PMID: 23333307

Authors:

Tormo-Mas MA, Donderis J, Garcia-Caballer M, Alt A, Mir-Sanchis I, Marina A, Penades JR

Title:

Phage dUTPases Control Transfer of Virulence Genes by a Proto-Oncogenic G Protein-like Mechanism.

Journal:

Mol Cell. 2013 Jan 15. pii: S1097-2765(12)01049-0. doi:, 10.1016/j.molcel.2012.12.013.

Abstract:

dUTPases (Duts) have emerged as promising regulatory molecules controlling relevant cellular processes. However, the mechanism underlying this regulatory function remains enigmatic. Using staphylococcal pathogenicity island (SaPI) repression as a model, we report here that phage Duts induce the transfer of SaPI-encoded virulence factors by switching between active (dUTP-bound) and inactive (apo state) conformations, a conversion catalyzed by their intrinsic dUTPase activity. Crystallographic and mutagenic analyses demonstrate that binding to dUTP reorders the C-terminal motif V of the phage-encoded Duts, rendering these proteins into the active conformation required for SaPI derepression. By contrast, the conversion to the apo state conformation by hydrolysis of the bound dUTP generates a protein that is unable to induce the SaPI cycle. Because none of the requirements involving Duts in SaPI transfer are exclusive to the phage-encoded proteins, we propose that Duts are widespread cellular regulators acting in a manner analogous to the eukaryotic G proteins.