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degS ( hhoB ) is an essential Escherichia coli gene whose indispensable function is to provide σ E activity
Author(s) -
Alba Benjamin M.,
Zhong Hong Ji,
Pelayo Juan Carlos,
Gross Carol A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02475.x
Subject(s) - periplasmic space , sigma factor , biology , escherichia coli , gene , function (biology) , sigma , serine protease , transmembrane protein , transmembrane domain , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , protease , biochemistry , enzyme , rna polymerase , receptor , physics , quantum mechanics
DegS (HhoB), a putative serine protease related to DegP/HtrA, regulates the basal and induced activity of the essential Escherichia coli sigma factor σ E , which is involved in the cellular response to extracytoplasmic stress. DegS promotes the destabilization of the σ E ‐specific anti‐sigma factor RseA, thereby releasing σ E to direct gene expression. We demonstrate that degS is an essential E. coli gene and show that the essential function of DegS is to provide the cell with σ E activity. We also show that the putative active site of DegS is periplasmic and that DegS requires its N‐terminal transmembrane domain for its σ E ‐related function.