Identification of the Vibrio vulnificus cadC and Evaluation of Its Role in Acid Tolerance

  • Rhee, Jee-Eun (Department of Food Science and Technology, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Ju, Hyun-Mok (Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Park, U-Ryung (Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Park, Byoung-Chul (Systemic Proteomics Research Center, KRIBB) ;
  • Choi, Sang-Ho (Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Center for Agricultural Biomaterials, Seoul National University)
  • Published : 2004.10.01

Abstract

An open reading frame encoding CadC, consisting of 526 amino acids, was identified from the upstream region of the Vibrio vulnificus cadBA operon. The deduced amino acid sequences of the cadC were 22 to 78% similar to those reported from other Enterobacteriaceae. Functions of cadC gene on acid tolerance were assessed by comparing acid tolerances of V. vulnificus and its isogenic mutant, whose cadC gene was inactivated by allelic exchanges. The results demonstrated that the gene product of cadC contributes to acid tolerance of V. vulnificus, and that its contribution is dependent on prior exposure of cells to moderately acidic pH. The cellular level of cadB and cadA transcripts decreased in the cadC mutant, indicating that CadC exerts its effect on acid tolerance of V. vulnificus by enhancing the expression of cadBA in a pH-dependent manner.

Keywords

References

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