TeiR, a LuxR-type transcription factor required for testosterone degradation in Comamonas testosteroni

PRUNEDA-PAZ JL; LINARES MAURICIO; CABRERA JULIO E; GENTI-RAIMONDI SUSANA

JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY

American Society for Microbiology

Lugar: Unites States; Año: 2004 vol. 186 p. 1430 - 1430

0021-9193

p class="abstract">We have identified a new steroid-inducible gene (designated teiR [testosterone-inducible regulator]) in Comamonas testosteroni that is required for testosterone degradation. Nucleotide sequence analysis of teiR predicts a 391-amino-acid protein which shows homology between residues 327 and 380 (C-terminal domain) to the LuxR helix-turn-helix DNA binding domain and between residues 192 and 227 to the PAS sensor domain. This domain distribution resembles that described for TraR, a specific transcriptional regulator involved in quorum sensing in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Analysis of the gene expression indicated that teiR is tightly controlled at the transcriptional level by the presence of testosterone in the culture medium. A teiR-disrupted mutant strain was completely unable to use testosterone as the sole carbon and energy source. In addition, the expression of several steroid-inducible genes was abolished in this mutant. Northern blot assays revealed that teiR is