Coordinating intracellular nickel-metal-site structure-function relationships and the NikR and RcnR repressors.

J. Iwig, P. Chivers

Natural product reports, 2010

Metalloregulator function requires both sensitivity and selectivity to ensure metal-specific activity without interfering with intracellular metal trafficking pathways. Here, we examine the role of metal coordination geometry in the function of NikR and RcnR, two widely conserved nickel-responsive regulators that are both present in E. coli. The available data suggest an emerging trend in which coordination number is linked to metal-binding affinity, and thus regulatory function. The differences in coordination geometry also suggest that the kinetic mechanisms of metal-association and dissociation will contribute to metalloregulator function. We also discuss ways in which the ligand binding properties of metalloregulators may be tuned to alter the regulatory response.

Cited by 10 publications.

Field of study: Chemistry

10.1039/b906683g