Salicylic acid activates sigma factor B by rsbU-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Salicylic acid (SAL) may impact Staphylococcus aureus virulence by activating the sigB operon (rsbU-V-W-sigB), thus leading to reductions in alpha-toxin production and decreased fibronectin binding (L. I. Kupferwasser et al., J. Clin. Investig. 112:222-233, 2003). As these prior studies were performed in strain RN6390 (an rsbU mutant) and its rsbU-repaired variant, SH1000, the current investigation was designed to determine if the SAL effect occurs via rsbU- and/or rsbV-dependent pathways in an rsbU-intact S. aureus strain (FDA486). We thus quantified the transcription from two sigB-dependent promoters (asp23 and sarA P3) in FDA486 in response to SAL exposure in vitro, using isogenic single-knockout constructs of rsbU, rsbV, or rsbW and a green fluorescent protein reporter system. SAL indu

SUBMITTER: Palma M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1540054 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature