The aim of the present work was to examine the putative promoter region of the operon ansPAB and to determine the general elements required for the regulation of transcriptional activity. The transcriptional start site of the ansPAB promoter was determined by using highresolution S1-nuclease mapping. Sequence analysis of this region showed -10 and -35 elements, which were consistent with consensus sequences for R. etli promoters that are recognized by the major form of RNA polymerase containing the σ(70) transcription factor. Mutation studies affecting several regions located upstream of the transcriptional start site confirmed the importance of these elements on transcriptional expression.
Keywords: Rhizobium etli; S1-nuclease mapping; asparagine operon; σ70 transcription factor.