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Characterization of two cation diffusion facilitators NpunF0707 and NpunF1794 in Nostoc punctiforme
L Hudek1,2, L Pearson3, A A Michalczyk2
1Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Burwood, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Aims:
To characterize genes involved in maintaining homeostatic levels of zinc in the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.
Methods And Results:
Metal efflux transporters play a central role in maintaining homeostatic levels of trace elements such as zinc. Sequence analyses of the N. punctiforme genome identified two potential cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) metal efflux transporters, Npun_F0707 (Cdf31) and Npun_F1794 (Cdf33). Deletion of either Cdf31or Cdf33 resulted in increased zinc retention over 3 h. Interestingly, Cdf31(-) and Cdf33(-) mutants showed no change in sensitivity to zinc exposure in comparison with the wild type, suggesting some compensatory capacity for the loss of each other. Using qRT-PCR, a possible interaction was observed between the two cdf's, where the Cdf31(-) mutant had a more profound effect on cdf33 expression than Cdf33(-) did on cdf31. Over-expression of Cdf31 and Cdf33 in ZntA(-) - and ZitB(-) -deficient Escherichia coli revealed function similarities between the ZntA and ZitB of E. coli and the cyanobacterial transporters.
Conclusions:
The data presented shed light on the function of two important transporters that regulate zinc homeostasis in N. punctiforme.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
This study shows for the first time the functional characterization of two cyanobacterial zinc efflux proteins belonging to the CDF family.
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