Crystallographic studies of the extracytoplasmic function σ factor σ^J from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has multiple σ factors which enable the bacterium to reprogram its transcriptional machinery under diverse environmental conditions. σ^J, an extracytoplasmic function σ factor, is upregulated in late stationary phase cultures and during human macrophage infection. σ^J governs the cellular response to hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidative stress. σ^J differs from other canonical σ factors owing to the presence of a SnoaL_2 domain at the C-terminus. σ^J crystals belonged to the tetragonal space group I422, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 133.85, c = 75.08 Å. Diffraction data were collected to 2.16 Å resolution on the BM14 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF).