Researchers at the RIKEN SPring-8 Center have addressed how environmental stimuli are converted into biological signals using the highest resolution analysis of its kind to date. Their findings reveal that interaction between a particular kinase sensor and catalytic domains act as an on/off “switch” that triggers phosphorylation in response to environmental stimuli.

While advancing our understanding of environmental response in bacteria, the current findings could also accelerate the development of products such as antibacterial agents and plant growth regulators.

Microbial response system (two-component system)

Transduction of signals from the environment is an essential process enabling cells to respond to external stimuli. In many organisms this happens via a process known as the two component system (TCS); a stimulus-response mechanism centred on the interaction of a sensor protein – in this case histidine kinase (HD) – and a response regulator (RR).

In a paper published in the October 13th issue of Structure, the team present an X-ray crystal structure analysis to study this interaction within the bacterium Thermotoga maritima – of interest because of its ability to metabolise carbohydrates such as cellulose and xylan that can be converted to hydrogen.

Analyzing the HK/RR interaction site in detail, they show an interdomain β-sheet between the sensor domain and catalytic domain of histidine kinase (HK), providing crucial clues about the enzyme’s folding structure. They also determined that two molecules of histidine kinase form a dimer, which bonds to two response regulator molecules. Overall, the findings reveal that interaction between HK sensor and catalytic domains act as an on/off “switch” in the TCS, triggering phosphorylation in response to environmental stimuli.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Yoshitsugu Shiro
Biometal Science Laboratory
RIKEN SPring-8 Center
Tel: +81-(0) 791-58-2817 / fax: +81-(0) 791-58-2818