Structural basis for activation of a diguanylate cyclase required for bacterial predation in Bdellovibrio

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Abstract

The bacterial second messenger cyclic-di-GMP is a widespread, prominent effector of lifestyle change. An example of this occurs in the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, which cycles between free-living and intraperiplasmic phases after entering (and killing) another bacterium. The initiation of prey invasion is governed by DgcB (GGDEF enzyme) that produces cyclic-di-GMP in response to an unknown stimulus. Here, we report the structure of DgcB, and demonstrate that the GGDEF and sensory forkhead-associated (FHA) domains form an asymmetric dimer. Our structures indicate that the FHA domain is a consensus phosphopeptide sensor, and that the ligand for activation is surprisingly derived from the N-terminal region of DgcB itself. We confirm this hypothesis by determining the structure of a FHA:phosphopeptide complex, from which we design a constitutively-active mutant (confirmed via enzyme assays). Our results provide an understanding of the stimulus driving DgcB-mediated prey invasion and detail a unique mechanism of GGDEF enzyme regulation.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4086
Number of pages13
JournalNature Communications
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 Sept 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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