Illuminating the function of a master regulator of Caulobacter crescentus gene expression

Bacteria must allocate cellular resources required for transcription in a manner that accommodates the temporally regulated expression of functionally specialized gene products and the constitutive synthesis of stable RNAs required for ribosome biogenesis and translation. The Caulobacter crescentus cell cycle has been well-characterized and represents a powerful model system for studying the regulation of global gene expression patterns and "just-in-time" transcription. Here, we provide evidence that the Caulobacter GcrA protein directly regulates transcription at active promoters of highly expressed genes, particularly those encoding stable RNAs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GcrA chromosome occupancy is dynamic and subject to epigenetic regulation. Our findings establish GcrA as an integral regulator of bacterial physiology and development.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Yuan, Andy H. (Andy Han)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Michael T. Laub.

• Biology.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/112427

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/112427