Zur and zinc increase expression of E. coli ribosomal protein L31 through RNA-mediated repression of the repressor L31p
Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: Bacteria can adapt in response to numerous stress conditions. One such stress condition is zinc depletion. The zinc-sensing transcription factor Zur regulates the way numerous bacterial species respond to severe changes in zinc availability. Under zinc sufficient conditions, Zn-loaded Zur (Zn2-Zur) is well-known to repress transcription of genes encoding zinc uptake transporters and paralogues of a few ribosomal proteins. Here, we report the discovery and mechanistic basis for the ability of Zur to up-regulate expression of the ribosomal protein L31 in response to zinc in E. coli. Through genetic mutations and reporter gene assays, we find that Zur achieves the up-regulation of L31 through a double repression cascade by which Zur first represses the transcription of L31p, a zinc-lacking paralogue of L31, which in turn represses the translation of L31. Mutational analyses show that translational repression by L31p requires an RNA hairpin structure within the l31 mRNA and involves the N-terminus of the L31p protein. This work uncovers a new genetic network that allows bacteria to respond to host-induced nutrient limiting conditions through a sophisticated ribosomal protein switching mechanism.
Source: Nucleic Acids Research
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1086
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,876
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Northwestern University, National Institutes of Health, Ames Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Awards: G1697802790, FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE INSTITUTE FOR PROTEOMICS A ND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY, Functional Roles of Nascent RNA Structure in Regulating and Coordinating Gene Expression, Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), National Resource for Translational and Developmental Proteomics, G317886719, G5955693984, Acquisition of a Thermo Fisher Scientific Q Exactive UHMR mass spectrometer, Chemistry of Life Processes Predoctoral Training Program, G7461832402, G777488164, G8385810371, G8491555719, G8760597890, Metalloregulation by MerR and Fur Protein Families, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, ChimeraX -- Next Generation Visualization and Analysis Software for Multiscale Modeling
OpenAlex ID: W4311934219