PII Signal Transduction Proteins, Pivotal Players in Microbial Nitrogen Control

doi:10.1128/MMBR.65.1.80-105.2001

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Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, March 2001, p. 80-105, Vol. 65, No. 1
1092-2172/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.65.1.80-105.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

P_II Signal Transduction Proteins, Pivotal Players in Microbial Nitrogen Control

Tania Arcondéguy, Rachael Jack, and Mike Merrick^*

Department of Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom

The P_II family of signal transduction proteins are among the most widely distributed signal proteins in the bacterial world.First identified in 1969 as a component of the glutamine synthetaseregulatory apparatus, P_II proteins have since been recognizedas playing a pivotal role in control of prokaryotic nitrogen metabolism.More recently, members of the family have been found in higherplants, where they also potentially play a role in nitrogen control.The P_II proteins can function in the regulation of both gene transcription,by modulating the activity of regulatory proteins, and the catalyticactivity of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism. There isalso emerging evidence that they may regulate the activity ofproteins required for transport of nitrogen compounds into thecell. In this review we discuss the history of the P_II proteins,their structures and biochemistry, and their distribution andfunctions in prokaryotes. We survey data emerging from bacterialgenome sequences and consider other likely or potential targetsfor control by P_IIproteins.

^* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH,U.K. Phone: (44) 1603 450749. Fax: (44) 1603 450018. E-mail: mike.merrick{at}bbsrc.ac.uk.

Present address: Dept. de Bioquimica, Facultad de Quimica, Universidad de Sevilla, 41080 Seville,Spain.

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