Identification and characterization of a UbK family kinase in Porphyromonas gingivalis that phosphorylates the RprY response regulator. (19th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perpich, John D.; Yakoumatos, Lan; Johns, Parker; Stocke, Kendall S.; Fitzsimonds, Zackary R.; Wilkey, Daniel W.; Merchant, Michael L.; Miller, Daniel P.; Lamont, Richard J.
• Is Part Of: Molecular oral microbiology. Volume 36:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 258
• Page End: 266
• Publication Date: 2021-07-19
• Subjects: kinase -- Porphyromonas gingivalis -- response regulator; Mouth -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Respiratory infections -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Mouth -- Diseases -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; 617.522
• DOI: 10.1111/omi.12347
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-1006

Abstract

Abstract: Phosphorylation of proteins is a key component of bacterial signaling systems that can control important functions such as community development and virulence. We report here the identification of a Ubiquitous bacterial Kinase (UbK) family member, designated UbK1, in the anaerobic periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis . UbK1 contains conserved SPT/S, Hanks‐type HxDxYR, EW, and Walker A motifs, and a mutation analysis established the Walker A domain and the Hanks‐type domain as required for both autophosphorylation and transphosphorylation. UbK1 autophosphorylates on the proximal serine in the SPT/S domain as well as the tyrosine residue within the HxDxYR domain and the tyrosine residue immediately proximal, indicating both serine/threonine and tyrosine specificity. The orphan two‐component system response regulator (RR) RprY was phosphorylated on Y41 in the receiver domain by UbK1. The ubk1 gene is essential in P. gingivalis ; however, overexpression of UbK1 showed that UbK1‐mediated phosphorylation of RprY functions predominantly to augment its properties as a transcriptional enhancer. These results establish that P. gingivalis possesses an active UbK kinase in addition to a previously described Bacterial Tyrosine family kinase. The RR RprY is identified as the first transcriptional regulator controlled by a UbK enzyme.