Purification and properties of the MalT protein, the transcription activator of the Escherichia coli maltose regulon.

Expression of the Escherichia coli maltose regulon is controlled by MalT, a transcriptional activator (Mr = 102,288) encoded by the malT gene. Activation of transcription depends on the presence of the inducer, maltotriose. Using an in vitro transcription/translation assay to monitor the protein, we have purified MalT in native form from MalT-overproducing bacteria. The purified protein is able to promote transcription from different MalT-controlled promoters in well-defined in vitro systems. Maltotriose and the MalT protein suffice to stimulate initiation of transcription at malPp by the E. coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme. In contrast, both MalT protein and cAMP receptor protein are required with their respective effectors, maltotriose and cyclic AMP, for activation of malEp. These data are in agreement with in vivo observations. In addition, we present evidence that MalT is an ATP-binding protein, a result suggesting that ATP may play a role in transcription initiation.