Transcriptional regulation of Alcaligenes eutrophus hydrogenase genes

A DNA region recognized by the nitric oxide-responsive transcriptional activator NorR is conserved in beta- and gamma-proteobacteria

The sigma(54)-dependent regulator NorR activates transcription of target genes in response to nitric oxide (NO) or NO-generating agents. In Ralstonia eutropha H16, NorR activates transcription of the dicistronic norAB operon that encodes NorA, a protein of unknown function, and NorB, a nitric oxide reductase. A constitutively activating NorR derivative (NorR'), in which the N-terminal signaling domain was replaced by MalE, specifically bound to the norAB upstream region as revealed by gel retardation analysis. Within a 73-bp DNA segment protected by MalE-NorR' in a DNase I footprint assay, three conserved inverted repeats, GGT-(N(7))-ACC (where N is any base), that we consider to be NorR-binding boxes were identified. Mutations altering the spacing or the base sequence of these repeats resulted in an 80 to 90% decrease of transcriptional activation by wild-type NorR. Genome database analyses demonstrate that the GT-(N(7))-AC core of the inverted repeat is found in several proteobacteria upstream of gene loci encoding proteins of nitric oxide metabolism, including nitric oxide reductase (NorB), flavorubredoxin (NorV), NO dioxygenase (Hmp), and hybrid cluster protein (Hcp).

The auxiliary protein HypX provides oxygen tolerance to the soluble [NiFe]-hydrogenase of ralstonia eutropha H16 by way of a cyanide ligand to nickel

The hypX gene of the facultative lithoautotrophic bacterium Ralstonia eutropha is part of a cassette of accessory genes (the hyp cluster) required for the proper assembly of the active site of the [NiFe]-hydrogenases in the bacterium. A deletion of the hypX gene led to a severe growth retardation under lithoautotrophic conditions with 5 or 15% oxygen, when the growth was dependent on the activity of the soluble NAD+ -reducing hydrogenase. The enzymatic and infrared spectral properties of the soluble hydrogenase purified from a HypX-negative strain were compared with those from an enzyme purified from a HypX-positive strain. In activity assays under anaerobic conditions both enzyme preparations behaved the same. Under aerobic conditions, however, the mutant enzyme became irreversibly inactivated during H2 oxidation with NAD+ or benzyl viologen as the electron acceptor. Infrared spectra and chemical determination of cyanide showed that one of the four cyanide groups in the wild-type enzyme was missing in the mutant enzyme. The data are consistent with the proposal that the HypX protein is specifically involved in the biosynthetic pathway that delivers the nickel-bound cyanide. The data support the proposal that this cyanide is crucial for the enzyme to function under aerobic conditions.

AgmR controls transcription of a regulon with several operons essential for ethanol oxidation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 17933

The response regulator AgmR was identified to be involved in the regulation of the quinoprotein ethanol oxidation system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 17933. Interruption of the agmR gene by insertion of a kanamycin-resistance cassette resulted in mutant NG3, unable to grow on ethanol. After complementation with the intact agmR gene, growth on ethanol was restored. Transcriptional lacZ fusions were used to identify four operons which are regulated by the AgmR protein: the exaA operon encodes the pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent ethanol dehydrogenase, the exaBC operon encodes a soluble cytochrome c(550) and an aldehyde dehydrogenase, the pqqABCDE operon carries the PQQ biosynthetic genes, and operon exaDE encodes a two-component regulatory system which controls transcription of the exaA operon. Transcription of exaA was restored by transformation of NG3 with a pUCP20T derivative carrying the exaDE genes under lac-promoter control. These data indicate that the AgmR response regulator and the exaDE two-component regulatory system are organized in a hierarchical manner. Gene PA1977, which appears to form an operon with the agmR gene, was found to be non-essential for growth on ethanol.

The H2-sensing complex of Ralstonia eutropha: interaction between a regulatory [NiFe] hydrogenase and a histidine protein kinase

Two [NiFe] hydrogenases enable the proteobacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16 to grow on molecular hydrogen as the sole energy source. A third [NiFe] hydrogenase (RH) acts as an H2 sensor in a multiple component signal transduction chain that controls hydrogenase gene transcription. The RH forms a dimeric heterodimer (HoxBC)2 in which HoxC contains the H2-sensing active site and HoxB the electron-transferring components including an organic, not yet identified redox cofactor. This oligomer forms a tight complex with the histidine protein kinase HoxJ. Both the sensor and the kinase were analysed by mutagenesis for functional domains that are instrumental in H2 signal transmission. A mutant deleted for a C-terminal peptide of 55 amino acids in HoxB lost its H2-sensing ability but still catalysed H2 oxidation. The mutant protein failed to form the dimeric heterodimer and a complex with HoxJ. The organic redox cofactor was no longer detectable in the truncated sensor. H2 sensing was also abolished by deletion of the PAS domain of HoxJ, indicating that this domain is involved in signal transduction. A truncated version of HoxJ consisting of only the input domain of the kinase was still capable of forming a complex with the RH. Mass determination of the purified HoxJ protein revealed that the kinase forms a homotetramer. The unique oligomeric structure of the H2-sensing complex with respect to its regulatory function is discussed.

Interaction between the H2 sensor HupUV and the histidine kinase HupT controls HupSL hydrogenase synthesis in Rhodobacter capsulatus

The photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus contains two [NiFe]hydrogenases: an energy-generating hydrogenase, HupSL, and a regulatory hydrogenase, HupUV. The synthesis of HupSL is specifically activated by H(2) through a signal transduction cascade comprising three proteins: the H(2)-sensing HupUV protein, the histidine kinase HupT, and the transcriptional regulator HupR. Whereas a phosphotransfer between HupT and HupR was previously demonstrated, interaction between HupUV and HupT was only hypothesized based on in vivo analyses of mutant phenotypes. To visualize the in vitro interaction between HupUV and HupT proteins, a six-His (His(6))-HupU fusion protein and the HupV protein were coproduced by using a homologous expression system. The two proteins copurified as a His(6)-HupUHupV complex present in dimeric and tetrameric forms, both of which had H(2) uptake activity. We demonstrated that HupT and HupUV interact and form stable complexes that could be separated on a native gel. Interaction was also monitored with surface plasmon resonance technology and was shown to be insensitive to salt concentration and pH changes, suggesting that the interactions involve hydrophobic residues. As expected, H(2) affects the interaction between HupUV and HupT, leading to a weakening of the interaction, which is independent of the phosphate status of HupT. Several forms of HupT were tested for their ability to interact with HupUV and to complement hupT mutants. Strong interaction with HupUV was obtained with the isolated PAS domain of HupT and with inactive HupT mutated in the phosphorylable histidine residue, but only the wild-type HupT protein was able to restore normal H(2) regulation.

Involvement of hyp gene products in maturation of the H(2)-sensing [NiFe] hydrogenase of Ralstonia eutropha

The biosynthesis of [NiFe] hydrogenases is a complex process that requires the function of the Hyp proteins HypA, HypB, HypC, HypD, HypE, HypF, and HypX for assembly of the H(2)-activating [NiFe] site. In this study we examined the maturation of the regulatory hydrogenase (RH) of Ralstonia eutropha. The RH is a H(2)-sensing [NiFe] hydrogenase and is required as a constituent of a signal transduction chain for the expression of two energy-linked [NiFe] hydrogenases. Here we demonstrate that the RH regulatory activity was barely affected by mutations in hypA, hypB, hypC, and hypX and was not substantially diminished in hypD- and hypE-deficient strains. The lack of HypF, however, resulted in a 90% decrease of the RH regulatory activity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the incorporation of (63)Ni into the RH from overproducing cells revealed that the assembly of the [NiFe] active site is dependent on all Hyp functions, with the exception of HypX. We conclude that the entire Hyp apparatus (HypA, HypB, HypC, HypD, HypE, and HypF) is involved in an efficient incorporation of the [NiFe] center into the RH.

The H2 sensor of Ralstonia eutropha. Biochemical characteristics, spectroscopic properties, and its interaction with a histidine protein kinase

Previous genetic studies have revealed a multicomponent signal transduction chain, consisting of an H(2) sensor, a histidine protein kinase, and a response regulator, which controls hydrogenase gene transcription in the proteobacterium Ralstonia eutropha. In this study, we isolated the H(2) sensor and demonstrated that the purified protein forms a complex with the histidine protein kinase. Biochemical and spectroscopic analysis revealed that the H(2) sensor is a cytoplasmic [NiFe]-hydrogenase with unique features. The H(2)-oxidizing activity was 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of standard hydrogenases and insensitive to oxygen, carbon monoxide, and acetylene. Interestingly, only H(2) production but no HD formation was detected in the D(2)/H(+) exchange assay. Fourier transform infrared data showed an active site similar to that of standard [NiFe]-hydrogenases. It is suggested that the protein environment accounts for a restricted gas diffusion and for the typical kinetic parameters of the H(2) sensor. EPR analysis demonstrated that the [4Fe-4S] clusters within the small subunit were not reduced under hydrogen even in the presence of dithionite. Optical spectra revealed the presence of a novel, redox-active, n = 2 chromophore that is reduced by H(2). The possible involvement of this chromophore in signal transduction is discussed.

A soluble two-component regulatory system controls expression of quinoprotein ethanol dehydrogenase (QEDH) but not expression of cytochrome c(550) of the ethanol-oxidation system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The regulation of the divergent promoters of the exaAB genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 17933, in which exaA encodes a quinoprotein ethanol dehydrogenase and exaB codes for a cytochrome c(550), was studied. Using transcriptional lacZ fusions, promoter activity during growth on several substrates was measured. These promoter-probe vectors were also used to identify regulatory mutants defective in exaAB induction. Transcription from both exaA and exaB was reduced significantly in four mutants. Two other mutants showed transcription from exaA that was reduced, but higher than wild-type transcription from exaB. The genes that are needed for exaA promoter induction were sequenced and found to encode a two-component regulatory system: a histidine sensor kinase, which lacks a transmembrane helical N-terminus and is presumably located in the cytoplasm, and a response regulator. The phenotypic characterization and restoration of the wild-type behaviour of the different regulatory mutants produced by different cosmids and subclones indicate that six different genes may be involved in regulating ethanol oxidation in P. aeruginosa.

Effects exerted by transcriptional regulator PcaU from Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1

Protocatechuate degradation is accomplished in a multistep inducible catabolic pathway in Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1. The induction is brought about by the transcriptional regulator PcaU in concert with the inducer protocatechuate. PcaU, a member of the new IclR family of transcriptional regulators, was shown to play a role in the activation of transcription at the promoter for the structural pca genes, leaving open the participation of additional activators. In this work we show that there is no PcaU-independent transcriptional activation at the pca gene promoter. The minimal inducer concentration leading to an induction response is 10(-5) M protocatechuate. The extent of expression of the pca genes was observed to depend on the nature of the inducing carbon source, and this is assumed to be caused by different internal levels of protocatechuate in the cells. The basal level of expression was shown to be comparatively high and to vary depending on the noninducing carbon source independent of PcaU. In addition to the activating function, in vivo results suggest a repressing function for PcaU at the pca gene promoter in the absence of an elevated inducer concentration. Expression at the pcaU gene promoter is independent of the growth condition but is subject to strong negative autoregulation. We propose a model in which PcaU exerts a repressor function both at its own promoter and at the structural gene promoter and in addition functions as an activator of transcription at the structural gene promoter at elevated inducer concentration.

A novel NO-responding regulator controls the reduction of nitric oxide in Ralstonia eutropha

Ralstonia eutropha H16 mediates the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N2O) with two isofunctional single component membrane-bound NO reductases (NorB1 and NorB2). This reaction is integrated into the denitrification pathway that involves the successive reduction of nitrate to dinitrogen. The norB1 gene is co-transcribed with norA1 from a sigma54 (RpoN)-dependent promoter, located upstream of norA1. With the aid of norA1'-lacZ transcriptional fusions and the generation of regulatory mutants, it was shown that norB1 gene transcription requires a functional rpoN gene and the regulator NorR, a novel member of the NtrC family of response regulators. The regulator gene maps adjacent to norAB, is divergently transcribed and present in two copies on the megaplasmid pHG1 (norR1) and the chromosome (norR2). Transcription activation by NorR responds to the availability of NO. A nitrite reductase-deficient mutant that is incapable of producing NO endogenously, showed a 70% decrease of norA1 expression. Addition of the NO-donating agent sodium nitroprusside caused induction of norA1'-lacZ transcription. Truncation of the N-terminal receiver domain of NorR1 interrupted the NO signal transduction and led to a constitutive expression of norA1'-lacZ. The results indicate that NorR controls the reductive conversion of NO in R. eutropha. This reaction is not strictly co-ordinated on the regulatory level with the other nitrogen oxide-reducing steps of the denitrification chain that are independent of NorR.

Transcriptional co-regulation of five chitinase genes scattered on the Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) chromosome

Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) strain M145 has eight chitinase genes scattered on the chromosome: six genes for family 18 (chiA, B, C, D, E and H) and two for family 19 (chiF and G). In this study, the expression and regulation of these genes were investigated. The transcription of five of the genes (chiA, B, C, D and F) was induced in the presence of colloidal chitin while that of the other three genes (chiE, G and H) was not. The transcripts of the five induced chi genes increased and reached their maximum at 4 h after the addition of colloidal chitin, all showing the same temporal patterns. The induced levels of the transcripts of chiB were significantly lower than those of the other four genes. Dynamic analysis of the transcripts of the chi genes indicated that chiA and chiC were induced more strongly than chiD and chiF. Addition of chitobiose also induced transcription of the chi genes, but significantly earlier than did colloidal chitin. When cells were cultured in the presence of colloidal chitin, an exponential increase of chitobiose concentration in the culture supernatant was observed prior to the induced transcription of the chi genes. This result, together with the immediate effect of chitobiose on the induction, suggests that chitobiose produced from colloidal chitin is involved in the induction of transcription of the chi genes. The transcription of the five chi genes was repressed by glucose. This repression was apparently mediated by the glucose kinase gene glkA.

The H(2) sensor of Ralstonia eutropha is a member of the subclass of regulatory [NiFe] hydrogenases

Two energy-generating hydrogenases enable the aerobic hydrogen bacterium Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) to use molecular hydrogen as the sole energy source. The complex synthesis of the nickel-iron-containing enzymes has to be efficiently regulated in response to H(2), which is available in low amounts in aerobic environments. H(2) sensing in R. eutropha is achieved by a hydrogenase-like protein which controls the hydrogenase gene expression in concert with a two-component regulatory system. In this study we show that the H(2) sensor of R. eutropha is a cytoplasmic protein. Although capable of H(2) oxidation with redox dyes as electron acceptors, the protein did not support lithoautotrophic growth in the absence of the energy-generating hydrogenases. A specifically designed overexpression system for R. eutropha provided the basis for identifying the H(2) sensor as a nickel-containing regulatory protein. The data support previous results which showed that the sensor has an active site similar to that of prototypic [NiFe] hydrogenases (A. J. Pierik, M. Schmelz, O. Lenz, B. Friedrich, and S. P. J. Albracht, FEBS Lett. 438:231-235, 1998). It is demonstrated that in addition to the enzymatic activity the regulatory function of the H(2) sensor is nickel dependent. The results suggest that H(2) sensing requires an active [NiFe] hydrogenase, leaving the question open whether only H(2) binding or subsequent H(2) oxidation and electron transfer processes are necessary for signaling. The regulatory role of the H(2)-sensing hydrogenase of R. eutropha, which has also been investigated in other hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, is intimately correlated with a set of typical structural features. Thus, the family of H(2) sensors represents a novel subclass of [NiFe] hydrogenases denoted as the "regulatory hydrogenases."

Transcriptional and mutational analysis of the uptake hydrogenase of the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413

A 10-kb DNA region of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 containing the structural genes of the uptake hydrogenase (hupSL) was cloned and sequenced. In contrast to the hupL gene of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, which is interrupted by a 10.5-kb DNA fragment in vegetative cells, there is no programmed rearrangement within the hupL gene during the heterocyst differentiation of A. variabilis. The hupSL genes were transcribed as a 2.7-kb operon and were induced only under nitrogen-fixing conditions, as shown by Northern blot experiments and reverse transcriptase PCR. Primer extension experiments with a fluorescence-labeled oligonucleotide primer confirmed these results and identified the 5' start of the mRNA transcript 103 bp upstream of the ATG initiation codon. A consensus sequence in the promoter that is recognized by the fumarate nitrate reductase regulator (Fnr) could be detected. The hupSL operon in A. variabilis was interrupted by an interposon deletion (mutant strain AVM13). Under N(2)-fixing conditions, the mutant strain exhibited significantly increased rates in H(2) accumulation and produced three times more hydrogen than the wild type. These results indicate that the uptake hydrogenase is catalytically active in the wild type and that the enzyme reoxidizes the H(2) developed by the nitrogenase. The Nif phenotype of the mutant strain showed a slight decrease of acetylene reduction compared to that of the wild type.

Heterologous expression of clostridial hydrogenase in the Cyanobacterium synechococcus PCC7942

The Clostridium pasteurianum hydrogenase I has been expressed in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC7942. The Shine-Dalgarno sequence of the structural gene encoding hydrogenase I from C. pasteurianum was changed to that of the cat (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) gene. The hydrogenase gene was cloned downstream of a strong promoter, isolated from Synechococcus PCC7942, with the cat gene as a reporter gene. Expression of clostridial hydrogenase was confirmed by Western and Northern blot analyses in Synechococcus and Escherichia coli, whereas in vivo/in vitro measurements and activity staining of soluble proteins separated on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels revealed functional expression of hydrogenase only in cyanobacterial cells. The changed Shine-Dalgarno sequence appeared to be essential for the functional expression of clostridial hydrogenase in Synechococcus, but had no influence on the expression and activity of clostridial hydrogenase expressed in E. coli.

The synthesis of Rhodobacter capsulatus HupSL hydrogenase is regulated by the two-component HupT/HupR system

The synthesis of the membrane-bound [NiFe]hydrogenase of Rhodobacter capsulatus (HupSL) is regulated negatively by the protein histidine kinase, HupT, and positively by the response regulator, HupR. It is demonstrated in this work that HupT and HupR are partners in a two-component signal transduction system. The binding of HupR protein to the hupS promoter regulatory region (phupS ) was studied using gel retardation and footprinting assays. HupR protected a 50 bp region localized upstream from the binding site of the histone-like integration host factor (IHF) regulator. HupR, which belongs to the NtrC subfamily, binds to an enhancer site (TTG-N5-CAA) localized at -162/-152 nt. However, the enhancer-binding HupR protein does not require the RpoN sigma factor for transcriptional activation, as is the case for NtrC from enteric bacteria, but functions with sigma70-RNA polymerase, as is the case for R. capsulatus NtrC. Besides, unlike NtrC from Escherichia coli, HupR activates transcription in the unphosphorylated form and becomes inactive by phosphorylation. This was demonstrated by replacing the putative phosphorylation site (D54) of the HupR protein with various amino acids or by deleting it using site-directed mutagenesis. Strains expressing mutated hupR genes showed high hydrogenase activities even in the absence of H2, indicating that hupSL transcription is activated by the binding of unphosphorylated HupR protein. Strains producing mutated HupRD54 proteins were derepressed for hupSL expression as were HupT- mutants. It is shown that the phosphorylated form of HupT was able to transfer phosphate to wild-type HupR protein but not to mutated D54 HupR proteins. Thus, it is concluded that HupT and HupR are the partners of a two-component regulatory system that regulates hupSL gene transcription.

Compilation and analysis of sigma(54)-dependent promoter sequences

Promoters recognized by the RNA-polymerase with the alternative sigma factor sigma(54) (Esigma54) are unique in having conserved positions around -24 and -12 nucleotides upstream from the transcriptional start site, instead of the typical -35 and -10 boxes. Here we compile 186 -24/-12 promoter sequences reported in the literature and generate an updated and extended consensus sequence. The use of the extended consensus increases the probability of identifying genuine -24/-12 promoters. The effect of several reported mutations at the -24/-12 elements on RNA-polymerase binding and promoter strength is discussed in the light of the updated consensus.

Purification and characterization of the single-component nitric oxide reductase from Ralstonia eutropha H16

Nitric oxide (NO) reductase was purified from Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) using a two step chromatographic procedure. Unlike the common NO reductases, the enzyme consists of a single subunit of 75 kDa which contains both high-spin and low-spin heme b, but lacks heme c. One additional iron atom, probably a ferric non-heme iron, was identified per enzyme molecule. Whereas reduced cytochrome c was ineffective as electron donor, NO was reduced at a specific activity of 2.3 micromol/min per mg of protein in the presence of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinol.

Positive transcriptional feedback controls hydrogenase expression in Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

The protein HoxA is the central regulator of the Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 hox regulon, which encodes two hydrogenases, a nickel permease and several accessory proteins required for hydrogenase biosynthesis. Expression of the regulatory gene hoxA was analyzed. Screening of an 8-kb region upstream of hoxA with a promoter probe vector localized four promoter activities. One of these was found in the region immediately 5' of hoxA; the others were correlated with the nickel metabolism genes hypA1, hypB1, and hypX. All four activities were independent of HoxA and of the minor transcription factor sigma(54). Translational fusions revealed that hoxA is expressed constitutively at low levels. In contrast to these findings, immunoblotting studies revealed a clear fluctuation in the HoxA pool in response to conditions which induce the hox regulon. Quantitative transcript assays indicated elevated levels of hyp mRNA under hydrogenase-derepressing conditions. Using interposon mutagenesis, we showed that the activity of a remote promoter is required for hydrogenase expression and autotrophic growth. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that P(MBH), which directs transcription of the structural genes of the membrane-bound hydrogenase, contributes to the expression of hoxA under hydrogenase-derepressing conditions. Thus, expression of the hox regulon is governed by a positive feedback loop mediating amplification of the regulator HoxA. These results imply the existence of an unusually large (ca. 17,000-nucleotide) transcript.

A megaplasmid-borne anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase in Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

The conjugative 450-kb megaplasmid pHG1 is essential for the anaerobic growth of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 in the presence of nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor. We identified two megaplasmid-borne genes (nrdD and nrdG) which are indispensable under these conditions. Sequence alignment identified significant similarity of the 76.2-kDa gene product NrdD and the 30.9-kDa gene product NrdG with anaerobic class III ribonucleotide reductases and their corresponding activases. Deletion of nrdD and nrdG in A. eutrophus abolished anaerobic growth and led to the formation of nondividing filamentous cells, a typical feature of bacteria whose DNA synthesis is blocked. Enzyme activity of NrdD-like ribonucleotide reductases is dependent on a stable radical at a glycine residue in a conserved C-terminal motif. A mutant of A. eutrophus with a G650A exchange in NrdD showed the DNA-deficient phenotype as the deletion strain, suggesting that G650 forms the glycyl radical. Analysis of transcriptional and translational fusions indicate that nrdD and nrdG are cotranscribed and that the translation efficiency of nrdD is 40-fold higher than that of nrdG. Thus, the two proteins NrdD and NrdG are not synthesized at a stoichiometric level.

Dynamics of multigene expression during catabolic adaptation of Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 (pJP4) to the herbicide 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetate

Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 carries a 22 kb DNA region on plasmid pJP4 necessary for the degradation of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate). In this study, expression of the 2,4-D pathway genes (designated tfd ) upon exposure to different concentrations of 2,4-D was measured at a detailed timescale in chemostat-grown R. eutropha cultures. A sharp increase in mRNA levels for tfdA, tfdCDEF-B, tfdDIICIIEIIFII-BII and tfdK was detected between 2 and 13 min after exposure to 2,4-D. This response time was not dependent on the 2,4-D concentration. The genes tfdA, tfdCD and tfdDIICII were expressed immediately upon induction, whereas tfdB, tfdBII and tfdK mRNAs could be detected only around 10 min later. The number of tfd mRNA transcripts per cell was estimated to be around 200-500 during maximal expression, after which they decreased to between 1 and 30 depending on the 2,4-D concentration used for induction. Unlike the mRNAs, the specific activity of the 2,4-D pathway enzyme chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase did not increase sharply but accumulated to a steady-state plateau, which was dependent on the 2, 4-D concentration in the medium. At 1 mM 2,4-D, several oscillations in mRNA levels were observed before steady-state expression was reached, which was caused by transient accumulation of the first pathway intermediate, 2,4-dichlorophenol, to toxic concentrations. Expression of tfdR and tfdS, the (identical) regulatory genes for the tfd pathway remained low and essentially unchanged during the entire adaptation phase.

Transcriptional regulation of Nostoc uptake hydrogenase

Filamentous, heterocystous cyanobacteria may contain both an uptake hydrogenase (encoded by hupSL) and a bidirectional enzyme (encoded by hoxFUYH). The present study identifies three strains (Anabaena variabilis, Nostoc muscorum and Nostoc sp. strain PCC 73102) with a contiguous hupL in both vegetative cells and heterocysts. The two Nostoc strains differ in either containing a bidirectional enzyme (N. muscorum) or lacking this enzyme (N. PCC 73102). Transcriptional studies, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, demonstrated an induction of a hupL transcript approximately 24 h after a shift from non-nitrogen-fixing to nitrogen-fixing conditions (in parallel with the induction of an in vivo light-dependent H2-uptake activity) in N. muscorum. However, the level of hoxH transcripts did not change significantly during the induction of the H2-uptake activity.

A novel multicomponent regulatory system mediates H2 sensing in Alcaligenes eutrophus

Oxidation of molecular hydrogen catalyzed by [NiFe] hydrogenases is a widespread mechanism of energy generation among prokaryotes. Biosynthesis of the H2-oxidizing enzymes is a complex process subject to positive control by H2 and negative control by organic energy sources. In this report we describe a novel signal transduction system regulating hydrogenase gene (hox) expression in the proteobacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus. This multicomponent system consists of the proteins HoxB, HoxC, HoxJ*, and HoxA. HoxB and HoxC share characteristic features of dimeric [NiFe] hydrogenases and form the putative H2 receptor that interacts directly or indirectly with the histidine protein kinase HoxJ*. A single amino acid substitution (HoxJ*G422S) in a conserved C-terminal glycine-rich motif of HoxJ* resulted in a loss of H2-dependent signal transduction and a concomitant block in autophosphorylating activity, suggesting that autokinase activity is essential for the response to H2. Whereas deletions in hoxB or hoxC abolished hydrogenase synthesis almost completely, the autokinase-deficient strain maintained high-level hox gene expression, indicating that the active sensor kinase exerts a negative effect on hox gene expression in the absence of H2. Substitutions of the conserved phosphoryl acceptor residue Asp55 in the response regulator HoxA (HoxAD55E and HoxAD55N) disrupted the H2 signal-transduction chain. Unlike other NtrC-like regulators, the altered HoxA proteins still allowed high-level transcriptional activation. The data presented here suggest a model in which the nonphosphorylated form of HoxA stimulates transcription in concert with a yet unknown global energy-responsive factor.