MliR, a novel regulator of the MerR family involved in iron uptake

ABSTRACT: The MerR family of transcriptional regulators are dimeric proteins with an N-terminal helix-turn-helix DNA binding domain (DBD), followed by an antiparallel coiled-coil subunit interaction region, and usually by a C-terminal effector binding domain (EBD). This family is distinguished by the high amino acid similarity in the DBD and low similarity in the EBD, consistent with the role of this domain in each protein in sensing effector molecules. Most members of the family are activators, and act at promoters with long spacer regions and respond to the binding of inducers by distorting the promoter DNA to allow open complex formation and transcriptional activation. In MerR proteins the EBD contains a metal binding pocket formed by three cysteines. This Cys center characteristic of MerR regulators is primarily suited for metal binding and mediates activation of metal detoxification systems in bacteria. Over the last decade, it has become clear that the MerR family of regulators is more diverse than originally recognized. The availability of completed bacterial genome sequences has enabled the search for additional types of MerR-like regulators. We here present a novel MerR-like transcription factor lacking an EBD involved in iron uptake regulation (MliR) present in the marine bacterium Bizionia argentinensis (JUB59). An in silico analysis revealed that homologues of the MliR protein are widely distributed among different bacterial species. Deletion of the mliR gene led to decreased cell growth, increased cell adhesion and filamentation. RNA sequencing analysis showed that expression of several iron uptake-related mRNAs were downregulated in mliR-deletion mutant. Through NMR-based metabolomics, ICP-MS, fluorescence microscopy and biochemical analysis we evaluated metabolic and phenotypic changes associated with mliR deletion. This work provides the first evidence of a MerR-family regulator involved in iron uptake and contributes to expanding our current knowledge on iron metabolism.in bacteria.

ORGANISM(S): Bizionia argentinensis JUB59

PROVIDER: GSE189140 | GEO | 2022/08/23

REPOSITORIES: GEO