Phase variation of H. influenzae fimbriae: Transcriptional control of two divergent genes through a variable combined promoter region
1993; Cell Press; Volume: 73; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0092-8674(93)90647-9
ISSN1097-4172
AutoresS. Marieke van Ham, Loek van Alphen, Frits R. Mooi, Jos P. M. van Putten,
Tópico(s)Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
ResumoThe expression of H. influenzae fimbriae is subject to reversible phase variation between three expression levels. This phenomenon is controlled at the transcriptional level of two divergently orientated genes, hifA and hifB, encoding the major fimbrial subunit and the fimbrial chaperone, respectively. The hifA and hifB promoter regions were found to be clustered through an almost complete divergent overlap with a variable DNA backbone of repetitive TA units. Variation in the number of units changes the normally strictly constrained spacing between the −35 and −10 sequences and controls the bidirectional transcription initiation, thus forming a novel mechanism directing multiple gene transcription.
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