How bacteria can sense temperature

Temperature is one of the most crucial environmental signals sensed by pathogens to adjust expression of their virulence factors and host survival programs after entry from a cold external environment into a warm-blooded host. Thermo-induced structural changes in bent or supercoiled DNA or mRNA secondary structures are frequently used to modulate virulence gene transcription or translation.

The Yersinia RovA belongs to a family of DNA-binding proteins that controls a wide range of physiological processes implicated in environmental adaptation, survival, and pathogenesis in humans, animals and plants.

A study published in PloS Pathogens reports that, in pathogenic Yersinia, RovA can undergone thermo-induced structural alterations that reduce its DNA-binding capacity. These alterations in the same time render RovA susceptible to degradation by proteases. RovA acts as a thermosensor that modulates virulence gene expression within the bacteria.

More information in:

Herbst K, Bujara M, Heroven AK, Opitz W, Weichert M, et al. (2009) Intrinsic Thermal Sensing Controls Proteolysis of Yersinia Virulence Regulator RovA. PLoS Pathog 5(5): e1000435. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000435

http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1000435;jsessionid=7175B456DC75A1D0FABD8F6F9F20D3BE

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How bacteria can sense temperature