PrsQ2, a small periplasmic protein involved in increased uranium resistance in the bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans
Metadatos
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Elsevier
Materia
Cupriavidus metallidurans Uranium-phosphate precipitation Two-component system Adaptation Regulation
Fecha
2022-11-15Referencia bibliográfica
Kristel Mijnendonckx... [et al.]. PrsQ2, a small periplasmic protein involved in increased uranium resistance in the bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 444, Part A, 2023, 130410, ISSN 0304-3894, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130410]
Resumen
Uranium contamination is a widespread problem caused by natural and anthropogenic activities. Although
microorganisms thrive in uranium-contaminated environments, little is known about the actual molecular
mechanisms mediating uranium resistance. Here, we investigated the resistance mechanisms driving the adaptation
of Cupriavidus metallidurans NA4 to toxic uranium concentrations. We selected a spontaneous mutant able
to grow in the presence of 1 mM uranyl nitrate compared to 250 μM for the parental strain. The increased
uranium resistance was acquired via the formation of periplasmic uranium-phosphate precipitates facilitated by
the increased expression of a genus-specific small periplasmic protein, PrsQ2, regulated as non-cognate target of the CzcS2-CzcR2 two-component system. This study shows that bacteria can adapt to toxic uranium concentrations
and explicates the complete genetic circuit behind the adaptation.