Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria

Alexander Kraus, Philipp Spät, Stefan Timm, Amy Wilson, Rhena Schumann, Martin Hagemann, Boris Maček and Wolfgang R. Hess ()
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Alexander Kraus: Freiburg University
Philipp Spät: University of Tübingen
Stefan Timm: University of Rostock
Amy Wilson: Freiburg University
Rhena Schumann: University of Rostock
Martin Hagemann: University of Rostock
Boris Maček: University of Tübingen
Wolfgang R. Hess: Freiburg University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract When the supply of inorganic carbon is limiting, photosynthetic cyanobacteria excrete nitrite, a toxic intermediate in the ammonia assimilation pathway from nitrate. It has been hypothesized that the excreted nitrite represents excess nitrogen that cannot be further assimilated due to the missing carbon, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identified a protein that interacts with nitrite reductase, regulates nitrogen metabolism and promotes nitrite excretion. The protein, which we named NirP1, is encoded by an unannotated gene that is upregulated under low carbon conditions and controlled by transcription factor NtcA, a central regulator of nitrogen homeostasis. Ectopic overexpression of nirP1 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 resulted in a chlorotic phenotype, delayed growth, severe changes in amino acid pools, and nitrite excretion. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that NirP1 interacts with nitrite reductase, a central enzyme in the assimilation of ammonia from nitrate/nitrite. Our results reveal that NirP1 is widely conserved in cyanobacteria and plays a crucial role in the coordination of C/N primary metabolism by targeting nitrite reductase.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46253-4

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