Direct evidence for control of the pheromone-inducible prgQ operon of Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pCF10 by a countertranscript-driven attenuation mechanism.

ABSTRACT: The mating response of Enterococcus faecalis cells carrying the conjugative plasmid pCF10 is controlled by multiple regulatory circuits. Initiation of transcription of the prgQ conjugation operon is controlled by the peptide receptor protein PrgX; binding of the pheromone peptide cCF10 to PrgX abolishes PrgX repression, while binding of the inhibitor peptide iCF10 enhances repression. The results of molecular analysis of prgQ transcripts and genetic studies suggested that the elongation of prgQ transcripts past a putative terminator (IRS1) may be controlled by the interaction of nascent prgQ mRNAs with a small antisense RNA (Anti-Q) encoded within prgQ. Direct evidence for interaction of these RNAs, as well as the resulting effects on readthrough of prgQ transcription, has been limited. He

SUBMITTER: Johnson CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2832536 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature