Inactivation of the nod box distal half-site allows tetrameric NodD to activate nodA transcription in an inducer-independent manner

Nucleic Acids Res. 2003 Jun 15;31(12):3143-56. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkg411.

Abstract

In Rhizobium leguminosarum, NodD can activate nodA transcription in response to inducer flavonoids. Here, we show that the inducible nodA promoter contains an intrinsic part through which NodD can activate nodA transcription in an inducer-independent manner. Evidence was provided that NodD binds to target DNA through anchoring the two half-sites of the nod box as a tetramer. An imperfect inverted repeat AT-N10-GAT was found in each half-site and is critical for NodD binding. Mutation of the inverted repeat of the nod box distal half-site allowed NodD to activate nodA transcription in an inducer-independent manner in vivo, and to modulate the DNA bending of the NodD-nod box complex in the absence of inducer in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acyltransferases / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Flavanones*
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid*
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcriptional Activation*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Flavanones
  • Flavonoids
  • NodD protein, Bacteria
  • Transcription Factors
  • Acyltransferases
  • NodA protein, Rhizobiales
  • naringenin