1. PII signal transduction proteins: pivotal players in post-translational control of nitrogenase activity.
- Author
-
Huergo LF, Pedrosa FO, Muller-Santos M, Chubatsu LS, Monteiro RA, Merrick M, and Souza EM
- Subjects
- Bacteria genetics, Bacteria metabolism, Bacterial Proteins genetics, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Nitrogenase genetics, PII Nitrogen Regulatory Proteins genetics, Protein Processing, Post-Translational, Bacteria enzymology, Bacterial Proteins metabolism, Nitrogenase metabolism, PII Nitrogen Regulatory Proteins metabolism, Signal Transduction
- Abstract
The fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by the prokaryotic enzyme nitrogenase is an energy- expensive process and consequently it is tightly regulated at a variety of levels. In many diazotrophs this includes post-translational regulation of the enzyme's activity, which has been reported in both bacteria and archaea. The best understood response is the short-term inactivation of nitrogenase in response to a transient rise in ammonium levels in the environment. A number of proteobacteria species effect this regulation through reversible ADP-ribosylation of the enzyme, but other prokaryotes have evolved different mechanisms. Here we review current knowledge of post-translational control of nitrogenase and show that, for the response to ammonium, the P(II) signal transduction proteins act as key players.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF