Ammonia-dependent differential regulation of the gene cluster that encodes ammonia monooxygenase in Nitrosococcus oceani ATCC 19707

Environ Microbiol. 2008 Nov;10(11):3026-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01766.x.

Abstract

Molecular analysis of the ammonia monooxygenase-encoding gene cluster in Nitrosococcus oceani revealed that the amo genes are differentially expressed from three promoters dependent on the external ammonia concentration. Whereas a distal amoRCABD operon promoter, pC1, is active only in the presence of ammonia, identified proximal amoC (pC2) and amoA (pA) sigma-70-type promoters are constitutive. Promoter region pC2 also contains a consensus sequence for binding of RpoN, usually involved in nitrogen starvation response. Additional regulation of transcript stability by anti-termination and mRNA degradation are proposed and discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromatiaceae / genetics*
  • Chromatiaceae / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Gene Order
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family*
  • Oxidoreductases / biosynthesis*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transcription Initiation Site

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Ammonia
  • Oxidoreductases
  • ammonia monooxygenase