The zinc efflux activator SczA protects Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 2 D39 from intracellular zinc toxicity.

ABSTRACT: Zinc is an essential trace element that serves as a catalytic cofactor in metalloenzymes and a structural element in proteins involved in general metabolism and cellular defenses of pathogenic bacteria. Despite its importance, high zinc levels can impair cellular processes, inhibiting growth of many pathogenic bacteria, including the major respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Zinc intoxication is prevented in S. pneumoniae by expression of the zinc exporter CzcD, whose expression is activated by the novel TetR-family transcriptional zinc-sensing regulator SczA. How zinc bioavailability triggers activation of SczA is unknown. It is shown here through functional studies in S. pneumoniae that an unannotated homodimeric TetR from S. agalactiae (PDB 3KKC) is the bona fide zinc efflux

SUBMITTER: Martin JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5426980 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature