Unlike thioredoxins, glutaredoxins are involved in ironsulfur cluster assembly and in reduction of specific disulfides (i.e. protein-glutathione adducts), and thus they are also important redox regulators of chloroplast metabolism. Using GFP fusion, AtGrxC5 isoform, present exclusively in Brassicaceae, was shown to be localized in chloroplasts. A comparison of the biochemical, structural, and spectroscopic properties of Arabidopsis GrxC5 (WCSYC active site) with poplar GrxS12 (WCSYS active site), a chloroplastic paralog, indicated that, contrary to the solely apomonomeric GrxS12 isoform, AtGrxC5 exists as two forms when expressed in Escherichia coli. The monomeric apoprotein possesses deglutathionylation activity mediating the recycling of plastidial methionine sulfoxide reductase B1 and peroxiredoxin IIE, whereas the dimeric holoprotein incorporates a [2Fe-2S] cluster. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments and resolution of the x-ray crystal structure of AtGrxC5 in its holoform revealed that, although not involved in its ligation, the presence of the second active site cysteine (Cys 32 ) is required for cluster formation. In addition, thiol titrations, fluorescence measurements, and mass spectrometry analyses showed that, despite the presence of a dithiol active site, AtGrxC5 does not form any inter-or intramolecular disulfide bond and that its activity exclusively relies on a monothiol mechanism.

In plants, the highly abundant 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin (2-CysPrx) is associated with the chloroplast and involved in protecting photosynthesis. This work addresses the multiple interactions of the 2-CysPrx in the chloroplast, which depend on its redox state. Transcript co-regulation analysis showed a strong linkage to the peptidyl-prolyl-cis/trans isomerase Cyclophilin 20-3 (Cyp20-3) and other components of the photosynthetic apparatus. Co-expression in protoplasts and quantification of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency in vivo confirmed protein interactions of 2-CysPrx with Cyp20-3 as well as NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase C (NTRC), while thioredoxin x (Trx-x) did not form complexes that could enable FRET. Likewise, changes in FRET of fluorescently labeled 2-CysPrx in vitro and in vivo proved redox dependent dynamics of 2-CysPrx. Addition of Cyp20-3 to an in vitro peroxidase assay with 2-CysPrx had no significant effect on peroxide reduction. Also, in the presence of NTRC, addition of Cyp20-3 did not further enhance peroxide reduction. In addition, 2-CysPrx functioned as chaperone and inhibited aggregation of citrate synthase during heat treatment. This activity was partly inhibited by Cyp20-3. As a new interaction partner of decameric 2-CysPrx, photosystem II could be identified after chloroplast fractionation and in pull-down assays after reconstitution. In summary, the data indicate a dynamic function of plant 2-CysPrx as redox sensor, chaperone, and regulator in the chloroplast with diverse functions beyond its role as thiol peroxidase.

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules are bacterial regulatory switches that facilitate conflicting outcomes for cells by promoting a pro-survival phenotypic adaptation and/or by directly mediating cell death, all through the toxin activity upon degradation of antitoxin. Intensive study has revealed specific details of TA module functions, but significant gaps remain about the molecular details of activation via antitoxin degradation used by different bacteria and in different environments. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about the interaction of antitoxins with cellular proteases Lon and ClpP to mediate TA module activation. An understanding of these processes can answer long-standing questions regarding stochastic versus specific activation of TA modules and provide insight into the potential for manipulation of TA modules to alter bacterial growth.

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Summary Toxin‐antitoxin systems are mediators of diverse activities in bacterial physiology. For the ParE‐type toxins, their reported role of gyrase inhibition utilized during plasmid‐segregation killing indicates they are toxic. However, their location throughout chromosomes leads to questions about function, including potential non‐toxic outcomes. The current study has characterized a ParDE system from the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa). We identified a protective function for this ParE toxin, PaParE, against effects of quinolone and other antibiotics. However, higher concentrations of PaParE are themselves toxic to cells, indicating the phenotypic outcome can vary based on its concentration. Our assays confirmed PaParE inhibition of gyrase‐mediated supercoiling of DNA with an IC50 value in the low micromolar range, a species‐specificity that resulted in more efficacious inhibition of Escherichia coli derived gyrase versus Pa gyrase, and overexpression in the absence of antitoxin yielded an expected filamentous morphology with multi‐foci nucleic acid material. Additional data revealed that the PaParE toxin is monomeric and interacts with dimeric PaParD antitoxin with a KD in the lower picomolar range, yielding a heterotetramer. This work provides novel insights into chromosome‐encoded ParE function, whereby its expression can impart partial protection to cultures from selected antibiotics.