NMR structure of cysteinyl-phosphorylated enzyme IIB of the N,N′-diacetylchitobiose-specific phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system of Escherichia coli

Multiscale In Silico Study of the Mechanism of Activation of the RtcB Ligase by the PTP1B Phosphatase

Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is a transmembrane sensor that is part of a trio of sensors responsible for controlling the unfolded protein response within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Upon the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER, IRE1 becomes activated and initiates the cleavage of a 26-nucleotide intron from human X-box-containing protein 1 (XBP1). The cleavage is mediated by the RtcB ligase enzyme, which splices together two exons, resulting in the formation of the spliced isoform XBP1s. The XBP1s isoform activates the transcription of genes involved in ER-associated degradation to maintain cellular homeostasis. The catalytic activity of RtcB is controlled by the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of three tyrosine residues (Y306, Y316, and Y475), which are regulated by the ABL1 tyrosine kinase and PTP1B phosphatase, respectively. This study focuses on investigating the mechanism by which the PTP1B phosphatase activates the RtcB ligase using a range of advanced in silico methods. Protein-protein docking identified key interacting residues between RtcB and PTP1B. Notably, the phosphorylated Tyr306 formed hydrogen bonds and salt bridge interactions with the "gatekeeper" residues Arg47 and Lys120 of the inactive PTP1B. Classical molecular dynamics simulation emphasized the crucial role of Asp181 in the activation of PTP1B, driving the conformational change from an open to a closed state of the WPD-loop. Furthermore, QM/MM-MD simulations provided insights into the free energy landscape of the dephosphorylation reaction mechanism of RtcB, which is mediated by the PTP1B phosphatase.

Configurational Analysis by Residual Dipolar Coupling Driven Floating Chirality Distance Geometry Calculations

A new method implemented into a computer program (ConArch⁺ ) has been developed and applied to demonstrate the successful implementation of residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) in distance geometry (DG) calculations for the configurational assignment of chiral compounds. Unlike established protocols, the new approach combines floating chirality (fc) in 4D- and 3D-distance bounds driven dynamics (DDD) calculations with structural information from RDCs. Thus, relative configurations of chiral compounds were generated only by observables (e.g., NOEs, RDCs) rendering tedious evaluations of calculated structures against RDCs obsolete. We demonstrate the potential of this novel procedure by the simultaneous determination of the configuration and the conformation of three natural products, (-)-isopinocampheol (1), tubocurarine (2), and vincristine (3), as well as for diisopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (4).

In silico identification of molecular mimics involved in the pathogenesis of Clostridium botulinum ATCC 3502 strain

Bacterial pathogens invade and disrupt the host defense system by means of protein sequences structurally similar at global and local level both. The sharing of homologous sequences between the host and the pathogenic bacteria mediates the infection and defines the concept of molecular mimicry. In this study, various computational approaches were employed to elucidate the pathogenicity of Clostridium botulinum ATCC 3502 at genome-wide level. Genome-wide study revealed that the pathogen mimics the host (Homo sapiens) and unraveled the complex pathogenic pathway of causing infection. The comparative 'omics' approaches helped in selective screening of 'molecular mimicry' candidates followed by the qualitative assessment of the virulence potential and functional enrichment. Overall, this study provides a deep insight into the emergence and surveillance of multidrug resistant C. botulinum ATCC 3502 caused infections. This is the very first report identifying C. botulinum ATCC 3502 proteome enriched similarities to the human host proteins and resulted in the identification of 20 potential mimicry candidates, which were further characterized qualitatively by sub-cellular organization prediction and functional annotation. This study will provide a variety of avenues for future studies related to infectious agents, host-pathogen interactions and the evolution of pathogenesis process.

Structural insight into the PTS sugar transporter EIIC

BACKGROUND

The enzyme IIC (EIIC) component of the phosphotransferase system (PTS) is responsible for selectively transporting sugar molecules across the inner bacterial membrane. This is accomplished in parallel with phosphorylation of the sugar, which prevents efflux of the sugar back across the membrane. This process is a key part of an extensive signaling network that allows bacteria to efficiently utilize preferred carbohydrate sources.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

The goal of this review is to examine the current understanding of the structural features of the EIIC and how it mediates concentrative, selective sugar transport. The crystal structure of an N,N'-diacetylchitobiose transporter is used as a structural template for the glucose superfamily of PTS transporters.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Comparison of protein sequences in context with the known EIIC structure suggests that members of the glucose superfamily of PTS transporters may exhibit variations in topology. Despite these differences, a conserved histidine and glutamate appear to have roles shared across the superfamily in sugar binding and phosphorylation. In the proposed transport model, a rigid body motion between two structural domains and movement of an intracellular loop provide the substrate binding site with alternating access, and reveal a surface required for interaction with the phosphotransfer protein responsible for catalysis.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The structural and functional data discussed here give a preliminary understanding of how transport in EIIC is achieved. However, given the great sequence diversity between varying glucose-superfamily PTS transporters and lack of data on conformational changes needed for transport, additional structures of other members and conformations are still required. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Structural biochemistry and biophysics of membrane proteins.

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.

Structure, dynamics and biophysics of the cytoplasmic protein-protein complexes of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system

The bacterial phosphotransferase system (PTS) couples phosphoryl transfer, via a series of bimolecular protein-protein interactions, to sugar transport across the membrane. The multitude of complexes in the PTS provides a paradigm for studying protein interactions, and for understanding how the same binding surface can specifically recognize a diverse array of targets. Fifteen years of work aimed at solving the solution structures of all soluble protein-protein complexes of the PTS has served as a test bed for developing NMR and integrated hybrid approaches to study larger complexes in solution and to probe transient, spectroscopically invisible states, including encounter complexes. We review these approaches, highlighting the problems that can be tackled with these methods, and summarize the current findings on protein interactions.

Solution structure of the IIAChitobiose-HPr complex of the N,N'-diacetylchitobiose branch of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system

The solution structure of the complex of enzyme IIA of the N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (Chb) transporter with the histidine phosphocarrier protein HPr has been solved by NMR. The IIA(Chb)-HPr complex completes the structure elucidation of representative cytoplasmic complexes for all four sugar branches of the bacterial phosphoryl transfer system (PTS). The active site His-89 of IIA(Chb) was mutated to Glu to mimic the phosphorylated state. IIA(Chb)(H89E) and HPr form a weak complex with a K(D) of ~0.7 mM. The interacting binding surfaces, concave for IIA(Chb) and convex for HPr, complement each other in terms of shape, residue type, and charge distribution, with predominantly hydrophobic residues, interspersed by some uncharged polar residues, located centrally, and polar and charged residues at the periphery. The active site histidine of HPr, His-15, is buried within the active site cleft of IIA(Chb) formed at the interface of two adjacent subunits of the IIA(Chb) trimer, thereby coming into close proximity with the active site residue, H89E, of IIA(Chb). A His89-P-His-15 pentacoordinate phosphoryl transition state can readily be modeled without necessitating any significant conformational changes, thereby facilitating rapid phosphoryl transfer. Comparison of the IIA(Chb)-HPr complex with the IIA(Chb)-IIB(Chb) complex, as well as with other cytoplasmic complexes of the PTS, highlights a unifying mechanism for recognition of structurally diverse partners. This involves generating similar binding surfaces from entirely different underlying structural elements, large interaction surfaces coupled with extensive redundancy, and side chain conformational plasticity to optimize diverse sets of intermolecular interactions.

Control of Bacillus subtilis mtl operon expression by complex phosphorylation-dependent regulation of the transcriptional activator MtlR

Many bacteria transport mannitol via the mtlAF-encoded phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS). In most firmicutes the transcriptional activator MtlR controls expression of the mtl operon. MtlR possesses an N-terminal DNA binding domain, two PTS regulation domains (PRDs), an EIIB(Gat)- and EIIA(Mtl)-like domain. These four regulatory domains contain one or two potential PTS phosphorylation sites. Replacement of His-342 or His-399 in PRD2 with Ala prevented the phosphorylation of Bacillus subtilis MtlR by PEP, EI and HPr. These mutations as well as EI inactivation caused a loss of MtlR function in vivo. In contrast, phosphomimetic replacement of His-342 with Asp rendered MtlR constitutively active. The absence of phosphorylation in PRD2 serves as catabolite repression mechanism. When EIIA(Mtl) and the soluble EIIB(Mtl) domain of the EIICB(Mtl) permease were included in the phosphorylation mixture, His-599 in the EIIA-like domain of MtlR also became phosphorylated. Replacement of His-599 with Asp rendered MtlR inactive, while His599Ala replacement caused slightly constitutive, glucose-repressible MtlR activity. Doubly mutated His342Ala/His599Ala MtlR was still phosphorylated by EI, HPr and EIIA(Mtl) at Cys-419 in the EIIB(Gat)-like domain. Cys419Ala replacement and deletion of EIIA(Mtl) caused strong constitutive glucose-repressible MtlR activity. This is the first report that Cys phosphorylation controls PRD-containing transcriptional activators.

Solution structure of the IIAChitobiose-IIBChitobiose complex of the N,N'-diacetylchitobiose branch of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system

The solution structure of the IIA-IIB complex of the N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (Chb) transporter of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system has been solved by NMR. The active site His-89 of IIA(Chb) was mutated to Glu to mimic the phosphorylated state and the active site Cys-10 of IIB(Chb) was substituted by serine to prevent intermolecular disulfide bond formation. Binding is weak with a K(D) of approximately 1.3 mm. The two complementary interaction surfaces are largely hydrophobic, with the protruding active site loop (residues 9-16) of IIB(Chb) buried deep within the active site cleft formed at the interface of two adjacent subunits of the IIA(Chb) trimer. The central hydrophobic portion of the interface is surrounded by a ring of polar and charged residues that provide a relatively small number of electrostatic intermolecular interactions that serve to correctly align the two proteins. The conformation of the active site loop in unphosphorylated IIB(Chb) is inconsistent with the formation of a phosphoryl transition state intermediate because of steric hindrance, especially from the methyl group of Ala-12 of IIB(Chb). Phosphorylation of IIB(Chb) is accompanied by a conformational change within the active site loop such that its path from residues 11-13 follows a mirror-like image relative to that in the unphosphorylated state. This involves a transition of the phi/psi angles of Gly-13 from the right to left alpha-helical region, as well as smaller changes in the backbone torsion angles of Ala-12 and Met-14. The resulting active site conformation is fully compatible with the formation of the His-89-P-Cys-10 phosphoryl transition state without necessitating any change in relative translation or orientation of the two proteins within the complex.

Crystal structures of phosphotransferase system enzymes PtxB (IIB(Asc)) and PtxA (IIA(Asc)) from Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans is the primary etiological agent of dental caries in man and other mammalian organisms. This bacterium metabolizes carbohydrates actively and thrives under anaerobic conditions by fermenting l-ascorbate (Asc) via the sga operon, which includes SgaT, PtxB, and PtxA. These three proteins are members of the Asc family of enzyme II (EII) complexes of the bacterial phosphotransferase system. Here, we report the crystal structure of PtxB, solved by single-wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing, and that of PtxA, solved by molecular replacement, from S. mutans. PtxB provides the first crystal structure of an EIIB from the Asc family, composed of a central beta sheet of parallel strands flanked by alpha helices on both sides. The structure of PtxB is similar to the structures of IIB(Mtl) (IIB subunit of mannitol PTS) and IIB(Cel) (IIB subunit of cellobiose) in Escherichia coli despite the low sequence identity. PtxA adopts a globular alpha/beta sandwich structure. The phosphorylation-site His68 is situated between beta2 and beta3, within a hydrophobic pocket. We found that the hydrogen bond on N(delta1) of the active-site histidine is a common means of ensuring that phosphate is on the correct N(varepsilon2) site in many EIIA families. Finally, a model of the PtxB-PtxA complex was constructed, and a PtxA-phospho-PtxB state is proposed. Analyses of the two structures shed light on the catalytic mechanism of the phosphotransferase system.

Computation of nitroxide-nitroxide distances in spin-labeled DNA duplexes

Nanometer distances in nucleic acids can be measured by EPR using two 1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline radicals, with each label attached via a methylene group to a phosphorothioate-substituted backbone position as one of two phosphorothioate diastereomers (R(P) and S(P)). Correlating the internitroxide distance to the geometry of the parent molecule requires computational analysis of the label conformers. Here, we report sixteen 4-ns MD simulations on a DNA duplex d(CTACTGCTTTAG) .d(CTAAAGCAGTAG) with label pairs at C7/C19, T5/A17, and T2/T14, respectively. For each labeled duplex, four simulations were performed with S(P)/S(P), R(P)/R(P), S(P)/R(P), and R(P)/S(P) labels, with initial all trans label conformations. Another set of four simulations was performed for the 7/19-labeled duplex using a different label starting conformation. The average internitroxide distance r(MD) was within 0.2 A for the two sets of simulations for the 7/19-labeled duplex, indicating sufficient sampling of conformational space. For all three labeled duplexes studied, r(MD) agreed with experimental values, as well as with average distances obtained from an efficient conformer search algorithm (NASNOX). The simulations also showed that the labels have conformational preferences determined by the linker chemistry and label-DNA interactions. These results establish computational algorithms that allow use of the 1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline label for mapping global structures of nucleic acids.

How phosphotransferase system-related protein phosphorylation regulates carbohydrate metabolism in bacteria

The phosphoenolpyruvate(PEP):carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) is found only in bacteria, where it catalyzes the transport and phosphorylation of numerous monosaccharides, disaccharides, amino sugars, polyols, and other sugar derivatives. To carry out its catalytic function in sugar transport and phosphorylation, the PTS uses PEP as an energy source and phosphoryl donor. The phosphoryl group of PEP is usually transferred via four distinct proteins (domains) to the transported sugar bound to the respective membrane component(s) (EIIC and EIID) of the PTS. The organization of the PTS as a four-step phosphoryl transfer system, in which all P derivatives exhibit similar energy (phosphorylation occurs at histidyl or cysteyl residues), is surprising, as a single protein (or domain) coupling energy transfer and sugar phosphorylation would be sufficient for PTS function. A possible explanation for the complexity of the PTS was provided by the discovery that the PTS also carries out numerous regulatory functions. Depending on their phosphorylation state, the four proteins (domains) forming the PTS phosphorylation cascade (EI, HPr, EIIA, and EIIB) can phosphorylate or interact with numerous non-PTS proteins and thereby regulate their activity. In addition, in certain bacteria, one of the PTS components (HPr) is phosphorylated by ATP at a seryl residue, which increases the complexity of PTS-mediated regulation. In this review, we try to summarize the known protein phosphorylation-related regulatory functions of the PTS. As we shall see, the PTS regulation network not only controls carbohydrate uptake and metabolism but also interferes with the utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus and the virulence of certain pathogens.

Site-directed spin labeling measurements of nanometer distances in nucleic acids using a sequence-independent nitroxide probe

In site-directed spin labeling (SDSL), local structural and dynamic information is obtained via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of a stable nitroxide radical attached site-specifically to a macromolecule. Analysis of electron spin dipolar interactions between pairs of nitroxides yields the inter-nitroxide distance, which provides quantitative structural information. The development of pulse EPR methods has enabled such distance measurements up to 70 A in bio-molecules, thus opening up the possibility of SDSL global structural mapping. This study evaluates SDSL distance measurement using a nitroxide (designated as R5) that can be attached, in an efficient and cost-effective manner, to a phosphorothioate backbone position at arbitrary DNA or RNA sequences. R5 pairs were attached to selected positions of a dodecamer DNA duplex with a known NMR structure, and eight distances, ranging from 20 to 40 A, were measured using double electron-electron resonance (DEER). The measured distances correlated strongly (R2 = 0.98) with the predicted values calculated based on a search of sterically allowable R5 conformations in the NMR structure, thus demonstrating accurate distance measurements using R5. Furthermore, distance measurement in a 42 kD DNA was demonstrated. The results establish R5 as a sequence-independent probe for global structural mapping of DNA and DNA-protein complexes.

Solution structure of a post-transition state analog of the phosphotransfer reaction between the A and B cytoplasmic domains of the mannitol transporter IIMannitol of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system

The solution structure of the post-transition state complex between the isolated cytoplasmic A (IIAMtl) and phosphorylated B (phospho-IIBMtl) domains of the mannitol transporter of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system has been solved by NMR. The active site His-554 of IIAMtl was mutated to glutamine to block phosphoryl transfer activity, and the active site Cys-384 of IIBMtl (residues of IIBMtl are denoted in italic type) was substituted by serine to permit the formation of a stable phosphorylated form of IIBMtl. The two complementary interaction surfaces are predominantly hydrophobic, and two methionines on IIBMtl, Met-388 and Met-393, serve as anchors by interacting with two deep pockets on the surface of IIAMtl. With the exception of a salt bridge between the conserved Arg-538 of IIAMtl and the phosphoryl group of phospho-IIBMtl, electrostatic interactions between the two proteins are limited to the outer edges of the interface, are few in number, and appear to be weak. This accounts for the low affinity of the complex (Kd approximately 3.7 mm), which is optimally tuned to the intact biological system in which the A and B domains are expressed as a single polypeptide connected by a flexible 21-residue linker. The phosphoryl transition state can readily be modeled with no change in protein-protein orientation and minimal perturbations in both the backbone immediately adjacent to His-554 and Cys-384 and the side chains in close proximity to the phosphoryl group. Comparison with the previously solved structure of the IIAMtl-HPr complex reveals how IIAMtl uses the same interaction surface to recognize two structurally unrelated proteins and explains the much higher affinity of IIAMtl for HPr than IIBMtl.

Visualization of the phosphorylated active site loop of the cytoplasmic B domain of the mannitol transporter II(Mannitol) of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system by NMR spectroscopy and residual dipolar couplings

The solution structure of a stably phosphorylated form of the cytoplasmic B domain of the mannitol-specific transporter (IIB(Mtl)) of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system, containing a mutation of the active site Cys384 to Ser, has been solved by NMR. The strategy employed relies principally on backbone residual dipolar couplings recorded in three different alignment media, supplemented by nuclear Overhauser enhancement data and torsion angle restraints related specifically to the active site loop (residues 383-393). As judged from the dipolar coupling data, the remainder of the structure is unchanged upon phosphorylation within the errors of the coordinates of the previously determined solution structure of unphosphorylated wild-type IIB(Mtl). Thus, only the active site loop was refined. Phosphorylation results in a backbone atomic rms shift of approximately 0.7 angstroms in the active site loop. The resulting conformation is less than 0.5 angstroms away from the equivalent P-loop in both the low and high molecular mass eukaryotic tyrosine phosphatases. 3J(NP) coupling constant measurements using quantitative J-correlation spectroscopy provide a direct demonstration of a hydrogen bond between the phosphoryl group and the backbone amide of Ser391 at position i + 7 from phospho-Ser384, with an approximately linear P-O-H(N) bond angle. The structure also reveals additional hydrogen bonding interactions involving the backbone amides of residues at positions i + 4 and i + 5, and the hydroxyl groups of two serine residues at positions i + 6 and i + 7 that stabilize the phosphoryl group.

Solution Structure of Enzyme IIAChitobiose from the N,N′-Diacetylchitobiose Branch of the Escherichia coli Phosphotransferase System

The solution structure of trimeric Escherichia coli enzyme IIA(Chb) (34 kDa), a component of the N,N'-diacetylchitobiose/lactose branch of the phosphotransferase signal transduction system, has been determined by NMR spectroscopy. Backbone residual dipolar couplings were used to provide long range orientational restraints, and long range (|i - j| > or = 5 residues) nuclear Overhauser enhancement restraints were derived exclusively from samples in which at least one subunit was 15N/13C/2H/(Val-Leu-Ile)-methyl-protonated. Each subunit consists of a three-helix bundle. Hydrophobic residues lining helix 3 of each subunit are largely responsible for the formation of a parallel coiled-coil trimer. The active site histidines (His-89 from each subunit) are located in three symmetrically placed deep crevices located at the interface of two adjacent subunits (A and C, C and B, and B and A). Partially shielded from bulk solvent, structural modeling suggests that phosphorylated His-89 is stabilized by electrostatic interactions with the side chains of His-93 from the same subunit and Gln-91 from the adjacent subunit. Comparison with the x-ray structure of Lactobacillus lactis IIA(Lac) reveals some substantial structural differences, particularly in regard to helix 3, which exhibits a 40 degrees kink in IIA(Lac) versus a 7 degrees bend in IIA(Chb). This is associated with the presence of an unusually large (230-angstroms3) buried hydrophobic cavity at the trimer interface in IIA(Lac) that is reduced to only 45 angstroms3) in IIA(Chb).

Three-dimensional Solution Structure of the Cytoplasmic B Domain of the Mannitol Transporter IIMannitol of the Escherichia coli Phosphotransferase System

The solution structure of the cytoplasmic B domain of the mannitol (Mtl) transporter (II(Mtl)) from the mannitol branch of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system has been solved by multidimensional NMR spectroscopy with extensive use of residual dipolar couplings. The ordered IIB(Mtl) domain (residues 375-471 of II(Mtl)) consists of a four-stranded parallel beta-sheet flanked by two helices (alpha(1) and alpha(3)) on one face and helix alpha(2) on the opposite face with a characteristic Rossmann fold comprising two right-handed beta(1)alpha(1)beta(2) and beta(3)alpha(2)beta(4) motifs. The active site loop is structurally very similar to that of the eukaryotic protein tyrosine phosphatases, with the active site cysteine (Cys-384) primed in the thiolate state (pK(a) < 5.6) for nucleophilic attack at the phosphorylated histidine (His-554) of the IIA(Mtl) domain through stabilization by hydrogen bonding interactions with neighboring backbone amide groups at positions i + 2/3/4 from Cys-384 and with the hydroxyl group of Ser-391 at position i + 7. Modeling of the phosphorylated state of IIB(Mtl) suggests that the phosphoryl group can be readily stabilized by hydrogen bonding interactions with backbone amides in the i + 2/4/5/6/7 positions as well as with the hydroxyl group of Ser390 at position i + 6. Despite the absence of any significant sequence identity, the structure of IIB(Mtl) is remarkably similar to the structures of bovine protein tyrosine phosphatase (which contains two long insertions relative to IIB(Mtl)) and the cytoplasmic B component of enzyme II(Chb), which fulfills an analogous role to IIB(Mtl) in the N,N'-diacetylchitobiose branch of the phosphotransferase system. All three proteins utilize a cysteine residue in the nucleophilic attack of a phosphoryl group covalently bound to another protein.

Expression of the chitobiose operon of Escherichia coli is regulated by three transcription factors: NagC, ChbR and CAP

The chitobiose operon, chbBCARFG, encodes genes for the transport and degradation of the N-acetylglucosamine disaccharide, chitobiose. Chitobiose is transported by the phosphotransferase system (PTS) producing chitobiose-6P which is hydrolysed to GlcNAc-6P by the chbF gene product and then further degraded by the nagBA gene products. Expression of the chb operon is repressed by NagC, which regulates genes involved in amino sugar metabolism. The inducer for NagC is GlcNAc-6P. NagC binds to two sites separated by 115 bp and the transcription start point of the chb operon lies within the downstream NagC operator. In addition the chb operon encodes its own specific regulator, ChbR, an AraC-type dual repressor-activator, which binds to two direct repeats of 19 bp located between the two NagC sites. ChbR is necessary for transcription activation in the presence of chitobiose in vivo. Induction of the operon also requires CAP, which binds to a site upstream of the ChbR repeats. In the absence of chitobiose both NagC and ChbR act as repressors. Together these three factors cooperate in switching chb expression from the repressed to the activated state. The need for two specific inducing signals, one for ChbR to activate the expression of the operon and a second for NagC to relieve its repression, ensure that the chb operon is only induced when there is sufficient flux through the combined chb-nag metabolic pathway to activate expression of both the chb and nag operons.

Crystal structure of the IIB(Sor) domain of the sorbose permease from Klebsiella pneumoniae solved to 1.75A resolution

The phosphoenolpyruvate transferase system (PTS) is the major pathway by which bacteria import hexose sugars across the plasma membrane. The PTS transfers a phosphoryl group sequentially via several components from the glycolytic intermediate phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to the translocated sugar. It is comprised of the two general proteins enzyme I and HPr, and a sugar-specific enzyme II complex. Sugar translocation is through the membrane domain of the enzyme II complex. The enzyme II complex can belong to one of six families based upon sequence similarity, with the sorbose transporter from Klebsiella pneumoniae a member of the mannose family.The structure of the IIB(Sor) domain was solved to 1.75A resolution by molecular replacement. It has a central core of seven parallel beta-strands surrounded by a total of six alpha-helices. Three helices cover the front face, one the back face with the remaining two capping the central beta-sheet at the top and bottom. The catalytic His15 residue is situated on the surface-exposed loop between strand 1 and helix 1. In addition to the features previously observed in the homologous IIB(Lev) domain from Bacillus subtilis we see new features in the IIB(Sor) structure. First, the catalytic His15 side-chain is fixed in a specific conformation by forming a short hydrogen bond with Asp10, which in turn makes a salt-bridge with Arg8. Second, as observed in other phosphoproteins, an arginine residue (Arg12) is well poised to stabilize a phosphoryl group on His15. Third, we see an Asp/His pair reminiscent of that observed in the IIA(Man) domain from Escherichia coli. Finally, docking of IIA(Man) to IIB(Sor) shows that Arg12 in its current conformation is well positioned to assist the subsequent transfer of the phosphoryl group onto the sugar in line with previous mutagenesis studies.

Solution structure of the phosphoryl transfer complex between the cytoplasmic A domain of the mannitol transporter IIMannitol and HPr of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system

The solution structure of the complex between the cytoplasmic A domain (IIA(Mtl)) of the mannitol transporter II(Mannitol) and the histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein (HPr) of the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system has been solved by NMR, including the use of conjoined rigid body/torsion angle dynamics, and residual dipolar couplings, coupled with cross-validation, to permit accurate orientation of the two proteins. A convex surface on HPr, formed by helices 1 and 2, interacts with a complementary concave depression on the surface of IIA(Mtl) formed by helix 3, portions of helices 2 and 4, and beta-strands 2 and 3. The majority of intermolecular contacts are hydrophobic, with a small number of electrostatic interactions at the periphery of the interface. The active site histidines, His-15 of HPr and His-65 of IIA(Mtl), are in close spatial proximity, and a pentacoordinate phosphoryl transition state can be readily accommodated with no change in protein-protein orientation and only minimal perturbations of the backbone immediately adjacent to the histidines. Comparison with two previously solved structures of complexes of HPr with partner proteins of the phosphotransferase system, the N-terminal domain of enzyme I (EIN) and enzyme IIA(Glucose) (IIA(Glc)), reveals a number of common features despite the fact that EIN, IIA(Glc), and IIA(Mtl) bear no structural resemblance to one another. Thus, entirely different underlying structural elements can form binding surfaces for HPr that are similar in terms of both shape and residue composition. These structural comparisons illustrate the roles of surface and residue complementarity, redundancy, incremental build-up of specificity and conformational side chain plasticity in the formation of transient specific protein-protein complexes in signal transduction pathways.