Staphylococcal NreB: an O2-sensing histidine protein kinase with an O2-labile iron-sulphur cluster of the FNR type

Summary The nreABC ( n itrogen re gulation) operon encodes a new staphylococcal two-component regulatory sys- tem that controls dissimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduc- tion in response to oxygen. Unlike other two- component sensors NreB is a cytosolic protein with four N-terminal cysteine residues. It was shown that both the NreB-cysteine cluster and Fe ions are required for function. Isolated NreB was converted to the active form by incubation with cysteine desul- phurase, ferrous ions and cysteine. This activation is typical for FeS-containing proteins and was reversed by oxygen. During reconstitution an absorption band at 420 nm and a yellow-brownish colour (typical for an FNR-type iron-sul…