Role of RpoN and Nps/Npa in regulating Tfp biogenesis and function genes. (a) Organization of Tfp biogenesis and function genes in Nel29315. Genes known to play a role in Tfp biogenesis or function are represented by white arrows. Other genes are represented by gray arrows. Dark curved arrow at left indicates the transcriptional initiation site of the mRNA produced at each locus. (b) pilM, pilF, pilW, pilJ, pilV, pilC, pilT, pilT2, and pilZ mRNA was determined in log phase wt, ΔrpoN, Δnps, and Δnpa cells by RT‐PCR. pilE mRNA served as a positive control for rpoN, nps, and npa mutants. 16S rRNA served as the loading control and control of mRNA stability. A PCR reaction in the presence of DNA or in H2O (No DNA) served as the control for the amplification reaction