The long-term objective of this research is to understand the how Fe-S cluster biogenesis is regulated in vivo. Experiments will be carried out on IscR, a protein that plays a regulatory role in the Isc pathway for Fe- S cluster biogenesis in E. coli. IscR also regulates several other genes encoding for proteins with known or putative roles in Fe-S cluster biogenesis and anaerobic respiratory functions. A fundamental question relating to IscR function is how this protein differentially regulates genes under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, which I propose is due to [2Fe-2S] cluster binding to IscR. Under aerobic conditions, which are known to destabilize some protein-bound Fe-S clusters, I expect that the fraction of cluster-containing IscR is decreased, altering the ability to repress some genes.
The specific aim of these experiments is thus to understand the correlation between the [2Fe-2S] cluster occupancy of IscR and the function of this protein in vivo. To test the validity of this hypothesis, I will quantitatively determine the cluster occupancy of IscR under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in vivo using cysteine and iron labeling techniques and isolate mutants of IscR that are altered in their in vivo response to oxygen by performing random mutagenesis. I expect that the cluster occupancy of IscR will be lower under aerobic conditions, and the results should provide insight into the mechanism of IscR regulation of Fe-S cluster biogenesis. This mechanism will be further explored by investigating how cluster occupancy is regulated. In particular, I will determine whether proteins associate with IscR that function to directly influence cluster occupancy using coimmunoprecipitation and co-purification techniques, and I will use genetic techniques to identify new proteins that regulate IscR activity. In addition, I will examine the effects of oxidative and nitrosative stress on the cluster occupancy of IscR. I will also determine whether stress-inducting species act directly to damage the cluster or protein, or if these species act indirectly on IscR by altering the damand for cluster biogenesis. The research described in this proposal will address how IscR mechanistically functions and what role the Fe-S cluster plays in IscR regulation under normal and stressed cellular conditions. How Fe-S cluster biogenesis is regulated is an important question. The generation of Fe-S clusters must be regulated so as to provide proteins with cluster when needed to carry out essential life processes, but also to prevent the overproduction of clusters, which can lead to the accumulation of Fe to toxic levels. In addition, Fe-S clusters can be destroyed by oxidants normally produced by the cell, and these reactions are thought to contribute to cell damage and human disease, including Friedreich's ataxia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32GM085987-02
Application #
7689334
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F08-A (20))
Program Officer
Marino, Pamela
Project Start
2008-07-01
Project End
2011-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$47,210
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Giel, Jennifer L; Nesbit, April D; Mettert, Erin L et al. (2013) Regulation of iron-sulphur cluster homeostasis through transcriptional control of the Isc pathway by [2Fe-2S]-IscR in Escherichia coli. Mol Microbiol 87:478-92
Nesbit, A D; Fleischhacker, A S; Teter, S J et al. (2012) ArcA and AppY antagonize IscR repression of hydrogenase-1 expression under anaerobic conditions, revealing a novel mode of O2 regulation of gene expression in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 194:6892-9
Fleischhacker, Angela S; Stubna, Audria; Hsueh, Kuang-Lung et al. (2012) Characterization of the [2Fe-2S] cluster of Escherichia coli transcription factor IscR. Biochemistry 51:4453-62
Fleischhacker, Angela S; Kiley, Patricia J (2011) Iron-containing transcription factors and their roles as sensors. Curr Opin Chem Biol 15:335-41