Control of the bifunctional O -sensor kinase NreB of Staphylococcus carnosus by the nitrate sensor NreA: Switching from kinase to phosphatase state.

The NreB-NreC two-component system of Staphylococcus carnosus for O sensing cooperates with the accessory nitrate sensor NreA in the NreA-NreB-NreC system for coordinated sensing and regulation of nitrate respiration by O and nitrate. ApoNreA (NreA in the absence of nitrate) interacts with NreB and inhibits NreB autophosphorylation (and activation). NreB contains the phosphatase motif DxxxQ. The present study shows that NreB on its own was inactive for the dephosphorylation of the phosphorylated response regulator NreC (NreC-P), but co-incubation with NreB and NreA stimulated NreC-P dephosphorylation. Either the presence of instead of apoNreA or mutation of the phosphatase motif (D160 or Q164) of NreB abrogated phosphatase activity of NreB. Phosphatase activity was observed for anoxic (active) NreB as well as oxic NreB, therefore the functional state of NreB is not relevant for phosphatase activity. Thus, NreB is a bifunctional sensor kinase with an integral cryptic phosphatase activity. Activation of phosphatase activity and dephosphorylation of NreC-P requires NreA as a cofactor. Accordingly, NreA and nitrate have major and dual roles in NreA-NreB-NreC regulation by (i) inhibiting NreB phosphorylation and (ii) triggering a kinase/phosphatase switch of NreB when present as apoNreA.