Open AccessThe domain of unknown function DUF 1521 exhibits metal ion‐inducible autocleavage activity – a novel example from a putative effector protein of V ibrio coralliilyticus ATCC BAA ‐450
Author(s) -
Schirrmeister Jana,
Zocher Sara,
Flor Liane,
Göttfert Michael,
Zehner Susanne
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6968.12145
Subject(s) - chemistry , metal , effector , zinc , metal ions in aqueous solution , cleavage (geology) , sea urchin , siderophore , biochemistry , vibrio , gene , divalent , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , genetics , biology , organic chemistry , paleontology , fracture (geology)
V ibrio coralliilyticus ATCC BAA ‐450 is a pathogen causing coral bleaching at elevated seawater temperatures. Based on the available genome sequence, the strain has a type III secretion system. Within the corresponding gene cluster, VIC _001052 is encoded, which contains a conserved domain of unknown function DUF 1521. In this study, we show that the purified domain exhibits autocleavage activity in the presence of several divalent metal ions, for example, calcium and manganese but not with magnesium or zinc. Autocleavage is not affected by temperatures between 0 and 30 °C, indicating that seawater temperature is not a critical factor for this activity. The DUF 1521 domain and the cleavage site are conserved in several proteins from proteobacteria, suggesting a similar cleavage activity for these proteins.