uhp-directed, glucose 6-phosphate membrane receptor in Escherichia coli

The involvement of transport proteins in transcriptional and metabolic regulation

Transport proteins have sometimes gained secondary regulatory functions that influence gene expression and metabolism. These functions allow communication with the external world via mechanistically distinctive signal transduction pathways. In this brief review we focus on three transport systems in Escherichia coli that control and coordinate carbon, exogenous hexose-phosphate and phosphorous metabolism. The transport proteins that play central roles in these processes are: first, the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS), second, the glucose-6-phosphate receptor, UhpC, and third, the phosphate-specific transporter, PstSABC, respectively. While the PTS participates in multiple complex regulatory processes, three of which are discussed here, UhpC and the Pst transporters exemplify differing strategies.

Characterizing the hexose-6-phosphate transport system of Vibrio cholerae, a utilization system for carbon and phosphate sources

The facultative human pathogen Vibrio cholerae transits between the gastrointestinal tract of its host and aquatic reservoirs. V. cholerae adapts to different situations by the timely coordinated expression of genes during its life cycle. We recently identified a subclass of genes that are induced at late stages of infection. Initial characterization demonstrated that some of these genes facilitate the transition of V. cholerae from host to environmental conditions. Among these genes are uptake systems lacking detailed characterization or correct annotation. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the function of the VCA0682-to-VCA0687 gene cluster, which was previously identified as in vivo induced. The results presented here demonstrate that the operon encompassing open reading frames VCA0685 to VCA0687 encodes an ABC transport system for hexose-6-phosphates with Km values ranging from 0.275 to 1.273 μM for glucose-6P and fructose-6P, respectively. Expression of the operon is induced by the presence of hexose-6P controlled by the transcriptional activator VCA0682, representing a UhpA homolog. Finally, we provide evidence that the operon is essential for the utilization of hexose-6P as a C and P source. Thereby, a physiological role can be assigned to hexose-6P uptake, which correlates with increased fitness of V. cholerae after a transition from the host into phosphate-limiting environments.

Glucose-6-phosphate-dependent phosphoryl flow through the Uhp two-component regulatory system

Expression of the UhpT sugar-phosphate transporter in Escherichia coli is regulated at the transcriptional level via the UhpABC signalling cascade. Sensing of extracellular glucose 6-phosphate (G6P), by membrane-bound UhpC, modulates a second membrane-bound protein, UhpB, resulting in autophosphorylation of a conserved histidine residue in the cytoplasmic (transmitter) domain of the latter. Subsequently, this phosphoryl group is transferred to a conserved aspartate residue in the response-regulator UhpA, which then initiates uhpT transcription, via binding to the uhpT promoter region. This study demonstrates the hypothesized transmembrane signal transfer in an ISO membrane set-up, i.e. in a suspension of UhpBC-enriched membrane vesicles, UhpB autophosphorylation is stimulated, in the presence of [gamma-(32)P]ATP, upon intra-vesicular sensing of G6P by UhpC. Subsequently, upon addition of UhpA, very rapid and transient UhpA phosphorylation takes place. When P approximately UhpA is added to G6P-induced UhpBC-enriched membrane vesicles, rapid UhpA dephosphorylation occurs. So, in the G6P-activated state, UhpB phosphatase activity dominates over kinase activity, even in the presence of saturating amounts of G6P. This may imply that maximal in vivo P approximately UhpA levels are low and/or that, to keep sufficient P approximately UhpA accumulated to induce uhpT transcription, the uhpT promoter DNA itself is involved in stabilization/sequestration of P approximately UhpA.

Molecular cloning of the uhp region and evidence for a positive activator for expression of the hexose phosphate transport system of Escherichia coli

The uhp locus of Escherichia coli contains genes for the sugar phosphate transport system (uhpT) and the regulatory system which allows its induction by external glucose 6-phosphate (uhpRA). The uhp region was cloned onto high-copy-number plasmids, both from Uhp(+) plasmids of the Clarke-Carbon collection and from genetically characterized specialized transducing phages carrying uhpT-lac operon fusions. Two Clarke-Carbon plasmids and their Uhp(+) subclones in pBR322 shared restriction sites defining the uhp region, but exhibited different regulation of Uhp expression and dependence on chromosomal uhp genotype. Plasmid pLC17-47 and derivatives conferred constitutive glucose 6-phosphate uptake activity in all strains, even those with complete deletions of uhp. These plasmids also rendered constitutive the expression of a chromosomal uhpT-lac operon fusion. Plasmid pLC40-33 conferred inducible Uhp expression, which required the presence of the uhpA(+) gene on the chromosome. The induced transport levels in all strains carrying these plasmids were not appreciably amplified over haploid levels. Similar behavior was seen with the cloned operon fusions. A fusion-bearing plasmid that carried an intact regulatory system (uhpR(+)A(+)) exhibited trans-dominant constitutive expression of beta-galactosidase, regardless of the chromosomal uhp genotype. In contrast, the cloned fusion carrying only uhpR(+) gave glucose 6-phosphate-inducible production of beta-galactosidase that was dependent on the presence of chromosomal uhpA(+). Expression of both fusions in the haploid state was inducible. From these results, it was concluded that the uhpA product is necessary for uhpT transcription and that elevated dosage of uhpA results in at least partially constitutive expression of uhpT. A tentative model for uhp regulation is presented.

Gene-protein index of Escherichia coli K-12

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