PUL ID

PUL0168

PubMed

30099846, Microbiologyopen. 2019 May;8(5):e00714. doi: 10.1002/mbo3.714. Epub 2018 Aug 11.

Characterization method

gene deletion mutant and growth assay

Genomic accession number

AE005176

Nucelotide position range

2053080-2066266

Substrate

galactose

Loci

L36511-L48789

Species

Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis/1360

Degradation or Biosynthesis

degradation

Cluster number

1

Gene name

Gene position

Gene type

Found by CGCFinder?

yufC 1 - 945 (-) CDS No
galE 1068 - 2048 (-) CDS No
lacZ 2100 - 5090 (-) CAZyme: GH2 Yes
thgA 5102 - 5563 (-) other Yes
galT 5765 - 7246 (-) other Yes
galK 7420 - 8619 (-) other Yes
galM 8646 - 9665 (-) other Yes
yugA 11461 - 12195 (-) TF: DBD-Pfam|HTH_6 Yes
yugB 12324 - 13187 (+) TC: gnl|TC-DB|P77735|8.A.5.1.6 Yes

PUL ID

PUL0168

PubMed

30099846, Microbiologyopen. 2019 May;8(5):e00714. doi: 10.1002/mbo3.714. Epub 2018 Aug 11.

Title

GlaR (YugA)-a novel RpiR-family transcription activator of the Leloir pathway of galactose utilization in Lactococcus lactis IL1403.

Author

Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk T, Szatraj K, Kosiorek K

Abstract

Bacteria can utilize diverse sugars as carbon and energy source, but the regulatory mechanisms directing the choice of the preferred substrate are often poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the role of the YugA protein (now designated GlaR-Galactose-lactose operon Regulatory protein) of the RpiR family as a transcriptional activator of galactose (gal genes) and lactose (lac genes) utilization genes in Lactococcus lactis IL1403. In this bacterium, gal genes forming the Leloir operon are combined with lac genes in a single so-called gal-lac operon. The first gene of this operon is the lacS gene encoding galactose permease. The glaR gene encoding GlaR lies directly upstream of the gal-lac gene cluster and is transcribed in the same direction. This genetic layout and the presence of glaR homologues in the closest neighborhood to the Leloir or gal-lac operons are highly conserved only among Lactococcus species. Deletion of glaR disabled galactose utilization and abrogated or decreased expression of the gal-lac genes. The GlaR-dependent regulation of the gal-lac operon depends on its specific binding to a DNA region upstream of the lacS gene activating lacS expression and increasing the expression of the operon genes localized downstream. Notably, expression of lacS-downstream genes, namely galMKTE, thgA and lacZ, is partially independent of the GlaR-driven activation likely due to the presence of additional promoters. The glaR transcription itself is not subject to catabolite control protein A (CcpA) carbon catabolite repression (CRR) and is induced by galactose. Up to date, no similar mechanism has been reported in other lactic acid bacteria species. These results reveal a novel regulatory protein and shed new light on the regulation of carbohydrate catabolism in L. lactis IL1403, and by similarity, probably also in other lactococci.