PII signal transducers: novel functional and structural insights

The PII signal transduction proteins have key functions in coordinating the regulation of central metabolic processes. Signals from the carbon, nitrogen and energy status of the cells are converted into different conformational (and modification) states of the PII proteins. Depending on these states, the PII proteins interact with various target proteins, most of which perform or regulate crucial reactions in nitrogen assimilatory pathways. This review presents recent progress in the elucidation of novel PII functions and in gaining novel structural insights into how the signals convert the PII states and how the activity of targets is affected by PII interaction.