The Cys4 and Cys37 in NMB2145, of importance in anti-σE activity, correspond exactly with Cys11 and Cys44 residues of RsrA involved in disulphide bond formation, suggesting that MseR also contains Zn2+. Therefore, it was tempting to speculate that a similar thiol-disulphide redox balance also exists in meningococci. However, in N. meningitidis MDV3100 molecular weight thioredoxin appears not to be upregulated upon exposure to hydrogen peroxide [34] and we showed that transcription levels of MsrA/MsrB are not affected after exposure of meningococci to hydrogen peroxide, diamide or singlet oxygen. Whether NMB2145 is also a Zn+ containing protein, deserves further study.Together, despite the structural resemblance

between RsrA and MseR, these results show that MseR functionally differs from RsrA of S. coelicolor. MsrA/MrsB, encoding methionine sulfoxide reductase, an enzyme repairing proteins exposed to reactive oxygen species [76], is a major target of σE, and abundantly expressed when active σE levels are high. Expression of MsrA/MsrB is also controlled by σE in N. gonorrhoeae and Caulobacter crescentus. Interestingly, in N. gonorrhoeae MsrA/MsrB is upregulated CB-839 nmr together with the genes NGO1947 and NGO1948 in AZD3965 manufacturer response to hydrogen peroxide [24, 77, 78]. However, none of the

meningococcal orthologues [34, 78], nor σE activity, as shown in our study, appear to respond to hydrogen peroxide,strongly indicating the existence of different modes of regulation of σE between gonococci and meningococci. In addition

we did not found detectable differences in transcription Guanylate cyclase 2C levels of MsrA/MsrB after exposure to SDS-EDTA, a stimulant known to activate RpoE in other bacterial species. Thus, in vivo stimuli activating the σE response in N. meningitidis are most likely different from those of gonococci and remain to be further explored. Conclusions The results show the existence of a σE regulon in meningococci. The product of NMB2145 (MseR) functions as an anti-σE factor with properties different from membrane spanning anti-σE factors responding to signals in the periplasma. Our data strongly indicate that MseR, the meningococcal anti-σE factor, closely mimics structural properties of members of the ZAS family that are acting on novel stimuli encountered in the cytoplasm. Stimuli of MseR differ from those of the ZAS family anti-sigma factors suggesting that MseR is a novel anti-σ factor. This could indicate a potentially important, specific role for σE in the pathogenesis of meningococcal disease. Methods Bacterial strains and culture conditions N. meningitidis strain H44/76, B: P1.7,16: F3-3: ST-32 (cc32), is closely related to the sequenced serogroup B strain MC58, belonging to the same clonal complex [79]. Meningococci were grown on GC plates (Difco) supplemented with 1% (vol/vol) Vitox (Oxoid) at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2.