Open AccessGlobal Stage-Specific Gene Regulation during the Developmental Cycle of Chlamydia trachomatis
Author(s) -
Tracy L. Nicholson,
Lynn Olinger,
Kimberley Chong,
Gary K. Schoolnik,
Richard S. Stephens
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.185.10.3179-3189.2003
Subject(s) - biology , chlamydia trachomatis , obligate , gene , genetics , regulation of gene expression , genome , gene expression , cell cycle , gene cluster , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , ecology
Distinct morphological changes associated with the complex development cycle of the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis have been historically well characterized by microscopy. A number of temporally regulated genes have been characterized previously, suggesting that the chlamydial developmental cycle is regulated at the transcriptional level. This hypothesis was tested by microarray analysis in which the entire C. trachomatis genome was analyzed, providing a comprehensive assessment of global gene regulation throughout the chlamydial developmental cycle. Seven temporally cohesive gene clusters were identified, with 22% (189 genes) of the genome differentially expressed during the developmental cycle. The correlation of these gene clusters with hallmark morphological events of the chlamydial developmental cycle suggests three global stage-specific networks of gene regulation.