RfaH suppresses small RNA MicA inhibition of fimB expression in Escherichia coli K-12.

ABSTRACT: The phase variation (reversible on-off switching) of the type 1 fimbrial adhesin of Escherichia coli involves a DNA inversion catalyzed by FimB (switching in either direction) or FimE (on-to-off switching). Here, we demonstrate that RfaH activates expression of a FimB-LacZ protein fusion while having a modest inhibitory effect on a comparable fimB-lacZ operon construct and on a FimE-LacZ protein fusion, indicating that RfaH selectively controls fimB expression at the posttranscriptional level. Further work demonstrates that loss of RfaH enables small RNA (sRNA) MicA inhibition of fimB expression even in the absence of exogenous inducing stress. This effect is explained by induction of σ(E), and hence MicA, in the absence of RfaH. Additional work confirms that the procaine-dependent inducti

SUBMITTER: Moores A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3911127 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature