Functional and structural analysis of the BigR protein from Xylella fastidiosa involved in the regulation of Xf0768-0764 operon / Analise funcional e estrutural da proteina BigR de Xylella fastidiosa envolvida na regulação do operon Xf0768-0764

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

The XF0767 gene from Xylella fastidiosa is located in an operon composed by a set of genes (XF0768-XF0767-XF0766-XF0765-XF0764) of unknown function. This operon is conserved in a number of plant-associated bacteria including Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Mezorhizobium loti e Sinorhizobium meliloti. The DNA region upstream of the operon has canonical sequences corresponding to -35 and -10 elements found in sigma70-regulated promoters. The aim of this work was to elucidate the biological function of the protein encoded by XF0767, named BigR (biofilm growth-associated repressor), as a transcriptional regulator and its importance to the bacteria. BigR binds to an inverted repeat sequence (9-4-9) located in the -10 region of the XF0768-0764 operon promoter. This sequence was named BigRbox. BigR repressed transcription of its own operon upon binding to the BigRbox in Xylella fastidiosa and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Mutations in the BigRbox significantly affected the repressor binding and abolished transcription of the reporter gene in both bacteria, indicating that BigR compete with the RNA polymerase for the same promoter site. BigR is similar to HTH transcriptional factors of the SmtB/ArsR family, which control tolerance and detoxification of heavy metals in prokaryotes. Despite the similarities, BigR does not appear to function as a metal sensor, as initially predicted. Although binding of BigR to its target DNA was diminished in the presence of cadmium, copper and iron, operon regulation in response to metals was not demonstrated in vivo. In addition, Agrobacterium mutants deficient in BigR did not show changes in growth rates in the presence of metals. BLH is an unusual beta-lactamase-like hydrolase coded by the XF0768 gene. To gain insights into the possible function of the operon, the activity of reporter cells was observed in the presence of different compounds and conditions including in planta growth, effect of endophytic competition and nutrient deficiency. Significantly, an increased operon activity was observed in Xylella and Agrobacterium biofilms. Agrobacterium cells attached to tobacco roots also showed high levels of reporter gene expression in comparison to cells in suspension. A. tumefaciens mutants deficient in the BigR showed constitutive expression of the operon, confirming that BigR acts as a transcriptional repressor. Biofilm quantification showed increased biofilm formation in glass surfaces as well as in tobacco roots, indicating that the operon may play a role in cell adherence or biofilm development. Structurally, the truncated BigR protein (?BigR) is a trimmer in solution, as opposed to most HTH regulators known, which are usually found as dimmers or monomers. BigR is stable at high temperatures (74oC); however, treatments with high concentrations of ammonium sulfate interfere with the protein secondary structure and its DNA binding capacity, without affecting its thermal stability. Good quality X-ray diffraction data were collected for the native and derivative ?bigR protein; however, structure resolution was not possible probably due to problems with the crystals

ASSUNTO(S)

xylella fastidiosa gene expression regulation bigr protein biofilm fator de trascrição transcriptional factor biofilme proteina bigr regulação da expressão genica

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