Open AccessExpression from DIF1-motif promoters of hetR and patS is dependent on HetZ and modulated by PatU3 during heterocyst differentiation
Author(s) -
Yaru Du,
He Zhang,
Hong Wang,
Shuai Wang,
Qiqin Lei,
Chao Li,
Renqiu Kong,
Xudong Xu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0232383
Subject(s) - promoter , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , regulation of gene expression , gene expression , genetics , gene
HetR and PatS/PatX-derived peptides are the activator and diffusible inhibitor for cell differentiation and patterning in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. HetR regulates target genes via HetR-recognition sites. However, some genes (such as patS / patX ) upregulated at the early stage of heterocyst differentiation possess DIF1 (or DIF + ) motif ( TCCGGA ) promoters rather than HetR-recognition sites; hetR possesses both predicted regulatory elements. How HetR controls heterocyst-specific expression from DIF1 motif promoters remains to be answered. This study presents evidence that the expression from DIF1 motif promoters of hetR , patS and patX is more directly dependent on hetZ , a gene regulated by HetR via a HetR-recognition site. The HetR-binding site upstream of hetR is not required for the autoregulation of hetR . PatU3 (3′ portion of PatU) that interacts with HetZ may modulate the expression of hetR , hetZ and patS . These findings contribute to understanding of the mutual regulation of hetR , hetZ-patU and patS / patX in a large group of multicellular cyanobacteria.