Control of anthrax toxin gene expression by the transition state regulator abrB.

ABSTRACT: Bacillus anthracis produces the anthrax toxin proteins protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF) in a growth phase-dependent manner when cultured in liquid medium. Expression of the toxin genes pagA, lef, and cya peaks in late log phase, and steady-state levels of the toxin proteins are highest during the transition into stationary phase. Here we show that an apparent transition state regulator negatively regulates toxin gene expression. We identified two orthologues of the B. subtilis transition state regulator abrB in the B. anthracis genome: one on the chromosome and one on the 182-kb virulence plasmid pXO1. The orthologue located on the chromosome is predicted to encode a 94-amino-acid protein that is 85% identical to B. subtilis AbrB. The hypothetical protein

SUBMITTER: Saile E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC139583 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature