A transcription factor from the cryptic Escherichia coli Rac prophage controls both phage and host operons.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial genomes are shaped by cryptic prophages, which are viral genomes integrated into the bacterial chromosome. Escherichia coli genomes have 10 prophages on average. Though usually inactive, prophage genes can profoundly impact host cell physiology. Among the phage genes in the E. coli chromosome, there are several putative transcription factors (TFs). These prophage TFs are predicted to control only phage promoters; however, their regulatory functions are not well characterized. The cohabitation of prophages and bacteria has led to conditions under which the majority of prophage genes are unexpressed, at least under normal growth conditions. We characterized a Rac prophage TF, YdaT, expression of which is normally inhibited by Rac TFs and, surprisingly, by the host global regulator

SUBMITTER: Wons E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11879457 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature