CO-sensing mechanisms

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2004 Sep;68(3):453-73, table of contents. doi: 10.1128/MMBR.68.3.453-473.2004.

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) has long been known to have dramatic physiological effects on organisms ranging from bacteria to humans, but recently there have a number of suggestions that organisms might have specific sensors for CO. This article reviews the current evidence for a variety of proteins with demonstrated or potential CO-sensing ability. Particular emphasis is placed on the molecular description of CooA, a heme-containing CO sensor from Rhodospirillum rubrum, since its biological role as a CO sensor is clear and we have substantial insight into the basis of its sensing ability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carbon Monoxide / analysis
  • Carbon Monoxide / metabolism*
  • Eukaryotic Cells / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Hemeproteins / chemistry
  • Hemeproteins / genetics
  • Hemeproteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Trans-Activators / chemistry
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • CooA protein, Rhodospirillum rubrum
  • Hemeproteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Carbon Monoxide