Regulatory interactions of a virulence-associated serine/threonine phosphatase-kinase pair in Bacillus anthracis

J Bacteriol. 2010 Jan;192(2):400-9. doi: 10.1128/JB.01221-09. Epub 2009 Nov 13.

Abstract

In the current study, we examined the regulatory interactions of a serine/threonine phosphatase (BA-Stp1), serine/threonine kinase (BA-Stk1) pair in Bacillus anthracis. B. anthracis STPK101, a null mutant lacking BA-Stp1 and BA-Stk1, was impaired in its ability to survive within macrophages, and this correlated with an observed reduction in virulence in a mouse model of pulmonary anthrax. Biochemical analyses confirmed that BA-Stp1 is a PP2C phosphatase and dephosphorylates phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues. Treatment of BA-Stk1 with BA-Stp1 altered BA-Stk1 kinase activity, indicating that the enzymatic function of BA-Stk1 can be influenced by BA-Stp1 dephosphorylation. Using a combination of mass spectrometry and mutagenesis approaches, three phosphorylated residues, T165, S173, and S214, in BA-Stk1 were identified as putative regulatory targets of BA-Stp1. Further analysis found that T165 and S173 were necessary for optimal substrate phosphorylation, while S214 was necessary for complete ATP hydrolysis, autophosphorylation, and substrate phosphorylation. These findings provide insight into a previously undescribed Stp/Stk pair in B. anthracis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacillus anthracis / enzymology*
  • Bacillus anthracis / genetics
  • Bacillus anthracis / pathogenicity*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Myelin Basic Protein / metabolism
  • Phosphopeptides / metabolism
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / genetics
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / physiology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
  • Virulence / genetics
  • Virulence / physiology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • Phosphopeptides
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases