Functional similarities between the Listeria monocytogenes virulence regulator PrfA and cyclic AMP receptor protein: the PrfA* (Gly145Ser) mutation increases binding affinity for target DNA

Most Listeria monocytogenes virulence genes are positively controlled by the PrfA protein. Mutants of the prfA (prfA*), which as a result of single amino acid substitution in PrfA, Gly145Ser, constitutively overexpress prfA and the genes for the PrfA virulence regulon, have been previously characterized. It is demonstrated that approximately 10 times more PrfA protein is produced in a prfA* strain than in the wild-type.