Exploring a Possible Moonlighting Role for Global Phosphatase in S. pneumonia
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Chemistry, Physics, Geology, & the Environment
Faculty Mentor
Nicholas Grossoehme. Ph.D.
Abstract
Iron is essential to an overwhelming majority of life on Earth; however, in aerobic conditions, it can take on multiple oxidation states and create harmful oxidative species that must be regulated to maintain the health of the cell. Many bacteria use one of the common metal regulatory proteins (e.g., FUR) to maintain safe levels of iron in the cell, but genome analysis of S. pneumonia indicates that it lacks any of the standard sensors. Interestingly, the presence of extracellular iron triggers an intracellular uptake response; this process involves three proteins: StkP (membranous kinase), RitR (transcription factor), and PhpP (phosphatase). It is likely that the intracellular iron sensor is linked to this uptake system; in fact, we hypothesize that the intracellular sensor is built directly into this system. Noting that PhpP is a magnesium-dependent enzyme, we hypothesize that perhaps PhpP is activated by intracellular iron in S. pneumonia, thus providing the intracellular iron sensor that it needs. Using a combination of UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, we tested this hypothesis. Using para-nitrophenylphosphate assays (PNPP, a surrogate for phosphorylated RitR) along with manganese as an aerobic condition-friendly surrogate, we demonstrated that PhpP is activated by manganese. Using fluorescence competition experiments with the metal-binding fluorophore Mag-Fura-2, we quantified the affinity of PhpP for manganese (Kd = 2.16 mM) and magnesium (Kd = 185.1 mM). Together, these results support the hypothesis. Future work will focus on testing ferrous iron activation of PhpP.
Previously Presented/Performed?
Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Charlotte, North Carolina, November 2017
Grant Support?
Supported by an REU grant from the South Carolina EPSCoR/IDeA Program, and by an SC INBRE grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH-NIGMS)
Start Date
20-4-2018 3:45 PM
Exploring a Possible Moonlighting Role for Global Phosphatase in S. pneumonia
West 221
Iron is essential to an overwhelming majority of life on Earth; however, in aerobic conditions, it can take on multiple oxidation states and create harmful oxidative species that must be regulated to maintain the health of the cell. Many bacteria use one of the common metal regulatory proteins (e.g., FUR) to maintain safe levels of iron in the cell, but genome analysis of S. pneumonia indicates that it lacks any of the standard sensors. Interestingly, the presence of extracellular iron triggers an intracellular uptake response; this process involves three proteins: StkP (membranous kinase), RitR (transcription factor), and PhpP (phosphatase). It is likely that the intracellular iron sensor is linked to this uptake system; in fact, we hypothesize that the intracellular sensor is built directly into this system. Noting that PhpP is a magnesium-dependent enzyme, we hypothesize that perhaps PhpP is activated by intracellular iron in S. pneumonia, thus providing the intracellular iron sensor that it needs. Using a combination of UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, we tested this hypothesis. Using para-nitrophenylphosphate assays (PNPP, a surrogate for phosphorylated RitR) along with manganese as an aerobic condition-friendly surrogate, we demonstrated that PhpP is activated by manganese. Using fluorescence competition experiments with the metal-binding fluorophore Mag-Fura-2, we quantified the affinity of PhpP for manganese (Kd = 2.16 mM) and magnesium (Kd = 185.1 mM). Together, these results support the hypothesis. Future work will focus on testing ferrous iron activation of PhpP.
