Bordetella pertussis BvgA is a global response regulator that activates virulence genes, including adhesin-encoding fim3 and fhaB. At the fhaB promoter, P(fhaB), a BvgA binding site lies immediately upstream of the -35 promoter element recognized by Region 4 of the ó subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP). We demonstrate that ó Region 4 is required for BvgA activation of P(fhaB), a hallmark of Class II activation. In contrast, the promoter-proximal BvgA binding site at P(fim3) includes the -35 region, which is composed of a tract of cytosines that lacks specific sequence information. We demonstrate that ó Region 4 is not required for BvgA activation at P(fim3). Nonetheless, Region 4 mutations that impair its typical interactions with core and with the -35 DNA affect P(fim3) transcription. Hydroxyl radical cleavage using RNAP with óD581C-FeBABE positions Region 4 near the -35 region of P(fim3); cleavage using RNAP with á276C-FeBABE or á302C-FeBABE also positions an á subunit C-terminal domain within the -35 region, on a different helical face from the promoter-proximal BvgA~P dimer. Our results suggest that the -35 region of P(fim3) accommodates a BvgA~P dimer, an á subunit C-terminal domain, and ó Region 4. Molecular modeling suggests how BvgA, ó Region 4, and á might coexist within this DNA in a conformation that suggests a novel mechanism of activation.
Amino Acid Sequence Bacterial Proteins