Abstract:
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a gram negative and pathogenic bacterium. It is the
causative agent of melioidosis disease. The transcription process needs RNA
polymerase, which is composed of α2ββ’ and a σ subunit. The function of the σ
subunit is recognition of the promoter region. The sigma factor 54 (RpoN, σ54)
recognizes a -24/-12 promoter called RpoN box which has a conserved sequence,
TGGCAC-N5-TTGC. In addition, the σ54 needs an activator called σ54-dependent
enhancer binding protein (σ54-dependent EBP). Computational analysis of B.
pseudomallei genome found two rpoN genes and fifteen σ54-dependent EBP genes.
Prediction of the function of RpoN and σ54-dependent EBP was done using the
characteristics of domain, organization in genome and RpoN box promoter prediction.
The putative role of the RpoN1 is a regulator of nitrogen regulation metabolism. The
RpoN2 has no identified function. However, an RpoN box upstream of rpoN2 was
found. This can imply that this region is constructed for autoregulation by RpoN2 or
regulation by RpoN1. Seven out of the fifteen σ54-dependent EBPs are involved in C4-
dicarboxylate transport, β-lactam compounds resistance, fimbriae biosynthesis and
assembly, thymidylate synthase / dihydrofolate reductase system, α-ketoglutarate
transport, and the propionate catabolism pathway. There were two σ54 regulons
analyzed by computational analysis, rhamnolipid biosynthesis operon (rhl operon) and
propionate catabolism pathway (prp operon). The rhl operon has 2 copies in
chromosome 2, and an RpoN box was also found in the upstream region of rhl operon.
The organization of rhl operon is rhlA, rhlB, emrB, rhlC, OMP, and emrA. The
rhlABC are encoded for di-rhamnolipid synthesis and the emrAB-OMP are encoded
for rhamnolipid efflux. Generally, rhl operon is an inductive operon. Hence,
rhamnolipid will be quickly synthesized and secreted in response to a bad environment
such as contact with an antibiotic or cultured in an oil medium. The prp operons are
divided into two operons in chromosome 2. The organization of prp operon 1 is prpR,
prpB, prpC, acnD and prpF and the organization of prp operon 2 is prpD and acnA.
Neither prp operons contain prpE, which is the first enzyme of a propionate
catabolism pathway. It is expected that acetyl-coA synthetase can compensate for the
absence of PrpE. Moreover, there are two alternative pathways to change methylcitrate
to 2-methylisocitrate by using PrpF and AcnD or PrpD and AcnA.