In vivo and in vitro analyses of regulation of the pheromone-responsive prgQ promoter by the PrgX pheromone receptor protein.

ABSTRACT: Expression of conjugative transfer and virulence functions of the Enterococcus faecalis antibiotic resistance plasmid pCF10 is regulated by the interaction of the pheromone receptor protein PrgX with two DNA binding operator sites (XBS1 and XBS2) upstream from the transcription start site of the prgQ operon (encoding the pCF10 transfer machinery) and by posttranscriptional mechanisms. Occupancy of both binding sites by PrgX dimers results in repression of the prgQ promoter. Structural and genetic studies suggest that the peptide pheromone cCF10 functions by binding to PrgX and altering its oligomerization state, resulting in reduced occupancy of XBSs and increased prgQ transcription. The DNA binding activity of PrgX has additional indirect regulatory effects on prgQ transcript levels relat

SUBMITTER: Caserta E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3434730 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature