Rv3839-Rv3840 links the endogenous heme biosynthesis pathway with Mycobacterium tuberculosis adaptation to nitric oxide and iron limitation stress

Abstract

During infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) encounters multiple environmental stressors, including nitric oxide (NO) and iron limitation, and an ability to mount an integrated response is essential for the bacterium's adaptation and continued survival. Iron-containing prosthetic groups in key enzymes are critical for Mtb sensing and detoxification of NO, and there is significant overlap between NO- and low iron-responsive genes. However, how Mtb adapts to these two stressors concurrently is largely unknown. Here, we find that exposure to NO globally augments expression of low iron-responsive genes and vice versa, with a two gene operon, rv3839-rv3840, among the most highly upregulated. Deletion of rv3839-rv3840 resulted in increased growth under prolonged iron limitation and early exit of Mtb from an adaptive state of growth arrest induced upon exposure to NO/low iron. ∆rv3839-rv3840 Mtb exhibited an elongated cell morphology compared to wild type Mtb in NO/low iron conditions, indicating effects of this operon on cell growth and division under stress conditions, with Rv3839 as the key driver of this phenotype. Coproporphyrin III tetramethyl ester (TMC), a modified precursor molecule in the endogenous Mtb heme biosynthesis pathway, was found to accumulate in ∆rv3839-rv3840 Mtb under iron limiting conditions. Further, intrabacterial heme levels were increased in ∆rv3839-rv3840 Mtb under NO stress and iron limitation. Together, these findings reveal Rv3839-Rv3840 as proteins involved in the downregulation of heme biosynthesis under NO stress and iron limitation, and highlight the link between Mtb growth control in response to NO/low iron and endogenous heme biosynthesis.