Structure-function relationships in the Bvg and Evg two-component phosphorelay systems

The unorthodox two-component phosphorelay systems BvgAS and EvgAS of Bordetella pertussis and E. coli, respectively, are suitable model systems to investigate the molecular basis of signalling specificity, because, despite their high relatedness on the sequence level, they do not cross-talk to each other. We could show that the two systems belong to the obligate type of phosphorelay systems and that signalling specificity is mediated by the HPt modules of the histidine kinases and the receiver domains of the effector proteins. To gain more insight into signalling specificity on the molecular level, we started a detailed structural analysis of the respective proteins using a combination of genetic and biochemical methods including limited proteolysis and chemical modification of purified proteins and their mass spectrometrical analysis.