Histidine protein kinase PlnB (PlnB)

Histidine protein kinase PlnB is a transmembrane sensor protein found in Lactobacillus plantarum that functions as the primary receptor in a quorum-sensing system. It belongs to the HPK10 subfamily of histidine kinases and is encoded by the plnB gene within the plnABCD operon. PlnB is activated by the binding of the inducer peptide pheromone Plantaricin A (PlnA), which triggers autophosphorylation of the kinase domain. The phosphate group is subsequently transferred to the response regulators PlnC and PlnD, which coordinately regulate the transcription of bacteriocin-producing operons such as plnEFI and plnJKLR. This regulatory circuit is essential for the production of plantaricins, which are antimicrobial peptides used by the bacteria to compete in complex microbial environments. Consequently, PlnB is a significant target for the development of novel antimicrobial agents that disrupt bacterial communication and for the genetic engineering of probiotics to enhance their colonization and pathogen-exclusion capabilities in the human gastrointestinal tract and skin.

Other names

Sensor protein PlnBPlantaricin biosynthesis histidine kinase PlnBHPK PlnBTwo-component system sensor kinase PlnB

Activation of the histidine kinase through binding of the inducer peptide Plantaricin A, leading to autophosphorylation and subsequent phosphotransfer to response regulators PlnC and PlnD.