Posttranslational Regulation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Extracytoplasmic-Function Sigma Factor σ L and Roles in Virulence and in Global Regulation of Gene Expression

In this report, we demonstrate that SigL is posttranslationally regulated by a specific anti-sigma factor, RslA, and contributes to the expression of at least 28 genes. Several of these genes could mediate important cell envelope-related processes. Importantly, a sigL-rslA mutant strain was significantly attenuated in a mouse model of infection.