Transcriptional Pattern of Genes Coding for the Proteolytic System of Lactococcus lactis and Evidence for Coordinated Regulation of Key Enzymes by Peptide Supply (original) (raw)

2001, Journal of Bacteriology

The transcription of 16 genes encoding 12 peptidases (pepC, pepN, pepX, pepP, pepA, pepF2, pepDA1, pepDA2, pepQ, pepT, pepM, and pepO1), PI and PIII proteinases (prtP1 and prtP3), and three transport systems (dtpT, dtpP, and opp-pepO1) ofLactococcus lactis MG1363 was analyzed in response to different environmental factors. Promoter fusions with luciferase reporter genes and/or mRNA analysis were used to study the effects of sugar sources, growth at 37°C, and peptide supply on the transcription of these genes. Only transcription of thepepP gene is modulated by the source of sugar. The presence of potential catabolite-responsive element (CRE) boxes in its promoter region suggests that expression of this gene is directly controlled by catabolic repression. Elevated temperature had no significant effect on the level of transcription of these genes. prtP1, prtP3, pepC, pepN, pepX, and the opp-pepO1 operon are the most highly expressed genes in chemically defined medium, and their express...