title: New insights into the interaction between the quorum-sensing receptor NprR and its DNA target, or the response regulator Spo0F.
abstract: The NprR protein and NprRB signaling peptide comprise a bifunctional quorum-sensing system from the Bacillus cereus group that is involved in transcriptional activation through DNA-binding and in sporulation initiation by binding to Spo0F. We characterized in vitro the direct interactions established by NprR that may be relevant for performing its two functions. Apo-NprR interacted with Spo0F, but not with the target DNA. The NprRB signaling peptide SSKPDIVG that binds strongly to Apo-NprR, failed to bind and disrupt the NprR-Spo0F complex. Finally, the NprR-NprRB complex bound both to Spo0F and the target DNA with similar affinity. Based on our findings, we propose that rather than a switch triggered by NprRB, the NprR/NprRB ratio and the availability of Spo0F binding sites define the function of NprR.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A. C., Hermosillo, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rosina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Romero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guarneros
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A. C., Hermosillo, Mexico. mdelatorre@ciad.mx.
authors.forename: Mayra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Torre
mesh_terms: D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000201:enzymology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D010770:Phosphotransferases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C085836:Npr protease
keywords: NprR; NprR-Spo0F interaction; bifunctional quorum-sensing regulator