Open AccessGlobal analysis of iron assimilation and fur regulation in Yersinia pestis
Author(s) -
Zhou Dongsheng,
Qin Long,
Han Yanping,
Qiu Jingfu,
Chen Zeliang,
Li Bei,
Song Yajun,
Wang Jin,
Guo Zhaobiao,
Zhai Junhui,
Du Zongmin,
Wang Xiaoyi,
Yang Ruifu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00208.x
Subject(s) - yersinia pestis , repressor , gene , biology , microarray analysis techniques , mutant , transcription (linguistics) , gene expression , dna microarray , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , virulence , linguistics , philosophy
Using DNA microarray analysis, mRNA levels from wild‐type Yersinia pestis cells treated with the iron chelator 2,2′‐dipyridyl were compared with those supplemented with excessive iron, and subsequent to this, gene expression in the fur mutant was compared with that in the wild‐type strain under iron rich conditions. The microarray analysis revealed many iron transport or storage systems that had been induced in response to the iron starvation, which is mediated by the Fur protein, using the iron as a co‐repressor. The iron–Fur complex also affected some genes involved in various non‐iron functions (ribonucleoside‐diphosphate reductase, membrane proteins, electron transport and oxidative defense, etc.). The Fur protein still participated in the regulation of genes involved in broad cellular processes (virulence factors, pesticin activity, haemin storage and many proteins with unknown functions) that were not affected by iron depletion conditions. In addition to its classical negative regulatory activities, the Fur protein activates gene transcription. Using bioinformatics tools, we were able to predict the Y. pestis Fur box sequence that was clearly the over‐presented motif in the promoter regions of members of the iron–Fur modulon.