Identification and genetic mapping of perR, a novel stationary phase gene that mediates oxidative stress protection in Escherichia coli

Abstract

In bacteria, stationary phase is a time of intricate cellular metabolic and physiological changes necessary for the maintenance of essential cell functions and resistance to environmental stresses, such as oxidative stress. This study investigated 'perR'; a locus potentially involved in the hydrogen peroxide resistance of 'Escherichia coli' in stationary phase. The strain UM397 containing a mutation in 'perR' was created as part of this study and showed 13.6 fold greater sensitivity to H2O2 in stationary phase when compared to its parent strain MG1655. This suggested that PerR is involved in oxidative stress resistance in stationary phase. Further, the predicted sequence of PerR is similar to LysR-type transcriptional regulators, suggesting a regulatory role for the protein.