Abstract |
When nutrients become limiting, many bacteria differentiate and become resistant to environmental stresses. For Escherichia coli, this process is mediated by the sigma s subunit of RNA polymerase. Expression of sigma s was induced by homoserine lactone, a metabolite synthesized from intermediates in threonine biosynthesis. Homoserine lactone-dependent synthesis of sigma s was prevented by overexpression of a newly identified protein, RspA. The function of homoserine lactone derivatives in many cell density-dependent phenomena and the similarity of RspA to a Streptomyces ambofaciens protein suggest that synthesis of homoserine lactone may be a general signal of starvation.
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Authors | G W Huisman, R Kolter |
Journal | Science (New York, N.Y.)
(Science)
Vol. 265
Issue 5171
Pg. 537-9
(Jul 22 1994)
ISSN: 0036-8075 [Print] United States |
PMID | 7545940
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Bacterial Proteins
- Sigma Factor
- sigma factor KatF protein, Bacteria
- homoserine lactone
- Catalase
- 4-Butyrolactone
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Topics |
- 4-Butyrolactone
(analogs & derivatives, metabolism, pharmacology)
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Bacterial Proteins
(biosynthesis, chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
- Catalase
(metabolism)
- Escherichia coli
(genetics, metabolism)
- Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
- Models, Biological
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Operon
- Phenotype
- Sigma Factor
(biosynthesis, genetics)
- Signal Transduction
- Transcription, Genetic
- Vibrio
(genetics)
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