Negative control of cell size in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 by the essential response regulator RpaB

FEBS Lett. 2013 Mar 1;587(5):504-9. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.01.023. Epub 2013 Jan 20.

Abstract

The essential NblS-RpaB pathway for photosynthesis regulation and acclimatization to a variety of environmental conditions is the most conserved two-component system in cyanobacteria. To get insights into the RpaB implication in cell homeostasis we investigated the phenotypic impact of altering expression of the essential rpaB gene of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 and determined the in vivo levels of the RpaB and RpaB~P polypeptides. Our results implicate non-phosphorylated RpaB in controlling cell length and shape and suggest that intrinsic regulation may be important to prevent drastic variations in RpaB levels and activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Synechococcus / cytology*
  • Synechococcus / genetics
  • Synechococcus / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins