The mechanisms used by bacterial pathogens to regulate the expression of their genes, especially their virulence genes, have been the subject of intense investigation for several decades. Whole genome sequencing projects, together with more targeted studies, have identified hundreds of DNA-binding proteins that contribute to the patterns of gene expression observed during infection as well as providing important insights into the nature of the gene products whose expression is being controlled by these proteins. Themes that have emerged include the importance of horizontal gene transfer to the evolution of pathogens, the need to impose regulatory discipline upon these imported genes and the important roles played by factors normally associated with the organization of genome architecture as regulatory principles in the control of virulence gene expression. Among these architectural elements is the structure of DNA itself, its variable nature at a topological rather than just at a base-sequence level and its ability to play an active (as well as a passive) part in the gene regulation process.
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July 2016
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Sagittal section through the retina of a hypertensive dTGR rat: staining in blue (DAPI) of cell nuclei and in red GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein). The GFAP staining shows activated astrocytes in the ganglion cell layer of the retina. See pp. 1075–1088 for further details. Image kindly provided by Olaf Strauß.
Review Article|
June 01 2016
Bacterial pathogen gene regulation: a DNA-structure-centred view of a protein-dominated domain
Charles J. Dorman;
*Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Correspondence: Charles J. Dorman (email [email protected]).
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Aoife Colgan;
Aoife Colgan
*Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Matthew J. Dorman
Matthew J. Dorman
1
†Department of Genetics, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 14 2016
Revision Received:
April 08 2016
Accepted:
April 15 2016
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2016 The Author(s). published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society
2016
Clin Sci (Lond) (2016) 130 (14): 1165–1177.
Article history
Received:
January 14 2016
Revision Received:
April 08 2016
Accepted:
April 15 2016
Citation
Charles J. Dorman, Aoife Colgan, Matthew J. Dorman; Bacterial pathogen gene regulation: a DNA-structure-centred view of a protein-dominated domain. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 July 2016; 130 (14): 1165–1177. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20160024
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