The MocR-like transcription factors: pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent regulators of bacterial metabolism

Many biological functions played by current proteins were not created by evolution from scratch, rather they were obtained combining already available protein scaffolds. This is the case of MocR-like bacterial transcription factors (MocR-TFs), a subclass of GntR transcription regulators, whose structure is the outcome of the fusion between DNA-binding proteins and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes. The resultant chimeras can count on the properties of both protein classes, i.e. the capability to recognize specific DNA sequences and to bind PLP and amino-compounds; it is the modulation of such binding properties to confer to MocR-TFs chimeras the ability to interact with effector molecules and DNA so as to regulate transcription. MocR-TFs control different metabolic processes involving vitamin B6and amino acids, which are canonical ligands of PLP-dependent enzymes. However, MocR-TFs are also implicated in the metabolism of compounds that are not substrates of PLP-dependent enzymes, such as rhizopine and ectoine. Genomic analyses show that MocR-TFs are widespread among eubacteria, implying an essential role in their metabolism and highlighting the scarcity of our knowledge on these important players in microbial metabolism. Although MocR-TFs have been discovered 15 years ago, the research activity on these transcriptional regulators has only recently intensified, producing a wealth of information that needs to be brought back to general principles. This is the main task of this review, which reports and analyses the available information concerning MocR-TFs functional role, structural features, interaction with effector molecules and the characteristics of DNA transcriptional factor-binding sites of MocR-based regulatory systems.