HucR, a Novel Uric Acid-responsive Member of the MarR Family of Transcriptional Regulators from Deinococcus radiodurans

What is it about?

The transcription factor HucR represses a gene encoding uricase, an enzyme that breaks down uric acid. When uric acid is in abundance, it binds HucR, a result of which is that HucR no longer binds DNA, allowing expression of the gene encoding uricase.

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Why is it important?

It illustrates how a bacterial gene is expressed only when needed. In addition, HucR is a unique member of the MarR protein family, as it includes an N-terminal extension, which is absent from canonical MarR proteins.