The β-Scaffold of the LOV Domain of the Brucella Light-Activated Histidine Kinase Is a Key Element for Signal Transduction

Light–oxygen–voltage (LOV) domains are blue-light-activated signaling modules present in a wide range of sensory proteins. Among them, the histidine kinases are the largest group in prokaryotes (LOV-HK). Light modulates the virulence of the pathogenic bacteria Brucella abortus through LOV-HK. One of...

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Published inJournal of molecular biology Vol. 420; no. 1-2; pp. 112 - 127
Main Authors Rinaldi, Jimena, Gallo, Mariana, Klinke, Sebastián, Paris, Gastón, Bonomi, Hernán R., Bogomolni, Roberto A., Cicero, Daniel O., Goldbaum, Fernando A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Ltd 29.06.2012
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Summary:Light–oxygen–voltage (LOV) domains are blue-light-activated signaling modules present in a wide range of sensory proteins. Among them, the histidine kinases are the largest group in prokaryotes (LOV-HK). Light modulates the virulence of the pathogenic bacteria Brucella abortus through LOV-HK. One of the striking characteristic of Brucella LOV-HK is the fact that the protein remains activated upon light sensing, without recovering the basal state in the darkness. In contrast, the light state of the isolated LOV domain slowly returns to the dark state. To gain insight into the light activation mechanism, we have characterized by X-ray crystallography and solution NMR spectroscopy the structure of the LOV domain of LOV-HK in the dark state and explored its light-induced conformational changes. The LOV domain adopts the α/β PAS (PER-ARNT-SIM) domain fold and binds the FMN cofactor within a conserved pocket. The domain dimerizes through the hydrophobic β-scaffold in an antiparallel way. Our results point to the β-scaffold as a key element in the light activation, validating a conserved structural basis for light-to-signal propagation in LOV proteins. ▪ ► This is the first crystallographic and NMR study of a LOV domain from a His kinase. ► While the full LOV-HK presents a truncate photocycle, the LOV domain slowly cycles. ► The isolated LOV domain dimerizes through the β-scaffold in an antiparallel way. ► The light-induced conformational changes are concentrated in the β-scaffold.
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content type line 23
BNL-102686-2013-JA
DE-AC02-98CH10886
USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
ISSN:0022-2836
1089-8638
DOI:10.1016/j.jmb.2012.04.006