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The requirement of ArcA and Fnr for peak expression of the cyd operon in Escherichia coli under microaerobic conditions

Molecular and General Genetics MGG volume 226, pages 209–213 (1991)Cite this article

Summary

Transcriptional regulation of cyd, encoding the cytochrome d complex for O2 scavenging, was studied in Escherichia coli by monitoring ϕ(cyd-lac) expression under atmospheres containing 0–21% O2. Peak expression of this operon occurred under microaerobic conditions. Mutations in arcA (a trans-acting regulatory gene involved in aerobic respiration) greatly lowered ϕ(cyd-lac) expression under all conditions. Mutations in fnr (a trans-acting regulatory gene involved in anaerobic respiration) shifted the pattern of ϕ(cyd-lac) expression, lowering the microaerobic and aerobic expression. In an arcA fnr double mutant, ϕ(cyd-lac) expression became insignificant, irrespective of the availability of O2. It thus appears that the expression of the ϕ(cyd-lac) operon is under dual control by the two pleiotropic activators, ArcA and Fnr, which interact to give the peak microaerobic expression.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, 02115, Boston, MA, USA

    H. -A. Fu, S. Iuchi & E. C. C. Lin

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  1. H. -A. Fu
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  2. S. Iuchi
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  3. E. C. C. Lin
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Communicated by J.W. Lengeler

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Fu, H.A., Iuchi, S. & Lin, E.C.C. The requirement of ArcA and Fnr for peak expression of the cyd operon in Escherichia coli under microaerobic conditions. Mol Gen Genet 226, 209–213 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00273605

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00273605

Key words

  • Microaerobiosis
  • cyd
  • arcA
  • fnr
  • Escherichia coli