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Synthesis of group A streptococcal virulence factors is controlled by a regulatory RNA molecule
Author(s) -
Mangold Monika,
Siller Maria,
Roppenser Bernhard,
Vlaminckx Bart J. M.,
Penfound Tom A.,
Klein Reinhard,
Novak Rodger,
Novick Richard P.,
Charpentier Emmanuelle
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04222.x
Subject(s) - biology , effector , virulence , streptolysin , rna , gene , streptococcus pyogenes , messenger rna , gene expression , regulation of gene expression , genetics , virulence factor , untranslated region , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , bacterial protein , staphylococcus aureus
Summary The capacity of pathogens to cause disease depends strictly on the regulated expression of their virulence factors. In this study, we demonstrate that the untranslated mRNA of the recently described streptococcal p leiotropic e ffect l ocus ( pel ), which incidentally contains sagA , the structural gene for streptolysin S, is an effector of virulence factor expression in group A beta‐haemolytic streptococci (GAS). Our data suggest that the regulation by pel RNA occurs at both transcriptional (e.g. emm , sic , nga ) and post‐transcriptional (e.g. SpeB) levels. We could exclude the possibility that the pel phenotype was linked to a polar effect on downstream genes ( sagB‐I ). Remarkably, the RNA effector is regulated in a growth phase‐dependent fashion and we provide evidence that pel RNA expression is induced by conditioned media.