Structural Insights into the Redox-Sensing Mechanism of MarR-Type Regulator AbfR

As a master redox-sensing MarR-family transcriptional regulator, AbfR. participates in oxidative stress responses and virulence regulations in Staphylococcus epidermidis. Here, we present structural insights into the DNA-binding mechanism of AbfR in different oxidation states by determining the X-ray crystal structures of a reduced-AbfR/ DNA complex, an overoxidized (Cys13-SO2H and Cys13-SO3H) AbfR/DNA, and 2-disulfide cross-linked AbfR dimer. Together with biochemical analyses, our results suggest that the redox regulation of Abflt,sensing displays two novel features: (i) the reversible disulfide modification, but not the irreversible overoxidation, significantly abolishes the DNA binding ability of the AbfR. repressor; (ii) either 1-disulfide cross-linked or 2-disulfide cross-linked AbfR. dimer is biologically significant. The overoxidized species of AbfR, resembling the reduced AbfR in conformation and retaining the DNA binding ability, does not exist in biologically significant concentrations, however. The 1-disulfide cross-linked modification endows AbfR with significantly weakened capability for DNA-binding. The 2-disulfide cross-linked AbfR adopts a very open conformation that is incompatible with DNA-binding. Overall, the concise oxidation chemistry of the redox-active cysteine allows AbfR to sense and respond to oxidative stress correctly and efficiently.