Genetic oscillations in the iron homeostasis network of E. coli

During our study of sRNA regulation in the iron homeostasis network of E. coli as a model system, in which the  RyhB sRNA regulates the expression of iron-using proteins, we discovered that genes down-regulated by the iron sensor-Fur exhibit damped oscillations upon exposure of the cells to sudden iron scarcity.

Promotor activity of RyhB sRNA in E. coli cells exposed at t=0, to different degrees of iron scarcity.

“Damped oscillations in the adaptive response of the iron homeostasis network of E. coli”, A. Amir, S. Meshner, T. Beatus, and J. Stavans, Mol. Microbiol. 76, 426 (2010).