Altering gene expression by aminocoumarins: the role of DNA supercoiling in Staphylococcus aureus

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121609
  • BACKGROUND: It has been shown previously that aminocoumarin antibiotics such as novobiocin lead to immediate downregulation of recA expression and thereby inhibit the SOS response, mutation frequency and recombination capacity in Staphylococcus aureus. Aminocoumarins function by inhibiting the ATPase activity of DNA gyrase subunit B with a severe impact on DNA supercoiling. RESULTS: Here, we have analysed the global impact of the DNA relaxing agent novobiocin on gene expression in S. aureus. Using a novobiocin-resistant mutant, it becameBACKGROUND: It has been shown previously that aminocoumarin antibiotics such as novobiocin lead to immediate downregulation of recA expression and thereby inhibit the SOS response, mutation frequency and recombination capacity in Staphylococcus aureus. Aminocoumarins function by inhibiting the ATPase activity of DNA gyrase subunit B with a severe impact on DNA supercoiling. RESULTS: Here, we have analysed the global impact of the DNA relaxing agent novobiocin on gene expression in S. aureus. Using a novobiocin-resistant mutant, it became evident that the change in recA expression is due to gyrase inhibition. Microarray analysis and northern blot hybridisation revealed that the expression levels of a distinct set of genes were increased (e.g., recF-gyrB-gyrA, the rib operon and the ure operon) or decreased (e.g., arlRS, recA, lukA, hlgC and fnbA) by novobiocin. The two-component ArlRS system was previously found to decrease the level of supercoiling in S. aureus. Thus, downregulation of arlRS might partially compensate for the relaxing effect of novobiocin. Global analysis and gene mapping of supercoiling-sensitive genes did not provide any indication that they are clustered in the genome. Promoter fusion assays confirmed that the responsiveness of a given gene is intrinsic to the promoter region but independent of the chromosomal location. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the molecular properties of a given promoter, rather than the chromosomal topology, dictate the responsiveness to changes in supercoiling in the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Wiebke Schröder, Jörg Bernhardt, Gabriella Marincola, Ludger Klein-Hitpass, Alexander Herbig, Guido Krupp, Kay Nieselt, Christiane Wolz
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121609
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie / Lehrstuhl für Biochemie
Language:English
Parent Title (English):BMC Genomics
ISSN:1471-2164
Year of Completion:2014
Volume:15
Issue:291
Source:BMC Genomics 2014, 15:291. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-291
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-291
Pubmed Id:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24734910
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Tag:Voronoi tree map; aminocoumarins; arlR; gyrase; microarray; novobiocin; spacer; staphylococcus aureus; supercoiling
Release Date:2016/02/19
Licence (German):License LogoCC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung