1887

Abstract

The genome of H37Rv includes a homologue of the CRP/FNR (cAMP receptor protein/fumarate and nitrate reduction regulator) family of transcription regulators encoded by Rv3676. Sequencing of the orthologous gene from attenuated Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) strains revealed point mutations that affect the putative DNA-binding and cNMP-binding domains of the encoded protein. These mutations are not present in the published sequences of the Rv3676 orthologues in , or . An reporter system was used to show that the Rv3676 protein binds to DNA sites for CRP, but this DNA binding was decreased or abolished with the Rv3676 protein counterparts from BCG strains. The DNA-binding ability of the Rv3676 protein was decreased by the introduction of base changes corresponding to the BCG point mutations. Conversely, the DNA binding of the BCG Rv3676 proteins from BCG strains was restored by removing the mutations. These data show that in this reporter system the point mutations present in the Rv3676 orthologue in BCG strains render its function defective (early strains) or abolished (late strains) and suggest that this protein might be naturally defective in BCG strains. This raises the possibility that a contributing factor to the attenuation of BCG strains may be an inability of this global regulator to control the expression of genes required for survival and persistence.

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2005-02-01
2024-03-28
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