Purification, crystallization and X-ray crystallographic studies of a Bacillus cereus MepR-like transcription factor, BC0657.

Transcription factors of the MarR family respond to internal and external changes and regulate a variety of biological functions through ligand association with microorganisms. MepR belongs to the MarR family, and its mutations are associated with the development of multidrug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, which has caused a growing health problem. In this study, a Bacillus cereus MepR-like transcription regulator, BC0657, was crystallized. The BC0657 crystals diffracted to 2.05 Å resolution and belonged to either space group P6(2)22 or P6(4)22, with unit-cell parameters a = 110.57, b = 110.57, c = 67.29 Å. There was one molecule per asymmetric unit. Future comparative structural studies on BC0657 would extend knowledge of ligand-induced transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in the MarR family and would make a significant contribution to the design of antibiotic drugs against multidrug-resistant bacteria.