Characterization of two cation diffusion facilitators NpunF0707 and NpunF1794 in Nostoc punctiforme.

J Appl Microbiol

Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia.

Published: November 2015

Aims: To characterize genes involved in maintaining homeostatic levels of zinc in the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.

Methods And Results: Metal efflux transporters play a central role in maintaining homeostatic levels of trace elements such as zinc. Sequence analyses of the N. punctiforme genome identified two potential cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) metal efflux transporters, Npun_F0707 (Cdf31) and Npun_F1794 (Cdf33). Deletion of either Cdf31or Cdf33 resulted in increased zinc retention over 3 h. Interestingly, Cdf31(-) and Cdf33(-) mutants showed no change in sensitivity to zinc exposure in comparison with the wild type, suggesting some compensatory capacity for the loss of each other. Using qRT-PCR, a possible interaction was observed between the two cdf's, where the Cdf31(-) mutant had a more profound effect on cdf33 expression than Cdf33(-) did on cdf31. Over-expression of Cdf31 and Cdf33 in ZntA(-) - and ZitB(-) -deficient Escherichia coli revealed function similarities between the ZntA and ZitB of E. coli and the cyanobacterial transporters.

Conclusions: The data presented shed light on the function of two important transporters that regulate zinc homeostasis in N. punctiforme.

Significance And Impact Of The Study: This study shows for the first time the functional characterization of two cyanobacterial zinc efflux proteins belonging to the CDF family.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jam.12942DOI Listing

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