Award details

The Wbl proteins - a novel family of [4Fe-4S] cluster-containing transcription factors

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA269
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Mark Buttner
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	152,435
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	04/09/2006
End date	03/09/2009
Duration	36 months

Abstract

This grant seeks to understand the biological roles and regulation of a novel class of transcription factors that we have recently discovered carry a redox-active [4Fe-4S] cluster. The Wbl (WhiB-like) family of transcription factors is present throughout the actinomycetes, the family of bacteria that includes Streptomyces, the genus responsible for the production of two-thirds of the known antibiotics, as well as medically important pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Classical genetics has shown that Wbl proteins play pivotal and diverse roles in actinomycete biology. Two of the Wbl proteins that are the focus of attention in this grant are WhiB and WhiD, required, respectively, for the early and late stages of sporulation in Streptomyces coelicolor. The third is a remarkable and unique protein called WblP, which is an ECF sigma factor carrying a Wbl domain at its N-terminus. The [4Fe-4S] clusters of WhiD, WhiB and WblP are redox active, suggesting that their transcriptional activity, and hence the expression of the genes under their control, might be redox-regulated in vivo. Importantly, these experiments raise the possibility that Streptomyces sporulation might be redox-regulated, a totally novel and unexpected finding. To address these intriguing questions, we will identify the genes under control of these proteins, establish in vitro assays for their function, and investigate how the nature and redox state of the Fe-S cluster contributes to the biological function of Wbl proteins.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	Microbiology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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