The gene ''rpoE'' (RNA polymerase, extracytoplasmic E) encodes the
sigma factor
A sigma factor (σ factor or specificity factor) is a protein needed for initiation of Transcription (biology), transcription in bacteria. It is a bacterial transcription initiation factor that enables specific binding of RNA polymerase (RNAP) to g ...
''sigma-24'' (σ24, sigma E, or RpoE), a protein in ''
Escherichia coli
''Escherichia coli'' ( )Wells, J. C. (2000) Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Harlow ngland Pearson Education Ltd. is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped, coliform bacterium of the genus '' Escherichia'' that is commonly fo ...
'' and other species of bacteria. Depending on the bacterial species, this gene may be referred to as ''sigE''.
RpoE appears to be necessary for the exocytoplasmic stress response. ''E. coli'' mutants without ''rpoE'' cannot grow at high temperatures (that is, above 42 degrees C) and show growth defects at lower temperatures, though this may be due to compensatory mutations. In some bacterial species, such as ''
Clostridium botulinum
''Clostridium botulinum'' is a Gram-positive bacteria, gram-positive, Bacillus (shape), rod-shaped, Anaerobic organism, anaerobic, endospore, spore-forming, Motility, motile bacterium with the ability to produce botulinum toxin, which is a neurot ...
'', this sigma factor may be necessary for
sporulation
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plant ...
.
The stress response regulation activities of RpoE are modulated by the
Hfq protein in ''E. coli''.
References
Escherichia coli genes
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