Evidence of a conserved intrinsically disordered region in the C-terminus of the stringent response protein Rel from mycobacteria

The RelA/SpoT enzyme produces ( p) ppGpp that helps the bacterium survive during stress. The domains present in it are interspersed with connecting linkers whose functions have been poorly elucidated. We rationally analyzed the sequence and structural property of the regulatory C-terminal region in the Rel family of proteins and report the presence of an intrinsically disordered region between two successive domains in this region that are separated by a defined amino acid sequence length. We show that the length and secondary structure of this linker are conserved in Rel proteins, further signifying its importance in rendering flexibility for domain movement and domain-domain interaction. (C) 2014 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.