The Agrobacterium tumefaciens transcription factor BlcR is regulated via oligomerization

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jun 10;286(23):20431-40. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.196154. Epub 2011 Apr 4.

Abstract

The Agrobacterium tumefaciens BlcR is a member of the emerging isocitrate lyase transcription regulators that negatively regulates metabolism of γ-butyrolactone, and its repressing function is relieved by succinate semialdehyde (SSA). Our crystal structure showed that BlcR folded into the DNA- and SSA-binding domains and dimerized via the DNA-binding domains. Mutational analysis identified residues, including Phe(147), that are important for SSA association; BlcR(F147A) existed as tetramer. Two BlcR dimers bound to target DNA and in a cooperative manner, and the distance between the two BlcR-binding sequences in DNA was critical for BlcR-DNA association. Tetrameric BlcR(F147A) retained DNA binding activity, and importantly, this activity was not affected by the distance separating the BlcR-binding sequences in DNA. SSA did not dissociate tetrameric BlcR(F147A) or BlcR(F147A)-DNA. As well as in the SSA-binding site, Phe(147) is located in a structurally flexible loop that may be involved in BlcR oligomerization. We propose that SSA regulates BlcR DNA-binding function via oligomerization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / genetics
  • 4-Butyrolactone / metabolism
  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens / genetics
  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Peptide Mapping / methods
  • Protein Multimerization / physiology*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Response Elements / physiology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Repressor Proteins
  • 4-Butyrolactone

Associated data

  • PDB/3MQ0