scholarly journals Interdependent Expression of the ccoNOQP-rdxBHIS Loci in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1

2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (19) ◽  
pp. 5330-5338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Hyeob Roh ◽  
Samuel Kaplan

ABSTRACT The rdxBHIS gene cluster of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1, located downstream of the ccoNOQP operon encoding the cbb 3 cytochrome c oxidase, is required for the posttranscriptional modification of the cbb 3 cytochrome c oxidase. The cbb 3 cytochrome c oxidase is the main terminal oxidase under microaerobic conditions, as well as a component of the signal transduction pathway controlling photosynthesis gene expression. Because of the intimate functional and positional relationships of the ccoNOQP operon and the rdxBHIS gene cluster, we have examined the transcriptional activities of this DNA region in order to understand their expression and regulation. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-PCR, together with earlier complementation analysis, suggested that the ccoNOQP-rdxBHIS cluster is transcribed as ccoNOQP-, ccoNOQP-rdxBH-, rdxBH-, and rdxIS-specific transcripts. Multiple transcriptional start sites have been identified by primer extension analyses: five for ccoN, four for rdxB, and one for rdxI. Transcription from P1N of ccoN and P1B of rdxB is dependent on the presence of FnrL. LacZ fusion analysis support the above-described studies, especially the importance of FnrL. Expression of the cco-rdx cluster is closely related to photosynthesis gene expression, suggesting that transcript stoichiometry and presumably the stoichiometry of the gene products are critical factors in controlling photosynthesis gene expression.

1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (16) ◽  
pp. 4044-4050 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. O’Gara ◽  
Jesus M. Eraso ◽  
Samuel Kaplan

ABSTRACT To further understand the proposed signal transduction pathway involving the presumed redox proteins RdxBH andcbb 3 cytochrome oxidase in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1, a series of mutants lacking components of both the Prr two-component activation system and thecbb 3-type cytochrome oxidase or RdxBH were constructed. We report that under highly aerobic conditions, aberrant photosynthesis gene expression and spectral complex formation typical of cbb 3- or RdxBH-deficient mutants were no longer observed when either prrA (encoding the response regulator of the Prr system) or prrB (encoding the presumed sensor kinase) was also deleted. These double-mutant strains are phenotypically identical to single-mutant PrrA and PrrB strains, suggesting that the signal(s) originating from thecbb 3 terminal oxidase affects downstreampuc and puf operon expression by acting exclusively through the Prr system. When the same double-mutant strains were examined under anaerobic dark dimethyl sulfoxide growth conditions, photosynthesis gene expression was obligatorily linked to the two-component activation system. However, photosynthesis gene expression under the same growth conditions was significantly higher in the cbb 3 mutant strain when compared to that in the wild type. Similarly, under anaerobic photosynthetic conditions the high levels of the oxidized carotenoid, spheroidenone, which accumulate in cbb 3-deficient mutants were nearly restored to normal in a PrrB− CcoP− double mutant. This observation, together with previously published results, suggests that the regulation of the CrtA-catalyzed reaction possesses both transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory effectors. We propose that the cbb 3 cytochrome oxidase, which by definition can interact with external oxygen, serves to control the activity of the Prr two-component activation system under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Although independent from thecbb 3 oxidase, the RdxBH proteins are also required for normal functioning of the Prr two-component activation system and are therefore believed to lie between thecbb 3 oxidase in this oxygen-sensing, redox signaling pathway and the Prr activation system.


2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (12) ◽  
pp. 3475-3481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Hyeob Roh ◽  
Samuel Kaplan

ABSTRACT Previously, we reported that rdxB, encoding a likely membrane-bound two [4Fe-4S]-containing center, is involved in the aerobic regulation of photosystem gene expression in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1. To further investigate the role ofrdxB as well as other genes of the rdxBHISoperon on photosystem gene expression, we constructed a series of nonpolar, in-frame deletion mutations in each of the rdxgenes. Using both puc and puf operonlacZ fusions to monitor photosystem gene expression, under aerobic conditions, in each of the mutant strains revealed significant increased photosynthesis gene expression. In the case of mutations in either rdxH, rdxI, or rdxS, the aerobic induction of photosystem gene expression is believed to be indirect by virtue of a posttranscriptional effect oncbb 3 cytochrome oxidase structure and integrity. For RdxB, we suggest that this redox protein has a more direct effect on photosystem gene expression by virtue of its interaction with the cbb 3 oxidase. An associated phenotype, involving the enhanced conversion of the carotenoid spheroidene to spheroidenone, is also observed in the RdxB, -H, -I, and -S mutant strains. This phenotype is also suggested to be the result of the role of the rdxBHIS locus incbb 3 oxidase activity and/or structure. RdxI is suggested to be a new class of metal transporter of the CPx-type ATPases.


2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (23) ◽  
pp. 6654-6664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet L. Gibson ◽  
James M. Dubbs ◽  
F. Robert Tabita

ABSTRACT In Rhodobacter sphaeroides, the two cbb operons encoding duplicated Calvin-Benson Bassham (CBB) CO2 fixation reductive pentose phosphate cycle structural genes are differentially controlled. In attempts to define the molecular basis for the differential regulation, the effects of mutations in genes encoding a subunit of Cbb3 cytochrome oxidase, ccoP, and a global response regulator, prrA (regA), were characterized with respect to CO2 fixation (cbb) gene expression by using translational lac fusions to the R. sphaeroides cbb I and cbbII promoters. Inactivation of the ccoP gene resulted in derepression of both promoters during chemoheterotophic growth, where cbb expression is normally repressed; expression was also enhanced over normal levels during phototrophic growth. The prrA mutation effected reduced expression of cbbI and cbbII promoters during chemoheterotrophic growth, whereas intermediate levels of expression were observed in a double ccoP prrA mutant. PrrA and ccoP1 prrA strains cannot grow phototrophically, so it is impossible to examine cbb expression in these backgrounds under this growth mode. In this study, however, we found that PrrA mutants of R. sphaeroides were capable of chemoautotrophic growth, allowing, for the first time, an opportunity to directly examine the requirement of PrrA for cbb gene expression in vivo under growth conditions where the CBB cycle and CO2 fixation are required. Expression from the cbbII promoter was severely reduced in the PrrA mutants during chemoautotrophic growth, whereas cbbI expression was either unaffected or enhanced. Mutations in ccoQ had no effect on expression from either promoter. These observations suggest that the Prr signal transduction pathway is not always directly linked to Cbb3 cytochrome oxidase activity, at least with respect to cbb gene expression. In addition, lac fusions containing various lengths of the cbbI promoter demonstrated distinct sequences involved in positive regulation during photoautotrophic versus chemoautotrophic growth, suggesting that different regulatory proteins may be involved. In Rhodobacter capsulatus, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (RubisCO) expression was not affected by cco mutations during photoheterotrophic growth, suggesting that differences exist in signal transduction pathways regulating cbb genes in the related organisms.


2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (15) ◽  
pp. 5617-5625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Jin Kim ◽  
In-Jeong Ko ◽  
Jin-Mok Lee ◽  
Ho-Young Kang ◽  
Young Min Kim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In this study, the H303A mutant form of the cbb 3 oxidase (H303A oxidase), which has the H303A mutation in its catalytic subunit (CcoN), was purified from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The H303A oxidase showed the same catalytic activity as did the wild-type form of the oxidase (WT oxidase). The heme contents of the mutant and WT forms of the cbb 3 oxidase were also comparable. However, the puf and puc operons, which are under the control of the PrrBA two-component system, were shown to be derepressed aerobically in the R. sphaeroides strain expressing the H303A oxidase. Since the strain harboring the H303A oxidase exhibited the same cytochrome c oxidase activity as the stain harboring the WT oxidase did, the aerobic derepression of photosynthesis gene expression observed in the H303A mutant appears to be the result of a defective signaling function of the H303A oxidase rather than reflecting any redox changes in the ubiquinone/ubiquinol pool. It was also demonstrated that ubiquinone inhibits not only the autokinase activity of full-length PrrB but also that of the truncated form of PrrB lacking its transmembrane domain, including the proposed quinone binding sequence. These results imply that the suggested ubiquinone binding site within the PrrB transmembrane domain is not necessary for the inhibition of PrrB kinase activity by ubiquinone. Instead, it is probable that signaling through H303 of the CcoN subunit of the cbb 3 oxidase is part of the pathway through which the cbb 3 oxidase affects the relative kinase/phosphatase activity of the membrane-bound PrrB.


2010 ◽  
Vol 192 (19) ◽  
pp. 5253-5256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg V. Moskvin ◽  
Marie-Alda Gilles-Gonzalez ◽  
Mark Gomelsky

ABSTRACT The SCHIC domain of the B12-binding domain family present in the Rhodobacter sphaeroides AppA protein binds heme and senses oxygen. Here we show that the predicted SCHIC domain PpaA/AerR regulators also bind heme and respond to oxygen in vitro, despite their low sequence identity with AppA.


2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (24) ◽  
pp. 8106-8114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Gomelsky ◽  
Oleg V. Moskvin ◽  
Rachel A. Stenzel ◽  
Denise F. Jones ◽  
Timothy J. Donohue ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In the facultatively phototrophic proteobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides, formation of the photosynthetic apparatus is oxygen dependent. When oxygen tension decreases, the response regulator PrrA of the global two-component PrrBA system is believed to directly activate transcription of the puf, puh, and puc operons, encoding structural proteins of the photosynthetic complexes, and to indirectly upregulate the photopigment biosynthesis genes bch and crt. Decreased oxygen also results in inactivation of the photosynthesis-specific repressor PpsR, bringing about derepression of the puc, bch, and crt operons. We uncovered a hierarchical relationship between these two regulatory systems, earlier thought to function independently. We also more accurately assessed the spectrum of gene targets of the PrrBA system. First, expression of the appA gene, encoding the PpsR antirepressor, is PrrA dependent, which establishes one level of hierarchical dominance of the PrrBA system over AppA-PpsR. Second, restoration of the appA transcript to the wild-type level is insufficient for rescuing phototrophic growth impairment of the prrA mutant, whereas inactivation of ppsR is sufficient. This suggests that in addition to controlling appA transcription, PrrA affects the activity of the AppA-PpsR system via an as yet unidentified mechanism(s). Third, PrrA directly activates several bch and crt genes, traditionally considered to be the PpsR targets. Therefore, in R. sphaeroides, the global PrrBA system regulates photosynthesis gene expression (i) by rigorous control over the photosynthesis-specific AppA-PpsR regulatory system and (ii) by extensive direct transcription activation of genes encoding structural proteins of photosynthetic complexes as well as genes encoding photopigment biosynthesis enzymes.


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