Search for novel targets of the PII signal transduction protein in Bacteria identifies the BCCP component of acetyl-CoA carboxylase as a PII binding partner

Active E. coli heteromeric acetyl-CoA carboxylase forms polymorphic helical tubular filaments

The Escherichia coli heteromeric acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) has four subunits assumed to form an elusive catalytic complex and are involved in allosteric and transcriptional regulation. The E. coli ACC represents almost all ACCs from pathogenic bacteria making it a key antibiotic development target to fight growing antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, it is a model for cyanobacterial and plant plastid ACCs as biofuel engineering targets. Here we report the catalytic E. coli ACC complex surprisingly forms tubes rather than dispersed particles. The cryo-EM structure reveals key protein-protein interactions underpinning efficient catalysis and how transcriptional regulatory roles are masked during catalysis. Discovering the protein-protein interaction interfaces that facilitate catalysis, allosteric and transcriptional regulation provides new routes to engineering catalytic activity and new targets for drug discovery.

The PII protein interacts with the Amt ammonium transport and modulates nitrate/nitrite assimilation in mycobacteria

PII proteins are signal transduction proteins that belong to a widely distributed family of proteins involved in the modulation of different metabolisms in bacteria. These proteins are homotrimers carrying a flexible loop, named T-loop, which changes its conformation due to the recognition of diverse key metabolites, ADP, ATP, and 2-oxoglutarate. PII proteins interact with different partners to primarily regulate a set of nitrogen pathways. In some organisms, PII proteins can also control carbon metabolism by interacting with the biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP), a key component of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) enzyme complex, inhibiting its activity with the consequent reduction of fatty acid biosynthesis. Most bacteria contain at least two PII proteins, named GlnB and GlnK, with different regulatory roles. In mycobacteria, only one PII protein was identified, and the three-dimensional structure was solved, however, its physiological role is unknown. In this study we purified the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) PII protein, named GlnB, and showed that it weakly interacts with the AccA3 protein, the α subunit shared by the three different, and essential, Acyl-CoA carboxylase complexes (ACCase 4, 5, and 6) present in M. tb. A M. smegmatis deletion mutant, ∆MsPII, exhibited a growth deficiency on nitrate and nitrite as unique nitrogen sources, and accumulated nitrite in the culture supernatant. In addition, M. tb PII protein was able to interact with the C-terminal domain of the ammonium transporter Amt establishing the ancestral role for this PII protein as a GlnK functioning protein.

The Classical, Yet Controversial, First Enzyme of Lipid Synthesis: Escherichia coli Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase

Escherichia coli acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), the enzyme responsible for synthesis of malonyl-CoA, the building block of fatty acid synthesis, is the paradigm bacterial ACC. Many reports on the structures and stoichiometry of the four subunits comprising the active enzyme as well as on regulation of ACC activity and expression have appeared in the almost 20 years since this subject was last reviewed. This review seeks to update and expand on these reports.

Increasing the Ascomycin Yield by Relieving the Inhibition of Acetyl/Propionyl-CoA Carboxylase by the Signal Transduction Protein GlnB

Ascomycin (FK520) is a multifunctional antibiotic produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus. In this study, we demonstrated that the inactivation of GlnB, a signal transduction protein belonging to the PII family, can increase the production of ascomycin by strengthening the supply of the precursors malonyl-CoA and methylmalonyl-CoA, which are produced by acetyl-CoA carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus contains two PII family signal transduction proteins, GlnB and GlnK. Protein co-precipitation experiments demonstrated that GlnB protein could bind to the α subunit of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and this binding could be disassociated by a sufficient concentration of 2-oxoglutarate. Coupled enzyme activity assays further revealed that the interaction between GlnB protein and the α subunit inhibited both the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase, and this inhibition could be relieved by 2-oxoglutarate in a concentration-dependent manner. Because GlnK protein can act redundantly to maintain metabolic homeostasis under the control of the global nitrogen regulator GlnR, the deletion of GlnB protein enhanced the supply of malonyl-CoA and methylmalonyl-CoA by restoring the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase, thereby improving the production of ascomycin to 390 ± 10 mg/L. On this basis, the co-overexpression of the β and ε subunits of propionyl-CoA carboxylase further increased the ascomycin yield to 550 ± 20 mg/L, which was 1.9-fold higher than that of the parent strain FS35 (287 ± 9 mg/L). Taken together, this study provides a novel strategy to increase the production of ascomycin, providing a reference for improving the yield of other antibiotics.

The Protein-Protein Interaction Network Reveals a Novel Role of the Signal Transduction Protein PII in the Control of c-di-GMP Homeostasis in Azospirillum brasilense

The PII proteins sense and integrate important metabolic signals which reflect the cellular nutrition and energy status. Such extraordinary ability was capitalized by nature in such a way that the various PII proteins regulate different facets of metabolism by controlling the activity of a range of target proteins by protein-protein interactions. Here, we determined the PII protein interaction network in the plant growth-promoting nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azospirillum brasilense. The interactome data along with metabolome analysis suggest that PII functions as a master metabolic regulator hub. We provide evidence that PII proteins act to regulate c-di-GMP levels in vivo and cell motility and adherence behaviors.

The PII family comprises a group of widely distributed signal transduction proteins ubiquitous in prokaryotes and in the chloroplasts of plants. PII proteins sense the levels of key metabolites ATP, ADP, and 2-oxoglutarate, which affect the PII protein structure and thereby the ability of PII to interact with a range of target proteins. Here, we performed multiple ligand fishing assays with the PII protein orthologue GlnZ from the plant growth-promoting nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azospirillum brasilense to identify 37 proteins that are likely to be part of the PII protein-protein interaction network. Among the PII targets identified were enzymes related to nitrogen and fatty acid metabolism, signaling, coenzyme synthesis, RNA catabolism, and transcription. Direct binary PII-target complex was confirmed for 15 protein complexes using pulldown assays with recombinant proteins. Untargeted metabolome analysis showed that PII is required for proper homeostasis of important metabolites. Two enzymes involved in c-di-GMP metabolism were among the identified PII targets. A PII-deficient strain showed reduced c-di-GMP levels and altered aerotaxis and flocculation behavior. These data support that PII acts as a major metabolic hub controlling important enzymes and the homeostasis of key metabolites such as c-di-GMP in response to the prevailing nutritional status.

IMPORTANCE The PII proteins sense and integrate important metabolic signals which reflect the cellular nutrition and energy status. Such extraordinary ability was capitalized by nature in such a way that the various PII proteins regulate different facets of metabolism by controlling the activity of a range of target proteins by protein-protein interactions. Here, we determined the PII protein interaction network in the plant growth-promoting nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azospirillum brasilense. The interactome data along with metabolome analysis suggest that PII functions as a master metabolic regulator hub. We provide evidence that PII proteins act to regulate c-di-GMP levels in vivo and cell motility and adherence behaviors.

L-Aspartate as a high-quality nitrogen source in Escherichia coli: Regulation of L-aspartase by the nitrogen regulatory system and interaction of L-aspartase with GlnB

Escherichia coli uses the C4-dicarboxylate transporter DcuA for L-aspartate/fumarate antiport, which results in the exploitation of L-aspartate for fumarate respiration under anaerobic conditions and for nitrogen assimilation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. L-Aspartate represents a high-quality nitrogen source for assimilation. Nitrogen assimilation from L-aspartate required DcuA, and aspartase AspA to release ammonia. Ammonia is able to provide by established pathways the complete set of intracellular precursors (ammonia, L-aspartate, L-glutamate, and L-glutamine) for synthesizing amino acids, nucleotides, and amino sugars. AspA was regulated by a central regulator of nitrogen metabolism, GlnB. GlnB interacted with AspA and stimulated its L-aspartate deaminase activity (NH₃ -forming), but not the reverse amination reaction. GlnB stimulation required 2-oxoglutarate and ATP, or uridylylated GlnB-UMP, consistent with the activation of nitrogen assimilation under nitrogen limitation. Binding to AspA was lost in the GlnB(Y51F) mutant of the uridylylation site. AspA, therefore, represents a new type of GlnB target that binds GlnB (with ATP and 2-oxoglutarate), or GlnB-UMP (with or without effectors), and both situations stimulate AspA deamination activity. Thus, AspA represents the central enzyme for nitrogen assimilation from L-aspartate, and AspA is integrated into the nitrogen assimilation network by the regulator GlnB.

Carbon/nitrogen homeostasis control in cyanobacteria

Carbon/nitrogen (C/N) balance sensing is a key requirement for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Therefore, cyanobacteria have evolved a sophisticated signal transduction network targeting the metabolite 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG), the carbon skeleton for nitrogen assimilation. It serves as a status reporter for the cellular C/N balance that is sensed by transcription factors NtcA and NdhR and the versatile PII-signaling protein. The PII protein acts as a multitasking signal-integrating regulator, combining the 2-OG signal with the energy state of the cell through adenyl-nucleotide binding. Depending on these integrated signals, PII orchestrates metabolic activities in response to environmental changes through binding to various targets. In addition to 2-OG, other status reporter metabolites have recently been discovered, mainly indicating the carbon status of the cells. One of them is cAMP, which is sensed by the PII-like protein SbtB. The present review focuses, with a main emphasis on unicellular model strains Synechoccus elongatus and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, on the physiological framework of these complex regulatory loops, the tight linkage to metabolism and the molecular mechanisms governing the signaling processes.

The NADP-dependent malic enzyme MaeB is a central metabolic hub controlled by the acetyl-CoA to CoASH ratio

Malic enzymes participate in key metabolic processes, the MaeB-like malic enzymes carry a catalytic inactive phosphotransacetylase domain whose function remains elusive. Here we show that acetyl-CoA directly binds and inhibits MaeB-like enzymes with a saturable profile under physiological relevant acetyl-CoA concentrations. A MaeB-like enzyme from the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azospirillum brasilense, namely AbMaeB1, binds both acetyl-CoA and unesterified CoASH in a way that inhibition of AbMaeB1 by acetyl-CoA is relieved by increasing CoASH concentrations. Hence, AbMaeB1 senses the acetyl-CoA/CoASH ratio. We revisited E. coli MaeB regulation to determine the inhibitory constant for acetyl-CoA. Our data support that the phosphotransacetylase domain of MaeB-like enzymes senses acetyl-CoA to dictate the fate of carbon distribution at the phosphoenol-pyruvate / pyruvate / oxaloacetate metabolic node.

Effects of arginine on Polytomella parva growth, PII protein levels and lipid body formation

L-Arginine supports growth and resulted in increased PII signaling protein levels and lipid droplet accumulation in the colorless green alga Polytomella parva. Polytomella parva, a model system for nonphotosynthetic green algae, utilizes ammonium and several carbon sources, including ethanol and acetate. We previously reported that P. parva accumulates high amounts of arginine with the key enzyme of the ornithine/arginine biosynthesis pathway, N-acetyl-L-glutamate kinase, exhibiting high activity. Here we demonstrate that L-arginine can be used by this alga as a nitrogen source. Externally supplied arginine directly influenced the levels of PII signaling protein and formation of triacylglycerol (TAG)-filled lipid bodies (LBs). Our results suggest that the nitrogen source, but not nitrogen starvation, may be critical for the accumulation of LBs in a PII-independent manner in P. parva.

Fatty acid biosynthesis is enhanced in Escherichia coli strains with deletion in genes encoding the PII signaling proteins

The committed and rate-limiting step in fatty acid biosynthesis is catalyzed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). In previous studies we showed that ACC activity is inhibited through interactions with the PII signaling proteins in vitro. Here we provide in vivo support for that model; we noted that PII proteins are able to reduce malonyl-CoA levels in vivo in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, we show that fatty acid biosynthesis is strongly enhanced in E. coli strains carrying deletions in PII coding genes. Given that PII proteins act as conserved negative regulators of ACC in Bacteria, our findings may be explored to engineer other prokaryotes to improve fatty acid yields, thereby turning microbial biofuel production economically competitive in the future.

The PII-NAGK-PipX-NtcA Regulatory Axis of Cyanobacteria: A Tale of Changing Partners, Allosteric Effectors and Non-covalent Interactions

P_II, a homotrimeric very ancient and highly widespread (bacteria, archaea, plants) key sensor-transducer protein, conveys signals of abundance or poorness of carbon, energy and usable nitrogen, converting these signals into changes in the activities of channels, enzymes, or of gene expression. P_II sensing is mediated by the P_II allosteric effectors ATP, ADP (and, in some organisms, AMP), 2-oxoglutarate (2OG; it reflects carbon abundance and nitrogen scarcity) and, in many plants, L-glutamine. Cyanobacteria have been crucial for clarification of the structural bases of P_II function and regulation. They are the subject of this review because the information gathered on them provides an overall structure-based view of a P_II regulatory network. Studies on these organisms yielded a first structure of a P_II complex with an enzyme, (N-acetyl-Lglutamate kinase, NAGK), deciphering how P_II can cause enzyme activation, and how it promotes nitrogen stockpiling as arginine in cyanobacteria and plants. They have also revealed the first clear-cut mechanism by which P_II can control gene expression. A small adaptor protein, PipX, is sequestered by P_II when nitrogen is abundant and is released when is scarce, swapping partner by binding to the 2OG-activated transcriptional regulator NtcA, co-activating it. The structures of P_II-NAGK, P_II-PipX, PipX alone, of NtcA in inactive and 2OG-activated forms and as NtcA-2OG-PipX complex, explain structurally P_II regulatory functions and reveal the changing shapes and interactions of the T-loops of P_II depending on the partner and on the allosteric effectors bound to P_II. Cyanobacterial studies have also revealed that in the P_II-PipX complex PipX binds an additional transcriptional factor, PlmA, thus possibly expanding PipX roles beyond NtcA-dependency. Further exploration of these roles has revealed a functional interaction of PipX with PipY, a pyridoxal-phosphate (PLP) protein involved in PLP homeostasis whose mutations in the human ortholog cause epilepsy. Knowledge of cellular levels of the different components of this P_II-PipX regulatory network and of K_D values for some of the complexes provides the basic background for gross modeling of the system at high and low nitrogen abundance. The cyanobacterial network can guide searches for analogous components in other organisms, particularly of PipX functional analogs.

Biosensors-Based In Vivo Quantification of 2-Oxoglutarate in Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria

2-oxoglutarate (α-ketoglutarate; 2-OG) is an intermediate of the Krebs cycle, and constitutes the carbon skeleton for nitrogen assimilation and the synthesis of a variety of compounds. In addition to being an important metabolite, 2-OG is a signaling molecule with a broad regulatory repertoire in a variety of organisms, including plants, animals, and bacteria. Although challenging, measuring the levels and variations of metabolic signals in vivo is critical to better understand how cells control specific processes. To measure cellular 2-OG concentrations and dynamics, we designed a set of biosensors based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology that can be used in vivo in different organisms. For this purpose, we took advantage of the conformational changes of two cyanobacterial proteins induced by 2-OG binding. We show that these biosensors responded immediately and specifically to different 2-OG levels, and hence allowed to measure 2-OG variations in function of environmental modifications in the proteobacterium Escherichia coli and in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. Our results pave the way to study 2-OG dynamics at the cellular level in uni- and multi-cellular organisms.

Kinetics and structural features of dimeric glutamine-dependent bacterial NAD+ synthetases suggest evolutionary adaptation to available metabolites

NADH (NAD⁺) and its reduced form NADH serve as cofactors for a variety of oxidoreductases that participate in many metabolic pathways. NAD⁺ also is used as substrate by ADP-ribosyl transferases and by sirtuins. NAD⁺ biosynthesis is one of the most fundamental biochemical pathways in nature, and the ubiquitous NAD⁺ synthetase (NadE) catalyzes the final step in this biosynthetic route. Two different classes of NadE have been described to date: dimeric single-domain ammonium-dependent NadE^NH3 and octameric glutamine-dependent NadE^Gln, and the presence of multiple NadE isoforms is relatively common in prokaryotes. Here, we identified a novel dimeric group of NadE^Gln in bacteria. Substrate preferences and structural analyses suggested that dimeric NadE^Gln enzymes may constitute evolutionary intermediates between dimeric NadE^NH3 and octameric NadE^Gln The characterization of additional NadE isoforms in the diazotrophic bacterium Azospirillum brasilense along with the determination of intracellular glutamine levels in response to an ammonium shock led us to propose a model in which these different NadE isoforms became active accordingly to the availability of nitrogen. These data may explain the selective pressures that support the coexistence of multiple isoforms of NadE in some prokaryotes.

Transcriptional regulation of acetyl CoA and lipid synthesis by PII protein in Synechococcus PCC 7942

P_II protein family is widespread in prokaryotes and plants. In this study, impacts of P_II deficiency on the synthesis of acetyl CoA and acetyl CoA carboxylase enzyme (ACCase) was analyzed in the Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 by evaluating the mRNA levels of pyruvate kinase (PK), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), citrate synthase (CS), biotin synthase (BS), biotin carboxylase (BC), biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP), carboxyl transferase (CT) α and β subunits. The P_II deficient Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 showed upregulation of all the above-mentioned genes, except CS. Analyses of genes required for acetyl coA synthesis exhibited a substantial increase in the transcript levels of PK and PDH in the P_II mutant strain. In addition, the P_II mutant also displayed reduced acetyl CoA content, high ACCase activity, and increased lipid content. The lessening of acetyl CoA content was attributed to the rapid utilization of acetyl CoA in fatty acid synthesis as well as in the TCA cycle whereas the increased ACCase activity was ascribed to the rise in mRNA levels of BS, BC, BCCP, CT α, and β genes. However, increased lipid content was correlated with the declined total protein content. Hence, the study suggested that P_II protein regulates the synthesis of acetyl CoA and ACCase enzyme at the transcriptional level.

Evidence for PII with NAGK interaction that regulates Arg synthesis in the microalga Myrmecia incisa in response to nitrogen starvation

To understand why most eukaryotic microalgae accumulate lipids during nitrogen starvation stress, a gene, MiglnB, encoding PII, a signal transduction protein, was cloned from the arachidonic acid-rich microalga Myrmecia incisa Reisigl. Similarly to its homologues, MiPII contains three conserved T-, B-, and C-loops. In the presence of abundant Mg²⁺, ATP, and Gln, MiPII upregulates Arg biosynthesis by interacting with the rate-limiting enzyme, MiNAGK, as evidenced by yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation assays, and kinetics analysis of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. However, this interaction of MiPII with MiNAGK is reversed by addition of 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG). Moreover, this interaction is present in the chloroplasts of M. incisa, as illustrated cytologically by both immunoelectron microscopy and agroinfiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves to determine the subcellular localization of MiPII with MiNAGK. During the process of nitrogen starvation, soluble Arg levels in M. incisa are modulated by a change in MiNAGK enzymatic activity, both of which are significantly correlated (r = 0.854). A model for the manipulation of Arg biosynthesis via MiPII in M. incisa chloroplasts in response to nitrogen starvation is proposed. The ATP and 2-OG saved from Arg biosynthesis is thus suggested to facilitate the accumulation of fatty acids and triacylglycerol in M. incisa during exposure to nitrogen starvation.

Expression and purification of untagged GlnK proteins from actinobacteria

The PII protein family constitutes one of the most conserved and well distributed family of signal transduction proteins in nature. These proteins play key roles in nitrogen and carbon metabolism. PII function has been well documented in Gram-negative bacteria. However, there are very few reports describing the in vitro properties and function of PII derived from Gram-positive bacteria. Here we present the heterologous expression and efficient purification protocols for untagged PII from three Actinobacteria of medical and biotechnological interest namely: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Rhodococcus jostii and Streptomyces coelicolor. Circular dichroism and gel filtration analysis supported that the purified proteins are correctly folded. The purification protocol described here will facilitate biochemical studies and help to uncover the biochemical functions of PII proteins in Actinobacteria.

Responses triggered in chloroplast of Chlorella variabilis NC64A by long-term association with Paramecium bursaria

The unicellular green alga Chlorella variabilis NC64A is an endosymbiont of the ciliate Paramecium bursaria. The host's control, including the transfer of biochemical substrates from P. bursaria to C. variabilis, is involved in symbiotic relationships. C. variabilis NC64A that had been re-infected to P. bursaria for more than 1 year and isolated from the host showed higher chlorophyll levels compared to those in free-living cells. Unlike the host, the expression of C. variabilis NC64A heat shock 70 kDa protein was independent of establishment of endosymbiosis. In symbiotic cells, the levels of PII signal transduction protein (CvPII) that coordinate the central C/N anabolic metabolism were slightly higher than those in free-living cells. Furthermore, the environmental cues (light and host food bacteria availability) affected the abundance of CvPII, suggesting that synthesis of the protein was influenced by the host. Moreover, arginine concentrations in the symbiotic algae of P. bursaria were also controlled by the host's nutritional conditions. Together, our results imply that signal substrates and/or products of metabolism in host cells might act as messengers mediating the regulation of key events in symbiont cells.

The Highly Conserved Asp23 Family Protein YqhY Plays a Role in Lipid Biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis

In most bacteria, fatty acid biosynthesis is an essential process that must be controlled by the availability of precursors and by the needs of cell division. So far, no mechanisms controlling synthesis of malonyl-coenzyme A (CoA), the committed step in fatty acid synthesis, have been identified in the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. We have studied the localization and function of two highly expressed proteins of unknown function, YqhY and YloU. Both proteins are members of the conserved and widespread Asp23 family. While the deletion of yloU had no effect, loss of the yqhY gene induced the rapid acquisition of suppressor mutations. The vast majority of these mutations affect subunits of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) complex, the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of malonyl-CoA. Moreover, lack of yqhY is accompanied by the formation of lipophilic clusters in the polar regions of the cells indicating an increased activity of ACCase. Our results suggest that YqhY controls the activity of ACCase and that this control results in inhibition of ACCase activity. Hyperactivity of the enzyme complex in the absence of YqhY does then provoke mutations that cause reduced ACCase activity.

Dynamics of the Escherichia coli proteome in response to nitrogen starvation and entry into the stationary phase

Nitrogen is needed for the biosynthesis of biomolecules including proteins and nucleic acids. In the absence of fixed nitrogen prokaryotes such as E. coli immediately ceases growth. Ammonium is the preferred nitrogen source for E. coli supporting the fastest growth rates. Under conditions of ammonium limitation, E. coli can use alternative nitrogen sources to supply ammonium ions and this reprogramming is led by the induction of the NtrC regulon. Here we used label free proteomics to determine the dynamics of E. coli proteins expression in response to ammonium starvation in both the short (30min) and the longer (60min) starvation. Protein abundances and post-translational modifications confirmed that activation of the NtrC regulon acts as the first line of defense against nitrogen starvation. The ribosome inactivating protein Rmf was induced shortly after ammonium exhaustion and this was preceded by induction of other ribosome inactivating proteins such as Hpf and RaiA supporting the hypothesis that ribosome shut-down is a key process during nitrogen limitation stress. The proteomic data revealed that growth arrest due to nitrogen starvation correlates with the accumulation of proteins involved in DNA condensation, RNA and protein catabolism and ribosome hibernation. Collectively, these proteome adaptations will result in metabolic inactive cells which are likely to exhibit multidrug tolerance.

Interaction of the Nitrogen Regulatory Protein GlnB (PII) with Biotin Carboxyl Carrier Protein (BCCP) Controls Acetyl-CoA Levels in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

The family of P_II signal transduction proteins (members GlnB, GlnK, NifI) plays key roles in various cellular processes related to nitrogen metabolism at different functional levels. Recent studies implied that P_II proteins may also be involved in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism, since GlnB proteins from Proteobacteria and from Arabidopsis thaliana were shown to interact with biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). In case of Escherichia coli ACCase, this interaction reduces the k_cat of acetyl-CoA carboxylation, which should have a marked impact on the acetyl-CoA metabolism. In this study we show that the P_II protein of a unicellular cyanobacterium inhibits the biosynthetic activity of E. coli ACC and also interacts with cyanobacterial BCCP in an ATP and 2-oxoglutarate dependent manner. In a P_II mutant strain of Synechocystis strain PCC 6803, the lacking control leads to reduced acetyl-CoA levels, slightly increased levels of fatty acids and formation of lipid bodies as well as an altered fatty acid composition.

Regulation and structure of the heteromeric acetyl-CoA carboxylase

The enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) catalyzes the committed step of the de novo fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS) pathway by converting acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA. Two forms of ACCase exist in nature, a homomeric and heteromic form. The heteromeric form of this enzyme requires four different subunits for activity: biotin carboxylase; biotin carboxyl carrier protein; and α- and β-carboxyltransferases. Heteromeric ACCases (htACCase) can be found in prokaryotes and the plastids of most plants. The plant htACCase is regulated by diverse mechanisms reflected by the biochemical and genetic complexity of this multienzyme complex and the plastid stroma where it resides. In this review we summarize the regulation of the plant htACCase and also describe the structural characteristics of this complex from both prokaryotes and plants. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Plant Lipid Biology edited by Kent D. Chapman and Ivo Feussner.

The Emergence of 2-Oxoglutarate as a Master Regulator Metabolite

The metabolite 2-oxoglutarate (also known as α-ketoglutarate, 2-ketoglutaric acid, or oxoglutaric acid) lies at the intersection between the carbon and nitrogen metabolic pathways. This compound is a key intermediate of one of the most fundamental biochemical pathways in carbon metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. In addition, 2-oxoglutarate also acts as the major carbon skeleton for nitrogen-assimilatory reactions. Experimental data support the conclusion that intracellular levels of 2-oxoglutarate fluctuate according to nitrogen and carbon availability. This review summarizes how nature has capitalized on the ability of 2-oxoglutarate to reflect cellular nutritional status through evolution of a variety of 2-oxoglutarate-sensing regulatory proteins. The number of metabolic pathways known to be regulated by 2-oxoglutarate levels has increased significantly in recent years. The signaling properties of 2-oxoglutarate are highlighted by the fact that this metabolite regulates the synthesis of the well-established master signaling molecule, cyclic AMP (cAMP), in Escherichia coli.

In vitro characterization of the NAD+ synthetase NadE1 from Herbaspirillum seropedicae

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthetase enzyme (NadE) catalyzes the amination of nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide (NaAD) to form NAD(+). This reaction represents the last step in the majority of the NAD(+) biosynthetic routes described to date. NadE enzymes typically use either glutamine or ammonium as amine nitrogen donor, and the reaction is energetically driven by ATP hydrolysis. Given the key role of NAD(+) in bacterial metabolism, NadE has attracted considerable interest as a potential target for the development of novel antibiotics. The plant-associative nitrogen-fixing bacteria Herbaspirillum seropedicae encodes two putative NadE, namely nadE1 and nadE2. The nadE1 gene is linked to glnB encoding the signal transduction protein GlnB. Here we report the purification and in vitro characterization of H. seropedicae NadE1. Gel filtration chromatography analysis suggests that NadE1 is an octamer. The NadE1 activity was assayed in vitro, and the Michaelis-Menten constants for substrates NaAD, ATP, glutamine and ammonium were determined. Enzyme kinetic and in vitro substrate competition assays indicate that H. seropedicae NadE1 uses glutamine as a preferential nitrogen donor.

Reduction of PII signaling protein enhances lipid body production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In all examined organisms that have the PII signal transduction machinery, PII coordinates the central C/N anabolic metabolism. In green algae and land plants, PII is localized in the chloroplast and controls the L-arginine biosynthetic pathway pathway. To elucidate additional functions of PII in the model photosynthetic organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CrPII), we generated and analyzed four strains, in which PII was strongly under-expressed by artificial microRNA (GLB1-amiRNA strains). In response to nitrogen deficiency, Chlamydomonas produces triacylglycerols (TAGs) that are accumulated in lipid bodies (LB). Quantification of LBs by confocal microscopy in four GLB1-amiRNA strains showed that reduced PII levels resulted in over-accumulation of LBs compared to their parental strains. Moreover, knock-down of PII caused also an increase in the total TAG level. We propose that the larger yields of TAG-filled LBs in N-starved GLB1-amiRNA cells can be attributed to the strain's depleted PII level and their inability to properly control acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity (ACCase). Together, our results imply that PII in Chlamydomonas negatively controls TAG accumulation in LBs during acclimation to nitrogen starvation of the alga.

Association and dissociation of the GlnK-AmtB complex in response to cellular nitrogen status can occur in the absence of GlnK post-translational modification

P_II proteins are pivotal players in the control of nitrogen metabolism in bacteria and archaea, and are also found in the plastids of plants. P_II proteins control the activities of a diverse range of enzymes, transcription factors and membrane transport proteins, and their regulatory effect is achieved by direct interaction with their target. Many, but by no means all, P_II proteins are subject to post-translational modification of a residue within the T-loop of the protein. The protein’s modification state is influenced by the cellular nitrogen status and in the past this has been considered to regulate P_II activity by controlling interaction with target proteins. However, the fundamental ability of P_II proteins to respond to the cellular nitrogen status has been shown to be dependent on binding of key effector molecules, ATP, ADP, and 2-oxoglutarate which brings into question the precise role of post-translational modification. In this study we have used the Escherichia coli P_II protein GlnK to examine the influence of post-translational modification (uridylylation) on the interaction between GlnK and its cognate target the ammonia channel protein AmtB. We have compared the interaction with AmtB of wild-type GlnK and a variant protein, GlnKTyr51Ala, that cannot be uridylylated. This analysis was carried out both in vivo and in vitro and showed that association and dissociation of the GlnK–AmtB complex is not dependent on the uridylylation state of GlnK. However, our in vivo studies show that post-translational modification of GlnK does influence the dynamics of its interaction with AmtB.