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Bacterial MerR family transcription regulators: activationby distortion.

ABSTRACT: Transcription factors (TFs) modulate gene expression by regulating the accessibility of promoter DNA to RNA polymerases (RNAPs) in bacteria. The MerR family TFs are a large class of bacterial proteins unique in their physiological functions and molecular action: they function as transcription repressors under normal circumstances, but rapidly transform to transcription activators under various cellular triggers, including oxidative stress, imbalance of cellular metal ions, and antibiotic challenge. The promoters regulated by MerR TFs typically contain an abnormal long spacer between the -35 and -10 elements, where MerR TFs bind and regulate transcription activity through unique mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the function, ligand reception, DNA recognition, and molecular mechanism of transcription regulation of MerR-family TFs.

SUBMITTER: Fang C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9909328 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Bacterial MerR family transcription regulators: activationby distortion.

Fang Chengli C Zhang Yu Y

Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica 20220101 1

Transcription factors (TFs) modulate gene expression by regulating the accessibility of promoter DNA to RNA polymerases (RNAPs) in bacteria. The MerR family TFs are a large class of bacterial proteins unique in their physiological functions and molecular action: they function as transcription repressors under normal circumstances, but rapidly transform to transcription activators under various cellular triggers, including oxidative stress, imbalance of cellular metal ions, and antibiotic challen ...[more]

PMID: 35130613

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