FIG 7.

Model of Rsp's function in S. aureus virulence gene regulation. Bottom (green): Rsp positively controls the production of major S. aureus toxins by binding to the agrP2 promoter and activating Agr. PSMα peptides are directly controlled by binding of AgrA (45), while the production of other toxins is increased due to an increase of overall Agr activity and RNAIII production (46). Top (red): Rsp negatively regulates factors involved in biofilm formation. Production of PIA is decreased by binding of Rsp to the icaADBC promoter. According to our RNA-Seq results, a series of further biofilm-associated metabolic processes are also downregulated by Rsp. Finally, as shown by Lei et al. (41), Rsp negatively impacts production of FnbA by binding to the respective promoter. Acyl-CoA, acyl coenzyme A.