Genome scale portrait of cAMP-receptor protein (CRP) regulons in mycobacteria points to their role in pathogenesis

Gene. 2008 Jan 15;407(1-2):148-58. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2007.10.017. Epub 2007 Oct 22.

Abstract

cAMP Receptor Protein (CRP)/Fumarate Nitrate Reductase Regulator (FNR) family proteins are ubiquitous regulators of cell stress in eubacteria. These proteins are commonly associated with maintenance of intracellular oxygen levels, redox-state, oxidative and nitrosative stresses, and extreme temperature conditions by regulating expression of target genes that contain regulatory cognate DNA elements. We describe the use of informatics enabled comparative genomics to identify novel genes under the control of CRP regulator in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). An inventory of CRP regulated genes and their operon context in important mycobacterial species such as M. leprae, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis and M. smegmatis and several common genes within this genus including the important cellular functions, mainly, cell-wall biogenesis, cAMP signaling and metabolism associated with such regulons were identified. Our results provide a possible theoretical framework for better understanding of the stress response in mycobacteria. The conservation of the CRP regulated genes in pathogenic mycobacteria, as opposed to non-pathogenic ones, highlights the importance of CRP-regulated genes in pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Wall / genetics
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein / chemistry
  • Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genome, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycobacterium avium / genetics
  • Mycobacterium leprae / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / pathogenicity*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Regulon / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein