Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria
Abstract When the supply of inorganic carbon is limiting, photosynthetic cyanobacteria excrete nitrite, a toxic intermediate in the ammonia assimilation pathway from nitrate. It has been hypothesized that the excreted nitrite represents excess nitrogen that cannot be further assimilated due to the m...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46253-4 |
| _version_ | 1797274015538085888 |
|---|---|
| author | Alexander Kraus Philipp Spät Stefan Timm Amy Wilson Rhena Schumann Martin Hagemann Boris Maček Wolfgang R. Hess |
| author_facet | Alexander Kraus Philipp Spät Stefan Timm Amy Wilson Rhena Schumann Martin Hagemann Boris Maček Wolfgang R. Hess |
| author_sort | Alexander Kraus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract When the supply of inorganic carbon is limiting, photosynthetic cyanobacteria excrete nitrite, a toxic intermediate in the ammonia assimilation pathway from nitrate. It has been hypothesized that the excreted nitrite represents excess nitrogen that cannot be further assimilated due to the missing carbon, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identified a protein that interacts with nitrite reductase, regulates nitrogen metabolism and promotes nitrite excretion. The protein, which we named NirP1, is encoded by an unannotated gene that is upregulated under low carbon conditions and controlled by transcription factor NtcA, a central regulator of nitrogen homeostasis. Ectopic overexpression of nirP1 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 resulted in a chlorotic phenotype, delayed growth, severe changes in amino acid pools, and nitrite excretion. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that NirP1 interacts with nitrite reductase, a central enzyme in the assimilation of ammonia from nitrate/nitrite. Our results reveal that NirP1 is widely conserved in cyanobacteria and plays a crucial role in the coordination of C/N primary metabolism by targeting nitrite reductase. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:52:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33e27bb261424819a5b818a71cd87619 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:52:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-33e27bb261424819a5b818a71cd876192024-03-05T19:36:07ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-03-0115111410.1038/s41467-024-46253-4Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteriaAlexander Kraus0Philipp Spät1Stefan Timm2Amy Wilson3Rhena Schumann4Martin Hagemann5Boris Maček6Wolfgang R. Hess7Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, Freiburg UniversityDepartment of Quantitative Proteomics, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of TübingenPlant Physiology Department, Institute of Biosciences, University of RostockGenetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, Freiburg UniversityBiological Station Zingst, University of RostockPlant Physiology Department, Institute of Biosciences, University of RostockDepartment of Quantitative Proteomics, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of TübingenGenetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, Freiburg UniversityAbstract When the supply of inorganic carbon is limiting, photosynthetic cyanobacteria excrete nitrite, a toxic intermediate in the ammonia assimilation pathway from nitrate. It has been hypothesized that the excreted nitrite represents excess nitrogen that cannot be further assimilated due to the missing carbon, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identified a protein that interacts with nitrite reductase, regulates nitrogen metabolism and promotes nitrite excretion. The protein, which we named NirP1, is encoded by an unannotated gene that is upregulated under low carbon conditions and controlled by transcription factor NtcA, a central regulator of nitrogen homeostasis. Ectopic overexpression of nirP1 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 resulted in a chlorotic phenotype, delayed growth, severe changes in amino acid pools, and nitrite excretion. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that NirP1 interacts with nitrite reductase, a central enzyme in the assimilation of ammonia from nitrate/nitrite. Our results reveal that NirP1 is widely conserved in cyanobacteria and plays a crucial role in the coordination of C/N primary metabolism by targeting nitrite reductase.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46253-4 |
| spellingShingle | Alexander Kraus Philipp Spät Stefan Timm Amy Wilson Rhena Schumann Martin Hagemann Boris Maček Wolfgang R. Hess Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria Nature Communications |
| title | Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria |
| title_full | Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria |
| title_fullStr | Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria |
| title_short | Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria |
| title_sort | protein nirp1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46253-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexanderkraus proteinnirp1regulatesnitritereductaseandnitriteexcretionincyanobacteria AT philippspat proteinnirp1regulatesnitritereductaseandnitriteexcretionincyanobacteria AT stefantimm proteinnirp1regulatesnitritereductaseandnitriteexcretionincyanobacteria AT amywilson proteinnirp1regulatesnitritereductaseandnitriteexcretionincyanobacteria AT rhenaschumann proteinnirp1regulatesnitritereductaseandnitriteexcretionincyanobacteria AT martinhagemann proteinnirp1regulatesnitritereductaseandnitriteexcretionincyanobacteria AT borismacek proteinnirp1regulatesnitritereductaseandnitriteexcretionincyanobacteria AT wolfgangrhess proteinnirp1regulatesnitritereductaseandnitriteexcretionincyanobacteria |