Biomaterial Database

Regulation of uropathogenic Escherichia coli adhesin expression by DNA methylation. 1998

W B Hale, and M W van der Woude, and B A Braaten, and D A Low

Department of Pathology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132, USA.

Pap pili play an important role in the pathogenesis of upper urinary tract infections by enabling uropathogenic Escherichia coli to adhere to host epithelial cells. Pap pili are coded for by the pyelonephritis-associated pili (pap) operon, which consists of 11 genes required for the expression and assembly of Pap pili. Expression of Pap pili is regulated by a phase variation mechanism in which the pili expression state of the bacterial population is skewed between phase-on (expression positive) and phase-off (expression negative) states. Pap phase variation is controlled by the cooperative binding of leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) to two sets of Lrp binding sites in the upstream regulatory region of the pap operon. A single GATC sequence, which is the target site for deoxyadenosine methylase (Dam), is centrally located within each Lrp binding region. Dam plays a critical role in the expression of Pap pili via the formation of DNA methylation patterns. Methylation of GATC-I reduced the affinity of Lrp for pap DNA by about twofold. Conversely, Lrp specifically blocked methylation of pap GATC-I in vitro. These data support the hypothesis that Lrp and Dam compete for binding to GATC-I, and are consistent with previous results indicating that methylation of GATC-I is important for stability of the phase-off state.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009876	Operon	In bacteria, a group of metabolically related genes, with a common promoter, whose transcription into a single polycistronic MESSENGER RNA is under the control of an OPERATOR REGION.	Operons
D012045	Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid	Nucleic acid sequences involved in regulating the expression of genes.	Nucleic Acid Regulatory Sequences,Regulatory Regions, Nucleic Acid (Genetics),Region, Regulatory,Regions, Regulatory,Regulator Regions, Nucleic Acid,Regulatory Region,Regulatory Regions
D004268	DNA-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases.	DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D001665	Binding Sites	The parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule.	Combining Site,Binding Site,Combining Sites,Site, Binding,Site, Combining,Sites, Binding,Sites, Combining
D014157	Transcription Factors	Endogenous substances, usually proteins, which are effective in the initiation, stimulation, or termination of the genetic transcription process.	Transcription Factor,Factor, Transcription,Factors, Transcription
D015265	Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific)	An enzyme responsible for producing a species-characteristic methylation pattern on adenine residues in a specific short base sequence in the host cell DNA. The enzyme catalyzes the methylation of DNA adenine in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-methionine to form DNA containing 6-methylaminopurine and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine. EC 2.1.1.72.	DNA Modification Methylases (Adenine-Specific),DNA-Adenine Methylases,Modification Methylases (Adenine-Specific),Site-Specific Methyltransferases (Adenine-Specific),DNA Modification Methylases Adenine Specific,Modification Methylases (Adenine Specific),Site Specific Methyltransferases (Adenine Specific),DNA Adenine Methylases,Methylases, DNA-Adenine
D015964	Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial	Any of the processes by which cytoplasmic or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in bacteria.	Bacterial Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Bacterial,Regulation, Gene Expression, Bacterial
D051756	Leucine-Responsive Regulatory Protein	A LEUCINE and DNA-binding protein that is found primarily in BACTERIA and ARCHAEA. It regulates GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION involved in METABOLISM of AMINO ACIDS in response to the increased concentration of LEUCINE.	Leucine Responsive Regulatory Protein
D018830	Adhesins, Escherichia coli	Thin, filamentous protein structures, including proteinaceous capsular antigens (fimbrial antigens), that mediate adhesion of E. coli to surfaces and play a role in pathogenesis. They have a high affinity for various epithelial cells.	Escherichia coli Adhesins,Adhesin, E coli,Adhesin, Escherichia coli,E coli Adhesin,Escherichia coli Adhesin