Escherichia coli CreBC is a global regulator of gene expression that responds to growth in minimal media

We have identified nine genes, the expression of which are regulated by the CreEC two-component system: the first members of the cre regulon. They are divided into eight transcriptional units, each having a promoter-proximal TTCACnnnnnnTTCAC "cre-tag" motif. The cre regulon genes are: the ackA/pta o peron, the products of which collectively catalyze the conversion of acetyl -CoA into acetate and ATP; talA, which encodes an enzyme involved in the mo bilization of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate into the pentose phosphate pathway ; radC, which encodes a RecG-like DNA recombination/repair function; malE, which is the first gene in the malEFG maltose transporter operon; trgB, whi ch encodes an ADP-ribose pyrophosphorylase; and three other genes, creD, yi dS and yieI, the products of which have not been assigned a function. Expre ssion of each of these cre regulon genes is induced via CreBC during growth in minimal media, with the exception of malE, which is more tightly repres sed. The diverse functions encoded by the cre regulon suggest that CreBC is a global regulator that sits right at the heart of metabolic control in Es cherichia coli.