Isolation and characterization of the nikR gene encoding a nickel-responsive regulator in Escherichia coli

• Published in: Journal of bacteriology Vol. 181; no. 2; pp. 670 - 674
• Main Authors: De Pina, K, Desjardin, V, Mandrand-Berthelot, M A, Giordano, G, Wu, L F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 01.01.1999
• Series: Note
• Subjects: Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Base Sequence; beta-Galactosidase - biosynthesis; DNA Transposable Elements; Enzymes; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Escherichia coli Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Genes; Genetic Complementation Test; Genetics and Molecular Biology; Iron-Sulfur Proteins - metabolism; Mutagenesis, Insertional; Nickel; Nickel - pharmacology; Operon; Proteins; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - biosynthesis; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Restriction Mapping; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 0021-9193; 1098-5530
• DOI: 10.1128/JB.181.2.670-674.1999

Expression of the nickel-specific transport system encoded by the Escherichia coli nikABCDE operon is repressed by a high concentration of nickel. By using random transposon Tn10 insertion, we isolated mutants in which expression of the nik operon became constitutive with respect to nickel. We have identified the corresponding nikR gene which encodes a nickel-responsive regulator. Expression of nikR was partially controlled by Fnr through transcription from the nikA promoter region. In addition, a specific transcription start site for the constitutive expression of nikR was found 51 bp upstream of the nikR gene.