title: Inhibition of the FixL sensor kinase by the FixT protein in Sinorhizobium meliloti.
abstract: Nitrogen fixation in symbiotic rhizobia is subject to multiple levels of gene regulation. In Sinorhizobium meliloti, the alfalfa symbiont, the FixLJ two-component regulatory system plays a major role in inducing nitrogen fixation and respiration gene expression in response to the low ambient O(2) concentration of the nodule. Here we report on the mode of action of the FixT protein, a recently identified repressor of nitrogen fixation gene expression in S. meliloti. First, we provide evidence that FixT prevents transcription of the intermediate key regulatory genes nifA and fixK by counteracting the activity of the FixLJ two-component system under otherwise inducing microoxic conditions. Second, we demonstrate that FixT acts as an inhibitor of the sensor hemoprotein kinase FixL, preventing the production or the accumulation of its phosphorylated form. FixT is thus a new example of a regulatory protein that blocks signal transduction in two-component systems at the level of the sensor kinase.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire des Relations Plantes-Microorganismes, CNRS-INRA BP27, Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, 31326 France.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Garnerone
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cabanes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foussard
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boistard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Batut
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000071677:Histidine Kinase; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000235:genetics; D010766:Phosphorylation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020579:Sinorhizobium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006420:Hemeproteins; C061338:NifA protein, Bacteria; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066628:FixK protein, Bacteria; C067929:FixL protein, Bacteria; D000071677:Histidine Kinase