DNA Microarray-Mediated Transcriptional Profiling of the Escherichia coli Response to Hydrogen Peroxide

M Zheng, X Wang, LJ Templeton… - Journal of …, 2001 - Am Soc Microbiol
M Zheng, X Wang, LJ Templeton, DR Smulski, RA LaRossa, G Storz
Journal of bacteriology, 2001Am Soc Microbiol
The genome-wide transcription profile of Escherichia coli cells treated with hydrogen
peroxide was examined with a DNA microarray composed of 4,169 E. coli open reading
frames. By measuring gene expression in isogenic wild-type and oxyR deletion strains, we
confirmed that the peroxide response regulator OxyR activates most of the highly hydrogen
peroxide-inducible genes. The DNA microarray measurements allowed the identification of
several new OxyR-activated genes, including the hemH heme biosynthetic gene; the six …
Abstract
The genome-wide transcription profile of Escherichia coli cells treated with hydrogen peroxide was examined with a DNA microarray composed of 4,169 E. coli open reading frames. By measuring gene expression in isogenic wild-type andoxyR deletion strains, we confirmed that the peroxide response regulator OxyR activates most of the highly hydrogen peroxide-inducible genes. The DNA microarray measurements allowed the identification of several new OxyR-activated genes, including thehemH heme biosynthetic gene; the six-genesuf operon, which may participate in Fe-S cluster assembly or repair; and four genes of unknown function. We also identified several genes, including uxuA, encoding mannonate hydrolase, whose expression might be repressed by OxyR, since their expression was elevated in the ΔoxyR mutant strain. In addition, the induction of some genes was found to be OxyR independent, indicating the existence of other peroxide sensors and regulators in E. coli. For example, theisc operon, which specifies Fe-S cluster formation and repair activities, was induced by hydrogen peroxide in strains lacking either OxyR or the superoxide response regulators SoxRS. These results expand our understanding of the oxidative stress response and raise interesting questions regarding the nature of other regulators that modulate gene expression in response to hydrogen peroxide.
American Society for Microbiology