From redox flow to gene regulation: Role of the PrrC protein of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1

Activation of photosynthesis (PS) gene expression by the PrrBA two- component activation system in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 results from the interruption of an inhibitory signal originating from the cbb₃ cytochrome c oxidase via its interaction with oxygen, in conjunction with the Rdx redox proteins. The CcoQ protein, encoded by the ccoNOQP operon, which encodes the cbb₃ cytochrome c oxidase, was shown to act as a 'transponder' that conveys the signal derived from reductant flow through cbb₃ to oxygen, to the Prr system. To further define the elements comprising this signal transduction pathway we considered the prrC gene product, which to date possessed no definable role in this signal transduction pathway despite its being part of the prrBCA gene cluster. Similar to mutations in cbb₃ and rdx, suitably constructed prrC deletion mutations lead to PS gene expression in the presence of high oxygen. Unlike mutations that remove cbb₃ terminal oxidase activity or Rdx function, the PrrC deletion mutant shows no effect upon cbb₃ activity, nor does it affect the ratio of the carotenoid (Crt) spheroidene (SE) to spheroidenone (SO). Thus, the PrrC deletion mutant behaves identically to the CcoQ deletion mutant. Taking these and previous results together, we suggest that PrrC is located upstream of the two-component PrrBA activation system in the signal transduction pathway but downstream of the cbb₃ cytochrome c oxidase and its 'transponder' CcoQ. The PrrC deletion mutant was also shown to lead to an increase in the DorA protein under aerobic conditions as was shown earlier for the cbb₃ mutant. Finally, PrrC is a member of a highly conserved family of proteins found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and this appears to be the first instance in which a direct regulatory role has been ascribed to a member of this protein family.