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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2013; 19(45): 8211-8218
Published online Dec 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i45.8211
Nickel trafficking system responsible for urease maturation in Helicobacter pylori
Rui-Guang Ge, Dong-Xian Wang, Ming-Cong Hao, Xue-Song Sun
Rui-Guang Ge, Dong-Xian Wang, Ming-Cong Hao, Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, China
Dong-Xian Wang, Laboratory of Proteomics, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Xue-Song Sun, Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Ge RG designed the research, analyzed literature data, wrote and revised the paper; Wang DX and Hao MC analyzed literature data; Sun XS revised the paper.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 20801061, No. 31000373 and No. 21371182; The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, No. 10lgpy19 and No. 21611201; Pearl River Rising Star of Science and Technology of Guangzhou City, No. 2011J2200079 and No. 2011J2200003
Correspondence to: Rui-Guang Ge, PhD, Associate Professor, Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, No 135, Xingang West, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, China. gerg@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-20-39332973 Fax: +86-20-39332973
Received: September 6, 2013
Revised: October 18, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: December 7, 2013
Processing time: 102 Days and 23.4 Hours
Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common human pathogen responsible for various gastric diseases. This bacterium relies on the production of urease and hydrogenase to inhabit the acidic environment of the stomach. Nickel is an essential cofactor for urease and hydrogenase. H. pylori has to uptake sufficient nickel ions for the maturation of urease, and on the other way, to prevent the toxic effects of excessive nickel ions. Therefore, H. pylori has to strike a delicate balance between the import of nickel ions, its efficient intracellular storage, and delivery to nickel-dependent metalloenzymes when required. The assembly and maturation of the urease enzyme is a complex and timely ordered process, requiring various regulatory, uptake, chaperone and accessory proteins. In this review, we focus on several nickel trafficking proteins involved in urease maturation: NikR, NixA, HypAB, UreEFGH, HspA, Hpn and Hpnl. The work will deepen our understanding of how this pathogenic bacterium adapts to severe habitant environments in the host.

Keywords: Urease; Histidine-rich protein; NikR; NixA; Helicobacter pylori

Core tip:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is responsible for various gastric diseases. The nickel containing urease and hydrogenase are essential for the successful infections of H. pylori in the stomach. Nickel is an essential cofactor for urease and hydrogenase. In this review we discussed the various regulatory, uptake, chaperone and accessory proteins involved in the maturation of urease, especially the proteins NikR, NixA, HypAB, UreEFGH, HspA, Hpn and Hpnl. The work will deepen our understanding of how this pathogenic bacterium adapts to severe habitant environments in the host.