The nucleoid occlusion protein SlmA is a direct transcriptional activator of chitobiose utilization in Vibrio cholerae.

ABSTRACT: Chitin utilization by the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae is required for its persistence and evolution via horizontal gene transfer in the marine environment. Genes involved in the uptake and catabolism of the chitin disaccharide chitobiose are encoded by the chb operon. The orphan sensor kinase ChiS is critical for regulation of this locus, however, the mechanisms downstream of ChiS activation that result in expression of the chb operon are poorly understood. Using an unbiased transposon mutant screen, we uncover that the nucleoid occlusion protein SlmA is a regulator of the chb operon. SlmA has not previously been implicated in gene regulation. Also, SlmA is a member of the TetR family of proteins, which are generally transcriptional repressors. In vitro, we find that SlmA binds direct

SUBMITTER: Klancher CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5519180 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature