Escherichia coli K-12 YfgF is an anaerobic cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase with roles in cell surface remodelling and the oxidative stress response.

The Escherichia coli K-12 yfgF gene encodes a protein with domains associated with cyclic di-GMP signalling: GGDEF (associated with diguanylate cyclase activity) and EAL (associated with cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase activity). Here, it is shown that yfgF is expressed under anaerobic conditions from a class II FNR (regulator of fumarate and nitrate reduction)-dependent promoter. Anaerobic expression of yfgF is greatest in stationary phase, and in cultures grown at 28 degrees C, suggesting that low growth rates promote yfgF expression. Mutation of yfgF resulted in altered cell surface properties and enhanced sensitivity when anaerobic cultures were exposed to peroxides. The purified YfgF GGDEF-EAL (YfgF(GE)) and EAL (YfgF(E)) domains possessed cyclic di-GMP-specific phosphodiesterase activity, but lacked diguanylate cyclase activity. However, the catalytically inactive GGDEF domain was required for YfgF(GE) dimerization and enhanced cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase activity in the presence of physiological concentrations of Mg(2+). The cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase activity of YfgF(GE) and YfgF(E) was inhibited by the product of the reaction, 5'-phosphoguanylyl-(3'-5')-guanosine (pGpG). Thus, it is shown that the yfgF gene encodes an anaerobic cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase that is involved in remodelling the cell surface of E. coli K-12 and in the response to peroxide shock, with implications for integrating three global regulatory networks, i.e. oxygen regulation, cyclic di-GMP signalling and the oxidative stress response.