Phosphorylation of a conserved intrinsically disordered region is necessary for activation of a bacterial Hanks-type Ser/Thr kinase signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT: Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are found throughout all domains of life, yet their contribution to bacterial signaling has remained unclear. Here we show that phosphorylation of a conserved juxtamembrane IDR is necessary for activation of the bacterial Hanks-type Ser/Thr kinase-phosphatase PrkC/PrpC signaling pathway in Bacillus subtilis. Phosphoablative mutation of a conserved IDR phosphosite has strong effect on kinase-activity-dependent phenotypes, including intrinsic β-lactam resistance and stationary phase survival. Using a synthetic quantitative reporter for kinase activity, mutational analysis, and mathematical modeling, we show that phosphorylation of the IDR promotes trans autoactivation of the kinase, and that this modification is essential for amplifying kinase a

SUBMITTER: Grunfeld N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12636448 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature