Ribosomal protein L4 of Escherichia coli: in vitro analysis of L4-mediated attenuation control

Oxidative Stress-Mediated Antibacterial Activity of the Total Flavonoid Extracted from the Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA)

(1) Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a zoonotic pathogen that causes endocarditis, pneumonia, and skin diseases in humans and livestock. (2) Methods: The antibacterial effect of the total flavonoid against MRSA (ATCC43300) extracted from the Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. (A. pilosa Ledeb) was evaluated by the microdilution method. The oxidative stresses in MRSA were evaluated by the levels of intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidative stress-related genes. The DNA oxidative damage was tested by the 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and DNA gel electrophoresis. The differentially expressed proteins were determined by the method of SDS-PAGE and NanoLC-ESI-MS/MS, while the mRNAs of differential proteins were determined by Real-Time PCR. The changes of ultra-structures in MRSA were observed by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). (3) Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the total flavonoid against MRSA was recorded as 62.5 μg/mL. After treatment with the total flavonoid, the levels of intracellular H₂O₂ and ROS were increased and the gene expressions against oxidative stress (SodA, katA, TrxB) were decreased (p < 0.01), while the gene expression for oxidative stress (PerR) was increased (p < 0.01). The level of intracellular 8-OHdG in MRSA was increased (p < 0.01) and the DNA was damaged. The results of TEM also showed that the total flavonoid could destroy the ultra-structures in the bacteria. (4) Conclusions: The total flavonoid extracted from the A. pilosa Ledeb can induce the oxidative stress that disturbed the energy metabolism and protein synthesis in MRSA.

Purification and characterization of ribosomal proteins L27 and L30 having antimicrobial activity produced by the Lactobacillus salivarius SGL 03

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial potential of proteins secreted by a new strain of Lactobacillus salivarius.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The secretome of L. salivarius SGL 03 strain was analysed by gel-assisted fractionation and MS/MS to identify low-molecular-mass proteins. This strategy allowed us to identify 10 secreted proteins. Then, a combination of heterologous expression and agar well diffusion was used to characterize them as to their antimicrobial activity, mechanisms of action and stability. Our findings indicate that L27 and L30 proteins of the 50S ribosomal subunit have antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus uberis and Enterococcus faecium. In addition, both proteins are bactericidal against S. pyogenes and maintain their antimicrobial activity after different protease treatments, at acidic pH, after heat treatment, and if stored in a refrigerated ambient at least at 4°C.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall results demonstrated that the L27 and L30 ribosomal proteins are of interest as new antimicrobial molecules to prevent the growth of S. pyogenes, S. uberis and E. faecium.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Our results provide the first insight into the extra-ribosomal activity of L27 and L30 secreted proteins of L. salivarius. This study demonstrated the capacity of L. salivarius SGL 03 to produce antimicrobial molecules and suggested this strain as a promising probiotic candidate.

Recombineering reveals a diverse collection of ribosomal proteins L4 and L22 that confer resistance to macrolide antibiotics

Mutations in ribosomal proteins L4 and L22 confer resistance to erythromycin and other macrolide antibiotics in a variety of bacteria. L4 and L22 have elongated loops whose tips converge in the peptide exit tunnel near the macrolide-binding site, and resistance mutations typically affect residues within these loops. Here, we used bacteriophage lambda Red-mediated recombination, or "recombineering," to uncover new L4 and L22 alleles that confer macrolide resistance in Escherichia coli. We randomized residues at the tips of the L4 and L22 loops using recombineered oligonucleotide libraries and selected the mutagenized cells for erythromycin-resistant mutants. These experiments led to the identification of 341 resistance mutations encoding 278 unique L4 and L22 proteins-the overwhelming majority of which are novel. Many resistance mutations were complex, involving multiple missense mutations, in-frame deletions, and insertions. Transfer of L4 and L22 mutations into wild-type cells by phage P1-mediated transduction demonstrated that each allele was sufficient to confer macrolide resistance. Although L4 and L22 mutants are typically resistant to most macrolides, selections carried out on different antibiotics revealed macrolide-specific resistance mutations. L22 Lys90Trp is one such allele that confers resistance to erythromycin but not to tylosin and spiramycin. Purified L22 Lys90Trp ribosomes show reduced erythromycin binding but have the same affinity for tylosin as wild-type ribosomes. Moreover, dimethyl sulfate methylation protection assays demonstrated that L22 Lys90Trp ribosomes bind tylosin more readily than erythromycin in vivo. This work underscores the exceptional functional plasticity of the L4 and L22 proteins and highlights the utility of Red-mediated recombination in targeted genetic selections.

Phylogenetic analysis of L4-mediated autogenous control of the S10 ribosomal protein operon

We investigated the regulation of the S10 ribosomal protein (r-protein) operon among members of the gamma subdivision of the proteobacteria, which includes Escherichia coli. In E. coli, this 11-gene operon is autogenously controlled by r-protein L4. This regulation requires specific determinants within the untranslated leader of the mRNA. Secondary structure analysis of the S10 leaders of five enterobacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Citrobacter freundii, Yersinia enterocolitica, Serratia marcescens, and Morganella morganii) and two nonenteric members of the gamma subdivision (Haemophilus influenzae and Vibrio cholerae) shows that these foreign leaders share significant structural homology with the E. coli leader, particularly in the region which is critical for L4-mediated autogenous control in E. coli. Moreover, these heterologous leaders produce a regulatory response to L4 oversynthesis in E. coli. Our results suggest that an E. coli-like L4-mediated regulatory mechanism may operate in all of these species. However, the mechanism is not universally conserved among the gamma subdivision members, since at least one, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, does not contain the required S10 leader features, and its leader cannot provide the signals for regulation by L4 in E. coli. We speculate that L4-mediated autogenous control developed during the evolution of the gamma branch of proteobacteria.

Translational repression by a transcriptional elongation factor

One of the classical positive regulators of gene expression is bacteriophage lambda N protein. N regulates the transcription of early phage genes by participating in the formation of a highly processive, terminator-resistant transcription complex and thereby stimulates the expression of genes lying downstream of transcriptional terminators. Also included in this antiterminating transcription complex are an RNA site (NUT) and host proteins (Nus). Here we demonstrate that N has an additional, hitherto unknown regulatory role, as a repressor of the translation of its own gene. N-dependent repression does not occur when NUT is deleted, demonstrating that N-mediated antitermination and translational repression both require the same cis-acting site in the RNA. In addition, we have identified one nut and several host mutations that eliminate antitermination and not translational repression, suggesting the independence of these two N-mediated mechanisms. Finally, the position of nutL with respect to the gene whose expression is repressed is important.

Domain I of 23S rRNA competes with a paused transcription complex for ribosomal protein L4 of Escherichia coli

Ribosomal protein L4 of Escherichia coli regulates expression of its own eleven gene S10 operon both by inhibiting translation and by stimulating premature termination of transcription. Both regulatory processes presumably involve L4 recognition of the S10 leader RNA. To help define L4's regulatory target, we have investigated the protein's cognate target on 23S rRNA. Binding of L4 to various fragments of the 23S rRNA was monitored by determining their ability to sequester L4 in an in vitro transcription system and thereby eliminate the protein's effect on transcription. Using this approach we identified a region of about 110 bases within domain I of 23S rRNA which binds L4. A two base deletion within this region, close to the base to which L4 has been cross-linked in intact 50S subunits, eliminates L4 binding. These results also confirm the prediction of the autogenous control model, that L4 bound to its target on rRNA is not active in regulating transcription of the S10 operon.