The Potassium Efflux System Kef: Bacterial Protection against Toxic Electrophilic Compounds.

ABSTRACT: Kef couples the potassium efflux with proton influx in gram-negative bacteria. The resulting acidification of the cytosol efficiently prevents the killing of the bacteria by reactive electrophilic compounds. While other degradation pathways for electrophiles exist, Kef is a short-term response that is crucial for survival. It requires tight regulation since its activation comes with the burden of disturbed homeostasis. Electrophiles, entering the cell, react spontaneously or catalytically with glutathione, which is present at high concentrations in the cytosol. The resulting glutathione conjugates bind to the cytosolic regulatory domain of Kef and trigger activation while the binding of glutathione keeps the system closed. Furthermore, nucleotides can bind to this domain for stabilization

SUBMITTER: Rasmussen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10224563 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature