微生物金属响应蛋白研究进展

Advances in microbial metal response proteins

微生物金属响应蛋白(Metal responsive proteins)是一类具有金属传感效应的DNA转录调节因子。目前,已研究的该调节因子家族有7个(Ars R-Smt B等)。每个响应蛋白家族的不同代表都可以调节基于不同金属效应物的基因表达,它们不仅调节微生物细胞内与金属内稳态直接相关的基因表达,还可以调节细胞代谢以减少细胞对供应短缺的金属的需求。目前,金属响应蛋白的研究已有一定成果,部分金属响应结合位点的氨基酸残基及调节机制都被确定。本综述总结了不同金属响应蛋白家族的金属转录调节因子,介绍了关于金属调节基因表达机制的现有研究进展,并以Ars R-Smt B家族和Fur家族为例,详细介绍了金属响应结合位点的结构特征与相关表达调控机制。此外,还介绍了不同响应蛋白控制微生物细胞金属水平作用方面的最新进展,以及在生物冶金与微生物环境治理方面的应用前景。

Microbial metal responsive proteins are a class of DNA transcriptional regulators with metal sensing effect. There are seven families of regulators now been characterized（Ars R-Smt B etc.）. Different representatives of each sensor families can regulate gene expression in response to different metals, they not only modulate the expression of genes directly associated with metal homeostasis of microbial cells, but can also alter metabolism to reduce the cellular demand for metals in short supply. At present, the metal response protein research has been some success, and the residues that form the sensory metal-binding sites have been defined in a number of these proteins. This review summarized the different families of bacterial metal-sensing transcriptional regulators and discussed current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of metal-regulated gene expression. Details of the structural features of sensory metal-binding sites focusing on the Ars R-Smt B family and the mechanisms of Fur gene expression. In addition, recent progress in understanding the coordination of the different sensors to control microbial cellular metal levels was discussed, as well as in the application of bio-metallurgy and environmental management prospects.