Bipartite Sensor Module in Diverse Bacteria
Author Information
Author(s): Nadezhdin Eugene V., Brody Margaret S., Price Chester W.
Primary Institution: Department of Microbiology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
Hypothesis
The RsbQ α/β hydrolase and RsbP serine phosphatase form a signaling pair required to activate the general stress factor σB of Bacillus subtilis in response to energy limitation.
Conclusion
The study identifies a bipartite sensing module that regulates various output domains in response to energy stress in bacteria.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found 45 homologues of RsbQ and RsbP-PAS in diverse bacteria.
- Alanine substitutions at four residues conferred a null phenotype in Bacillus subtilis, indicating their functional importance.
- RsbQ and the PAS domain appear to form a sensory module that conveys signals to various output domains.
Takeaway
This study shows how bacteria can sense energy levels and respond to stress using a special signaling system made of two proteins.
Methodology
The study used bioinformatic and genetic analysis to investigate the RsbQ-RsbP signaling pathway in Bacillus subtilis.
Limitations
The physiological cue that initiates signal transduction via the RsbQ-PAS module remains unknown.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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