Fumarate and nitrate reduction (FNR) dependent activation of the Escherichia coli anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase nrdDG promoter Authors Ignasi Roca Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Ester Ballana Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Anaïs Panosa Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Eduard Torrents Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Isidre Gibert Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Keywords: Escherichia coli, fumarate and nitrate reduction (FNR), ribonucleotide reductase, gene nrd Abstract The nrdDG promoter regulates transcriptional expression of the anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase of Escherichia coli, an essential enzyme required to supply the building blocks for DNA synthesis. In this work, binding of the pleiotropic FNR (fumarate and nitrate reduction) transcriptional regulator to the nrdDG promoter region and the effects of binding on transcription were investigated. Gel retardation analysis with purified FNR* demonstrated FNR interaction at two FNR sites, termed FNR-2 and FNR-1, while studies with altered FNR boxes indicated that the upstream FNR-2 site was essential for anaerobic activation of the nrdDG promoter. Although the FNR-1 site was not absolutely required, it allowed maximal expression of this promoter. These results suggest that the two sites have an additive effect in coordinating nrdDG expression in response to shifting oxygen concentrations. [Int Microbiol 2008; 11(1):49-56] Author Biographies Ignasi Roca, Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Ester Ballana, Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Anaïs Panosa, Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Eduard Torrents, Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Isidre Gibert, Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Bacterial Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, and Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Downloads PDF Published 2010-01-19 Issue Vol. 11 No. 1 (2008) Section Research Articles License Submission of a manuscript to International Microbiology implies: that the work described has not been published before, including publication in the World Wide Web (except in the form of an Abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, or thesis); that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere; that all the coauthors have agreed to its publication. 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