Control of a programmed cell death pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by an antiterminator

Abstract

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the protein AlpA activates the expression of the alp locus in response to DNA damage, leading to lysis in a subset of cells and enhancing virulence of other, surviving cells. Here, the authors show that AlpA acts as an antiterminator rather than a transcriptional activator.