Regulation of arginine acquisition and virulence gene expression in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae by transcription regulators ArgR1 and AhrC.

ABSTRACT: In this study, we investigated for the first time the transcriptional response of the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae to fluctuating concentrations of arginine, an essential amino acid for this bacterium. By means of DNA microarray analyses, several operons and genes were found, the expression of which was affected by the concentration of arginine in the medium. Five of the identified operons were demonstrated to be directly repressed in the presence of high arginine concentrations via the concerted action of the ArgR-type regulators ArgR1 and AhrC. These ArgR1/AhrC targets encompass the putative amino acid transport genes artPQ, abpA, abpB, and aapA; the arginine biosynthetic genes argGH; and the virulence genes aliB and lmB/adcAII-phtD encoding an oligopeptide-binding lipoprotein

SUBMITTER: Kloosterman TG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3248006 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature