Binding of promoter DNA to SoxR protein decreases the reduction potential of the [2Fe-2S] cluster

Synthetic biology and bioelectrochemical tools for electrogenetic system engineering

Synthetic biology research and its industrial applications rely on deterministic spatiotemporal control of gene expression. Recently, electrochemical control of gene expression has been demonstrated in electrogenetic systems (redox-responsive promoters used alongside redox inducers and electrodes), allowing for the direct integration of electronics with biological processes. However, the use of electrogenetic systems is limited by poor activity, tunability, and standardization. In this work, we developed a strong, unidirectional, redox-responsive promoter before deriving a mutant promoter library with a spectrum of strengths. We constructed genetic circuits with these parts and demonstrated their activation by multiple classes of redox molecules. Last, we demonstrated electrochemical activation of gene expression under aerobic conditions using a novel, modular bioelectrochemical device. These genetic and electrochemical tools facilitate the design and improve the performance of electrogenetic systems. Furthermore, the genetic design strategies used can be applied to other redox-responsive promoters to further expand the available tools for electrogenetics.

NADPH-related processes studied with a SoxR-based biosensor in Escherichia coli

NADPH plays a crucial role in cellular metabolism for biosynthesis and oxidative stress responses. We previously developed the genetically encoded NADPH biosensor pSenSox based on the transcriptional regulator SoxR of Escherichia coli, its target promoter P_soxS and eYFP as fluorescent reporter. Here, we used pSenSox to study the influence of various parameters on the sensor output in E. coliduring reductive biotransformation of methyl acetoacetate (MAA) to (R)-methyl 3-hydroxybutyrate (MHB) by the strictly NADPH-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase of Lactobacillus brevis (LbAdh). Redox-cycling drugs such as paraquat and menadione strongly activated the NADPH biosensor and mechanisms responsible for this effect are discussed. Absence of the RsxABCDGE complex and/or RseC caused an enhanced biosensor response, supporting a function as SoxR-reducing system. Absence of the membrane-bound transhydrogenase PntAB caused an increased biosensor response, whereas the lack of the soluble transhydrogenase SthA or of SthA and PntAB was associated with a strongly decreased response. These data support the opposing functions of PntAB in NADP⁺ reduction and of SthA in NADPH oxidation. In summary, the NADPH biosensor pSenSox proved to be a useful tool to study NADPH-related processes in E. coli.

Redox-Sensing Iron-Sulfur Cluster Regulators

SIGNIFICANCE

Iron-sulfur cluster proteins carry out multiple functions, including as regulators of gene transcription/translation in response to environmental stimuli. In all known cases, the cluster acts as the sensory module, where the inherent reactivity/fragility of iron-sulfur clusters with small/redox-active molecules is exploited to effect conformational changes that modulate binding to DNA regulatory sequences. This promotes an often substantial reprogramming of the cellular proteome that enables the organism or cell to adapt to, or counteract, its changing circumstances. Recent Advances: Significant progress has been made recently in the structural and mechanistic characterization of iron-sulfur cluster regulators and, in particular, the O₂ and NO sensor FNR, the NO sensor NsrR, and WhiB-like proteins of Actinobacteria. These are the main focus of this review.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Striking examples of how the local environment controls the cluster sensitivity and reactivity are now emerging, but the basis for this is not yet fully understood for any regulatory family.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Characterization of iron-sulfur cluster regulators has long been hampered by a lack of high-resolution structural data. Although this still presents a major future challenge, recent advances now provide a firm foundation for detailed understanding of how a signal is transduced to effect gene regulation. This requires the identification of often unstable intermediate species, which are difficult to detect and may be hard to distinguish using traditional techniques. Novel approaches will be required to solve these problems.

Redox-sensing iron-sulfur cluster regulators

SIGNIFICANCE

Iron-sulfur cluster proteins carry out a wide range of functions, including as regulators of gene transcription/translation in response to environmental stimuli. In all known cases, the cluster acts as the sensory module, where the inherent reactivity/fragility of iron-sulfur clusters towards small/redox active molecules is exploited to effect conformational changes that modulate binding to DNA regulatory sequences. This promotes an often substantial re-programming of the cellular proteome that enables the organism or cell to adapt to, or counteract, its changing circumstances. Recent Advances. Significant progress has been made recently in the structural and mechanistic characterization of iron-sulfur cluster regulators and, in particular, the O2 and NO sensor FNR, the NO sensor NsrR, and WhiB-like proteins of Actinobacteria. These are the main focus of this review.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Striking examples of how the local environment controls the cluster sensitivity and reactivity are now emerging, but the basis for this is not yet fully understood for any regulatory family.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Characterization of iron-sulfur cluster regulators has long been hampered by a lack of high resolution structural data. Though this still presents a major future challenge, recent advances now provide a firm foundation for detailed understanding of how a signal is transduced to effect gene regulation. This requires the identification of often unstable intermediate species, which are difficult to detect and may be hard to distinguish using traditional techniques. Novel approaches will be required to solve these problems.

Sensing Mechanisms in the Redox-Regulated, [2Fe-2S] Cluster-Containing, Bacterial Transcriptional Factor SoxR

Bacteria possess molecular biosensors that enable responses to a variety of stressful conditions, including oxidative stress, toxic compounds, and interactions with other organisms, through elaborately coordinated regulation of gene expression. In Escherichia coli and related bacteria, the transcription factor SoxR functions as a sensor of oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO). SoxR protein contains a [2Fe-2S] cluster essential for its transcription-enhancing activity, which is regulated by redox changes in the [2Fe-2S] cluster. We have explored the mechanistic and structural basis of SoxR proteins function and determined how the chemistry at the [2Fe-2S] cluster causes the subsequent regulatory response. In this Account, I describe our recent achievements in three different areas using physicochemical techniques, primarily pulse radiolysis. First, redox-dependent conformational changes in SoxR-bound DNA were studied by site-specifically replacing selected bases with the fluorescent probes 2-aminopurine and pyrrolocytosine. X-ray analyses of the DNA-SoxR complex in the oxidized state revealed that the DNA structure is distorted in the center regions, resulting in local untwisting of base pairs. However, the inactive, reduced state had remained uncharacterized. We found that reduction of the [2Fe-2S] cluster in the SoxR-DNA complex weakens the fluorescence intensity within a region confined to the central base pairs in the promoter region. Second, the reactions of NO with [2Fe-2S] clusters of E. coli SoxR were analyzed using pulse radiolysis. The transcriptional activation of SoxR in E. coli occurs through direct modification of [2Fe-2S] by NO to form a dinitrosyl iron complex (DNIC). The reaction of NO with [2Fe-2S] cluster of SoxR proceeded nearly quantitatively with concomitant reductive elimination of two equivalents S⁰ atoms. Intermediate nitrosylation products, however, were too unstable to observe. We found that the conversion proceeds through at least two steps, with the faster phase being the first reaction of the NO molecule with the [2Fe-2S] cluster. The slower reaction with the second equivalent NO molecule, however, was important for the formation of DNIC. Third, to elucidate the differences between the distinct responses of SoxR proteins from two different species, we studied the interaction of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa SoxR with superoxide anion using a mutagenic approach. Despite the homology between E. coli SoxR and P. aeruginosa SoxR, the function of P. aeruginosa SoxR differs from that of E. coli. The substitution of E. coli SoxR lysine residues, located close to [2Fe-2S] clusters, into P. aeruginosa SoxR dramatically affected the reaction with superoxide anion.

A Redox Active [2Fe-2S] Cluster on the Hydrogenase Maturase HydF

[FeFe]-hydrogenases are nature's most prolific hydrogen catalysts, excelling at facilely interconverting H2 and protons. The catalytic core common to all [FeFe]-hydrogenases is a complex metallocofactor, referred to as the H-cluster, which is composed of a standard [4Fe-4S] cluster linked through a bridging thiolate to a 2Fe subcluster harboring dithiomethylamine, carbon monoxide, and cyanide ligands. This 2Fe subcluster is synthesized and inserted into [FeFe]-hydrogenase by three maturase enzymes denoted HydE, HydF, and HydG. HydE and HydG are radical S-adenosylmethionine enzymes and synthesize the nonprotein ligands of the H-cluster. HydF is a GTPase that functions as a scaffold or carrier for 2Fe subcluster production. Herein, we utilize UV-visible, circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic studies to establish the existence of redox active [4Fe-4S] and [2Fe-2S] clusters bound to HydF. We have used spectroelectrochemical titrations to assign iron-sulfur cluster midpoint potentials, have shown that HydF purifies with a reduced [2Fe-2S] cluster in the absence of exogenous reducing agents, and have tracked iron-sulfur cluster spectroscopic changes with quaternary structural perturbations. Our results provide an important foundation for understanding the maturation process by defining the iron-sulfur cluster content of HydF prior to its interaction with HydE and HydG. We speculate that the [2Fe-2S] cluster of HydF either acts as a placeholder for HydG-derived Fe(CO)2CN species or serves as a scaffold for 2Fe subcluster assembly.

Transcription Factors That Defend Bacteria Against Reactive Oxygen Species

Bacteria live in a toxic world in which their competitors excrete hydrogen peroxide or superoxide-generating redox-cycling compounds. They protect themselves by activating regulons controlled by the OxyR, PerR, and SoxR transcription factors. OxyR and PerR sense peroxide when it oxidizes key thiolate or iron moieties, respectively; they then induce overlapping sets of proteins that defend their vulnerable metalloenzymes. An additional role for OxyR in detecting electrophilic compounds is possible. In some nonenteric bacteria, SoxR appears to control the synthesis and export of redox-cycling compounds, whereas in the enteric bacteria it defends the cell against the same agents. When these compounds oxidize its iron-sulfur cluster, SoxR induces proteins that exclude, excrete, or modify them. It also induces enzymes that defend the cell against the superoxide that such compounds make. Recent work has brought new insight into the biochemistry and physiology of these responses, and comparative studies have clarified their evolutionary histories.