Recombinant Bacillus subtilis Uncharacterized HTH-type transcriptional regulator ydcH (ydcH)
Description
Introduction to Recombinant Bacillus subtilis Uncharacterized HTH-type Transcriptional Regulator ydcH (ydcH)
Recombinant Bacillus subtilis Uncharacterized HTH-type transcriptional regulator ydcH (ydcH) is a genetically engineered protein derived from the ydcH gene in B. subtilis. It belongs to the MarR family of transcriptional regulators, characterized by a winged helix-turn-helix (wHTH) domain that facilitates DNA binding . While annotated as "uncharacterized," structural and functional studies suggest its role in regulating metabolic and prophage-related genes, potentially influencing bacterial adaptation to environmental stressors .
Gene Regulation
ydcH regulates its own operon (ydcFGH) and influences genes involved in:
Table 1: Key Genes Regulated by ydcH
DNA Binding Specificity
Recombinant ydcH binds to inverted repeat (IR) sequences in promoter regions, such as TAATAAGnnnnCTTATTA, overlapping RNA polymerase binding sites to repress transcription . This mechanism is conserved in MarR family regulators like YetL and PamR .
Transcriptional Profiling
RNA-seq analysis of ΔydcH mutants revealed 363 genes with altered expression (≥2-fold change), including:
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Upregulated: Prophage integrases, oxidative stress enzymes.
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Downregulated: Carbon metabolism genes (e.g., ccpA-regulated operons) .
Experimental Applications
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Protein Production: Used in studies on recombinant protein folding and secretion .
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Stress Response Models: Explored for insights into bacterial adaptation to flavonoids or antibiotic stress .
