ISSN:
1574-6968
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Nitric oxide (NO) has a broad spectrum of signalling and regulatory functions and multiple molecular targets. Recently, the intrabacterial toxicity of NO and mechanisms for NO resistance have been intensively investigated. Here we report for the first time that NO elicits release of zinc from a bacterial protein. Using the zinc-responsive expression of zntA (encoding a Zn-exporting P-type ATPase) fused to lacZ, i.e. Φ(zntA-lacZ), to monitor intracellular zinc, and SmtA (the Synechococcus metallothionein) as zinc store, we have shown that the NO donors NOC-5 and NOC-7 elicit zinc ejection. No increase in Φ(zntA-lacZ) activity was observed in a zntR mutant, indicating the specificity of the zntA promoter response to zinc ions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11295.x
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