Influence of high pressure on the dimerization of ToxR, a protein involved in bacterial signal transduction

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008 Dec;74(24):7821-3. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02028-08. Epub 2008 Oct 17.

Abstract

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is suggested to influence the structure and function of membranes and/or integrated proteins. We demonstrate for the first time HHP-induced dimer dissociation of membrane proteins in vivo with Vibrio cholerae ToxR variants in Escherichia coli reporter strains carrying ctx::lacZ fusions. Dimerization ceased at 20 to 50 MPa depending on the nature of the transmembrane segments rather than on changes in the ToxR lipid bilayer environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Gene Fusion
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Hydrostatic Pressure*
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • toxR protein, bacteria
  • beta-Galactosidase