The Pneumococcal Type 1 Pilus Genes Are Thermoregulated and Are Repressed by a Member of the Snf2 Protein Family.

ABSTRACT: In Streptococcus pneumoniae, the type 1 pilus is involved in many steps of pathogenesis, including adherence to epithelial cells, mediation of inflammation, escape from macrophages, and the formation of biofilms. The type 1 pilus genes are expressed in a bistable fashion with cells switching between "on" and "off" expression states. Bistable expression of these genes is due to their control by RlrA, a positive regulator subject to control by a positive-feedback loop. The type 1 pilus genes are also thought to be negatively regulated by a large number of repressors. Here we show that expression of the type 1 pilus genes is thermosensitive and switched off at growth temperatures below 31°C. We also report that the on expression state of the type 1 pilus genes is highly stable, a phenomenon w

SUBMITTER: Basset A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5512219 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature