Open AccessFormation of pilin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires the alternative sigma factor (RpoN) of RNA polymerase.
Author(s) -
Karyn S. Ishimoto,
Stephen Lory
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.86.6.1954
Subject(s) - rpon , sigma factor , pilin , biology , rna polymerase , promoter , polymerase , pseudomonas aeruginosa , gene , pilus , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , rna , escherichia coli , gene expression , bacteria
The promoter region of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa pilin gene has a high degree of similarity to the nitrogen-regulated promoters of enteric bacteria. These promoters are recognized by the alternative sigma factor of RNA polymerase, termed RpoN (NtrA or GlnF). This observation suggested that the P. aeruginosa pilin gene may be transcribed by the RpoN-containing RNA polymerase. We, therefore, cloned the RpoN gene from P. aeruginosa into Escherichia coli (where it formed a functional product) and used that cloned gene to construct a mutant of P. aeruginosa that was insertionally inactivated in its RpoN gene. This mutant failed to synthesize pilin, indicating that the RpoN sigma factor is required for transcription of the pilin gene.