NusA-stimulated RNA polymerase pausing and termination participates in the Bacillus subtilis trp operon attenuation mechanism in vitro

The trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) regulates expression of the Bacillus subtilis trpEDCFBA operon by transcription attenuation and translation control mechanisms. Both mechanisms require the binding of tryptophan-activated TRAP to the 11 (G/U)AG-repeat segment in the trp leader transcript. To promote termination, TRAP must bind to the nascent RNA before the antiterminator structure forms. Because only 20 nucleotides separate the TRAP-binding site from the 3′ end of the antiterminator, TRAP has a short time frame to control this regulatory decision. Synchronization of factor binding and/or RNA folding with the RNA polymerase position is a major challenge in all attenuation mechanisms. Because RNA polymerase pausing allows this synchronization in many attenuation mechanisms, we performed experiments in vitro to determine whether pausing participates in the B. subtilis trp attenuation mechanism. We identified two NusA-stimulated pause sites in the trp leader region. Formation of pause hairpins participates in pausing at both positions. The first pause occurred at the nucleotide just preceding the critical overlap between the alternative antiterminator and terminator structures. TRAP binding to transcripts containing preexisting pause complexes releases RNA polymerase, suggesting that pausing provides additional time for TRAP to bind and promote termination. The second pause is downstream from the trp leader termination point, raising the possibility that this pause event participates in the trpE translation control mechanism. NusA also increases the efficiency of termination in the trp leader region and shifts termination one nucleotide upstream. Finally, NusA-stimulated termination is cooperative, suggesting that binding of multiple NusA molecules influences termination

Recycling of a regulatory protein by degradation of the RNA to which it binds

When Bacillus subtilis is grown in the presence of excess tryptophan, transcription of the trp operon is regulated by binding of tryptophan-activated TRAP to trp leader RNA, which promotes transcription termination in the trp leader region. Transcriptome analysis of a B. subtilis strain lacking polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase; a 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease) revealed a striking overexpression of trp operon structural genes when the strain was grown in the presence of abundant tryptophan. Analysis of trp leader RNA in the PNPase(-) strain showed accumulation of a stable, TRAP-protected fragment of trp leader RNA. Loss of trp operon transcriptional regulation in the PNPase(-) strain was due to the inability of ribonucleases other than PNPase to degrade TRAP-bound leader RNA, resulting in the sequestration of limiting TRAP. Thus, in the case of the B. subtilis trp operon, specific ribonuclease degradation of RNA in an RNA–protein complex is required for recycling of an RNA-binding protein. Such a mechanism may be relevant to other systems in which limiting concentrations of an RNA-binding protein must keep pace with ongoing transcription

Crystal structure of Bacillus subtilis anti-TRAP protein, an antagonist of TRAP/RNA interaction

In Bacillus subtilis the anti-TRAP protein (AT) is produced in response to the accumulation of uncharged tRNATrp. AT regulates expression of genes involved in tryptophan biosynthesis and transport by binding to the tryptophan-activated trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) and preventing its interaction with several mRNAs. Here, we report the x-ray structure of AT at 2.8 Å resolution, showing that the protein subunits assemble into tight trimers. Four such trimers are further associated into a 12-subunit particle in which individual trimers are related by twofold and threefold symmetry axes. Twelve DnaJ-like, cysteine-rich zinc-binding domains form spikes on the surface of the dodecamer. Available data suggest several possible ways for AT to interact with the 11-subunit TRAP. Interaction between the two symmetry-mismatching molecules could be assisted by the flexible nature of AT zinc-binding domains

Mechanism for pH-dependent gene regulation by amino-terminus-mediated homooligomerization of Bacillus subtilis anti-trp RNA-binding attenuation protein

Anti-TRAP (AT) is a small zinc-binding protein that regulates tryptophan biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis by binding to tryptophan-bound trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP), thereby preventing it from binding RNA, and allowing transcription and translation of the trpEDCFBA operon. Crystallographic and sedimentation studies have shown that AT can homooligomerize to form a dodecamer, AT12, composed of a tetramer of trimers, AT3. Structural and biochemical studies suggest that only trimeric AT is active for binding to TRAP. Our chromatographic and spectroscopic data revealed that a large fraction of recombinantly overexpressed AT retains the N-formyl group (fAT), presumably due to incomplete N-formyl-methionine processing by peptide deformylase. Hydrodynamic parameters from NMR relaxation and diffusion measurements showed that fAT is exclusively trimeric (AT3), while (deformylated) AT exhibits slow exchange between both trimeric and dodecameric forms. We examined this equilibrium using NMR spectroscopy and found that oligomerization of active AT3 to form inactive AT12 is linked to protonation of the amino terminus. Global analysis of the pH dependence of the trimer-dodecamer equilibrium revealed a near physiological pKa for the N-terminal amine of AT and yielded a pH-dependent oligomerization equilibrium constant. Estimates of excluded volume effects due to molecular crowding suggest the oligomerization equilibrium may be physiologically important. Because deprotonation favors “active” trimeric AT and protonation favors “inactive” dodecameric AT, our findings illuminate a possible mechanism for sensing and responding to changes in cellular pH