Identification of an anchor residue for CheA-CheY interactions in the chemotaxis system of Escherichia coli. 2011

Hemang Thakor, and Sarah Nicholas, and Ian M Porter, and Nicole Hand, and Richard C Stewart
Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.

Transfer of a phosphoryl group from autophosphorylated CheA (P-CheA) to CheY is an important step in the bacterial chemotaxis signal transduction pathway. This reaction involves CheY (i) binding to the P2 domain of P-CheA and then (ii) acquiring the phosphoryl group from the P1 domain. Crystal structures indicated numerous side chain interactions at the CheY-P2 binding interface. To investigate the individual contributions of the P2 side chains involved in these contacts, we analyzed the effects of eight alanine substitution mutations on CheA-CheY binding interactions. An F214A substitution in P2 caused ∼1,000-fold reduction in CheA-CheY binding affinity, while Ala substitutions at other P2 positions had small effects (E171A, E178A, and I216A) or no detectable effects (H181A, D202A, D207A, and C213A) on binding affinity. These results are discussed in relation to previous in silico predictions of hot-spot and anchor positions at the CheA-CheY interface. We also investigated the consequences of these mutations for chemotaxis signal transduction in living cells. CheA(F214A) was defective in mediating localization of CheY-YFP to the large clusters of signaling proteins that form at the poles of Escherichia coli cells, while the other CheA variants did not differ from wild-type (wt) CheA (CheA(wt)) in this regard. In our set of mutants, only CheA(F214A) exhibited a markedly diminished ability to support chemotaxis in motility agar assays. Surprisingly, however, in FRET assays that monitored receptor-regulated production of phospho-CheY, CheA(F214A) (and each of the other Ala substitution mutants) performed just as well as CheA(wt). Overall, our findings indicate that F214 serves as an anchor residue at the CheA-CheY interface and makes an important contribution to the binding energy in vitro and in vivo; however, loss of this contribution does not have a large negative effect on the overall ability of the signaling pathway to modulate P-CheY levels in response to chemoattractants.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008565 Membrane Proteins Proteins which are found in membranes including cellular and intracellular membranes. They consist of two types, peripheral and integral proteins. They include most membrane-associated enzymes, antigenic proteins, transport proteins, and drug, hormone, and lectin receptors. Cell Membrane Protein,Cell Membrane Proteins,Cell Surface Protein,Cell Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Proteins,Membrane-Associated Protein,Surface Protein,Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Protein,Membrane Protein,Membrane-Associated Proteins,Membrane Associated Protein,Membrane Associated Proteins,Membrane Protein, Cell,Membrane Protein, Integral,Membrane Proteins, Integral,Protein, Cell Membrane,Protein, Cell Surface,Protein, Integral Membrane,Protein, Membrane,Protein, Membrane-Associated,Protein, Surface,Proteins, Cell Membrane,Proteins, Cell Surface,Proteins, Integral Membrane,Proteins, Membrane,Proteins, Membrane-Associated,Proteins, Surface,Surface Protein, Cell
D011485 Protein Binding The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments. Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D002633 Chemotaxis The movement of cells or organisms toward or away from a substance in response to its concentration gradient. Haptotaxis
D004926 Escherichia coli A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc. Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D000071677 Histidine Kinase A member of the transferase superfamily of proteins. In the activated state, protein-histidine kinase autophosphorylates at a histidine residue, subsequently transferring high-energy phosphoryl groups to an aspartate residue of the response-regulator domain, which results in a conformational shift in the effector domain. Histidine kinases mediate signal transduction in a wide range of processes involving cellular adaptation to environmental stress. Histidine Protein Kinase,Histone H4 Histidine Kinase,Protein Histidine Pros-Kinase,Protein Kinase (Histidine), Pros-Kinase,Protein-Histidine Kinase,Protein-Histidine Pros-Kinase,Protein-Histidine Tele-Kinase,Sensor Histidine Kinase,Histidine Kinase, Sensor,Histidine Pros-Kinase, Protein,Kinase, Histidine,Kinase, Histidine Protein,Kinase, Protein-Histidine,Kinase, Sensor Histidine,Pros-Kinase, Protein Histidine,Pros-Kinase, Protein-Histidine,Protein Histidine Kinase,Protein Histidine Pros Kinase,Protein Histidine Tele Kinase,Protein Kinase, Histidine,Tele-Kinase, Protein-Histidine
D000072236 Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins Transmembrane sensor receptor proteins that are central components of the chemotactic systems of a number of motile bacterial species which include ESCHERICHIA COLI and SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM. Methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins derive their name from a sensory adaptation process which involves methylation at several glutamyl residues in their cytoplasmic domain. Methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins trigger chemotactic responses across spatial chemical gradients, causing organisms to move either toward favorable stimuli or away from toxic ones. Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Protein,MACP-I,MACP-II,Methyl Accepting Chemotaxis Protein 1,Methyl Accepting Chemotaxis Protein 2,Methyl Accepting Chemotaxis Protein 3,Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Protein I,Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Protein II,Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Protein III,Chemotaxis Protein, Methyl-Accepting,Chemotaxis Proteins, Methyl-Accepting,Methyl Accepting Chemotaxis Protein,Methyl Accepting Chemotaxis Protein I,Methyl Accepting Chemotaxis Protein II,Methyl Accepting Chemotaxis Protein III,Methyl Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins,Protein, Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis,Proteins, Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis
D001426 Bacterial Proteins Proteins found in any species of bacterium. Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D020816 Amino Acid Motifs Three-dimensional protein structural elements that are composed of a combination of secondary structures. They include HELIX-LOOP-HELIX MOTIFS and ZINC FINGERS. Motifs are typically the most conserved regions of PROTEIN DOMAINS and are critical for domain function. However, the same motif may occur in proteins or enzymes with different functions. AA Motifs,Motifs, Amino Acid,Protein Motifs,Protein Structure, Supersecondary,Supersecondary Protein Structure,AA Motif,Amino Acid Motif,Motif, AA,Motif, Amino Acid,Motif, Protein,Motifs, AA,Motifs, Protein,Protein Motif,Protein Structures, Supersecondary,Supersecondary Protein Structures
D029968 Escherichia coli Proteins Proteins obtained from ESCHERICHIA COLI. E coli Proteins

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