CspA regulation of Staphylococcus aureus carotenoid levels and σ^B activity is controlled by YjbH and Spx.

ABSTRACT: Staphyloxanthin, a carotenoid in S. aureus, is a powerful antioxidant against oxidative stresses. The crtOPQMN operon driving pigment synthesis is under the control of σ^B . CspA, a cold shock protein, is known to control σ^B activity. To ascertain genes that regulate cspA, we screened a transposon library that exhibited reduced cspA expression and pigmentation. We found that the adaptor protein YjbH activates cspA expression. Spx, the redox-sensitive transcriptional regulator and a proteolytic target for YjbH and ClpXP, complexes with αCTD of RNAP prior to binding the cspA promoter to repress cspA activity. Increased cspA expression in trans in the inactive spx C10A mutant of JE2 did not enhance pigment production while it did in JE2, suggesting that cspA is downstream

SUBMITTER: Donegan NP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6703946 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature