Abstract
The
Escherichia coli-based Fur titration assay (FURTA), although a powerful tool for identification of genes regulated by the ferric uptake regulator (Fur), was unsuccessful for the gastric pathogen
Helicobacter pylori. The FURTA was modified by construction of an
E. coli indicator strain producing
H. pylori Fur only. The promoter regions of the ferric citrate receptor homolog
fecA2 and the riboflavin synthesis gene
ribBA were both positive in the modified FURTA, but negative in the original FURTA. Transcription of
fecA2 and
ribBA was demonstrated to be iron-repressed in
H. pylori. This type of modification should allow FURTA analysis for bacteria with Fur binding sequences poorly recognized by
E. coli Fur.