RegB/RegA, a highly conserved redox-responding global two-component regulatory system

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2004 Jun;68(2):263-79. doi: 10.1128/MMBR.68.2.263-279.2004.

Abstract

The Reg regulon from Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodobacter sphaeroides encodes proteins involved in numerous energy-generating and energy-utilizing processes such as photosynthesis, carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation, hydrogen utilization, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, denitrification, electron transport, and aerotaxis. The redox signal that is detected by the membrane-bound sensor kinase, RegB, appears to originate from the aerobic respiratory chain, given that mutations in cytochrome c oxidase result in constitutive RegB autophosphorylation. Regulation of RegB autophosphorylation also involves a redox-active cysteine that is present in the cytosolic region of RegB. Both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of the cognate response regulator RegA are capable of activating or repressing a variety of genes in the regulon. Highly conserved homologues of RegB and RegA have been found in a wide number of photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic bacteria, with evidence suggesting that RegB/RegA plays a fundamental role in the transcription of redox-regulated genes in many bacterial species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Phosphorylation
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Regulon
  • Rhodobacter capsulatus / genetics
  • Rhodobacter capsulatus / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
  • Protein Kinases