Expression of Borrelia burgdorferi OspC and DbpA is controlled by a RpoN–RpoS regulatory pathway

A Hübner, X Yang, DM Nolen… - Proceedings of the …, 2001 - National Acad Sciences
A Hübner, X Yang, DM Nolen, TG Popova, FC Cabello, MV Norgard
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001National Acad Sciences
RpoS and RpoN are two alternative sigma factors typically associated with general stress
responses in bacteria. To date, there has been no experimental evidence that RpoS and
RpoN can directly control the expression of one another. Herein, using a combined strategy
of gene disruption and genetic complementation targeting rpoN and rpoS in Borrelia
burgdorferi strain 297, we describe a regulatory network for B. burgdorferi. In this network,
RpoN controls the expression of RpoS, which, in turn, governs the expression of two …
RpoS and RpoN are two alternative sigma factors typically associated with general stress responses in bacteria. To date, there has been no experimental evidence that RpoS and RpoN can directly control the expression of one another. Herein, using a combined strategy of gene disruption and genetic complementation targeting rpoN and rpoS in Borrelia burgdorferi strain 297, we describe a regulatory network for B. burgdorferi. In this network, RpoN controls the expression of RpoS, which, in turn, governs the expression of two important membrane lipoproteins, outer surface protein C and decorin-binding protein A, and likely other proteins of B. burgdorferi. Our findings provide a foundation for elucidating further key regulatory networks that potentially impact many aspects of B. burgdorferi's parasitic strategy, host range, and virulence expression.
National Acad Sciences