Multiple Regulatory Mechanisms Act on the 5′ Untranslated Region of the S-Layer Gene from Thermus thermophilus HB8

ABSTRACT

The role of the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of the S-layer gene from Thermus thermophilus was analyzed through the isolation of Δ5′UTR mutants. In these mutants the half-life ofsplA mRNA was strongly reduced and slpAtranscription was no longer subjected to growth phase-dependent repression. Overproduction and detachment of the external envelopes of the mutants were observed in stationary phase.