Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Assaying for Inorganic Polyphosphate in Bacteria
07:20

Assaying for Inorganic Polyphosphate in Bacteria

Published on: January 21, 2019

Manganese-dependent protein O-phosphatases in prokaryotes and their biological functions

Liang Shi1

  • 1Environmental Microbiology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., P.O.Box 999, MSIN: P7-50, Richland, WA 99352, USA. Liang.Shi@pnl.gov

Frontiers in Bioscience : a Journal and Virtual Library
|February 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Numerous Mn2+-dependent protein phosphatases (O-phosphatases) in prokaryotes, belonging to PPP, PPM, and PHP families, regulate vital cellular processes. Their discovery offers new insights into manganese homeostasis and protein phosphorylation in bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Prokaryotic protein phosphatases (O-phosphatases) are crucial enzymes dependent on Mn2+ cofactors.
  • These phosphatases are classified into PPP, PPM, and PHP superfamilies based on sequence homology.
  • Many prokaryotic O-phosphatases are metalloenzymes, utilizing metal ions in their active sites.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and characterize the diverse functions of Mn2+-dependent protein phosphatases in prokaryotes.
  • To highlight the roles of PPP, PPM, and PHP families in various cellular processes.
  • To underscore the significance of these enzymes in understanding prokaryotic physiology and Mn2+ homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Sequence analysis to classify protein phosphatases into superfamilies (PPP, PPM, PHP).
  • Literature review of characterized prokaryotic O-phosphatases and their identified functions.
  • Functional annotation based on experimental data and sequence homology.

Main Results:

  • PPP family phosphatases regulate stress response, nitrogen fixation, and growth.
  • PPM family phosphatases are involved in spore formation, stress response, and cell division.
  • PHP family phosphatases, like CpsB, regulate virulence factors such as capsular polysaccharide synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • Mn2+-dependent protein O-phosphatases are functionally diverse and essential in prokaryotes.
  • These enzymes play critical roles in stress response, growth, development, and virulence.
  • Their study provides valuable insights into Mn2+ homeostasis and protein phosphorylation in prokaryotic cells.

More Related Videos

X-Ray Crystallography to Study the Oligomeric State Transition of the Thermotoga maritima M42 Aminopeptidase TmPep105011:27

X-Ray Crystallography to Study the Oligomeric State Transition of the Thermotoga maritima M42 Aminopeptidase TmPep1050

Published on: May 13, 2020

A Mass Spectrometry-Based Approach to Identify Phosphoprotein Phosphatases and their Interactors10:17

A Mass Spectrometry-Based Approach to Identify Phosphoprotein Phosphatases and their Interactors

Published on: April 29, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Phosphorylation01:02

Phosphorylation

The addition or removal of phosphate groups from proteins is the most common chemical modification that regulates cellular processes. These modifications can affect the structure, activity, stability, and localization of proteins within cells as well as their interactions with other proteins.
During phosphorylation, protein kinases transfer the terminal phosphate group of ATP to specific amino acid side chains of substrate proteins. Serine, threonine, and tyrosine are the most commonly...
Phosphorylation01:02

Phosphorylation

The addition or removal of phosphate groups from proteins is the most common chemical modification that regulates cellular processes. These modifications can affect the structure, activity, stability, and localization of proteins within cells as well as their interactions with other proteins.
During phosphorylation, protein kinases transfer the terminal phosphate group of ATP to specific amino acid side chains of substrate proteins. Serine, threonine, and tyrosine are the most commonly...
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases02:54

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases

Proteins undergo chemical modifications that trigger changes in the charge, structure, and conformation of the proteins. Phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation, nitrosylation, ubiquitination, lipidation, methylation, and proteolysis are various protein modifications that regulate protein activity. Such modifications are usually enzyme-driven.
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators02:04

Covalently Linked Protein Regulators

Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

Phosphoinositides and PIPs

Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles01:24

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles

Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...