Promoter architecture and response to a positive regulator of archaeal transcription

The transcriptional regulator EarA and intergenic terminator sequences modulate archaellation in Pyrococcus furiosus

The regulation of archaellation, the formation of archaeal-specific cell appendages called archaella, is crucial for the motility, adhesion, and survival of archaeal organisms. Although the heavily archaellated and highly motile Pyrococcus furiosus is a key model organism for understanding the production and function of archaella in Euryarchaea, the transcriptional regulation of archaellum assembly is so far unknown. Here we show that the transcription factor EarA is the master regulator of the archaellum (arl) operon transcription, which is further modulated by intergenic transcription termination signals. EarA deletion or overexpression strains demonstrate that EarA is essential for archaellation in P. furiosus and governs the degree of archaellation. Providing a single-molecule update on the transcriptional landscape of the arl operon in P. furiosus, we identify sequence motifs for EarA binding upstream of the arl operon and intergenic terminator sequences as critical elements for fine-tuning the expression of the multicistronic arl cluster. Furthermore, transcriptome re-analysis across different Thermococcales species demonstrated a heterogeneous production of major archaellins, suggesting a more diverse composition of archaella than previously recognized. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the transcriptional regulation of archaellation and highlights the essential role of EarA in Pyrococcus furiosus. These findings advance our understanding of the mechanisms governing archaellation and have implications for the functional diversity of archaella.

Towards the Elucidation of Assimilative nasABC Operon Transcriptional Regulation in Haloferax mediterranei

The assimilatory pathway of the nitrogen cycle in the haloarchaeon Haloferax mediterranei has been well described and characterized in previous studies. However, the regulatory mechanisms involved in the gene expression of this pathway remain unknown in haloarchaea. This work focuses on elucidating the regulation at the transcriptional level of the assimilative nasABC operon (HFX_2002 to HFX_2004) through different approaches. Characterization of its promoter region using β-galactosidase as a reporter gene and site-directed mutagenesis has allowed us to identify possible candidate binding regions for a transcriptional factor. The identification of a potential transcriptional regulator related to nitrogen metabolism has become a real challenge due to the lack of information on haloarchaea. The investigation of protein–DNA binding by streptavidin bead pull-down analysis combined with mass spectrometry resulted in the in vitro identification of a transcriptional regulator belonging to the Lrp/AsnC family, which binds to the nasABC operon promoter (p.nasABC). To our knowledge, this study is the first report to suggest the AsnC transcriptional regulator as a powerful candidate to play a regulatory role in nasABC gene expression in Hfx. mediterranei and, in general, in the assimilatory nitrogen pathway.

CopR, a Global Regulator of Transcription to Maintain Copper Homeostasis in Pyrococcus furiosus

Although copper is in many cases an essential micronutrient for cellular life, higher concentrations are toxic. Therefore, all living cells have developed strategies to maintain copper homeostasis. In this manuscript, we have analyzed the transcriptome-wide response of Pyrococcus furiosus to increased copper concentrations and described the essential role of the putative copper-sensing metalloregulator CopR in the detoxification process. To this end, we employed biochemical and biophysical methods to characterize the role of CopR. Additionally, a copR knockout strain revealed an amplified sensitivity in comparison to the parental strain towards increased copper levels, which designates an essential role of CopR for copper homeostasis. To learn more about the CopR-regulated gene network, we performed differential gene expression and ChIP-seq analysis under normal and 20 μM copper-shock conditions. By integrating the transcriptome and genome-wide binding data, we found that CopR binds to the upstream regions of many copper-induced genes. Negative-stain transmission electron microscopy and 2D class averaging revealed an octameric assembly formed from a tetramer of dimers for CopR, similar to published crystal structures from the Lrp family. In conclusion, we propose a model for CopR-regulated transcription and highlight the regulatory network that enables Pyrococcus to respond to increased copper concentrations.

Evolution of Regulated Transcription

The genomes of all organisms abound with various cis-regulatory elements, which control gene activity. Transcriptional enhancers are a key group of such elements in eukaryotes and are DNA regions that form physical contacts with gene promoters and precisely orchestrate gene expression programs. Here, we follow gradual evolution of this regulatory system and discuss its features in different organisms. In eubacteria, an enhancer-like element is often a single regulatory element, is usually proximal to the core promoter, and is occupied by one or a few activators. Activation of gene expression in archaea is accompanied by the recruitment of an activator to several enhancer-like sites in the upstream promoter region. In eukaryotes, activation of expression is accompanied by the recruitment of activators to multiple enhancers, which may be distant from the core promoter, and the activators act through coactivators. The role of the general DNA architecture in transcription control increases in evolution. As a whole, it can be seen that enhancers of multicellular eukaryotes evolved from the corresponding prototypic enhancer-like regulatory elements with the gradually increasing genome size of organisms.

Identification of XylR, the Activator of Arabinose/Xylose Inducible Regulon in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and Its Application for Homologous Protein Expression

The thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius can use different carbon sources for growth, including the pentoses D-xylose and L-arabinose. In this study, we identified the activator XylR (saci_2116) responsible for the transcriptional regulation of the pentose transporter and pentose metabolizing genes in S. acidocaldarius. A xylR deletion mutant showed growth retardation on D-xylose/L-arabinose containing media and the lack of transcription of the respective ABC transporter. In contrast to so far used promoters for expression in S. acidocaldarius, the xylR responsive promoters have a very low background activity. Finally, two XylR dependent promoters next to the long-established maltose inducible promotor were used to construct a high-throughput expression vector system for S. acidocaldarius to efficiently clone and express proteins in S. acidocaldarius.

The Transcriptional Regulator TFB-RF1 Activates Transcription of a Putative ABC Transporter in Pyrococcus furiosus

Transcription factor B recruiting factor 1 (TFB-RF1; PF1088) is a transcription regulator which activates transcription on archaeal promoters containing weak TFB recognition elements (BRE) by recruiting TFB to the promoter. The mechanism of activation is described in detail, but nothing is known about the biological function of this protein in Pyrococcus furiosus. The protein is located in an operon structure together with the hypothetical gene pf1089 and western blot as well as end-point RT-PCR experiments revealed an extremely low expression rate of both proteins. Furthermore, conditions to induce the expression of the operon are not known. By introducing an additional copy of tfb-RF1 using a Pyrococcus shuttle vector we could circumvent the lacking expression of both proteins under standard growth conditions as indicated by western blot as well as end-point RT-PCR experiments. A ChIP-seq experiment revealed an additional binding site of TFB-RF1 in the upstream region of the pf1011/1012 operon, beside the expected target of the pf1089/tfb-RF1 region. This operon codes for a putative ABC transporter which is most-related to a multidrug export system and in vitro analysis using gel shift assays, DNase I footprinting and in vitro transcription confirmed the activator function of TFB-RF1 on the corresponding promoter. These findings are also in agreement with in vivo data, as RT-qPCR experiments also indicate transcriptional activation of both operons. Taken together, the overexpression strategy of tfb-RF1 enabled the identification of an additional operon of the TFB-RF1 regulon which indicates a transport-related function and provides a promising starting position to decipher the physiological function of the TFB-RF1 gene regulatory network in P. furiosus.

Bypassing the Need for the Transcriptional Activator EarA through a Spontaneous Deletion in the BRE Portion of the fla Operon Promoter in Methanococcus maripaludis

In Methanococcus maripaludis, the euryarchaeal archaellum regulator A (EarA) is required for the transcription of the fla operon, which is comprised of a series of genes which encode most of the proteins needed for the formation of the archaeal swimming organelle, the archaellum. In mutants deleted for earA (ΔearA), there is almost undetectable transcription of the fla operon, Fla proteins are not synthesized and the cells are non-archaellated. In this study, we have isolated a spontaneous mutant of a ΔearA mutant in which the restoration of the transcription and translation of the fla operon (using flaB2, the second gene of the operon, as a reporter), archaella formation and swarming motility were all restored even in the absence of EarA. Analysis of the DNA sequence from the fla promoter of this spontaneous mutant revealed a deletion of three adenines within a string of seven adenines in the transcription factor B recognition element (BRE). When the three adenine deletion in the BRE was regenerated in a stock culture of the ΔearA mutant, very similar phenotypes to that of the spontaneous mutant were observed. Deletion of the three adenines in the fla promoter BRE resulted in the mutant BRE having high sequence identity to BREs from promoters that have strong basal transcription level in Mc. maripaludis and Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. These data suggest that EarA may help recruit transcription factor B to a weak BRE in the fla promoter of wild-type cells but is not required for transcription from the fla promoter with a strong BRE, as in the three adenine deletion version in the spontaneous mutant.

Structure and mechanisms of viral transcription factors in archaea

Virus-encoded transcription factors have been pivotal in exploring the molecular mechanisms and regulation of gene expression in bacteria and eukaryotes since the birth of molecular biology, while our understanding of viral transcription in archaea is still in its infancy. Archaeal viruses do not encode their own RNA polymerases (RNAPs) and are consequently entirely dependent on their hosts for gene expression; this is fundamentally different from many bacteriophages and requires alternative regulatory strategies. Archaeal viruses wield a repertoire of proteins to expropriate the host transcription machinery to their own benefit. In this short review we summarise our current understanding of gene-specific and global mechanisms that viruses employ to chiefly downregulate host transcription and enable the efficient and temporal expression of the viral transcriptome. Most of the experimentally characterised archaeo-viral transcription regulators possess either ribbon-helix-helix or Zn-finger motifs that allow them to engage with the DNA in a sequence-specific manner, altering the expression of a specific subset of genes. Recently a novel type of regulator was reported that directly binds to the RNAP and shuts down transcription of both host and viral genes in a global fashion.

The genome-wide binding profile of the Sulfolobus solfataricus transcription factor Ss-LrpB shows binding events beyond direct transcription regulation

Background

Gene regulatory processes are largely resulting from binding of transcription factors to specific genomic targets. Leucine-responsive Regulatory Protein (Lrp) is a prevalent transcription factor family in prokaryotes, however, little information is available on biological functions of these proteins in archaea. Here, we study genome-wide binding of the Lrp-like transcription factor Ss-LrpB from Sulfolobus solfataricus.

Results

Chromatin immunoprecipitation in combination with DNA microarray analysis (ChIP-chip) has revealed that Ss-LrpB interacts with 36 additional loci besides the four previously identified local targets. Only a subset of the newly identified binding targets, concentrated in a highly variable IS-dense genomic region, is also bound in vitro by pure Ss-LrpB. There is no clear relationship between the in vitro measured DNA-binding specificity of Ss-LrpB and the in vivo association suggesting a limited permissivity of the crenarchaeal chromatin for transcription factor binding. Of 37 identified binding regions, 29 are co-bound by LysM, another Lrp-like transcription factor in S. solfataricus. Comparative gene expression analysis in an Ss-lrpB mutant strain shows no significant Ss-LrpB-mediated regulation for most targeted genes, with exception of the CRISPR B cluster, which is activated by Ss-LrpB through binding to a specific motif in the leader region.

Conclusions

The genome-wide binding profile presented here implies that Ss-LrpB is associated at additional genomic binding sites besides the local gene targets, but acts as a specific transcription regulator in the tested growth conditions. Moreover, we have provided evidence that two Lrp-like transcription factors in S. solfataricus, Ss-LrpB and LysM, interact in vivo.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-14-828) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Cis-regulatory logic in archaeal transcription

For cellular fitness and survival, gene expression levels need to be regulated in response to a wealth of cellular and environmental signals. TFs (transcription factors) execute a large part of this regulation by interacting with the basal transcription machinery at promoter regions. Archaea are characterized by a simplified eukaryote-like basal transcription machinery and bacteria-type TFs, which convert sequence information into a gene expression output according to cis-regulatory rules. In the present review, we discuss the current state of knowledge about these rules in archaeal systems, ranging from DNA-binding specificities and operator architecture to regulatory mechanisms.

A thermodynamic model of the cooperative interaction between the archaeal transcription factor Ss-LrpB and its tripartite operator DNA

Ss-LrpB is a transcription factor of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus that belongs to the leucine-responsive regulatory protein family. This protein binds to three distinct binding sites in the control region of its own gene, suggestive of autoregulation. Here, we present a detailed study of the thermodynamic and conformational rules that govern the interaction between Ss-LrpB and its tripartite operator DNA. Lane-per-lane partition analysis of macroscopic binding state populations in electrophoretic mobility shift assays, probing binding to full-length, truncated and mutated forms of the operator, allowed determination of equilibrium association constants and cooperativity parameters. The resulting thermodynamic model demonstrates that the Ss-LrpB-operator regulatory complex is formed with a significant positive cooperativity, which is mostly arising from dimer-dimer interactions between pairs of adjacent binding sites. There is a constraint on the spacing between these binding sites, with a preference for a cis-alignment on the DNA helix and with a 16-bp linker yielding maximal pairwise cooperativity. DNase I footprinting assays demonstrated that the extent of Ss-LrpB-induced DNA deformations depends on linker length. The knowledge of the thermodynamic principles underlying the Ss-LrpB-operator interaction, presented here, will contribute to unraveling of the cis-regulatory code of Ss-LrpB autoregulation.

Nanobody(R)-based chromatin immunoprecipitation/micro-array analysis for genome-wide identification of transcription factor DNA binding sites

Nanobodies® are single-domain antibody fragments derived from camelid heavy-chain antibodies. Because of their small size, straightforward production in Escherichia coli, easy tailoring, high affinity, specificity, stability and solubility, nanobodies® have been exploited in various biotechnological applications. A major challenge in the post-genomics and post-proteomics era is the identification of regulatory networks involving nucleic acid-protein and protein-protein interactions. Here, we apply a nanobody® in chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by DNA microarray hybridization (ChIP-chip) for genome-wide identification of DNA-protein interactions. The Lrp-like regulator Ss-LrpB, arguably one of the best-studied specific transcription factors of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, was chosen for this proof-of-principle nanobody®-assisted ChIP. Three distinct Ss-LrpB-specific nanobodies®, each interacting with a different epitope, were generated for ChIP. Genome-wide ChIP-chip with one of these nanobodies® identified the well-established Ss-LrpB binding sites and revealed several unknown target sequences. Furthermore, these ChIP-chip profiles revealed auxiliary operator sites in the open reading frame of Ss-lrpB. Our work introduces nanobodies® as a novel class of affinity reagents for ChIP. Taking into account the unique characteristics of nanobodies®, in particular, their short generation time, nanobody®-based ChIP is expected to further streamline ChIP-chip and ChIP-Seq experiments, especially in organisms with no (or limited) possibility of genetic manipulation.

Regulatory and pathogenesis roles of Mycobacterium Lrp/AsnC family transcriptional factors

Lrp/AsnC (leucine-responsive regulatory protein/asparagine synthase C products) family transcriptional regulators, widespread among bacteria and archaea, is also known as feast/famine regulatory protein (FFRPs). They regulate multiple cellular metabolisms globally (Lrp) or specifically (AsnC), such as amino acid metabolism, pili synthesis, DNA transactions during DNA repair and recombination, and also might be implicated in persistence. To better understanding of the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis, based on our lab's work on this transcriptional factor family, these progresses are summarized, with special focus on that of Mycobacterium via comparative genomics.

Activation of archaeal transcription mediated by recruitment of transcription factor B

Archaeal promoters consist of a TATA box and a purine-rich adjacent upstream sequence (transcription factor B (TFB)-responsive element (BRE)), which are bound by the transcription factors TATA box-binding protein (TBP) and TFB. Currently, only a few activators of archaeal transcription have been experimentally characterized. The best studied activator, Ptr2, mediates activation by recruitment of TBP. Here, we present a detailed biochemical analysis of an archaeal transcriptional activator, PF1088, which was identified in Pyrococcus furiosus by a bioinformatic approach. Operon predictions suggested that an upstream gene, pf1089, is polycistronically transcribed with pf1088. We demonstrate that PF1088 stimulates in vitro transcription by up to 7-fold when the pf1089 promoter is used as a template. By DNase I and hydroxyl radical footprinting experiments, we show that the binding site of PF1088 is located directly upstream of the BRE of pf1089. Mutational analysis indicated that activation requires the presence of the binding site for PF1088. Furthermore, we show that activation of transcription by PF1088 is dependent upon the presence of an imperfect BRE and is abolished when the pf1089 BRE is replaced with a BRE from a strong archaeal promoter. Gel shift experiments showed that TFB recruitment to the pf1089 operon is stimulated by PF1088, and TFB seems to stabilize PF1088 operator binding even in the absence of TBP. Taken together, these results represent the first biochemical evidence for a transcriptional activator working as a TFB recruitment factor in Archaea, for which the designation TFB-RF1 is suggested.

Expression of multiple tfb genes in different Halobacterium salinarum strains and interaction of TFB with transcriptional activator GvpE

Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1 contains multiple TBP and TFB proteins required for the recruitment of RNA polymerase for transcription initiation. The presence and the expression of genes encoding TFB were investigated in the two Hbt. salinarum strains NRC-1 and PHH1 and the mutant strain PHH4. The plasmid-encoded tfbC and tfbE genes of NRC-1 were lacking in PHH1 and PHH4. The 5'-end of the tfbF transcript was determined and contained a 5'-untranslated region of 39 nucleotides able to form a stem-loop structure. The expression of these tfb genes was studied in cultures growing at 15, 37°C and under heat shock conditions. Cold temperatures reduced growth and except for tfbF also the amounts of all tfb transcripts. However, the formation of gas vesicles increased in PHH1 and NRC-1. Heat shock reduced growth of PHH1 and NRC-1, but PHH4 was not affected. A 100-fold increase in tfbA and tfbB mRNA was observed in PHH1 and PHH4, whereas NRC-1 reduced the amounts of these transcripts and increased the expression of tfbG. All TFB proteins tested were able to interact with the transcription activator GvpE involved in gas vesicle formation that thus is able to recruit TFB to the gvp promoter.

C68 from the Sulfolobus islandicus plasmid-virus pSSVx is a novel member of the AbrB-like transcription factor family

The genetic element pSSVx from Sulfolobus islandicus, strain REY15/4, is a hybrid between a plasmid and a fusellovirus. This plasmid-virus hybrid infects several species of the hyperthermophilic acidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus. The open reading frame orfc68 of pSSVx encodes a 7.7 kDa protein that does not show significant sequence homology with any protein with known three-dimensional structure. EMSA (electrophoretic mobility-shift assay) experiments, DNA footprinting and CD analyses indicate that recombinant C68, purified from Escherichia coli, binds to two different operator sites that are located upstream of its own promoter. The three-dimensional structure, solved by a single-wavelength anomalous diffraction experiment on a selenomethionine derivative, shows that the protein assumes a swapped-hairpin fold, which is a distinctive fold associated with a family of prokaryotic transcription factors, such as AbrB from Bacillus subtilis. Nevertheless, C68 constitutes a novel representative of this family because it shows several peculiar structural and functional features.

The Lrp family of transcription regulators in archaea

Archaea possess a eukaryotic-type basal transcription apparatus that is regulated by bacteria-like transcription regulators. A universal and abundant family of transcription regulators are the bacterial/archaeal Lrp-like regulators. The Lrp family is one of the best studied regulator families in archaea, illustrated by investigations of proteins from the archaeal model organisms: Sulfolobus, Pyrococcus, Methanocaldococcus, and Halobacterium. These regulators are extremely versatile in their DNA-binding properties, response to effector molecules, and molecular regulatory mechanisms. Besides being involved in the regulation of the amino acid metabolism, they also regulate central metabolic processes. It appears that these regulatory proteins are also involved in large regulatory networks, because of hierarchical regulations and the possible combinatorial use of different Lrp-like proteins. Here, we discuss the recent developments in our understanding of this important class of regulators.

Transcriptional activation in the context of repression mediated by archaeal histones

Many archaea (including all the methanogens, nearly all euryarchaeotes, and some crenarchaeotes) use histones as components of the chromatin that compacts their genomes. The archaeal histones are homo- and heterodimers that pair on DNA to form tetrasomes (as the eukaryotic histones H3 and H4 do). The resulting DNA packaging is known to interfere with assembly of the archaeal transcription apparatus at promoters; the ability of transcriptional activation to function in repressive archaeal chromatin has not yet been explored in vitro. Using four of the Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Mja) histones, we have examined activation of the model Mja rb2 transcription unit by the Mja transcriptional activator Ptr2 in this simplified-chromatin context. Using hydroxyl radical footprinting, we find that the Ptr2-specific rb2 upstream activating site is a preferred histone-localizing site that nucleates histone: DNA-binding radiating from the rb2 promoter. Nevertheless, Ptr2 competes effectively with histones for access to the rb2 promoter and most potently activates transcription in vitro at histone concentrations that extensively coat DNA and essentially silence basal transcription.

Genome-wide identification of targets for the archaeal heat shock regulator phr by cell-free transcription of genomic DNA

The hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus grows optimally near 100 degrees C and undergoes a heat shock response at 105 degrees C, mediated at least in part by the heat shock regulator Phr. Genes encoding a small heat shock protein (HSP20) and a member of the AAA(+) ATPase are the only known targets of the regulator, but a genetic mutant of Phr has yet to be characterized. We describe here an alternative approach for the identification of the regulon of Phr based on cell-free transcription of fragmented chromosomal DNA in the presence or absence of the regulator and hybridization of in vitro RNA to P. furiosus whole-genome microarrays. Our results confirmed the phr, the hsp20, and the aaa(+) ATPase genes as targets of Phr and also identified six additional open reading frames, PF0624, PF1042, PF1291, PF1292, PF1488, and PF1616, as Phr-responsive genes, which include that encoding di-myo-inositol phosphate synthase. Transcription of the identified novel genes was inhibited by Phr in standard transcription assays, and the novel consensus sequence 5'-TTTAnnnACnnnnnGTnAnnAAAA-3' (uppercase letters denote a high conservation of the bases) was inferred from our data as the Phr recognition motif. Mutational evidence for the significance of this sequence as Phr recognition was provided in DNA-binding experiments.

An upstream activation element exerting differential transcriptional activation on an archaeal promoter

Microorganisms can utilize different sugars as energy and carbon sources and the genes involved in sugar metabolism often exhibit highly regulated expression. To study cis-acting elements controlling arabinose-responsive expression in archaea, the promoter of the Sulfolobus solfataricus araS gene encoding an arabinose binding protein was characterized using an Sulfolobus islandicus reporter gene system. The minimal active araS promoter (P(araS)) was found to be 59 nucleotides long and harboured four promoter elements: an ara-box, an upstream transcription factor B-responsive element (BRE), a TATA-box and a proximal promoter element, each of which contained important nucleotides that either greatly decreased or completely abolished promoter activity upon mutagenesis. The basal araS promoter was virtually inactive due to intrinsically weak BRE element, and the upstream activating sequence (UAS) ara-box activated the basal promoter by recruiting transcription factor B to its BRE. While this UAS ensured a general expression from an inactive or weak basal promoter in the presence of other tested carbon resources, it exhibited a strong arabinose-responsive transcriptional activation. To our knowledge, this represents the first example of an archaeal UAS that exhibits differential activation to the expression on the same promoter in the presence of different carbon sources.

Hybrid Ptr2-like activators of archaeal transcription

Methanocaldococcus jannaschii Ptr2, a member of the Lrp/AsnC family of bacterial DNA-binding proteins, is an activator of its eukaryal-type core transcription apparatus. In Lrp-family proteins, an N-terminal helix-turn-helix DNA-binding and dimerizing domain is joined to a C-terminal effector and multimerizing domain. A cysteine-scanning surface mutagenesis shows that the C-terminal domain of Ptr2 is responsible for transcriptional activation; two types of DNA binding-positive but activation-defective mutants are found: those unable to recruit the TBP and TFB initiation factors to the promoter, and those failing at a post-recruitment step. Transcriptional activation through the C-terminal Ptr2 effector domain is exploited in a screen of other Lrp effector domains for activation capability by constructing hybrid proteins with the N-terminal DNA-binding domain of Ptr2. Two hybrid proteins are effective activators: Ptr-H10, fusing the effector domain of Pyrococcus furiosus LrpA, and Ptr-H16, fusing the P. furiosus ORF1231 effector domain. Both new activators exhibit distinguishing characteristics: unlike octameric Ptr2, Ptr-H10 is a dimer; unlike Ptr2, the octameric Ptr-H16 poorly recruits TBP to the promoter, but more effectively co-recruits TFB with TBP. In contrast, the effector domain of Ptr1, the M. jannaschii Ptr2 paralogue, yields only very weak activation.

SurR: a transcriptional activator and repressor controlling hydrogen and elemental sulphur metabolism in Pyrococcus furiosus

This work describes the identification and characterization of SurR, Pyrococcus furiosus sulphur (S(0)) response regulator. SurR was captured from cell extract using promoter DNA of a hydrogenase operon that is downregulated in the primary response of P. furiosus to S(0), as revealed by DNA microarray experiments. SurR was validated as a sequence-specific DNA binding protein, and characterization of the SurR DNA binding motif GTTn(3)AAC led to the identification of several target genes that contain an extended motif in their promoters. A number of these were validated to contain upstream SurR binding sites. These SurR targets strongly correspond with open reading frames and operons both up- and downregulated in the primary response to S(0). In vitro transcription revealed that SurR is an activator for its own gene as well as for two hydrogenase operons whose expression is downregulated during the primary S(0) response; it is also a repressor for two genes upregulated during the primary S(0) response, one of which encodes the primary S(0)-reducing enzyme NAD(P)H sulphur reductase. Herein we give evidence for the role of SurR in both mediating the primary response to S(0) and controlling hydrogen production in P. furiosus.

TBP domain symmetry in basal and activated archaeal transcription

The TATA box binding protein (TBP) is the platform for assembly of archaeal and eukaryotic transcription preinitiation complexes. Ancestral gene duplication and fusion events have produced the saddle-shaped TBP molecule, with its two direct-repeat subdomains and pseudo-two-fold symmetry. Collectively, eukaryotic TBPs have diverged from their present-day archaeal counterparts, which remain highly symmetrical. The similarity of the N- and C-halves of archaeal TBPs is especially pronounced in the Methanococcales and Thermoplasmatales, including complete conservation of their N- and C-terminal stirrups; along with helix H'1, the C-terminal stirrup of TBP forms the main interface with TFB/TFIIB. Here, we show that, in stark contrast to its eukaryotic counterparts, multiple substitutions in the C-terminal stirrup of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Mja) TBP do not completely abrogate basal transcription. Using DNA affinity cleavage, we show that, by assembling TFB through its conserved N-terminal stirrup, Mja TBP is in effect ambidextrous with regard to basal transcription. In contrast, substitutions in either its N- or the C-terminal stirrup abrogate activated transcription in response to the Lrp-family transcriptional activator Ptr2.

Crystal structure of glutamine receptor protein from Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7 in complex with its effector L-glutamine: implications of effector binding in molecular association and DNA binding

Genome analyses have revealed that members of the Lrp/AsnC family of transcriptional regulators are widely distributed among prokaryotes, including both bacteria and archaea. These regulatory proteins are involved in cellular metabolism in both global and specific manners, depending on the availability of the exogenous amino acid effectors. Here we report the first crystal structure of glutamine receptor protein (Grp) from Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7, in the ligand-free and glutamine-bound (Grp-Gln) forms. Although the overall structures of both molecules are similar, a significant conformational change was observed at the ligand [L-glutamine (Gln)] binding site in the effector domain, which may be essential for further stabilization of the octameric structure, and in turn for facilitating DNA binding. In addition, we predicted promoter for the grp gene, and these analyses suggested the importance of cooperative binding to the protein. To gain insights into the ligand-induced conformational changes, we mutated all of the ligand-binding residues in Grp, and revealed the importance of Gln binding by biochemical and structural analyses. Further structural analyses showed that Y77 is crucial for ligand binding, and that the residues T132 and T134, which are highly conserved among the Lrp family of proteins, fluctuates between the active and inactive conformations, thus affecting protein oligomerization for DNA binding.

Regulation of gvp genes encoding gas vesicle proteins in halophilic Archaea

Three gas vesicle gene clusters derived from Halobacterium salinarum (p-vac and c-vac) and Haloferax mediterranei (mc-vac) are used as model systems to study gene regulation in Archaea. An unusual pair of regulatory proteins is involved here, with GvpE acting as transcription activator and GvpD exhibiting a repressing function. Both regulators are able to interact leading to the loss of GvpE and the repression (or turnoff) of the gas vesicle formation. The latter function of GvpD requires a p-loop motif and an arginine-rich region, bR1. Both regulator proteins are differentially expressed from the same gvp transcript in Hfx. mediterranei and Hbt. salinarum PHH4. GvpE appears to recognize a 20-nucleotide activator sequence (UAS) located upstream and adjacent to the TFB-recognition element BRE of the two promoters driving the transcription of the divergently oriented gvpACNO and gvpDEFGHIJKLM gene clusters. The BRE elements of these two promoters are separated by 35 nucleotides only, and the distal portions of the two GvpE-UAS overlap considerably in the center of this region. Mutations here negatively affect the GvpE-induced activities of both gvp promoters, whereas alterations in the proximal UAS portions only affect the activity of the promoter located close by.

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.

A global transcriptional regulator in Thermococcus kodakaraensis controls the expression levels of both glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzyme-encoding genes

We identified a novel regulator, Thermococcales glycolytic regulator (Tgr), functioning as both an activator and a repressor of transcription in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis KOD1. Tgr (TK1769) displays similarity (28% identical) to Pyrococcus furiosus TrmB (PF1743), a transcriptional repressor regulating the trehalose/maltose ATP-binding cassette transporter genes, but is more closely related (67%) to a TrmB paralog in P. furiosus (PF0124). Growth of a tgr disruption strain (Deltatgr) displayed a significant decrease in growth rate under gluconeogenic conditions compared with the wild-type strain, whereas comparable growth rates were observed under glycolytic conditions. A whole genome microarray analysis revealed that transcript levels of almost all genes related to glycolysis and maltodextrin metabolism were at relatively high levels in the Deltatgr mutant even under gluconeogenic conditions. The Deltatgr mutant also displayed defects in the transcriptional activation of gluconeogenic genes under these conditions, indicating that Tgr functions as both an activator and a repressor. Genes regulated by Tgr contain a previously identified sequence motif, the Thermococcales glycolytic motif (TGM). The TGM was positioned upstream of the Transcription factor B-responsive element (BRE)/TATA sequence in gluconeogenic promoters and downstream of it in glycolytic promoters. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that recombinant Tgr protein specifically binds to promoter regions containing a TGM. Tgr was released from the DNA when maltotriose was added, suggesting that this sugar is most likely the physiological effector. Our results strongly suggest that Tgr is a global transcriptional regulator that simultaneously controls, in response to sugar availability, both glycolytic and gluconeogenic metabolism in T. kodakaraensis via its direct binding to the TGM.

MarR-like transcriptional regulator involved in detoxification of aromatic compounds in Sulfolobus solfataricus

A DNA binding protein, BldR, was identified in the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus as a protein 5- to 10-fold more abundant in cells grown in the presence of toxic aldehydes; it binds to regulatory sequences located upstream of an alcohol dehydrogenase gene (Sso2536). BldR is homologous to bacterial representatives of the MarR (multiple antibiotic resistance) family of transcriptional regulators that mediate response to multiple environmental stresses. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the bldR gene was transcribed in a bicistronic unit composed of the genes encoding the transcriptional regulator (Sso1352) and a putative multidrug transporter (Sso1351) upstream. By homology to bacterial counterparts, the bicistron was named the mar-like operon. The level of mar-like operon expression was found to be increased at least 10-fold in response to chemical stress by aromatic aldehydes. Under the same growth conditions, similar enhanced in vivo levels of Sso2536 gene transcript were also measured. The gene encoding BldR was expressed in E. coli, and the recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity. DNA binding assays demonstrated that the protein is indeed a transcription factor able to recognize site specifically both the Sso2536 and mar-like promoters at sites containing palindromic consensus sequences. Benzaldehyde, the substrate of ADH(Ss), stimulates DNA binding of BldR at both promoters. The role of BldR in the auto-activation as well as in the regulation of the Sso2536 gene, together with results of increased operon and gene expression under conditions of exposure to aromatic aldehydes, indicates a novel coordinate regulatory mechanism in cell defense against stress by aromatic compounds.

Transcriptional analysis of the genetic element pSSVx: differential and temporal regulation of gene expression reveals correlation between transcription and replication

pSSVx from Sulfolobus islandicus strain REY15/4 is a hybrid between a plasmid and a fusellovirus. A systematic study performed by a combination of Northern blot analysis, primer extension, and reverse transcriptase PCR revealed the presence of nine major transcripts whose expression was differentially and temporally regulated over the growth cycle of S. islandicus. The map positions of the RNAs as well as the clockwise and the anticlockwise directions of their transcription were determined. Some genes were clustered and appeared to be transcribed as polycistronic messengers, among which one long transcriptional unit comprised the genes for the plasmid copy number control protein ORF60 (CopG), ORF91, and the replication protein ORF892 (RepA). We propose that a termination readthrough mechanism might be responsible for the formation of more than one RNA species from a single 5' end and therefore that the nine different RNAs corresponded to only seven different transcriptional starts. Three transcripts, ORF76 and two antisense RNAs, countertranscribed RNA1 (ctRNA1) and ctRNA2, were found to be specifically expressed during (and hence correlated to) the phase in which the pSSVx copy number is kept under stringent control, as they were completely switched off upon the onset of the induction of replication.

Structural insight into gene transcriptional regulation and effector binding by the Lrp/AsnC family

The Lrp/AsnC family of transcriptional regulatory proteins is found in both archaea and bacteria. Members of the family influence cellular metabolism in both a global (Lrp) and specific (AsnC) manner, often in response to exogenous amino acid effectors. In the present study we have determined both the first bacterial and the highest resolution structures for members of the family. Escherichia coli AsnC is a specific gene regulator whose activity is triggered by asparagine binding. Bacillus subtilis LrpC is a global regulator involved in chromosome condensation. Our AsnC-asparagine structure is the first for a regulator-effector complex and is revealed as an octameric disc. Key ligand recognition residues are identified together with a route for ligand access. The LrpC structure reveals a stable octamer supportive of a topological role in dynamic DNA packaging. The structures yield significant clues to the functionality of Lrp/AsnC-type regulators with respect to ligand binding and oligomerization states as well as to their role in specific and global DNA regulation.

Determinants of transcription initiation by archaeal RNA polymerase

Transcription in Archaea is catalyzed by an RNA polymerase that is most similar to eukaryotic RNA polymerases both in subunit composition and in transcription initiation factor requirements. Recent studies on archaeal transcription in diverse members of this domain have contributed new details concerning the functions of promoters and transcription factors in guiding initiation by RNA polymerase, and phylogenetic arguments have allowed modeling of archaeal transcription initiation complexes by comparison with recently described models of eukaryotic and bacterial transcription initiation complexes. Important new advances in reconstitution of archaeal transcription complexes from fully recombinant components is permitting testing of hypotheses derived from and informed by these structural models, and will help bring the study of archaeal transcription to the levels of understanding currently enjoyed by bacterial and eukaryotic RNA polymerase II transcription.

An expanding family of archaeal transcriptional activators

Transcriptional regulation in the archaea involves a mosaic of DNA-binding proteins frequently (although not exclusively) of bacterial type, modulating a eukaryal-type core transcription apparatus. Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Mja) Ptr2, a homologue of the Lrp/AsnC family of bacterial transcription regulators that are among the most widely disseminated archaeal DNA-binding proteins, has been shown to activate transcription by its conjugate hyperthermophilic RNA polymerase. Here, two in vitro systems have been exploited to show that Ptr2 and a Lrp homologue from the thermophile Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus (Mth) activate transcription over a approximately 40 degrees C range, in conjunction with their cognate TATA-binding proteins (TBPs) and with heterologous TBPs. A closely related homologue from the mesophile Methanococcus maripaludis (Mma) is nearly inert as a transcriptional activator, but a cluster of mutations that converts a surface patch of Mma Lrp to identity with Ptr2 confers transcriptional activity. Mja, Mth, and Mma TBPs are interchangeable for basal transcription, but their ability to support Lrp-mediated transcriptional activation varies widely, with Mja TBP the most active and Mth TBP the least active partner. The implications of this finding for understanding the roles of TBP paralogues in supporting the gene-regulatory repertoires of archaeal genomes are briefly noted.

Direct modulation of RNA polymerase core functions by basal transcription factors

Archaeal RNA polymerases (RNAPs) are recruited to promoters through the joint action of three basal transcription factors: TATA-binding protein, TFB (archaeal homolog of TFIIB), and TFE (archaeal homolog of TFIIE). Our results demonstrate several new insights into the mechanisms of TFB and TFE during the transcription cycle. (i) The N-terminal Zn ribbon of TFB displays a surprising degree of redundancy for the recruitment of RNAP during transcription initiation in the archaeal system. (ii) The B-finger domain of TFB participates in transcription initiation events by stimulating abortive and productive transcription in a recruitment-independent function. TFB thus combines physical recruitment of the RNAP with an active role in influencing the catalytic properties of RNAP during transcription initiation. (iii) TFB mutations are complemented by TFE, thereby demonstrating that both factors act synergistically during transcription initiation. (iv) An additional function of TFE is to dynamically alter the nucleic acid-binding properties of RNAP by stabilizing the initiation complex and destabilizing elongation complexes.

Archaeal transcription and its regulators

The relatively complex archaeal RNA polymerases are constructed along eukaryotic lines, and require two initiation factors for promoter recognition and specific transcription that are homologues of the RNA polymerase II TATA-binding protein and TFIIB. Many archaea also produce histones. In contrast, the transcriptional regulators encoded by archaeal genomes are primarily of bacterial rather than eukaryotic type. It is this combination of elements commonly regarded as separate and mutually exclusive that promises unifying insights into basic transcription mechanisms across all three domains of life.