Local and global regulators linking anaerobiosis to cupA fimbrial gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT: The cupA gene cluster of Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes components and assembly factors of a putative fimbrial structure that enable this opportunistic pathogen to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces. In P. aeruginosa the control of cupA gene expression is complex, with the H-NS-like MvaT protein functioning to repress phase-variable (on/off) expression of the operon. Here we identify four positive regulators of cupA gene expression, including three unusual regulators encoded by the cgrABC genes and Anr, a global regulator of anaerobic gene expression. We show that the cupA genes are expressed in a phase-variable manner under anaerobic conditions and that the cgr genes are essential for this expression. We show further that cgr gene expression is negatively controlled by MvaT and positively

SUBMITTER: Vallet-Gely I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2168922 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature