Regulation of the expression of nhaA gene coding $Na^{+}$/$H^{+}$ antiporter A of escherichia coli

Regulation of the expression of nhaA gene coding $Na^{+}$/$H^{+}$ antiporter A of escherichia coli

.betha.-galactosidase activity of Escherichia coli cells containing operon fusion nhaA'-'lacZ was monitored to study the regulation of expression of nhaA gene under various conditions. The expression of the fusion was enhanced only by chemicals containing Na$^{+}$ or Li$^{+}$. This Na$^{+}$ or Li$^{+}$. This Na$^{+}$(Li$^{+}$)-specific enhancement of .betha.-galactosidase activity represented the increase in the rate of synthesis of .betha.-galactosidase rather than the decrease in the breakdown rate. The induction pattern was influenced by copy numbers of the gene. Induction by Na$^{+}$ or Li$^{+}$ was concentration and time dependent, reaching maximum 5-6 fold induction after 2 hours at 0.4-0.5 M for Na$^{+}$ or at 0.25-0.35 M for Li$^{+}$, Although the expression was induced at much lower concentration of Na$^{+}$ at alkaline pH values than at neutral pH in the presence of Na$^{+}$, alkaline pH itself did ot induced the expression of the fusion in the absence of Na$^{+}$. Temperature shift and growth phase of culture did not affect the level of induction.he level of induction.