Interacts with the two-component regulatory system DevR/DevS (DosR/DosS) involved in onset of the dormancy response. Required for full induction of the DevR (DosR) regulon; required during early adaptation to anaerobiosis, to start induction of the DevR regulon (PubMed:19487478). May act as a direct hypoxia/oxygen sensor (PubMed:17609369, PubMed:17600145, PubMed:28977726). O(2) acts as a switch, with the Fe(2+)-O(2)-bound protein inactive in autophosphorylation (PubMed:17600145). Autophosphorylates under anaerobic but not aerobic conditions, binding of NO or CO has no effect on autophosphorylation (PubMed:17600145). Binds a number of gases; O(2), NO, CO (PubMed:17609369, PubMed:17600145). May be a secondary sensor for CO (PubMed:18400743). Donates a phosphate group to transcriptional regulator DevR (DosR) (PubMed:15135056, PubMed:15033981, PubMed:28977726). ATP + protein L-histidine = ADP + protein N-phospho-L-histidine. Mg(2+). Both Mn(2+) and Ca(2+) can substitute Mg(2+) ion in the autophosphorylation reaction but not for phosphate transfer to DevR (DosR) (PubMed:15135056). In another study Mn(2+) and Ca(2+) substitute poorly for autophosphorylation (PubMed:17600145). In another study Mg(2+) or Mn(2+) are required for transfer, but Ca(2+) does not substitute as well (PubMed:28977726). Binds 1 heme group per monomer (PubMed:15135056, PubMed:17600145, PubMed:18980385). Half-life of Fe(2+) DosT is over 60 hours in air (PubMed:17600145). Expressed during aerobic growth, it is not further induced in hypoxia, or by nitric oxide (NO) or carbon monoxide (CO) treatment (PubMed:15135056, PubMed:19487478). Expression is not changed in a devR deletion mutant; i.e. it is not part of the dormancy regulon (PubMed:19487478). The isolated ATP-binding domain (residues 451-573) crystallized as an asymmetric, domain-swapped dimer without ATP (PubMed:23486471). Cells lacking this gene show no changes in gene induction following hypoxia, or exposure to NO or CO (PubMed:18474359). Another publication shows a slightly reduced response to CO (PubMed:18400743). Cells lacking both this gene and DevS (DosS) have no response to hypoxia, or exposure to NO or CO showing both proteins are required for the hypoxic, NO and CO responses (PubMed:15033981). 30% decreased induction of the DevR (DosR) regulon during anaerobic growth, 50% decreased induction of the DevR regulon upon exposure to NO during aerobic growth (PubMed:19487478).