Mechanism and Role of Globin-Coupled Sensor Signalling

Heme pocket hydrogen bonding residue interactions within the Pectobacterium Diguanylate cyclase-containing globin coupled sensor: A resonance Raman study

Heme-based sensor proteins are used by organisms to control signaling and physiological effects in response to their gaseous environment. Globin-coupled sensors (GCS) are oxygen-sensing proteins that are widely distributed in bacteria. These proteins consist of a heme globin domain linked by a middle domain to various output domains, including diguanylate cyclase domains, which are responsible for synthesizing c-di-GMP, a bacterial second messenger crucial for regulating biofilm formation. To understand the roles of heme pocket residues in controlling activity of the diguanylate cyclase domain, variants of the Pectobacterium carotovorum GCS (PccGCS) were characterized by enzyme kinetics and resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopy. Results of these studies have identified roles for hydrogen bonding and heme edge residues in modulating heme pocket conformation and flexibility. Better understanding of the ligand-dependent GCS signaling mechanism and the residues involved may allow for future development of methods to control O2-dependent c-di-GMP production.

Heme pocket modulates protein conformation and diguanylate cyclase activity of a tetrameric globin coupled sensor

Bacteria use the second messenger cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) to control biofilm formation and other key phenotypes in response to environmental signals. Changes in oxygen levels can alter c-di-GMP signaling through a family of proteins termed globin coupled sensors (GCS) that contain diguanylate cyclase domains. Previous studies have found that GCS diguanylate cyclase activity is controlled by ligand binding to the heme within the globin domain, with oxygen binding resulting in the greatest increase in catalytic activity. Herein, we present evidence that heme-edge residues control O2-dependent signaling in PccGCS, a GCS protein from Pectobacterium carotovorum, by modulating heme distortion. Using enzyme kinetics, resonance Raman spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, and multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation, we have developed an integrated model of the full-length PccGCS tetramer and have identified conformational changes associated with ligand binding, heme conformation, and cyclase activity. Taken together, these studies provide new insights into the mechanism by which O2 binding modulates activity of diguanylate cyclase-containing GCS proteins.

Gas-Selective Catalytic Regulation by a Newly Identified Globin-Coupled Sensor Phosphodiesterase Containing an HD-GYP Domain from the Human Pathogen Vibrio fluvialis

Globin-coupled sensors constitute an important family of heme-based gas sensors, an emerging class of heme proteins. In this study, we have identified and characterized a globin-coupled sensor phosphodiesterase containing an HD-GYP domain (GCS-HD-GYP) from the human pathogen Vibrio fluvialis, which is an emerging foodborne pathogen of increasing public health concern. The amino acid sequence encoded by the AL536_01530 gene from V. fluvialis indicated the presence of an N-terminal globin domain and a C-terminal HD-GYP domain, with HD-GYP domains shown previously to display phosphodiesterase activity toward bis(3',5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), a bacterial second messenger that regulates numerous important physiological functions in bacteria, including in bacterial pathogens. Optical absorption spectral properties of GCS-HD-GYP were found to be similar to those of myoglobin and hemoglobin and of other bacterial globin-coupled sensors. The binding of O2 to the Fe(II) heme iron complex of GCS-HD-GYP promoted the catalysis of the hydrolysis of c-di-GMP to its linearized product, 5'-phosphoguanylyl-(3',5')-guanosine (pGpG), whereas CO and NO binding did not enhance the catalysis, indicating a strict discrimination of these gaseous ligands. These results shed new light on the molecular mechanism of gas-selective catalytic regulation by globin-coupled sensors, with these advances apt to lead to a better understanding of the family of globin-coupled sensors, a still growing family of heme-based gas sensors. In addition, given the importance of c-di-GMP in infection and virulence, our results suggested that GCS-HD-GYP could play an important role in the ability of V. fluvialis to sense O2 and NO in the context of host-pathogen interactions.

An aerotaxis receptor influences invasion of Agrobacterium tumefaciens into its host

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a soil-borne pathogenic bacterium that causes crown gall disease in many plants. Chemotaxis offers A. tumefaciens the ability to find its host and establish infection. Being an aerobic bacterium, A. tumefaciens possesses one chemotaxis system with multiple potential chemoreceptors. Chemoreceptors play an important role in perceiving and responding to environmental signals. However, the studies of chemoreceptors in A. tumefaciens remain relatively restricted. Here, we characterized a cytoplasmic chemoreceptor of A. tumefaciens C58 that contains an N-terminal globin domain. The chemoreceptor was designated as Atu1027. The deletion of Atu1027 not only eliminated the aerotactic response of A. tumefaciens to atmospheric air but also resulted in a weakened chemotactic response to multiple carbon sources. Subsequent site-directed mutagenesis and phenotypic analysis showed that the conserved residue His100 in Atu1027 is essential for the globin domain's function in both chemotaxis and aerotaxis. Furthermore, deleting Atu1027 impaired the biofilm formation and pathogenicity of A. tumefaciens. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that Atu1027 functions as an aerotaxis receptor that affects agrobacterial chemotaxis and the invasion of A. tumefaciens into its host.

Heme-based oxygen gasoreceptors

To investigate gasocrine signaling, there is a critical need to identify gasoreceptors for the essential gasotransmitters like O2. Based on existing scientific literature, I propose that heme-based O2 sensors, featuring diverse signaling domains across genera, should be explicitly designated as O2 gasoreceptors. Acknowledging that O2 gasoreceptors are likely to belong to multiple protein classes with diverse signaling domains and pathways will facilitate a comprehensive search for O2 gasoreceptors in all organisms and across every cell type. This approach will broaden the investigation beyond specialized tissues or cells, encompassing a systemic exploration.

Control of bacterial second messenger signaling and motility by heme-based direct oxygen-sensing proteins

Bacteria sense and respond to their environment, allowing them to maximize their survival and growth under changing conditions, such as oxygen levels. Direct oxygen-sensing proteins allow bacteria to rapidly sense concentration changes and adapt by regulating signaling pathways and/or cellular machinery. Recent work has identified roles for direct oxygen-sensing proteins in controlling second messenger levels and motility machinery, as well as effects on biofilm formation, virulence, and motility. In this review, we discuss recent progress in understanding O2-dependent regulation of cyclic di-GMP signaling and motility and highlight the emerging importance in controlling bacterial physiology and behavior.

Heme binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein

The target for humoral immunity, SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, has become the focus of vaccine research and development. Previous work demonstrated that the N-terminal domain (NTD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike binds biliverdin-a product of heme catabolism-causing a strong allosteric effect on the activity of a subset of neutralizing antibodies. Herein, we show that the spike glycoprotein is also able to bind heme (KD = 0.5 ± 0.2 μM). Molecular modeling indicated that the heme group fits well within the same pocket on the SARS-CoV-2 spike NTD. Lined by aromatic and hydrophobic residues (W104, V126, I129, F192, F194, I203, and L226), the pocket provides a suitable environment to stabilize the hydrophobic heme. Mutagenesis of N121 has a substantive effect on heme binding (KD = 3000 ± 220 μM), confirming the pocket as a major heme binding location of the viral glycoprotein. Coupled oxidation experiments in the presence of ascorbate indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 glycoprotein can catalyze the slow conversion of heme to biliverdin. The heme trapping and oxidation activities of the spike may allow the virus to reduce levels of free heme during infection to facilitate evasion of the adaptive and innate immunity.

Gas and light: triggers of c-di-GMP-mediated regulation

The widespread bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP is responsible for regulating many important physiological functions such as biofilm formation, motility, cell differentiation, and virulence. The synthesis and degradation of c-di-GMP in bacterial cells depend, respectively, on diguanylate cyclases and c-di-GMP-specific phosphodiesterases. Since c-di-GMP metabolic enzymes (CMEs) are often fused to sensory domains, their activities are likely controlled by environmental signals, thereby altering cellular c-di-GMP levels and regulating bacterial adaptive behaviors. Previous studies on c-di-GMP-mediated regulation mainly focused on downstream signaling pathways, including the identification of CMEs, cellular c-di-GMP receptors, and c-di-GMP-regulated processes. The mechanisms of CME regulation by upstream signaling modules received less attention, resulting in a limited understanding of the c-di-GMP regulatory networks. We review here the diversity of sensory domains related to bacterial CME regulation. We specifically discuss those domains that are capable of sensing gaseous or light signals and the mechanisms they use for regulating cellular c-di-GMP levels. It is hoped that this review would help refine the complete c-di-GMP regulatory networks and improve our understanding of bacterial behaviors in changing environments. In practical terms, this may eventually provide a way to control c-di-GMP-mediated bacterial biofilm formation and pathogenesis in general.

A Second Role for the Second Messenger Cyclic-di-GMP in E. coli: Arresting Cell Growth by Altering Metabolic Flow

c-di-GMP primarily controls motile to sessile transitions in bacteria. Diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) catalyze the synthesis of c-di-GMP from two GTP molecules. Typically, bacteria encode multiple DGCs that are activated by specific environmental signals. Their catalytic activity is modulated by c-di-GMP binding to autoinhibitory sites (I-sites). YfiN is a conserved inner membrane DGC that lacks these sites. Instead, YfiN activity is directly repressed by periplasmic YfiR, which is inactivated by redox stress. In Escherichia coli, an additional envelope stress causes YfiN to relocate to the mid-cell to inhibit cell division by interacting with the division machinery. Here, we report a third activity for YfiN in E. coli, where cell growth is inhibited without YfiN relocating to the division site. This action of YfiN is only observed when the bacteria are cultured on gluconeogenic carbon sources, and is dependent on absence of the autoinhibitory sites. Restoration of I-site function relieves the growth-arrest phenotype, and disabling this function in a heterologous DGC causes acquisition of this phenotype. Arrested cells are tolerant to a wide range of antibiotics. We show that the likely cause of growth arrest is depletion of cellular GTP from run-away synthesis of c-di-GMP, explaining the dependence of growth arrest on gluconeogenic carbon sources that exhaust more GTP during production of glucose. This is the first report of c-di-GMP-mediated growth arrest by altering metabolic flow. IMPORTANCE The c-di-GMP signaling network in bacteria not only controls a variety of cellular processes such as motility, biofilms, cell development, and virulence, but does so by a dizzying array of mechanisms. The DGC YfiN singularly represents the versatility of this network in that it not only inhibits motility and promotes biofilms, but also arrests growth in Escherichia coli by relocating to the mid-cell and blocking cell division. The work described here reveals that YfiN arrests growth by yet another mechanism in E. coli, changing metabolic flow. This function of YfiN, or of DGCs without autoinhibitory I-sites, may contribute to antibiotic tolerant persisters in relevant niches such as the gut where gluconeogenic sugars are found.

A novel single sensor hemoglobin domain from the thermophilic cyanobacteria Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 exhibits higher pH but lower thermal stability compared to globins from mesophilic organisms

Thermosynechococcus elongatus-BP1 belongs to the class of photoautotrophic cyanobacterial organisms. The presence of chlorophyll a, carotenoids, and phycocyanobilin are the characteristics that categorize T. elongatus as a photosynthetic organism. Here, we report the structural and spectroscopic characteristics of novel hemoglobin (Hb) Synel Hb from T.elongatus, synonymous with Thermosynechococcus vestitus BP-1. The X-ray crystal structure (2.15 Å) of Synel Hb suggests the presence of a globin domain with a pre-A helix similar to the sensor domain (S) family of Hbs. The rich hydrophobic core accommodates heme in a penta-coordinated state and readily binds an extraneous ligand(imidazole). The absorption and circular dichroic spectral analysis of Synel Hb reiteratedthat the heme is in Fe^III+ state with a predominantly α-helical structure similar to myoglobin. Synel Hb displays higher resistance to structural perturbations induced via external stresses like pH and guanidium hydrochloride, which is comparable to Synechocystis Hb. However, Synel Hb exhibited lower thermal stability compared to mesophilic hemoglobins. Overall, the data is suggestive of the structural sturdiness of Synel Hb, which probably corroborates its origin in extreme thermophilic conditions. The stable globin provides scope for further investigation and may lead to new insights with scope for engineering stability in hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers.

Monitoring the Kinase Activity of Heme-Based Oxygen Sensors and Its Dependence on O2 and Other Ligands Using Phos-Tag Electrophoresis

The nonradioactive method, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in the presence of Phos-tag (Phos-tag electrophoresis), is used to evaluate a kinase autophosphorylation and/or phosphotransfer reaction from a kinase/ATP to its protein substrate. This method outperforms radioisotope methods using [³²P]ATP for detecting trace amounts of phosphorylated protein in fresh protein preparations. Phos-tag electrophoresis has been used to perform detailed analyses of the kinase activity of a heme-based oxygen sensor-specifically, a globin-coupled histidine kinase from the soil bacterium Anaeromyxobacter sp. Fw109-5 (AfGcHK).

Signal transduction mechanisms in heme-based globin-coupled oxygen sensors with a focus on a histidine kinase (AfGcHK) and a diguanylate cyclase (YddV or EcDosC)

Heme is a vital cofactor of proteins with roles in oxygen transport (e.g. hemoglobin), storage (e.g. myoglobin), and activation (e.g. P450) as well as electron transfer (e.g. cytochromes) and many other functions. However, its structural and functional role in oxygen sensing proteins differs markedly from that in most other enzymes, where it serves as a catalytic or functional center. This minireview discusses the mechanism of signal transduction in two heme-based oxygen sensors: the histidine kinase AfGcHK and the diguanylate cyclase YddV (EcDosC), both of which feature a heme-binding domain containing a globin fold resembling that of hemoglobin and myoglobin.

The Vibrio vulnificus stressosome is an oxygen-sensor involved in regulating iron metabolism

Stressosomes are stress-sensing protein complexes widely conserved among bacteria. Although a role in the regulation of the general stress response is well documented in Gram-positive bacteria, the activating signals are still unclear, and little is known about the physiological function of stressosomes in the Gram-negative bacteria. Here we investigated the stressosome of the Gram-negative marine pathogen Vibrio vulnificus. We demonstrate that it senses oxygen and identified its role in modulating iron-metabolism. We determined a cryo-electron microscopy structure of the VvRsbR:VvRsbS stressosome complex, the first solved from a Gram-negative bacterium. The structure points to a variation in the VvRsbR and VvRsbS stoichiometry and a symmetry breach in the oxygen sensing domain of VvRsbR, suggesting how signal-sensing elicits a stress response. The findings provide a link between ligand-dependent signaling and an output – regulation of iron metabolism - for a stressosome complex.

A cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of a stressosome complex from a Gram-negative bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, reveals variations in subunit composition and symmetry, which could serve to adjust the activation threshold in the response to low levels of oxygen and starvation.

Acid stress signals are integrated into the σB-dependent general stress response pathway via the stressosome in the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

The general stress response (GSR) in Listeria monocytogenes plays a critical role in the survival of this pathogen in the host gastrointestinal tract. The GSR is regulated by the alternative sigma factor B (σ^B), whose role in protection against acid stress is well established. Here, we investigated the involvement of the stressosome, a sensory hub, in transducing low pH signals to induce the GSR. Mild acid shock (15 min at pH 5.0) activated σ^B and conferred protection against a subsequent lethal pH challenge. A mutant strain where the stressosome subunit RsbR1 was solely present retained the ability to induce σ^B activity at pH 5.0. The role of stressosome phosphorylation in signal transduction was investigated by mutating the putative phosphorylation sites in the core stressosome proteins RsbR1 (rsbR1-T175A, -T209A, -T241A) and RsbS (rsbS-S56A), or the stressosome kinase RsbT (rsbT-N49A). The rsbS S56A and rsbT N49A mutations abolished the response to low pH. The rsbR1-T209A and rsbR1-T241A mutants displayed constitutive σ^B activity. Mild acid shock upregulates invasion genes inlAB and stimulates epithelial cell invasion, effects that were abolished in mutants with an inactive or overactive stressosome. Overall, the results show that the stressosome is required for acid-induced activation of σ^B in L. monocytogenes. Furthermore, they show that RsbR1 can function independently of its paralogues and signal transduction requires RsbT-mediated phosphorylation of RsbS on S56 and RsbR1 on T209 but not T175. These insights shed light on the mechanisms of signal transduction that activate the GSR in L. monocytogenes in response to acidic environments, and highlight the role this sensory process in the early stages of the infectious cycle.

The stress sensing hub known as the stressosome, found in many bacterial and archaeal lineages, plays a crucial role in both stress tolerance and virulence in the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. However, the mechanisms that lead to its activation and the subsequent activation of the general stress response have remained elusive. In this study, we examined the signal transduction mechanisms that operate in the stressosome in response to acid stress. We found that only one of the five putative sensory proteins present in L. monocytogenes, RsbR1, was required for effective transduction of acid tress signals. We further found that phosphorylation of RsbS and RsbR1, mediated by the RsbT kinase, is essential for signal transduction. Failure to phosphorylate RsbS on Serine 56 completely abolished acid sensing by the stressosome, which prevented the development of adaptive acid tolerance. The acid-induced activation of internalin gene expression was also abolished in mutants with defective stressosome signalling, suggesting a role for the stressosome in the invasion of host cells. Together the data provide new insights into the mechanisms that activate the stressosome in response to acid stress and highlight the role this sensory hub plays in virulence.

Characterization of a Cobalt-Substituted Globin-Coupled Oxygen Sensor Histidine Kinase from Anaeromyxobacter sp. Fw109-5: Insights into Catalytic Regulation by Its Heme Coordination Structure

Heme-based gas sensors are an emerging class of heme proteins. AfGcHK, a globin-coupled histidine kinase from Anaeromyxobacter sp. Fw109-5, is an oxygen sensor enzyme in which oxygen binding to Fe(II) heme in the globin sensor domain substantially enhances its autophosphorylation activity. Here, we reconstituted AfGcHK with cobalt protoporphyrin IX (Co-AfGcHK) in place of heme (Fe-AfGcHK) and characterized the spectral and catalytic properties of the full-length proteins. Spectroscopic analyses indicated that Co(III) and Co(II)-O₂ complexes were in a 6-coordinated low-spin state in Co-AfGcHK, like Fe(III) and Fe(II)-O₂ complexes of Fe-AfGcHK. Although both Fe(II) and Co(II) complexes were in a 5-coordinated state, Fe(II) and Co(II) complexes were in high-spin and low-spin states, respectively. The autophosphorylation activity of Co(III) and Co(II)-O₂ complexes of Co-AfGcHK was fully active, whereas that of the Co(II) complex was moderately active. This contrasts with Fe-AfGcHK, where Fe(III) and Fe(II)-O₂ complexes were fully active and the Fe(II) complex was inactive. Collectively, activity data and coordination structures of Fe-AfGcHK and Co-AfGcHK indicate that all fully active forms were in a 6-coordinated low-spin state, whereas the inactive form was in a 5-coordinated high-spin state. The 5-coordinated low-spin complex was moderately active-a novel finding of this study. These results suggest that the catalytic activity of AfGcHK is regulated by its heme coordination structure, especially the spin state of its heme iron. Our study presents the first successful preparation and characterization of a cobalt-substituted globin-coupled oxygen sensor enzyme and may lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of catalytic regulation in this family.

Heme-Edge Residues Modulate Signal Transduction within a Bifunctional Homo-Dimeric Sensor Protein

Bifunctional enzymes, which contain two domains with opposing enzymatic activities, are widely distributed in bacteria, but the regulatory mechanism(s) that prevent futile cycling are still poorly understood. The recently described bifunctional enzyme, DcpG, exhibits unusual heme properties and is surprisingly able to differentially regulate its two cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) metabolic domains in response to heme gaseous ligands. Mutagenesis of heme-edge residues was used to probe the heme pocket and resulted in decreased O₂ dissociation kinetics, identifying roles for these residues in modulating DcpG gas sensing. In addition, the resonance Raman spectra of the DcpG wild type and heme-edge mutants revealed that the mutations alter the heme electrostatic environment, vinyl group conformations, and spin state population. Using small-angle X-ray scattering and negative stain electron microscopy, the heme-edge mutations were demonstrated to cause changes to the protein conformation, which resulted in altered signaling transduction and enzyme kinetics. These findings provide insights into molecular interactions that regulate DcpG gas sensing as well as mechanisms that have evolved to control multidomain bacterial signaling proteins.

Differential ligand-selective control of opposing enzymatic activities within a bifunctional c-di-GMP enzyme

Cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) serves as a second messenger that modulates bacterial cellular processes, including biofilm formation. While proteins containing both c-di-GMP synthesizing (GGDEF) and c-di-GMP hydrolyzing (EAL) domains are widely predicted in bacterial genomes, it is poorly understood how domains with opposing enzymatic activity are regulated within a single polypeptide. Herein, we report the characterization of a globin-coupled sensor protein (GCS) from Paenibacillus dendritiformis (DcpG) with bifunctional c-di-GMP enzymatic activity. DcpG contains a regulatory sensor globin domain linked to diguanylate cyclase (GGDEF) and phosphodiesterase (EAL) domains that are differentially regulated by gas binding to the heme; GGDEF domain activity is activated by the Fe(II)-NO state of the globin domain, while EAL domain activity is activated by the Fe(II)-O2 state. The in vitro activity of DcpG is mimicked in vivo by the biofilm formation of P. dendritiformis in response to gaseous environment, with nitric oxide conditions leading to the greatest amount of biofilm formation. The ability of DcpG to differentially control GGDEF and EAL domain activity in response to ligand binding is likely due to the unusual properties of the globin domain, including rapid ligand dissociation rates and high midpoint potentials. Using structural information from small-angle X-ray scattering and negative stain electron microscopy studies, we developed a structural model of DcpG, providing information about the regulatory mechanism. These studies provide information about full-length GCS protein architecture and insight into the mechanism by which a single regulatory domain can selectively control output domains with opposing enzymatic activities.

Structural modeling of a novel membrane-bound globin-coupled sensor in Geobacter sulfurreducens

Globin-coupled sensors (GCS) usually consist of three domains: a sensor/globin, a linker, and a transmitter domain. The globin domain (GD), activated by ligand binding and/or redox change, induces an intramolecular signal transduction resulting in a response of the transmitter domain. Depending on the nature of the transmitter domain, GCSs can have different activities and functions, including adenylate and di-guanylate cyclase, histidine kinase activity, aerotaxis and/or oxygen sensing function. The gram-negative delta-proteobacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens expresses a protein with a GD covalently linked to a four transmembrane domain, classified, by sequence similarity, as GCS (GsGCS). While its GD is fully characterized, not so its transmembrane domain, which is rarely found in the globin superfamily. In the present work, GsGCS was characterized spectroscopically and by native ion mobility-mass spectrometry in combination with cryo-electron microscopy. Although lacking high resolution, the oligomeric state and the electron density map were valuable for further rational modeling of the full-length GsGCS structure. This model demonstrates that GsGCS forms a transmembrane domain-driven tetramer with minimal contact between the GDs and with the heme groups oriented outward. This organization makes an intramolecular signal transduction less likely. Our results, including the auto-oxidation rate and redox potential, suggest a potential role for GsGCS as redox sensor or in a membrane-bound e-/H+ transfer. As such, GsGCS might act as a player in connecting energy production to the oxidation of organic compounds and metal reduction. Database searches indicate that GDs linked to a four or seven helices transmembrane domain occur more frequently than expected.

π-Helix controls activity of oxygen-sensing diguanylate cyclases

The ability of organisms to sense and adapt to oxygen levels in their environment leads to changes in cellular phenotypes, including biofilm formation and virulence. Globin coupled sensors (GCSs) are a family of heme proteins that regulate diverse functions in response to O₂ levels, including modulating synthesis of cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), a bacterial second messenger that regulates biofilm formation. While GCS proteins have been demonstrated to regulate O₂-dependent pathways, the mechanism by which the O₂ binding event is transmitted from the globin domain to the cyclase domain is unknown. Using chemical cross-linking and subsequent liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, diguanylate cyclase (DGC)-containing GCS proteins from Bordetella pertussis (BpeGReg) and Pectobacterium carotovorum (PccGCS) have been demonstrated to form direct interactions between the globin domain and a middle domain π-helix. Additionally, mutation of the π-helix caused major changes in oligomerization and loss of DGC activity. Furthermore, results from assays with isolated globin and DGC domains found that DGC activity is affected by the cognate globin domain, indicating unique interactions between output domain and cognate globin sensor. Based on these studies a compact GCS structure, which depends on the middle domain π-helix for orienting the three domains, is needed for DGC activity and allows for direct sensor domain interactions with both middle and output domains to transmit the O₂ binding signal. The insights from the present study improve our understanding of DGC regulation and provide insight into GCS signaling that may lead to the ability to rationally control O₂-dependent GCS activity.

Lessons from the post-genomic era: Globin diversity beyond oxygen binding and transport

Vertebrate hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) were among the first proteins whose structures and sequences were determined over 50 years ago. In the subsequent pregenomic period, numerous related proteins came to light in plants, invertebrates and bacteria, that shared the myoglobin fold, a signature sequence motif characteristic of a 3-on-3 α-helical sandwich. Concomitantly, eukaryote and bacterial globins with a truncated 2-on-2 α-helical fold were discovered. Genomic information over the last 20 years has dramatically expanded the list of known globins, demonstrating their existence in a limited number of archaeal genomes, a majority of bacterial genomes and an overwhelming majority of eukaryote genomes. In vertebrates, 6 additional globin types were identified, namely neuroglobin (Ngb), cytoglobin (Cygb), globin E (GbE), globin X (GbX), globin Y (GbY) and androglobin (Adgb). Furthermore, functions beyond the familiar oxygen transport and storage have been discovered within the vertebrate globin family, including NO metabolism, peroxidase activity, scavenging of free radicals, and signaling functions. The extension of the knowledge on globin functions suggests that the original roles of bacterial globins must have been enzymatic, involved in defense against NO toxicity, and perhaps also as sensors of O₂, regulating taxis away or towards high O₂ concentrations. In this review, we aimed to discuss the evolution and remarkable functional diversity of vertebrate globins with particular focus on the variety of non-canonical expression sites of mammalian globins and their according impressive variability of atypical functions.

Disruption of the dimerization interface of the sensing domain in the dimeric heme-based oxygen sensor AfGcHK abolishes bacterial signal transduction

The heme-based oxygen sensor protein AfGcHK is a globin-coupled histidine kinase in the soil bacterium Anaeromyxobacter sp. Fw109-5. Its C-terminal functional domain exhibits autophosphorylation activity induced by oxygen binding to the heme-Fe(II) complex located in the oxygen-sensing N-terminal globin domain. A detailed understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms in heme-containing sensor proteins remains elusive. Here, we investigated the role of the globin domain's dimerization interface in signal transduction in AfGcHK. We present a crystal structure of a monomeric imidazole-bound AfGcHK globin domain at 1.8 Å resolution, revealing that the helices of the WT globin dimer are under tension and suggesting that Tyr-15 plays a role in both this tension and the globin domain's dimerization. Biophysical experiments revealed that whereas the isolated WT globin domain is dimeric in solution, the Y15A and Y15G variants in which Tyr-15 is replaced with Ala or Gly, respectively, are monomeric. Additionally, we found that although the dimerization of the full-length protein is preserved via the kinase domain dimerization interface in all variants, full-length AfGcHK variants bearing the Y15A or Y15G substitutions lack enzymatic activity. The combined structural and biophysical results presented here indicate that Tyr-15 plays a key role in the dimerization of the globin domain of AfGcHK and that globin domain dimerization is essential for internal signal transduction and autophosphorylation in this protein. These findings provide critical insights into the signal transduction mechanism of the histidine kinase AfGcHK from Anaeromyxobacter.

Role of multiheme cytochromes involved in extracellular anaerobic respiration in bacteria

Heme containing proteins are involved in a broad range of cellular functions, from oxygen sensing and transport to catalyzing oxidoreductive reactions. The two major types of cytochrome (b-type and c-type) only differ in their mechanism of heme attachment, but this has major implications for their cellular roles in both localization and mechanism. The b-type cytochromes are commonly cytoplasmic, or are within the cytoplasmic membrane, while c-type cytochromes are always found outside of the cytoplasm. The mechanism of heme attachment allows for complex c-type multiheme complexes, having the capacity to hold multiple electrons, to be assembled. These are increasingly being identified as secreted into the extracellular environment. For organisms that respire using extracellular substrates, these large multiheme cytochromes allow for electron transfer networks from the cytoplasmic membrane to the cell exterior for the reduction of extracellular electron acceptors. In this review the structures and functions of these networks and the mechanisms by which electrons are transferred to extracellular substrates is described.

Kinetic analysis of a globin-coupled diguanylate cyclase, YddV: Effects of heme iron redox state, axial ligands, and heme distal mutations on catalysis

Heme-based oxygen sensors allow bacteria to regulate their activity based on local oxygen levels. YddV, a globin-coupled oxygen sensor with diguanylate cyclase activity from Escherichia coli, regulates cyclic-di-GMP synthesis based on oxygen availability. Stable and active samples of the full-length YddV protein were prepared by attaching it to maltose binding protein (MBP). To better understand the full-length protein's structure, the interactions between its domains were examined by performing a kinetic analysis. The diguanylate cyclase reaction catalyzed by YddV-MBP exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Its pH optimum was 8.5-9.0, and catalysis required either Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺; other divalent metal ions gave no activity. The most active form of YddV-MBP had a 5-coordinate Fe(III) heme complex; its kinetic parameters were K_m^GTP 84 ± 21 μM and k_cat 1.2 min^-1. YddV-MBP with heme Fe(II), heme Fe(II)-O₂, and heme Fe(II)-CO complexes had k_cat values of 0.3 min^-1, 0.95 min^-1, and 0.3 min^-1, respectively, suggesting that catalysis is regulated by the heme iron's redox state and axial ligand binding. The k_cat values for heme Fe(III) complexes of L65G, L65Q, and Y43A YddV-MBP mutants bearing heme distal amino acid replacements were 0.15 min^-1, 0.26 min^-1 and 0.54 min^-1, respectively, implying that heme distal residues play key regulatory roles by mediating signal transduction between the sensing and functional domains. Ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography experiments showed that YddV-MBP is primarily dimeric in solution, with a sedimentation coefficient around 8. The inactive heme-free H93A mutant is primarily octameric, suggesting that catalytically active dimer formation requires heme binding.

Heme: emergent roles of heme in signal transduction, functional regulation and as catalytic centres

Molecular mechanisms of unprecedented functions of exchangeable/labile heme and heme proteins including transcription, DNA binding, protein kinase activity, K⁺ channel functions, cis–trans isomerization, N–N bond formation, and other functions are described.

Structural Insights into Oxygen-Dependent Signal Transduction within Globin Coupled Sensors

In order to respond to external stimuli, bacteria have evolved sensor proteins linking external signals to intracellular outputs that can then regulate downstream pathways and phenotypes. Globin coupled sensor proteins (GCSs) serve to link environmental O₂ levels to cellular processes by coupling a heme-containing sensor globin domain to a catalytic output domain. However, the mechanism by which O₂ binding activates these proteins is currently unknown. To provide insights into the signaling mechanism, two distinct dimeric complexes of the isolated globin domain of the GCS from Bordetella pertussis ( BpeGlobin) were solved via X-ray crystallography in which differences in ligand-bound states were observed. Both monomers of one dimer contain Fe(II)-O₂ states, while the other dimer consists of the Fe(III)-H₂O and Fe(II)-O₂ states. These data provide the first molecular insights into the heme pocket conformation of the active Fe(II)-O₂ form of these enzymes. In addition, heme distortion modes and heme-protein interactions were found to correlate with the ligation state of the globin, suggesting that these conformational changes play a role in O₂-dependent signaling. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of the full-length GCS from B. pertussis ( BpeGReg) and the closely related GCS from Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. carotovorum ( PccGCS) confirmed the importance of an ordered water within the heme pocket and two distal residues (Tyr43 and Ser68) as hydrogen-bond donors. Taken together, this work provides mechanistic insights into BpeGReg O₂ sensing and the signaling mechanisms of diguanylate cyclase-containing GCS proteins.

In silico characterization of a novel putative aerotaxis chemosensory system in the myxobacterium, Corallococcus coralloides

Background

An efficient signal transduction system allows a bacterium to sense environmental cues and then to respond positively or negatively to those signals; this process is referred to as taxis. In addition to external cues, the internal metabolic state of any bacterium plays a major role in determining its ability to reside and thrive in its current environment. Similar to external signaling molecules, cytoplasmic signals are also sensed by methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) via diverse ligand binding domains. Myxobacteria are complex soil-dwelling social microbes that can perform a variety of physiologic and metabolic activities ranging from gliding motility, sporulation, biofilm formation, carotenoid and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, predation, and slime secretion. To live such complex lifestyles, they have evolved efficient signal transduction systems with numerous one- and two-component regulatory system along with a large array of chemosensory systems to perceive and integrate both external and internal cues.

Results

Here we report the in silico characterization of a putative energy taxis cluster, Cc-5, which is present in only one amongst 34 known and sequenced myxobacterial genomes, Corallococcus coralloides. In addition, we propose that this energy taxis cluster is involved in oxygen sensing, suggesting that C. coralloides can sense (either directly or indirectly) and then respond to changing concentrations of molecular oxygen.

Conclusions

This hypothesis is based on the presence of a unique MCP encoded in this gene cluster that contains two different oxygen-binding sensor domains, PAS and globin. In addition, the two monooxygenases encoded in this cluster may contribute to aerobic respiration via ubiquinone biosynthesis, which is part of the cytochrome bc1 complex. Finally, we suggest that this cluster was acquired from Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria or Cyanobacteria. Overall, this in silico study has identified a potentially innovative and evolved mechanism of energy taxis in only one of the myxobacteria, C. coralloides.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5151-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.