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Structural basis for transcription activation through cooperative recruitment of MntR

Author

Listed:
  • Haoyuan Shi

    (Reed College)

  • Yu Fu

    (Reed College)

  • Vilmante Kodyte

    (Reed College)

  • Amelie Andreas

    (Reed College)

  • Ankita J. Sachla

    (Cornell University)

  • Keikilani Miller

    (Reed College)

  • Ritu Shrestha

    (Refeyn Inc)

  • John D. Helmann

    (Cornell University)

  • Arthur Glasfeld

    (Reed College)

  • Shivani Ahuja

    (Reed College)

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis MntR is a dual regulatory protein that responds to heightened Mn2+ availability in the cell by both repressing the expression of uptake transporters and activating the expression of efflux proteins. Recent work indicates that, in its role as an activator, MntR binds several sites upstream of the genes encoding Mn2+ exporters, leading to a cooperative response to manganese. Here, we use cryo-EM to explore the molecular basis of gene activation by MntR and report a structure of four MntR dimers bound to four 18-base pair sites across an 84-base pair regulatory region of the mneP promoter. Our structures, along with solution studies including mass photometry and in vivo transcription assays, reveal that MntR dimers employ polar and non-polar contacts to bind cooperatively to an array of low-affinity DNA-binding sites. These results reveal the molecular basis for cooperativity in the activation of manganese efflux.

Suggested Citation

  • Haoyuan Shi & Yu Fu & Vilmante Kodyte & Amelie Andreas & Ankita J. Sachla & Keikilani Miller & Ritu Shrestha & John D. Helmann & Arthur Glasfeld & Shivani Ahuja, 2025. "Structural basis for transcription activation through cooperative recruitment of MntR," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57412-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57412-6
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    1. Adar Sonn-Segev & Katarina Belacic & Tatyana Bodrug & Gavin Young & Ryan T. VanderLinden & Brenda A. Schulman & Johannes Schimpf & Thorsten Friedrich & Phat Vinh Dip & Thomas U. Schwartz & Benedikt Ba, 2020. "Quantifying the heterogeneity of macromolecular machines by mass photometry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
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