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J. Bacteriol. doi:10.1128/JB.00108-08
Copyright (c) 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Defining the Growth Conditions and Promoter-Proximal DNA Sequences Required for Activation of Gene Expression by CreBC in Escherichia coli

Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol. BS8 1TD. United Kingdom

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: matthewb.avison{at}bristol.ac.uk.

	Abstract

CreBC is a two-component system that controls the expression of a number of genes in Escherichia coli (the cre-regulon) that encode diverse functions, including intermediary metabolic enzymes. Using a reporter construct, we have shown that cre-regulon gene expression is activated during growth in minimal media when glycolytic carbon sources are being fermented. It is also activated during aerobic growth when fermentation products are being used as carbon sources. CreB and CreC are essential for activation of cre-regulon gene expression, but CreA and CreD, encoded as part of the creABCD gene cluster are not. CreB binds to a TTCACnnnnnnTTCAC direct repeat (the cre-tag) in vitro and this sequence, associated with cre-regulon gene promoters, is required for control of gene expression in vivo. These observations support the hypothesis that the CreBC is a functional two-component system involved in metabolic control of transcription in E. coli and confirm that CreB is a DNA-binding transcriptional regulator.