Transcriptional regulation of genes encoding the selenium-free [NiFe]-hydrogenases in the archaeon Methanococcus voltae involves positive and negative control elements

Proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of selenium utilization in Methanococcus maripaludis

Methanococcus maripaludis utilizes selenocysteine- (Sec-) containing proteins (selenoproteins), mostly active in the organism's primary energy metabolism, methanogenesis. During selenium depletion, M. maripaludis employs a set of enzymes containing cysteine (Cys) instead of Sec. The genes coding for these Sec-/Cys-containing isoforms were the only genes known of which expression is influenced by the selenium status of the cell. Using proteomics and transcriptomics, approx. 7% and 12%, respectively, of all genes/proteins were found differentially expressed/synthesized in response to the selenium supply. Some of the genes identified involve methanogenesis, nitrogenase functions, and putative transporters. An increase of transcript abundance for putative transporters under selenium depletion indicated the organism's effort to tap into alternative sources of selenium. M. maripaludis is known to utilize selenite and dimethylselenide as selenium sources. To expand this list, a selenium-responsive reporter strain was assessed with nine other, environmentally relevant selenium species. While the effect of some was very similar to that of selenite, others were effectively utilized at lower concentrations. Conversely, selenate and seleno-amino acids were only utilized at unphysiologically high concentrations and two compounds were not utilized at all. To address the role of the selenium-regulated putative transporters, M. maripaludis mutant strains lacking one or two of the putative transporters were tested for the capability to utilize the different selenium species. Of the five putative transporters analyzed by loss-of-function mutagenesis, none appeared to be absolutely required for utilizing any of the selenium species tested, indicating they have redundant and/or overlapping specificities or are not dedicated selenium transporters.

IMPORTANCE

While selenium metabolism in microorganisms has been studied intensively in the past, global gene expression approaches have not been employed so far. Furthermore, the use of different selenium sources, widely environmentally interconvertible via biotic and abiotic processes, was also not extensively studied before. Methanococcus maripaludis JJ is ideally suited for such analyses, thanks to its known selenium usage and available genetic tools. Thus, an overall view on the selenium regulon of M. maripaludis was obtained via transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, which inspired further experimentation. This led to demonstrating the use of selenium sources M. maripaludis was previously not known to employ. Also, an attempt-although so far unsuccessful-was made to pinpoint potential selenium transporter genes, in order to deepen our understanding of trace element utilization in this important model organism.

Physiology, Biochemistry, and Applications of F420- and Fo-Dependent Redox Reactions

5-Deazaflavin cofactors enhance the metabolic flexibility of microorganisms by catalyzing a wide range of challenging enzymatic redox reactions. While structurally similar to riboflavin, 5-deazaflavins have distinctive and biologically useful electrochemical and photochemical properties as a result of the substitution of N-5 of the isoalloxazine ring for a carbon. 8-Hydroxy-5-deazaflavin (Fo) appears to be used for a single function: as a light-harvesting chromophore for DNA photolyases across the three domains of life. In contrast, its oligoglutamyl derivative F420 is a taxonomically restricted but functionally versatile cofactor that facilitates many low-potential two-electron redox reactions. It serves as an essential catabolic cofactor in methanogenic, sulfate-reducing, and likely methanotrophic archaea. It also transforms a wide range of exogenous substrates and endogenous metabolites in aerobic actinobacteria, for example mycobacteria and streptomycetes. In this review, we discuss the physiological roles of F420 in microorganisms and the biochemistry of the various oxidoreductases that mediate these roles. Particular focus is placed on the central roles of F420 in methanogenic archaea in processes such as substrate oxidation, C1 pathways, respiration, and oxygen detoxification. We also describe how two F420-dependent oxidoreductase superfamilies mediate many environmentally and medically important reactions in bacteria, including biosynthesis of tetracycline and pyrrolobenzodiazepine antibiotics by streptomycetes, activation of the prodrugs pretomanid and delamanid by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and degradation of environmental contaminants such as picrate, aflatoxin, and malachite green. The biosynthesis pathways of Fo and F420 are also detailed. We conclude by considering opportunities to exploit deazaflavin-dependent processes in tuberculosis treatment, methane mitigation, bioremediation, and industrial biocatalysis.

Integration of hydrogenase expression and hydrogen sensing in bacterial cell physiology

Hydrogenases are ubiquitous in ecosystems and widespread in microorganisms. In bacteria, hydrogen metabolism is a facultative trait that is tightly regulated in response to both external factors (e.g. gas concentrations) and internal factors (e.g. redox state). Here we consider how environmental and pathogenic bacteria regulate [NiFe]-hydrogenases to adapt to chemical changes and meet physiological needs. We introduce this concept by exploring how Ralstonia eutropha switches between heterotrophic and lithotrophic growth modes by sensing hydrogen and electron availability. The regulation and integration of hydrogen metabolism in the virulence of Salmonella enterica and Helicobacter pylori, persistence of mycobacteria and streptomycetes, and differentiation of filamentous cyanobacteria are subsequently discussed. We also consider how these findings are extendable to other systems.

VhuD facilitates electron flow from H2 or formate to heterodisulfide reductase in Methanococcus maripaludis

Flavin-based electron bifurcation has recently been characterized as an essential energy conservation mechanism that is utilized by hydrogenotrophic methanogenic Archaea to generate low-potential electrons in an ATP-independent manner. Electron bifurcation likely takes place at the flavin associated with the α subunit of heterodisulfide reductase (HdrA). In Methanococcus maripaludis the electrons for this reaction come from either formate or H2 via formate dehydrogenase (Fdh) or Hdr-associated hydrogenase (Vhu). However, how these enzymes bind to HdrA to deliver electrons is unknown. Here, we present evidence that the δ subunit of hydrogenase (VhuD) is central to the interaction of both enzymes with HdrA. When M. maripaludis is grown under conditions where both Fdh and Vhu are expressed, these enzymes compete for binding to VhuD, which in turn binds to HdrA. Under these conditions, both enzymes are fully functional and are bound to VhuD in substoichiometric quantities. We also show that Fdh copurifies specifically with VhuD in the absence of other hydrogenase subunits. Surprisingly, in the absence of Vhu, growth on hydrogen still occurs; we show that this involves F420-reducing hydrogenase. The data presented here represent an initial characterization of specific protein interactions centered on Hdr in a hydrogenotrophic methanogen that utilizes multiple electron donors for growth.

A dual promoter region with overlapping activator sequences drives the expression of gas vesicle protein genes in haloarchaea

Gas vesicle formation in haloarchaea involves 14 gas vesicle protein (gvp) genes. The strong promoter P(A) drives the expression of gvpACNO, which encodes the major gas vesicle structural proteins GvpA and GvpC, whereas the oppositely oriented promoter P(D) initiates the synthesis of the two regulator proteins, GvpD and GvpE. GvpE activates P(A) and P(D), and requires a 20 nt upstream activator sequence (UAS). UAS(A) and UAS(D) partially overlap in the centre of the 35 bp intergenic region. The basal and GvpE-induced activities of P(A) and P(D) were investigated in Haloferax volcanii transformants. Each UAS consists of two 8 nt portions (P(A), 1A+2A; P(D), 1D+2D), and mutations in the overlapping 1A and 1D portions affected the GvpE induction of both promoters. Substitution of one of the UAS portions by a nonsense sequence showed that a complete UAS is required for activation. The activation of P(A) was more efficient compared with P(D). Promoter P(A) with UAS(A) in configuration 1A+1A was still activated by GvpE, but P(D) was not inducible with UAS(D) in configuration 1D+1D. The TATA box and/or transcription factor B recognition element (BRE) were exchanged between P(A) and P(D). All elements of P(A) functioned well in the environment of 'P(D)' and transferred the stronger P(A) activity to 'P(D)'. In contrast, the respective 'P(A)' chimeras were less active, and BRE(D) was not functional in the environment of 'P(A)'. The relative strengths of the two promoters were substantially determined by the BRE. A 4 nt scanning mutagenesis uncovered an additional regulatory element in the region between TATA(D) and the transcriptional start site of gvpD.

Functional responses of methanogenic archaea to syntrophic growth

Methanococcus maripaludis grown syntrophically with Desulfovibrio vulgaris was compared with M. maripaludis monocultures grown under hydrogen limitation using transcriptional, proteomic and metabolite analyses. These measurements indicate a decrease in transcript abundance for energy-consuming biosynthetic functions in syntrophically grown M. maripaludis, with an increase in transcript abundance for genes involved in the energy-generating central pathway for methanogenesis. Compared with growth in monoculture under hydrogen limitation, the response of paralogous genes, such as those coding for hydrogenases, often diverged, with transcripts of one variant increasing in relative abundance, whereas the other was little changed or significantly decreased in abundance. A common theme was an apparent increase in transcripts for functions using H₂ directly as reductant, versus those using the reduced deazaflavin (coenzyme F₄₂₀). The greater importance of direct reduction by H₂ was supported by improved syntrophic growth of a deletion mutant in an F₄₂₀-dependent dehydrogenase of M. maripaludis. These data suggest that paralogous genes enable the methanogen to adapt to changing substrate availability, sustaining it under environmental conditions that are often near the thermodynamic threshold for growth. Additionally, the discovery of interspecies alanine transfer adds another metabolic dimension to this environmentally relevant mutualism.

Parallel evolution of transcriptome architecture during genome reorganization

Assembly of genes into operons is generally viewed as an important process during the continual adaptation of microbes to changing environmental challenges. However, the genome reorganization events that drive this process are also the roots of instability for existing operons. We have determined that there exists a statistically significant trend that correlates the proportion of genes encoded in operons in archaea to their phylogenetic lineage. We have further characterized how microbes deal with operon instability by mapping and comparing transcriptome architectures of four phylogenetically diverse extremophiles that span the range of operon stabilities observed across archaeal lineages: a photoheterotrophic halophile (Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1), a hydrogenotrophic methanogen (Methanococcus maripaludis S2), an acidophilic and aerobic thermophile (Sulfolobus solfataricus P2), and an anaerobic hyperthermophile (Pyrococcus furiosus DSM 3638). We demonstrate how the evolution of transcriptional elements (promoters and terminators) generates new operons, restores the coordinated regulation of translocated, inverted, and newly acquired genes, and introduces completely novel regulation for even some of the most conserved operonic genes such as those encoding subunits of the ribosome. The inverse correlation (r=-0.92) between the proportion of operons with such internally located transcriptional elements and the fraction of conserved operons in each of the four archaea reveals an unprecedented view into varying stages of operon evolution. Importantly, our integrated analysis has revealed that organisms adapted to higher growth temperatures have lower tolerance for genome reorganization events that disrupt operon structures.

Selenium controls transcription of paralogous formate dehydrogenase genes in the termite gut acetogen, Treponema primitia

The termite gut spirochete, Treponema primitia, is a CO(2)-reductive acetogen that is phylogenetically distinct from other distantly related and more extensively studied acetogens such as Moorella thermoacetica. Research on T. primitia has revealed details about the role of spirochetes in CO(2)-reductive acetogenesis, a process important to the mutualism occurring between termites and their gut microbial communities. Here, a locus of the T. primitia genome containing Wood-Ljungdahl pathway genes for CO(2)-reductive acetogenesis was sequenced. This locus contained methyl-branch genes of the pathway (i.e. for the reduction of CO(2) to the level of methyl-tetrahydrofolate) including paralogous genes for cysteine and selenocysteine (Sec) variants of formate dehydrogenase (FDH) and genes for Sec incorporation. The FDH variants affiliated phylogenetically with hydrogenase-linked FDH enzymes, suggesting that T. primitia FDH enzymes utilize electrons derived directly from molecular H(2). Sub-nanomolar concentrations of selenium decreased transcript levels of the cysteine variant FDH gene. Selenium concentration did not markedly influence the level of mRNA upstream of the Sec-codon in the Sec variant FDH; however, the level of transcript extending downstream of the Sec-codon increased incrementally with increasing selenium concentrations. The features and regulation of these FDH genes are an indication that T. primitia may experience dynamic selenium availability in its H(2)-rich gut environment.

Selenoproteins in Archaea and Gram-positive bacteria

Selenium is an essential trace element for many organisms by serving important catalytic roles in the form of the 21st co-translationally inserted amino acid selenocysteine. It is mostly found in redox-active proteins in members of all three domains of life and analysis of the ever-increasing number of genome sequences has facilitated identification of the encoded selenoproteins. Available data from biochemical, sequence, and structure analyses indicate that Gram-positive bacteria synthesize and incorporate selenocysteine via the same pathway as enterobacteria. However, recent in vivo studies indicate that selenocysteine-decoding is much less stringent in Gram-positive bacteria than in Escherichia coli. For years, knowledge about the pathway of selenocysteine synthesis in Archaea and Eukarya was only fragmentary, but genetic and biochemical studies guided by analysis of genome sequences of Sec-encoding archaea has not only led to the characterization of the pathways but has also shown that they are principally identical. This review summarizes current knowledge about the metabolic pathways of Archaea and Gram-positive bacteria where selenium is involved, about the known selenoproteins, and about the respective pathways employed in selenoprotein synthesis.

Roles of coenzyme F420-reducing hydrogenases and hydrogen- and F420-dependent methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenases in reduction of F420 and production of hydrogen during methanogenesis

Reduced coenzyme F420 (F420H2) is an essential intermediate in methanogenesis from CO2. During methanogenesis from H2 and CO2, F420H2 is provided by the action of F420-reducing hydrogenases. However, an alternative pathway has been proposed, where H2-dependent methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase (Hmd) and F420H2-dependent methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase (Mtd) together reduce F420 with H2. Here we report the construction of mutants of Methanococcus maripaludis that are defective in each putative pathway. Their analysis demonstrates that either pathway supports growth on H2 and CO2. Furthermore, we show that during growth on formate instead of H2, where F420H2 is a direct product of formate oxidation, H2 production occurs. H2 presumably arises from the oxidation of F420H2, and the analysis of the mutants during growth on formate suggests that this too can occur by either pathway. We designate the alternative pathway for the interconversion of H2 and F420H2 the Hmd-Mtd cycle.

Overlapping activator sequences determined for two oppositely oriented promoters in halophilic Archaea

Transcription of the genomic region involved in gas vesicle formation in Halobacterium salinarum (p-vac) and Haloferax mediterranei (mc-vac) is driven by two divergent promoters, P(A) and P(D), separated by only 35 nt. Both promoters are activated by the transcription activator GvpE which in the case of P(mcA) requires a 20-nt sequence (UAS) consisting of two conserved 8-nt sequence portions located upstream of BRE. Here, we determined the two UAS elements in the promoter region of p-vac by scanning mutageneses using constructs containing P(pD) (without P(pA)) fused to the bgaH reporter gene encoding an enzyme with beta-galactosidase activity, or the dual reporter construct pApD with P(pD) fused to bgaH and P(pA) to an altered version of gvpA. The two UAS elements found exhibited a similar extension and distance to BRE as previously determined for the UAS in P(mcA). Their distal 8-nt portions almost completely overlapped in the centre of P(pD)-P(pA), and mutations in this region negatively affected the GvpE-mediated activation of both promoters. Any alteration of the distance between BRE and UAS resulted in the loss of the GvpE activation, as did a complete substitution of the proximal 8-nt portion, underlining that a close location of UAS and BRE was very important.

Functionally distinct genes regulated by hydrogen limitation and growth rate in methanogenic Archaea

The use of molecular hydrogen as electron donor for energy generation is a defining characteristic of the hydrogenotrophic methanogens, an ancient group that dominates the phylum Euryarchaeota. We present here a global study of changes in mRNA abundance in response to hydrogen availability for a hydrogenotrophic methanogen. Cells of Methanococcus maripaludis were grown by using continuous culture to deconvolute the effects of hydrogen limitation and growth rate, and microarray analyses were conducted. Hydrogen limitation markedly increased mRNA levels for genes encoding enzymes of the methanogenic pathway that reduce or oxidize the electron-carrying deazaflavin, coenzyme F(420). F(420)-dependent redox functions in energy-generating metabolism are characteristic of the methanogenic Archaea, and the results show that their regulation is distinct from other redox processes in the cell. Rapid growth increased mRNA levels of the gene for an unusual hydrogenase, the hydrogen-dependent methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase.

Selenium is involved in regulation of periplasmic hydrogenase gene expression in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough is a good model organism to study hydrogen metabolism in sulfate-reducing bacteria. Hydrogen is a key compound for these organisms, since it is one of their major energy sources in natural habitats and also an intermediate in the energy metabolism. The D. vulgaris Hildenborough genome codes for six different hydrogenases, but only three of them, the periplasmic-facing [FeFe], [FeNi]1, and [FeNiSe] hydrogenases, are usually detected. In this work, we studied the synthesis of each of these enzymes in response to different electron donors and acceptors for growth as well as in response to the availability of Ni and Se. The formation of the three hydrogenases was not very strongly affected by the electron donors or acceptors used, but the highest levels were observed after growth with hydrogen as electron donor and lowest with thiosulfate as electron acceptor. The major effect observed was with inclusion of Se in the growth medium, which led to a strong repression of the [FeFe] and [NiFe]1 hydrogenases and a strong increase in the [NiFeSe] hydrogenase that is not detected in the absence of Se. Ni also led to increased formation of the [NiFe]1 hydrogenase, except for growth with H2, where its synthesis is very high even without Ni added to the medium. Growth with H2 results in a strong increase in the soluble forms of the [NiFe]1 and [NiFeSe] hydrogenases. This study is an important contribution to understanding why D. vulgaris Hildenborough has three periplasmic hydrogenases. It supports their similar physiological role in H2 oxidation and reveals that element availability has a strong influence in their relative expression.

Mutational analysis of genes encoding chromatin proteins in the archaeon Methanococcus voltae indicates their involvement in the regulation of gene expression

Several genes for chromatin proteins are known in Archaea. These include histones and histone-like proteins in Euryarchaeota, and a DNA binding protein, Alba, which was first detected in the crenarchaeote Sulfolobus solfataricus and is thought to be involved in transcriptional regulation. The methanogenic archaeon Methanococcus voltae harbors four genes coding for all these three types of chromatin proteins. Deletion mutants for the two histone genes ( hstAand hstB), the gene encoding the histone-like protein ( hmvA) and the gene for the Alba homologue ( albA) have now been constructed in this organism. Although all single mutants were viable, deletion of hstA resulted in slow growth. Two transcripts were detected for each of the two histone genes. These were expressed in different relative amounts, which were correlated with different growth phases. Cell extracts obtained from the different mutants exhibited altered protein patterns, as revealed by 2D gel electrophoresis, indicating that the chromatin proteins are involved in gene regulation in M. voltae.

Dimethylselenide demethylation is an adaptive response to selenium deprivation in the archaeon Methanococcus voltae

The archaeon Methanococcus voltae needs selenium for optimal growth. A gene group most likely involved in the demethylation of dimethylselenide was discovered, the expression of which is induced upon selenium deprivation. The operon comprises open reading frames for a corrinoid protein and two putative methyltransferases. It is shown that the addition of dimethylselenide to selenium-depleted growth medium relieves the lack of selenium, as indicated by the repression of a promoter of a transcription unit encoding selenium-free hydrogenases which is normally active only upon selenium deprivation. Knockout mutants of the corrinoid protein or one of the two methyltransferase genes did not show repression of the hydrogenase promoter in the presence of dimethylselenide. The mutation of the other methyltransferase gene had no effect. Growth rates of the two effective mutants were reduced compared to wild-type cells in selenium-limited medium in the presence of dimethylselenide.

A lysR-type regulator is involved in the negative regulation of genes encoding selenium-free hydrogenases in the archaeon Methanococcus voltae

The archaeon Methanococcus voltae encodes two pairs of NiFe-hydrogenase isoenzymes. One hydrogenase of each pair contains selenium in the active site, whereas the other one is selenium-free. The gene groups for the selenium-free hydrogenases, called vhc and frc, are linked by a common intergenic region. They are only transcribed under selenium limitation. A protein binding to a negative regulatory element involved in the regulation of the two operons was purified by DNA-affinity chromatography. Through the identification of the corresponding gene the protein was found to be a LysR-type regulator. It was named HrsM (hydrogenase gene regulator, selenium dependent in M. voltae). hrsM knockout mutants constitutively transcribed the vhc and frc operons in the presence of selenium. A putative HrsM binding site was also detected in the intergenic region in front of the hrsM gene. Northern blot analysis indicated that the hrsM gene might be autoregulated.

Transcriptional regulation of the gene encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase in the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus involves multiple factors and control elements

A transcriptionally active region has been identified in the 5' flanking region of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene of the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus through the evaluation of the activity of putative transcriptional regulators and the role of the region upstream of the gene under specific metabolic circumstances. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with crude extracts revealed protein complexes that most likely contain TATA box-associated factors. When the TATA element was deleted from the region, binding sites for both DNA binding proteins, such as the small chromatin structure-modeling Sso7d and Sso10b (Alba), and transcription factors, such as the repressor Lrs14, were revealed. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the substrate-induced expression of the adh gene, the promoter was analyzed for the presence of cis-acting elements recognized by specific transcription factors upon exposure of the cell to benzaldehyde. Progressive dissection of the identified promoter region restricted the analysis to a minimal responsive element (PAL) located immediately upstream of the transcription factor B-responsive element-TATA element, resembling typical bacterial regulatory sequences. A benzaldehyde-activated transcription factor (Bald) that specifically binds to the PAL cis-acting element was also identified. This protein was purified from heparin-fractionated extracts of benzaldehyde-induced cells and was shown to have a molecular mass of approximately 16 kDa. The correlation between S. solfataricus adh gene activation and benzaldehyde-inducible occupation of a specific DNA sequence in its promoter suggests that a molecular signaling mechanism is responsible for the switch of the aromatic aldehyde metabolism as a response to environmental changes.

Characterization of flagellum gene families of methanogenic archaea and localization of novel flagellum accessory proteins

Archaeal flagella are unique motility structures, and the absence of bacterial structural motility genes in the complete genome sequences of flagellated archaeal species suggests that archaeal flagellar biogenesis is likely mediated by novel components. In this study, a conserved flagellar gene family from each of Methanococcus voltae, Methanococcus maripaludis, Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, and Methanococcus jannaschii has been characterized. These species possess multiple flagellin genes followed immediately by eight known and supposed flagellar accessory genes, flaCDEFGHIJ. Sequence analyses identified a conserved Walker box A motif in the putative nucleotide binding proteins FlaH and FlaI that may be involved in energy production for flagellin secretion or assembly. Northern blotting studies demonstrated that all the species have abundant polycistronic mRNAs corresponding to some of the structural flagellin genes, and in some cases several flagellar accessory genes were shown to be cotranscribed with the flagellin genes. Cloned flagellar accessory genes of M. voltae were successfully overexpressed as His-tagged proteins in Escherichia coli. These recombinant flagellar accessory proteins were affinity purified and used as antigens to raise polyclonal antibodies for localization studies. Immunoblotting of fractionated M. voltae cells demonstrated that FlaC, FlaD, FlaE, FlaH, and FlaI are all present in the cell as membrane-associated proteins but are not major components of isolated flagellar filaments. Interestingly, flaD was found to encode two proteins, each translated from a separate ribosome binding site. These protein expression data indicate for the first time that the putative flagellar accessory genes of M. voltae, and likely those of other archaeal species, do encode proteins that can be detected in the cell.

Purification and characterization of Sa-lrp, a DNA-binding protein from the extreme thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius homologous to the bacterial global transcriptional regulator Lrp

Archaea, constituting the third primary domain of life, harbor a basal transcription apparatus of the eukaryotic type, whereas curiously, a large fraction of the potential transcription regulation factors appear to be of the bacterial type. To date, little information is available on these predicted regulators and on the intriguing interplay that necessarily has to occur with the transcription machinery. Here, we focus on Sa-lrp of the extremely thermoacidophilic crenarchaeote Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, encoding an archaeal homologue of the Escherichia coli leucine-responsive regulatory protein Lrp, a global transcriptional regulator and genome organizer. Sa-lrp was shown to produce a monocistronic mRNA that was more abundant in the stationary-growth phase and produced in smaller amounts in complex medium, this down regulation being leucine independent. We report on Sa-Lrp protein purification from S. acidocaldarius and from recombinant E. coli, both identified by N-terminal amino acid sequence determination. Recombinant Sa-Lrp was shown to be homotetrameric and to bind to its own control region; this binding proved to be leucine independent and was stimulated at high temperatures. Interference binding experiments suggested an important role for minor groove recognition in the Sa-Lrp-DNA complex formation, and mutant analysis indicated the importance for DNA binding of the potential helix-turn-helix motif present at the N terminus of Sa-Lrp. The DNA-binding capacity of purified Sa-Lrp was found to be more resistant to irreversible heat inactivation in the presence of L-leucine, suggesting a potential physiological role of the amino acid as a cofactor.