Structure and organisation of SinR, the master regulator of biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.06.004
PMID: 21708175

Authors: Vicki L. Colledge (University of York) , Mark J. Fogg (University of York) , Vladimir M. Levdikov (University of York) , Andrew Leech (University of York) , Eleanor J. Dodson (University of York) , Anthony J. Wilkinson (University of York)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Journal Of Molecular Biology , VOL 411 (3) , PAGES 597 - 613

State: Published (Approved)
Published: August 2011

Abstract: sinR encodes a tetrameric repressor of genes required for biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis. sinI, which is transcribed under Spo0A control, encodes a dimeric protein that binds to SinR to form a SinR–SinI heterodimer in which the DNA-binding functions of SinR are abrogated and repression of biofilm genes is relieved. The heterodimer-forming surface comprises residues conserved between SinR and SinI. Each forms a pair of ?-helices that hook together to form an intermolecular four-helix bundle. Here, we are interested in the assembly of the SinR tetramer and its binding to DNA. Size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering and crystallographic analysis reveal that a DNA-binding fragment of SinR (residues 1–69) is a monomer, while a SinI-binding fragment (residues 74–111) is a tetramer arranged as a dimer of dimers. The SinR(74–111) chain forms two ?-helices with the organisation of the dimer similar to that observed in the SinR–SinI complex. The tetramer is formed through interactions of residues at the C-termini of the four chains. A model of the intact SinR tetramer in which the DNA binding domains surround the tetramerisation core was built. Fluorescence anisotropy and surface plasmon resonance experiments showed that SinR binds to an oligonucleotide duplex, 5?-TTTGTTCTCTAAAGAGAACTTA-3?, containing a pair of SinR consensus sequences in inverted orientation with a Kd of 300 nM. The implications of these data for promoter binding and the curious quaternary structural transitions of SinR upon binding to (i) SinI and (ii) the SinR-like protein SlrR, which “repurposes” SinR as a repressor of autolysin and motility genes, are discussed.

Journal Keywords: Bacillus; Bacterial; Biofilms; Chromatography; Consensus; Crystallography; X-Ray; DNA; Bacterial; DNA-Binding; Fluorescence; Gene; Bacterial; Light; Models; Molecular; N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; Protein; Secondary; Protein; Tertiary; Scattering; Radiation; Surface Plasmon Resonance

Diamond Keywords: Bacteria

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Chemistry


Instruments: I03-Macromolecular Crystallography

Added On: 29/09/2011 15:52

Documents:
1-s2.0-S0022283611006280-main.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Biochemistry Chemistry Structural biology Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Diffraction Macromolecular Crystallography (MX)