FIG. 8.

The regulatory network of the C. glutamicum disulfide stress response. The sigma factor SigH is bound to its anti-sigma factor RshA until the anti-sigma factor senses an oxidative stress by being oxidized and releases the sigma factor. SigH binds to the RNA polymerase and initiates the transcription of the whcE and sigM genes. SigM binds to the RNA polymerase, interacts with WhcE, and initiates the transcription of the SigM-dependent disulfide stress-responsive genes, including thioredoxin-encoding genes. Thioredoxin is able to reduce oxidized groups in RshA, and therefore RshA is again functional and binds SigH.