Identification of a cis-acting regulatory region in the pncB locus of Salmonella typhimurium

NAD-dependent DNA-binding activity of the bifunctional NadR regulator of Salmonella typhimurium

NadR is a 45-kDa bifunctional regulator protein. In vivo genetic studies indicate that NadR represses three genes involved in the biosynthesis of NAD. It also participates with an integral membrane protein (PnuC) in the import of nicotinamide mononucleotide, an NAD precursor. NadR was overexpressed and purified as a His-tagged fusion in order to study its DNA-binding properties. The protein bound to DNA fragments containing NAD box consensus sequences. NAD proved to be the relevant in vivo corepressor, but full NAD dependence of repressor activity required nucleotide triphosphates. DNA footprint analysis and gel shift assays suggest that NadR binds as a multimer to adjacent NAD boxes. The DNA-repressor complex would sequester a potential RNA polymerase binding site and thereby decrease expression of the nad regulon.

Regulation of NAD metabolism in Salmonella typhimurium: molecular sequence analysis of the bifunctional nadR regulator and the nadA-pnuC operon

In Salmonella typhimurium, de novo synthesis of NAD is regulated through the transcriptional control of the nadA and nadB loci. Likewise, the pyridine nucleotide salvage pathway is controlled at pncB. The transcriptional expression of these three loci is coordinately regulated by the product of nadR. However, there is genetic evidence suggesting that NadR is bifunctional, serving in both regulatory and transport capacities. One class of mutations in the nadR locus imparts a transport-defective PnuA- phenotype. These mutants retain regulation properties but are unable to transport nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) intact across the cell membrane. Other nadR mutants lose both regulatory and transport capabilities, while a third class loses only regulatory ability. The unusual NMN transport activity requires both the PnuC and NadR proteins, with the pnuC locus residing in an operon with nadA. To prove that nadR encoded a single protein and to gain insight into a regulatory target locus, the nadR and nadA pnuC loci were cloned and sequenced. A DNA fragment which complemented both regulatory and transport mutations was found to contain a single open reading frame capable of encoding a 409-amino-acid protein (47,022 daltons), indicating that NadR is indeed bifunctional. Confirmation of the operon arrangement for nadA and pnuC was obtained through the sequence analysis of a 2.4-kilobase DNA fragment which complemented both NadA and PnuC mutant phenotypes. The nadA product, confirmed in maxicells, was a 365-amino-acid protein (40,759 daltons), while pnuC encoded a 322-amino-acid protein (36,930 daltons). The extremely hydrophobic (71%) nature of the PnuC protein indicated that it was an integral membrane protein, consistent with its central role in the transport of NMN across the cytoplasmic membrane. The results presented here and in previous studies suggest a hypothetical model in which NadR interacts with PnuC at low internal NAD levels, permitting transport of NMN intact into the cell. As NAD levels increase within the cell, the affinity of NadR for the operator regions of nadA, nadB, and pncB increases, repressing the transcription of these target genes.

Regulation of NAD metabolism in Salmonella typhimurium: genetic analysis and cloning of the nadR repressor locus

The nadR locus (99 min) controls the transcription of several genes involved with either the biosynthesis (nadAB) or recycling (pncB) of NAD in Salmonella typhimurium. Point mutations in this locus were found to cause defects either in the transport of nicotinamide mononucleotide (PnuA-), the regulation of nadAB (NadR-) or both transport and regulation (PnuA-NadR-). Deletions or insertions into nadR always resulted in the PnuA- NadR- phenotypes. Merodiploids constructed with various combinations of PnuA-, NadR- or PnuA- NadR- strains indicate a single complementation group. The results suggest the NadR product is a bifunctional regulatory protein. Operon fusions to lacZ (nadR :: Mud1-8) were used to show that nadR is not autoregulated and is transcribed in a clockwise direction. The gene was also cloned and located within a 2 kb EcoR1-Bg/II fragment.

The pyridine nucleotide cycle of Salmonella typhimurium: genetic characterization of the pncXA operon

A series of Mud1 and Tn10 insertions were identified in the pncA chromosome region of Salmonella typhimurium which is responsible for the production of nicotinamide deamidase. Both pncA (resulting in no nicotinamide deamidase activity) and pncX (resulting in lowered nicotinamide deamidase activity) insertions were constructed. In addition, mutants which could utilize nicotinamide as a sole source of nitrogen were isolated. These mutants, designated pncH, hyperproduce nicotinamide deamidase. Genetic studies utilizing pncX--lacZ and pncA--lacZ operon fusions indicate that pncX::Tn10 insertions reduce transcription of pncA--lac while pncH mutations increase the expression of both pncA--lacZ and pncX-lacZ. The gene order was determined as purB--pncA--pncX--gdh with transcription of both pncA and pncX occurring in the counterclockwise direction. Merodiploid studies suggest a model whereby pncX and pncA form an operon with the major promoter occurring upstream from pncX. A second, weaker promoter for pncA must be situated between pncX and pncA. The pncH mutations appear to occur in the pncX promoter (pncXp) increasing promoter activity.