IRON-RESPONSIVE GENETIC-REGULATION IN CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI - CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A FUR HOMOLOG

The Fur protein of Escherichia coli represses transcription from Fur-r esponsive genes in an iron-dependent manner, We have demonstrated a Fu r-like iron-responsive genetic regulatory activity operating in Campy- lobacter jejuni by using a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter gene separated from its promoter by a synthetic Fur-responsive operat or. A fur-like gene has been cloned from C. jejuni by partial function al complementation of an E. coli fur mutation. Sequence analysis has s hown that, at the amino acid level, the C. jejuni Fur protein is 35% i dentical with its E. coli counterpart.