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Full-Text Articles in Pathogenic Microbiology
The Influence Of The Pep-Pts And Other Metabolic Systems On The Master Virulence Regulator Atxa And Toxin Gene Expression In Bacillus Anthracis, Naomi Bier-Reizes
The Influence Of The Pep-Pts And Other Metabolic Systems On The Master Virulence Regulator Atxa And Toxin Gene Expression In Bacillus Anthracis, Naomi Bier-Reizes
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
AtxA, the master virulence gene regulator in Bacillus anthracis, is a PRD-containing virulence regulator (PCVR) as indicated by the crystal structure, post-translational modifications, and activity of the protein. PCVRs are transcriptional regulators, named for the regulatory domains subject to phosphorylation by the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PEP-PTS), termed PTS Regulatory Domains (PRD), and for their impact on virulence gene expression. Generally, the phosphorylation of a PCVR regulates protein activity and multimerization. AtxA is phosphorylated at two histidine residues - one in each of its two PRDs. Phosphorylation at position 199 allows for AtxA to positively affect expression of virulence genes, whereas …
Functional Characterization Of Atxa, The Bacillus Anthracis Virulence Regulator, Troy G. Hammerstrom
Functional Characterization Of Atxa, The Bacillus Anthracis Virulence Regulator, Troy G. Hammerstrom
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
Coordinated expression of virulence genes in Bacillus anthracis occurs via a multi-faceted signal transduction pathway that is dependent upon the AtxA protein. Intricate control of atxA gene transcription and AtxA protein function have become apparent from studies of AtxA-induced synthesis of the anthrax toxin proteins and the poly-D-glutamic acid capsule, two factors with important roles in B. anthracis pathogenesis. The amino-terminal region of the AtxA protein contains winged-helix (WH) and helix-turn-helix (HTH) motifs, structural features associated with DNA-binding. Using filter binding assays, I determined that AtxA interacted non-specifically at a low nanomolar affinity with a target promoter (Plef) …