MatR in Rhizobium trifolii is a malonate-responsive transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes, matABC, enabling decarboxylation of malonyl-CoA into acetyl-CoA, synthesis of malonyl-CoA from malonate and CoA, and malonate transport. According to an analysis of the amino acid sequence homology, MatR belongs to the GntR family The proteins of this family have two-domain folds, the N-terminal helix-turn-helix DNA-binding domain and the C-terminal ligand-binding domain. In order to End the malonate binding site and amino acid residues that interact with RNA polymerase, a site-directed mutagenesis was performed. Analysis of the mutant MatR suggests that Arg-160 might be involved in malonate binding, whereas Arg-102 and Arg-174 are critical for the repression activity by interacting with RNA polymerase.