Activation of DegP chaperone-protease via formation of large cage-like oligomers upon binding to substrate proteins

Covalent linkage of distinct substrate degrons controls assembly and disassembly of DegP proteolytic cages

Protein quality control requires careful regulation of intracellular proteolysis. For DegP, a periplasmic protease, substrates promote assembly of inactive hexamers into proteolytically active cages with 12, 18, 24, or 30 subunits. Here, we show that sensitive activation and cage assembly require covalent linkage of distinct substrate sequences that affect degradation (degrons). One degron binds the DegP active site, and another degron binds a separate tethering site in PDZ1 in the crystal structure of a substrate-bound DegP dodecamer. FRET experiments demonstrate that active cages assemble rapidly in a reaction that is positively cooperative in substrate concentration, remain stably assembled while uncleaved substrate is present, and dissociate once degradation is complete. Thus, the energy of binding of linked substrate degrons drives assembly of the proteolytic machine responsible for subsequent degradation. Substrate cleavage and depletion results in disassembly, ensuring that DegP is proteolytically active only when sufficient quantities of protein substrates are present.

The roles of chloroplast proteases in the biogenesis and maintenance of photosystem II

Photosystem II (PSII) catalyzes one of the key reactions of photosynthesis, the light-driven conversion of water into oxygen. Although the structure and function of PSII have been well documented, our understanding of the biogenesis and maintenance of PSII protein complexes is still limited. A considerable number of auxiliary and regulatory proteins have been identified to be involved in the regulation of this process. The carboxy-terminal processing protease CtpA, the serine-type protease DegP and the ATP-dependent thylakoid-bound metalloprotease FtsH are critical for the biogenesis and maintenance of PSII. Here, we summarize and discuss the structural and functional aspects of these chloroplast proteases in these processes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: SI: Photosystem II.

A new principle of oligomerization of plant DEG7 protease based on interactions of degenerated protease domains

Deg/HtrA proteases are a large group of ATP-independent serine endoproteases found in almost every organism. Their usual domain arrangement comprises a trypsin-type protease domain and one or more PDZ domains. All Deg/HtrA proteases form homo-oligomers with trimers as the basic unit, where the active protease domain mediates the interaction between individual monomers. Among the members of the Deg/HtrA protease family, the plant protease DEG7 is unique since it contains two protease domains (one active and one degenerated) and four PDZ domains. In the present study, we investigated the oligomerization behaviour of this unusual protease using yeast two-hybrid analysis in vivo and with recombinant protein in vitro. We show that DEG7 forms trimeric complexes, but in contrast with other known Deg/HtrA proteases, it shows a new principle of oligomerization, where trimerization is based on the interactions between degenerated protease domains. We propose that, during evolution, a duplicated active protease domain degenerated and specialized in protein-protein interaction and complex formation.

Factors defining the functional oligomeric state of Escherichia coli DegP protease

Escherichia coli DegP protein is a periplasmic protein that functions both as a protease and as a chaperone. In the absence of substrate, DegP oligomerizes as a hexameric cage but in its presence DegP reorganizes into 12 and 24-mer cages with large chambers that house the substrate for degradation or refolding. Here, we studied the factors that determine the oligomeric state adopted by DegP in the presence of substrate. Using size exclusion chromatography and electron microscopy, we found that the size of the substrate molecule is the main factor conditioning the oligomeric state adopted by the enzyme. Other factors such as temperature, a major regulatory factor of the activity of this enzyme, did not influence the oligomeric state adopted by DegP. In addition, we observed that substrate concentration exerted an effect only when large substrates (full-length proteins) were used. However, small substrate molecules (peptides) always triggered the same oligomeric state regardless of their concentration. These results clarify important aspects of the regulation of the oligomeric state of DegP.

HTRA proteases: regulated proteolysis in protein quality control

Controlled proteolysis underlies a vast diversity of protective and regulatory processes that are of key importance to cell fate. The unique molecular architecture of the widely conserved high temperature requirement A (HTRA) proteases has evolved to mediate critical aspects of ATP-independent protein quality control. The simple combination of a classic Ser protease domain and a carboxy-terminal peptide-binding domain produces cellular factors of remarkable structural and functional plasticity that allow cells to rapidly respond to the presence of misfolded or mislocalized polypeptides.

Role of the periplasmic chaperones Skp, SurA, and DegQ in outer membrane protein biogenesis in Neisseria meningitidis

The periplasmic chaperones Skp, SurA, and DegP are implicated in the biogenesis of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in Escherichia coli. Here, we investigated whether these chaperones exert similar functions in Neisseria meningitidis. Although N. meningitidis does not contain a homolog of the protease/chaperone DegP, it does possess a homolog of another E. coli protein, DegQ, which can functionally replace DegP when overproduced. Hence, we examined whether in N. meningitidis, DegQ acts as a functional homolog of DegP. Single skp, surA, and degQ mutants were easily obtained, showing that none of these chaperones is essential in N. meningitidis. Furthermore, all combinations of double mutants were generated and no synthetic lethality was observed. The absence of SurA or DegQ did not affect OMP biogenesis. In contrast, the absence of Skp resulted in severely lower levels of the porins PorA and PorB but not of other OMPs. These decreased levels were not due to proteolytic activity of DegQ, since porin levels remained low in a skp degQ double mutant, indicating that neisserial DegQ is not a functional homolog of E. coli DegP. The absence of Skp resulted in lower expression of the porB gene, as shown by using a P(porB)-lacZ fusion. We found no cross-species complementation when Skp of E. coli or N. meningitidis was heterologously expressed in skp mutants, indicating that Skp functions in a species-specific manner. Our results demonstrate an important role for Skp but not for SurA or DegQ in OMP biogenesis in N. meningitidis.

Helicobacter pylori HtrA is a new secreted virulence factor that cleaves E-cadherin to disrupt intercellular adhesion

Mammalian and prokaryotic high-temperature requirement A (HtrA) proteins are chaperones and serine proteases with important roles in protein quality control. Here, we describe an entirely new function of HtrA and identify it as a new secreted virulence factor from Helicobacter pylori, which cleaves the ectodomain of the cell-adhesion protein E-cadherin. E-cadherin shedding disrupts epithelial barrier functions allowing H. pylori designed to access the intercellular space. We then designed a small-molecule inhibitor that efficiently blocks HtrA activity, E-cadherin cleavage and intercellular entry of H. pylori.

HtrA proteases have a conserved activation mechanism that can be triggered by distinct molecular cues

HtrA proteases are tightly regulated proteolytic assemblies that are essential for maintaining protein homeostasis in extracytosolic compartments. Though HtrA proteases have been characterized in detail, their precise molecular mechanism for switching between different functional states is still unknown. To address this, we carried out biochemical and structural studies of DegP from Escherichia coli. We show that effector-peptide binding to the PDZ domain of DegP induces oligomer conversion from resting hexameric DegP6 into proteolytically active 12-mers and 24-mers (DegP12/24). Moreover, our data demonstrate that a specific protease loop (L3) functions as a conserved molecular switch of HtrA proteases. L3 senses the activation signal-that is, the repositioned PDZ domain of substrate-engaged DegP12/24 or the binding of allosteric effectors to regulatory HtrA proteases such as DegS-and transmits this information to the active site. Implications for protein quality control and regulation of oligomeric enzymes are discussed.

The thylakoid protease Deg1 is involved in photosystem-II assembly in Arabidopsis thaliana

DegP proteases have been shown to possess both chaperone and protease activities. The proteolytic activities of chloroplast DegP-like proteases have been well documented. However, whether chloroplast Deg proteases also have chaperone activities has remained unknown. Here we show that chloroplast Deg1 also has chaperone activities, like its Escherichia coli ortholog DegP. Transgenic plants with reduced levels of Deg1 accumulated normal levels of different subunits of the major photosynthetic protein complexes, but their levels of photosystem-II (PSII) dimers and supercomplexes were reduced. In vivo pulse-chase protein labeling experiments showed that the assembly of newly synthesized proteins into PSII dimers and supercomplexes was impaired, although the synthesis rate of chloroplast proteins was unaffected in the transgenic lines. Protein overlay assays provided direct evidence that Deg1 interacts with the PSII reaction center protein D2. These results suggest that Deg1 assists the assembly of the PSII complex, probably through interaction with the PSII reaction center D2 protein.

The stromal chloroplast Deg7 protease participates in the repair of photosystem II after photoinhibition in Arabidopsis

Light is the ultimate source of energy for photosynthesis; however, excessive light leads to photooxidative damage and hence reduced photosynthetic efficiency, especially when combined with other abiotic stresses. Although the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center D1 protein is the primary target of photooxidative damage, other PSII core proteins are also damaged and degraded. However, it is still largely unknown whether degradation of D1 and other PSII proteins involves previously uncharacterized proteases. Here, we show that Deg7 is peripherally associated with the stromal side of the thylakoid membranes and that Deg7 interacts directly with PSII. Our results show that Deg7 is involved in the primary cleavage of photodamaged D1, D2, CP47, and CP43 and that this activity is essential for its function in PSII repair. The double mutants deg5 deg7 and deg8 deg7 showed no obvious phenotypic differences under normal growth conditions, but additive effects were observed under high light. These results suggest that Deg proteases on both the stromal and luminal sides of the thylakoid membranes are important for the efficient PSII repair in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).

OMP peptides activate the DegS stress-sensor protease by a relief of inhibition mechanism

In the E. coli periplasm, C-terminal peptides of misfolded outer-membrane porins (OMPs) bind to the PDZ domains of the trimeric DegS protease, triggering cleavage of a transmembrane regulator and transcriptional activation of stress genes. We show that an active-site DegS mutation partially bypasses the requirement for peptide activation and acts synergistically with mutations that disrupt contacts between the protease and PDZ domains. Biochemical results support an allosteric model, in which these mutations, active-site modification, and peptide/substrate binding act in concert to stabilize proteolytically active DegS. Cocrystal structures of DegS in complex with different OMP peptides reveal activation of the protease domain with varied conformations of the PDZ domain and without specific contacts from the bound OMP peptide. Taken together, these results indicate that the binding of OMP peptides activates proteolysis principally by relieving inhibitory contacts between the PDZ domain and the protease domain of DegS.

Structural biology of periplasmic chaperones

Proteins often require specific helper proteins, chaperones, to assist with their correct folding and to protect them from denaturation and aggregation. The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria provides a particularly challenging environment for chaperones to function in as it lacks readily available energy sources such as adenosine 5' triphosphate (ATP) to power reaction cycles. Periplasmic chaperones have therefore evolved specialized mechanisms to carry out their functions without the input of external energy and in many cases to transduce energy provided by protein folding or ATP hydrolysis at the inner membrane. Structural and biochemical studies have in recent years begun to elucidate the specific functions of many important periplasmic chaperones and how these functions are carried out. This includes not only specific carrier chaperones, such as those involved in the biosynthesis of adhesive fimbriae in pathogenic bacteria, but also more general pathways including the periplasmic transport of outer membrane proteins and the extracytoplasmic stress responses. This chapter aims to provide an overview of protein chaperones so far identified in the periplasm and how structural biology has assisted with the elucidation of their functions.

Substrate-induced assembly of Methanococcoides burtonii D-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase dimers into decamers

Like many enzymes, the biogenesis of the multi-subunit CO(2)-fixing enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) in different organisms requires molecular chaperones. When expressed in Escherichia coli, the large (L) subunits of the Rubisco from the archaeabacterium Methanococcoides burtonii assemble into functional dimers (L(2)). However, further assembly into pentamers of L(2) (L(10)) occurs when expressed in tobacco chloroplasts or E. coli producing RuBP. In vitro analyses indicate that the sequential assembly of L(2) into L(10) (via detectable L(4) and L(6) intermediates) occurs without chaperone involvement and is stimulated by protein rearrangements associated with either the binding of substrate RuBP, the tight binding transition state analog carboxyarabinitol-1,5-bisphosphate, or inhibitory divalent metal ions within the active site. The catalytic properties of L(2) and L(10) M. burtonii Rubisco (MbR) were indistinguishable. At 25 degrees C they both shared a low specificity for CO(2) over O(2) (1.1 mol x mol(-1)) and RuBP carboxylation rates that were distinctively enhanced at low pH (approximately 4 s(-1) at pH 6, relative to 0.8 s(-1) at pH 8) with a temperature optimum of 55 degrees C. Like other archaeal Rubiscos, MbR also has a high O(2) affinity (K(m)(O(2)) = approximately 2.5 microM). The catalytic and structural similarities of MbR to other archaeal Rubiscos contrast with its closer sequence homology to bacterial L(2) Rubisco, complicating its classification within the Rubisco superfamily.

Roles of periplasmic chaperone proteins in the biogenesis of serine protease autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae

The serine protease autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs) represent a large family of virulence factors. The prevailing model for autotransporter secretion comprises entry to the periplasm via the Sec apparatus, followed by an obscure series of steps in which the C terminus of the periplasmic species inserts into the outer membrane as a beta-barrel protein, accompanied by translocation of the passenger domain to the bacterial cell surface. Little is known about the fate of the autotransporter proteins in the periplasm, including whether accessory periplasmic proteins are involved in translocation to the external milieu. Here we studied the role of the major periplasmic chaperones in the biogenesis of EspP, a prototype SPATE protein produced by Escherichia coli O157:H7. The yeast two-hybrid approach, secretion analysis of chaperone mutant strains, and surface plasmon resonance analysis (SPR) revealed direct protein-protein interactions between the periplasmic SurA and DegP chaperones and either the EspP-beta or EspP passenger domains. The secretion of EspP was moderately reduced in the surA and skp mutant strains but severely impaired in the degP background. Site-directed mutagenesis of highly conserved aromatic amino acid residues in the SPATE family resulted in approximately 80% reduction of EspP secretion. Synthetic peptides containing aromatic residues derived from the EspP passenger domain blocked DegP and SurA binding to the passenger domain. SPR suggested direct protein-protein interaction between periplasmic chaperones and the unfolded EspP passenger domain. Our data suggest that translocation of AT proteins may require accessory factors, calling into question the moniker "autotransporter."

Deg/HtrA proteases as components of a network for photosystem II quality control in chloroplasts and cyanobacteria

Organisms that perform oxygenic photosynthesis are subjected to photoinhibition of their photosynthetic function when exposed to excessive illumination. The main target of photoinhibition is the D1 protein in the reaction center of the photosystem II complex. Rapid degradation of photodamaged D1 protein and its replacement by a de novo synthesized functional copy represent an important repair mechanism crucial for cell survival under light stress conditions. This review summarizes the literature on the ATP-independent Deg/HtrA family of serine endopeptidases in cyanobacteria and chloroplasts of higher plants, and discusses their role in D1 protein degradation. We propose that Deg/HtrA proteases are part of a larger network of enzymes that ensure protein quality control, including photosystem II, in plants and cyanobacteria.

Biogenesis of beta-barrel membrane proteins in bacteria and eukaryotes: evolutionary conservation and divergence

Membrane-embedded beta-barrel proteins span the membrane via multiple amphipathic beta-strands arranged in a cylindrical shape. These proteins are found in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts. This situation is thought to reflect the evolutionary origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts from Gram-negative bacterial endosymbionts. beta-barrel proteins fulfil a variety of functions; among them are pore-forming proteins that allow the flux of metabolites across the membrane by passive diffusion, active transporters of siderophores, enzymes, structural proteins, and proteins that mediate protein translocation across or insertion into membranes. The biogenesis process of these proteins combines evolutionary conservation of the central elements with some noticeable differences in signals and machineries. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the functions and biogenesis of this special family of proteins.

Understanding the mechanism of the dormant dauer formation of C. elegans: from genetics to biochemistry

Dauer is a dormancy state that may occur at the end of developmental stage L1 or L2 of Caenorhabditis elegans when the environmental conditions are unfavorable (e.g., lack of food, high temperature, or overcrowding) for further growth. Dauer is a nonaging duration that does not affect the postdauer adult lifespan. Major molecular events would include the sensing of the environmental cues, the transduction of the signals into the cells, and the subsequent integration of the signals that result in the corresponding alteration of the metabolism and morphology of the organism. Genetics approach has been effectively used in identifying many of the so-called daf genes involved in dauer formation using C. elegans as the model. Nevertheless, biochemical studies at the protein and metabolic level has been lacking behind in understanding this important life phenomenon. This review focuses on the biochemical understanding so far achieved on dauer formation and dormancy in general, as well as important issues that need to be addressed in the future.

Role of DegP for two-partner secretion in Bordetella

Sorting of proteins destined to the surface or the extracellular milieu is mediated by specific machineries, which guide the protein substrates towards the proper route of secretion and determine the compartment in which folding occurs. In gram-negative bacteria, the two-partner secretion (TPS) pathway is dedicated to the secretion of large proteins rich in beta-helical structure. The secretion of the filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA), a 230 kDa adhesin of Bordetella pertussis, represents a model TPS system. FHA is exported by the Sec machinery and transits through the periplasm in an extended conformation. From there it is translocated across the outer membrane by its dedicated transporter FhaC to finally fold into a long beta-helix at the cell surface in a progressive manner. In this work, we show that B. pertussis lacking the periplasmic chaperone/protease DegP has a strong growth defect at 37 degrees C, and the integrity of its outer membrane is compromised. While both phenotypes are significantly aggravated by the presence of FHA, the chaperone activity of DegP markedly alleviates the periplasmic stress. In vitro, DegP binds to non-native FHA with high affinity. We propose that DegP chaperones the extended FHA polypeptide in the periplasm and is thus involved in the TPS pathway.

Posttranslational modulation on the biological activities of molecular chaperones

Molecular chaperones are a family of proteins that were first noticed to exist about 45 years ago from their increased transcription under heat shock conditions. As a result, the regulation of their encoding genes has been subject to extensive studies. Recent studies revealed that the biological activities of molecular chaperones can also be effectively modulated at the protein level. The ways of modulation so far elucidated include allosteric effect, covalent modification, protein-protein interaction, and conformational alteration induced by such macro-environmental conditions as temperature and pH. These latter aspects were reviewed here. Emphasized here is the importance of such immediate structural alterations that lead to an immediate activity increase, providing the immediate protection needed for the cells to survive the stress conditions.

Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium HtrA: regulation of expression and role of the chaperone and protease activities during infection

HtrA is a bifunctional stress protein required by many bacterial pathogens to successfully cause infection. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) htrA mutants are defective in intramacrophage survival and are highly attenuated in mice. Transcription of htrA in Escherichia coli is governed by a single promoter that is dependent on sigma(E) (RpoE). S. Typhimurium htrA also possesses a sigma(E)-dependent promoter; however, we found that the absence of sigma(E) had little effect on production of HtrA by S. Typhimurium. This suggests that additional promoters control expression of htrA in S. Typhimurium. We identified three S. Typhimurium htrA promoters. Only the most proximal promoter, htrAp3, was sigma(E) dependent. The other promoters, htrAp1 and htrAp2, are probably recognized by the principal sigma factor sigma(70). These two promoters were constitutively expressed but were also slightly induced by heat shock. Thus expression of htrA is different in S. Typhimurium and E. coli. The role of HtrA is to deal with misfolded/damaged proteins in the periplasm. It can do this either by degrading (protease activity) or folding/capturing (chaperone/sequestering, C/S, activity) the aberrant protein. We investigated which of these functions are important to S. Typhimurium in vitro and in vivo. Point or deletion mutants of htrA that encode variant HtrA molecules have been used in previous studies to investigate the role of different regions of HtrA in C/S and protease activity. These htrA variants were placed under the control of the S. Typhimurium htrAP123 promoters and expressed in a S. Typhimurium htrA mutant, GVB1343. Both wild-type HtrA and HtrA (HtrA S210A) lacking protease activity enabled GVB1343 to grow at high temperature (46 degrees C). Both molecules also significantly enhanced the growth/survival of GVB1343 in the liver and spleen of mice during infection. However, expression of wild-type HtrA enabled GVB1343 to grow to much higher levels than expression of HtrA S210A. Thus both the protease and C/S functions of HtrA operate in vivo during infection but the protease function is probably more important. Absence of either PDZ domain completely abolished the ability of HtrA to complement the growth defects of GVB1343 in vitro or in vivo.

Control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgW protease cleavage of MucA by peptide signals and MucB

The ability of a pathogen to survive the defensive attacks of its host requires the detection of and response to perturbations in its own physiology. Activation of the extracytoplasmic stress response in the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa results in higher tolerance against immune defences as well as in the production of alginate, a surface polysaccharide that also confers resistance to many host defences and antibiotic treatments. The alginate response is regulated by proteolytic cleavage of MucA, a transmembrane protein that inhibits the transcription factor AlgU, and by the periplasmic protein MucB. Here we show that specific peptides bind to the periplasmic AlgW protease and activate its cleavage of MucA. We demonstrate that tight binding of MucB to MucA strongly inhibits this cleavage. We also probe the roles of structural features of AlgW, including a key regulatory loop and its PDZ domain, in regulating substrate binding and cleavage.

Bowl-shaped oligomeric structures on membranes as DegP's new functional forms in protein quality control

In the periplasm of Escherichia coli, DegP (also known as HtrA), which has both chaperone-like and proteolytic activities, prevents the accumulation of toxic misfolded and unfolded polypeptides. In solution, upon binding to denatured proteins, DegP forms large cage-like structures. Here, we show that DegP forms a range of bowl-shaped structures, independent of substrate proteins, each with a 4-, 5-, or 6-fold symmetry and all with a DegP trimer as the structural unit, on lipid membranes. These membrane-bound DegP assemblies have the capacity to recruit and process substrates in the bowl chamber, and they exhibit higher proteolytic and lower chaperone-like activities than DegP in solution. Our findings imply that DegP might regulate its dual roles during protein quality control, depending on its assembly state in the narrow bacterial envelope.

Characterization of the autocleavage process of the Escherichia coli HtrA protein: implications for its physiological role

The Escherichia coli HtrA protein is a periplasmic protease/chaperone that is upregulated under stress conditions. The protease and chaperone activities of HtrA eliminate or refold damaged and unfolded proteins in the bacterial periplasm that are generated upon stress conditions. In the absence of substrates, HtrA oligomerizes into a hexameric cage, but binding of misfolded proteins transforms the hexamers into bigger 12-mer and 24-mer cages that encapsulate the substrates for degradation or refolding. HtrA also undergoes partial degradation as a consequence of self-cleavage of the mature protein, producing short-HtrA protein (s-HtrA). The aim of this study was to examine the physiological role of this self-cleavage process. We found that the only requirement for self-cleavage of HtrA into s-HtrA in vitro was the hydrolysis of protein substrates. In fact, peptides resulting from the hydrolysis of the protein substrates were sufficient to induce autocleavage. However, the continuous presence of full-length substrate delayed the process. In addition, we observed that the hexameric cage structure is required for autocleavage and that s-HtrA accumulates only late in the degradation reaction. These results suggest that self-cleavage occurs when HtrA reassembles back into the resting hexameric structure and peptides resulting from substrate hydrolysis are allosterically stimulating the HtrA proteolytic activity. Our data support a model in which the physiological role of the self-cleavage process is to eliminate the excess of HtrA once the stress conditions cease.