Functional and structural studies of the repressor protein PhoU in the phosphate transport signalling in Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri

• Grant number: 15/18712-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Balan Fernandes
• Grantee: Pamela de Oliveira Pena
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/20468-1 - Molecular mechanisms involved in pathogen adaptation and virulence, host resistance and symptom development in citrus-bacteria interactions, AP.TEM

Abstract

Phosphorus is the fourth most important element for cell growth and important in the biosynthesis of molecules, phosphorylation and energy production. In Escherichia coli its regulation is accomplished through the pho regulon, a set of sensing operons capable of encoding proteins, such as the two-component system PhoR/PhoB and the ATP-Binding Cassete proteins, such as the Pst system (Phosphate Specific Transport). Among the proteins of importance to the Pho regulon repressor is PhoU, which is related to the modulation of both systems, in a not clear mechanism. In order to further characterize this protein, studies have been conducted to solve its three-dimensional structure. However, there is no structural or functional data of PhoU from plant pathogens including the important Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, the causative agent of the citrus canker and responsible for significant economic losses in Brazil and around the World. In recent work, our group has characterized the ABC transporter Pst and the two components system PhoR/PhoB and demonstrated their importance in the metabolism, infection and pathogenesis of X. citri in Citrus sinensis plants. Continuing these studies, this project aims to understand the PhoU function in X. citri through functional and structural characterization of this protein. It is intended to solve its three-dimensional structure by crystallography and evaluate the interaction with the protein kinase PhoR using biophysical and spectroscopic methods. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PENA, Pamela de Oliveira. Structural and functional studies of the repressor protein PhoU in phosphate signalling and uptake in Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri .. 2018. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.