Structural analysis of the role of the two conserved motifs of the ECF41
family sigma factor in the autoregulation of its own promoter in
Azospirillum brasilense Sp245
Abstract
In Azospirillum brasilense, an extra-cytoplasmic function sigma
factor (RpoE10) shows the characteristic 119 amino acid long C-terminal
extension found in ECF41-type sigma factors, which possesses three
conserved motifs (WLPEP, DGGGR, and NPDKV), one in the linker region
between the sigma 2 and sigma 4, and
the other two in the SnoaL_2 domain of the C-terminal extension. Here,
we have described the role of the two conserved motifs in the SnoaL_2
domain of RpoE10 in the inhibition and activation of its activity,
respectively. Truncation of the distal part of the C-terminal sequence
of the RpoE10 (including NPDKV but excluding the DGGGR motif) results in
its promoter’s activation suggesting autoregulation. Further truncation
of the C-terminal sequence up to its proximal part, including NPDKV and
DGGGR motif, abolished promoter activation. Replacement of NPDKV motif
with NAAAV in RpoE10 increased its ability to activate its promoter,
whereas replacement of DGGGR motif led to reduced promoter activation.
We have explored the dynamic modulation of sigma2 – sigma4 domains and
the relevant molecular interactions mediated by the two conserved motifs
of the SnoaL2 domain using molecular dynamics simulation. The analysis
enabled us to explain that the NPDKV motif located distally in the
C-terminus negatively impacts transcriptional activation. In contrast,
the DGGGR motif found proximally of the C-terminal extension is required
to activate RpoE1