Structural highlights
Function
[GCN4_YEAST] Is a transcription factor that is responsible for the activation of more than 30 genes required for amino acid or for purine biosynthesis in response to amino acid or purine starvation. Binds and recognize the DNA sequence: 5'-TGA[CG]TCA-3'.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Virulence induction in the Staphylococcus aureus is under the control of a quorum sensing (QS) circuit encoded by the accessory gene regulator (agr) locus. Allelic variation within agr produces four QS specificity groups, each producing a unique secreted autoinducer peptide (AIP) and receptor histidine kinase (RHK), AgrC. Cognate AIP-AgrC interactions activate virulence through a two-component signaling cascade, whereas non-cognate pairs are generally inhibitory. Here we pinpoint a key hydrogen-bonding interaction within AgrC that acts as a switch to convert helical motions propagating from the receptor sensor domain into changes in inter-domain association within the kinase module. AgrC mutants lacking this interaction are constitutively active in vitro and in vivo, the latter leading to a pronounced attenuation of S. aureus biofilm formation. Thus, our work sheds light on the regulation of this biomedically important RHK.
Identification of a Molecular Latch that Regulates Staphylococcal Virulence.,Xie Q, Zhao A, Jeffrey PD, Kim MK, Bassler BL, Stone HA, Novick RP, Muir TW Cell Chem Biol. 2019 Jan 31. pii: S2451-9456(19)30028-5. doi:, 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.01.006. PMID:30773482[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Xie Q, Zhao A, Jeffrey PD, Kim MK, Bassler BL, Stone HA, Novick RP, Muir TW. Identification of a Molecular Latch that Regulates Staphylococcal Virulence. Cell Chem Biol. 2019 Jan 31. pii: S2451-9456(19)30028-5. doi:, 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.01.006. PMID:30773482 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.01.006