress transcription. Here, we identify CedA as an unconventional transcription factor specifically associated with the RNA polymerase (RNAP) σ⁷⁰ holoenzyme. Structural and biochemical analysis of CedA bound to RNAP reveal that it bridges distant domains of β and σ⁷⁰ subunits to stabilize an open-promoter complex. CedA does so without contacting DNA. We further show that cedA is strongly induced in response to amino acid starvation, oxidative stress and aminoglycosides. CedA provides a basal level of tolerance to these clinically relevant antibiotics, as well as to rifampicin and peroxide. Finally, we show that CedA modulates transcription of hundreds of bacterial genes,

SUBMITTER: Vasilyev N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10803263 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature