Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science, Angström Laboratories, Uppsala University, P. O. Box 523, SE-751 20, Uppsala, Sweden.
Dalton Trans. 2009 Dec 7(45):9990-6. doi: 10.1039/b908593a. Epub 2009 Sep 9.
The overall processes of transcription and its regulation have advanced significantly in the last years, making our understanding of prokaryotic biology more complex and detailed. In fact, a systematic study of different aspects of transcriptional regulation opens up outstanding opportunities to improve and develop the perception of complex reaction mechanisms, genetic processes and cell functions. In close connection to the cyanobacterial bidirectional hydrogenase, the main hydrogen-evolving enzyme in non-nitrogen fixing strains, two novel transcription factors have received increasing attention over the past five years: a LexA-related protein and the AbrB-like family members. Recent work on these regulators has produced new insights and advances towards the understanding (and possible interconnection) of several regulatory networks in cyanobacteria, namely nitrogen metabolism, redox response, toxin production, CO2 concentrating mechanisms and hydrogen metabolism. The fact that a LexA-related protein and AbrB-like family members have been co-purified in independent laboratories studying different sets of cyanobacterial genes suggests a possible common and/or complementary function of these regulators. In this review, we summarize the knowledge gained thus far regarding the transcriptional regulation of the cyanobacterial bidirectional hydrogenase, with special focus on the above mentioned transcription factors. Moreover, we discuss several additional points that warrants further investigation to increase our knowledge in this fast evolving research field.
近年来，转录及其调控的整体过程取得了显著进展，使我们对原核生物学的理解更加复杂和详细。事实上，对转录调控的不同方面进行系统研究为改善和发展对复杂反应机制、遗传过程和细胞功能的认识提供了极好的机会。与蓝细菌的双向氢化酶密切相关，双向氢化酶是固氮菌株中主要的产氢酶，在过去五年中，两个新的转录因子受到了越来越多的关注：一种 LexA 相关蛋白和 AbrB 样家族成员。这些调节剂的最新研究工作为理解（和可能的相互连接）蓝细菌中的几个调控网络提供了新的见解和进展，这些网络包括氮代谢、氧化还原反应、毒素产生、CO2 浓缩机制和氢代谢。事实上，在独立实验室研究不同的蓝细菌基因集时，LexA 相关蛋白和 AbrB 样家族成员已被共同纯化，这表明这些调节剂可能具有共同的和/或互补的功能。在这篇综述中，我们总结了迄今为止关于蓝细菌双向氢化酶转录调控的知识，特别关注上述转录因子。此外，我们还讨论了几个需要进一步研究的其他问题，以增加我们在这个快速发展的研究领域的知识。
