Chlamydial type III secretion system is encoded on ten operons preceded by sigma 70-like promoter elements.

ABSTRACT: Many gram-negative bacterial pathogens employ type III secretion systems for infectious processes. Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that encode a conserved type III secretion system that is likely requisite for growth. Typically, genes encoding type III secretion systems are located in a single locus; however, for chlamydiae these genes are scattered throughout the genome. Little is known regarding the gene regulatory mechanisms for this essential virulence determinant. To facilitate identification of cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements, the operon structure was determined. This analysis revealed 10 operons that contained 37 genes associated with the type III secretion system. Linkage within these operons suggests a role in type III secretion for each of these gene

SUBMITTER: Hefty PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1797217 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature