Genomic distribution and heterogeneity of MocR-like transcriptional factors containing a domain belonging to the superfamily of the pyridoxal-5′-phosphate dependent enzymes of fold type I

Bacterial proteins belonging to the MocR/GabR family are chimeric proteins incorporating a short N-terminal helix-turn-helix containing domain with DNA-binding properties, and a long C-terminal domain belonging to the superfamily of the pyridoxal-5′-phosphate enzymes of fold type I. The first purpose of this report is to give an overview of the distribution of these factors among the different taxonomical bacterial divisions and to determine the degree of conservation of the main structural features of the PLP binding domain. Complete proteomes of bacteria phyla were scanned with a hidden Markov model representative of the MocR family. Results indicate that presence of MocR factors is heterogeneous even within the single bacterial phylum: some species miss completely the factors, while others possess one or even more regulators. Absence of MocR factors is distinctive of some phyla such as Chlamydiae. The genomic distribution of MocR is, as expected, highly correlated to the size of the genome. At variance, phyla missing MocR regulators generally are characterized by compact genomes, of the order of 1.0–2.0 Mb, such as the case of Mollicutes or Chlamydiae. Apparently, the minimum genome size compatible with the presence of MocR genes is around 2.0–2.5 Mb. Conservation of the residues corresponding to those involved in the interaction with the cofactor pyridoxal-5′-phosphate in the homologous 2-aminoadipate aminotransferase, was analyzed in the multiple sequence alignments of MocR within each phyla considered. In the vast majority of cases, residues are conserved or conservatively replaced. This result suggests that, in most cases, MocR factors preserve at least ability to bind the cofactor and very likely some catalytic abilities.

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► MocR distribution in complete proteomes is heterogeneous.
► Presence of MocR regulators is correlated to genome size.
► Minimum genome size for MocR presence is around 2.0–2.5 Mb.
► Residues predicted to interact with pyridoxal-5′-phosphate are mostly conserved.
► A subgroup of MocR regulators have PLP-interacting residues replaced.