Z nucleotides activate nonrelated RRs under nonstimulatory conditions and in an HK-independent manner. (A) Strains IFC6016 (WT), IFC6017 (purA−), IFC6018 (arcB−
purA−), and IFC6019 (arcB−
arcA−
purA−), all of which carry the ArcA-P−activatable cydA-lacZ reporter, were grown aerobically (nonstimulatory conditions) in LB medium containing 0.1 M Mops (pH 7.4), to an OD600 of 0.3 (white bars) or 0.6 (gray bars). As a control, strain IFC6016 (WT) was grown anaerobically (stimulatory conditions) in the same medium. (B) Strains IFC6020 (WT), IFC6021 (purA−), and IFC6022 (cpxA−
purA−), all of which carry the CpxR-P−activatable cpxP-lacZ reporter, were grown in LB medium at pH 5.8 (nonstimulatory conditions) to an OD600 of 0.3 (white bars) or 0.6 (gray bars). To obtain reference values, strain IFC6020 (WT) was grown in LB medium at pH 8.8 (stimulatory conditions). (C) Strains IFC6026 (WT), IFC6027 (purA−), and IFC6028 (phoQ−
purA−), all of which carry the PhoP-P−activatable iraM-lacZ reporter, were grown in LB medium (nonstimulatory conditions) to an OD600 of 0.3 (white bars) or 0.6 (gray bars). As a control, strain IFC6026 (WT) was grown in M9 defined minimal medium supplemented with 0.2% (wt/vol) glucose, and, at an OD600 of 0.3, cells were harvested and resuspended in a magnesium-free M9 medium, and incubation continued during 30 min (stimulatory conditions). (D) Cultures of strains IFC6023 (WT), IFC6024 (purA−), and IFC6025 (rcsC−
purA−), all of which carry the RcsB-P−activatable bdm-lacZ reporter, were grown in LB medium (nonstimulatory conditions) to an OD600 of 0.3 (white bars) or 0.6 (gray bars). As a control, strain IFC6023 (WT) was grown in M9 defined minimal medium supplemented with 0.2% (wt/vol) glucose, and, at an OD600 of 0.3, 500 mM NaCl were added, and incubation continued for 30 min (stimulatory conditions). For A−D, β-galactosidase activity is measured and expressed in Miller units. Data represent the averages from three independent experiments, and SDs are indicated.