GntR-like bacterial transcription factors explained

Symbol:GntR
Bacterial regulatory proteins, gntR family
Pfam:PF00392
Pfam Clan:CL0123
Interpro:IPR000524
Prosite:PDOC00042
Scop:1e2x

In molecular biology, the GntR-like bacterial transcription factors are a family of transcription factors.

Background

Many bacterial transcription regulation proteins bind DNA through a helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif, which can be classified into subfamilies on the basis of sequence similarities. The HTH GntR family has many members distributed among diverse bacterial groups that regulate various biological processes. It was named GntR after the Bacillus subtilis repressor of the gluconate operon.[1] Family members include GntR, HutC, KorA, NtaR, FadR, ExuR, FarR, DgoR, PhnF and PlmA.[2]

The crystal structure of the FadR protein has been determined.[3] In general, these proteins contain a DNA-binding HTH domain at the N-terminus, and an effector-binding or oligomerisation domain at the C-terminus. The DNA-binding domain is well conserved in structure for the whole of the GntR family, consisting of a 3-helical bundle core with a small beta-sheet (wing); the GntR winged helix structure is similar to that found in several other transcriptional regulator families. The regions outside the DNA-binding domain are more variable and are consequently used to define GntR subfamilies.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Haydon DJ, Guest JR . A new family of bacterial regulatory proteins . FEMS Microbiol. Lett. . 63 . 2–3 . 291–295 . April 1991 . 2060763 . 10.1016/0378-1097(91)90101-f . free .
  2. PlmA, a new member of the GntR family, has plasmid maintenance functions in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. Journal of Bacteriology. 2003-08-01. 0021-9193. 165748. 12867439. 4315–4325. 185. 15. Martin H.. Lee. Michael. Scherer. Sébastien. Rigali. James W.. Golden. 10.1128/jb.185.15.4315-4325.2003.
  3. van Aalten DM, DiRusso CC, Knudsen J, Wierenga RK . Crystal structure of FadR, a fatty acid-responsive transcription factor with a novel acyl coenzyme A-binding fold . EMBO J. . 19 . 19 . 5167–77 . October 2000 . 11013219 . 302096 . 10.1093/emboj/19.19.5167 .
  4. Rigali S, Derouaux A, Giannotta F, Dusart J . Subdivision of the helix-turn-helix GntR family of bacterial regulators in the FadR, HutC, MocR, and YtrA subfamilies . J. Biol. Chem. . 277 . 15 . 12507–12515 . April 2002 . 11756427 . 10.1074/jbc.M110968200 . free .