Transcription of rpoS is repressed by MqsA through direct binding. Under oxidative stress, MqsA is degraded by protease Lon, and rpoS transcription is derepressed. The increase in rpoS transcription leads to an increase in σs activity, which induces genes encoding catalase, c-di-GMP, and curli/cellulose production and represses the genes encoding the master regulator of motility, FlhDC. Upon oxidative stress, OxyR induces katG and the regulatory RNA OxyS which inhibits translation of the rpoS message. In addition, the RNase activity of MqsR may serve to rapidly direct the cell toward the translation of newly-transcribed, stress-related transcripts and leads to the formation of persister cells. The lightning bolt indicates oxidative stress, → indicates induction, and ⊥ indicates repression. Moreover, MqsA represses csgD probably via the mqsRA-like palindrome in the promoter region as indicated by a dotted line (direct binding studies were not performed here).