Post-transcriptional regulator Hfq binds catalase HPII: crystal structure of the complex

PLoS One. 2013 Nov 6;8(11):e78216. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078216. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

We report a crystal structure of Hfq and catalase HPII from Escherichia coli. The post-transcriptional regulator Hfq plays a key role in the survival of bacteria under stress. A small non-coding RNA (sRNA) DsrA is required for translation of the stationary phase sigma factor RpoS, which is the central regulator of the general stress response. Hfq facilitates efficient translation of rpoS mRNA, which encodes RpoS. Hfq helps in the function of other specific proteins involved in RNA processing, indicating its versatility in the cell. However, structural information regarding its interactions with partners is missing. Here we obtained crystals of Hfq and HPII complexes from cell lysates following attempts to overexpress a foreign membrane protein. HPII is one of two catalases in E. coli and its mRNA is transcribed by an RNA polymerase holoenzyme containing RpoS, which in turn is under positive control of small non-coding RNAs and of the RNA chaperone Hfq. This sigma factor is known to have a pronounced effect on the expression of HPII. The crystal structure reveals that a Hfq hexamer binds each subunit of a HPII tetramer. Each subunit of the Hfq hexamer exhibits a unique binding mode with HPII. The hexamer of Hfq interacts via its distal surface. The proximal and distal surfaces are known to specifically bind different sRNAs, and binding of HPII could affect Hfq function. Hfq-HPII complexation has no effect on catalase HPII activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Catalase / chemistry
  • Catalase / genetics
  • Catalase / metabolism*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Host Factor 1 Protein / chemistry
  • Host Factor 1 Protein / genetics
  • Host Factor 1 Protein / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Multimerization
  • RNA, Small Untranslated / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Untranslated / genetics
  • RNA, Small Untranslated / metabolism*
  • Sigma Factor / chemistry
  • Sigma Factor / genetics
  • Sigma Factor / metabolism*
  • Stress, Physiological

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DsrA RNA, E coli
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Hfq protein, E coli
  • Host Factor 1 Protein
  • RNA, Small Untranslated
  • Sigma Factor
  • sigma factor KatF protein, Bacteria
  • hydroperoxidase II
  • Catalase

Grants and funding

Funding provided by Grant-in-aid No. 20370064 and 24657111 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of JAPAN. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.