Structure-based functional characterization of repressor of toxin (Rot), a central regulator of Staphylococcus aureus virulence.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a large number of diverse infections worldwide. In order to support its pathogenic lifestyle, S. aureus has to regulate the expression of virulence factors in a coordinated fashion. One of the central regulators of the S. aureus virulence regulatory networks is the transcription factor repressor of toxin (Rot). Rot plays a key role in regulating S. aureus virulence through activation or repression of promoters that control expression of a large number of critical virulence factors. However, the mechanism by which Rot mediates gene regulation has remained elusive. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of Rot and used this information to probe the contribution made by specific residues to Rot function. Rot was found to form a dimer, with each

SUBMITTER: Killikelly A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4288669 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature