The expression of virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes is thermoregulated

Author:

Leimeister-Wächter M1,Domann E1,Chakraborty T1

Affiliation:

1. Institut für Genetik und Mikrobiologie, Klinische Biochemie, Würzburg, Germany.

Abstract

The expression of listeriolysin, a major virulence factor of the gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, is positively regulated by a transcriptional activator, the prfA gene product. We had previously shown that mutations within the prfA gene lead to loss of listeriolysin production. In this communication, the regulation of expression of listeriolysin by a specific environmental condition, namely, temperature, was studied in wild-type strains of Listeria monocytogenes. We found that expression of the hemolysis phenotype was thermoregulated. A lisA::lacZ fusion was constructed, and its expression in the wild-type strain was studied at various growth temperatures. The results showed that the fusion beta-galactosidase activity was expressed only when cultures were grown at temperatures above 30 degrees C. This activity could be either specifically repressed or induced, depending on growth temperature. No change in activity was detected in a strain harboring a control beta-galactosidase fusion at the various growth temperatures tested. Northern (RNA) blot analysis of lisA-specific RNA transcripts showed that thermoregulation is manifested at the level of transcription. We also found that the transcription of other PrfA-regulated virulence genes in L. monocytogenes was similarly affected by growth temperature. Hence, as in other facultative intracellular pathogens, Shigella and Yersinia spp., temperature is an important cue in the induction of expression of virulence genes in L. monocytogenes. Our studies revealed that a higher level of regulation is imposed on the PrfA-mediated activation of virulence genes in pathogenic L. monocytogenes.

Publisher

American Society for Microbiology

Subject

Molecular Biology,Microbiology

Reference38 articles.

1. Ausubel F. M. R. Brent R. E. Kingston D. D. Moore J. G. Seidman J. A. Smith and K. Struhl. 1989. Current protocols in molecular biology. John Wiley & Sons New York.

2. Chakraborty T. E. Domann and J. Wehland. Unpublished data.

3. Coordinate regulation of virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes requires the product.of the prfA gene;Chakraborty T.;J. Bacteriol.,1991

4. Chakraborty T. M. Leimeister-Wfichter E. Domann and H. Hof. Unpublished data.

5. Molecular cloning, sequencing, and identification of a metalloprotease gene from Listeria monocytogenes that is species specific and physically linked to the listeriolysin gene;Domann E.;Infect. Immun.,1991

Cited by 217 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3