Abstract
We describe a new principle of signal transduction in prokaryotes: certain transport systems have an additional function in signaling. Depending on the activity of the transporter, transcription factors are sequestered, thus shuttling between the inner face of the cytoplasmic membrane and their target promoters. The change in their subcellular address corresponds to the on/off state of the respective signal transduction cascade. For example, Escherichia coli MalT is kept in an inactive form by the idling maltodextrin ABC transporter. When the transporter is activated by maltodextrin transport, MalT is released and binds to its cognate operators. E. coli Mlc is bound to its operators when the glucose-specific enzyme II (EIICBGlc) of the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system is not transporting; when glucose transport starts, Mlc is captured by the dephosphorylated form of EIICBGlc, thus allowing transcription of its cognate operons. Salmonella typhimurium PutA, E. coli GlnK and Klebsiella pneumoniae NifL are discussed as additional examples.
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Böhm, A., Boos, W. (2004). Transport-dependent gene regulation by sequestration of transcriptional regulators. In: Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Transmembrane Transport. Topics in Current Genetics, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/b95774
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