Transcriptional regulation in Archaea: in vivo demonstration of a repressor binding site in a methanogen.

ABSTRACT: The status of the Archaea as one of the three primary Domains emphasizes the importance of understanding their molecular fundamentals. Basic transcription in the Archaea resembles eucaryal transcription. However, little is known about transcriptional regulation. We have taken an in vivo approach, using genetics to address transcriptional regulation in the methanogenic Archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis. We identified a repressor binding site that regulates nif (nitrogen fixation) gene expression. The repressor binding site was palindromic (an inverted repeat) and was located just after the transcription start site of nifH. Mutations that changed the sequence of the palindrome resulted in marked decreases in repression by ammonia, even when the palindromic nature of the site was retained. T

SUBMITTER: Cohen-Kupiec R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC19788 | biostudies-literature | 1997 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature