Computer analysis of control signals in bacterial genomes. Attenuators of operons of aromatic amino acids metabolism

Here we predict attenuators in operons of aromatic amino acids metabolism in the γ-subclass of proteobacteriaSalmonella typhi, Yersinia pestis, Vibrio cholerae, Haemophilus influenzae, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Xanthomonas campestris, and chlamydiaChlamydia trachomatis. Alternative secondary structures of mRNA governing transcription pathway selection as well as the related control leader peptide were constructed. Comparison with homologousEscherichia coli operons was used for the prediction. This control mechanism takes place in operonstrp (tryptophan),phe (phenylalanine), andpheST coding for the large and small subunits of phenylalanine tRNA synthase in the considered γ-proteobacteria. Secondary structures of mRNA in the leader region oftnaAB operon possibly involved in ρ-dependent attenuation were predicted in certain enterobacteria.