An AbrB-Like protein regulates the expression of the bidirectional hydrogenase in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803.
In the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, the pentameric bidirectional Ni-Fe hydrogenase (HoxEFUYH) is the sole enzyme involved in hydrogen metabolism. Recent investigations implicated the transcription factor LexA in the regulation of the hox genes in this cyanobacterium, suggesting the factor to work as an activator. In this work, we show evidence that LexA cannot account exclusively for the regulation of the hox genes in this cyanobacterium. Therefore, we investigated which additional transcription factors interact in and may regulate the expression of the hox genes in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. By using DNA affinity assays, a transcription factor with similarity to the transition state regulator AbrB from Bacillus subtilis was isolated. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the AbrB-like protein specifically interacts with the promoter region of the hox genes as well as with its own promoter region. In addition, results obtained with two genetically modified strains of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, one with a not fully segregated inactivation mutation of the abrB-like gene and the other overexpressing the same abrB-like gene, suggest that this transcription factor functions as a regulator of hox gene expression.
Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science, Angström Laboratories, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 523, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden.
Paulo
P
Oliveira
Peter
P
Lindblad
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006864:Hydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D046939:Synechocystis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C060762:AbrB protein, Bacillus subtilis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D006864:Hydrogenase