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Geiger C, Korn SM, Häsler M, Peetz O, Martin J, Kötter P, Morgner N, Entian KD. LanI-Mediated Lantibiotic Immunity in Bacillus subtilis: Functional Analysis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:e00534-19. [PMID: 30952662 PMCID: PMC6532034 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00534-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics subtilin and nisin are produced by Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis, respectively. To prevent toxicity of their own lantibiotic, both bacteria express specific immunity proteins, called SpaI and NisI. In addition, ABC transporters SpaFEG and NisFEG prevent lantibiotic toxicity by transporting the respective peptides to the extracellular space. Although the three-dimensional structures of SpaI and NisI have been solved, very little is known about the molecular function of either lipoprotein. Using laser-induced liquid bead ion desorption (LILBID)-mass spectrometry, we show here that subtilin interacts with SpaI monomers. The expression of either SpaI or NisI in a subtilin-nonproducing B. subtilis strain resulted in the respective strain being more resistant against either subtilin or nisin. Furthermore, pore formation provided by subtilin and nisin was prevented specifically upon the expression of either SpaI or NisI. As shown with a nisin-subtilin hybrid molecule, the C-terminal part of subtilin but not any particular lanthionine ring was needed for SpaI-mediated immunity. With respect to growth, SpaI provided less immunity against subtilin than is provided by the ABC transporter SpaFEG. However, SpaI prevented pore formation much more efficiently than SpaFEG. Taken together, our data show the physiological function of SpaI as a fast immune response to protect the cellular membrane.IMPORTANCE The two lantibiotics nisin and subtilin are produced by Lactococcus lactis and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Both peptides have strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, and therefore, appropriate protection mechanisms are required for the producing strains. To prevent toxicity of their own lantibiotic, both bacteria express immunity proteins, called SpaI and NisI, and in addition, ABC transporters SpaFEG and NisFEG. Whereas it has been shown that the ABC transporters protect the producing strains by transporting the toxic peptides to the extracellular space, the exact mode of action and the physiological function of the lipoproteins during immunity are still unknown. Understanding the exact role of lantibiotic immunity proteins is of major importance for improving production rates and for the design of newly engineered peptide antibiotics. Here, we show (i) the specificity of each lipoprotein for its own lantibiotic, (ii) the specific physical interaction of subtilin with its lipoprotein SpaI, (iii) the physiological function of SpaI in protecting the cellular membrane, and (iv) the importance of the C-terminal part of subtilin for its interaction with SpaI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Geiger
- Molecular Genetics and Cellular Microbiology, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sophie Marianne Korn
- Molecular Genetics and Cellular Microbiology, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michael Häsler
- Molecular Genetics and Cellular Microbiology, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Oliver Peetz
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Janosch Martin
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Peter Kötter
- Molecular Genetics and Cellular Microbiology, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nina Morgner
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Karl-Dieter Entian
- Molecular Genetics and Cellular Microbiology, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Hacker C, Christ NA, Duchardt-Ferner E, Korn S, Berninger L, Kötter P, Entian KD, Wöhnert J. NMR resonance assignments of the lantibiotic immunity protein NisI from Lactococcus lactis. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2015; 9:293-297. [PMID: 25613223 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-015-9595-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The lantibiotic nisin is a small antimicrobial peptide which acts against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria. Nisin-producing Lactococcus lactis strains express four genes for self-protection against their own antimicrobial compound. This immunity system consists of the lipoprotein NisI and the ABC transporter NisFEG. NisI is attached to the outside of the cytoplasmic membrane via a covalently linked diacylglycerol anchor. Both the lipoprotein and the ABC transporter are needed for full immunity but the exact immunity mechanism is still unclear. To gain insights into the highly specific immunity mechanism of nisin producing strains on a structural level we present here the backbone resonance assignment of NisI (25.8 kDa) as well as the virtually complete (1)H,(15)N,(13)C chemical shift assignments for the isolated 12.7 kDa N-terminal and 14.6 kDa C-terminal domains of NisI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Hacker
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nina Alexandra Christ
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Elke Duchardt-Ferner
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sophie Korn
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lucija Berninger
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Peter Kötter
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Karl-Dieter Entian
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., 60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
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Christ NA, Bochmann S, Gottstein D, Duchardt-Ferner E, Hellmich UA, Düsterhus S, Kötter P, Güntert P, Entian KD, Wöhnert J. The First structure of a lantibiotic immunity protein, SpaI from Bacillus subtilis, reveals a novel fold. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:35286-35298. [PMID: 22904324 PMCID: PMC3471728 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.401620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Revised: 08/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics are peptide-derived antibiotics that inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria via interactions with lipid II and lipid II-dependent pore formation in the bacterial membrane. Due to their general mode of action the Gram-positive producer strains need to express immunity proteins (LanI proteins) for protection against their own lantibiotics. Little is known about the immunity mechanism protecting the producer strain against its own lantibiotic on the molecular level. So far, no structures have been reported for any LanI protein. We solved the structure of SpaI, a LanI protein from the subtilin producing strain Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. SpaI is a 16.8-kDa lipoprotein that is attached to the outside of the cytoplasmic membrane via a covalent diacylglycerol anchor. SpaI together with the ABC transporter SpaFEG protects the B. subtilis membrane from subtilin insertion. The solution-NMR structure of a 15-kDa biologically active C-terminal fragment reveals a novel fold. We also demonstrate that the first 20 N-terminal amino acids not present in this C-terminal fragment are unstructured in solution and are required for interactions with lipid membranes. Additionally, growth tests reveal that these 20 N-terminal residues are important for the immunity mediated by SpaI but most likely are not part of a possible subtilin binding site. Our findings are the first step on the way of understanding the immunity mechanism of B. subtilis in particular and of other lantibiotic producing strains in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina A Christ
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sophie Bochmann
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Daniel Gottstein
- Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Elke Duchardt-Ferner
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ute A Hellmich
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stefanie Düsterhus
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter Kötter
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter Güntert
- Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Karl-Dieter Entian
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Macromolecular Complexes," Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Macromolecular Complexes," Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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