Fogg, Paul Christopher Michael orcid.org/0000-0001-5324-4293 (2019) Identification and characterization of a direct activator of a gene transfer agent. Nature Communications. 595. p. 595. ISSN 2041-1723
Abstract
Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are thought to be ancient bacteriophages that have been co-opted into serving their host and can now transfer any gene between bacteria. Production of GTAs is controlled by several global regulators through unclear mechanisms. In Rhodobacter capsulatus, gene rcc01865 encodes a putative regulatory protein that is essential for GTA production. Here, I show that rcc01865 (hereafter gafA) encodes a transcriptional regulator that binds to the GTA promoter to initiate production of structural and DNA packaging components. Expression of gafA is in turn controlled by the pleiotropic regulator protein CtrA and the quorum-sensing regulator GtaR. GafA and CtrA work together to promote GTA maturation and eventual release through cell lysis. Identification of GafA as a direct GTA regulator allows the first integrated regulatory model to be proposed and paves the way for discovery of GTAs in other species that possess gafA homologues.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2019 |
Keywords: | ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE,HORIZONTAL GENE-TRANSFER,BACTERIAL EVOLUTION,GENE-REGULATION,TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR,Bacteriophages |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Biology (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 24 Jan 2019 17:20 |
Last Modified: | 01 Dec 2024 01:13 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08526-1 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1038/s41467-019-08526-1 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:141545 |
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Filename: s41467_019_08526_1.pdf
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Licence: CC-BY 2.5