Convergent transcription confers a bistable switch in Enterococcus faecalis conjugation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jun 7;108(23):9721-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1101569108. Epub 2011 May 23.

Abstract

Convergent gene pairs with head-to-head configurations are widespread in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes and are speculated to be involved in gene regulation. Here we present a unique mechanism of gene regulation due to convergent transcription from the antagonistic prgX/prgQ operon in Enterococcus faecalis controlling conjugative transfer of the antibiotic resistance plasmid pCF10 from donor cells to recipient cells. Using mathematical modeling and experimentation, we demonstrate that convergent transcription in the prgX/prgQ operon endows the system with the properties of a robust genetic switch through premature termination of elongating transcripts due to collisions between RNA polymerases (RNAPs) transcribing from opposite directions and antisense regulation between complementary counter-transcripts. Evidence is provided for the presence of truncated RNAs resulting from convergent transcription from both the promoters that are capable of sense-antisense interactions. A mathematical model predicts that both RNAP collision and antisense regulation are essential for a robust bistable switch behavior in the control of conjugation initiation by prgX/prgQ operons. Moreover, given that convergent transcription is conserved across species, the mechanism of coupling RNAP collision and antisense interaction is likely to have a significant regulatory role in gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Conjugation, Genetic / genetics*
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / genetics
  • Enterococcus faecalis / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Operon
  • Plasmids / genetics*
  • Protein Sorting Signals / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • Repressor Proteins
  • iCF10 peptide precursor, Plasmid pCF10
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases