The objective of the proposal is to study the regulation of the hbp gene in Escherichia coli. The hbp gene product is very similar in amino sequence to a hemoglobin-like protein from a Vitreoscilla sp. and like the Vitreoscilla protein is regulated in response to environmental oxygen concentration. The specific aims of the proposal are: 1. Physiological characterization of hbp gene regulation in wild-type and mutant strains. 2. Genetic characterization of hbp gene expression. 3. Identify and characterize the sequence required for hbp regulation from the hbp promoter. The information obtained from this research will contribute to the present knowledge on gene expression in response to environmental factors, and will also contribute to the overall understanding of gene regulation.
