Point mutations in the transmembrane domain of DjlA, a membrane-linked DnaJ-like protein, abolish its function in promoting colanic acid production via the Rcs signal transduction pathway

DjlA is a novel DnaJ-like protein localized to the inner membrane of Escherichia coli through the single transmembrane domain (TMD) found at the N-terminus. The overproduction of DjlA activates expression of the cps operon, controlling synthesis and export of the extracellular polysaccharide colanic acid via the Rcs/B two-component signal transduction pathway. We now show that both the TMD and the J-region are essential for the induction of cps expression observed with the overproduction of DjlA. Furthermore, we describe the isolation and characterization of different point mutations in the TMD that completely or partially block the induction of cps expression associated with overproduction of DjlA. These mutations were shown not to affect the localization, stability or topology of the mutant DjlA proteins. We propose that these mutations are affecting specific interactions between the TMD of DjlA and its substrate protein(s), for example RcsC, the membrane sensor kinase partner of the Rcs/B signal transduction pathway.