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Kang SM, Kang HS, Chung WH, Kang KT, Kim DH. Structural Perspectives on Metal Dependent Roles of Ferric Uptake Regulator (Fur). Biomolecules 2024; 14:981. [PMID: 39199369 PMCID: PMC11353095 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Iron is crucial for the metabolism and growth of most prokaryotic cells. The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) protein plays a central role in regulating iron homeostasis and metabolic processes in bacteria. It ensures the proper utilization of iron and the maintenance of cellular functions in response to environmental cues. Fur proteins are composed of an N-terminal DNA-binding domain (DBD) and a C-terminal dimerization domain (DD), typically existing as dimers in solution. Fur proteins have conserved metal-binding sites named S1, S2, and S3. Among them, site S2 serves as a regulatory site, and metal binding at S2 results in conformational changes. Additionally, as a transcriptional regulator, Fur specifically binds to a consensus DNA sequence called the Fur box. To elucidate the structural and functional properties of Fur proteins, various structures of metal- or DNA-bound Fur proteins or apo-Fur proteins have been determined. In this review, we focus on the structural properties of Fur proteins according to their ligand-bound state and the drug development strategies targeting Fur proteins. This information provides valuable insights for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Min Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.K.); (W.-H.C.); (K.-T.K.)
| | - Hoon-Seok Kang
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Advanced Convergence Technology & Science, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea;
| | - Woo-Hyun Chung
- College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.K.); (W.-H.C.); (K.-T.K.)
| | - Kyu-Tae Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.K.); (W.-H.C.); (K.-T.K.)
| | - Do-Hee Kim
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
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Hamamoto K, Mizuyama M, Nishijima M, Maeda A, Gibu K, Poliseno A, Iguchi A, Reimer JD. Diversity, composition and potential roles of sedimentary microbial communities in different coastal substrates around subtropical Okinawa Island, Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:54. [PMID: 39080706 PMCID: PMC11290285 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00594-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marine benthic prokaryotic communities play crucial roles in material recycling within coastal environments, including coral reefs. Coastal sedimentary microbiomes are particularly important as potential reservoirs of symbiotic, beneficial, and pathogenic bacteria in coral reef environments, and therefore presumably play a core role in local ecosystem functioning. However, there is a lack of studies comparing different environments with multiple sites on the island scale, particularly studies focusing on prokaryotic communities, as previous investigations have focused mainly on a single site or on specific environmental conditions. In our study, we collected coastal sediments from seven sites around Okinawa Island, Japan, including three different benthic types; sandy bottoms, seagrass meadows, and hard substratum with living scleractinian corals. We then used metabarcoding to identify prokaryotic compositions and estimate enzymes encoded by genes to infer their functions. RESULTS The results showed that the three substrata had significantly different prokaryotic compositions. Seagrass meadow sites exhibited significantly higher prokaryotic alpha-diversity compared to sandy bottom sites. ANCOM analysis revealed that multiple bacterial orders were differentially abundant within each substratum. At coral reef sites, putative disease- and thermal stress-related opportunistic bacteria such as Rhodobacterales, Verrucomicrobiales, and Cytophagales were comparatively abundant, while seagrass meadow sites abundantly harbored Desulfobacterales, Steroidobacterales and Chromatiales, which are common bacterial orders in seagrass meadows. According to our gene-coded enzyme analyses the numbers of differentially abundant enzymes were highest in coral reef sites. Notably, superoxide dismutase, an important enzyme for anti-oxidative stress in coral tissue, was abundant at coral sites. Our results provide a list of prokaryotes to look into in each substrate, and further emphasize the importance of considering the microbiome, especially when focusing on environmental conservation. CONCLUSION Our findings prove that prokaryotic metabarcoding is capable of capturing compositional differences and the diversity of microbial communities in three different environments. Furthermore, several taxa were suggested to be differentially more abundant in specific environments, and gene-coded enzymic compositions also showed possible differences in ecological functions. Further study, in combination with field observations and temporal sampling, is key to achieving a better understanding of the interactions between the local microbiome and the surrounding benthic community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Hamamoto
- Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan.
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan.
| | - Masaru Mizuyama
- Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan
- Department of Health Informatics, Faculty of Human Health Sciences, Meio University, Nago, Okinawa, 905-8585, Japan
| | - Miyuki Nishijima
- Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan
| | - Ayumi Maeda
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan
| | - Kodai Gibu
- Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan
| | - Angelo Poliseno
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan
| | - Akira Iguchi
- Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan.
- Research Laboratory on Environmentally-Conscious Developments and Technologies [E-code], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan.
| | - James Davis Reimer
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan
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Vannini A, Pinatel E, Costantini PE, Pelliciari S, Roncarati D, Puccio S, De Bellis G, Scarlato V, Peano C, Danielli A. (Re)-definition of the holo- and apo-Fur direct regulons of Helicobacter pylori. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168573. [PMID: 38626867 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Iron homeostasis is a critical process for living organisms because this metal is an essential co-factor for fundamental biochemical activities, like energy production and detoxification, albeit its excess quickly leads to cell intoxication. The protein Fur (ferric uptake regulator) controls iron homeostasis in bacteria by switching from its apo- to holo-form as a function of the cytoplasmic level of ferrous ions, thereby modulating gene expression. The Helicobacter pylori HpFur protein has the rare ability to operate as a transcriptional commutator; apo- and holo-HpFur function as two different repressors with distinct DNA binding recognition properties for specific sets of target genes. Although the regulation of apo- and holo-HpFur in this bacterium has been extensively investigated, we propose a genome-wide redefinition of holo-HpFur direct regulon in H. pylori by integration of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data, and a large extension of the apo-HpFur direct regulon. We show that in response to iron availability, new coding sequences, non-coding RNAs, toxin-antitoxin systems, and transcripts within open reading frames are directly regulated by apo- or holo-HpFur. These new targets and the more thorough validation and deeper characterization of those already known provide a complete and updated picture of the direct regulons of this two-faced transcriptional regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vannini
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Eva Pinatel
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies - National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate (MI), Italy.
| | - Paolo Emidio Costantini
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Simone Pelliciari
- Human Genetic Unit, Institute of Genetic and Cancer - University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Davide Roncarati
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Simone Puccio
- Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan - National Research Council, Via Manzoni 113, 20089 Rozzano (MI), Italy; Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano (MI), Italy.
| | - Gianluca De Bellis
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies - National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate (MI), Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Scarlato
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan - National Research Council, Via Manzoni 113, 20089 Rozzano (MI), Italy; Human Technopole, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 1, 20157 Milan, Italy.
| | - Alberto Danielli
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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A Positively Selected fur-R88H Mutation Enhances Helicobacter pylori Fitness in a High-Salt Environment and Alters Fur-Dependent Regulation of Gene Expression. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0042022. [PMID: 36633416 PMCID: PMC9933627 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00420-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Both Helicobacter pylori infection and a high-salt diet are risk factors for gastric cancer. We previously showed that a mutation in fur (encoding the ferric uptake regulator variant Fur-R88H) was positively selected in H. pylori strains isolated from experimentally infected Mongolian gerbils receiving a high-salt diet. In the present study, we report that continuous H. pylori growth in high-salt conditions in vitro also leads to positive selection of the fur-R88H mutation. Competition experiments with strains containing wild-type fur or fur-R88H, each labeled with unique nucleotide barcodes, showed that the fur-R88H mutation enhances H. pylori fitness under high-salt conditions but reduces H. pylori fitness under routine culture conditions. The fitness advantage of the fur-R88H mutant under high-salt conditions was abrogated by the addition of supplemental iron. To test the hypothesis that the fur-R88H mutation alters the regulatory properties of Fur, we compared the transcriptional profiles of strains containing wild-type fur or fur-R88H. Increased transcript levels of fecA2, which encodes a predicted TonB-dependent outer membrane transporter, were detected in the fur-R88H variant compared to those in the strain containing wild-type fur under both high-salt and routine conditions. Competition experiments showed that fecA2 contributes to H. pylori fitness under both high-salt and routine conditions. These results provide new insights into mechanisms by which the fur-R88H mutation confers a selective advantage to H. pylori in high-salt environments.
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Saldaña-Ahuactzi Z, Knodler LA. FoxR is an AraC-like transcriptional regulator of ferrioxamine uptake in Salmonella enterica. Mol Microbiol 2022; 118:369-386. [PMID: 35970762 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella enterica spp. produce siderophores to bind iron with high affinity and can also use three xenosiderophores secreted by other microorganisms, ferrichrome, coprogen, and ferrioxamine. Here we focused on FoxA, a TonB-dependent transporter of ferrioxamines. Adjacent to foxA is a gene annotated as a helix-turn-helix (HTH) domain-containing protein, SL0358 (foxR), in the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1344 genome. FoxR shares homology with transcriptional regulators belonging to the AraC/XylS family. foxR is syntenic with foxA in the Enterobacteriaceae family, suggesting their functional relatedness. Both foxA and foxR are repressed by the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) under iron-rich growth conditions. When iron is scarce, FoxR acts as a transcriptional activator of foxA by directly binding to its upstream regulatory region. A point mutation in the HTH domain of FoxR abolished this binding, as did mutation of a direct repeat motif in the foxA upstream regulatory region. Desferrioxamine (DFOE) enhanced FoxR protein stability and foxA transcription but did not affect the affinity of FoxR binding to the foxA regulatory region. In summary, we have identified FoxR as a new member of the AraC/XylS family that regulates xenosiderophore-mediated iron uptake by S. Typhimurium and likely other Enterobacteriaceae members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeus Saldaña-Ahuactzi
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Leigh A Knodler
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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6
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Kumar S, Vinella D, De Reuse H. Nickel, an essential virulence determinant of Helicobacter pylori: Transport and trafficking pathways and their targeting by bismuth. Adv Microb Physiol 2022; 80:1-33. [PMID: 35489790 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2022.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Metal acquisition and intracellular trafficking are crucial for all cells and metal ions have been recognized as virulence determinants in bacterial pathogens. Nickel is required for the pathogenicity of H. pylori. This bacterial pathogen colonizes the stomach of about half of the human population worldwide and is associated with gastric cancer that is responsible for 800,000 deaths per year. H. pylori possesses two nickel-enzymes that are essential for in vivo colonization, a [NiFe] hydrogenase and an abundant urease responsible for resistance to gastric acidity. Because of these two enzymes, survival of H. pylori relies on an important supply of nickel, implying tight control strategies to avoid its toxic accumulation or deprivation. H. pylori possesses original mechanisms for nickel uptake, distribution, storage and trafficking that will be discussed in this review. During evolution, acquisition of nickel transporters and specific nickel-binding proteins has been a decisive event to allow Helicobacter species to become able to colonize the stomach. Accordingly, many of the factors involved in these mechanisms are required for mouse colonization by H. pylori. These mechanisms are controlled at different levels including protein interaction networks, transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation. Bismuth is another metal used in combination with antibiotics to efficiently treat H. pylori infections. Although the precise mode of action of bismuth is unknown, many targets have been identified in H. pylori and there is growing evidence that bismuth interferes with the essential nickel pathways. Understanding the metal pathways will help improve treatments against H. pylori and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumith Kumar
- Unité Pathogenèse de Helicobacter, CNRS UMR6047, Département de Microbiologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Vinella
- Unité Pathogenèse de Helicobacter, CNRS UMR6047, Département de Microbiologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Hilde De Reuse
- Unité Pathogenèse de Helicobacter, CNRS UMR6047, Département de Microbiologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
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Das M, Dewan A, Shee S, Singh A. The Multifaceted Bacterial Cysteine Desulfurases: From Metabolism to Pathogenesis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:997. [PMID: 34201508 PMCID: PMC8300815 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10070997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Living cells have developed a relay system to efficiently transfer sulfur (S) from cysteine to various thio-cofactors (iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters, thiamine, molybdopterin, lipoic acid, and biotin) and thiolated tRNA. The presence of such a transit route involves multiple protein components that allow the flux of S to be precisely regulated as a function of environmental cues to avoid the unnecessary accumulation of toxic concentrations of soluble sulfide (S2-). The first enzyme in this relay system is cysteine desulfurase (CSD). CSD catalyzes the release of sulfane S from L-cysteine by converting it to L-alanine by forming an enzyme-linked persulfide intermediate on its conserved cysteine residue. The persulfide S is then transferred to diverse acceptor proteins for its incorporation into the thio-cofactors. The thio-cofactor binding-proteins participate in essential and diverse cellular processes, including DNA repair, respiration, intermediary metabolism, gene regulation, and redox sensing. Additionally, CSD modulates pathogenesis, antibiotic susceptibility, metabolism, and survival of several pathogenic microbes within their hosts. In this review, we aim to comprehensively illustrate the impact of CSD on bacterial core metabolic processes and its requirement to combat redox stresses and antibiotics. Targeting CSD in human pathogens can be a potential therapy for better treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Amit Singh
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India; (M.D.); (A.D.); (S.S.)
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8
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Sarvan S, Butcher J, Stintzi A, Couture JF. Variation on a theme: investigating the structural repertoires used by ferric uptake regulators to control gene expression. Biometals 2018; 31:681-704. [DOI: 10.1007/s10534-018-0120-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Benoit SL, Holland AA, Johnson MK, Maier RJ. Iron-sulfur protein maturation in Helicobacter pylori: identifying a Nfu-type cluster carrier protein and its iron-sulfur protein targets. Mol Microbiol 2018; 108:379-396. [PMID: 29498770 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is anomalous among non nitrogen-fixing bacteria in containing an incomplete NIF system for Fe-S cluster assembly comprising two essential proteins, NifS (cysteine desulfurase) and NifU (scaffold protein). Although nifU deletion strains cannot be obtained via the conventional gene replacement, a NifU-depleted strain was constructed and shown to be more sensitive to oxidative stress compared to wild-type (WT) strains. The hp1492 gene, encoding a putative Nfu-type Fe-S cluster carrier protein, was disrupted in three different H. pylori strains, indicating that it is not essential. However, Δnfu strains have growth deficiency, are more sensitive to oxidative stress and are unable to colonize mouse stomachs. Moreover, Δnfu strains have lower aconitase activity but higher hydrogenase activity than the WT. Recombinant Nfu was found to bind either one [2Fe-2S] or [4Fe-4S] cluster/dimer, based on analytical, UV-visible absorption/CD and resonance Raman studies. A bacterial two-hybrid system was used to ascertain interactions between Nfu, NifS, NifU and each of 36 putative Fe-S-containing target proteins. Nfu, NifS and NifU were found to interact with 15, 6 and 29 putative Fe-S proteins respectively. The results indicate that Nfu, NifS and NifU play a major role in the biosynthesis and/or delivery of Fe-S clusters in H. pylori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane L Benoit
- Department of Microbiology and Center for Metalloenzyme Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Ashley A Holland
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Metalloenzyme Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Michael K Johnson
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Metalloenzyme Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Robert J Maier
- Department of Microbiology and Center for Metalloenzyme Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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10
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Pokorzynski ND, Thompson CC, Carabeo RA. Ironing Out the Unconventional Mechanisms of Iron Acquisition and Gene Regulation in Chlamydia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:394. [PMID: 28951853 PMCID: PMC5599777 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis, along with its close species relatives, is known to be strictly dependent upon the availability of iron. Deprivation of iron in vitro induces an aberrant morphological phenotype termed "persistence." This persistent phenotype develops in response to various immunological and nutritional insults and may contribute to the development of sub-acute Chlamydia-associated chronic diseases in susceptible populations. Given the importance of iron to Chlamydia, relatively little is understood about its acquisition and its role in gene regulation in comparison to other iron-dependent bacteria. Analysis of the genome sequences of a variety of chlamydial species hinted at the involvement of unconventional mechanisms, being that Chlamydia lack many conventional systems of iron homeostasis that are highly conserved in other bacteria. Herein we detail past and current research regarding chlamydial iron biology in an attempt to provide context to the rapid progress of the field in recent years. We aim to highlight recent discoveries and innovations that illuminate the strategies involved in chlamydial iron homeostasis, including the vesicular mode of acquiring iron from the intracellular environment, and the identification of a putative iron-dependent transcriptional regulator that is synthesized as a fusion with a ABC-type transporter subunit. These recent findings, along with the noted absence of iron-related homologs, indicate that Chlamydia have evolved atypical approaches to the problem of iron homeostasis, reinvigorating research into the iron biology of this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick D Pokorzynski
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State UniversityPullman, WA, United States
| | - Christopher C Thompson
- Jefferiss Trust Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's HospitalLondon, United Kingdom
| | - Rey A Carabeo
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State UniversityPullman, WA, United States
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11
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Liao Y, Williams TJ, Ye J, Charlesworth J, Burns BP, Poljak A, Raftery MJ, Cavicchioli R. Morphological and proteomic analysis of biofilms from the Antarctic archaeon, Halorubrum lacusprofundi. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37454. [PMID: 27874045 PMCID: PMC5118699 DOI: 10.1038/srep37454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms enhance rates of gene exchange, access to specific nutrients, and cell survivability. Haloarchaea in Deep Lake, Antarctica, are characterized by high rates of intergenera gene exchange, metabolic specialization that promotes niche adaptation, and are exposed to high levels of UV-irradiation in summer. Halorubrum lacusprofundi from Deep Lake has previously been reported to form biofilms. Here we defined growth conditions that promoted the formation of biofilms and used microscopy and enzymatic digestion of extracellular material to characterize biofilm structures. Extracellular DNA was found to be critical to biofilms, with cell surface proteins and quorum sensing also implicated in biofilm formation. Quantitative proteomics was used to define pathways and cellular processes involved in forming biofilms; these included enhanced purine synthesis and specific cell surface proteins involved in DNA metabolism; post-translational modification of cell surface proteins; specific pathways of carbon metabolism involving acetyl-CoA; and specific responses to oxidative stress. The study provides a new level of understanding about the molecular mechanisms involved in biofilm formation of this important member of the Deep Lake community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Liao
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - T J Williams
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - J Ye
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.,Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - J Charlesworth
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - B P Burns
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - A Poljak
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M J Raftery
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - R Cavicchioli
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
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Behrens W, Schweinitzer T, McMurry JL, Loewen PC, Buettner FFR, Menz S, Josenhans C. Localisation and protein-protein interactions of the Helicobacter pylori taxis sensor TlpD and their connection to metabolic functions. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23582. [PMID: 27045738 PMCID: PMC4820699 DOI: 10.1038/srep23582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Helicobacter pylori energy sensor TlpD determines tactic behaviour under low energy conditions and is important in vivo. We explored protein-protein interactions of TlpD and their impact on TlpD localisation and function. Pull-down of tagged TlpD identified protein interaction partners of TlpD, which included the chemotaxis histidine kinase CheAY2, the central metabolic enzyme aconitase (AcnB) and the detoxifying enzyme catalase (KatA). We confirmed that KatA and AcnB physically interact with TlpD. While the TlpD-dependent behavioural response appeared not influenced in the interactor mutants katA and acnB in steady-state behavioural assays, acetone carboxylase subunit (acxC) mutant behaviour was altered. TlpD was localised in a bipolar subcellular pattern in media of high energy. We observed a significant change in TlpD localisation towards the cell body in cheAY2-, catalase- or aconitase-deficient bacteria or in bacteria incubated under low energy conditions, including oxidative stress or respiratory inhibition. Inactivation of tlpD resulted in an increased sensitivity to iron limitation and oxidative stress and influenced the H. pylori transcriptome. Oxidative stress, iron limitation and overexpressing the iron-sulfur repair system nifSU altered TlpD-dependent behaviour. We propose that TlpD localisation is instructed by metabolic activity and protein interactions, and its sensory activity is linked to iron-sulfur cluster integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Behrens
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias Schweinitzer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jonathan L McMurry
- Department of Molecular &Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Peter C Loewen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Falk F R Buettner
- Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sarah Menz
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine Josenhans
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Center of Infection Research, partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
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Pelliciari S, Vannini A, Roncarati D, Danielli A. The allosteric behavior of Fur mediates oxidative stress signal transduction in Helicobacter pylori. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:840. [PMID: 26347726 PMCID: PMC4541418 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The microaerophilic gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is exposed to oxidative stress originating from the aerobic environment, the oxidative burst of phagocytes and the formation of reactive oxygen species, catalyzed by iron excess. Accordingly, the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress defense have been repeatedly linked to the ferric uptake regulator Fur. Moreover, mutations in the Fur protein affect the resistance to metronidazole, likely due to loss-of-function in the regulation of genes involved in redox control. Although many advances in the molecular understanding of HpFur function were made, little is known about the mechanisms that enable Fur to mediate the responses to oxidative stress. Here we show that iron-inducible, apo-Fur repressed genes, such as pfr and hydA, are induced shortly after oxidative stress, while their oxidative induction is lost in a fur knockout strain. On the contrary, holo-Fur repressed genes, such as frpB1 and fecA1, vary modestly in response to oxidative stress. This indicates that the oxidative stress signal specifically targets apo-Fur repressed genes, rather than impairing indiscriminately the regulatory function of Fur. Footprinting analyses showed that the oxidative signal strongly impairs the binding affinity of Fur toward apo-operators, while the binding toward holo-operators is less affected. Further evidence is presented that a reduced state of Fur is needed to maintain apo-repression, while oxidative conditions shift the preferred binding architecture of Fur toward the holo-operator binding conformation, even in the absence of iron. Together the results demonstrate that the allosteric regulation of Fur enables transduction of oxidative stress signals in H. pylori, supporting the concept that apo-Fur repressed genes can be considered oxidation inducible Fur regulatory targets. These findings may have important implications in the study of H. pylori treatment and resistance to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Pelliciari
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Vannini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Roncarati
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
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14
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Fillat MF. The FUR (ferric uptake regulator) superfamily: diversity and versatility of key transcriptional regulators. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 546:41-52. [PMID: 24513162 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Control of metal homeostasis is essential for life in all kingdoms. In most prokaryotic organisms the FUR (ferric uptake regulator) family of transcriptional regulators is involved in the regulation of iron and zinc metabolism through control by Fur and Zur proteins. A third member of this family, the peroxide-stress response PerR, is present in most Gram-positives, establishing a tight functional interaction with the global regulator Fur. These proteins play a pivotal role for microbial survival under adverse conditions and in the expression of virulence in most pathogens. In this paper we present the current state of the art in the knowledge of the FUR family, including those members only present in more reduced numbers of bacteria, namely Mur, Nur and Irr. The huge amount of work done in the two last decades shows that FUR proteins present considerable diversity in their regulatory mechanisms and interesting structural differences. However, much work needs to be done to obtain a more complete picture of this family, especially in connection with the roles of some members as gas and redox sensors as well as to fully characterize their participation in bacterial adaptative responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- María F Fillat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
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15
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Raghwan, Chowdhury R. Host cell contact induces fur-dependent expression of virulence factors CagA and VacA in Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter 2014; 19:17-25. [PMID: 24020886 DOI: 10.1111/hel.12087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori, a gram negative bacterium, colonizes the stomach in a majority of the world population. The two major virulence factors of H. pylori VacA and CagA, thought to be associated with chronic inflammation and disease, have been extensively studied, but the regulation of the expression of these virulence genes in H. pylori remains poorly understood. METHODS qRT-PCR was performed to quantify gene expression in unadhered and AGS-adhered H. pylori. Δfur mutant was constructed by splicing by overlap extension PCR and allelic exchange. RESULTS Adherence of H. pylori to the gastric epithelial cell line AGS strongly induces the expression of both cagA and vacA. Induction of cagA and vacA in the AGS cell-adhered H. pylori Δfur mutant strain was consistently lower than in the adhered parent strain. However, expression of the genes was similar between the wild-type and Δfur mutant strains in the unadhered state, suggesting that Fur has a role in the upregulation of cagA and vacA expression, especially in AGS-adhered H. pylori. Consistent with these results, microscopic observations revealed that infection of AGS cells with H. pylori Δfur mutant strain produced much less damage as compared to that produced by the wild-type H. pylori strain. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that cagA and vacA gene expression is upregulated in H. pylori, especially by host cell contact, and Fur has a role in the upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghwan
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
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16
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Pich OQ, Merrell DS. The ferric uptake regulator of Helicobacter pylori: a critical player in the battle for iron and colonization of the stomach. Future Microbiol 2013; 8:725-38. [PMID: 23701330 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.13.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is arguably one of the most successful pathogens; it colonizes the stomachs of more than half of the human population. Colonization and persistence in such an inhospitable niche requires the presence of exquisite adaptive mechanisms. One of the proteins that contributes significantly to the remarkable adaptability of H. pylori is the ferric uptake regulator (Fur), which functions as a master regulator of gene expression. In addition to genes directly related to iron homeostasis, Fur controls expression of several enzymes that play a central role in metabolism and energy production. The absence of Fur leads to severe H. pylori colonization defects and, accordingly, several Fur-regulated genes have been shown to be essential for colonization. Moreover, proteins encoded by Fur-regulated genes have a strong impact on redox homeostasis in the stomach and are major determinants of inflammation. In this review, we discuss the main roles of Fur in the biology of H. pylori and highlight the importance of this regulatory protein in the infectious process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Q Pich
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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17
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Identification and characterization of novel Helicobacter pylori apo-fur-regulated target genes. J Bacteriol 2013; 195:5526-39. [PMID: 24097951 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01026-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In Helicobacter pylori, the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) has evolved additional regulatory functions not seen in other bacteria; it can repress and activate different groups of genes in both its iron-bound and apo forms. Because little is understood about the process of apo-Fur repression and because only two apo-Fur-repressed genes (pfr and sodB) have previously been identified, we sought to expand our understanding of this type of regulation. Utilizing published genomic studies, we selected three potential new apo-Fur-regulated gene targets: serB, hydA, and the cytochrome c553 gene. Transcriptional analyses confirmed Fur-dependent repression of these genes in the absence of iron, as well as derepression in the absence of Fur. Binding studies showed that apo-Fur directly interacted with the suspected hydA and cytochrome c553 promoters but not that of serB, which was subsequently shown to be cotranscribed with pfr; apo-Fur-dependent regulation occurred at the pfr promoter. Alignments of apo-regulated promoter regions revealed a conserved, 6-bp consensus sequence (AAATGA). DNase I footprinting showed that this sequence lies within the protected regions of the pfr and hydA promoters. Moreover, mutation of the sequence in the pfr promoter abrogated Fur binding and DNase protection. Likewise, fluorescence anisotropy studies and binding studies with mutated consensus sequences showed that the sequence was important for apo-Fur binding to the pfr promoter. Together these studies expand the known apo-Fur regulon in H. pylori and characterize the first reported apo-Fur box sequence.
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18
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Gilbreath JJ, Pich OQ, Benoit SL, Besold AN, Cha JH, Maier RJ, Michel SLJ, Maynard EL, Merrell DS. Random and site-specific mutagenesis of the Helicobacter pylori ferric uptake regulator provides insight into Fur structure-function relationships. Mol Microbiol 2013; 89:304-23. [PMID: 23710935 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) of Helicobacter pylori is a global regulator that is important for colonization and survival within the gastric mucosa. H. pylori Fur is unique in its ability to activate and repress gene expression in both the iron-bound (Fe-Fur) and apo forms (apo-Fur). In the current study we combined random and site-specific mutagenesis to identify amino acid residues important for both Fe-Fur and apo-Fur function. We identified 25 mutations that affected Fe-Fur repression and 23 mutations that affected apo-Fur repression, as determined by transcriptional analyses of the Fe-Fur target gene amiE, and the apo-Fur target gene, pfr. In addition, eight of these mutations also significantly affected levels of Fur in the cell. Based on regulatory phenotypes, we selected several representative mutations to characterize further. Of those selected, we purified the wild-type (HpFurWT) and three mutant Fur proteins (HpFurE5A, HpFurA92T and HpFurH134Y), which represent mutations in the N-terminal extension, the regulatory metal binding site (S2) and the structural metal binding site (S3) respectively. Purified proteins were evaluated for secondary structure by circular dichroism spectroscopy, iron-binding by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, oligomerization in manganese-substituted and apo conditions by in vitro cross-linking assays, and DNA binding to Fe-Fur and apo-Fur target sequences by fluorescence anisotropy. The results showed that the N-terminal, S2 and S3 regions play distinct roles in terms of Fur structure-function relationships. Overall, these studies provide novel information regarding the role of these residues in Fur function, and provide mechanistic insight into how H. pylori Fur regulates gene expression in both the iron-bound and apo forms of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Gilbreath
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
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19
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Sun Y, Li X, Li W, Zhao M, Wang L, Liu S, Zeng J, Liu Z, Jia J. Proteomic analysis of the function of spot in Helicobacter pylori anti-oxidative stress in vitro and colonization in vivo. J Cell Biochem 2013; 113:3393-402. [PMID: 22678710 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
As a microaerobe, Helicobacter pylori employs the global regulator SpoT for defending against oxidative stress in vitro. However, the mechanisms how SpoT affects bacterial gene expression is still unknown. Moreover, the function of SpoT in H. pylori colonization in the host is remaining undetermined. To explore the functions of the SpoT in H. pylori pathogenesis, we constructed H. pylori 26695 spoT-deficient mutant (ΔspoT). While grown in ambient atmosphere, protein expression profile of the ΔspoT was analyzed with 2D gel electrophoresis and real-time PCR. Compared to the wild type, the spoT-deficient strain downregulated its transcription of the oxidative-induced genes, as well as the genes responsible for protein degradation and that related to energy metabolism. Meanwhile, the colonization ability of ΔspoT strains in Mongolian gerbil was tested, the results demonstrated a decayed colonization in the mouse stomach with ΔspoT than the wild type. As a matter of facts, the AGS cells infected with the ΔspoT strains excreted increased level of the gastric inflammation cytokines IL-8, and the ΔspoT strains showed poor survival ability when treated with reactive oxygen stress (sodium nitroprusside). The elevated capacity of stimulating cytokines and fragility to reactive oxygen stress may be contribute to decreased colonization of the spoT-deficient mutant in the mouse stomach. Conclusively, we speculate that spoT is a key regulator of the genes for H. pylori spreading in the air and colonization in host stomach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yundong Sun
- Department of Microbiology, Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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20
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Fur activates expression of the 2-oxoglutarate oxidoreductase genes (oorDABC) in Helicobacter pylori. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:6490-7. [PMID: 23002221 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01226-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a highly successful pathogen that colonizes the gastric mucosa of ∼50% of the world's population. Within this colonization niche, the bacteria encounter large fluctuations in nutrient availability. As such, it is critical that this organism regulate expression of key metabolic enzymes so that they are present when environmental conditions are optimal for growth. One such enzyme is the 2-oxoglutarate (α-ketoglutarate) oxidoreductase (OOR), which catalyzes the conversion of α-ketoglutarate to succinyl coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA) and CO(2). Previous studies from our group suggested that the genes that encode the OOR are activated by iron-bound Fur (Fe-Fur); microarray analysis showed that expression of oorD, oorA, and oorC was altered in a fur mutant strain of H. pylori. The goal of the present work was to more thoroughly characterize expression of the oorDABC genes in H. pylori as well as to define the role of Fe-Fur in this process. Here we show that these four genes are cotranscribed as an operon and that expression of the operon is decreased in a fur mutant strain. Transcriptional start site mapping and promoter analysis revealed the presence of a canonical extended -10 element but a poorly conserved -35 element upstream of the +1. Additionally, we identified a conserved Fur binding sequence ∼130 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site. Transcriptional analysis using promoter fusions revealed that this binding sequence was required for Fe-Fur-mediated activation. Finally, fluorescence anisotropy assays indicate that Fe-Fur specifically bound this Fur box with a relatively high affinity (dissociation constant [K(d)] = 200 nM). These findings provide novel insight into the genetic regulation of a key metabolic enzyme and add to our understanding of the diverse roles Fur plays in gene regulation in H. pylori.
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21
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Pich OQ, Carpenter BM, Gilbreath JJ, Merrell DS. Detailed analysis of Helicobacter pylori Fur-regulated promoters reveals a Fur box core sequence and novel Fur-regulated genes. Mol Microbiol 2012; 84:921-41. [PMID: 22507395 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.08066.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In Helicobacter pylori, iron balance is controlled by the Ferric uptake regulator (Fur), an iron-sensing repressor protein that typically regulates expression of genes implicated in iron transport and storage. Herein, we carried out extensive analysis of Fur-regulated promoters and identified a 7-1-7 motif with dyad symmetry (5'-TAATAATnATTATTA-3'), which functions as the Fur box core sequence of H. pylori. Addition of this sequence to the promoter region of a typically non-Fur regulated gene was sufficient to impose Fur-dependent regulation in vivo. Moreover, mutation of this sequence within Fur-controlled promoters negated regulation. Analysis of the H. pylori chromosome for the occurrence of the Fur box established the existence of well-conserved Fur boxes in the promoters of numerous known Fur-regulated genes, and revealed novel putative Fur targets. Transcriptional analysis of the new candidate genes demonstrated Fur-dependent repression of HPG27_51, HPG27_52, HPG27_199, HPG27_445, HPG27_825 and HPG27_1063, as well as Fur-mediated activation of the cytotoxin associated gene A, cagA (HPG27_507). Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed specific binding of Fur to the promoters of each of these genes. Future experiments will determine whether loss of Fur regulation of any of these particular genes contributes to the defects in colonization exhibited by the H. pylori fur mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Q Pich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Heath Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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22
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Iron trafficking system in Helicobacter pylori. Biometals 2011; 25:247-58. [PMID: 22127376 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-011-9512-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infections are closely associated with peptic ulcers, gastric malignancy and iron deficiency anemia. Iron is essential for almost all living organisms and the investigation of iron uptake and trafficking system is thus important to understand the pathological roles of H. pylori. Up to now, the iron trafficking system of H. pylori is not yet fully clear and merits further efforts in this regards. The available information about iron uptake and regulation has been discussed in this concise review, such as FeoB in ferrous transportation, FrpB2 in hemoglobin uptake, HugZ in heme processing, virulence factors (VacA and CagA) in transferrin utilization, Pfr and NapA in iron storage and Fur in iron regulation. The identified iron trafficking system will help us to understand the pathological roles of H. pylori in the various gastric diseases and iron deficiency anemia and stimulates further development of effective anti-bacterial drugs.
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23
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Teixidó L, Carrasco B, Alonso JC, Barbé J, Campoy S. Fur activates the expression of Salmonella enterica pathogenicity island 1 by directly interacting with the hilD operator in vivo and in vitro. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19711. [PMID: 21573071 PMCID: PMC3089636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 04/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have established that the expression of Salmonella enterica pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1), which is essential for epithelial invasion, is mainly regulated by the HilD protein. The ferric uptake regulator, Fur, in turn modulates the expression of the S. enterica hilD gene, albeit through an unknown mechanism. Here we report that S. enterica Fur, in its metal-bound form, specifically binds to an AT-rich region (BoxA), located upstream of the hilD promoter (PhilD), at position -191 to -163 relative to the hilD transcription start site. Furthermore, in a PhilD variant with mutations in BoxA, PhilD*, Fur·Mn2+ binding is impaired. In vivo experiments using S. enterica strains carrying wild-type PhilD or the mutant variant PhilD* showed that Fur activates hilD expression, while in vitro experiments revealed that the Fur·Mn2+ protein is sufficient to increase hilD transcription. Together, these results present the first evidence that Fur·Mn2+, by binding to the upstream BoxA sequence, directly stimulates the expression of hilD in S. enterica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Teixidó
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Begoña Carrasco
- Area de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Juan C. Alonso
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Barbé
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Susana Campoy
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- * E-mail:
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24
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Gancz H, Merrell DS. The Helicobacter pylori Ferric Uptake Regulator (Fur) is essential for growth under sodium chloride stress. J Microbiol 2011; 49:294-8. [PMID: 21538253 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-011-0396-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2010] [Accepted: 11/22/2010] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological data and animal models indicate that Helicobacter pylori and dietary NaCl have a synergistic ill effect on gastric maladies. Here we show that the Ferric Uptake Regulator (Fur), which is a crucial regulatory factor required for H. pylori colonization, is essential for growth in the presence of high NaCl concentrations. Moreover, we demonstrate that the transcriptional response induced by sodium chloride stress exhibits similarities to that seen under iron depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Gancz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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25
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Gilbreath JJ, Cody WL, Merrell DS, Hendrixson DR. Change is good: variations in common biological mechanisms in the epsilonproteobacterial genera Campylobacter and Helicobacter. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2011; 75:84-132. [PMID: 21372321 PMCID: PMC3063351 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00035-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial evolution and subsequent species diversification enable bacterial organisms to perform common biological processes by a variety of means. The epsilonproteobacteria are a diverse class of prokaryotes that thrive in diverse habitats. Many of these environmental niches are labeled as extreme, whereas other niches include various sites within human, animal, and insect hosts. Some epsilonproteobacteria, such as Campylobacter jejuni and Helicobacter pylori, are common pathogens of humans that inhabit specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract. As such, the biological processes of pathogenic Campylobacter and Helicobacter spp. are often modeled after those of common enteric pathogens such as Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli. While many exquisite biological mechanisms involving biochemical processes, genetic regulatory pathways, and pathogenesis of disease have been elucidated from studies of Salmonella spp. and E. coli, these paradigms often do not apply to the same processes in the epsilonproteobacteria. Instead, these bacteria often display extensive variation in common biological mechanisms relative to those of other prototypical bacteria. In this review, five biological processes of commonly studied model bacterial species are compared to those of the epsilonproteobacteria C. jejuni and H. pylori. Distinct differences in the processes of flagellar biosynthesis, DNA uptake and recombination, iron homeostasis, interaction with epithelial cells, and protein glycosylation are highlighted. Collectively, these studies support a broader view of the vast repertoire of biological mechanisms employed by bacteria and suggest that future studies of the epsilonproteobacteria will continue to provide novel and interesting information regarding prokaryotic cellular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J. Gilbreath
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - William L. Cody
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - D. Scott Merrell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - David R. Hendrixson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
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Mutagenesis of conserved amino acids of Helicobacter pylori fur reveals residues important for function. J Bacteriol 2010; 192:5037-52. [PMID: 20644138 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00198-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) of the medically important pathogen Helicobacter pylori is unique in that it has been shown to function as a repressor both in the presence of an Fe2+ cofactor and in its apo (non-Fe2+-bound) form. However, virtually nothing is known concerning the amino acid residues that are important for Fur functioning. Therefore, mutations in six conserved amino acid residues of H. pylori Fur were constructed and analyzed for their impact on both iron-bound and apo repression. In addition, accumulation of the mutant proteins, protein secondary structure, DNA binding ability, iron binding capacity, and the ability to form higher-order structures were also examined for each mutant protein. While none of the mutated residues completely abrogated the function of Fur, we were able to identify residues that were critical for both iron-bound and apo-Fur repression. One mutation, V64A, did not alter regulation of any target genes. However, each of the five remaining mutations showed an effect on either iron-bound or apo regulation. Of these, H96A, E110A, and E117A mutations altered iron-bound Fur regulation and were all shown to influence iron binding to different extents. Additionally, the H96A mutation was shown to alter Fur oligomerization, and the E110A mutation was shown to impact oligomerization and DNA binding. Conversely, the H134A mutant exhibited changes in apo-Fur regulation that were the result of alterations in DNA binding. Although the E90A mutant exhibited alterations in apo-Fur regulation, this mutation did not affect any of the assessed protein functions. This study is the first for H. pylori to analyze the roles of specific amino acid residues of Fur in function and continues to highlight the complexity of Fur regulation in this organism.
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Danielli A, Scarlato V. Regulatory circuits in Helicobacter pylori : network motifs and regulators involved in metal-dependent responses. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2010; 34:738-52. [PMID: 20579104 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2010.00233.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of Helicobacter pylori, one of the most successful human bacterial pathogens, to colonize the acidic gastric niche persistently, depends on the proper homeostasis of intracellular metal ions, needed as cofactors of essential metallo-proteins involved in acid acclimation, respiration and detoxification. This fundamental task is controlled at the transcriptional level mainly by the regulators Fur and NikR, involved in iron homeostasis and nickel response, respectively. Herein, we review the molecular mechanisms that underlie the activity of these key pleiotropic regulators. In addition, we will focus on their involvement in the transcriptional regulatory network of the bacterium, pinpointing a surprising complexity of network motifs that interconnects them and their gene targets. These motifs appear to confer versatile dynamics of metal-dependent responses by extensive horizontal connections between the regulators and feedback control of metal-cofactor availability.
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28
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Galindo CL, Sha J, Moen ST, Agar SL, Kirtley ML, Foltz SM, McIver LJ, Kozlova EV, Garner HR, Chopra AK. Comparative Global Gene Expression Profiles of Wild-Type Yersinia pestis CO92 and Its Braun Lipoprotein Mutant at Flea and Human Body Temperatures. Comp Funct Genomics 2010; 2010:342168. [PMID: 20508723 PMCID: PMC2873655 DOI: 10.1155/2010/342168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2010] [Accepted: 02/22/2010] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Braun/murein lipoprotein (Lpp) is involved in inflammatory responses and septic shock. We previously characterized a Deltalpp mutant of Yersinia pestis CO92 and found that this mutant was defective in surviving in macrophages and was attenuated in a mouse inhalation model of plague when compared to the highly virulent wild-type (WT) bacterium. We performed global transcriptional profiling of WT Y. pestis and its Deltalpp mutant using microarrays. The organisms were cultured at 26 and 37 degrees Celsius to simulate the flea vector and mammalian host environments, respectively. Our data revealed vastly different effects of lpp mutation on the transcriptomes of Y. pestis grown at 37 versus 26 degrees C. While the absence of Lpp resulted mainly in the downregulation of metabolic genes at 26 degrees C, the Y. pestis Deltalpp mutant cultured at 37 degrees C exhibited profound alterations in stress response and virulence genes, compared to WT bacteria. We investigated one of the stress-related genes (htrA) downregulated in the Deltalpp mutant relative to WT Y. pestis. Indeed, complementation of the Deltalpp mutant with the htrA gene restored intracellular survival of the Y. pestis Deltalpp mutant. Our results support a role for Lpp in Y. pestis adaptation to the host environment, possibly via transcriptional activation of htrA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristi L. Galindo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 02461-0477, USA
| | - Jian Sha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
| | - Scott T. Moen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
| | - Stacy L. Agar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
| | - Michelle L. Kirtley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
| | - Sheri M. Foltz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
| | - Lauren J. McIver
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 02461-0477, USA
| | - E. V. Kozlova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
| | - Harold R. Garner
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 02461-0477, USA
| | - Ashok K. Chopra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
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Cultivation and quantitative proteomic analyses of acidophilic microbial communities. ISME JOURNAL 2009; 4:520-30. [PMID: 20033068 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2009.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD), an extreme environment characterized by low pH and high metal concentrations, can support dense acidophilic microbial biofilm communities that rely on chemoautotrophic production based on iron oxidation. Field determined production rates indicate that, despite the extreme conditions, these communities are sufficiently well adapted to their habitats to achieve primary production rates comparable to those of microbial communities occurring in some non-extreme environments. To enable laboratory studies of growth, production and ecology of AMD microbial communities, a culturing system was designed to reproduce natural biofilms, including organisms recalcitrant to cultivation. A comprehensive metabolic labeling-based quantitative proteomic analysis was used to verify that natural and laboratory communities were comparable at the functional level. Results confirmed that the composition and core metabolic activities of laboratory-grown communities were similar to a natural community, including the presence of active, low abundance bacteria and archaea that have not yet been isolated. However, laboratory growth rates were slow compared with natural communities, and this correlated with increased abundance of stress response proteins for the dominant bacteria in laboratory communities. Modification of cultivation conditions reduced the abundance of stress response proteins and increased laboratory community growth rates. The research presented here represents the first description of the application of a metabolic labeling-based quantitative proteomic analysis at the community level and resulted in a model microbial community system ideal for testing physiological and ecological hypotheses.
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Nandal A, Huggins CCO, Woodhall MR, McHugh J, Rodríguez-Quiñones F, Quail MA, Guest JR, Andrews SC. Induction of the ferritin gene (ftnA) of Escherichia coli by Fe(2+)-Fur is mediated by reversal of H-NS silencing and is RyhB independent. Mol Microbiol 2009; 75:637-57. [PMID: 20015147 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06977.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
FtnA is the major iron-storage protein of Escherichia coli accounting for < or = 50% of total cellular iron. The FtnA gene (ftnA) is induced by iron in an Fe(2+)-Fur-dependent fashion. This effect is reportedly mediated by RyhB, the Fe(2+)-Fur-repressed, small, regulatory RNA. However, results presented here show that ftnA iron induction is independent of RyhB and instead involves direct interaction of Fe(2+)-Fur with an 'extended' Fur binding site (containing five tandem Fur boxes) located upstream (-83) of the ftnA promoter. In addition, H-NS acts as a direct repressor of ftnA transcription by binding at multiple sites (I-VI) within, and upstream of, the ftnA promoter. Fur directly competes with H-NS binding at upstream sites (II-IV) and consequently displaces H-NS from the ftnA promoter (sites V-VI) which in turn leads to derepression of ftnA transcription. It is proposed that H-NS binding within the ftnA promoter is facilitated by H-NS occupation of the upstream sites through H-NS oligomerization-induced DNA looping. Consequently, Fur displacement of H-NS from the upstream sites prevents cooperative H-NS binding at the downstream sites within the promoter, thus allowing access to RNA polymerase. This direct activation of ftnA transcription by Fe(2+)-Fur through H-NS antisilencing represents a new mechanism for iron-induced gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Nandal
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AJ, UK
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31
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Vitale S, Fauquant C, Lascoux D, Schauer K, Saint-Pierre C, Michaud-Soret I. A ZnS4 Structural Zinc Site in the Helicobacter pylori Ferric Uptake Regulator. Biochemistry 2009; 48:5582-91. [DOI: 10.1021/bi9004396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Vitale
- CNRS UMR 5249 Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA), Direction des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), l’Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant (iRTSV), and Université Joseph Fourier, 17 rue des Martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Caroline Fauquant
- CNRS UMR 5249 Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA), Direction des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), l’Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant (iRTSV), and Université Joseph Fourier, 17 rue des Martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - David Lascoux
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse des Protéines, Institut de Biologie Structurale, Jean-Pierre Ebel (UMR 5075 CNRS/CEA/UJF), F-38027 Grenoble Cedex 1, France
| | - Kristine Schauer
- Unité Pathogenèse de Helicobacter, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Christine Saint-Pierre
- Laboratoire des Lésions des Acides Nucléiques, DSM/INAC/Service de Chimie Inorganique et Biologique, UMR E-3 CEA/UJF CNRS FRE 3200, 17 rue des Martyrs, Grenoble F-38054 Cedex 9, France
| | - Isabelle Michaud-Soret
- CNRS UMR 5249 Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA), Direction des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), l’Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant (iRTSV), and Université Joseph Fourier, 17 rue des Martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
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32
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This is not your mother's repressor: the complex role of fur in pathogenesis. Infect Immun 2009; 77:2590-601. [PMID: 19364842 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00116-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Pflock M, Bathon M, Schär J, Müller S, Mollenkopf H, Meyer TF, Beier D. The orphan response regulator HP1021 of Helicobacter pylori regulates transcription of a gene cluster presumably involved in acetone metabolism. J Bacteriol 2007; 189:2339-49. [PMID: 17220217 PMCID: PMC1899378 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01827-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen for which no nonhuman reservoir is known. In accordance with the tight adaptation to its unique habitat, the human stomach, H. pylori is endowed with a very restricted repertoire of regulatory proteins. Nevertheless, the three complete two-component systems of H. pylori were shown to be involved in the regulation of important virulence traits like motility and acid resistance and in the control of metal homeostasis. HP1021 is an orphan response regulator with an atypical receiver domain whose inactivation has a considerable impact on the growth of H. pylori. Here we report the identification of HP1021-regulated genes by whole-genome transcriptional profiling. We show that the transcription of the essential housekeeping genes nifS and nifU, which are required for the assembly of Fe-S clusters, is activated by HP1021. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the expression of a gene cluster comprising open reading frames hp0690 to hp0693 and hp0695 to hp0697 which is probably involved in acetone metabolism is strongly upregulated by HP1021. Evidence is provided for a direct regulation of the hp0695-to-hp0697 operon by the binding of HP1021 to its promoter region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Pflock
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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34
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Lee JW, Helmann JD. Functional specialization within the Fur family of metalloregulators. Biometals 2007; 20:485-99. [PMID: 17216355 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-006-9070-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2006] [Accepted: 11/28/2006] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) protein, as originally described in Escherichia coli, is an iron-sensing repressor that controls the expression of genes for siderophore biosynthesis and iron transport. Although Fur is commonly thought of as a metal-dependent repressor, Fur also activates the expression of many genes by either indirect or direct mechanisms. In the best studied model systems, Fur functions as a global regulator of iron homeostasis controlling both the induction of iron uptake functions (under iron limitation) and the expression of iron storage proteins and iron-utilizing enzymes (under iron sufficiency). We now appreciate that there is a tremendous diversity in metal selectivity and biological function within the Fur family which includes sensors of iron (Fur), zinc (Zur), manganese (Mur), and nickel (Nur). Despite numerous studies, the mechanism of metal ion sensing by Fur family proteins is still controversial. Other family members use metal catalyzed oxidation reactions to sense peroxide-stress (PerR) or the availability of heme (Irr).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Won Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Wing Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-8101, USA
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