Open AccessMolecular basis for modulated regulation of gene expression in the arginine regulon ofEscherichia coliK-12
Author(s) -
Raymond Cunin,
Thomas Eckhardt,
Jacques Piette,
Anne Boyen,
André Pierard,
Nicolas Glansdorff
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
nucleic acids research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 9.008
H-Index - 537
eISSN - 1362-4954
pISSN - 0305-1048
DOI - 10.1093/nar/11.15.5007
Subject(s) - regulon , library science , section (typography) , classics , biology , gene , genetics , escherichia coli , history , computer science , operating system
We compare the nucleotide sequences of the regulatory regions of five genes or groups of genes of the arginine regulon of Escherichia coli K-12: argF, argI, argR, the bipolar argECBH operon and the carAB operon. All these regions harbour one or two copies of a conserved 18 bp sequence which appears to constitute the basic arginine operator sequence (ARG box). We discuss the influence of ARG box copy number, degree of dyad symmetry, base composition, and position relative to the cognate promoter site on the derepression-repression ratios of the genes of the regulon. A novel hypothesis, based on structural considerations, is also put forward to account for the absence ot attenuation control.