An equilibrium study of the cooperative binding of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate and guanosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate to the adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate receptor protein from Escherichia coli

cAMP competitively inhibits periplasmic phosphatases to coordinate nutritional growth with competence of Haemophilus influenzae

Most naturally competent bacteria tightly regulate the window of the competent state to maximize their ecological fitness under specific conditions. Development of competence by Haemophilus influenzae strain Rd KW20 is stimulated by cAMP and inhibited by purine nucleotides, respectively. In contrast, cAMP inhibits cell growth, but nucleotides are important for KW20 growth. However, the mechanisms underlying the abovementioned reciprocal effects are unclear. Here, we first identified a periplasmic acid phosphatase AphAEc of Escherichia coli as a new cAMP-binding protein. We show cAMP competitively inhibits the phosphatase activities of AphAEc and its homolog protein AphAHi in the KW20 strain. Furthermore, we found cAMP inhibits two other periplasmic nonspecific phosphatases, NadNHi (which provides the essential growth factor V, NAD) and HelHi (eP4, which converts NADP to NAD) in KW20. We demonstrate cAMP inhibits cell growth rate, especially via NadNHi. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of purine nucleotide AMP on competence was abolished in the triple deletion mutant ΔhelHiΔnadNHiΔaphAHi, but not in the single, double deletion or complemented strains. Adenosine, however, still inhibited the competence of the triple deletion mutant, demonstrating the crucial role of the three phosphatases in converting nucleotides to nucleosides and thus inhibiting KW20 competence. Finally, cAMP restored the competence inhibited by GMP in a dose-dependent manner, but not competence inhibited by guanosine. Altogether, we uncovered these three periplasmic phosphatases as the key players underlying the antagonistic effects of cAMP and purine nucleotides on both cell growth and competence development of H. influenzae.

cAMP Activation of the cAMP Receptor Protein, a Model Bacterial Transcription Factor

The active and inactive structures of the Escherichia coli cAMP receptor protein (CRP), a model bacterial transcription factor, are compared to generate a paradigm in the cAMP-induced activation of CRP. The resulting paradigm is shown to be consistent with numerous biochemical studies of CRP and CRP*, a group of CRP mutants displaying cAMP-free activity. The cAMP affinity of CRP is dictated by two factors: (i) the effectiveness of the cAMP pocket and (ii) the protein equilibrium of apo-CRP. How these two factors interplay in determining the cAMP affinity and cAMP specificity of CRP and CRP* mutants are discussed. Both the current understanding and knowledge gaps of CRP-DNA interactions are also described. This review ends with a list of several important CRP issues that need to be addressed in the future.

Fluorescence Spectroscopic Analysis of ppGpp Binding to cAMP Receptor Protein and Histone-Like Nucleoid Structuring Protein

The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) is one of the best-known transcription factors, regulating about 400 genes. The histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) is one of the nucleoid-forming proteins and is responsible for DNA packaging and gene repression in prokaryotes. In this study, the binding of ppGpp to CRP and H-NS was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. CRP from Escherichia coli exhibited intrinsic fluorescence at 341 nm when excited at 280 nm. The fluorescence intensity decreased in the presence of ppGpp. The dissociation constant of 35 ± 3 µM suggests that ppGpp binds to CRP with a similar affinity to cAMP. H-NS also shows intrinsic fluorescence at 329 nm. The fluorescence intensity was decreased by various ligands and the calculated dissociation constant for ppGpp was 80 ± 11 µM, which suggests that the binding site was occupied fully by ppGpp under starvation conditions. This study suggests the modulatory effects of ppGpp in gene expression regulated by CRP and H-NS. The method described here may be applicable to many other proteins.

EtcABC, a Putative EII Complex, Regulates Type 3 Fimbriae via CRP-cAMP Signaling in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Biofilm formation by Klebsiella pneumoniae on indwelling medical devices increases the risk of infection. Both type 1 and type 3 fimbriae are important factors in biofilm formation by K. pneumoniae. We found that a putative enzyme II (EII) complex of the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS), etcA (EIIA)-etcB (EIIB)-etcC (EIIC), regulated biofilm and type 3 fimbriae formation by K. pneumoniae STU1. In this study, the regulatory mechanism of etcABC in K. pneumoniae type 3 fimbriae formation was investigated. We found via quantitative RT-PCR that overexpression of etcABC enhanced the transcription level of the mrk operon, which is involved in type 3 fimbriae synthesis, and reduced the transcription level of the fim operon, which is involved in type 1 fimbriae synthesis. To gain further insight into the role of etcABC in type 3 fimbriae synthesis, we analyzed the region upstream of the mrk operon and found the potential cyclic 3′5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) receptor protein (CRP) binding site. After crp was deleted in K. pneumoniae STU1 and two clinical isolates, these three crp mutant strains could not express MrkA, the major subunit of the fimbrial shaft, indicating that CRP positively regulated type 3 fimbriae synthesis. Moreover, a crp mutant overexpressing etcABC could not express MrkA, indicating that the regulation of type 3 fimbriae by etcABC was dependent on CRP. In addition, deletion of cyaA, which encodes the adenylyl cyclase that synthesizes cAMP, and deletion of crr, which encodes the glucose-specific EIIA, led to a reduction in lac operon regulation and therefore bacterial lactose uptake in K. pneumoniae. Exogenous cAMP but not etcABC overexpression compensated for the role of cyaA in bacterial lactose uptake. However, either etcABC overexpression or exogenous cAMP compensated for the role of crr in bacterial lac operon regulation that would eventually restore lactose uptake. We also found via ELISA and the luxCDABE reporter system that overexpression of etcABC increased intracellular cAMP levels and the transcription level of crp, respectively, in K. pneumoniae. In conclusion, overexpression of etcABC positively regulated cAMP production and cAMP-CRP activity to activate the mrk operon, resulting in increased type 3 fimbriae synthesis in K. pneumoniae.

Origin and phylogenetic relationships of [4Fe-4S]-containing O2 sensors of bacteria

The advent of environmental O₂ about 2.5 billion years ago forced microbes to metabolically adapt and to develop mechanisms for O₂ sensing. Sensing of O₂ by [4Fe-4S]²⁺ to [2Fe-2S]²⁺ cluster conversion represents an ancient mechanism that is used by FNR_Ec (Escherichia coli), FNR_Bs (Bacillus subtilis), NreB_Sa (Staphylococcus aureus) and WhiB3_Mt (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). The phylogenetic relationship of these sensors was investigated. FNR_Ec homologues are restricted to the proteobacteria and a few representatives from other phyla. Homologues of FNR_Bs and NreB_Sa are located within the bacilli, of WhiB3 within the actinobacteria. Archaea contain no homologues. The data reveal no similarity between the FNR_Ec , FNR_Bs , NreB_Sa and WhiB3 sensor families on the sequence and structural levels. These O₂ sensor families arose independently in phyla that were already present at the time O₂ appeared, their members were subsequently distributed by lateral gene transfer. The chemistry of [4Fe-4S] and [2Fe-2S] cluster formation and interconversion appears to be shared by the sensor protein families. The type of signal output is, however, family specific. The homologues of FNR_Ec and NreB_Sa vary with regard to the number of Cys residues that coordinate the cluster. It is suggested that the variants derive from lateral gene transfer and gained other functions.

Modulation of global low-frequency motions underlies allosteric regulation: demonstration in CRP/FNR family transcription factors

Allostery in bacterial transcription factors arises from changes in global low-frequency protein dynamics. Amino acids that regulate low-frequency dynamics are identified and seen to be evolutionarily conserved.

Allostery is a fundamental process by which ligand binding to a protein alters its activity at a distinct site. There is growing evidence that allosteric cooperativity can be communicated by modulation of protein dynamics without conformational change. The mechanisms, however, for communicating dynamic fluctuations between sites are debated. We provide a foundational theory for how allostery can occur as a function of low-frequency dynamics without a change in structure. We have generated coarse-grained models that describe the protein backbone motions of the CRP/FNR family transcription factors, CAP of Escherichia coli and GlxR of Corynebacterium glutamicum. The latter we demonstrate as a new exemplar for allostery without conformation change. We observe that binding the first molecule of cAMP ligand is correlated with modulation of the global normal modes and negative cooperativity for binding the second cAMP ligand without a change in mean structure. The theory makes key experimental predictions that are tested through an analysis of variant proteins by structural biology and isothermal calorimetry. Quantifying allostery as a free energy landscape revealed a protein “design space” that identified the inter- and intramolecular regulatory parameters that frame CRP/FNR family allostery. Furthermore, through analyzing CAP variants from diverse species, we demonstrate an evolutionary selection pressure to conserve residues crucial for allosteric control. This finding provides a link between the position of CRP/FNR transcription factors within the allosteric free energy landscapes and evolutionary selection pressures. Our study therefore reveals significant features of the mechanistic basis for allostery. Changes in low-frequency dynamics correlate with allosteric effects on ligand binding without the requirement for a defined spatial pathway. In addition to evolving suitable three-dimensional structures, CRP/FNR family transcription factors have been selected to occupy a dynamic space that fine-tunes biological activity and thus establishes the means to engineer allosteric mechanisms driven by low-frequency dynamics.

Allostery is a process by which a molecule binding to one site of a protein alters the activity of the protein at another site. Allostery is typically thought to occur through a change in protein structure, but there is now clear evidence that the dynamic properties of a protein can also regulate allostery without a change in overall conformation. Here we examine two members of a large family of bacterial transcription factors and provide a mechanism to describe the allosteric binding of their activating ligands. We demonstrate, in these systems, that allostery arises as a natural consequence of changes in global low-frequency protein fluctuations on ligand binding. We further demonstrate that the higher dimensional parameter space that describes all potential variant transcription factors can be reduced to a two-dimensional free energy landscape that determines the key molecular parameters that predominantly regulate allostery. We additionally show that the amino acids we determine as contributing sensitively to allosteric control tend to be conserved in diverse bacteria; thus we identify a link between residues that contribute to low-frequency fluctuations and evolutionary selection pressures.

Neglected role of cAMP receptor protein monomer

Lac operon transcription activation through CRP dimer depends on cAMP second messenger. The formation of CRP homodimers is mediated by protein-protein interactions between the monomers. Cyclic AMP ligand binding brings CRP dimer to an active state via conformational changes. Molecular modeling studies in our lab showed the importance of monomer in transcription activation through its pre-existing conformational state. Until now CRP experiments were carried out at protein concentrations higher than that of CRP dimer dissociation value making all CRP monomers dimer and ignore the importance of CRP monomer in allosteric activation. Labeling CRP monomers with fluorophores exterminate using excess protein concentration and allow monitoring CRP monomer behavior. CRP monomer exchange accelerates in the presence of non specific DNA whereas the exchange is inhibited in the presence of specific DNA and cAMP ligand. Degree of subunit exchange depends on the stability of CRP dimer. Cyclic AMP forms a single molecule from two monomers and addition of specific DNA further stabilizes CRP dimer and decreases monomer exchange. On the other hand, addition of non specific DNA increases CRP monomer exchange and may explain the mechanism of CRP monomer removal and dissociation of CRP dimer:cAMP:DNA complex. The exchange behavior of CRP in the presence of different factors implies importance of monomer in transcription complex association and dissociation.

Allosteric control of promoter DNA bending by cyclic AMP receptor and cyclic AMP

The structure of the cyclic AMP receptor-promoter complex in solution was studied in the range of 0.2-50 microM cAMP by measurements of the electric birefringence at 0.1 M salt using a lac promoter DNA with 121 bp and with the CAP binding site at its center. An excess of protein required for complete conversion of the promoter DNA into the specific complex seems to be partly due to nonspecific binding. The specific complex is associated with a decay time constant of 1.36 micros at 3 degrees C, a positive birefringence, and a permanent dipole moment demonstrated by pulse reversal. These attributes were observed at cAMP concentrations between 3 and 50 muM and are characteristic of the specific complex. Model calculations demonstrate that the DNA bending angle under these conditions is 92 degrees . The observed positive birefringence does not result from the combination of the calculated quasi-permanent dipole and the orientation of the helix axes alone but is due to coupling of translational and rotational diffusion. When the cAMP concentration is decreased below 3 microM, the positive birefringence turns to a negative one with a transition center at 1.5 microM. The transition is too narrow for a model with induction of the specific cyclic AMP receptor-promoter complex after binding of a single cAMP to the cyclic AMP receptor dimer but is consistent with induction of this complex after binding of two cAMP molecules. The cyclic AMP receptor-promoter complex is driven into its specific bent form in vitro in the range of cAMP concentrations corresponding to that required for gene regulation in vivo.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Vfr regulator controls global virulence factor expression through cyclic AMP-dependent and -independent mechanisms

Vfr is a global regulator of virulence factor expression in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Although indirect evidence suggests that Vfr activity is controlled by cyclic AMP (cAMP), it has been hypothesized that the putative cAMP binding pocket of Vfr may accommodate additional cyclic nucleotides. In this study, we used two different approaches to generate apo-Vfr and examined its ability to bind a representative set of virulence gene promoters in the absence and presence of different allosteric effectors. Of the cyclic nucleotides tested, only cAMP was able to restore DNA binding activity to apo-Vfr. In contrast, cGMP was capable of inhibiting cAMP-Vfr DNA binding. Further, we demonstrate that vfr expression is autoregulated and cAMP dependent and involves Vfr binding to a previously unidentified site within the vfr promoter region. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, we show that cAMP is required for Vfr-dependent regulation of a specific subset of virulence genes. In contrast, we discovered that Vfr controls expression of the lasR promoter in a cAMP-independent manner. In summary, our data support a model in which Vfr controls virulence gene expression by distinct (cAMP-dependent and -independent) mechanisms, which may allow P. aeruginosa to fine-tune its virulence program in response to specific host cues or environments.

Kinetic studies of cAMP-induced propagation of the allosteric signal in the cAMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli with the use of site-directed mutagenesis

The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) - general transcription factor in Escherichia coli - changes their conformation after the cAMP binding. For CRP mutants bearing the amino acids substitutions in position 138 located within the hinge region, the fluorescence stopped-flow measurements have been employed to study the kinetics of the conformational changes. By using two naturally appearing Tryptophan residues (W13, W85) localized nearby the ligand binding pocket and 1,5-I-AEDANS-labeled C178 localized in the helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif within the C-terminal domain as a fluorescence probes, we observed a first and a consensus steps of CRP-cAMP association, respectively. The collected data suggest that the kinetic parameters determined for mutants, reflect a component of the conformational change occurring in the native protein. Therefore, the independent association of two cAMP molecules to the wt protein is followed by at least a three-step conformational change which alters the surroundings of HTH motifs.

Syn, anti, and finally both conformations of cyclic AMP are involved in the CRP-dependent transcription initiation mechanism in E. coli lac operon

The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) of Escherichia coli regulates the activity of more than 150 genes. Allosteric changes in CRP structure accompanied by cAMP binding, initiate transcription through protein binding to specific DNA sequences. Initially, researchers proposed a two-site cAMP-binding model for CRP-dependent transcription activation since biophysical methods showed two transitions during titration experiments. Three conformational states were considered; apo-CRP, CRP:(cAMP)(1) and CRP:(cAMP)(2), and CRP:(cAMP)(1) was proposed as the active form in this initial model. X-ray data indicated an anti conformation and in contrast NMR experiments suggested a syn conformation for bound cAMPs. For years this paradigm about ligand conformation has been ambiguous. When CRP was crystallized with four bound cAMP in the last decade, two cAMPs were assigned to syn and the other two to anti conformations. Again three conformational states were suggested; apo-CRP, CRP:(cAMP)(2), and CRP:(cAMP)(4). This new structure changed the view of CRP allosteric activation from a two-site model to a four-site model in the literature and the new model has been supported by biochemical and genetic data so far. According to the accepted model, binding of the first two cAMP molecules displays positive cooperativity, however, binding of the last two cAMP molecules shows negative cooperativity. This resolved the conflict between dynamic and static experimental observations. However, this new model cannot explain the initiation mechanism as previously proposed because functionally active CRP has only one cAMP equivalent. Gene regulation and transcription factors are involved in regulating both prokaryotic and eukaryotic metabolism. Although gene regulation and expression are much more complex in eukaryotes, CRP-mediated transcription initiation is a model of general interest to life sciences and medicine. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize recent works and developments on the cAMP-dependent CRP activation mechanism in E. coli.

Fluorescence quenching and kinetic studies of conformational changes induced by DNA and cAMP binding to cAMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli

Cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) regulates the expression of more then 100 genes in Escherichia coli. It is known that the allosteric activation of CRP by cAMP involves a long-distance signal transmission from the N-terminal cAMP-binding domain to the C-terminal domain of CRP responsible for the interactions with specific sequences of DNA. In this report we have used a CRP mutant containing a single Trp13 located in the N-terminal domain of the protein. We applied the iodide and acrylamide fluorescence quenching method in order to study how different DNA sequences and cAMP binding induce the conformational changes in the CRP molecule. The results presented provide evidence for the occurrence of a long-distance conformational signal transduction within the protein from the C-terminal DNA-binding domain to the N-terminal domain of CRP. This conformational signal transmission depends on the promoter sequence. We also used the stopped-flow and Forster resonance energy transfer between labeled Cys178 of CRP and fluorescently labeled DNA sequences to study the kinetics of DNA-CRP interactions. The results thus obtained lead to the conclusion that CRP can exist in several conformational states and that their distribution is affected by binding of both the cAMP and of specific DNA sequences.

Asymmetric allosteric activation of the symmetric ArgR hexamer

Hexameric arginine repressor, ArgR, bound to L-arginine serves both as the master transcriptional repressor/activator at diverse regulons in a wide range of bacteria and as a required cofactor for resolution of ColE1 plasmid multimers. Multifunctional ArgR is thus unusual in possessing features of specific gene regulators, global regulators, and non-specific gene organizers; its closest functional analog is probably CAP, the cyclic AMP receptor/activator protein. Isothermal titration calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, and proteolysis indicate that binding of a single L-argine [corrected] per ArgR hexamer triggers a global conformation [corrected] change and resets the affinities of the remaining five sites, making them 100-fold weaker. The analysis suggests a novel thermodynamic signature for this mechanism of activation.

Two cAMP receptor proteins with different biochemical properties in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

Two open reading frames (ORFs), alr0295 and alr2325, are found to encode putative cAMP receptor proteins (CRPs) in the genome of the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. These ORFs were named cAMP receptor protein-like gene A in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (ancrpA) and cAMP receptor protein-like gene B in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (ancrpB), respectively, and those translated products were investigated. The equilibrium dialysis measurements revealed that AnCrpA bound with cAMP specifically, while AnCrpB bound with both cAMP and cGMP, though the affinity for cGMP was weak. The binding affinity for cAMP of AnCrpA showed the lowest dissociation constant, approximately 0.8 microM, among bacterial CRPs. A gel mobility shift assay elucidated that AnCrpA and AnCrpB formed a complex with the consensus DNA sequence in the presence of cAMP, although AnCrpB did not have ordinary DNA-binding motifs.

Kinetic studies of cAMP-induced allosteric changes in mutants T127I, S128A, and T127I/S128A of the cAMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli

The cAMP receptor protein (CRP) regulates the expression of several genes in Escherichia coli. The protein is a homodimer, and each monomer is folded into two distinct structural domains. After allosteric transitions resulting from the binding of cAMP, CRP specifically binds to DNA and activates transcription. We have used stopped-flow fluorometry measurements of CRP mutants bearing amino acid substitutions T127I, S128A, and T127I/S128A to study the kinetics of conformational changes in the protein induced by cAMP binding. Amino acid substitutions at positions 127 and 128 were chosen because these residues play a crucial role in interdomain and intersubunit communication during allosteric transition. Using N-iodoacetylaminoethyl-5-naphthylamine-1-sulfonic acid-labeled Cys178, localized in the protein helix-turn helix motif, we observed conformational changes in the helix-turn helix, localized in the C-terminal domain, upon binding of cAMP to high affinity sites (CRP.cAMP2) in the N-terminal domain of CRP. The rate constants for the forward and backward conformational changes depend on the amino acid substitution: kc = 3.62 s-1 and k-c = 3.13s-1 for CRP T127I and kc = 0.42 s-1 and k-c = 0.78 s-1 for CRP S128A. These values can be compared with kc = 9.7 s-1 and k-c = 0.31 s-1 for wild-type CRP. The observed conformational changes can be described by the sequential model of allostery, with the amino acid substitutions influencing the allosteric changes. In the case of the double mutant, the observed rate constant of cAMP binding supports the suggestion that this unligated mutant possesses the structure that is close to the allosteric conformation necessary for promoter binding. The results of intrinsic fluorescence measurements suggest that the formation of the CRP.cAMP4 complex results from displacement of equilibrium between the two forms of the CRP.cAMP2 complex in the mutants studied, similar to wild-type CRP. The observed conformational changes occur according to a concerted model of allostery, and isomerization equilibrium between the two CRP states depends on the amino acid substitution. The data presented in this study indicate that Ser128 and Thr127 in CRP play an important role in the kinetics of intramolecular transitions triggered by cAMP.

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies of conformational changes induced by cyclic AMP and DNA binding to cyclic AMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli

cAMP receptor protein (CRP), allosterically activated by cAMP, regulates the expression of several genes in Escherichia coli. As binding of cAMP leads to undefined conformational changes in CRP, we performed a steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence study to show how the binding of the ligand influences the structure and dynamics of the protein. We used CRP mutants containing a single tryptophan residue at position 85 or 13, and fluorescently labeled with 1,5-I-AEDANS attached to Cys178. Binding of cAMP in the CRP-(cAMP)2 complex leads to changes in the Trp13 microenvironment, whereas its binding in the CRP-(cAMP)4 complex alters the surroundings of Trp85. Time-resolved anisotropy measurements indicated that cAMP binding in the CRP-(cAMP)2 complex led to a substantial increase in the rotational mobility of the Trp13 residue. Measurement of fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) between labeled Cys178 and Trp85 showed that the binding of cAMP in the CRP-(cAMP)2 complex caused a substantial increase in FRET efficiency. This indicates a decrease in the distance between the two domains of the protein from 26.6 A in apo-CRP to 18.7 A in the CRP-(cAMP)2 complex. The binding of cAMP in the CRP-(cAMP)4 complex resulted in only a very small increase in FRET efficiency. The average distance between the two domains in CRP-DNA complexes, possessing lac, gal or ICAP sequences, shows an increase, as evidenced by the increase in the average distance between Cys178 and Trp85 to approximately 20 A. The spectral changes observed provide new structural information about the cAMP-induced allosteric activation of the protein.

Interaction of cAMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli with cAMP and DNA studied by differential scanning calorimetry

The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) regulates the expression of many genes in Escherichia coli. The protein is a homodimer, and each monomer is folded into two distinct structural domains. In this study, we have used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroism (CD) to measure the enthalpy change and melting temperature of the apo-CRP and CRP complexes with cAMP or DNA sequences lac, gal, and palindromic ICAP. DSC and CD measurements showed irreversible thermal denaturation process of CRP. Enthalpy of dissociation of the protein-DNA complex, as measured by DSC, depends on the DNA sequence. The thermal transition of the protein in CRP-DNA complexes, measured by CD, indicates that the protein stability in the complex is also DNA sequence-dependent.

Binding modes of cyclic AMP and environments of tryptophan residues in 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of cyclic AMP receptor protein and cyclic AMP

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (CRP) forms 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with cAMP, and the former complex is considered to be the most active form of CRP in binding to specific DNA sequences and in modulating gene transcription by RNA polymerases. We examine the cAMP binding modes and structural changes of CRP upon cAMP binding by UV resonance Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of CRP-(cAMP)(1) and CRP-(cAMP)(2) extracted from those of CRP-cAMP mixtures at varied mixing ratios clearly show that the hydrogen bonding state and the conformation of cAMP in both complexes in solution are very similar to those found in the X-ray crystal structure of CRP-(cAMP)(2), which is evidence that the cAMP binding mode does not differ between the two complexes. The environmental hydrophobicity of Trp85 monitored by UV resonance Raman intensity shows a significant decrease upon binding of the first cAMP molecule, whereas no further change occurs in the second cAMP binding step. The environmental change of Trp85 suggests an opening of the cleft between the N-terminal cAMP and C-terminal DNA binding domains in the process of CRP activation by binding of a single cAMP molecule.

Molecular architecture of a retinal cGMP-gated channel: the arrangement of the cytoplasmic domains

Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels play a central role in the conversion of sensory information, such as light and scent, into primary electrical signals. We have purified the CNG channel from bovine retina and have studied it using electron microscopy and image processing. We present the structure of the channel to 35 A resolution. This three-dimensional reconstruction provides insight into the architecture of the protein, suggesting that the cyclic nucleotide-binding domains, which initiate the response to ligand, 'hang' below the pore-forming part of the channel, attached by narrow linkers. The structure also suggests that the four cyclic nucleotide-binding domains present in each channel form two distinct domains, lending structural weight to the suggestion that the four subunits of the CNG channels are arranged as a pair of dimers.

Stoichiometry and structural effect of the cyclic nucleotide binding to cyclic AMP receptor protein

Cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) is a homodimeric protein, which is activated by cAMP binding to function as a transcriptional regulator of many genes in prokaryotes. Until now, the actual number of cAMP molecules that can be bound by CRP in solution has been ambiguous. In this work, we performed a nuclear magnetic resonance study on CRP to investigate the stoichiometry of cyclic nucleotide binding to CRP. A series of (1)H-(15)N heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra of the protein in the absence and in the presence of cAMP or cGMP were analyzed. The addition of cAMP to CRP induced a biphasic spectral change up to 4 equivalents, whereas the cGMP addition made a monophasic change up to 2 equivalents. Altogether, the results not only established for the first time that CRP possesses two cyclic AMP-binding sites in each monomer, even in a solution without DNA, but also suggest that the syn-cAMP binding sites of the CRP dimer can be formed by an allosteric conformational change of the protein upon the binding of two anti-cAMPs at the N-terminal domain. In addition, a residue-specific inspection of the spectral changes provides some new structural information about the cAMP-induced allosteric activation of CRP.

Interaction of cAMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli with cAMP and DNA studied by dynamic light scattering and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy methods

Cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) regulates the expression of more than 100 genes in Escherichia coli when complexed with cyclic AMP. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and fluorescence decay anisotropy measurements of CRP were performed in solution, in the absence and presence of cAMP. We have also measured the effect of DNA sequences, including lac and gal promoter sequences, on the shape of CRP-DNA complexes. DLS measurements show that upon cAMP binding at low nucleotide concentration, the Stokes radius decreases from the value of 2.8 nm for apo-CRP to the value of 2.7 nm. At higher cAMP concentration, only a very small further decrease was detected. Fluorescence anisotropy decay measurements, with the use of CRP labeled at Cys-178 with 1,5-I-AENS, indicate that apo-CRP exhibits two rotational correlation times. The longer time, theta1 = 23.3 ns, corresponds to the overall motion of the protein, and the shorter time, theta2 = 1.4 ns, exhibits segmental mobility of the C-terminal domain of CRP. Binding of cAMP into CRP induced substantial increase of theta1 to the value of 30.7 ns, whereas theta2 remained unchanged. The DLS measurements indicate that the binding of CRP into a fragment of DNA possessing a sequence of lac promoter induces a larger increase in the Stokes radius of lac-CRP complex than in case of gal-CRP complex. Similarly, a higher change was detected in rotational correlation time, theta1, in the case of lac-CRP complex than in case of gal-CRP. Because the lac and gal promoters are characteristic for the two different classes of CRP-dependent promoters, one can expect that the observed differences in lac-CRP and gal-CRP complexes are important in activation of transcription in Escherichia coli.

CooA: a heme-containing regulatory protein that serves as a specific sensor of both carbon monoxide and redox state

CooA, the heme-containing carbon monoxide (CO) sensor from the bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum, is a transcriptional factor that activates expression of certain genes in response to CO. As with other heme proteins, CooA is unable to bind CO when the Fe heme is oxidized, consistent with the fact that some of the regulated gene products are oxygen-labile. Upon reduction, there is an unusual switch of protein ligands to the six-coordinate heme and the reduced heme is able to bind CO. CO binding stabilizes a conformation of the dimeric protein that allows sequence-specific DNA binding, and transcription is activated through contacts between CooA and RNA polymerase. CooA is therefore a novel redox sensor as well as a specific CO sensor. CooA is a homolog of catabolite responsive protein (CRP), whose transcriptionally active conformation has been known for some time. The recent solution of the crystal structure of the CO-free (transcriptionally inactive) form of CooA has allowed insights into the mechanism by which both proteins respond to their specific small-molecule effectors.

Allosteric regulation of the cAMP receptor protein

The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) of Escherichia coli is a dimer made up of identical subunits. Each CRP subunit contains a cyclic nucleotide binding pocket and the CRP dimer exhibits negative cooperativity in binding cAMP. In solutions containing cAMP, CRP undergoes sequential conformation changes from the inactive apo-form through the active CRP:(cAMP)(1) complex to the less active CRP:(cAMP)(2) complex depending on the cAMP concentration. Apo-CRP binds DNA with low affinity and no apparent sequence specificity. The CRP:(cAMP)(1) complex exhibits high affinity, sequence-specific DNA binding and interacts with RNA polymerase, whether free in solution or complexed with DNA. The results of genetic, biochemical and biophysical studies have helped to uncover many of the details of cAMP-mediated allosteric control over CRP conformation and activity as a transcription factor. These studies indicate that cAMP binding produces only small, but significant, changes in CRP structure; changes that include subunit realignment and concerted motion of the secondary structure elements within the C-terminal DNA binding domain of each subunit. These adjustments promote CRP surface-patch interaction with RNA polymerase and protrusion of the F-helix to promote CRP site-specific interaction with DNA. Interactions between CRP and RNA polymerase at CRP-dependent promoters produce active ternary transcription complexes.

In vitro interaction of the Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein with the lactose repressor

Sedimentation equilibrium studies show that the Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein (CAP) and lactose repressor associate to form a 2:1 complex in vitro. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of a direct interaction of these proteins in the absence of DNA. No 1:1 complex was detected over a wide range of CAP concentrations, suggesting that binding is highly cooperative. Complex formation is stimulated by cAMP, with a net uptake of 1 equivalent of cAMP per molecule of CAP bound. Substitution of the dimeric lacI-18 mutant repressor for tetrameric wild-type repressor completely eliminates detectable binding. We therefore propose that CAP binds the cleft between dimeric units in the repressor tetramer. CAP-lac repressor interactions may play important roles in regulatory events that take place at overlapping CAP and repressor binding sites in the lactose promoter.

Kinetic studies of cAMP-induced allosteric changes in cyclic AMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli

Cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) regulates the expression of several genes in Escherichia coli. The ability of CRP to bind specific DNA sequences and stimulate transcription is achieved as result of binding of an allosteric ligand: cAMP. Stopped-flow fluorimetry was employed to study the kinetics of the conformational changes in CRP induced by cAMP binding to high and low affinity receptor sites. Results of experiments using CRP labeled at Cys-178 with 1,5-I-AENS indicate change in conformation of the helix-turn-helix, occurring after the formation of CRP-cAMP(2) complex, i.e. after saturation of the high affinity sites. The observed conformational change occurs according to sequential model of allostery and is described by rate constants: k(c) = 9.7 +/- 0.1 s(-1) and k(-c) = 0.31 +/- 0.05 s(-1), for the forward and backward reaction, respectively. Results of experiments monitored using CRP intrinsic fluorescence suggest that conformational change precedes the formation of CRP-cAMP(4) complex and results from displacement of equilibrium between two forms of CRP-cAMP(2), caused by binding of cAMP to low affinity sites of one of these forms only. The observed conformational change occurs according to concerted model of allostery and is described by rate constants: k(on) = 28 +/- 1.5 s(-1) and k(off) = 75.5 +/- 3 s(-1). Results of experiments using single-tryptophan-containing CRP mutants indicate that Trp-85 is mainly responsible for the observed total change in intrinsic fluorescence of wild-type CRP.

Identification and characterization of a novel cAMP receptor protein in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Three open reading frames of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 encoding a domain homologous with the cAMP binding domain of bacterial cAMP receptor protein were analyzed. These three open reading frames, sll1371, sll1924, and slr0593, which were named sycrp1, sycrp2, and sypk, respectively, were expressed in Escherichia coli as His-tagged or glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins and purified, and their biochemical properties were investigated. The results obtained for equilibrium dialysis measurements using these recombinant proteins suggest that SYCRP1 and SYPK show a binding affinity for cAMP while SYCRP2 does not. The dissociation constant of His-tagged SYCRP1 for cAMP is approximately 3 microM. A cross-linking experiment using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide revealed that His-tagged SYCRP1 forms a homodimer, and the presence or absence of cAMP does not affect the formation of the homodimer. The amino acid sequence reveals that SYCRP1 has a domain similar to the DNA binding domain of bacterial cAMP receptor protein in the COOH-terminal region. Consistent with this, His-tagged SYCRP1 forms a complex with DNA that contains the consensus sequence for E. coli cAMP receptor protein in the presence of cAMP. These results strongly suggest that SYCRP1 is a novel cAMP receptor protein.

The cAMP receptor protein CRP can function as an osmoregulator of transcription in Escherichia coli

Transcription of the P1 promoter of the Escherichia coli proP gene, which encodes a transporter of osmoprotectants, is strongly induced by a shift to hyperosmotic media. Unlike most other osmotically regulated promoters, the induction occurs for a brief period of time, corresponding to the replacement of intracellular K(+) glutamate with osmoprotecting compounds. This burst of proP transcription is correlated with the osmolarity-dependent binding of the cAMP receptor protein CRP to a site within the proP P1 promoter. We show that CRP-cAMP functions as an osmotically sensitive repressor of proP P1 transcription in vitro. Binding of CRP to the proP promoter in vivo is transiently destabilized after a hyperosmotic shift with kinetics that correspond to the derepression of transcription, whereas Fis and Lac repressor binding is not osmotically sensitive. Similar osmotic regulation of proP P1 transcription by the CRP* mutant implies that binding of cAMP is not responsible for the unusual osmotic sensitivity of CRP activity. Osmotic regulation of CRP activity is not limited to proP. Activation of the lac promoter by CRP is also transiently inhibited after an osmotic upshift, as is the binding of CRP to the galdelta4P1 promoter. These findings suggest that CRP functions in certain contexts to regulate gene expression in response to osmotic changes, in addition to its role in catabolite control.

Functional roles of the two cyclic AMP-dependent forms of cyclic AMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli

The cyclic AMP receptor protein activates transcription in Escherichia coli, only when complexed with cyclic AMP. The cyclic AMP receptor protein-cyclic AMP complex formed at low concentrations of cyclic AMP has a different conformation from either cyclic AMP receptor protein alone or its complex with cyclic AMP formed at high cyclic AMP concentrations. Various biophysical data suggest that the latter complex resembles free cyclic AMP receptor protein. We have examined the conformational and biological properties of cyclic AMP receptor protein as a function of cyclic AMP concentrations, using the gal operon of E. coli. A biphasic behavior is observed. It is shown that only the complex formed at lower concentrations of cyclic AMP is the transcriptionally active form. This difference between the complexes at different levels of cyclic AMP arises from a decreased ability of the cyclic AMP receptor protein-cyclic AMP complex at high cyclic AMP concentrations to bind to DNA at specific sites.

Mapping cyclic nucleotide-induced conformational changes in cyclicAMP receptor protein by a protein footprinting technique using different chemical proteases

CyclicAMP receptor protein (CRP) regulates transcription of numerous genes in Escherichia coli. Both cAMP and cGMP bind CRP, but only cAMP induces conformational changes that dramatically increase the specific DNA binding activity of the protein. We have shown previously that our protein footprinting technique is sensitive enough to detect conformational changes in CRP by cAMP [Baichoo N, Heyduk T. 1997. Biochemistry 36:10830-10836]. In this work, conformational changes in CRP induced by cAMP and cGMP binding were mapped and quantitatively analyzed by protein footprinting using iron complexed to diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ([Fe-DTPA]2-), iron complexed to ethylenediaminediacetic acid ([Fe-EDDA]), iron complexed to desferrioxamine mesylate ([Fe-HDFO]+), and copper complexed to o-phenanthroline ([(OP)2Cu]+) as proteases. These chemical proteases differ in size, charge, and hydrophobicity. Binding of cAMP to CRP resulted in changes in susceptibility to cleavage by all four proteases. Cleavage by [Fe-EDDA] and [Fe-DTPA]2- of CRP-cAMP detected hypersensitivities in the DNA-binding F alpha-helix, the interdomain hinge, and the ends of the C alpha-helix, which is involved in intersubunit interactions. [Fe-EDDA] and [Fe-DTPA]2- also detected reductions in cleavage in the D and E alpha-helices, which are involved in DNA recognition. Cleavage by [Fe-HDFO]+ of CRP-cAMP detected hypersensitivities in beta-strand 8, the B alpha-helix, as well as in parts of the F and C alpha-helices. [Fe-HDFO]+ also detected protections from cleavage in beta-strands 4 to 5 and their intervening loop, beta-strand 7, which is part of the nucleotide binding pocket, as well as in the D and E alpha-helices. Cleavage by [(OP)2Cu]+ of CRP-cAMP detected hypersensitivities in beta-strands 9 and 11 as well as in the D and E alpha-helices. [(OP)2Cu]+ also detected protections in the C alpha-helix , the interdomain hinge, and beta-strands 2-7. Binding of cGMP to CRP resulted in changes in susceptibility to cleavage only by [(OP)2Cu]+, which detected minor protections in beta-strands 3-7, the interdomain hinge, and the C alpha-helix. These results show that binding of cAMP causes structural changes in CRP in the nucleotide binding domain, the interdomain hinge, the DNA binding domain, and regions involved in intersubunit interaction. Structural changes induced by binding of cGMP appear to be very minor and confined to the nucleotide binding domain, the interdomain hinge, and regions involved in intersubunit interaction. Use of different cleaving agents in protein footprinting seems to give a more detailed picture of structural changes than the use of a single protease alone.

The sequential mechanism of guanidine hydrochloride-induced denaturation of cAMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli. A fluorescent study using 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid

cAMP receptor protein (CRP) regulates expression of a number of genes in Escherichia coli. The protein is a homodimer and each monomer is folded into two structural domains. The biological activation of CRP upon cAMP binding may involve the subunit realignment as well as reorientation between the domains within each subunit. In order to study the interactions between the subunits or domains, we performed stopped-flow measurements of the guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCI)-induced denaturation of CRP. The changes in CRP structure induced by GuHCl were monitored using both intrinsic Trp fluorescence as well as the fluorescence of an extrinsic probe, 8-anilino-1-Naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS). Results of CRP denaturation using Trp fluorescence detection are consistent with a two-step model [Malecki, and Wasylewski, (1997), Eur. J. Biochem. 243, 660], where the dissociation of dimer into subunits is followed by the monomer unfolding. The denaturation of CRP monitored by ANS fluorescence reveals the existence of two additional processes. One occurs before the dissociation of CRP into subunits, whereas the second takes place after the dissociation, but prior to proper subunit unfolding. These additional processes suggest that CRP denaturation is described by a more complicated mechanism than a simple three-state equilibrium and may involve additional changes in both inter- and intrasubunit interactions. We also report the effect of cAMP on the kinetics of CRP subunit unfolding and refolding.

Interactive and dominant effects of residues 128 and 141 on cyclic nucleotide and DNA bindings in Escherichia coli cAMP receptor protein

The molecular events in the cAMP-induced allosteric activation of cAMP receptor protein (CRP) involve interfacial communications between subunits and domains. However, the roles of intersubunit and interdomain interactions in defining the selectivity of cAMP against other cyclic nucleotides and cooperativity in ligand binding are still not known. Natural occurring CRP mutants with different phenotypes were employed to address these issues. Thermodynamic analyses of subunit association, protein stability, and cAMP and DNA binding as well as conformational studies of the mutants and wild-type CRPs lead to an identification of the apparently dominant roles of residues 128 and 141 in the cAMP-modulated DNA binding activity of CRP. Serine 128 and the C-helix were implicated as playing a critical role in modulating negative cooperativity of cyclic nucleotide binding. A correlation was established between a weak affinity for subunit assembly and the relaxation of cyclic nucleotide selectivity in the G141Q and S128A/G141Q mutants. These results imply that intersubunit interaction is important for cyclic nucleotide discrimination in CRP. The double mutant S128A/G141Q, constructed from two single mutations of S128A and G141Q, which exhibit opposite phenotypic characteristics of CRP- and CRP*, respectively, assumes a CRP* phenotype and has biochemical properties similar to those of the G141Q mutant. These observations suggest that mutation G141Q exerts a dominant effect over mutation S128A and that the subunit realignment induced by the G141Q mutation can override the local structural disruption created by mutation S128A.

The structure of a CAP-DNA complex having two cAMP molecules bound to each monomer

The 2.2 A resolution crystal structure of the Escherichia coli catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) complexed with cAMP and a 46-bp DNA fragment reveals a second cAMP molecule bound to each protein monomer. The second cAMP is in the syn conformation and is located on the DNA binding domain interacting with the helix-turn-helix, a beta-hairpin from the regulatory domain and the DNA (via water molecules). The presence of this second cAMP site resolves the apparent discrepancy between the NMR and x-ray data on the conformation of cAMP, and explains the cAMP concentration-dependent behaviors of the protein. In addition, this site's close proximity to mutations affecting transcriptional activation and its water-mediated interactions with a DNA recognition residue (E181) and DNA raise the possibility that this site has biological relevance.

Stability and kinetics of unfolding and refolding of cAMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli

cAMP receptor protein (CRP) is involved in regulation of expression of several genes in Escherichia coli. The protein is a homodimer and each monomer is folded into two distinct structural domains. The mechanism of the biological activity of the protein may involve the interaction between the subunits and domains. In order to determine the interaction between the subunits or domains of CRP, we have studied the reversible denaturation of the protein by guanidine hydrochloride. The unfolding and refolding kinetics of CRP was monitored using stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy at 20 degrees C and pH 7.9. The results of CRP denaturation indicate that the transition can be described by a three-state model: (CRP native)2<=> 2 (CRP native)<=>2 (CRP denatured). The faster process, characterized by the relaxation time tau 2 = 80 +/- 3 ms, corresponds to the dissociation of CRP dimer into monomers. The slower process has the relaxation time tau t = 1.9 +/- 0.1 s and corresponds to the cooperative unfolding of CRP monomer. The free energy change in the absence of denaturant upon CRP dissociation is delta G dis degrees = 46.9 +/- 2.5 kJ/mol and for monomer unfolding delta G unf degrees = 30.9 +/- 1.3 kJ/mol. The thermal unfolding of CRP was studied by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy at various guanidine hydrochloride concentrations. It has been found that the native protein is maximally stable at about 21 +/- 0.3 degrees C and is denatured upon heating and cooling from this temperature. The apparent free energy change for CRP unfolding at 21 degrees C is equal to 30.5 +/- 0.4 kJ/mol and the apparent specific heat change is equal to delta Cp, app = 10.7 +/- 0.7 kJ mol-1 K-1. The predicted values of cold denaturation midpoint is equal to tau G = -18.8 +/- 1.5 degrees C and for high-temperature transition tau G = 63.1 +/- 1.5 degrees C. The predicted midpoint of high-temperature unfolding transition is about the same as determined experimentally.

Thermodynamics of cyclic nucleotide binding to the cAMP receptor protein and its T127L mutant

The thermodynamics of the binding of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and its non-functional analog, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), to cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) and its T127L mutant were investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) in 0.2 and 0.5 M KCl phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) at 24 and 39 degrees C. Although, the binding of the first cAMP molecule to CRP is exothermic with an enthalpy change (delta Hb) of -6 kJ mol-1, a heat capacity change (delta Cp) of -0.300 kJ mol-1 K-1, and an entropy increase (delta Sb) of 72 J mol-1 K-1, the overall binding of cAMP to CRP is endothermic and positively cooperative: binding of the first cAMP molecule increases the affinity for the second one by more than an order of magnitude at 24 degrees C. The binding of the second cAMP molecule is accompanied by large changes of 48.1 kJ mol-1 in delta Hb, of -1.4 kJ mol-1 K-1 in delta Cp, and of 255 J mol-1 K-1 in delta Sb at 24 degrees C and 0.5 M KCl phosphate buffer. In contrast, the overall binding of cGMP to CRP is exothermic and non-cooperative with delta Hb, delta Cp, and delta Sb values close to the those values for binding of the first cAMP molecule to CRP. The point mutation, T127L, switches off the cooperativity between the cAMP ligated binding sites without affecting the binding constant of cAMP and changes the specificity of the protein so that transcription is now activated only upon cGMP binding. All the binding reactions to CRP and the mutant are mainly entropically driven at 24 degrees C.

Fluorescence study on the non-specific binding of cyclic-AMP receptor protein to DNA: effect of pH

The binding of the cyclic-AMP receptor protein (CRP) of Escherichia coli to a non-specific DNA fragment of 46 base pairs has been studied using fluorescence spectroscopy. The equilibrium binding constant was found to be several orders of magnitude lower than in the specific binding to a DNA fragment of the same size. The salt dependence of the equilibrium binding constant indicates that the CRP makes an identical number (8) of ion pairs to this non-specific DNA fragment in the presence and absence of cAMP. This number is larger than that previously found in the specific binding process. The effect of pH on the non-specific binding was investigated. The number of ion pairs does not vary between pH 6 and 8. From the variation of the binding constant with pH it was deduced that two histidines are involved in the binding in the absence of cAMP. These are most probably the histidines 199 of each subunit. In the presence of cAMP, only one histidine participates in the binding process, indicating an asymmetric interaction between the two subunits of the CRP and the DNA.

The activity of the Escherichia coli transcription factor FNR is regulated by a change in oligomeric state

The transcription factor FNR globally regulates gene expression in response to oxygen deprivation in Escherichia coli. To understand how oxygen deprivation activates FNR, a constitutively active FNR* mutant protein, DA154, was studied to determine how this mutant bypassed the normal regulation pathway. When purified from aerobically grown cells, the DA154 protein had a larger apparent native molecular mass and an increased affinity for a consensus FNR target site as compared with wild-type FNR prepared under identical conditions. These results suggested that FNR* DA154 may bypass the normal regulation pathway by converting FNR from an inactive monomer to an active dimer under aerobic conditions. To determine whether wild-type FNR is active as a dimer under anaerobic conditions, FNR mutants were isolated that inhibit the activity of wild-type FNR by forming mixed dimers (i.e., dominant-negative mutants). These dominant-negative FNR mutants were shown to have substitutions in the putative DNA-binding domain and to be defective in binding to a consensus FNR DNA target site in vitro. One representative dominant-negative mutant, EK209, was also shown to be unable to form mixed oligomers in vivo under aerobic conditions, suggesting that FNR may be monomeric in the inactive state. Taken together, these data have led us to propose that under anaerobic conditions FNR is a dimer that is active for DNA binding, and under aerobic conditions, FNR is inactivated by conversion to a monomer.

Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein mutants provide evidence for ligand contacts important in activation

The three-dimensional model of the Escherichia coli cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (CRP) shows that several amino acids are involved as chemical contacts for binding cAMP. We have constructed and characterized mutants at four of these positions, E72, R82, S83, and R123. The mutations were made in wild-type crp as well as a cAMP-independent crp, crp*. The activities of the mutant proteins were characterized in vivo for their ability to activate the lac operon. These results provide genetic evidence to support that E72 and R82 are essential and S83 and R123 are important in the activation of CRP by cAMP.

Specific binding of cyclic-AMP receptor protein to DNA. Effect of the sequence and of the introduction of a nick in the binding site

The binding of Escherichia coli Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein (CRP) to several DNA fragments of about 45 base pairs, bearing the natural lactose or galactose sites, as well as several synthetic related sites, was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy and gel retardation experiments. The salt dependence of the equilibrium binding constant indicates that CRP makes an identical number of ion pairs with the lac, lacL8 and gal sites although the binding constants are drastically different. However increasing the symmetry of the gal site leads to an increase of the number of ion pairs between the protein and the DNA. A single strand nick was introduced at the centre of a symmetrized gal site and this reduces the binding energy of CRP by about 0.6 Kcal. These results are discussed with respect to the bending constraints imposed on the DNA by the binding of CRP. The results are in agreement with the recently published crystal structure of the CRP complexed with DNA [Schutz, S.C., Shields, G.C. and Steitz, T.A., Science 253, 1001-1007 (1991)] showing that the 90 degrees bending of the DNA in the complex results from two kinks.

Solution studies on the structure of bent DNA in the cAMP receptor protein-lac DNA complex

Cyclic AMP receptor protein is involved in the regulation of more than 20 genes. A step in the mechanism of activation of transcription is to induce a significant bending of the DNA upon complex formation between specific DNA and the protein. The induced DNA bending and a structure of the protein-DNA complex were studied by fluorescence energy transfer in 50 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, and 50 mM KCl at pH 7.8 and 20 degrees C. The symmetry of the DNA bend was estimated by measuring the efficiency of transfer between the protein and a label on either the upstream or the downstream end of a lac DNA fragment. The results show that the bend, despite the asymmetry in the DNA sequence, is symmetrical, for the fragments which length ranges from 26 to 40 bp. Using fluorescence energy transfer, the extent of DNA bending was estimated by measuring the end-to-end distance of the DNA fragment which was labeled with a donor-acceptor pair on two opposite ends. Both steady-state and time-resolved measurements showed that in a 26 bp lac DNA fragment complexed with cyclic AMP receptor protein, the end-to-end distance is about 77 A which corresponds to a bending angle of 80 degrees or 100 degrees, depending on the actual contour length between the fluorophores in the free DNA fragment. The results using longer DNA fragments show no measurable amount of energy transfer; thus, it is very unlikely that the DNA completely wraps around the CRP molecule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Near ultraviolet circular dichroism study of the cyclic AMP receptor protein, its NH2-terminal domain and their interaction with cyclic AMP

Circular dichroism in the near ultraviolet wavelength range was employed to examine conformational features of CRP (a dimer with a chain of 209 amino acids) and of its subtilisin core -alpha CRP- which retains the cAMP binding site (a dimer spanning the sequence 1-117). Binding of the ligand cAMP (allosteric activator), as well as cGMP was also investigated. The well resolved transitions could be assigned to the various classes of aromatic amino acid residues in the two proteins. In addition to signals which are attributable to the missing aromatic residues (Phe-136 and Tyr-206) the difference spectrum (CRP minus alpha CRP) shows a significant perturbation of a tryptophanyl contribution centred at 296 nm. From the available X-ray structure of the cAMP-CRP complex we are led to conclude that a conformational reorganisation takes place in the alpha CRP. A very large negative maximum is observed at 255 nm when cAMP binds to CRP and to alpha CRP. The maximum effect is observed in both cases at a ratio of one ligand bound per protomer. In the 280-300 nm wavelength range a smaller but significant perturbation affects specifically the spectra and reveals different cAMP-induced conformational changes in the two proteins. We propose that the major (255 nm) contribution to the perturbation spectrum of bound cAMP, and the qualitatively similar signal for cGMP, reflects an immobilisation of the sugar and adenine moieties of the bound ligand in an almost anti-conformation for both CRP and alpha CRP.

19F NMR evidence for interactions between the c-AMP binding sites on the c-AMP receptor protein from E. coli

The 19F NMR spectra of 3-fluorotyrosine containing c-AMP receptor protein (CRP) from E. coli have been recorded in the presence of increasing amounts of c-AMP. One of the signals (from Tyr B) shifts upfield by 0.6 ppm in the presence of excess c-AMP and shows both slow and fast exchange behaviour during the titration. This is evidence for interactions between the two c-AMP binding sites on the CRP dimer leading to different dissociation rate constants (less than or equal to 75 s-1; greater than or equal to 350 s-1) for complexes containing one and two c-AMP molecules.