MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London

Science for Health

Main navigation

Research areas

Genetics and Development

Infections and Immunity

Neurosciences

Structural Biology

Elaine Davis group project:

Gene regulation

We have discovered that M. tuberculosis RecA is expressed from two promoters, one of which is DNA-damage inducible independently of LexA, the classical regulator of DNA-damage inducible genes in other bacteria. It appears that in M. tuberculosis this LexA independent mechanism of induction is primarily responsible for the induction of DNA repair genes. Therefore, we are interested in identifying the factors controlling this novel mechanism or mechanisms of gene regulation.

A mutant in the AraC family regulator Rv1931c in strain H37Rv has been isolated and shows attenuation in a mouse model of infection. Studies in progress are aimed at identifying the genes whose expression is regulated by Rv1931c, using a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches.

Collaborators

Prof. P. D. Butcher and Dr. J. Hinds, Bacterial Microarray Group, Department of Medical Microbiology, St George’s Hospital Medical School, London
Dr. R. S. Buxton, Division of Mycobacterial Research, MRC National Institute for Medical Research

Selected publications

Fivian-Hughes, AS and Davis, EO (2010)
Analysing the regulatory role of the HigA antitoxin within Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Journal of Bacteriology , Epub ahead of print PubMed abstract
Dawson, LF; Dillury, J and Davis, EO (2009)
RecA-independent DNA damage induction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ruvC despite an appropriately located SOS box.
Journal of Bacteriology 192, 599-603 PubMed abstract
Brooks, PC; Dawson, LF; Rand, L and Davis, EO (2006)
The Mycobacterium-specific gene Rv2719c is DNA damage inducible independently of RecA.
Journal of Bacteriology 188, 6034-6038 PubMed abstract
Frota, CC; Papavinasasundaram, KG; Davis, EO and Colston, MJ (2004)
The Arac family transcriptional regulator Rv1931c plays a role in the virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Infection and Immunity 72, 5483-5486 PubMed abstract
Rand, L; Hinds, J; Springer, B; Sander, P; Buxton, RS and Davis, EO (2003)
The majority of inducible DNA repair genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis are induced independently of RecA
Molecular Microbiology 50, 1031-1042 PubMed abstract
Davis, EO; Springer, B; Gopaul, KK; Papavinasasundaram, KG; Sander, P and Böttger, EC (2002)
DNA damage induction of recA in Mycobacterium tuberculosis independently of RecA and LexA
Molecular Microbiology 46, 791-800 PubMed abstract