Small DUF1127 proteins regulate bacterial phosphate metabolism through protein-protein interactions with the sensor kinase PhoR.

ABSTRACT: The domain of unknown function 1127 (DUF1127) is widely distributed among bacteria, often in proteins shorter than 50 amino acids. In the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the absence of three small DUF1127 proteins leads to a range of phenotypic changes. In this study, we investigated the role of these small DUFs in phosphate acquisition. Upregulation of phosphate transport systems in the triple mutant resulted in increased phosphate uptake, polyphosphate accumulation, and growth defects. Using Far-Western dot blots, pulldown experiments, and the bacterial two-hybrid system, we identified a direct interaction between the small DUFs and the sensor kinase PhoR, which regulates phosphate metabolism together with the response regulator PhoB. Complementation studies revealed tha

SUBMITTER: Remme DCLE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12501420 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature