Transcription factor NNR from Paracoccus denitrificans is a sensor of both nitric oxide and oxygen: isolation of nnr* alleles encoding effector-independent proteins and evidence for a haem-based sensing mechanism

Denitrification in low oxic environments increases the accumulation of nitrogen oxide intermediates and modulates the evolutionary potential of microbial populations

Denitrification in oxic environments occurs when a microorganism uses nitrogen oxides as terminal electron acceptors even though oxygen is available. While this phenomenon is well-established, its consequences on ecological and evolutionary processes remain poorly understood. We hypothesize here that denitrification in oxic environments can modify the accumulation profiles of nitrogen oxide intermediates with cascading effects on the evolutionary potentials of denitrifying microorganisms. To test this, we performed laboratory experiments with Paracoccus denitrificans and complemented them with individual-based computational modelling. We found that denitrification in low oxic environments significantly increases the accumulation of nitrite and nitric oxide. We further found that the increased accumulation of these intermediates has a negative effect on growth at low pH. Finally, we found that the increased negative effect at low pH increases the number of individuals that contribute to surface-associated growth. This increases the amount of genetic diversity that is preserved from the initial population, thus increasing the number of genetic targets for natural selection to act upon and resulting in higher evolutionary potentials. Together, our data highlight that denitrification in low oxic environments can affect the ecological processes and evolutionary potentials of denitrifying microorganisms by modifying the accumulation of nitrogen oxide intermediates.

The Evolution of Nitric Oxide Function: From Reactivity in the Prebiotic Earth to Examples of Biological Roles and Therapeutic Applications

Nitric oxide was once considered to be of marginal interest to the biological sciences and medicine; however, there is now wide recognition, but not yet a comprehensive understanding, of its functions and effects. NO is a reactive, toxic free radical with numerous biological targets, especially metal ions. However, NO and its reaction products also play key roles as reductant and oxidant in biological redox processes, in signal transduction, immunity and infection, as well as other roles. Consequently, it can be sensed, metabolized and modified in biological systems. Here, we present a brief overview of the chemistry and biology of NO—in particular, its origins in geological time and in contemporary biology, its toxic consequences and its critical biological functions. Given that NO, with its intrinsic reactivity, appeared in the early Earth’s atmosphere before the evolution of complex lifeforms, we speculate that the potential for toxicity preceded biological function. To examine this hypothesis, we consider the nature of non-biological and biological targets of NO, the evolution of biological mechanisms for NO detoxification, and how living organisms generate this multifunctional gas.

Does It Pay Off to Explicitly Link Functional Gene Expression to Denitrification Rates in Reaction Models?

Environmental omics and molecular-biological data have been proposed to yield improved quantitative predictions of biogeochemical processes. The abundances of functional genes and transcripts relate to the number of cells and activity of microorganisms. However, whether molecular-biological data can be quantitatively linked to reaction rates remains an open question. We present an enzyme-based denitrification model that simulates concentrations of transcription factors, functional-gene transcripts, enzymes, and solutes. We calibrated the model using experimental data from a well-controlled batch experiment with the denitrifier Paracoccous denitrificans. The model accurately predicts denitrification rates and measured transcript dynamics. The relationship between simulated transcript concentrations and reaction rates exhibits strong non-linearity and hysteresis related to the faster dynamics of gene transcription and substrate consumption, relative to enzyme production and decay. Hence, assuming a unique relationship between transcript-to-gene ratios and reaction rates, as frequently suggested, may be an erroneous simplification. Comparing model results of our enzyme-based model to those of a classical Monod-type model reveals that both formulations perform equally well with respect to nitrogen species, indicating only a low benefit of integrating molecular-biological data for estimating denitrification rates. Nonetheless, the enzyme-based model is a valuable tool to improve our mechanistic understanding of the relationship between biomolecular quantities and reaction rates. Furthermore, our results highlight that both enzyme kinetics (i.e., substrate limitation and inhibition) and gene expression or enzyme dynamics are important controls on denitrification rates.

Transcriptional and Post-transcriptional Control of the Nitrate Respiration in Bacteria

In oxygen (O2) limiting environments, numerous aerobic bacteria have the ability to shift from aerobic to anaerobic respiration to release energy. This process requires alternative electron acceptor to replace O2 such as nitrate (NO3 -), which has the next best reduction potential after O2. Depending on the organism, nitrate respiration involves different enzymes to convert NO3 - to ammonium (NH4 +) or dinitrogen (N2). The expression of these enzymes is tightly controlled by transcription factors (TFs). More recently, bacterial small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), which are important regulators of the rapid adaptation of microorganisms to extremely diverse environments, have also been shown to control the expression of genes encoding enzymes or TFs related to nitrate respiration. In turn, these TFs control the synthesis of multiple sRNAs. These results suggest that sRNAs play a central role in the control of these metabolic pathways. Here we review the complex interplay between the transcriptional and the post-transcriptional regulators to efficiently control the respiration on nitrate.

Transcriptional and environmental control of bacterial denitrification and N2O emissions

In oxygen-limited environments, denitrifying bacteria can switch from oxygen-dependent respiration to nitrate (NO3-) respiration in which the NO3- is sequentially reduced via nitrite (NO2-), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to dinitrogen (N2). However, atmospheric N2O continues to rise, a significant proportion of which is microbial in origin. This implies that the enzyme responsible for N2O reduction, nitrous oxide reductase (NosZ), does not always carry out the final step of denitrification either efficiently or in synchrony with the rest of the pathway. Despite a solid understanding of the biochemistry underpinning denitrification, there is a relatively poor understanding of how environmental signals and respective transcriptional regulators control expression of the denitrification apparatus. This minireview describes the current picture for transcriptional regulation of denitrification in the model bacterium, Paracoccus denitrificans, highlighting differences in other denitrifying bacteria where appropriate, as well as gaps in our understanding. Alongside this, the emerging role of small regulatory RNAs in regulation of denitrification is discussed. We conclude by speculating how this information, aside from providing a better understanding of the denitrification process, can be translated into development of novel greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.

A Central Small RNA Regulatory Circuit Controlling Bacterial Denitrification and N2O Emissions

N₂O is an important greenhouse gas and a major cause of ozone depletion. Denitrifying bacteria play vital roles in the production and consumption of N₂O in many environments. Complete denitrification consists of the conversion of a soluble N-oxyanion, nitrate (NO₃^-), to an inert gaseous N-oxide, dinitrogen (N₂). Incomplete denitrification can occur if conditions are prohibitive, for example, under conditions of low soil copper concentrations, leading to emission of N₂O rather than N₂. Although enzymatically well characterized, the genetic drivers that regulate denitrification in response to environmental and physiological cues are not fully understood. This study identified a new regulatory sRNA-based control mechanism for denitrification in the model denitrifying bacterium P. denitrificans. Overexpression of this sRNA slows the rate of denitrification. This report highlights that there are gaps in understanding the regulation of this important pathway which need to be filled if strategies for N₂O mitigation can be rationally and carefully developed.

Global atmospheric loading of the climate-active gas nitrous oxide (N₂O) continues to increase. A significant proportion of anthropogenic N₂O emissions arises from microbial transformation of nitrogen-based fertilizers during denitrification, making microbial N₂O emissions a key target for greenhouse gas reduction strategies. The genetic, physiological, and environmental regulation of microbially mediated N₂O flux is poorly understood and therefore represents a critical knowledge gap in the development of successful mitigation approaches. We have previously mapped the transcriptional landscape of the model soil-denitrifying bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans. Here, we show that a single bacterial small RNA (sRNA) can control the denitrification rate of P. denitrificans by stalling denitrification at nitrite reduction to limit production of downstream pathway intermediates and N₂O emissions. Overexpression of sRNA-29 downregulates nitrite reductase and limits NO and N₂O production by cells. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed 53 genes that are controlled by sRNA-29, one of which is a previously uncharacterized GntR-type transcriptional regulator. Overexpression of this regulator phenocopies sRNA-29 overexpression and allows us to propose a model whereby sRNA-29 enhances levels of the regulator to repress denitrification under appropriate conditions. Our identification of a new regulatory pathway controlling the core denitrification pathway in bacteria highlights the current chasm in knowledge regarding genetic regulation of this pivotal biogeochemical process, which needs to be closed to support future biological and chemical N₂O mitigation strategies.

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.

Anaerobic Bacterial Response to Nitrosative Stress

This chapter provides an overview of current knowledge of how anaerobic bacteria protect themselves against nitrosative stress. Nitric oxide (NO) is the primary source of this stress. Aerobically its removal is an oxidative process, whereas reduction is required anaerobically. Mechanisms required to protect aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are therefore different. Several themes recur in the review. First, how gene expression is regulated often provides clues to the physiological function of the gene products. Second, the physiological significance of reports based upon experiments under extreme conditions that bacteria do not encounter in their natural environment requires reassessment. Third, responses to the primary source of stress need to be distinguished from secondary consequences of chemical damage due to failure of repair mechanisms to cope with extreme conditions. NO is generated by many mechanisms, some of which remain undefined. An example is the recent demonstration that the hybrid cluster protein combines with YtfE (or RIC protein, for repair of iron centres damaged by nitrosative stress) in a new pathway to repair key iron-sulphur proteins damaged by nitrosative stress. The functions of many genes expressed in response to nitrosative stress remain either controversial or are completely unknown. The concentration of NO that accumulates in the bacterial cytoplasm is essentially unknown, so dogmatic statements cannot be made that damage to transcription factors (Fur, FNR, SoxRS, MelR, OxyR) occurs naturally as part of a physiologically relevant signalling mechanism. Such doubts can be resolved by simple experiments to meet six proposed criteria.

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.

Heme and nitric oxide binding by the transcriptional regulator DnrF from the marine bacterium Dinoroseobacter shibae increases napD promoter affinity

Under oxygen-limiting conditions, the marine bacterium Dinoroseobacter shibae DFL12^T generates energy via denitrification, a respiratory process in which nitric oxide (NO) is an intermediate. Accumulation of NO may cause cytotoxic effects. The response to this nitrosative (NO-triggered) stress is controlled by the Crp/Fnr-type transcriptional regulator DnrF. We analyzed the response to NO and the mechanism of NO sensing by the DnrF regulator. Using reporter gene fusions and transcriptomics, here we report that DnrF selectively repressed nitrate reductase (nap) genes, preventing further NO formation. In addition, DnrF induced the expression of the NO reductase genes (norCB), which promote NO consumption. We used UV-visible and EPR spectroscopy to characterize heme binding to DnrF and subsequent NO coordination. DnrF detects NO via its bound heme cofactor. We found that the dimeric DnrF bound one molecule of heme per subunit. Purified recombinant apo-DnrF bound its target promoter sequences (napD, nosR2, norC, hemA, and dnrE) in electromobility shift assays, and we identified a specific palindromic DNA-binding site 5'-TTGATN₄ATCAA-3' in these target sequences via mutagenesis studies. Most importantly, successive addition of heme as well as heme and NO to purified recombinant apo-DnrF protein increased affinity of the holo-DnrF for its specific binding motif in the napD promoter. On the basis of these results, we propose a model for the DnrF-mediated NO stress response of this marine bacterium.

Biochemical properties of Paracoccus denitrificans FnrP: reactions with molecular oxygen and nitric oxide

In Paracoccus denitrificans, three CRP/FNR family regulatory proteins, NarR, NnrR and FnrP, control the switch between aerobic and anaerobic (denitrification) respiration. FnrP is a [4Fe–4S] cluster-containing homologue of the archetypal O₂ sensor FNR from E. coli and accordingly regulates genes encoding aerobic and anaerobic respiratory enzymes in response to O₂, and also NO, availability. Here we show that FnrP undergoes O₂-driven [4Fe–4S] to [2Fe–2S] cluster conversion that involves up to 2 O₂ per cluster, with significant oxidation of released cluster sulfide to sulfane observed at higher O₂ concentrations. The rate of the cluster reaction was found to be ~sixfold lower than that of E. coli FNR, suggesting that FnrP can remain transcriptionally active under microaerobic conditions. This is consistent with a role for FnrP in activating expression of the high O₂ affinity cytochrome c oxidase under microaerobic conditions. Cluster conversion resulted in dissociation of the transcriptionally active FnrP dimer into monomers. Therefore, along with E. coli FNR, FnrP belongs to the subset of FNR proteins in which cluster type is correlated with association state. Interestingly, two key charged residues, Arg140 and Asp154, that have been shown to play key roles in the monomer–dimer equilibrium in E. coli FNR are not conserved in FnrP, indicating that different protomer interactions are important for this equilibrium. Finally, the FnrP [4Fe–4S] cluster is shown to undergo reaction with multiple NO molecules, resulting in iron nitrosyl species and dissociation into monomers.

Nitrous Oxide Metabolism in Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria: Physiology and Regulatory Mechanisms

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas (GHG) with substantial global warming potential and also contributes to ozone depletion through photochemical nitric oxide (NO) production in the stratosphere. The negative effects of N2O on climate and stratospheric ozone make N2O mitigation an international challenge. More than 60% of global N2O emissions are emitted from agricultural soils mainly due to the application of synthetic nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Thus, mitigation strategies must be developed which increase (or at least do not negatively impact) on agricultural efficiency whilst decrease the levels of N2O released. This aim is particularly important in the context of the ever expanding population and subsequent increased burden on the food chain. More than two-thirds of N2O emissions from soils can be attributed to bacterial and fungal denitrification and nitrification processes. In ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, N2O is formed through the oxidation of hydroxylamine to nitrite. In denitrifiers, nitrate is reduced to N2 via nitrite, NO and N2O production. In addition to denitrification, respiratory nitrate ammonification (also termed dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium) is another important nitrate-reducing mechanism in soil, responsible for the loss of nitrate and production of N2O from reduction of NO that is formed as a by-product of the reduction process. This review will synthesize our current understanding of the environmental, regulatory and biochemical control of N2O emissions by nitrate-reducing bacteria and point to new solutions for agricultural GHG mitigation.

Nitrosylation of c heme in cd(1)-nitrite reductase is enhanced during catalysis

The reduction of nitrite into nitric oxide (NO) in denitrifying bacteria is catalyzed by nitrite reductase. In several species, this enzyme is a heme-containing protein with one c heme and one d1 heme per monomer (cd1NiR), encoded by the nirS gene. For many years, the evidence of a link between NO and this hemeprotein represented a paradox, given that NO was known to tightly bind and, possibly, inhibit hemeproteins, including cd1NiRs. It is now established that, during catalysis, cd1NiRs diverge from "canonical" hemeproteins, since the product NO rapidly dissociates from the ferrous d1 heme, which, in turn, displays a peculiar "low" affinity for NO (KD=0.11 μM at pH 7.0). It has been also previously shown that the c heme reacts with NO at acidic pH but c heme nitrosylation was not extensively investigated, given that in cd1NiR it was considered a side reaction, rather than a genuine process controlling catalysis. The spectroscopic study of the reaction of cd1NiR and its semi-apo derivative (containing the sole c heme) with NO reported here shows that c heme nitrosylation is enhanced during catalysis; this evidence has been discussed in order to assess the potential of c heme nitrosylation as a regulatory process, as observed for cytochrome c nitrosylation in mammalian mitochondria.

Seismic response of 3D steel buildings considering the effect of PR connections and gravity frames

The nonlinear seismic responses of 3D steel buildings with perimeter moment resisting frames (PMRF) and interior gravity frames (IGF) are studied explicitly considering the contribution of the IGF. The effect on the structural response of the stiffness of the beam-to-column connections of the IGF, which is usually neglected, is also studied. It is commonly believed that the flexibility of shear connections is negligible and that 2D models can be used to properly represent 3D real structures. The results of the study indicate, however, that the moments developed on columns of IGF can be considerable and that modeling buildings as plane frames may result in very conservative designs. The contribution of IGF to the lateral structural resistance may be significant. The contribution increases when their connections are assumed to be partially restrained (PR). The incremented participation of IGF when the stiffness of their connections is considered helps to counteract the no conservative effect that results in practice when lateral seismic loads are not considered in IGF while designing steel buildings with PMRF. Thus, if the structural system under consideration is used, the three-dimensional model should be used in seismic analysis and the IGF and the stiffness of their connections should be considered as part of the lateral resistance system.

Unusual heme binding properties of the dissimilative nitrate respiration regulator, a bacterial nitric oxide sensor

AIMS

In the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, nitric oxide (NO) triggers the respiration of nitrate (denitrification), thus allowing survival in chronic infection sites as a microaerobic-anaerobic biofilm. The NO-dependent induction of denitrification is mediated by the dissimilative nitrate respiration regulator (DNR), a transcription factor forming a stable complex with heme, which is required to sense the physiological messenger (i.e., NO). The molecular details of NO sensing in DNR and, more in general, in this class of sensors are largely unknown, and a study aimed at integrating microbiology and biochemistry is needed.

RESULTS

Here we present a comprehensive study, including in vivo results and spectroscopy, kinetics, and protein engineering, that demonstrates the direct involvement of a histidine residue in heme iron coordination. Moreover, a peculiar phenomenon of ligand switching around heme iron, which hampers the identification of the second heme axial ligand, is also suggested. These results indicate that DNR is characterized by a remarkable flexibility in solution, as observed for other cAMP receptor protein/fumarate and nitrate reductase regulators (CRP-FNR) to which DNR belongs.

INNOVATION

The present work represents one of the few studies focused on the biochemistry of NO sensing by bacterial transcriptional regulators. The data presented demonstrate that structural plasticity of DNR is crucial for the sensing activity and confers to the protein unusual heme binding properties.

CONCLUSIONS

Protein flexibility and dynamics is a key structural feature essential to explain the evolutionary success and adaptability of CRP-FNR, and may represent a common strategy employed by heme-based redox sensors, which presents features deeply different from those of canonical hemeproteins.

Nitrous oxide production and consumption: regulation of gene expression by gas-sensitive transcription factors

Several biochemical mechanisms contribute to the biological generation of nitrous oxide (N(2)O). N(2)O generating enzymes include the respiratory nitric oxide (NO) reductase, an enzyme from the flavo-diiron family, and flavohaemoglobin. On the other hand, there is only one enzyme that is known to use N(2)O as a substrate, which is the respiratory N(2)O reductase typically found in bacteria capable of denitrification (the respiratory reduction of nitrate and nitrite to dinitrogen). This article will briefly review the properties of the enzymes that make and consume N(2)O, together with the accessory proteins that have roles in the assembly and maturation of those enzymes. The expression of the genes encoding the enzymes that produce and consume N(2)O is regulated by environmental signals (typically oxygen and NO) acting through regulatory proteins, which, either directly or indirectly, control the frequency of transcription initiation. The roles and mechanisms of these proteins, and the structures of the regulatory networks in which they participate will also be reviewed.

Expression of nitrous oxide reductase in Paracoccus denitrificans is regulated by oxygen and nitric oxide through FnrP and NNR

The reductases performing the four steps of denitrification are controlled by a network of transcriptional regulators and ancillary factors responding to intra- and extracellular signals, amongst which are oxygen and N oxides (NO and NO2–). Although many components of the regulatory network have been identified, there are gaps in our understanding of their role(s) in controlling the expression of the various reductases, in particular the environmentally important N₂O reductase (N₂OR). We investigated denitrification phenotypes of Paracoccus denitrificans mutants deficient in: (i) regulatory proteins (three FNR-type transcriptional regulators, NarR, NNR and FnrP, and NirI, which is involved in transcription activation of the structural nir cluster); (ii) functional enzymes (NO reductase and N₂OR); or (iii) ancillary factors involved in N₂O reduction (NirX and NosX). A robotized incubation system allowed us to closely monitor changes in concentrations of oxygen and all gaseous products during the transition from oxic to anoxic respiration. Strains deficient in NO reductase were able to grow during denitrification, despite reaching micromolar concentrations of NO, but were unable to return to oxic respiration. The FnrP mutant showed linear anoxic growth in a medium with nitrate as the sole NO_x, but exponential growth was restored by replacing nitrate with nitrite. We interpret this as nitrite limitation, suggesting dual transcriptional control of respiratory nitrate reductase (NAR) by FnrP and NarR. Mutations in either NirX or NosX did not affect the phenotype, but the double mutant lacked the potential to reduce N₂O. Finally, we found that FnrP and NNR are alternative and equally effective inducers of N₂OR.

Oxygen control of nitrogen oxide respiration, focusing on α-proteobacteria

Denitrification is generally considered to occur under micro-oxic or anoxic conditions. With this in mind, the physiological function and regulation of several steps in the denitrification of model α-proteobacteria are compared in the present review. Expression of the periplasmic nitrate reductase is quite variable, with this enzyme being maximally expressed under oxic conditions in some bacteria, but under micro-oxic conditions in others. Expression of nitrite and NO reductases in most denitrifiers is more tightly controlled, with expression only occurring under micro-oxic conditions. A possible exception to this may be Roseobacter denitrificans, but the physiological role of these enzymes under oxic conditions is uncertain.

Fe/Mn superoxide dismutase-encoding gene in Paracoccus denitrificans is induced by azide and expressed independently of the FNR-type regulators

Paracoccus denitrificans cells undergo changes in protein composition upon exposure to azide, a known activator of the fumarate-nitrate reduction (FNR)-type transcription factor NarR. One of the most prominent protein species inducible by azide is a Fe/Mn-family superoxide dismutase (SOD). Azide induces SOD at protein, mRNA transcript, and enzyme activity levels in the aerobically growing cells. Since SOD expression remains unaffected in the fnrP-, nnr-, and narR-mutant strains, we postulate a mechanism independent of the known FNR-type regulators but involving a redox signal arising from the respiratory chain.

Mechanisms of oxygen inhibition of nirK expression in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

R. sphaeroides strain 2.4.3, when lacking the cbb(3) oxidase, is unable to transition from aerobic respiration to denitrification using cellular respiration as a means of reducing oxygen levels. This is due to an inability to express nirK, the gene encoding nitrite reductase. Under certain photosynthetic conditions this strain can transition from aerobic to nitrate respiration, demonstrating that nirK expression can occur in the absence of a functional cbb(3) oxidase. If oxygen levels are reduced under non-photosynthetic conditions using low-oxygen gas mixes, nitrite reductase activity is detected at wild-type levels in the strain lacking the oxidase. In addition, co-culture experiments show that incubation of the cbb(3) deficient strain 2.4.3 with R. sphaeroides 2.4.1, which is nirK deficient but has the high-affinity cbb(3) oxidase, restores denitrification in sealed-vessel experiments. Taken together these results indicate that high end-point O(2) levels are the reason why the strain lacking the cbb(3) oxidase cannot transition from aerobic respiration to denitrification under certain conditions. The protein probably being affected by these O(2) levels is the transcriptional regulator NnrR.

Unraveling an FNR based regulatory circuit in Paracoccus denitrificans using a proteomics-based approach

The switch from aerobic to anaerobic respiration in the bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans is orchestrated by the action of three FNR-type transcription regulators FnrP, NNR and NarR, which are sensors for oxygen, nitric oxide and nitrite, respectively. In this work, we analyzed the protein composition of four strains (wild type, FnrP-, NNR- and NarR-mutant strains) grown aerobically, semiaerobically and semiaerobically in the presence of nitrate to discover the global role of FNR-family transcription regulators using proteomics, with data validation at the transcript and genome levels. Expression profiles were acquired using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for 737 protein spots, in which 640 proteins were identified using mass spectrometry. The annotated 2-D proteome map provided the most comprehensive coverage of P. denitrificans proteome available to-date and can be accessed on-line at http://www.mpiib-berlin.mpg.de/2D-PAGE/. Our results revealed several types of regulation under the conditions tested: (1) FnrP-controlled regulation of nitrous oxide reductase, UspA and OmpW as confirmed at protein, transcript and DNA level (position of FNR boxes). (2) Proteins regulated via additional regulators, including proteins involved in NNR and NarR regulons: nitrate reductase beta-subunit, TonB-dependent receptors, nitrite reductase, a TenA-type transcription regulator, and an unknown protein with an alpha/beta hydrolase fold. (3) Proteins whose expression was affected mainly by the growth condition. This group contains SSU ribosomal protein S305 / sigma(54) modulation protein, and two short-chain reductase-dehydrogenase proteins.

Mitigating release of the potent greenhouse gas N(2)O from the nitrogen cycle - could enzymic regulation hold the key?

When faced with a shortage of oxygen, many bacterial species use nitrate to support respiration via the process of denitrification. This takes place extensively in nitrogen-rich soils and generates the gaseous products nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N(2)O) and dinitrogen (N(2)). The denitrifying bacteria protect themselves from the endogenous cytotoxic NO produced by converting it to N(2)O, which can be released into the atmosphere. However, N(2)O is a potent greenhouse gas and hence the activity of the enzyme that breaks down N(2)O has a crucial role in restricting its atmospheric levels. Here, we review the current understanding of the process by which N(2)O is produced and destroyed and discuss the potential for feeding this into new approaches for combating N(2)O release.

The transcription factor DNR from Pseudomonas aeruginosa specifically requires nitric oxide and haem for the activation of a target promoter in Escherichia coli

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a well-known pathogen in chronic respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Infectivity of P. aeruginosa is related to the ability to grow under oxygen-limited conditions using the anaerobic metabolism of denitrification, in which nitrate is reduced to dinitrogen via nitric oxide (NO). Denitrification is activated by a cascade of redox-sensitive transcription factors, among which is the DNR regulator, sensitive to nitrogen oxides. To gain further insight into the mechanism of NO-sensing by DNR, we have developed an Escherichia coli-based reporter system to investigate different aspects of DNR activity. In E. coli DNR responds to NO, as shown by its ability to transactivate the P. aeruginosa norCB promoter. The direct binding of DNR to the target DNA is required, since mutations in the helix-turn-helix domain of DNR and specific nucleotide substitutions in the consensus sequence of the norCB promoter abolish the transcriptional activity. Using an E. coli strain deficient in haem biosynthesis, we have also confirmed that haem is required in vivo for the NO-dependent DNR activity, in agreement with the property of DNR to bind haem in vitro. Finally, we have shown, we believe for the first time, that DNR is able to discriminate in vivo between different diatomic signal molecules, NO and CO, both ligands of the reduced haem iron in vitro, suggesting that DNR responds specifically to NO.

Metalloregulatory proteins and nitric oxide signalling in bacteria

Bacterial gene regulators containing transition metal cofactors that function as binding sites for small ligands were first described in the 1990s. Since then, numerous metal-containing regulators have been discovered, and our knowledge of the diversity of proteins, their cofactors and the signals that they sense has greatly increased. The present article reviews recent developments, with a particular focus on bacterial sensors of nitric oxide.

Analysis of the nitric oxide-sensing non-heme iron center in the NorR regulatory protein

The NorR regulatory protein senses nitric oxide (NO) to activate genes required for NO detoxification under anaerobic and microaerobic conditions in Escherichia coli. NorR belongs to the sigma(54)-dependent family of transcriptional activators and contains an N-terminal regulatory GAF (cGMP phosphodiesterase, adenylate cyclase, FhlA) domain that controls the ATPase activity of the central AAA+ domain to regulate productive interactions with sigma(54). Binding of NO to a non-heme iron center in the GAF domain results in the formation of a mononitrosyl-iron complex and releases intramolecular repression of the AAA+ domain to enable activation of transcription. In this study, we have further characterized NorR spectroscopically and substituted conserved residues in the GAF domain. This analysis, in combination with structural modeling of the GAF domain, has identified five candidate ligands to the non-heme iron and suggests a model in which the metal ion is coordinated in a pseudo-octahedral environment by three aspartate residues, an arginine, and a cysteine.

Regulators of bacterial responses to nitric oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) is an intermediate of the respiratory pathway known as denitrification, and is a by-product of anaerobic nitrite respiration in the enteric Bacteria. Pathogens are also exposed to NO inside host phagocytes, and possibly in other host niches as well. In recent years it has become apparent that there are multiple regulatory systems in prokaryotes that mediate responses to NO exposure. Owing to its reactivity, NO also has the potential to perturb the activities of other regulatory proteins, which are not necessarily directly involved in the response to NO. This review describes the current state of understanding of regulatory systems that respond to NO. An emerging trend is the predominance of iron proteins among the known physiological NO sensors.