Work

A DNA damage response in Escherichia coli involving the alternative sigma factor, RpoS

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: We isolated an Escherichia coli mutant in the iraD gene, sensitive to various forms of DNA damage. Our data are consistent with the function of IraD to promote accumulation of the alternative transcription sigma factor, RpoS, by binding to the adaptor RssB protein that targets RpoS for degradation. Our results demonstrate the physiological importance of this mode of regulation for DNA damage tolerance. Although RpoS is best known for its regulation of genes induced in stationary phase, our work underscores the importance of the RpoS regulon in a DNA damage response in actively growing cells. We show that iraD transcription is induced by DNA damage by a mechanism independent of the SOS response. The IraD and SOS regulatory pathways appear to act synergistically to ensure survival of cells faced with oxidative or DNA damaging stress during cellular growth.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0803665106

Authors: Houra Merrikh, Alexander E. Ferrazzoli, Alexandre Bougdour, Anique Olivier-Mason, Susan T. Lovett

Institutions: Brandeis University, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: Genetic and Biochemical Mechanisms of Regulation, G7322135536, G7746192237, G797215833