Bacterial Virulence Gene Expression Contributed By the Alternative σ Factor, σ54
Patricia C. Burrows, Simone C. Wiesler, Zhensheng Pan, Martin Buck and Sivaramesh Wigneshweraraj
from: Bacterial Regulatory Networks (Edited by: Alain A.M. Filloux). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2012)
Abstract
Amongst the many accessory factors that bind RNA polymerase (RNAp) and serve to control its activities, sigma (σ) factors ubiquitously feature in programming of gene expression in response to abiotic and biotic cues. Here we review the role of the major variant σ factor, σ54, in the expression of gene sets used for establishing the virulence of a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. The tight coupling of σ54-dependent transcription to signalling pathways underpins the regulation of such systems, and allows a wide dynamic range of gene expression read more ...
