3 kDa) selleckchem was tested against RbaW-conjugated beads (Lanes 7 and 8) as a control. The gel was stained with Coomassie blue and the resulting

image was adjusted for brightness and contrast. Molecular weight references are indicated on the left of the gel. To further confirm the specific interaction between RbaV and RbaW, a bacterial two-hybrid analysis was used. The vectors pKNT-rbaV and pUT18c-rbaW were co-transformed into the E. coli reporter strain BTH101 and β-galactosidase activities were determined in triplicate transformants alongside controls (Table 1). The average β-galactosidase activity of the experimental pair was found to be 1440 units mg-1 while all negative controls had activities between 101 and 202 units mg-1 and the positive control with interacting leucine zipper fragments had an average activity of 7339 units mg-1 (Table 1). Discussion A previous transcriptomic study of R. capsulatus identified a number of predicted regulatory protein-encoding genes that were affected by the loss of the response regulator protein CtrA [8]. These included putative anti-σ and anti-anti-σ proteins with sequence homology to proteins in the Rsb system characterized in some species of Firmicutes

as involved in response to both stress and entry into stationary phase via control of σB[15]. Outside of the Firmicutes, homologues of the Rsb proteins have also been implicated in regulating diverse physiological processes, including production of type III secretion systems Morin Hydrate [64], biofilm formation [32] and swarming motility [30]. All of the rsb gene homologues find more we have identified in R. capsulatus (rbaV, rbaW, and rbaY) have lower transcript levels in the absence of CtrA [8], and we have now shown these affect expression of the RcGTA gene cluster and thereby production of RcGTA. However,

it remains to be determined if this regulation is direct or indirect. This is the first investigation of Rsb homologues in the α-proteobacteria. It has previously been hypothesized that R. capsulatus produces RcGTA in stationary phase as part of a stress response and we propose that one way in which RcGTA production is increased in stationary phase is through the actions of this Rba system. The rbaY, rbaV and rbaVW mutants all had similar phenotypes, with effects on RcGTA gene expression, stationary phase cell viability, and colony morphology. The similarities in the rbaV and rbaY mutant phenotypes support the notion that these proteins are working in a common pathway and the decrease in RcGTA gene expression in these mutants indicate they are positive regulators of RcGTA production. Based on the Bacillus model, the predicted function of RbaY is to dephosphorylate RbaV-P, thereby allowing RbaV to interact with RbaW and promote target gene expression by the cognate σ factor [22]. The R.