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Kim G, Kim HJ, Kim K, Kim HJ, Yang J, Seo SW. Tunable translation-level CRISPR interference by dCas13 and engineered gRNA in bacteria. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5319. [PMID: 38909033 PMCID: PMC11193725 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49642-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Although CRISPR-dCas13, the RNA-guided RNA-binding protein, was recently exploited as a translation-level gene expression modulator, it has still been difficult to precisely control the level due to the lack of detailed characterization. Here, we develop a synthetic tunable translation-level CRISPR interference (Tl-CRISPRi) system based on the engineered guide RNAs that enable precise and predictable down-regulation of mRNA translation. First, we optimize the Tl-CRISPRi system for specific and multiplexed repression of genes at the translation level. We also show that the Tl-CRISPRi system is more suitable for independently regulating each gene in a polycistronic operon than the transcription-level CRISPRi (Tx-CRISPRi) system. We further engineer the handle structure of guide RNA for tunable and predictable repression of various genes in Escherichia coli and Vibrio natriegens. This tunable Tl-CRISPRi system is applied to increase the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) by 14.2-fold via redirecting the metabolic flux, indicating the usefulness of this system for the flux optimization in the microbial cell factories based on the RNA-targeting machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giho Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Joon Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Keonwoo Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon Jin Kim
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jina Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, South Korea
| | - Sang Woo Seo
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Institute of Bio Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
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2
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Chang S, Laureti L, Thrall ES, Kay MS, Philippin G, Jergic S, Pagès V, Loparo JJ. A bipartite interaction with the processivity clamp potentiates Pol IV-mediated TLS. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.30.596738. [PMID: 38853898 PMCID: PMC11160790 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.30.596738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Processivity clamps mediate polymerase switching for translesion synthesis (TLS). All three E. coli TLS polymerases interact with the β2 processivity clamp through a conserved clamp-binding motif (CBM), which is indispensable for TLS. Notably, Pol IV also makes a unique secondary contact with the clamp through non-CBM residues. However, the role of this "rim contact" in Pol IV-mediated TLS remains poorly understood. Here we show that the rim contact is critical for TLS past strong replication blocks. In in vitro reconstituted Pol IV-mediated TLS, ablating the rim contact compromises TLS past 3-methyl dA, a strong block, while barely affecting TLS past N2-furfuryl dG, a weak block. Similar observations are also made in E. coli cells bearing a single copy of these lesions in the genome. Within lesion-stalled replication forks, the rim interaction and ssDNA binding protein cooperatively poise Pol IV to better compete with Pol III for binding to a cleft through its CBM. We propose that this bipartite clamp interaction enables Pol IV to rapidly resolve lesion-stalled replication through TLS at the fork, which reduces damage induced mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungwoo Chang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luisa Laureti
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille: Team DNA Damage and Genome Instability | CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Elizabeth S. Thrall
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marguerite S Kay
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gaëlle Philippin
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille: Team DNA Damage and Genome Instability | CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Slobodan Jergic
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Vincent Pagès
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille: Team DNA Damage and Genome Instability | CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Joseph J Loparo
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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3
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Peng LT, Tian SQ, Guo WX, Chen XW, Wu JH, Liu YL, Peng B. α-Ketoglutarate downregulates thiosulphate metabolism to enhance antibiotic killing. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 64:107214. [PMID: 38795933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Potentiation of the effects of currently available antibiotics is urgently required to tackle the rising antibiotics resistance. The pyruvate (P) cycle has been shown to play a critical role in mediating aminoglycoside antibiotic killing, but the mechanism remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects of intermediate metabolites of the P cycle regarding the potentiation of gentamicin. We found that α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) has the best synergy with gentamicin compared to the other metabolites. This synergistic killing effect was more effective with aminoglycosides than other types of antibiotics, and it was effective against various types of bacterial pathogens. Using fish and mouse infection models, we confirmed that the synergistic killing effect occurred in vivo. Furthermore, functional proteomics showed that α-KG downregulated thiosulphate metabolism. Upregulation of thiosulphate metabolism by exogenous thiosulphate counteracted the killing effect of gentamicin. The role of thiosulphate metabolism in antibiotic resistance was further confirmed using thiosulphate reductase knockout mutants. These mutants were more sensitive to gentamicin killing, and less tolerant to antibiotics compared to their parental strain. Thus, our study highlights a strategy for potentiating antibiotic killing by using a metabolite that reduces antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liao-Tian Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Si-Qi Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei-Xu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuan-Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Han Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Li Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China.
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4
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Tan W, Miao Q, Jia X, Liu Y, Li S, Yang D. Research Progress on the Assembly of Large DNA Fragments. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400054. [PMID: 38477700 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic biology, a newly and rapidly developing interdisciplinary field, has demonstrated increasing potential for extensive applications in the wide areas of biomedicine, biofuels, and novel materials. DNA assembly is a key enabling technology of synthetic biology and a central point for realizing fully synthetic artificial life. While the assembly of small DNA fragments has been successfully commercialized, the assembly of large DNA fragments remains a challenge due to their high molecular weight and susceptibility to breakage. This article provides an overview of the development and current state of DNA assembly technology, with a focus on recent advancements in the assembly of large DNA fragments in Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In particular, the methods and challenges associated with the assembly of large DNA fragment in different hosts are highlighted. The advancements in DNA assembly have the potential to facilitate the construction of customized genomes, giving us the ability to modify cellular functions and even create artificial life. It is also contributing to our ability to understand, predict, and manipulate living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Tan
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, P. R. China
| | - Qing Miao
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, P. R. China
| | - Xuemei Jia
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, P. R. China
| | - Ying Liu
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, P. R. China
| | - Dayong Yang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, P. R. China
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Gucwa K, Wons E, Wisniewska A, Jakalski M, Dubiak Z, Kozlowski LP, Mruk I. Lethal perturbation of an Escherichia coli regulatory network is triggered by a restriction-modification system's regulator and can be mitigated by excision of the cryptic prophage Rac. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2942-2960. [PMID: 38153127 PMCID: PMC11014345 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial gene regulatory networks orchestrate responses to environmental challenges. Horizontal gene transfer can bring in genes with regulatory potential, such as new transcription factors (TFs), and this can disrupt existing networks. Serious regulatory perturbations may even result in cell death. Here, we show the impact on Escherichia coli of importing a promiscuous TF that has adventitious transcriptional effects within the cryptic Rac prophage. A cascade of regulatory network perturbations occurred on a global level. The TF, a C regulatory protein, normally controls a Type II restriction-modification system, but in E. coli K-12 interferes with expression of the RacR repressor gene, resulting in de-repression of the normally-silent Rac ydaT gene. YdaT is a prophage-encoded TF with pleiotropic effects on E. coli physiology. In turn, YdaT alters expression of a variety of bacterial regulons normally controlled by the RcsA TF, resulting in deficient lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and cell division. At the same time, insufficient RacR repressor results in Rac DNA excision, halting Rac gene expression due to loss of the replication-defective Rac prophage. Overall, Rac induction appears to counteract the lethal toxicity of YdaT. We show here that E. coli rewires its regulatory network, so as to minimize the adverse regulatory effects of the imported C TF. This complex set of interactions may reflect the ability of bacteria to protect themselves by having robust mechanisms to maintain their regulatory networks, and/or suggest that regulatory C proteins from mobile operons are under selection to manipulate their host's regulatory networks for their own benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Gucwa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdansk 80-308, Poland
| | - Ewa Wons
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdansk 80-308, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Wisniewska
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdansk 80-308, Poland
| | - Marcin Jakalski
- 3P-Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 7, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Dubiak
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdansk 80-308, Poland
| | - Lukasz Pawel Kozlowski
- Institute of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Mechanics, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona Mruk
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdansk 80-308, Poland
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6
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Dessartine MM, Kosta A, Doan T, Cascales É, Côté JP. Type 1 fimbriae-mediated collective protection against type 6 secretion system attacks. mBio 2024; 15:e0255323. [PMID: 38497656 PMCID: PMC11005336 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02553-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial competition may rely on secretion systems such as the type 6 secretion system (T6SS), which punctures and releases toxic molecules into neighboring cells. To subsist, bacterial targets must counteract the threats posed by T6SS-positive competitors. In this study, we used a comprehensive genome-wide high-throughput screening approach to investigate the dynamics of interbacterial competition. Our primary goal was to identify deletion mutants within the well-characterized E. coli K-12 single-gene deletion library, the Keio collection, that demonstrated resistance to T6SS-mediated killing by the enteropathogenic bacterium Cronobacter malonaticus. We identified 49 potential mutants conferring resistance to T6SS and focused our interest on a deletion mutant (∆fimE) exhibiting enhanced expression of type 1 fimbriae. We demonstrated that the presence of type 1 fimbriae leads to the formation of microcolonies and thus protects against T6SS-mediated assaults. Collectively, our study demonstrated that adhesive structures such as type 1 fimbriae confer collective protective behavior against T6SS attacks.IMPORTANCEType 6 secretion systems (T6SS) are molecular weapons employed by gram-negative bacteria to eliminate neighboring microbes. T6SS plays a pivotal role as a virulence factor, enabling pathogenic gram-negative bacteria to compete with the established communities to colonize hosts and induce infections. Gaining a deeper understanding of bacterial interactions will allow the development of strategies to control the action of systems such as the T6SS that can manipulate bacterial communities. In this context, we demonstrate that bacteria targeted by T6SS attacks from the enteric pathogen Cronobacter malonaticus, which poses a significant threat to infants, can develop a collective protective mechanism centered on the production of type I fimbriae. These adhesive structures promote the aggregation of bacterial preys and the formation of microcolonies, which protect the cells from T6SS attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot Marie Dessartine
- Département de biologie, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Artemis Kosta
- Plateforme de microscopie, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM, FR3479), Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Thierry Doan
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM, UMR7255), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Éric Cascales
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM, UMR7255), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Côté
- Département de biologie, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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Acton L, Pye HV, Thilliez G, Kolenda R, Matthews M, Turner AK, Yasir M, Holden E, Al-Khanaq H, Webber M, Adriaenssens EM, Kingsley RA. Collateral sensitivity increases the efficacy of a rationally designed bacteriophage combination to control Salmonella enterica. J Virol 2024; 98:e0147623. [PMID: 38376991 PMCID: PMC10949491 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01476-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability of virulent bacteriophages to lyse bacteria influences bacterial evolution, fitness, and population structure. Knowledge of both host susceptibility and resistance factors is crucial for the successful application of bacteriophages as biological control agents in clinical therapy, food processing, and agriculture. In this study, we isolated 12 bacteriophages termed SPLA phage which infect the foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica. To determine phage host range, a diverse collection of Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella enterica was used and genes involved in infection by six SPLA phages were identified using Salmonella Typhimurium strain ST4/74. Candidate host receptors included lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cellulose, and BtuB. Lipopolysaccharide was identified as a susceptibility factor for phage SPLA1a and mutations in LPS biosynthesis genes spontaneously emerged during culture with S. Typhimurium. Conversely, LPS was a resistance factor for phage SPLA5b which suggested that emergence of LPS mutations in culture with SPLA1a represented collateral sensitivity to SPLA5b. We show that bacteria-phage co-culture with SPLA1a and SPLA5b was more successful in limiting the emergence of phage resistance compared to single phage co-culture. Identification of host susceptibility and resistance genes and understanding infection dynamics are critical steps in the rationale design of phage cocktails against specific bacterial pathogens.IMPORTANCEAs antibiotic resistance continues to emerge in bacterial pathogens, bacterial viruses (phage) represent a potential alternative or adjunct to antibiotics. One challenge for their implementation is the predisposition of bacteria to rapidly acquire resistance to phages. We describe a functional genomics approach to identify mechanisms of susceptibility and resistance for newly isolated phages that infect and lyse Salmonella enterica and use this information to identify phage combinations that exploit collateral sensitivity, thus increasing efficacy. Collateral sensitivity is a phenomenon where resistance to one class of antibiotics increases sensitivity to a second class of antibiotics. We report a functional genomics approach to rationally design a phage combination with a collateral sensitivity dynamic which resulted in increased efficacy. Considering such evolutionary trade-offs has the potential to manipulate the outcome of phage therapy in favor of resolving infection without selecting for escape mutants and is applicable to other virus-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Acton
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah V. Pye
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Gaëtan Thilliez
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Rafał Kolenda
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Michaela Matthews
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - A. Keith Turner
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Yasir
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Holden
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Haider Al-Khanaq
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Webber
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | | | - Robert A. Kingsley
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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8
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Widney KA, Yang DD, Rusch LM, Copley SD. CRISPR-Cas9-assisted genome editing in E. coli elevates the frequency of unintended mutations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.19.584922. [PMID: 38562785 PMCID: PMC10983943 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.19.584922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Cas-assisted lambda Red recombineering techniques have rapidly become a mainstay of bacterial genome editing. Such techniques have been used to construct both individual mutants and massive libraries to assess the effects of genomic changes. We have found that a commonly used Cas9-assisted editing method results in unintended mutations elsewhere in the genome in 26% of edited clones. The unintended mutations are frequently found over 200 kb from the intended edit site and even over 10 kb from potential off-target sites. We attribute the high frequency of unintended mutations to error-prone polymerases expressed in response to dsDNA breaks introduced at the edit site. Most unintended mutations occur in regulatory or coding regions and thus may have phenotypic effects. Our findings highlight the risks associated with genome editing techniques involving dsDNA breaks in E. coli and likely other bacteria and emphasize the importance of sequencing the genomes of edited cells to ensure the absence of unintended mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl A. Widney
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80205, USA
| | - Dong-Dong Yang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80205, USA
| | - Leo M. Rusch
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80205, USA
| | - Shelley D. Copley
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80205, USA
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9
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Baijal K, Abramchuk I, Herrera CM, Mah TF, Trent MS, Lavallée-Adam M, Downey M. Polyphosphate kinase regulates LPS structure and polymyxin resistance during starvation in E. coli. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002558. [PMID: 38478588 PMCID: PMC10962826 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyphosphates (polyP) are chains of inorganic phosphates that can reach over 1,000 residues in length. In Escherichia coli, polyP is produced by the polyP kinase (PPK) and is thought to play a protective role during the response to cellular stress. However, the molecular pathways impacted by PPK activity and polyP accumulation remain poorly characterized. In this work, we used label-free mass spectrometry to study the response of bacteria that cannot produce polyP (Δppk) during starvation to identify novel pathways regulated by PPK. In response to starvation, we found 92 proteins significantly differentially expressed between wild-type and Δppk mutant cells. Wild-type cells were enriched for proteins related to amino acid biosynthesis and transport, while Δppk mutants were enriched for proteins related to translation and ribosome biogenesis, suggesting that without PPK, cells remain inappropriately primed for growth even in the absence of the required building blocks. From our data set, we were particularly interested in Arn and EptA proteins, which were down-regulated in Δppk mutants compared to wild-type controls, because they play a role in lipid A modifications linked to polymyxin resistance. Using western blotting, we confirm differential expression of these and related proteins in K-12 strains and a uropathogenic isolate, and provide evidence that this mis-regulation in Δppk cells stems from a failure to induce the BasRS two-component system during starvation. We also show that Δppk mutants unable to up-regulate Arn and EptA expression lack the respective L-Ara4N and pEtN modifications on lipid A. In line with this observation, loss of ppk restores polymyxin sensitivity in resistant strains carrying a constitutively active basR allele. Overall, we show a new role for PPK in lipid A modification during starvation and provide a rationale for targeting PPK to sensitize bacteria towards polymyxin treatment. We further anticipate that our proteomics work will provide an important resource for researchers interested in the diverse pathways impacted by PPK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanchi Baijal
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Iryna Abramchuk
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carmen M. Herrera
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Thien-Fah Mah
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - M. Stephen Trent
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mathieu Lavallée-Adam
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Downey
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Frendorf PO, Heyde SAH, Nørholm MHH. Mutations upstream from sdaC and malT in Escherichia coli uncover a complex interplay between the cAMP receptor protein and different sigma factors. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0035523. [PMID: 38197669 PMCID: PMC10882989 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00355-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
In Escherichia coli, one of the best understood microorganisms, much can still be learned about the basic interactions between transcription factors and promoters. When a cAMP-deficient cya mutant is supplied with maltose as the main carbon source, mutations develop upstream from the two genes malT and sdaC. Here, we explore the regulation of the two promoters, using fluorescence-based genetic reporters in combination with both spontaneously evolved and systematically engineered cis-acting mutations. We show that in the cya mutant, regulation of malT and sdaC evolves toward cAMP-independence and increased expression in the stationary phase. Furthermore, we show that the location of the cAMP receptor protein (Crp) binding site upstream of malT is important for alternative sigma factor usage. This provides new insights into the architecture of bacterial promoters and the global interplay between Crp and sigma factors in different growth phases.IMPORTANCEThis work provides new general insights into (1) the architecture of bacterial promoters, (2) the importance of the location of Class I Crp-dependent promoters, and (3) the global interplay between Crp and sigma factors in different growth phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pernille Ott Frendorf
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sophia A. H. Heyde
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Morten H. H. Nørholm
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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11
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Li Y, Chen X, Zhang W, Fang K, Tian J, Li F, Han M, Huang J, Sun T, Bai F, Cheng M, Xu Y. The metabolic slowdown caused by the deletion of pspA accelerates protein aggregation during stationary phase facilitating antibiotic persistence. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0093723. [PMID: 38169282 PMCID: PMC10848772 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00937-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Entering a dormant state is a prevailing mechanism used by bacterial cells to transiently evade antibiotic attacks and become persisters. The dynamic progression of bacterial dormancy depths driven by protein aggregation has been found to be critical for antibiotic persistence in recent years. However, our current understanding of the endogenous genes that affects dormancy depth remains limited. Here, we discovered a novel role of phage shock protein A (pspA) gene in modulating bacterial dormancy depth. Deletion of pspA of Escherichia coli resulted in increased bacterial dormancy depths and prolonged lag times for resuscitation during the stationary phase. ∆pspA exhibited a higher persister ratio compared to the wild type when challenged with various antibiotics. Microscopic images revealed that ∆pspA showed accelerated formation of protein aggresomes, which were collections of endogenous protein aggregates. Time-lapse imaging established the positive correlation between protein aggregation and antibiotic persistence of ∆pspA at the single-cell level. To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying accelerated protein aggregation, we performed transcriptome profiling and found the increased abundance of chaperons and a general metabolic slowdown in the absence of pspA. Consistent with the transcriptomic results, the ∆pspA strain showed a decreased cellular ATP level, which could be rescued by glucose supplementation. Then, we verified that replenishment of cellular ATP levels by adding glucose could inhibit protein aggregation and reduce persister formation in ∆pspA. This study highlights the novel role of pspA in maintaining proteostasis, regulating dormancy depth, and affecting antibiotic persistence during stationary phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxing Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Biomedical Engineering Facility of National Infrastructures for Translational Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weili Zhang
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kefan Fang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Tian
- Biomedical Engineering Facility of National Infrastructures for Translational Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Fangyuan Li
- Clinical Biobank, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mingfei Han
- National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Huai'an No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Tianshu Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Clinical Biobank, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Bai
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Cheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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12
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Seo H, Castro G, Trinh CT. Engineering a Synthetic Escherichia coli Coculture for Compartmentalized de novo Biosynthesis of Isobutyl Butyrate from Mixed Sugars. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:259-268. [PMID: 38091519 PMCID: PMC10804408 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Short-chain esters are versatile chemicals that can be used as flavors, fragrances, solvents, and fuels. The de novo ester biosynthesis consists of diverging and converging pathway submodules, which is challenging to engineer to achieve optimal metabolic fluxes and selective product synthesis. Compartmentalizing the pathway submodules into specialist cells that facilitate pathway modularization and labor division is a promising solution. Here, we engineered a synthetic Escherichia coli coculture with the compartmentalized sugar utilization and ester biosynthesis pathways to produce isobutyl butyrate from a mixture of glucose and xylose. To compartmentalize the sugar-utilizing pathway submodules, we engineered a xylose-utilizing E. coli specialist that selectively consumes xylose over glucose and bypasses carbon catabolite repression (CCR) while leveraging the native CCR machinery to activate a glucose-utilizing E. coli specialist. We found that the compartmentalization of sugar catabolism enabled simultaneous co-utilization of glucose and xylose by a coculture of the two E. coli specialists, improving the stability of the coculture population. Next, we modularized the isobutyl butyrate pathway into the isobutanol, butyl-CoA, and ester condensation submodules, where we distributed the isobutanol submodule to the glucose-utilizing specialist and the other submodules to the xylose-utilizing specialist. Upon compartmentalization of the isobutyl butyrate pathway submodules into these sugar-utilizing specialist cells, a robust synthetic coculture was engineered to selectively produce isobutyl butyrate, reduce the biosynthesis of unwanted ester byproducts, and improve the production titer as compared to the monoculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeongmin Seo
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center
of Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
| | - Gillian Castro
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Cong T. Trinh
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center
of Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
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13
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Bruna RE, Kendra CG, Pontes MH. Phosphorus starvation response and PhoB-independent utilization of organic phosphate sources by Salmonella enterica. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0226023. [PMID: 37787565 PMCID: PMC10715179 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02260-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Phosphorus (P) is the fifth most abundant element in living cells. This element is acquired mainly as inorganic phosphate (Pi, PO4 3-). In enteric bacteria, P starvation activates a two-component signal transduction system which is composed of the membrane sensor protein PhoR and its cognate transcription regulator PhoB. PhoB, in turn, promotes the transcription of genes that help maintain Pi homeostasis. Here, we characterize the P starvation response of the bacterium Salmonella enterica. We determine the PhoB-dependent and independent transcriptional changes promoted by P starvation and identify proteins enabling the utilization of a range of organic substrates as sole P sources. We show that transcription and activity of a subset of these proteins are independent of PhoB and Pi availability. These results establish that Salmonella enterica can maintain Pi homeostasis and repress PhoB/PhoR activation even when cells are grown in medium lacking Pi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto E. Bruna
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- The One Health Microbiome Center, Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christopher G. Kendra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- The One Health Microbiome Center, Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mauricio H. Pontes
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- The One Health Microbiome Center, Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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14
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Allard N, Collette A, Paquette J, Rodrigue S, Côté JP. Systematic investigation of recipient cell genetic requirements reveals important surface receptors for conjugative transfer of IncI2 plasmids. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1172. [PMID: 37973843 PMCID: PMC10654706 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05534-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial conjugation is a major horizontal gene transfer mechanism. While the functions encoded by many conjugative plasmids have been intensively studied, the contribution of recipient chromosome-encoded genes remains largely unknown. Here, we analyzed the genetic requirement of recipient cells for conjugation of IncI2 plasmid TP114, which was recently shown to transfer at high rates in the gut microbiota. We performed transfer assays with ~4,000 single-gene deletion mutants of Escherichia coli. When conjugation occurs on a solid medium, we observed that recipient genes impairing transfer rates were not associated with a specific cellular function. Conversely, transfer assays performed in broth were largely dependent on the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway. We further identified specific structures in lipopolysaccharides used as recipient cell surface receptors by PilV adhesins associated with the type IVb accessory pilus of TP114. Our strategy is applicable to study other mobile genetic elements and understand important host cell factors for their dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Allard
- Département de biologie, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Arianne Collette
- Département de biologie, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Josianne Paquette
- Département de biologie, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Sébastien Rodrigue
- Département de biologie, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada.
| | - Jean-Philippe Côté
- Département de biologie, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada.
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15
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Roller BRK, Hellerschmied C, Wu Y, Miettinen TP, Gomez AL, Manalis SR, Polz MF. Single-cell mass distributions reveal simple rules for achieving steady-state growth. mBio 2023; 14:e0158523. [PMID: 37671861 PMCID: PMC10653891 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01585-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Microbiologists have watched clear liquid turn cloudy for over 100 years. While the cloudiness of a culture is proportional to its total biomass, growth rates from optical density measurements are challenging to interpret when cells change size. Many bacteria adjust their size at different steady-state growth rates, but also when shifting between starvation and growth. Optical density cannot disentangle how mass is distributed among cells. Here, we use single-cell mass measurements to demonstrate that a population of cells in batch culture achieves a stable mass distribution for only a short period of time. Achieving steady-state growth in rich medium requires low initial biomass concentrations and enough time for individual cell mass accumulation and cell number increase via cell division to balance out. Steady-state growth is important for reliable cell mass distributions and experimental reproducibility. We discuss how mass variation outside of steady-state can impact physiology, ecology, and evolution experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R. K. Roller
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cathrine Hellerschmied
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yanqi Wu
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Teemu P. Miettinen
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Annika L. Gomez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scott R. Manalis
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Martin F. Polz
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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16
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Wozniak CE, Hughes KT, Liou TG. Mutations in the C-terminal region of the bacteriophage exclusion protein PglX can selectively inactivate restriction in Salmonella. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0020723. [PMID: 37730541 PMCID: PMC10601704 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00207-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain LT2 is protected by two DNA restriction-modification systems (HsdRMS and Mod-Res) and a Type I bacteriophage exclusion (BREX) system (BrxA-L). The LB5000 strain was constructed to inactivate restriction but not methylation in all three systems and has been available for decades (L. R. Bullas and J. I. Ryu, J Bacteriol 156:471-474, 1983, https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.156.1.471-474.1983). However, this strain had been heavily mutagenized and contains hundreds of other mutations, including a few in DNA repair genes. Here, we describe the development of a strain that is only mutated for DNA restriction by the three systems and remains competent for DNA modification. We transferred mutations specific to DNA restriction from LB5000 to a wild-type LT2 background. The hsdR and res mutations affected only restriction in the wild-type background, but the brxC and pglZ mutations for the poorly understood BREX system also reduced modification. Amino acids in an unannotated conserved region of PglX in the BREX system were then randomized. Mutations were identified that specifically affected restriction at 37°C but were found to be temperature sensitive for restriction and methylation when tested at 30°C and 42°C. These mutations in PglX are consistent with a domain that communicates DNA methylation information to other BREX effector proteins. Finally, mutations generated in the specificity domain of PglX may have changed the DNA binding site recognized by the BREX system. IMPORTANCE The restriction system mutants constructed in this study will be useful for cloning DNA and transferring plasmids from other bacterial species into Salmonella. We verified which mutations in strain LB5000 resulted in loss of restriction for each restriction-modification system and the BREX system by moving these mutations to a wild-type Salmonella background. The methylase PglX was then mutagenized, which adds to our knowledge of the BREX system that is found in many bacteria but is not well understood. These PglX mutations affected restriction and methylation at different temperatures, which suggests that the C-terminal region of PglX may coordinate interactions between the methylase and other BREX system proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelly T. Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Theodore G. Liou
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Center for Quantitative Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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17
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Chernova LS, Vishnyakov IE, Börner J, Bogachev MI, Thormann KM, Kayumov AR. The Functionality of IbpA from Acholeplasma laidlawii Is Governed by Dynamic Rearrangement of Its Globular-Fibrillar Quaternary Structure. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15445. [PMID: 37895124 PMCID: PMC10607609 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) represent a first line of stress defense in many bacteria. The primary function of these molecular chaperones involves preventing irreversible protein denaturation and aggregation. In Escherichia coli, fibrillar EcIbpA binds unfolded proteins and keeps them in a folding-competent state. Further, its structural homologue EcIbpB induces the transition of EcIbpA to globules, thereby facilitating the substrate transfer to the HSP70-HSP100 system for refolding. The phytopathogenic Acholeplasma laidlawii possesses only a single sHSP, AlIbpA. Here, we demonstrate non-trivial features of the function and regulation of the chaperone-like activity of AlIbpA according to its interaction with other components of the mycoplasma multi-chaperone network. Our results show that the efficiency of the A. laidlawii multi-chaperone system is driven with the ability of AlIbpA to form both globular and fibrillar structures, thus combining functions of both IbpA and IbpB when transferring the substrate proteins to the HSP70-HSP100 system. In contrast to EcIbpA and EcIbpB, AlIbpA appears as an sHSP, in which the competition between the N- and C-terminal domains regulates the shift of the protein quaternary structure between a fibrillar and globular form, thus representing a molecular mechanism of its functional regulation. While the C-terminus of AlIbpA is responsible for fibrils formation and substrate capture, the N-terminus seems to have a similar function to EcIbpB through facilitating further substrate protein disaggregation using HSP70. Moreover, our results indicate that prior to the final disaggregation process, AlIbpA can directly transfer the substrate to HSP100, thereby representing an alternative mechanism in the HSP interaction network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliya S. Chernova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia;
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Ave. 4, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia;
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (J.B.); (K.M.T.)
| | - Innokentii E. Vishnyakov
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Ave. 4, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Janek Börner
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (J.B.); (K.M.T.)
| | - Mikhail I. Bogachev
- Centre for Digital Telecommunication Technologies, St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University, Professora Popova 5, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Kai M. Thormann
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (J.B.); (K.M.T.)
| | - Airat R. Kayumov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia;
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18
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Zhu J, Chu P, Fu X. Unbalanced response to growth variations reshapes the cell fate decision landscape. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:1097-1104. [PMID: 36959461 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01302-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
The global regulation of cell growth rate on gene expression perturbs the performance of gene networks, which would impose complex variations on the cell-fate decision landscape. Here we use a simple synthetic circuit of mutual repression that allows a bistable landscape to examine how such global regulation would affect the stability of phenotypic landscape and the accompanying dynamics of cell-fate determination. We show that the landscape experiences a growth-rate-induced bifurcation between monostability and bistability. Theoretical and experimental analyses reveal that this bifurcating deformation of landscape arises from the unbalanced response of gene expression to growth variations. The path of growth transition across the bifurcation would reshape cell-fate decisions. These results demonstrate the importance of growth regulation on cell-fate determination processes, regardless of specific molecular signaling or regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Pan Chu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiongfei Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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19
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Xue F, Ma X, Luo C, Li D, Shi G, Li Y. Construction of a bacteriophage-derived recombinase system in Bacillus licheniformis for gene deletion. AMB Express 2023; 13:89. [PMID: 37633871 PMCID: PMC10460339 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-023-01589-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus licheniformis and its related strains have found extensive applications in diverse industries, agriculture, and medicine. However, the current breeding methods for this strain primarily rely on natural screening and traditional mutagenesis. The limited availability of efficient genetic engineering tools, particularly recombination techniques, has hindered further advancements in its applications. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation to identify and characterize a recombinase, RecT, derived from a Bacillus phage. Remarkably, the recombinase exhibited a 105-fold enhancement in the recombination efficiency of the strain. To facilitate genome editing, we developed a system based on the conditional expression of RecT using a rhamnose-inducible promoter (Prha). The efficacy of this system was evaluated by deleting the amyL gene, which encodes an α-amylase. Our findings revealed that the induction time and concentration of rhamnose, along with the generation time of the strain, significantly influenced the editing efficiency. Optimal conditions for genome editing were determined as follows: the wild-type strain was initially transformed with the genome editing plasmid, followed by cultivation and induction with 1.5% rhamnose for 8 h. Subsequently, the strain was further cultured for an additional 24 h, equivalent to approximately three generations. Consequently, the recombination efficiency reached an impressive 16.67%. This study represents a significant advancement in enhancing the recombination efficiency of B. licheniformis through the utilization of a RecT-based recombination system. Moreover, it provides a highly effective genome editing tool for genetic engineering applications in this strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Cigar Fermentation, Cigar Technology Innovation Center of China Tobacco, Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., Ltd, Chengdu, 610000, P. R. China
| | - Xufan Ma
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, P. R. China
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, P. R. China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Cigar Fermentation, Cigar Technology Innovation Center of China Tobacco, Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., Ltd, Chengdu, 610000, P. R. China
| | - Dongliang Li
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Cigar Fermentation, Cigar Technology Innovation Center of China Tobacco, Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., Ltd, Chengdu, 610000, P. R. China
| | - Guiyang Shi
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, P. R. China
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, P. R. China
| | - Youran Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, P. R. China.
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, P. R. China.
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20
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Majdalani N, Chattopadhyay M, Keller C, Gottesman S. Lack of polyamines leads to cotranslational degradation of the general stress factor RpoS in Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104943. [PMID: 37343699 PMCID: PMC10372455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The specialized sigma factor RpoS mediates a general stress response in Escherichia coli and related bacteria, activating promoters that allow cells to survive stationary phase and many stresses. RpoS synthesis and stability are regulated at multiple levels. Translation of RpoS is positively regulated by multiple small RNAs in response to stress. Degradation of RpoS, dependent upon the adaptor protein RssB, is rapid during exponential growth and ceases upon starvation or other stresses, increasing accumulation of RpoS. E. coli carrying mutations that block the synthesis of polyamines were previously found to have low levels of RpoS, while levels increased rapidly when polyamines were added. We have used a series of reporters to examine the basis for the lack of RpoS in polyamine-deficient cells. The polyamine requirement was independent of small RNA-mediated positive regulation of RpoS translation. Mutations in rssB stabilize RpoS and significantly bypassed the polyamine deficit, suggesting that lack of polyamines might lead to rapid RpoS degradation. However, rates of degradation of mature RpoS were unaffected by polyamine availability. Codon optimization in rpoS partially relieved the polyamine dependence, suggesting a defect in RpoS translation in the absence of polyamines. Consistent with this, a hyperproofreading allele of ribosomal protein S12, encoded by rpsL, showed a decrease in RpoS levels, and this decrease was also suppressed by either codon optimization or blocking RpoS degradation. We suggest that rpoS codon usage leads it to be particularly sensitive to slowed translation, due to either lack of polyamines or hyperproofreading, leading to cotranslational degradation. We dedicate this study to Herb Tabor and his foundational work on polyamines, including the basis for this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadim Majdalani
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Manas Chattopadhyay
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher Keller
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan Gottesman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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21
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Baijal K, Abramchuk I, Herrera CM, Stephen Trent M, Lavallée-Adam M, Downey M. Proteomics analysis reveals a role for E. coli polyphosphate kinase in membrane structure and polymyxin resistance during starvation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.06.546892. [PMID: 37461725 PMCID: PMC10350021 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.06.546892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Polyphosphates (polyP) are chains of inorganic phosphates that can reach over 1000 residues in length. In Escherichia coli, polyP is produced by the polyP kinase (PPK) and is thought to play a protective role during the response to cellular stress. However, the molecular pathways impacted by PPK activity and polyP accumulation remain poorly characterized. In this work we used label-free mass spectrometry to study the response of bacteria that cannot produce polyP (∆ppk) during starvation to identify novel pathways regulated by PPK. In response to starvation, we found 92 proteins significantly differentially expressed between wild-type and ∆ppk mutant cells. Wild-type cells were enriched for proteins related to amino acid biosynthesis and transport, while Δppk mutants were enriched for proteins related to translation and ribosome biogenesis, suggesting that without PPK, cells remain inappropriately primed for growth even in the absence of required building blocks. From our dataset, we were particularly interested in Arn and EptA proteins, which were downregulated in ∆ppk mutants compared to wild-type controls, because they play a role in lipid A modifications linked to polymyxin resistance. Using western blotting, we confirm differential expression of these and related proteins, and provide evidence that this mis-regulation in ∆ppk cells stems from a failure to induce the BasS/BasR two-component system during starvation. We also show that ∆ppk mutants unable to upregulate Arn and EptA expression lack the respective L-Ara4N and pEtN modifications on lipid A. In line with this observation, loss of ppk restores polymyxin sensitivity in resistant strains carrying a constitutively active basR allele. Overall, we show a new role for PPK in lipid A modification during starvation and provide a rationale for targeting PPK to sensitize bacteria towards polymyxin treatment. We further anticipate that our proteomics work will provide an important resource for researchers interested in the diverse pathways impacted by PPK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanchi Baijal
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Iryna Abramchuk
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carmen M. Herrera
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - M. Stephen Trent
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Mathieu Lavallée-Adam
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Downey
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Milani G, Belloso Daza MV, Cortimiglia C, Bassi D, Cocconcelli PS. Genome engineering of Stx1-and Stx2-converting bacteriophages unveils the virulence of the dairy isolate Escherichia coli O174:H2 strain UC4224. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1156375. [PMID: 37426006 PMCID: PMC10326431 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1156375] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade witnessed the emergence in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections linked to the consumption of unpasteurized milk and raw milk cheese. The virulence of STEC is primarily attributed to the presence of Shiga toxin genes (stx1 and stx2) carried by Stx-converting bacteriophages, along with the intimin gene eae. Most of the available information pertains to the "Top 7" serotypes associated with STEC infections. The objectives of this study were to characterize and investigate the pathogenicity potential of E. coli UC4224, a STEC O174:H2 strain isolated from semi-hard raw milk cheese and to develop surrogate strains with reduced virulence for use in food-related studies. Complete genome sequence analysis of E. coli UC4224 unveiled the presence of a Stx1a bacteriophage, a Stx2a bacteriophage, the Locus of Adhesion and Autoaggregation (LAA) pathogenicity island, plasmid-encoded virulence genes, and other colonization facilitators. In the Galleria mellonella animal model, E. coli UC4224 demonstrated high pathogenicity potential with an LD50 of 6 CFU/10 μL. Upon engineering E. coli UC4224 to generate single and double mutant derivatives by inactivating stx1a and/or stx2a genes, the LD50 increased by approximately 1 Log-dose in the single mutants and 2 Log-doses in the double mutants. However, infectivity was not completely abolished, suggesting the involvement of other virulence factors contributing to the pathogenicity of STEC O174:H2. Considering the possibility of raw milk cheese serving as a reservoir for STEC, cheesemaking model was developed to evaluate the survival of UC4224 and the adequacy of the respective mutants as reduced-virulence surrogates. All tested strains exhibited the ability to survive the curd cooking step at 48°C and multiplied (3.4 Log CFU) in cheese within the subsequent 24 h. These findings indicate that genomic engineering did not exert any unintended effect on the double stx1-stx2 mutant behaviour, making it as a suitable less-virulent surrogate for conducting studies during food processing.
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23
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Frantz R, Gwozdzinski K, Gisch N, Doijad SP, Hudel M, Wille M, Abu Mraheil M, Schwudke D, Imirzalioglu C, Falgenhauer L, Ehrmann M, Chakraborty T. A Single Residue within the MCR-1 Protein Confers Anticipatory Resilience. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0359222. [PMID: 37071007 PMCID: PMC10269488 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03592-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The envelope stress response (ESR) of Gram-negative enteric bacteria senses fluctuations in nutrient availability and environmental changes to avert damage and promote survival. It has a protective role toward antimicrobials, but direct interactions between ESR components and antibiotic resistance genes have not been demonstrated. Here, we report interactions between a central regulator of ESR viz., the two-component signal transduction system CpxRA (conjugative pilus expression), and the recently described mobile colistin resistance protein (MCR-1). Purified MCR-1 is specifically cleaved within its highly conserved periplasmic bridge element, which links its N-terminal transmembrane domain with the C-terminal active-site periplasmic domain, by the CpxRA-regulated serine endoprotease DegP. Recombinant strains harboring cleavage site mutations in MCR-1 are either protease resistant or degradation susceptible, with widely differing consequences for colistin resistance. Transfer of the gene encoding a degradation-susceptible mutant to strains that lack either DegP or its regulator CpxRA restores expression and colistin resistance. MCR-1 production in Escherichia coli imposes growth restriction in strains lacking either DegP or CpxRA, effects that are reversed by transactive expression of DegP. Excipient allosteric activation of the DegP protease specifically inhibits growth of isolates carrying mcr-1 plasmids. As CpxRA directly senses acidification, growth of strains at moderately low pH dramatically increases both MCR-1-dependent phosphoethanolamine (PEA) modification of lipid A and colistin resistance levels. Strains expressing MCR-1 are also more resistant to antimicrobial peptides and bile acids. Thus, a single residue external to its active site induces ESR activity to confer resilience in MCR-1-expressing strains to commonly encountered environmental stimuli, such as changes in acidity and antimicrobial peptides. Targeted activation of the nonessential protease DegP can lead to the elimination of transferable colistin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. IMPORTANCE The global presence of transferable mcr genes in a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria from clinical, veterinary, food, and aquaculture environments is disconcerting. Its success as a transmissible resistance factor remains enigmatic, because its expression imposes fitness costs and imparts only moderate levels of colistin resistance. Here, we show that MCR-1 triggers regulatory components of the envelope stress response, a system that senses fluctuations in nutrient availability and environmental changes, to promote bacterial survival in low pH environments. We identify a single residue within a highly conserved structural element of mcr-1 distal to its catalytic site that modulates resistance activity and triggers the ESR. Using mutational analysis, quantitative lipid A profiling and biochemical assays, we determined that growth in low pH environments dramatically increases colistin resistance levels and promotes resistance to bile acids and antimicrobial peptides. We exploited these findings to develop a targeted approach that eliminates mcr-1 and its plasmid carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renate Frantz
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site: Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Konrad Gwozdzinski
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site: Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Gisch
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Swapnil Prakash Doijad
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site: Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martina Hudel
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Maria Wille
- Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Mobarak Abu Mraheil
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dominik Schwudke
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site: Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Borstel, Germany
- Airway Research Center North, Partner Site: Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
| | - Can Imirzalioglu
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Hessian University Competence Center for Hospital Hygiene, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site: Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Linda Falgenhauer
- Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Hessian University Competence Center for Hospital Hygiene, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site: Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Michael Ehrmann
- Center of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Trinad Chakraborty
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Hessian University Competence Center for Hospital Hygiene, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site: Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Giessen, Germany
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24
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Muche S, El-Fenej J, Mihaita A, Mrozek Z, Cleary S, Critelli B, Marino M, Yu W, Amos B, Hunter T, Riga M, Buerkert T, Bhatt S. The two sRNAs OmrA and OmrB indirectly repress transcription from the LEE1 promoter of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2023; 68:415-430. [PMID: 36547806 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-022-01025-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a diarrheagenic bacterium that predominantly infects infants in developing countries. EPEC forms attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on the apical surface of the small intestine, leading to diarrhea. The locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) is both necessary and sufficient for A/E lesion morphogenesis by EPEC. Gene expression from this virulence determinant is controlled by an elaborate regulatory web that extends beyond protein-based transcriptional regulators and includes small regulatory RNA (sRNA) that exert their effects posttranscriptionally. To date, only 4 Hfq-dependent sRNAs-MgrR, RyhB, McaS, and Spot42-have been identified that affect the LEE of EPEC by diverse mechanisms and elicit varying regulatory outcomes. In this study, we demonstrate that the paralogous Hfq-dependent sRNAs OmrA and OmrB globally silence the LEE to diminish the ability of EPEC to form A/E lesions. Interestingly, OmrA and OmrB do not appear to directly target a LEE-encoded gene; rather, they repress transcription from the LEE1 promoter indirectly, by means of an as-yet-unidentified transcriptional factor that binds within 200 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site to reduce the expression of the LEE master regulator Ler, which, in turn, leads to reduced morphogenesis of A/E lesions. Additionally, OmrA and OmrB also repress motility in EPEC by targeting the 5' UTR of the flagellar master regulator, flhD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Muche
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Jihad El-Fenej
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation and Department of Pathology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Alexa Mihaita
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Zoe Mrozek
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Sean Cleary
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 4170 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Brian Critelli
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Mary Marino
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Wenlan Yu
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Brianna Amos
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Tressa Hunter
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Michael Riga
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Thomas Buerkert
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Shantanu Bhatt
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA.
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25
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Verma SC, Harned A, Narayan K, Adhya S. Non-specific and specific DNA binding modes of bacterial histone, HU, separately regulate distinct physiological processes through different mechanisms. Mol Microbiol 2023; 119:439-455. [PMID: 36708073 PMCID: PMC10120378 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The histone-like protein HU plays a diverse role in bacterial physiology from the maintenance of chromosome structure to the regulation of gene transcription. HU binds DNA in a sequence-non-specific manner via two distinct binding modes: (i) random binding to any DNA through ionic bonds between surface-exposed lysine residues (K3, K18, and K83) and phosphate backbone (non-specific); (ii) preferential binding to contorted DNA of given structures containing a pair of kinks (structure-specific) through conserved proline residues (P63) that induce and/or stabilize the kinks. First, we show here that the P63-mediated structure-specific binding also requires the three lysine residues, which are needed for a non-specific binding. Second, we demonstrate that substituting P63 to alanine in HU had no impact on non-specific binding but caused differential transcription of diverse genes previously shown to be regulated by HU, such as those associated with the organonitrogen compound biosynthetic process, galactose metabolism, ribosome biogenesis, and cell adhesion. The structure-specific binding also helps create DNA supercoiling, which, in turn, may influence directly or indirectly the transcription of other genes. Our previous and current studies show that non-specific and structure-specific HU binding appear to have separate functions- nucleoid architecture and transcription regulation- which may be true in other DNA-binding proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash C Verma
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Adam Harned
- Center for Molecular Microscopy, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Kedar Narayan
- Center for Molecular Microscopy, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Sankar Adhya
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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26
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Bruna RE, Kendra CG, Pontes MH. An intracellular phosphorus-starvation signal activates the PhoB/PhoR two-component system in Salmonella enterica. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.23.533958. [PMID: 36993483 PMCID: PMC10055408 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.23.533958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria acquire P primarily as inorganic orthophosphate (Pi, PO43-). Once internalized, Pi is rapidly assimilated into biomass during the synthesis of ATP. Because Pi is essential, but excessive ATP is toxic, the acquisition of environmental Pi is tightly regulated. In the bacterium Salmonella enterica (Salmonella), growth in Pi-limiting environments activates the membrane sensor histidine kinase PhoR, leading to the phosphorylation of its cognate transcriptional regulator PhoB and subsequent transcription of genes involved in adaptations to low Pi. Pi limitation is thought to promote PhoR kinase activity by altering the conformation of a membrane signaling complex comprised by PhoR, the multicomponent Pi transporter system PstSACB and the regulatory protein PhoU. However, the identity of the low Pi signal and how it controls PhoR activity remain unknown. Here we characterize the PhoB-dependent and independent transcriptional changes elicited by Salmonella in response to P starvation, and identify PhoB-independent genes that are required for the utilization of several organic-P sources. We use this knowledge to identify the cellular compartment where the PhoR signaling complex senses the Pi-limiting signal. We demonstrate that the PhoB and PhoR signal transduction proteins can be maintained in an inactive state even when Salmonella is grown in media lacking Pi. Our results establish that PhoR activity is controlled by an intracellular signal resulting from P insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto E. Bruna
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United States of America
| | - Christopher G. Kendra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United States of America
| | - Mauricio H. Pontes
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United States of America
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27
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Antypas H, Zhang T, Choong FX, Melican K, Richter-Dahlfors A. Dynamic single cell analysis in a proximal-tubule-on-chip reveals heterogeneous epithelial colonization strategies of uropathogenic Escherichia coli under shear stress. FEMS MICROBES 2023; 4:xtad007. [PMID: 37333433 PMCID: PMC10117878 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtad007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The urinary tract is a hydrodynamically challenging microenvironment and uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) must overcome several physiological challenges in order to adhere and establish a urinary tract infection. Our previous work in vivo revealed a synergy between different UPEC adhesion organelles, which facilitated effective colonization of the renal proximal tubule. To allow high-resolution real-time analysis of this colonization behavior, we established a biomimetic proximal-tubule-on-chip (PToC). The PToC allowed for single-cell resolution analysis of the first stages of bacterial interaction with host epithelial cells, under physiological flow. Time-lapse microscopy and single-cell trajectory analysis in the PToC revealed that while the majority of UPEC moved directly through the system, a minority population initiated heterogeneous adhesion, identified as either rolling or bound. Adhesion was predominantly transient and mediated by P pili at the earliest time-points. These bound bacteria initiated a founder population which rapidly divided, leading to 3D microcolonies. Within the first hours, the microcolonies did not express extracellular curli matrix, but rather were dependent on Type 1 fimbriae as the key element in the microcolony structure. Collectively, our results show the application of Organ-on-chip technology to address bacterial adhesion behaviors, demonstrating a well-orchestrated interplay and redundancy between adhesion organelles that enables UPEC to form microcolonies and persist under physiological shear stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haris Antypas
- AIMES – Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tianqi Zhang
- AIMES – Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ferdinand X Choong
- AIMES – Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Keira Melican
- AIMES – Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Agneta Richter-Dahlfors
- AIMES – Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
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28
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Zeng X, Hinenoya A, Guan Z, Xu F, Lin J. Critical role of the RpoE stress response pathway in polymyxin resistance of Escherichia coli. J Antimicrob Chemother 2023; 78:732-746. [PMID: 36658759 PMCID: PMC10396327 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Polymyxins, including colistin, are the drugs of last resort to treat MDR bacterial infections in humans. In-depth understanding of the molecular basis and regulation of polymyxin resistance would provide new therapeutic opportunities to combat increasing polymyxin resistance. Here we aimed to identify novel targets that are crucial for polymyxin resistance using Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), a unique colistin-resistant model strain. METHODS BL21(DE3) was subjected to random transposon mutagenesis for screening colistin-susceptible mutants. The insertion sites of desired mutants were mapped; the key genes of interest were also inactivated in different strains to examine functional conservation. Specific genes in the known PmrAB and PhoPQ regulatory network were inactivated to examine crosstalk among different pathways. Lipid A species and membrane phospholipids were analysed by normal phase LC/MS. RESULTS Among eight mutants with increased susceptibility to colistin, five mutants contained different mutations in three genes (rseP, degS and surA) that belong to the RpoE stress response pathway. Inactivation of rpoE, pmrB, eptA or pmrD led to significantly increased susceptibility to colistin; however, inactivation of phoQ or eptB did not change colistin MIC. RpoE mutation in different E. coli and Salmonella resistant strains all led to significant reduction in colistin MIC (16-32-fold). Inactivation of rpoE did not change the lipid A profile but significantly altered the phospholipid profile. CONCLUSIONS Inactivation of the important members of the RpoE regulon in polymyxin-resistant strains led to a drastic reduction in polymyxin MIC and an increase of lysophospholipids with no change in lipid A modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximin Zeng
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Atsushi Hinenoya
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ziqiang Guan
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Fuzhou Xu
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Lin
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
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29
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Laboratory evolution reveals general and specific tolerance mechanisms for commodity chemicals. Metab Eng 2023; 76:179-192. [PMID: 36738854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Although strain tolerance to high product concentrations is a barrier to the economically viable biomanufacturing of industrial chemicals, chemical tolerance mechanisms are often unknown. To reveal tolerance mechanisms, an automated platform was utilized to evolve Escherichia coli to grow optimally in the presence of 11 industrial chemicals (1,2-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, glutarate, adipate, putrescine, hexamethylenediamine, butanol, isobutyrate, coumarate, octanoate, hexanoate), reaching tolerance at concentrations 60%-400% higher than initial toxic levels. Sequencing genomes of 223 isolates from 89 populations, reverse engineering, and cross-compound tolerance profiling were employed to uncover tolerance mechanisms. We show that: 1) cells are tolerized via frequent mutation of membrane transporters or cell wall-associated proteins (e.g., ProV, KgtP, SapB, NagA, NagC, MreB), transcription and translation machineries (e.g., RpoA, RpoB, RpoC, RpsA, RpsG, NusA, Rho), stress signaling proteins (e.g., RelA, SspA, SpoT, YobF), and for certain chemicals, regulators and enzymes in metabolism (e.g., MetJ, NadR, GudD, PurT); 2) osmotic stress plays a significant role in tolerance when chemical concentrations exceed a general threshold and mutated genes frequently overlap with those enabling chemical tolerance in membrane transporters and cell wall-associated proteins; 3) tolerization to a specific chemical generally improves tolerance to structurally similar compounds whereas a tradeoff can occur on dissimilar chemicals, and 4) using pre-tolerized starting isolates can hugely enhance the subsequent production of chemicals when a production pathway is inserted in many, but not all, evolved tolerized host strains, underpinning the need for evolving multiple parallel populations. Taken as a whole, this study provides a comprehensive genotype-phenotype map based on identified mutations and growth phenotypes for 223 chemical tolerant isolates.
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30
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Park J, Lee SM, Ebrahim A, Scott-Nevros Z, Kim J, Yang L, Sastry A, Seo S, Palsson BO, Kim D. Model-driven experimental design workflow expands understanding of regulatory role of Nac in Escherichia coli. NAR Genom Bioinform 2023; 5:lqad006. [PMID: 36685725 PMCID: PMC9853098 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqad006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The establishment of experimental conditions for transcriptional regulator network (TRN) reconstruction in bacteria continues to be impeded by the limited knowledge of activating conditions for transcription factors (TFs). Here, we present a novel genome-scale model-driven workflow for designing experimental conditions, which optimally activate specific TFs. Our model-driven workflow was applied to elucidate transcriptional regulation under nitrogen limitation by Nac and NtrC, in Escherichia coli. We comprehensively predict alternative nitrogen sources, including cytosine and cytidine, which trigger differential activation of Nac using a model-driven workflow. In accordance with the prediction, genome-wide measurements with ChIP-exo and RNA-seq were performed. Integrative data analysis reveals that the Nac and NtrC regulons consist of 97 and 43 genes under alternative nitrogen conditions, respectively. Functional analysis of Nac at the transcriptional level showed that Nac directly down-regulates amino acid biosynthesis and restores expression of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle genes to alleviate nitrogen-limiting stress. We also demonstrate that both TFs coherently modulate α-ketoglutarate accumulation stress due to nitrogen limitation by co-activating amino acid and diamine degradation pathways. A systems-biology approach provided a detailed and quantitative understanding of both TF's roles and how nitrogen and carbon metabolic networks respond complementarily to nitrogen-limiting stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Young Park
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Mok Lee
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Ali Ebrahim
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Zoe K Scott-Nevros
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehyung Kim
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Laurence Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Anand Sastry
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sang Woo Seo
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, and Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Danish Technical University, 6 Kogle Alle, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Donghyuk Kim
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
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31
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Thomason LC, Costantino N, Li X, Court DL. Recombineering: Genetic Engineering in Escherichia coli Using Homologous Recombination. Curr Protoc 2023; 3:e656. [PMID: 36779782 PMCID: PMC10037674 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial chromosome and bacterial plasmids can be engineered in vivo by homologous recombination using either PCR products or synthetic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) or single-stranded DNA as substrates. Multiple linear dsDNA molecules can be assembled into an intact plasmid. The technology of recombineering is possible because bacteriophage-encoded recombination proteins efficiently recombine sequences with homologies as short as 35 to 50 bases. Recombineering allows DNA sequences to be inserted or deleted without regard to the location of restriction sites and can also be used in combination with CRISPR/Cas targeting systems. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. Basic Protocol: Making electrocompetent cells and transforming with linear DNA Support Protocol 1: Selection/counter-selections for genome engineering Support Protocol 2: Creating and screening for oligo recombinants by PCR Support Protocol 3: Other methods of screening for unselected recombinants Support Protocol 4: Curing recombineering plasmids containing a temperature-sensitive replication function Support Protocol 5: Removal of the prophage by recombineering Alternate Protocol 1: Using CRISPR/Cas9 as a counter-selection following recombineering Alternate Protocol 2: Assembly of linear dsDNA fragments into functional plasmids Alternate Protocol 3: Retrieval of alleles onto a plasmid by gap repair Alternate Protocol 4: Modifying multicopy plasmids with recombineering Support Protocol 6: Screening for unselected plasmid recombinants Alternate Protocol 5: Recombineering with an intact λ prophage Alternate Protocol 6: Targeting an infecting λ phage with the defective prophage strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn C. Thomason
- Molecular Control and Genetics Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Nina Costantino
- formerly with Molecular Control and Genetics Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Xintian Li
- Armata Pharmaceuticals, 4503 Glencoe Avenue, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
| | - Donald L. Court
- Emeritus, Molecular Control and Genetics Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
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32
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Schastnaya E, Doubleday PF, Maurer L, Sauer U. Non-enzymatic acetylation inhibits glycolytic enzymes in Escherichia coli. Cell Rep 2023; 42:111950. [PMID: 36640332 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced mass spectrometry methods have detected thousands of post-translational phosphorylation and acetylation sites in bacteria, but their functional role and the enzymes catalyzing these modifications remain largely unknown. In addition to enzymatic acetylation, lysine residues can also be chemically acetylated by the metabolite acetyl phosphate. In Escherichia coli, acetylation at over 3,000 sites has been linked to acetyl phosphate, but the functionality of this widespread non-enzymatic acetylation is even less clear than the enzyme-catalyzed one. Here, we investigate the role of acetyl-phosphate-mediated acetylation in E. coli central metabolism. Out of 19 enzymes investigated, only GapA and GpmA are acetylated at high stoichiometry, which inhibits their activity by interfering with substrate binding, effectively reducing glycolysis when flux to or from acetate is high. Extrapolating our results to the whole proteome, maximally 10% of the reported non-enzymatically acetylated proteins are expected to reach a stoichiometry that could inhibit their activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniya Schastnaya
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich PhD Program on Systems Biology, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Luca Maurer
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Uwe Sauer
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
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33
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Hontani Y, Mehlhorn J, Domratcheva T, Beck S, Kloz M, Hegemann P, Mathes T, Kennis JTM. Spectroscopic and Computational Observation of Glutamine Tautomerization in the Blue Light Sensing Using Flavin Domain Photoreaction. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:1040-1052. [PMID: 36607126 PMCID: PMC9853863 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c10621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Blue light sensing using flavin (BLUF) domains constitute a family of flavin-binding photoreceptors of bacteria and eukaryotic algae. BLUF photoactivation proceeds via a light-driven hydrogen-bond switch among flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and glutamine and tyrosine side chains, whereby FAD undergoes electron and proton transfer with tyrosine and is subsequently re-oxidized by a hydrogen back-shuttle in picoseconds, constituting an important model system to understand proton-coupled electron transfer in biology. The specific structure of the hydrogen-bond patterns and the prevalence of glutamine tautomeric states in dark-adapted (DA) and light-activated (LA) states have remained controversial. Here, we present a combined femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS), computational chemistry, and site-selective isotope labeling Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study of the Slr1694 BLUF domain. FSRS showed distinct vibrational bands from the FADS1 singlet excited state. We observed small but significant shifts in the excited-state vibrational frequency patterns of the DA and LA states, indicating that these frequencies constitute a sensitive probe for the hydrogen-bond arrangement around FAD. Excited-state model calculations utilizing four different realizations of hydrogen bond patterns and glutamine tautomeric states were consistent with a BLUF reaction model that involved glutamine tautomerization to imidic acid, accompanied by a rotation of its side chain. A combined FTIR and double-isotope labeling study, with 13C labeling of FAD and 15N labeling of glutamine, identified the glutamine imidic acid C═N stretch vibration in the LA state and the Gln C═O in the DA state. Hence, our study provides support for glutamine tautomerization and side-chain rotation in the BLUF photoreaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusaku Hontani
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Mehlhorn
- Institut
für Biologie, Experimentelle Biophysik, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tatiana Domratcheva
- Department
of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany,Department
of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sebastian Beck
- Department
of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str.
2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Miroslav Kloz
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, The Netherlands,Institute
of Physics, ELI-Beamlines, Na Slovance 2, 182
21 Praha 8, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Institut
für Biologie, Experimentelle Biophysik, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tilo Mathes
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, The Netherlands,Institut
für Biologie, Experimentelle Biophysik, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - John T. M. Kennis
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, The Netherlands,
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34
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Khozov AA, Bubnov DM, Plisov ED, Vybornaya TV, Yuzbashev TV, Agrimi G, Messina E, Stepanova AA, Kudina MD, Alekseeva NV, Netrusov AI, Sineoky SP. A study on L-threonine and L-serine uptake in Escherichia coli K-12. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1151716. [PMID: 37025642 PMCID: PMC10070963 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1151716] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current study, we report the identification and characterization of the yifK gene product as a novel amino acid carrier in E. coli K-12 cells. Both phenotypic and biochemical analyses showed that YifK acts as a permease specific to L-threonine and, to a lesser extent, L-serine. An assay of the effect of uncouplers and composition of the reaction medium on the transport activity indicates that YifK utilizes a proton motive force to energize substrate uptake. To identify the remaining threonine carriers, we screened a genomic library prepared from the yifK-mutant strain and found that brnQ acts as a multicopy suppressor of the threonine transport defect caused by yifK disruption. Our results indicate that BrnQ is directly involved in threonine uptake as a low-affinity but high-flux transporter, which forms the main entry point when the threonine concentration in the external environment reaches a toxic level. By abolishing YifK and BrnQ activity, we unmasked and quantified the threonine transport activity of the LIV-I branched chain amino acid transport system and demonstrated that LIV-I contributes significantly to total threonine uptake. However, this contribution is likely smaller than that of YifK. We also observed the serine transport activity of LIV-I, which was much lower compared with that of the dedicated SdaC carrier, indicating that LIV-I plays a minor role in the serine uptake. Overall, these findings allow us to propose a comprehensive model of the threonine/serine uptake subsystem in E. coli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A. Khozov
- Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitrii M. Bubnov
- Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Dmitrii M. Bubnov,
| | - Eugeny D. Plisov
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana V. Vybornaya
- Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tigran V. Yuzbashev
- Plant Sciences and the Bioeconomy, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Gennaro Agrimi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Eugenia Messina
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Agnessa A. Stepanova
- Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, Russia
- Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim D. Kudina
- Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V. Alekseeva
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander I. Netrusov
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey P. Sineoky
- Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, Russia
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35
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Abstract
The technology of recombineering, in vivo genetic engineering, was initially developed in Escherichia coli and uses bacteriophage-encoded homologous recombination proteins to efficiently recombine DNA at short homologies (35 to 50 nt). Because the technology is homology driven, genomic DNA can be modified precisely and independently of restriction site location. Recombineering uses linear DNA substrates that are introduced into the cell by electroporation; these can be PCR products, synthetic double-strand DNA (dsDNA), or single-strand DNA (ssDNA). Here we describe the applications, challenges, and factors affecting ssDNA and dsDNA recombineering in a variety of non-model bacteria, both Gram-negative and -positive, and recent breakthroughs in the field. We list different microbes in which the widely used phage λ Red and Rac RecET recombination systems have been used for in vivo genetic engineering. New homologous ssDNA and dsDNA recombineering systems isolated from non-model bacteria are also described. The Basic Protocol outlines a method for ssDNA recombineering in the non-model species of Shewanella. The Alternate Protocol describes the use of CRISPR/Cas as a counter-selection system in conjunction with recombineering to enhance recovery of recombinants. We provide additional background information, pertinent considerations for experimental design, and parameters critical for success. The design of ssDNA oligonucleotides (oligos) and various internet-based tools for oligo selection from genome sequences are also described, as is the use of oligo-mediated recombination. This simple form of genome editing uses only ssDNA oligo(s) and does not require an exogenous recombination system. The information presented here should help researchers identify a recombineering system suitable for their microbe(s) of interest. If no system has been characterized for a specific microbe, researchers can find guidance in developing a recombineering system from scratch. We provide a flowchart of decision-making paths for strategically applying annealase-dependent or oligo-mediated recombination in non-model and undomesticated bacteria. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. Basic Protocol: ssDNA recombineering in Shewanella species Alternate Protocol: ssDNA recombineering coupled to CRISPR/Cas9 in Shewanella species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Corts
- Cultivarium, 490 Arsenal Way, Ste 110, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472
| | - Lynn C. Thomason
- Molecular Control and Genetics Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702
| | - Nina Costantino
- Molecular Control and Genetics Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702
| | - Donald L. Court
- Emeritus, Molecular Control and Genetics Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702
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36
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Atkinson JT, Su L, Zhang X, Bennett GN, Silberg JJ, Ajo-Franklin CM. Real-time bioelectronic sensing of environmental contaminants. Nature 2022; 611:548-553. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05356-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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37
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Metabolic and Morphotypic Trade-Offs within the Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics of Escherichia coli. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0067822. [PMID: 36169422 PMCID: PMC9602443 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00678-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli arbitrarily encompasses facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria with defined respiratory and fermentative types of metabolism. The species diversification has been further advanced by atypical strains whose features deviate from the essential species-specific morphological and metabolic cutoff. The morphological cutoff is exemplified by bacterial filamentation. E. coli filamentation has been studied from two different perspectives: the first considers filamentation as a result of adaptive strategies and response to stress, while the second is based on findings from the cell division of E. coli's conditional mutants. Another cutoff is represented by E. coli's inability to use citrate as a sole carbon and energy source. In this study, we compared two atypical E. coli strains that belong to the same neuroinvasive ecovar but exhibit either of the two phenotypes that deviate from the species' features. While E. coli RS218 exists in the form of filaments incapable of growth on citrate, strain IHE3034 is represented as normal-sized bacteria able to ferment citrate under oxic conditions in the presence of glucose; in this paper, we show that these two phenotypes result from a bona fide trade-off. With the help of comparative proteomics and metabolomics, we discovered the proteome required for the upkeep of these phenotypes. The metabolic profiles of both strains reveal that under aerobic conditions, RS218 undergoes oxidative metabolism, while IHE3034 undergoes anaerobic respiration. Finally, we show that the use of citrate and filament formation are both linked in a trade-off occurring via a c-di-GMP-dependent phase variation event. IMPORTANCE Aerobic use of citrate and filamentous growth are arbitrary cutoffs for the Escherichia coli species. The strains that exhibit them as stable phenotypes are called atypical. In this study, we compare two atypical neuroinvasive E. coli strains, which alternatively display either of these phenotypes. We present the proteome and metabolome required for the maintenance of filamentous growth and show that anaerobic nitrate respiration is the main requirement for the use of citrate. The fact that the two phenotypes are differentially expressed by each strain prompted us to check if they are part of a trade-off. Indeed, these atypical characters are reversible and result from a c-di-GMP phase variation event. Thus, we revealed hidden links between stable morphological and metabolic phenotypes and provided information about alternative evolutionary pathways for the survival of E. coli strains in various host niches.
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38
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Gupta M, Wong M, Jawed K, Gedeon K, Barrett H, Bassalo M, Morrison C, Eqbal D, Yazdani SS, Gill RT, Huang J, Douaisi M, Dordick J, Belfort G, Koffas MA. Isobutanol production by combined in vivo and in vitro metabolic engineering. Metab Eng Commun 2022; 15:e00210. [PMID: 36325486 PMCID: PMC9619177 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2022.e00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of the biofuel, isobutanol, in E. coli faces limitations due to alcohol toxicity, product inhibition, product recovery, and long-term industrial feasibility. Here we demonstrate an approach of combining both in vivo with in vitro metabolic engineering to produce isobutanol. The in vivo production of α-ketoisovalerate (KIV) was conducted through CRISPR mediated integration of the KIV pathway in bicistronic design (BCD) in E. coli and inhibition of competitive valine pathway using CRISPRi technology. The subsequent in vitro conversion to isobutanol was carried out with engineered enzymes for 2-ketoacid decarboxylase (KIVD) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). For the in vivo production of KIV and subsequent in vitro production of isobutanol, this two-step serial approach resulted in yields of 56% and 93%, productivities of 0.62 and 0.074 g L-1 h-1, and titers of 5.6 and 1.78 g L-1, respectively. Thus, this combined biosynthetic system can be used as a modular approach for producing important metabolites, like isobutanol, without the limitations associated with in vivo production using a consolidated bioprocess.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamta Gupta
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA,Department of Botany and Environmental Studies, DAV University, Jalandhar, 144 001, Punjab, India
| | - Matthew Wong
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA,Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Kamran Jawed
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA,DBT-ICGEB Advanced Bioenergy Research, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Kamil Gedeon
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Hannah Barrett
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Marcelo Bassalo
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Clifford Morrison
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Danish Eqbal
- DBT-ICGEB Advanced Bioenergy Research, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Syed Shams Yazdani
- DBT-ICGEB Advanced Bioenergy Research, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Ryan T. Gill
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Marc Douaisi
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Jonathan Dordick
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA,Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Georges Belfort
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA,Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Mattheos A.G. Koffas
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA,Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA,Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA,Corresponding author. Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
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39
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Köbel T, Melo Palhares R, Fromm C, Szymanski W, Angelidou G, Glatter T, Georg J, Berghoff BA, Schindler D. An Easy-to-Use Plasmid Toolset for Efficient Generation and Benchmarking of Synthetic Small RNAs in Bacteria. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2989-3003. [PMID: 36044590 PMCID: PMC9486967 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology approaches life from the perspective of an engineer. Standardized and de novo design of genetic parts to subsequently build reproducible and controllable modules, for example, for circuit design, is a key element. To achieve this, natural systems and elements often serve as a blueprint for researchers. Regulation of protein abundance is controlled at DNA, mRNA, and protein levels. Many tools for the activation or repression of transcription or the destabilization of proteins are available, but easy-to-handle minimal regulatory elements on the mRNA level are preferable when translation needs to be modulated. Regulatory RNAs contribute considerably to regulatory networks in all domains of life. In particular, bacteria use small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) to regulate mRNA translation. Slowly, sRNAs are attracting the interest of using them for broad applications in synthetic biology. Here, we promote a "plug and play" plasmid toolset to quickly and efficiently create synthetic sRNAs to study sRNA biology or their application in bacteria. We propose a simple benchmarking assay by targeting the acrA gene of Escherichia coli and rendering cells sensitive toward the β-lactam antibiotic oxacillin. We further highlight that it may be necessary to test multiple seed regions and sRNA scaffolds to achieve the desired regulatory effect. The described plasmid toolset allows quick construction and testing of various synthetic sRNAs based on the user's needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania
S. Köbel
- RG
Schindler, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial
Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Street
10, 35043 Marburg, Germany,MaxGENESYS
Biofoundry, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial
Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Street
10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Rafael Melo Palhares
- RG
Schindler, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial
Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Street
10, 35043 Marburg, Germany,Institute
for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Christin Fromm
- Institute
for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Witold Szymanski
- Mass
Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Street 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Georgia Angelidou
- Mass
Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Street 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Timo Glatter
- Mass
Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Street 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jens Georg
- Institut
für Biologie III, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität
Freiburg, Schänzlestraße
1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bork A. Berghoff
- Institute
for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany,
| | - Daniel Schindler
- RG
Schindler, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial
Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Street
10, 35043 Marburg, Germany,MaxGENESYS
Biofoundry, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial
Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Street
10, 35043 Marburg, Germany,
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40
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Angermayr SA, Pang TY, Chevereau G, Mitosch K, Lercher MJ, Bollenbach T. Growth-mediated negative feedback shapes quantitative antibiotic response. Mol Syst Biol 2022; 18:e10490. [PMID: 36124745 PMCID: PMC9486506 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202110490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dose–response relationships are a general concept for quantitatively describing biological systems across multiple scales, from the molecular to the whole‐cell level. A clinically relevant example is the bacterial growth response to antibiotics, which is routinely characterized by dose–response curves. The shape of the dose–response curve varies drastically between antibiotics and plays a key role in treatment, drug interactions, and resistance evolution. However, the mechanisms shaping the dose–response curve remain largely unclear. Here, we show in Escherichia coli that the distinctively shallow dose–response curve of the antibiotic trimethoprim is caused by a negative growth‐mediated feedback loop: Trimethoprim slows growth, which in turn weakens the effect of this antibiotic. At the molecular level, this feedback is caused by the upregulation of the drug target dihydrofolate reductase (FolA/DHFR). We show that this upregulation is not a specific response to trimethoprim but follows a universal trend line that depends primarily on the growth rate, irrespective of its cause. Rewiring the feedback loop alters the dose–response curve in a predictable manner, which we corroborate using a mathematical model of cellular resource allocation and growth. Our results indicate that growth‐mediated feedback loops may shape drug responses more generally and could be exploited to design evolutionary traps that enable selection against drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Andreas Angermayr
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Tin Yau Pang
- Institute for Computer Science, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Karin Mitosch
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria.,Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin J Lercher
- Institute for Computer Science, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tobias Bollenbach
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Data and Simulation Science, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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41
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Bobonis J, Mitosch K, Mateus A, Karcher N, Kritikos G, Selkrig J, Zietek M, Monzon V, Pfalz B, Garcia-Santamarina S, Galardini M, Sueki A, Kobayashi C, Stein F, Bateman A, Zeller G, Savitski MM, Elfenbein JR, Andrews-Polymenis HL, Typas A. Bacterial retrons encode phage-defending tripartite toxin-antitoxin systems. Nature 2022; 609:144-150. [PMID: 35850148 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05091-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Retrons are prokaryotic genetic retroelements encoding a reverse transcriptase that produces multi-copy single-stranded DNA1 (msDNA). Despite decades of research on the biosynthesis of msDNA2, the function and physiological roles of retrons have remained unknown. Here we show that Retron-Sen2 of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium encodes an accessory toxin protein, STM14_4640, which we renamed as RcaT. RcaT is neutralized by the reverse transcriptase-msDNA antitoxin complex, and becomes active upon perturbation of msDNA biosynthesis. The reverse transcriptase is required for binding to RcaT, and the msDNA is required for the antitoxin activity. The highly prevalent RcaT-containing retron family constitutes a new type of tripartite DNA-containing toxin-antitoxin system. To understand the physiological roles of such toxin-antitoxin systems, we developed toxin activation-inhibition conjugation (TAC-TIC), a high-throughput reverse genetics approach that identifies the molecular triggers and blockers of toxin-antitoxin systems. By applying TAC-TIC to Retron-Sen2, we identified multiple trigger and blocker proteins of phage origin. We demonstrate that phage-related triggers directly modify the msDNA, thereby activating RcaT and inhibiting bacterial growth. By contrast, prophage proteins circumvent retrons by directly blocking RcaT. Consistently, retron toxin-antitoxin systems act as abortive infection anti-phage defence systems, in line with recent reports3,4. Thus, RcaT retrons are tripartite DNA-regulated toxin-antitoxin systems, which use the reverse transcriptase-msDNA complex both as an antitoxin and as a sensor of phage protein activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Bobonis
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Collaboration for joint PhD degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karin Mitosch
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - André Mateus
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nicolai Karcher
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - George Kritikos
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joel Selkrig
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matylda Zietek
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vivian Monzon
- European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hinxton, UK
| | - Birgit Pfalz
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sarela Garcia-Santamarina
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology António Xavier, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Marco Galardini
- Institute for Molecular Bacteriology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Sueki
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Callie Kobayashi
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Frank Stein
- Proteomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alex Bateman
- European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hinxton, UK
| | - Georg Zeller
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mikhail M Savitski
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Proteomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johanna R Elfenbein
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | | | - Athanasios Typas
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
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42
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Sathesh-Prabu C, Tiwari R, Lee SK. Substrate-inducible and antibiotic-free high-level 4-hydroxyvaleric acid production in engineered Escherichia coli. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:960907. [PMID: 36017349 PMCID: PMC9398171 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.960907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we developed a levulinic acid (LA)-inducible and antibiotic-free plasmid system mediated by HpdR/PhpdH and infA-complementation to produce 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (4-HV) from LA in an engineered Escherichia coli strain. The system was efficiently induced by the addition of the LA substrate and resulted in tight dose-dependent control and fine-tuning of gene expression. By engineering the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of hpdR mRNA, the gene expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) increased by at least two-fold under the hpdH promoter. Furthermore, by evaluating the robustness and plasmid stability of the proposed system, the engineered strain, IRV750f, expressing the engineered 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (3HBDH∗) and formate dehydrogenase (CbFDH), produced 82 g/L of 4-HV from LA, with a productivity of 3.4 g/L/h and molar conversion of 92% in the fed-batch cultivation (5 L fermenter) without the addition of antibiotics or external inducers. Overall, the reported system was highly beneficial for the large-scale and cost-effective microbial production of value-added products and bulk chemicals from the renewable substrate, LA.
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43
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Bubnov DM, Yuzbashev TV, Khozov AA, Melkina OE, Vybornaya TV, Stan GB, Sineoky SP. Robust counterselection and advanced λRed recombineering enable markerless chromosomal integration of large heterologous constructs. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8947-8960. [PMID: 35920321 PMCID: PMC9410887 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in bacterial genome engineering, delivery of large synthetic constructs remains challenging in practice. In this study, we propose a straightforward and robust approach for the markerless integration of DNA fragments encoding whole metabolic pathways into the genome. This approach relies on the replacement of a counterselection marker with cargo DNA cassettes via λRed recombineering. We employed a counterselection strategy involving a genetic circuit based on the CI repressor of λ phage. Our design ensures elimination of most spontaneous mutants, and thus provides a counterselection stringency close to the maximum possible. We improved the efficiency of integrating long PCR-generated cassettes by exploiting the Ocr antirestriction function of T7 phage, which completely prevents degradation of unmethylated DNA by restriction endonucleases in wild-type bacteria. The employment of highly restrictive counterselection and ocr-assisted λRed recombineering allowed markerless integration of operon-sized cassettes into arbitrary genomic loci of four enterobacterial species with an efficiency of 50–100%. In the case of Escherichia coli, our strategy ensures simple combination of markerless mutations in a single strain via P1 transduction. Overall, the proposed approach can serve as a general tool for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering in a range of bacterial hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii M Bubnov
- Bioresource Center Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (BRC VKPM), State Research Institute for Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms of National Research Center 'Kurchatov Institute' (NRC 'Kurchatov Institute' - GosNIIgenetika), 1-st Dorozhny pr., 1, Moscow 117545, Russia.,Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC 'Kurchatov Institute', Kurchatov Square, 1, Moscow 123098, Russia
| | - Tigran V Yuzbashev
- Department of Bioengineering and Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Andrey A Khozov
- Bioresource Center Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (BRC VKPM), State Research Institute for Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms of National Research Center 'Kurchatov Institute' (NRC 'Kurchatov Institute' - GosNIIgenetika), 1-st Dorozhny pr., 1, Moscow 117545, Russia.,Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC 'Kurchatov Institute', Kurchatov Square, 1, Moscow 123098, Russia.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lenin's Hills 1-12, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Olga E Melkina
- Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC 'Kurchatov Institute', Kurchatov Square, 1, Moscow 123098, Russia.,Laboratory of Bacterial Genetics, NRC 'Kurchatov Institute' - GosNIIgenetika, 1-st Dorozhny pr., 1, Moscow 117545, Russia
| | - Tatiana V Vybornaya
- Bioresource Center Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (BRC VKPM), State Research Institute for Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms of National Research Center 'Kurchatov Institute' (NRC 'Kurchatov Institute' - GosNIIgenetika), 1-st Dorozhny pr., 1, Moscow 117545, Russia.,Kurchatov Genomic Center, NRC 'Kurchatov Institute' - GosNIIgenetika, 1-st Dorozhny pr., 1, Moscow 117545, Russia
| | - Guy-Bart Stan
- Department of Bioengineering and Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Sergey P Sineoky
- Bioresource Center Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (BRC VKPM), State Research Institute for Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms of National Research Center 'Kurchatov Institute' (NRC 'Kurchatov Institute' - GosNIIgenetika), 1-st Dorozhny pr., 1, Moscow 117545, Russia.,Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, NRC 'Kurchatov Institute', Kurchatov Square, 1, Moscow 123098, Russia
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44
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Tomasek K, Leithner A, Glatzova I, Lukesch MS, Guet CC, Sixt M. Type 1 piliated uropathogenic Escherichia coli hijack the host immune response by binding to CD14. eLife 2022; 11:78995. [PMID: 35881547 PMCID: PMC9359703 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A key attribute of persistent or recurring bacterial infections is the ability of the pathogen to evade the host’s immune response. Many Enterobacteriaceae express type 1 pili, a pre-adapted virulence trait, to invade host epithelial cells and establish persistent infections. However, the molecular mechanisms and strategies by which bacteria actively circumvent the immune response of the host remain poorly understood. Here, we identified CD14, the major co-receptor for lipopolysaccharide detection, on mouse dendritic cells (DCs) as a binding partner of FimH, the protein located at the tip of the type 1 pilus of Escherichia coli. The FimH amino acids involved in CD14 binding are highly conserved across pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. Binding of the pathogenic strain CFT073 to CD14 reduced DC migration by overactivation of integrins and blunted expression of co-stimulatory molecules by overactivating the NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) pathway, both rate-limiting factors of T cell activation. This response was binary at the single-cell level, but averaged in larger populations exposed to both piliated and non-piliated pathogens, presumably via the exchange of immunomodulatory cytokines. While defining an active molecular mechanism of immune evasion by pathogens, the interaction between FimH and CD14 represents a potential target to interfere with persistent and recurrent infections, such as urinary tract infections or Crohn’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Tomasek
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | | | - Ivana Glatzova
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | | | - Calin C Guet
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Michael Sixt
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
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45
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Mills CE, Waltmann C, Archer AG, Kennedy NW, Abrahamson CH, Jackson AD, Roth EW, Shirman S, Jewett MC, Mangan NM, Olvera de la Cruz M, Tullman-Ercek D. Vertex protein PduN tunes encapsulated pathway performance by dictating bacterial metabolosome morphology. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3746. [PMID: 35768404 PMCID: PMC9243111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31279-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineering subcellular organization in microbes shows great promise in addressing bottlenecks in metabolic engineering efforts; however, rules guiding selection of an organization strategy or platform are lacking. Here, we study compartment morphology as a factor in mediating encapsulated pathway performance. Using the 1,2-propanediol utilization microcompartment (Pdu MCP) system from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2, we find that we can shift the morphology of this protein nanoreactor from polyhedral to tubular by removing vertex protein PduN. Analysis of the metabolic function between these Pdu microtubes (MTs) shows that they provide a diffusional barrier capable of shielding the cytosol from a toxic pathway intermediate, similar to native MCPs. However, kinetic modeling suggests that the different surface area to volume ratios of MCP and MT structures alters encapsulated pathway performance. Finally, we report a microscopy-based assay that permits rapid assessment of Pdu MT formation to enable future engineering efforts on these structures. Morphology of metabolosomes affects the encapsulated pathway performance. Here, the authors combine experimental characterizations with structural and kinetic modeling to reveal how the shell protein PduN changes the morphology of 1,2-propanediol utilization (Pdu) metabolosome and how this morphology shift impacts Pdu function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn E Mills
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Curt Waltmann
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Andre G Archer
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Nolan W Kennedy
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Charlotte H Abrahamson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Alexander D Jackson
- Master of Science in Biotechnology Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Eric W Roth
- Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental Center, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Sasha Shirman
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Niall M Mangan
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Monica Olvera de la Cruz
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Danielle Tullman-Ercek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. .,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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46
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Rinaldi MA, Tait S, Toogood HS, Scrutton NS. Bioproduction of Linalool From Paper Mill Waste. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:892896. [PMID: 35711639 PMCID: PMC9195575 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.892896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A key challenge in chemicals biomanufacturing is the maintenance of stable, highly productive microbial strains to enable cost-effective fermentation at scale. A “cookie-cutter” approach to microbial engineering is often used to optimize host stability and productivity. This can involve identifying potential limitations in strain characteristics followed by attempts to systematically optimize production strains by targeted engineering. Such targeted approaches however do not always lead to the desired traits. Here, we demonstrate both ‘hit and miss’ outcomes of targeted approaches in attempts to generate a stable Escherichia coli strain for the bioproduction of the monoterpenoid linalool, a fragrance molecule of industrial interest. First, we stabilized linalool production strains by eliminating repetitive sequences responsible for excision of pathway components in plasmid constructs that encode the pathway for linalool production. These optimized pathway constructs were then integrated within the genome of E. coli in three parts to eliminate a need for antibiotics to maintain linalool production. Additional strategies were also employed including: reduction in cytotoxicity of linalool by adaptive laboratory evolution and modification or homologous gene replacement of key bottleneck enzymes GPPS/LinS. Our study highlights that a major factor influencing linalool titres in E. coli is the stability of the genetic construct against excision or similar recombination events. Other factors, such as decreasing linalool cytotoxicity and changing pathway genes, did not lead to improvements in the stability or titres obtained. With the objective of reducing fermentation costs at scale, the use of minimal base medium containing paper mill wastewater secondary paper fiber as sole carbon source was also investigated. This involved simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using either supplemental cellulase blends or by co-expressing secretable cellulases in E. coli containing the stabilized linalool production pathway. Combined, this study has demonstrated a stable method for linalool production using an abundant and low-cost feedstock and improved production strains, providing an important proof-of-concept for chemicals production from paper mill waste streams. For scaled production, optimization will be required, using more holistic approaches that involve further rounds of microbial engineering and fermentation process development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro A Rinaldi
- Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Shirley Tait
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Helen S Toogood
- Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel S Scrutton
- Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,C3 Biotechnologies (Maritime and Aerospace) Ltd, Lancaster, United Kingdom
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47
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Salmonella Central Carbon Metabolism Enhances Bactericidal Killing by Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0234421. [PMID: 35658490 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02344-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of killing by bactericidal antibiotics has been reported to depend in large part on the ATP levels, with low levels of ATP leading to increased persistence after antibiotic challenge. Here, we show that an atp operon deletion strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium lacking the ATP synthase was at least 10-fold more sensitive to killing by the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin and yet showed either increased survival or no significant difference compared with the wild-type strain when challenged with aminoglycoside or β-lactam antibiotics, respectively. The increased cell killing and reduced bacterial survival (persistence) after fluoroquinolone challenge were found to involve metabolic compensation for the loss of the ATP synthase through central carbon metabolism reactions and increased NAD(P)H levels. We conclude that the intracellular ATP levels per se do not correlate with bactericidal antibiotic persistence to fluoroquinolone killing; rather, the central carbon metabolic pathways active at the time of challenge and the intracellular target of the antibiotic determine the efficacy of treatment.
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48
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Nishikawa M, Noda S, Henmi K, Ogawa K. Sulphate repression of ssuD-dependent alkanesulphonate-sulphur assimilation in Escherichia coli. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168. [PMID: 35704379 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli cells utilize alkanesulphonates including taurine as the sulphur source. We previously reported that when E. coli cells carrying a double deletion in tauD and cysN were inoculated into a taurine-containing minimal medium, they started to grow only after long-term incubation (Nishikawa et al. 2018, Microbiology 164: 1446-1456). We show here that cells that can induce ssuD-dependent alkanesulphonate-sulphur assimilation (SASSA) are essentially rare, but suppressors that can induce SASSA appear during long-term incubation. Mutant cells carrying ΔtauD and ΔcysN, ΔcysC or ΔcysH generated suppressor cells that can induce SASSA at a frequency of about 10-6 in a population. Whereas ΔtauD ΔcysN cells without prior SASSA did not express ssuD even when necessary, the cells with prior SASSA properly expressed ssuD. Whole-genome DNA sequencing of a clone isolated from ΔtauD ΔcysN cells with prior SASSA revealed that the influx of sulphate or thiosulphate may be related to the regulation of SASSA. To clarify whether sulphate or thiosulphate affects the induction of SASSA, the effect of mutations in sbp and cysP, which are responsible for sulphate and thiosulphate uptake with different preferences for substrates, was examined. Only the ΔtauD ΔcysN Δsbp mutant did not show repression of SASSA when no sulphate was added to the medium. When the concentration of the sulphate added was over 10 μM, the Δsbp mutant showed repression of SASSA. Therefore, it was considered that the influx of extracellular sulphate resulted in repression of SASSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanobu Nishikawa
- Research Institute for Biological Sciences Okayama (RIBS Okayama), Okayama, Japan
| | - Soichiro Noda
- Research Institute for Biological Sciences Okayama (RIBS Okayama), Okayama, Japan
| | - Kenji Henmi
- Research Institute for Biological Sciences Okayama (RIBS Okayama), Okayama, Japan
| | - Ken'ichi Ogawa
- Research Institute for Biological Sciences Okayama (RIBS Okayama), Okayama, Japan
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49
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Linking the Salmonella enterica 1,2-Propanediol Utilization Bacterial Microcompartment Shell to the Enzymatic Core via the Shell Protein PduB. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0057621. [PMID: 35575582 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00576-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial microcompartments (MCPs) are protein-based organelles that house the enzymatic machinery for metabolism of niche carbon sources, allowing enteric pathogens to outcompete native microbiota during host colonization. While much progress has been made toward understanding MCP biogenesis, questions still remain regarding the mechanism by which core MCP enzymes are enveloped within the MCP protein shell. Here, we explore the hypothesis that the shell protein PduB is responsible for linking the shell of the 1,2-propanediol utilization (Pdu) MCP from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2 to its enzymatic core. Using fluorescent reporters, we demonstrate that all members of the Pdu enzymatic core are encapsulated in Pdu MCPs. We also demonstrate that PduB is critical for linking the entire Pdu enzyme core to the MCP shell. Using MCP purifications, transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy, we find that shell assembly can be decoupled from the enzymatic core, as apparently empty MCPs are formed in Salmonella strains lacking PduB. Mutagenesis studies reveal that PduB is incorporated into the Pdu MCP shell via a conserved, lysine-mediated hydrogen bonding mechanism. Finally, growth assays and system-level pathway modeling reveal that unencapsulated pathway performance is strongly impacted by enzyme concentration, highlighting the importance of minimizing polar effects when conducting these functional assays. Together, these results provide insight into the mechanism of enzyme encapsulation within Pdu MCPs and demonstrate that the process of enzyme encapsulation and shell assembly are separate processes in this system, a finding that will aid future efforts to understand MCP biogenesis. IMPORTANCE MCPs are unique, genetically encoded organelles used by many bacteria to survive in resource-limited environments. There is significant interest in understanding the biogenesis and function of these organelles, both as potential antibiotic targets in enteric pathogens and also as useful tools for overcoming metabolic engineering bottlenecks. However, the mechanism by which these organelles are formed natively is still not completely understood. Here, we provide evidence of a potential mechanism in S. enterica by which a single protein, PduB, links the MCP shell and metabolic core. This finding is critical for those seeking to disrupt MCPs during pathogenic infections or for those seeking to harness MCPs as nanobioreactors in industrial settings.
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50
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Staes I, Bäcker LE, Simoens K, De Winter K, Marolt G, Cenens W, Wolput S, Vazquez AR, Goos P, Lavigne R, Bernaerts K, Aertsen A. Superinfection exclusion factors drive a history-dependent switch from vertical to horizontal phage transmission. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110804. [PMID: 35545039 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperate bacterial viruses are commonly thought to favor vertical (lysogenic) transmission over horizontal (lytic) transmission when the virion-to-host-cell ratio is high and available host cells become scarce. In P22-infected Salmonella Typhimurium populations, however, we find that host subpopulations become lytically consumed despite high phage-to-host ratios that would normally favor lysogeny. These subpopulations originate from the proliferation of P22-free siblings that spawn off from P22-carrier cells from which they cytoplasmically inherit P22-borne superinfection exclusion factors (SEFs). In fact, we demonstrate that the gradual dilution of these SEFs in the growing subpopulation of P22-free siblings restricts the number of incoming phages, thereby imposing the perception of a low phage-to-host ratio that favors lytic development. Although their role has so far been neglected, our data indicate that phage-borne SEFs can spur complex infection dynamics and a history-dependent switch from vertical to horizontal transmission in the face of host-cell scarcity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Staes
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23 - bus 2457, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leonard E Bäcker
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23 - bus 2457, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kenneth Simoens
- Department of Chemical Engineering- (Bio)chemical Reactor Engineering and Safety, Faculty of Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kjerstin De Winter
- Department of Chemical Engineering- (Bio)chemical Reactor Engineering and Safety, Faculty of Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gasper Marolt
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23 - bus 2457, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Chemical Engineering- (Bio)chemical Reactor Engineering and Safety, Faculty of Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - William Cenens
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23 - bus 2457, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sanne Wolput
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23 - bus 2457, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alan R Vazquez
- Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Goos
- Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Engineering Management, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristel Bernaerts
- Department of Chemical Engineering- (Bio)chemical Reactor Engineering and Safety, Faculty of Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Abram Aertsen
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23 - bus 2457, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
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