Control of the bifunctional O 2 ‐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 O2 sensing cooperates with the accessory nitrate sensor NreA in the NreA-NreB-NreC system for coordinated sensing and regulation of nitrate respiration by O2 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 NreA · NO 3 - instead of apoNreA or mutation of the phosphatase m…