Zinc overload disrupts SoxR [2Fe-2S] clusters to drive redox-metallic crosstalk via SoxS-ZnuACB in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Here, we demonstrate that excess zinc disrupts bacterial redox sensing by specifically disassembling the [2Fe-2S] cluster of SoxR - a master oxidative stress sensor in Escherichia coli. This impairment couples zinc overload to dysregulated oxidative defense, revealing a previously unrecognized metal-redox crosstalk mechanism. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV-visible spectroscopy, we demonstrated that excess zinc specifically disrupts the assembly of the [2Fe-2S] cluster in redox-sensitive SoxR. Additionally, we assessed the expression levels of genes within this pathway using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and quantified intracellular zinc and iron levels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to evaluate the roles of SoxS and the zinc uptake transpor

SUBMITTER: Feng J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12818246 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature