Modulation of monomer conformation of the BglG transcriptional antiterminator from Escherichia coli

The BglG protein positively regulates expression of the bgl operon in Escherichia coli by binding as a dimer to the bgl transcript and preventing premature termination of transcription in the presence of β-glucosides. BglG activity is negatively controlled by BglF, the β-glucoside phosphotransferase, which reversibly phosphorylates BglG according to β-glucoside availability, thus modulating its dimeric state. BglG consists of an RNA-binding domain and two homologous domains, PRD1 and PRD2. Based on structural studies of a BglG homologue, the two PRDs fold similarly, and the interactions within the dimer are PRD1-PRD1 and PRD2-PRD2. We have recently shown that the affinity between PRD1 and PRD2 of BglG is high, and a fraction of the BglG monomers folds in the cell into a compact conformation, in which PRD1 and PRD2 are in close proximity. We show here that both BglG forms, the compact and noncompact, bind to the active site-containing domain of BglF, IIB ^bgl, in vitro. The interaction of BglG with IIB^bgl or BglF is mediated by PRD2. Both BglG forms are detected as phosphorylated proteins after in vitro phosphorylation with IIB^bgl and are dephosphorylated by BglF in vitro in the presence of β-glucosides. Nevertheless, genetic evidence indicates that the interaction of IIB^bgl and BglF with the compact form is seemingly less favorable. Using in vivo cross-linking, we show that BglF enhances folding of BglG into a compact conformation, whereas the addition of β-glucosides reduces the amount of this form. Based on these results we suggest a model for the modulation of BglG conformation and activity by BglF.