A rainbow coalition of lipid transcriptional regulators.

摘要: Lipids are essential structural constituents of bacterial cell membranes and walls, their biosynthetic pathways stringently regulated at both biochemical genetic levels. The recent surge new information about transcriptional regulation lipid metabolism is highlighted by two studies in this issue Molecular Microbiology Hugo Gramajo's research group, who add transcription factors to the diverse repertoire biosynthesis regulators. FasR a Streptomyces coelicolor activator genes fatty acid synthesis, which supplies substrates for membrane phospholipid triglyceride storage droplets. MabR regulator Mycobacterium tuberculosis that functions as repressor wall mycolic pathway. also affects expression fas, encodes multifunctional synthase supports synthesis. Despite belonging same protein family, distinct ligand binding domains suggest different ligands may regulate DNA binding. characterization FasR/MabR exemplifies functional diversity rainbow coalition regulators reflects life styles bacteria.