Biology subjects

Ferrazzoli, A. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Ferrazzoli, A. E..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

DnaA and SspA Regulation of the iraD gene of E. coli: an alternative DNA damage response independent of LexA/RecA

The transcription factor RpoS ({sigma}S) of Escherichia coli controls a large number of genes important for tolerance of a variety of stress conditions. IraD promotes the post-translation stability of RpoS by inhibition of RssB, an adaptor protein for ClpXP degradation. We have previously documented DNA damage induction of iraD expression, independent of the SOS response. Both iraD and rpoS are required for tolerance to DNA damaging treatments such as H2O2 and the replication inhibitor azidothymidine in the log phase of growth. Using luciferase gene fusions to the 672 bp iraD upstream region, we show here that both promoters of iraD are induced by AZT. Genetic analysis suggests that both promoters are repressed by DnaA-ATP, partially dependent on a putative DnaA box at -81 bp, and regulated by RIDA (regulatory inactivation of DnaA), dependent on the DnaN processivity clamp. By electrophoretic mobility shift assays we show that purified DnaA protein binds to the iraD upstream region, so DnaA regulation of IraD is likely to be direct. DNA damage induction of iraD during log phase growth is abolished in the dnaA-T174P mutant, suggesting that DNA damage, in some way, relieves DnaA repression, possibly through the accumulation of replication clamps and enhanced RIDA. We demonstrate that the RNA-polymerase associated factor, SspA (stringent starvation protein A), induced by the accumulation of ppGpp, also affects IraD expression, with a positive effect on constitutive expression and a negative effect on AZT-induced expression, in a fashion independent of DnaA. SIGNIFICANCEDNA damage can lead to cell death or genomic instability. Cells have evolved transcriptional responses that sense DNA damage and up-regulate tolerance and repair factors; the LexA/RecA-regulated SOS response in E. coli was the first example of such a system. This work describes an alternative DNA damage response, controlled by DnaA and the IraD post-translational regulator of RpoS. The cellular signals for this response, we propose, are empty replication processivity ({beta}) clamps that accumulate at replication blocks. IraD expression is also regulated by stringent starvation protein, SspA, induced by nutrient deprivation. This SOS-independent DNA damage response integrates a signal of incomplete replication with starvation to modulate expression of genes that promote the completion of replication.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2020

The role of replication clamp-loader protein HolC of Escherichia coli in overcoming replication /transcription conflicts

In Escherichia coli, DNA replication is catalyzed by an assembly of proteins, the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme. This complex includes the polymerase and proofreading subunits as well as the processivity clamp and clamp loader complex. The holC gene encodes an accessory protein (known as x) to the core clamp loader complex and is the only protein of the holoenzyme that binds to single-strand DNA binding protein, SSB. HolC is not essential for viability although mutants show growth impairment, genetic instability and sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. In this study, to elucidate the role of HolC in replication, we isolate spontaneous suppressor mutants in a holC{Delta} strain and identify these by whole genome sequencing. Some suppressors are alleles of RNA polymerase, suggesting that transcription is problematic for holC mutant strains or sspA, stringent starvation protein. Using a conditional holC plasmid, we examine factors affecting transcription elongation and termination for synergistic or suppressive effects on holC mutant phenotypes. Alleles of RpoA (), RpoB ({beta}) and RpoC ({beta}) RNA polymerase holoenzyme can partially suppress loss of HolC. In contrast, mutations in transcription factors DksA and NusA enhanced the inviability of holC mutants. Mfd had no effect nor did elongation factors GreA and GreB. HolC mutants showed enhanced sensitivity to bicyclomycin, a specific inhibitor of Rho-dependent termination. Bicyclomycin also reverses suppression of holC by rpoA rpoC and sspA.These results are consistent with the hypothesis that transcription complexes block replication in holC mutants and Rho-dependent transcriptional termination and DksA function are particularly important to sustain viability and chromosome integrity. IMPORTANCETranscription elongation complexes present an impediment to DNA replication. We provide evidence that one component of the replication clamp loader complex, HolC, of E. coli is required to overcome these blocks. This genetic study of transcription factor effects on holC growth defects implicates Rho-dependent transcriptional termination and DksA function as critical. It also implicates, for the first time, a role of SspA, stringent starvation protein, in avoidance or tolerance of replication/replication conflicts. We speculate that HolC helps resolve codirectional collisions between replication and transcription complexes, which become toxic in HolCs absence.

genetics↗