Open AccessRole of bacteriophage Mu C protein in activation of the mom gene promoter
Author(s) -
Michael Bölker,
F. Gregory Wulczyn,
Regine Kahmann
Publication year - 1989
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.171.4.2019-2027.1989
Subject(s) - biology , operon , microbiology and biotechnology , promoter , gene , transcription (linguistics) , footprinting , dna , primer extension , bacteriophage mu , escherichia coli , gene expression , bacteriophage , transcription factor , genetics , messenger rna , linguistics , philosophy
The phage Mu C gene product is a specific activator of Mu late gene transcription, including activation of the mom operon. Fusion of the C gene to the efficient translation initiation region of the Escherichia coli atpE gene allowed significant overproduction of C protein, which was subsequently purified and assayed for DNA binding by gel retardation and nuclease footprinting techniques. C protein binds to a site immediately upstream of the -35 region both of the mom promoter and the related phage D108 mod promoter. The location of the mom promoter has been determined by primer extension. Upstream deletions extending more than 3 base pairs into the C-binding site abolished activation of the mom promoter in vivo. In vitro binding of C was not significantly affected by DNA methylation. A second, C-dependent promoter was identified just downstream of the C coding region; comparison with the mom promoter revealed common structural elements.