7tf6

Structural highlights

Function

E3VXC2_STAAU Glutamine synthetase (GS) is an unusual multitasking protein that functions as an enzyme, a transcription coregulator, and a chaperone in ammonium assimilation and in the regulation of genes involved in nitrogen metabolism. It catalyzes the ATP-dependent biosynthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonia. Feedback-inhibited GlnA also interacts with and regulates the activity of the transcriptional regulator TnrA. During nitrogen limitation, TnrA is in its DNA-binding active state and turns on the transcription of genes required for nitrogen assimilation. Under conditions of nitrogen excess, feedback-inhibited GlnA forms a stable complex with TnrA, which inhibits its DNA-binding activity. In contrast, feedback-inhibited GlnA acts as a chaperone to stabilize the DNA-binding activity of GlnR, which represses the transcription of nitrogen assimilation genes.[ARBA:ARBA00002161]

See Also

• Glutamine synthetase 3D structures