Ribulokinase and transcriptional regulation of arabinose metabolism in Clostridium acetobutylicum.

ABSTRACT: The transcription factor AraR controls utilization of L-arabinose in Bacillus subtilis. In this study, we combined a comparative genomic reconstruction of AraR regulons in nine Clostridium species with detailed experimental characterization of AraR-mediated regulation in Clostridium acetobutylicum. Based on the reconstructed AraR regulons, a novel ribulokinase, AraK, present in all analyzed Clostridium species was identified, which was a nonorthologous replacement of previously characterized ribulokinases. The predicted function of the araK gene was confirmed by inactivation of the araK gene in C. acetobutylicum and biochemical assays using purified recombinant AraK. In addition to the genes involved in arabinose utilization and arabinoside degradation, extension of the AraR regulon to the

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3294803 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature