NosP Modulates Cyclic-di-GMP Signaling in Legionella pneumophila

Biochemistry. 2019 Oct 22;58(42):4325-4334. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00618. Epub 2019 Oct 9.

Abstract

Biofilms form when bacteria adhere to a surface and secrete an extracellular polymeric substance. Bacteria embedded within a biofilm benefit from increased resistance to antibiotics, host immune responses, and harsh environmental factors. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule that can modulate communal behavior, including biofilm formation, in many bacteria. In many cases, NO-induced biofilm dispersal is accomplished through signal transduction pathways that ultimately lead to a decrease in intracellular cyclic-di-GMP levels. H-NOX (heme nitric oxide/oxygen binding domain) proteins are the best characterized bacterial NO sensors and have been implicated in NO-mediated cyclic-di-GMP signaling, but we have recently discovered a second family of NO-sensitive proteins in bacteria named NosP (NO sensing protein); to date, a clear link between NosP signaling and cyclic-di-GMP metabolism has not been established. Here we present evidence that NosP (Lpg0279) binds to NO and directly affects cyclic-di-GMP production from two-component signaling proteins Lpg0278 and Lpg0277 encoded within the NosP operon. Lpg0278 and Lpg0277 are a histidine kinase and cyclic-di-GMP synthase/phosphodiesterase, respectively, that have already been established as being important in regulating Legionella pneumophila cyclic-di-GMP levels; NosP is thus implicated in regulating cyclic-di-GMP in L. pneumophila.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Biofilms
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Hemeproteins / metabolism*
  • Histidine Kinase / metabolism
  • Hydrolysis
  • Legionella pneumophila / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Operon
  • Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation

Substances

  • Hemeproteins
  • Nitric Oxide
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Histidine Kinase
  • Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases
  • Cyclic GMP