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. 2012 Feb 16;8(2):e1002518. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002518

Figure 11. Model of thermoregulated expression of LcrF synthesis.

Figure 11

At moderate growth temperature, transcription of the yscW-lcrF operon is repressed by the regulatory protein YmoA through sequences located downstream of the transcription initiation site. In addition, translation of the lcrF transcript is blocked through the formation of a two-stemloop structure within the intergenic region which sequesters the RBS and prevents access of the ribosomes. After a sudden temperature upshift upon host entry, YmoA is rapidly degraded by the ClpP and Lon proteases, leading to an enhanced transcription of the yscW-lcrF operon. Furthermore, thermally-induced conformational changes allow access of ribosomes and translation of the lcrF transcript leading to LcrF synthesis and induction of all LcrF-dependent virulence genes of Yersinia.