A highly conserved transcriptional repressor controls a large regulon involved in lipid degradation in Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis
2007

Regulator Controls Lipid Degradation in Mycobacteria

publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Kendall Sharon L, Withers Mike, Soffair Catherine N, Moreland Nicole J, Gurcha Sudagar, Sidders Ben, Frita Rosangela, ten Bokum Annemieke, Besra Gurdyal S, Lott J Shaun, Stoker Neil G

Primary Institution: The Royal Veterinary College

Hypothesis

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis TetR-type regulator Rv3574 is essential for infection and regulates genes involved in lipid metabolism.

Conclusion

The regulator Rv3574 controls the expression of genes used for utilizing diverse lipids as energy sources in Mycobacterium species.

Supporting Evidence

  • Rv3574 is required for infection in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
  • Deletion of Rv3574 in Mycobacterium smegmatis leads to upregulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism.
  • Microarray analysis identified 132 genes significantly upregulated in the mutant strain.

Takeaway

A protein called Rv3574 helps Mycobacterium bacteria use fats for energy, which is important for their survival.

Methodology

The study involved gene deletion, real-time quantitative PCR, and microarray analyses to assess gene expression.

Limitations

The study did not formally demonstrate binding of KstR to the motif itself.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05827.x

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication