Characterization of FapR, a positive regulator of expression of the 987P operon in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Expression of the 987P gene cluster is activated by the adjacent IS1 element of an STpa transposon. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 987P-DNA region contiguous with this IS1 element revealed the presence of an open reading frame designated fapR, encoding a basic protein of 260 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 30,349 Daltons. The gene product, FapR, possesses similarity to a number of positive regulators of gene expression: VirF, Rns, AppY and EnvY. Moreover, a 43-amino-acid residue sequence in the C-terminal part of FapR is similar to the C-terminal domain of AraC, RhaR, and RhaS. Expression of fapR is dependent on the adjacent IS1 element. The FapR protein appears to be required for activation of the silent promoter of the fimbrial subunit gene, fapC.