The Zur-regulated ZinT protein is an auxiliary component of the high-affinity ZnuABC zinc transporter that facilitates metal recruitment during severe zinc shortage.

ABSTRACT: The pathways ensuring the efficient uptake of zinc are crucial for the ability of bacteria to multiply in the infected host. To better understand bacterial responses to zinc deficiency, we have investigated the role of the periplasmic protein ZinT in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We have found that zinT expression is regulated by Zur and parallels that of ZnuA, the periplasmic component of the zinc transporter ZnuABC. Despite the fact that ZinT contributes to Salmonella growth in media containing little zinc, disruption of zinT does not significantly affect virulence in mice. The role of ZinT became clear using strains expressing a mutated form of ZnuA lacking a characteristic histidine-rich domain. In fact, Salmonella strains producing this modified form of ZnuA exhibited a Zin

SUBMITTER: Petrarca P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2832539 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature