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| Subject Categories: Signal Transduction | Microbiology & Pathogens |
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| The EMBO Journal
(2006) 25, 5414–5422, doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7601393 Published online 26 October 2006 |
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| A novel adaptation of aldolase regulates virulence in Streptococcus pyogenes |
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| Jennifer A Loughman and Michael G Caparon |
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Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA To whom correspondence should be addressed Michael G Caparon, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8230, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St Louis, MO 63110-1093, USA. Tel.: +1 314 362 1485; Fax: +1 314 362 3203; E-mail: caparon@borcim.wustl.edu Received 12 May 2006; Accepted 26 September 2006; Published online 26 October 2006. |
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| Abstract |
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| Regulation of virulence factor expression is critical for pathogenic microorganisms that must sense and adapt to a dynamic host environment; yet, the signal transduction pathways that enable this process are generally poorly understood. Here, we identify LacD.1 as a global regulator of virulence factor expression in the versatile human pathogen, Streptococcus pyogenes. LacD.1 is derived from a class I tagatose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase homologous to those involved in lactose and galactose metabolism in related prokaryotes. However, regulation of transcription by LacD.1 is not dependent on this enzymatic activity or the canonical catabolite repression pathway, but likely does require substrate recognition. Our results suggest that LacD.1 has been adapted as a metabolic sensor, and raise the possibility that regulation of gene expression by metabolic enzymes may be a novel mechanism by which Gram-positive bacteria, including S. pyogenes, coordinate multiple environmental cues, allowing essential transcription programs to be coupled with perceived nutritional status. |
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| Keywords: aldolase, LacD, regulation, SpeB, Streptococcus |
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Top of page MORE ARTICLES LIKE THISThese links to content published by NPG are automatically generated NEWS AND VIEWSStreptococcus pyogenes under pressure Nature Medicine News and Views (01 Aug 2007) Nature Structural Biology News and Views (01 Feb 2002) RESEARCHX-ray structure of 5-aminolaevulinate dehydratase, a hybrid aldolase Nature Structural Biology Article (01 Dec 1997) A GTP-binding adapter protein couples TRAIL receptors to apoptosis-inducing proteins Nature Immunology Article (01 Jun 2001) |
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