Insights into the Cellular Function of YhdE, a Nucleotide Pyrophosphatase from Escherichia coli

摘要: YhdE, a Maf-like protein in Escherichia coli, exhibits nucleotide pyrophosphatase (PPase) activity, yet its cellular function remains unknown. Here, we characterized the PPase activity of YhdE on dTTP, UTP and TTP determined two crystal structures revealing ‘closed’ ‘open’ conformations an adaptive active site. Our functional studies demonstrated that retards cell growth by prolonging lag log phases, particularly under stress conditions. Morphology showed yhdE-knockout cells transformed normal rod shape wild-type to more spherical form, wall appeared become flexible. In contrast, overexpression resulted filamentous cells. This study reveals previously unknown involvement inhibition conditions, cell-division arrest cell-shape maintenance, highlighting YhdE’s important role E. coli cell-cycle checkpoints.