Trehalose synthesis genes are controlled by the putative sigma factor encoded by rpoS and are involved in stationary-phase thermotolerance in Escherichia coli

J Bacteriol. 1991 Dec;173(24):7918-24. doi: 10.1128/jb.173.24.7918-7924.1991.

Abstract

The rpoS (katF) gene of Escherichia coli encodes a putative sigma factor (sigma S) required for the expression of a variety of stationary phase-induced genes, for the development of stationary-phase stress resistance, and for long-term starvation survival (R. Lange and R. Hengge-Aronis, Mol. Microbiol. 5:49-59, 1991). Here we show that the genes otsA, otsB, treA, and osmB, previously known to be osmotically regulated, are also induced during transition into stationary phase in a sigma S-dependent manner. otsA and otsB, which encode trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase, respectively, are involved in sigma S-dependent stationary-phase thermotolerance. Neither sigma S nor trehalose, however, is required for the development of adaptive thermotolerance in growing cells, which might be controlled by sigma E.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Kinetics
  • Osmotic Pressure
  • Sigma Factor / genetics*
  • Sigma Factor / metabolism
  • Temperature
  • Trehalose / biosynthesis
  • Trehalose / genetics*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Sigma Factor
  • sigma factor KatF protein, Bacteria
  • Trehalose