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A. Lim, C. Boon, T. Dick
Inducibility of the Streptomyces traRts107-Ptra Expression Cassette in Mycobacterium smegmatis
An inducible Streptomyces expression cassette utilising the Ptra promoter and a temperaturesensitive allele of the TraR repressor from S. nigrifaciens plasmid pSN22 was tested in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Using reporter assays and Northern blot analysis, a marked increase of Ptradirected transcription was observed upon a temperature shift from 28 to 37C. These results show that the S. nigrifaciens promoterrepressor cassette is functional in M. smegmatis. However, comparison of the level of induced Ptradirected transcription with the level of transcription directed by the strong mycobacterial promoter Phsp60 indicated that the relative strength of the Ptra promoter was low. Considering the severe limitation of inducible expression systems for mycobacteria, this Streptomyces cassette might be a useful starting point for the development of a compact and fully portable inducible mycobacterial expression cassette.
Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 381, 06/2000
Pages: 517 - 519