scholarly journals Inorganic Polyphosphate in Escherichia coli: the Phosphate Regulon and the Stringent Response

1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (8) ◽  
pp. 2186-2193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narayana N. Rao ◽  
Shengjiang Liu ◽  
Arthur Kornberg
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Inorganic Polyphosphate ◽  
Polyp Accumulation ◽  
Phosphate Regulon

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli transiently accumulates large amounts of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP), up to 20 mM in phosphate residues (Pi), in media deficient in both Pi and amino acids. This transient accumulation is preceded by the appearance of nucleotides ppGpp and pppGpp, generated in response to nutritional stresses. Mutants which lack PhoB, the response regulator of the phosphate regulon, do not accumulate polyP even though they develop wild-type levels of (p)ppGpp when subjected to amino acid starvation. When complemented with a phoB-containing plasmid,phoB mutants regain the ability to accumulate polyP. PolyP accumulation requires high levels of (p)ppGpp independent of whether they are generated by RelA (active during the stringent response) or SpoT (expressed during Pi starvation). Hence, accumulation of polyP requires a functional phoB gene and elevated levels of (p)ppGpp. A rapid assay of polyP depends on its adsorption to an anion-exchange disk on which it is hydrolyzed by a yeast exopolyphosphatase.

Physiologische Bedeutung der „Stringent Control“ bei Escherichia coli unter extremen Hungerbedingungen / Stringent Control and Starvation Survival in Escherichia coli

1989 ◽  
Vol 44 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 838-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Mach ◽  
M. Hecker ◽  
I. Hill ◽  
A. Schroeter ◽  
F. Mach
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Protein Turnover ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Phosphate Starvation ◽  
Pleiotropic Effects ◽  
Prolonged Starvation ◽  
Stringent Control ◽  
Starvation Survival

The viability of three isogenic relA+/relA strain pairs of Escherichia coli (CP78/CP79; NF 161/ NF162; CP 107/CP 143) was studied during prolonged starvation for amino acids, glucose or phosphate. After amino acid limitation we found a prolonged viability of all relA+ strains which synthesized ppGpp. We suggest that some ppGpp-mediated pleiotropic effects of the stringent response (e.g. glykogen accumulation, enhanced protein turnover) might be involved in this prolongation of survival. After glucose or phosphate starvation there was no difference in the relA+/relA strains either in the ppGpp content or in the survival.

scholarly journals Accumulation of Inorganic Polyphosphate in phoU Mutants of Escherichia coli and Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC6803

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 4107-4110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Morohoshi ◽  
Tatsuya Maruo ◽  
Yoko Shirai ◽  
Junichi Kato ◽  
Tsukasa Ikeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Biological Process ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Inorganic Polyphosphate ◽  
Insertional Inactivation ◽  
Synechocystis Sp ◽  
Polyp Accumulation

ABSTRACT The biological process for phosphate (Pi) removal is based on the use of bacteria capable of accumulating inorganic polyphosphate (polyP). We obtained Escherichia coli mutants which accumulate a large amount of polyP. The polyP accumulation in these mutants was ascribed to a mutation of the phoU gene that encodes a negative regulator of the Pi regulon. Insertional inactivation of the phoU gene also elevated the intracellular level of polyP in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803. The mutant could remove fourfold more Pi from the medium than the wild-type strain removed.

scholarly journals Inorganic Polyphosphate Accumulation inEscherichia coliIs Regulated by DksA but Not by (p)ppGpp

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Inorganic Polyphosphate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Polyphosphate Accumulation ◽  
Pathogenic Microbes ◽  
Polyp Accumulation

ABSTRACTProduction of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) by bacteria is triggered by a variety of different stress conditions. polyP is required for stress survival and virulence in diverse pathogenic microbes. Previous studies have hypothesized a model for regulation of polyP synthesis in which production of the stringent-response second messenger (p)ppGpp directly stimulates polyP accumulation. In this work, I have now shown that this model is incorrect, and (p)ppGpp is not required for polyP synthesis inEscherichia coli. However, stringent mutations of RNA polymerase that frequently arise spontaneously in strains defective in (p)ppGpp synthesis and null mutations of the stringent-response-associated transcription factor DksA both strongly inhibit polyP accumulation. The loss of polyP synthesis in a mutant lacking DksA was reversed by deletion of the transcription elongation factor GreA, suggesting that competition between these proteins for binding to the secondary channel of RNA polymerase plays an important role in controlling polyP activation. These results provide new insights into the poorly understood regulation of polyP synthesis in bacteria and indicate that the relationship between polyP and the stringent response is more complex than previously suspected.IMPORTANCEProduction of polyP in bacteria is required for virulence and stress response, but little is known about how bacteria regulate polyP levels in response to changes in their environments. Understanding this regulation is important for understanding how pathogenic microbes resist killing by disinfectants, antibiotics, and the immune system. In this work, I have clarified the connections between polyP regulation and the stringent response to starvation stress inEscherichia coliand demonstrated an important and previously unknown role for the transcription factor DksA in controlling polyP levels.

scholarly journals The global, ppGpp-mediated stringent response to amino acid starvation in Escherichia coli

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 1128-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew F. Traxler ◽  
Sean M. Summers ◽  
Huyen-Tran Nguyen ◽  
Vineetha M. Zacharia ◽  
G. Aaron Hightower ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation

scholarly journals Polyamine regulation of stringent control in a polyamine-auxotrophic strain of Escherichia coli

1984 ◽  
Vol 219 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
S H Goldemberg
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation ◽  
Auxotrophic Strain ◽  
Stringent Control

Escherichia coli BGA8, a mutant unable to synthesize putrescine, behaves as stringent or relaxed according to the presence or absence of polyamine, respectively, in the culture medium. The relaxed synthesis of RNA can be reverted back to stringent by addition of putrescine or spermidine. The stringent response depends on the concentration of the polyamine in the culture medium. The formation of guanosine 3′-diphosphate 5′-diphosphate elicited by amino acid starvation is stimulated at least 40-fold in putrescine-supplemented bacteria and only about 2-fold in putrescine-depleted cells.

scholarly journals Temperature-Sensitive Growth and Decreased Thermotolerance Associated with relA Mutations in Escherichia coli

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (19) ◽  
pp. 5765-5771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoming Yang ◽  
Edward E. Ishiguro
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Bifunctional Enzyme ◽  
Β Subunit ◽  
Null Mutant ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Expression Of Genes

ABSTRACT The relA gene of Escherichia coli encodes guanosine 3′,5′-bispyrophosphate (ppGpp) synthetase I, a ribosome-associated enzyme that is activated during amino acid starvation. The stringent response is thought to be mediated by ppGpp. Mutations in relA are known to result in pleiotropic phenotypes. We now report that three different relA mutant alleles, relA1, relA2, and relA251::kan, conferred temperature-sensitive phenotypes, as demonstrated by reduced plating efficiencies on nutrient agar (Difco) or on Davis minimal agar (Difco) at temperatures above 41°C. The relA-mediated temperature sensitivity was osmoremedial and could be completely suppressed, for example, by the addition of NaCl to the medium at a concentration of 0.3 M. The temperature sensitivities of the relA mutants were associated with decreased thermotolerance; e.g., relA mutants lost viability at 42°C, a temperature that is normally nonlethal. The spoT gene encodes a bifunctional enzyme possessing ppGpp synthetase and ppGpp pyrophosphohydrolase activities. The introduction of the spoT207::cat allele into a strain bearing the relA251::kan mutation completely abolished ppGpp synthesis. This ppGpp null mutant was even more temperature sensitive than the strain carrying the relA251::kan mutation alone. The relA-mediated thermosensitivity was suppressed by certain mutant alleles of rpoB (encoding the β subunit of RNA polymerase) and spoT that have been previously reported to suppress other phenotypic characteristics conferred by relA mutations. Collectively, these results suggest that ppGpp may be required in some way for the expression of genes involved in thermotolerance.

Effects of amino acid substitutions at the active site in Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase.

Genetics ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 637-644
Author(s):  
C G Cupples ◽  
J H Miller
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Lacz Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Beta Galactosidase

Abstract Forty-nine amino acid substitutions were made at four positions in the Escherichia coli enzyme beta-galactosidase; three of the four targeted amino acids are thought to be part of the active site. Many of the substitutions were made by converting the appropriate codon in lacZ to an amber codon, and using one of 12 suppressor strains to introduce the replacement amino acid. Glu-461 and Tyr-503 were replaced, independently, with 13 amino acids. All 26 of the strains containing mutant enzymes are Lac-. Enzyme activity is reduced to less than 10% of wild type by substitutions at Glu-461 and to less than 1% of wild type by substitutions at Tyr-503. Many of the mutant enzymes have less than 0.1% wild-type activity. His-464 and Met-3 were replaced with 11 and 12 amino acids, respectively. Strains containing any one of these mutant proteins are Lac+. The results support previous evidence that Glu-461 and Tyr-503 are essential for catalysis, and suggest that His-464 is not part of the active site. Site-directed mutagenesis was facilitated by construction of an f1 bacteriophage containing the complete lacZ gene on a single EcoRI fragment.

scholarly journals The general control activator protein GCN4 is essential for a basal level of ARO3 gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Paravicini ◽  
H U Mösch ◽  
T Schmidheini ◽  
G Braus
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Gene Product ◽  
Slow Growth ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
General Control ◽  
Activator Protein

The ARO3 gene encodes one of two 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate isoenzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzing the first step in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids. The ARO3-encoded 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (EC 4.1.2.15) is feedback inhibited by phenylalanine; its isoenzyme, the ARO4 gene product, is inhibited by tyrosine. Both genes ARO3 and ARO4 are strongly regulated under the general control regulatory system. Cells carrying only one intact isogene are phenotypically indistinguishable from a wild-type strain when grown on minimal medium. The complete functional ARO3 promoter comprises 231 base pairs and contains only one TGACTA binding site for the general control activator protein GCN4. Mutating this element to TTACTA inhibits binding of GCN4 and results in a decreased basal level of ARO3 gene product and slow growth of a strain defective in its isogene ARO4. In addition, ARO3 gene expression cannot be elevated under amino acid starvation conditions. An ARO3 aro4 strain with gcn4 genetic background has the same phenotype of low ARO3 gene expression and slow growth. The amount of GCN4 protein present in repressed wild-type cells therefore seems to contribute to a basal level of ARO3 gene expression. The general control activator GCN4 has thus two functions: (i) to maintain a basal level of ARO3 transcription (basal control) in the presence of amino acids and (ii) to derepress the ARO3 gene to a higher transcription rate under amino acid starvation (general control).

The general control activator protein GCN4 is essential for a basal level of ARO3 gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-151
Author(s):  
G Paravicini ◽  
H U Mösch ◽  
T Schmidheini ◽  
G Braus
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Gene Product ◽  
Slow Growth ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
General Control ◽  
Activator Protein

The ARO3 gene encodes one of two 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate isoenzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzing the first step in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids. The ARO3-encoded 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (EC 4.1.2.15) is feedback inhibited by phenylalanine; its isoenzyme, the ARO4 gene product, is inhibited by tyrosine. Both genes ARO3 and ARO4 are strongly regulated under the general control regulatory system. Cells carrying only one intact isogene are phenotypically indistinguishable from a wild-type strain when grown on minimal medium. The complete functional ARO3 promoter comprises 231 base pairs and contains only one TGACTA binding site for the general control activator protein GCN4. Mutating this element to TTACTA inhibits binding of GCN4 and results in a decreased basal level of ARO3 gene product and slow growth of a strain defective in its isogene ARO4. In addition, ARO3 gene expression cannot be elevated under amino acid starvation conditions. An ARO3 aro4 strain with gcn4 genetic background has the same phenotype of low ARO3 gene expression and slow growth. The amount of GCN4 protein present in repressed wild-type cells therefore seems to contribute to a basal level of ARO3 gene expression. The general control activator GCN4 has thus two functions: (i) to maintain a basal level of ARO3 transcription (basal control) in the presence of amino acids and (ii) to derepress the ARO3 gene to a higher transcription rate under amino acid starvation (general control).

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