Comparison of the PR mutant with the wild-type strain of Proteus mirabilis brings insight into peroxide resistance factors and regulation of catalase expression

The peroxide resistant mutant (PR) of Proteus mirabilis was characterized by an increased constitutive catalase activity concomitant with a large production of specific mRNA. Survival toward hydrogen peroxide during exponential phase was increased by H2O2 pretreatment in the wild type but not in the mutant, although the catalase of both strains was not inducible under these conditions. In the mutant, besides catalase, over-produced proteins comprised two different alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C (AhpC) proteins and a protein homologous to the stationary phase transcription factor SspA of Escherichia coli. Conversely, the flagellin A (FlaA) of P. mirabilis was repressed in the PR mutant. Genomic DNA fragments of 2.9 kb carrying the catalase gene (katA) together with the 5' and 3' flanking regions were isolated from both strains and found to be identical. Upstream of katA, a Fur box-like sequence was found, but surprisingly, restricting iron in the culture medium caused a decrease in catalase production. The PR mutant presents similarities with other peroxide resistant mutants, but the regulation of catalase biosynthesis in P. mirabilis seems somewhat different from other close species such as E. coli.