title: Phosphorylation-dependent conformational changes and domain rearrangements in Staphylococcus aureus VraR activation.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus VraR, a vancomycin-resistance-associated response regulator, activates a cell-wall-stress stimulon in response to antibiotics that inhibit cell wall formation. X-ray crystal structures of VraR in both unphosphorylated and beryllofluoride-activated states have been determined, revealing a mechanism of phosphorylation-induced dimerization that features a deep hydrophobic pocket at the center of the receiver domain interface. Unphosphorylated VraR exists in a closed conformation that inhibits dimer formation. Phosphorylation at the active site promotes conformational changes that are propagated throughout the receiver domain, promoting the opening of a hydrophobic pocket that is essential for homodimer formation and enhanced DNA-binding activity. This prominent feature in the VraR dimer can potentially be exploited for the development of novel therapeutics to counteract antibiotic resistance in this important pathogen.
authors: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors: Paul G
authors: PG
authors: Leonard
authors: Dasantila
authors: D
authors: Golemi-Kotra
authors: Ann M
authors: AM
authors: Stock
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000502:physiology; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C478170:VraR protein, Staphylococcus aureus
keywords: antimicrobial drug target; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; transcription factor; two-component system; vancomycin resistance
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