Inhibition of the gyrA promoter by transcription-coupled DNA supercoiling in Escherichia coli

Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 3;8(1):14759. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-33089-4.

Abstract

The E. coli gyrA promoter (PgyrA) is a DNA supercoiling sensitive promoter, stimulated by relaxation of DNA templates, and inhibited by (-) DNA supercoiling in bacteria. However, whether PgyrA can be inhibited by transient and localized transcription-coupled DNA supercoiling (TCDS) has not been fully examined. In this paper, using different DNA templates including the E. coli chromosome, we show that transient and localized TCDS strongly inhibits PgyrA in E. coli. This result can be explained by a twin-supercoiled domain model of transcription in which (+) and (-) supercoiled domains are generated around the transcribing RNA polymerase. We also find that fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, can substantially increase the expression of the firefly luciferase under the control of the PgyrA coupled to a divergent IPTG-inducible promoter in the presence of IPTG. This stimulation of PgyrA by fluoroquinolones can be also explained by the twin-supercoiled domain model of transcription. This unique property of TCDS may be configured into a high throughput-screening (HTS) assay to identify antimicrobial compounds targeting bacterial DNA gyrase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Ciprofloxacin / pharmacology
  • DNA Gyrase / genetics*
  • DNA Gyrase / metabolism
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics*
  • DNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • DNA, Superhelical / chemistry
  • DNA, Superhelical / genetics*
  • DNA, Superhelical / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Isopropyl Thiogalactoside / pharmacology
  • Luciferases / genetics
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Models, Genetic
  • Novobiocin / pharmacology
  • Plasmids / chemistry
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Superhelical
  • Novobiocin
  • Isopropyl Thiogalactoside
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Luciferases
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • DNA Gyrase