The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Membrane Histidine Kinase BqsS/CarS Directly Senses Environmental Ferrous Iron (Fe 2+ )

Abstract

Prokaryotic two-component signal transduction systems (TCSs) are widely utilized by bacteria to respond to their environment and are typically composed of a transmembrane sensor His kinase (HK) and a cytosolic DNA-binding response regulator (RR) that work together to respond to environmental stimuli. An important TCS that regulates the expression of genes involved in biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance in many pathogens is the BqsRS/CarRS system, originally identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Transcriptomics data suggested that the cognate Pa BqsRS stimulus is Fe 2+ , but Pa BqsS has not been characterized at the protein level, and a direct interaction between Fe 2+ and Pa BqsS has not been demonstrated. In this work, we biochemically and functionally characterize intact Pa BqsS, an iron-sensing membrane HK, for the first time. Using bioinformatics, protein modeling, metal analyses, site-directed mutagenesis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), we show that Pa BqsS binds a single Fe 2+ ion within its periplasmic domain containing an N/O-rich ligation sphere that includes Glu 48 as a key metal ligand. Using activity assays, we show that both intact and truncated Pa BqsS have competent ATPase activities, consistent with predicted function. Importantly, we show that the ATP hydrolysis of intact Pa BqsS is stimulated exclusively by Fe 2+ , revealing metal-based activation of a functional, intact membrane HK for the first time. Moreover, stimulation assays of Pa BqsS variants demonstrate the importance of Glu 45 and Asn 49 in the sensing and signal transduction pathway. Taken together, this work uncovers important structural and biochemical properties that could be leveraged to target the BqsRS system for future therapeutic developments.