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Lee M, Magante K, Gómez-Garzón C, Payne SM, Smith AT. Structural Determinants of Vibrio cholerae FeoB Nucleotide Promiscuity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.22.595361. [PMID: 38826458 PMCID: PMC11142208 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.22.595361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Ferrous iron (Fe2+) is required for the growth and virulence of many pathogenic bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae (Vc), the causative agent of the disease cholera. For this bacterium, Feo is the primary system that transports Fe2+ into the cytosol. FeoB, the main component of this system, is regulated by a soluble cytosolic domain termed NFeoB. Recent reanalysis has shown that NFeoBs can be classified as either GTP-specific or NTP-promiscuous, but the structural and mechanistic bases for these differences were not known. To explore this intriguing property of FeoB, we solved the X-ray crystal structures of VcNFeoB in both the apo and GDP-bound forms. Surprisingly, this promiscuous NTPase displayed a canonical NFeoB G-protein fold like GTP-specific NFeoBs. Using structural bioinformatics, we hypothesized that residues surrounding the nucleobase could be important for both nucleotide affinity and specificity. We then solved the X-ray crystal structures of N150T VcNFeoB in the apo and GDP-bound forms to reveal H-bonding differences surround the guanine nucleobase. Interestingly, isothermal titration calorimetry revealed similar binding thermodynamics of the WT and N150T proteins to guanine nucleotides, while the behavior in the presence of adenine nucleotides was dramatically different. AlphaFold models of VcNFeoB in the presence of ADP and ATP showed important conformational changes that contribute to nucleotide specificity among FeoBs. Combined, these results provide a structural framework for understanding FeoB nucleotide promiscuity, which could be an adaptive measure utilized by pathogens to ensure adequate levels of intracellular iron across multiple metabolic landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250 USA
| | - Kate Magante
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250 USA
| | - Camilo Gómez-Garzón
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712 USA
| | - Shelley M. Payne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712 USA
- John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712 USA
| | - Aaron T. Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250 USA
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Rosa-Núñez E, Echavarri-Erasun C, Armas AM, Escudero V, Poza-Carrión C, Rubio LM, González-Guerrero M. Iron Homeostasis in Azotobacter vinelandii. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1423. [PMID: 37998022 PMCID: PMC10669500 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Iron is an essential nutrient for all life forms. Specialized mechanisms exist in bacteria to ensure iron uptake and its delivery to key enzymes within the cell, while preventing toxicity. Iron uptake and exchange networks must adapt to the different environmental conditions, particularly those that require the biosynthesis of multiple iron proteins, such as nitrogen fixation. In this review, we outline the mechanisms that the model diazotrophic bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii uses to ensure iron nutrition and how it adapts Fe metabolism to diazotrophic growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Rosa-Núñez
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Crta. M-40 km 38, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (E.R.-N.); (C.E.-E.); (A.M.A.); (C.P.-C.); (L.M.R.)
- Escuela Técnica de Ingeniería Agraria, Alimentaria, y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Echavarri-Erasun
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Crta. M-40 km 38, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (E.R.-N.); (C.E.-E.); (A.M.A.); (C.P.-C.); (L.M.R.)
- Escuela Técnica de Ingeniería Agraria, Alimentaria, y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro M. Armas
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Crta. M-40 km 38, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (E.R.-N.); (C.E.-E.); (A.M.A.); (C.P.-C.); (L.M.R.)
| | - Viviana Escudero
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Crta. M-40 km 38, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (E.R.-N.); (C.E.-E.); (A.M.A.); (C.P.-C.); (L.M.R.)
| | - César Poza-Carrión
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Crta. M-40 km 38, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (E.R.-N.); (C.E.-E.); (A.M.A.); (C.P.-C.); (L.M.R.)
| | - Luis M. Rubio
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Crta. M-40 km 38, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (E.R.-N.); (C.E.-E.); (A.M.A.); (C.P.-C.); (L.M.R.)
| | - Manuel González-Guerrero
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Crta. M-40 km 38, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (E.R.-N.); (C.E.-E.); (A.M.A.); (C.P.-C.); (L.M.R.)
- Escuela Técnica de Ingeniería Agraria, Alimentaria, y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Huang M, Wang M, Feng Y, Wang M, Gao Q, Zhu D, Jia R, Chen S, Zhao X, Yang Q, Wu Y, Zhang S, Tian B, Huang J, Ou X, Mao S, Sun D, He Y, Wu Z, Cheng A, Liu M. Functional Characterization of FeoAB in Iron Acquisition and Pathogenicity in Riemerella anatipestifer. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0137323. [PMID: 37272830 PMCID: PMC10434265 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01373-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterium Riemerella anatipestifer requires iron for growth, but the mechanism of iron uptake is not fully understood. In this study, we disrupted the Feo system and characterized its function in iron import in R. anatipestifer ATCC 11845. Compared to the parent strain, the growth of the ΔfeoA, ΔfeoB, and ΔfeoAB strains was affected under Fe3+-limited conditions, since the absence of the feo system led to less intracellular iron than in the parent strain. In parallel, the ΔfeoAB strain was shown to be less sensitive to streptonigrin, an antibiotic that requires free iron to function. The sensitivity of the ΔfeoAB strain to hydrogen peroxide was also observed to be diminished compared with that of the parent strain, which could be related to the reduced intracellular iron content in the ΔfeoAB strain. Further research revealed that feoA and feoB were directly regulated by iron through the Fur regulator and that the transcript levels of feoA and feoB were significantly increased in medium supplemented with 1 mM MnCl2, 400 μM ZnSO4, and 200 μM CuCl2. Finally, it was shown that the ΔfeoAB strain of R. anatipestifer ATCC 11845 was significantly impaired in its ability to colonize the blood, liver, and brain of ducklings. Taken together, these results demonstrated that FeoAB supports ferrous iron acquisition in R. anatipestifer and plays an important role in R. anatipestifer colonization. IMPORTANCE In Gram-negative bacteria, the Feo system is an important ferrous iron transport system. R. anatipestifer encodes an Feo system, but its function unknown. As iron uptake may be required for oxidative stress protection and virulence, understanding the contribution of iron transporters to these processes is crucial. This study showed that the ΔfeoAB strain is debilitated in its ability to import iron and that its intracellular iron content was constitutively low, which enhanced the resistance of the deficient strain to H2O2. We were surprised to find that, in addition to responding to iron, the Feo system may play an important role in sensing manganese, zinc, and copper stress. The reduced colonization ability of the ΔfeoAB strain also sheds light on the role of iron transporters in host-pathogen interactions. This study is important for understanding the cross talk between iron and other metal transport pathways, as well as the pathogenic mechanism in R. anatipestifer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengying Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Feng
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qun Gao
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinxin Zhao
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Wu
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shaqiu Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Tian
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xumin Ou
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sai Mao
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Di Sun
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu He
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhen Wu
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mafeng Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Gómez-Garzón C, Payne SM. Divide and conquer: genetics, mechanism, and evolution of the ferrous iron transporter Feo in Helicobacter pylori. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1219359. [PMID: 37469426 PMCID: PMC10353542 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1219359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Feo is the most widespread and conserved system for ferrous iron uptake in bacteria, and it is important for virulence in several gastrointestinal pathogens. However, its mechanism remains poorly understood. Hitherto, most studies regarding the Feo system were focused on Gammaproteobacterial models, which possess three feo genes (feoA, B, and C) clustered in an operon. We found that the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori possesses a unique arrangement of the feo genes, in which only feoA and feoB are present and encoded in distant loci. In this study, we examined the functional significance of this arrangement. Methods Requirement and regulation of the individual H. pylori feo genes were assessed through in vivo assays and gene expression profiling. The evolutionary history of feo was inferred via phylogenetic reconstruction, and AlphaFold was used for predicting the FeoA-FeoB interaction. Results and Discussion Both feoA and feoB are required for Feo function, and feoB is likely subjected to tight regulation in response to iron and nickel by Fur and NikR, respectively. Also, we established that feoA is encoded in an operon that emerged in the common ancestor of most, but not all, helicobacters, and this resulted in feoA transcription being controlled by two independent promoters. The H. pylori Feo system offers a new model to understand ferrous iron transport in bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Gómez-Garzón
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Shelley M. Payne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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Dzyhovskyi V, Stokowa-Sołtys K. Divalent metal ion binding to Staphylococcus aureus FeoB transporter regions. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 244:112203. [PMID: 37018851 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Transition metal ions such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese or, nickel are essential in many biological processes. Bacteria have developed a number of mechanisms for their acquisition and transport, in which numerous of proteins and smaller molecules are involved. One of the representatives of these proteins is FeoB, which belongs to the Feo (ferrous ion transporter) family. Although ferrous iron transport system is widespread among microorganisms, it is still poorly described in Gram-positive pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus. In this work, combined potentiometric and spectroscopic studies (UV-Vis, CD and EPR) were carried out to determine Cu(II), Fe(II) and Zn(II) binding modes to FeoB fragments (Ac-IDYHKLMK-NH2, Ac-ETSHDKY-NH2, and Ac-SFLHMVGS-NH2). For the first time iron(II) complexes with peptides were characterized by potentiometry. All studied ligands are able to form a variety of thermodynamically stable complexes with transition metal ions. It was concluded that among the studied systems, the most effective metal ion binding is observed for the Ac-ETSHDKY-NH2 peptide. Moreover, comparing preferences of all ligands towards different metal ions, copper(II) complexes are the most stable ones at physiological pH.
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Sestok AE, O'Sullivan SM, Smith AT. A general protocol for the expression and purification of the intact transmembrane transporter FeoB. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183973. [PMID: 35636558 PMCID: PMC9203943 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.183973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Ferrous iron (Fe2+) transport is an essential process that supports the growth, intracellular survival, and virulence of several drug-resistant pathogens, and the ferrous iron transport (Feo) system is the most important and widespread protein complex that mediates Fe2+ transport in these organisms. The Feo system canonically comprises three proteins (FeoA/B/C). FeoA and FeoC are both small, accessory proteins localized to the cytoplasm, and their roles in the Fe2+ transport process have been of great debate. FeoB is the only wholly-conserved component of the Feo system and serves as the inner membrane-embedded Fe2+ transporter with a soluble G-protein-like N-terminal domain. In vivo studies have underscored the importance of Feo during infection, emphasizing the need to better understand Feo-mediated Fe2+ uptake, although a paucity of research exists on intact FeoB. To surmount this problem, we designed an overproduction and purification system that can be applied generally to a suite of intact FeoBs from several organisms. Importantly, we noted that FeoB is extremely sensitive to excess salt while in the membrane of a recombinant host, and we designed a workflow to circumvent this issue. We also demonstrated effective protein extraction from the lipid bilayer through small-scale solubilization studies. We then applied this approach to the large-scale purifications of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa FeoBs to high purity and homogeneity. Lastly, we show that our protocol can be generally applied to various FeoB proteins. Thus, this workflow allows for isolation of suitable quantities of FeoB for future biochemical and biophysical characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex E Sestok
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA
| | - Sean M O'Sullivan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA
| | - Aaron T Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.
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Identification of Key Functions Required for Production and Utilization of the Siderophore Piscibactin Encoded by the High-Pathogenicity Island irp-HPI in Vibrionaceae. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168865. [PMID: 36012135 PMCID: PMC9408133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Piscibactin is a widespread siderophore system present in many different bacteria, especially within the Vibrionaceae family. Previous works showed that most functions required for biosynthesis and transport of this siderophore are encoded by the high-pathogenicity island irp-HPI. In the present work, using Vibrio anguillarum as a model, we could identify additional key functions encoded by irp-HPI that are necessary for piscibactin production and transport and that have remained unknown. Allelic exchange mutagenesis, combined with cross-feeding bioassays and LC-MS analysis, were used to demonstrate that Irp4 protein is an essential component for piscibactin synthesis since it is the thioesterase required for nascent piscibactin be released from the NRPS Irp1. We also show that Irp8 is a MFS-type protein essential for piscibactin secretion. In addition, after passage through the outer membrane transporter FrpA, the completion of ferri-piscibactin internalization through the inner membrane would be achieved by the ABC-type transporter FrpBC. The expression of this transporter is coordinated with the expression of FrpA and with the genes encoding biosynthetic functions. Since piscibactin is a major virulence factor of some pathogenic vibrios, the elements of biosynthesis and transport described here could be additional interesting targets for the design of novel antimicrobials against these bacterial pathogens.
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Vaccaro FA, Drennan CL. The role of nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase metallochaperones in making metalloenzymes. Metallomics 2022; 14:6575898. [PMID: 35485745 PMCID: PMC9164220 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfac030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Metalloenzymes catalyze a diverse set of challenging chemical reactions that are essential for life. These metalloenzymes rely on a wide range of metallocofactors, from single metal ions to complicated metallic clusters. Incorporation of metal ions and metallocofactors into apo-proteins often requires the assistance of proteins known as metallochaperones. Nucleoside triphosphate hydrolases (NTPases) are one important class of metallochaperones and are found widely distributed throughout the domains of life. These proteins use the binding and hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates, either adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or guanosine triphosphate (GTP), to carry out highly specific and regulated roles in the process of metalloenzyme maturation. Here, we review recent literature on NTPase metallochaperones and describe the current mechanistic proposals and available structural data. By using representative examples from each type of NTPase, we also illustrate the challenges in studying these complicated systems. We highlight open questions in the field and suggest future directions. This minireview is part of a special collection of articles in memory of Professor Deborah Zamble, a leader in the field of nickel biochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca A Vaccaro
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Catherine L Drennan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Sestok AE, Brown JB, Obi JO, O'Sullivan SM, Garcin ED, Deredge DJ, Smith AT. A fusion of the Bacteroides fragilis ferrous iron import proteins reveals a role for FeoA in stabilizing GTP-bound FeoB. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101808. [PMID: 35271852 PMCID: PMC8980893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron is an essential element for nearly all organisms, and under anoxic and/or reducing conditions, Fe2+ is the dominant form of iron available to bacteria. The ferrous iron transport (Feo) system is the primary prokaryotic Fe2+ import machinery, and two constituent proteins (FeoA and FeoB) are conserved across most bacterial species. However, how FeoA and FeoB function relative to one another remains enigmatic. In this work, we explored the distribution of feoAB operons encoding a fusion of FeoA tethered to the N-terminal, G-protein domain of FeoB via a connecting linker region. We hypothesized that this fusion poises FeoA to interact with FeoB to affect function. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the soluble NFeoAB fusion protein from Bacteroides fragilis, a commensal organism implicated in drug-resistant infections. Using X-ray crystallography, we determined the 1.50-Å resolution structure of BfFeoA, which adopts an SH3-like fold implicated in protein–protein interactions. Using a combination of structural modeling, small-angle X-ray scattering, and hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we show that FeoA and NFeoB interact in a nucleotide-dependent manner, and we mapped the protein–protein interaction interface. Finally, using guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis assays, we demonstrate that BfNFeoAB exhibits one of the slowest known rates of Feo-mediated GTP hydrolysis that is not potassium-stimulated. Importantly, truncation of FeoA from this fusion demonstrates that FeoA–NFeoB interactions function to stabilize the GTP-bound form of FeoB. Taken together, our work reveals a role for FeoA function in the fused FeoAB system and suggests a function for FeoA among prokaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex E Sestok
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250 USA
| | - Janae B Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250 USA
| | - Juliet O Obi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201 USA
| | - Sean M O'Sullivan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250 USA
| | - Elsa D Garcin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250 USA; Laboratoire d'Information Génomique et Structurale, UMR7256, Aix-Marseille Université, Campus de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Daniel J Deredge
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201 USA
| | - Aaron T Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250 USA.
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Shin M, Gomez-Garzon C, Payne SM. Vanadate inhibits Feo-mediated iron transport in Vibrio cholerae. Metallomics 2021; 13:6407528. [PMID: 34673980 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfab059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Iron is an essential element for Vibrio cholerae to survive, and Feo, the major bacterial system for ferrous iron transport, is important for growth of this pathogen in low-oxygen environments. To gain insight into its biochemical mechanism, we evaluated the effects of widely used ATPase inhibitors on the ATP hydrolysis activity of the N-terminal domain of V. cholerae FeoB. Our results showed that sodium orthovanadate and sodium azide effectively inhibit the catalytic activity of the N-terminal domain of V. cholerae FeoB. Further, sodium orthovanadate was the more effective inhibitor against V. cholerae ferrous iron transport in vivo. These results contribute to a more comprehensive biochemical understanding of Feo function, and shed light on designing effective inhibitors against bacterial FeoB proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhye Shin
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Camilo Gomez-Garzon
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Shelley M Payne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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11
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Brown JB, Lee MA, Smith AT. Ins and Outs: Recent Advancements in Membrane Protein-Mediated Prokaryotic Ferrous Iron Transport. Biochemistry 2021; 60:3277-3291. [PMID: 34670078 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Iron is an essential nutrient for virtually every living organism, especially pathogenic prokaryotes. Despite its importance, however, both the acquisition and the export of this element require dedicated pathways that are dependent on oxidation state. Due to its solubility and kinetic lability, reduced ferrous iron (Fe2+) is useful to bacteria for import, chaperoning, and efflux. Once imported, ferrous iron may be loaded into apo and nascent enzymes and even sequestered into storage proteins under certain conditions. However, excess labile ferrous iron can impart toxicity as it may spuriously catalyze Fenton chemistry, thereby generating reactive oxygen species and leading to cellular damage. In response, it is becoming increasingly evident that bacteria have evolved Fe2+ efflux pumps to deal with conditions of ferrous iron excess and to prevent intracellular oxidative stress. In this work, we highlight recent structural and mechanistic advancements in our understanding of prokaryotic ferrous iron import and export systems, with a focus on the connection of these essential transport systems to pathogenesis. Given the connection of these pathways to the virulence of many increasingly antibiotic resistant bacterial strains, a greater understanding of the mechanistic details of ferrous iron cycling in pathogens could illuminate new pathways for future therapeutic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janae B Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Mark A Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Aaron T Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
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12
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Shin M, Mun D, Choi HJ, Kim S, Payne SM, Kim Y. Identification of a New Antimicrobial Agent against Bovine Mastitis-Causing Staphylococcus aureus. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2021; 69:9968-9978. [PMID: 34406764 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c02738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus RF122 is a major pathogen that causes bovine mastitis, which is the most prevalent and costly disease in the milk and dairy industry. S. aureus expresses various virulence factors that are especially highly associated with iron metabolism, and the bacterial ferrous iron transport system Feo is important for bacterial growth or virulence in mammalian hosts. In this study, we evaluated a new antimicrobial agent, PHT-427, targeting the S. aureus RF122 Feo system for the prevention of bovine mastitis. Various analyses on in vitro enzymatic assays, growth inhibition, virulence expressions, and toxicity of animal model systems were conducted to characterize the inhibition properties of PHT-427. This small molecule efficiently inhibited enzyme activity of FeoB and bacterial growth. PHT-427 attenuated various virulence factors related to milk quality, including staphyloxanthin production, biofilm formation, and coagulation. Considering the high frequency of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus in bovine mastitis isolates, PHT-427 synergistically enhanced bacterial antibiotic susceptibility and further inhibited global Gram-positive bacterial growth. Unlike its effects on bacteria, the inhibitor did not show any toxicity on animal model systems. These results indicate that the S. aureus Feo system represents a good target for antimicrobial strategies, and this new antimicrobial agent may represent a promising biotechnological application for preventing S. aureus-induced bovine mastitis in the milk and dairy industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhye Shin
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Daye Mun
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jin Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooah Kim
- Department of Environment Science & Biotechnology, Jeonju University, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea
| | - Shelley M Payne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Younghoon Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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13
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Shin M, Jin Y, Park J, Mun D, Kim SR, Payne SM, Kim KH, Kim Y. Characterization of an Antibacterial Agent Targeting Ferrous Iron Transport Protein FeoB against Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-Positive Bacteria. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:136-149. [PMID: 33378170 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains has become a serious clinical problem. Iron is absolutely required for the bacterial growth, virulence associated with colonization, and survival from the host immune system. The FeoB protein is a major iron permease in bacterial ferrous iron transport systems (Feo) that has been shown to play a crucial role in virulence of some pathogenic bacteria. However, FeoB is still uncharacterized in Gram-positive pathogens, and its effects on S. aureus pathogenesis are unknown. In this study, we identified a novel inhibitor, GW3965·HCl, that targets FeoB in S. aureus. The molecule effectively inhibited FeoB in vitro enzyme activity, bacterial growth, and virulence factor expression. Genome-editing and metabolomic analyses revealed that GW3965·HCl inhibited FeoB function and affected the associated mechanisms with reduced iron availability in S. aureus. Gentamicin resistance and Caenorhabditis elegans infection assays further demonstrated the power of GW3965·HCl as a safe and efficient antibacterial agent. In addition to S. aureus, GW3965·HCl also presented its effectiveness on inhibition of the FeoB activity and growth of Gram-positive bacteria. This novel inhibitor will provide new insight for developing a next-generation antibacterial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhye Shin
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yerin Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsub Park
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Daye Mun
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Rin Kim
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Shelley M. Payne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Kyoung Heon Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Younghoon Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
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14
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Gómez-Garzón C, Payne SM. Vibrio cholerae FeoB hydrolyzes ATP and GTP in vitro in the absence of stimulatory factors. Metallomics 2020; 12:2065-2074. [PMID: 33174898 DOI: 10.1039/d0mt00195c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Feo is the most widely conserved system for ferrous iron transport in prokaryotes, and it is important for virulence in some pathogens. However, its mechanism of iron transport is not fully understood. In this study, we used full-length Vibrio cholerae FeoB (VcFeoB) as a model system to study whether its enzymatic activity is affected by regulatory factors commonly associated with FeoB proteins from other species or with G-proteins that have homology to FeoB. VcFeoB showed a higher rate of hydrolysis of both ATP and GTP than its N-terminal domain alone; likewise, ions such as K+ and Fe2+ did not modulate its nucleotide hydrolysis. We also showed that the three V. cholerae Feo proteins (FeoA, FeoB, and FeoC) work in a 1 : 1 : 1 molar ratio in vivo. Although both FeoA and FeoC are required for Feo-mediated iron transport, neither of these proteins affected the VcFeoB NTPase rate. These results are consistent with an active transport mechanism independent of stimulatory factors and highlight the importance of using full-length FeoB proteins as a reliable proxy to study Feo-mediated iron transport in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Gómez-Garzón
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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