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A Transmembrane Histidine Kinase Functions as a pH Sensor.

Ana Bortolotti1, Daniela Belén Vazquez1, Juan Cruz Almada1

  • 1Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario-Argentine National Research Council-CONICET, Suipacha 531 CP 2000, Argentina.

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|August 23, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The DesK-DesR system in Bacillus subtilis senses pH, not just temperature. Low pH destabilizes a key helix, inhibiting unsaturated fatty acid synthesis and altering membrane fluidity.

Keywords:
coulomb interactionshelix stabilizationpH sensor

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The DesK-DesR two-component system regulates unsaturated fatty acid synthesis in *Bacillus subtilis*.
  • This system is known to respond to temperature changes to maintain membrane fluidity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the DesK-DesR system in sensing pH variations.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which DesK senses pH.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the structural and functional role of the linker helix in DesK.
  • Investigating the effects of pH on DesK's kinase activity and associated signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • DesK, a transmembrane histidine kinase, also senses environmental pH.
  • A linker helix connecting transmembrane and catalytic domains is crucial for pH sensing.
  • At low pH, protonation destabilizes the linker helix, interrupting signaling and inhibiting unsaturated fatty acid synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • The DesK-DesR system integrates temperature and pH signals for robust membrane homeostasis.
  • This pH-sensing mechanism allows *Bacillus subtilis* to adapt membrane properties to acidic environments.