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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Stability of the pstS transcript of Escherichia coli

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Author(s):
Aguena, Meire [1] ; Ferreira, Gerson Moura [1] ; Spira, Beny [1]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Microbiol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: Archives of Microbiology; v. 191, n. 2, p. 105-112, FEB 2009.
Web of Science Citations: 9
Abstract

The pst operon of Escherichia coli is composed of five genes that encode a high-affinity phosphate transport system. As a member of the PHO regulon, pst transcription is activated under phosphate shortage conditions. Under phosphate-replete conditions, the pst operon also functions as a negative regulator of the PHO genes. Transcription of pst is initiated at the promoter located upstream to the first gene, pstS. Immediately after its synthesis, the primary transcript of pst is cleaved into shorter mRNA molecules. The transcription unit corresponding to pstS is significantly more abundant than the transcripts of the other pst genes due to stabilisation of pstS mRNA by a repetitive extragenic palindrome (REP) structure downstream to the pstS locus. The presence of the REP sequence also results in an increased level of PstS proteins. However, the surplus level of PstS proteins produced in the presence of REP does not contribute to the repressive role of Pst in PHO expression. (AU)