Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-10-1997

Abstract

SoxR is a [2Fe-2S] transcription factor triggered by oxidative stress and activated in vitro by one-electron oxidation or assembly of the iron- sulfur centers. To distinguish which mechanism operates in cells, we studied constitutively active SoxR (SoxR(c)) proteins. Three SoxR(c) proteins contained [2Fe-2S] centers required for in vitro transcription and, like wild-type SoxR, were inactivated by chemical reduction. However, in vivo spectroscopy showed that even without oxidative stress, the three SoxR(c) proteins failed to accumulate with reduced [2Fe-2S] (≤4% compared to ≤40% for wild type). One SoxR(c) protein had a redox potential 65 mV lower than wild type, consistent with its accumulation in the oxidized (activated) form in vivo. These results link in vitro and in vivo approaches showing novel redox regulation that couples an iron-sulfur oxidation state to promoter activation.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Cell

First Page

121

Last Page

129

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