Two-component signal transduction in human fungal pathogens

Signal transduction pathways provide mechanisms for adaptation to stress conditions. One of the most studied of these pathways is the HOG1 MAP kinase pathway that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used to adapt cells to osmostress. The HOG1 MAPK has also been studied in Candida albicans, and more recently observations on the Hog1p functions have been described in two other human pathogens, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans. The important, but not surprising, concept is that this pathway is used for different yet similar functions in each of these fungi, given their need to adapt to different environmental signals. Current studies of C. albicans focus upon the identification of two-component signal proteins that, in both C. albicans and S. cerevisiae, regulate the HOG1 MAPK. In C. albicans, these proteins regulate cell wall biosynthesis (and, therefore, adherence to host cells), osmotic and oxidant adaptation, white-opaque switching, morphogenesis, and virulence of the organism.     

Evolution of two-component signal transduction

Two-component signal transduction (TCST) systems are the principal means for coordinating responses to environmental changes in bacteria as well as some plants, fungi, protozoa, and archaea. These systems typically consist of a receptor histidine kinase, which reacts to an extracellular signal by phosphorylating a cytoplasmic response regulator, causing a change in cellular behavior. Although several model systems, including sporulation and chemotaxis, have been extensively studied, the evolutionary relationships between specific TCST systems are not well understood, and the ancestry of the signal transduction components is unclear. Phylogenetic trees of TCST components from 14 complete and 6 partial genomes, containing 183 histidine kinases and 220 response regulators, were constructed using distance methods. The trees showed extensive congruence in the positions of 11 recognizable phylogenetic clusters. Eukaryotic sequences were found almost exclusively in one cluster, which also showed the greatest extent of domain variability in its component proteins, and archaeal sequences mainly formed species-specific clusters. Three clusters in different parts of the kinase tree contained proteins with serine-phosphorylating activity. All kinases were found to be monophyletic with respect to other members of their superfamily, such as type II topoisomerases and Hsp90. Structural analysis further revealed significant similarity to the ATP-binding domain of eukaryotic protein kinases. TCST systems are of bacterial origin and radiated into archaea and eukaryotes by lateral gene transfer. Their components show extensive coevolution, suggesting that recombination has not been a major factor in their differentiation. Although histidine kinase activity is prevalent, serine kinases have evolved multiple times independently within this family, accompanied by a loss of the cognate response regulator(s). The structural and functional similarity between TCST kinases and eukaryotic protein kinases raises the possibility of a distant evolutionary relationship.     

A genomic analysis of two-component signal transduction in Streptococcus pneumoniae

A genomics-based approach was used to identify the entire gene complement of putative two-component signal transduction systems (TCSTSs) in Streptococcus pneumoniae. A total of 14 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified as putative response regulators, 13 of which were adjacent to genes encoding probable histidine kinases. Both the histidine kinase and response regulator proteins were categorized into subfamilies on the basis of phylogeny. Through a systematic programme of mutagenesis, the importance of each novel TCSTS was determined with respect to viability and pathogenicity. One TCSTS was identified that was essential for the growth of S. pneumoniaeThis locus was highly homologous to the yycFG gene pair encoding the essential response regulator/histidine kinase proteins identified in Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Separate deletions of eight other loci led in each case to a dramatic attenuation of growth in a mouse respiratory tract infection model, suggesting that these signal transduction systems are important for the in vivo adaptation and pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae. The identification of conserved TCSTSs important for both pathogenicity and viability in a Gram-positive pathogen highlights the potential of two-component signal transduction as a multicomponent target for antibacterial drug discovery.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌双组份信号转导系统的生物信息学分析

苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)能产生杀虫晶体蛋白等多种活性成分,是目前应用最广泛的微生物杀虫剂。本文采用生物信息学方法,系统分析了由本实验室完成全基因组测序的苏云金芽孢杆菌YBT-1520、CT-43和BMB171 3个菌株的双组分信号转导系统(Two-componentsignal transduction system,TCS)的分布、结构及功能,并初步构建了部分TCS的调控网络关系图。本研究旨在为深入研究苏云金芽孢杆菌的生长、代谢以及毒力因子的表达与调控,全面了解伴孢晶体的形成机制开辟新的研究方向。     

Comparative analysis of two-component signal transduction system in two streptomycete genomes

Species of the genus Streptomyces are major bacteria responsible for producing most natural antibiotics. Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) and Streptomyces avermitilis were sequenced in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Two-component signal transduction systems (TCSs), consisting of a histidine sensor kinase (SK) and a cognate response regulator (RR), form the most common mechanism of transmembrane signal transduction in prokaryotes. TCSs in S. coelicolor A3(2) have been analyzed in detail. Here, we identify and classify the SK and RR of S. avermitilis and compare the TCSs with those of S. coelicolor A3(2) by computational approaches. Phylogenetic analysis of the cognate SK-RR pairs of the two species indicated that the cognate SK-RR pairs fall into four classes according to the distribution of their orthologs in other organisms. In addition to the cognate SK-RR pairs, some potential partners of non-cognate SK-RR were found, including those of unpaired SK and orphan RR and the cross-talk between different components in either strain. Our study provides new clues for further exploration of the molecular regulation mechanism of streptomycetes with industrial importance.     

沙门菌PhoP-PhoQ双组分信号转导系统

PhoP-PhoQ是调控沙门菌毒力的重要双组分信号转导系统,由组氨酸蛋白激酶PhoQ和反应调节蛋白PhoP组成。PhoP-PhoQ可调节沙门菌对Mg2+及其他周质环境的适应性,并调控沙门菌感染中毒力基因的转录和表达。PhoP-PhoQ调控的毒力基因参与沙门菌对上皮细胞的侵袭、胞内生存、对抗菌肽的抵抗反应、脂质A的修饰、Ⅲ型分泌系统效应蛋白的分泌等环节。PhoP-PhoQ还可与其他双组分信号转导系统或调节子合作,调控沙门菌的毒力。因此,PhoP-PhoQ双组分信号转导系统在沙门菌的毒力调控中发挥重要作用。     

Rewiring two-component signal transduction with small RNAs

Bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) and small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) form densely interconnected networks that integrate and transduce information from the environment into fine-tuned changes of gene expression. Many TCSs control target genes indirectly through regulation of sRNAs, which in turn regulate gene expression by base-pairing with mRNAs or targeting a protein. Conversely, sRNAs may control TCS synthesis, thereby recruiting the TCS regulon to other regulatory networks. Several TCSs control expression of multiple homologous sRNAs providing the regulatory networks with further flexibility. These sRNAs act redundantly, additively or hierarchically on targets. The regulatory speed of sRNAs and their unique features in gene regulation make them ideal players extending the flexibility, dynamic range or timing of TCS signaling.     

葡萄球菌呼吸相关双组分系统SrrAB研究进展

葡萄球菌呼吸相关双组分系统SrrAB能感应外界O2浓度,并将信号传至胞内,调控下游基因的转录,以应对外界环境的变化。有研究表明,金黄色葡萄球菌SrrAB在有氧条件下促进毒力因子的表达,抑制生物膜的形成;在厌氧条件下抑制毒力因子的表达,促进生物膜的形成。另外,在有氧及厌氧条件下,金黄色葡萄球菌SrrAB调控生长代谢的途径也不一致。表皮葡萄球菌中也存在类似的双组分系统SrrAB,且与金黄色葡萄球菌SrrAB具有较高同源性,但目前尚不清楚两者在生长代谢及毒力调控方面的异同。结合课题组研究工作,简要综述葡萄球菌SrrAB的调控机制,着重比较其在有氧及厌氧条件下的调控差异,这对临床诊治葡萄球菌引起的感染具有一定的借鉴意义。     

The upcycled roles of pseudoenzymes in two-component signal transduction

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The mechanism of signal transduction by two-component systems

Two-component systems, composed of a homodimeric histidine kinase (HK) and a response regulator (RR), are major signal transduction devices in bacteria. Typically the signal triggers HK autophosphorylation at one His residue, followed by phosphoryl transfer from the phospho-His to an Asp residue in the RR. Signal extinction frequently involves phospho-RR dephosphorylation by a phosphatase activity of the HK. Our understanding of these reactions and of the determinants of partner specificity among HK-RR couples has been greatly increased by recent crystal structures and biochemical experiments on HK-RR complexes. Cis-autophosphorylation (one subunit phosphorylates itself) occurs in some HKs while trans-autophosphorylation takes place in others. We review and integrate this new information, discuss the mechanism of the three reactions and propose a model for transmembrane signaling by these systems.     

Rewiring the specificity of two-component signal transduction systems

Two-component signal transduction systems are the predominant means by which bacteria sense and respond to environmental stimuli. Bacteria often employ tens or hundreds of these paralogous signaling systems, comprised of histidine kinases (HKs) and their cognate response regulators (RRs). Faithful transmission of information through these signaling pathways and avoidance of detrimental crosstalk demand exquisite specificity of HK-RR interactions. To identify the determinants of two-component signaling specificity, we examined patterns of amino acid coevolution in large, multiple sequence alignments of cognate kinase-regulator pairs. Guided by these results, we demonstrate that a subset of the coevolving residues is sufficient, when mutated, to completely switch the substrate specificity of the kinase EnvZ. Our results shed light on the basis of molecular discrimination in two-component signaling pathways, provide a general approach for the rational rewiring of these pathways, and suggest that analyses of coevolution may facilitate the reprogramming of other signaling systems and protein-protein interactions.     

Hysteretic and graded responses in bacterial two-component signal transduction

Bacterial two-component systems (TCS) are key signal transduction networks regulating global responses to environmental change. Environmental signals may modulate the phosphorylation state of sensor kinases (SK). The phosphorylated SK transfers the phosphate to its cognate response regulator (RR), which causes physiological response to the signal. Frequently, the SK is bifunctional and, when unphosphorylated, it is also capable of dephosphorylating the RR. The phosphatase activity may also be modulated by environmental signals. Using the EnvZ/OmpR system as an example, we constructed mathematical models to examine the steady-state and kinetic properties of the network. Mathematical modelling reveals that the TCS can show bistable behaviour for a given range of parameter values if unphosphorylated SK and RR form a dead-end complex that prevents SK autophosphorylation. Additionally, for bistability to exist the major dephosphorylation flux of the RR must not depend on the unphosphorylated SK. Structural modelling and published affinity studies suggest that the unphosphorylated SK EnvZ and the RR OmpR form a dead-end complex. However, bistability is not possible because the dephosphorylation of OmpR approximately P is mainly done by unphosphorylated EnvZ. The implications of this potential bistability in the design of the EnvZ/OmpR network and other TCS are discussed.     

Rational design of inhibitors of VirA-VirG two-component signal transduction

VirA-VirG two-component system regulates the vir (virulence) operon in response to specific host factors (xenognosins) in the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Using whole cell assays, stable inhibitors inspired by the labile natural benzoxazinone inhibitor HDMBOA are developed. It is found that aromatic aldehydes represent a minimal structural unit for activity. In particular, 3-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one (HDI) was found to have the highest activity, making it the most potent developed inhibitor of virulence gene expression in Agrobacterium.