Structure of the cytoskeleton of Spiroplasma melliferum BC3 and its interactions with the cell membrane

Assembly properties of Spiroplasma MreB involved in swimming motility

Bacterial actin MreB forms filaments formed of antiparallel double strand units. The wall-less helical bacterium Spiroplasma has five MreB homologs (MreB1-5), some of which are involved in an intra-cellular ribbon for driving the bacterium's swimming motility. Although the interaction between MreB units is important for understanding Spiroplasma swimming, the interaction modes of each ribbon component are unclear. Here, we examined the assembly properties of Spiroplasma eriocheiris MreB5 (SpeMreB5), one of the ribbon component proteins that forms sheets. Electron microscopy (EM) revealed that sheet formation was inhibited under acidic conditions and bundle structures were formed under acidic and neutral conditions with low ionic strength. We also used solution assays and identified four properties of SpeMreB5 bundles as follows: (I) bundle formation followed sheet formation; (II) electrostatic interactions were required for bundle formation; (III) the positively charged and unstructured C-terminal region contributed to promoting lateral interactions for bundle formation; and (IV) bundle formation required Mg²⁺ at neutral pH but was inhibited by divalent cations under acidic pH conditions. During these studies, we also characterized two aggregation modes of SpeMreB5 with distinct responses to ATP. These properties will shed light on SpeMreB5 assembly dynamics at the molecular level.

Purification and ATPase Activity Measurement of Spiroplasma MreB

Spiroplasma is a genus of wall-less helical bacteria with swimming motility unrelated to conventional types of bacterial motility machinery, such as flagella and pili. The swimming of Spiroplasma is suggested to be driven by five classes of MreB (MreB1-MreB5), which are members of the actin superfamily. In vitro studies of Spiroplasma MreBs have recently been conducted to evaluate their activities, such as ATPase, which is essential for the polymerization dynamics among classic actin superfamily proteins. In this chapter, we describe methods of purification and P_i release measurement of Spiroplasma MreBs using column chromatography and absorption spectroscopy with the molecular probe, 2-amino-6-mercapto-7-methylpurine riboside (MESG). Of note, the methods described here are applicable to other proteins that possess NTPase activity.

Sequence analyses of a lipoprotein conserved with bacterial actins responsible for swimming motility of wall-less helical Spiroplasma

Spiroplasma is a genus of pathogenic or commensal cell-wall-deficient helical bacterium. Spiroplasma -specific protein fibril and five classes of bacterial actins, MreB1-5, are involved in a helical ribbon structure responsible for helical-cell morphology and swimming motility. A gene for a hypothetical protein-SPE_1229, 7th protein-has been found in the locus coding mreB s. In this study, we characterized the 7th protein using in silico methods and found that it could be a lipoprotein whose gene is encoded downstream of mreB3 and conserved in a clade of Spiroplasma .

Reconstitution of a minimal motility system based on Spiroplasma swimming by two bacterial actins in a synthetic minimal bacterium

Motility is one of the most important features of life, but its evolutionary origin remains unknown. In this study, we focused on Spiroplasma, commensal, or parasitic bacteria. They swim by switching the helicity of a ribbon-like cytoskeleton that comprises six proteins, each of which evolved from a nucleosidase and bacterial actin called MreB. We expressed these proteins in a synthetic, nonmotile minimal bacterium, JCVI-syn3B, whose reduced genome was computer-designed and chemically synthesized. The synthetic bacterium exhibited swimming motility with features characteristic of Spiroplasma swimming. Moreover, combinations of Spiroplasma MreB4-MreB5 and MreB1-MreB5 produced a helical cell shape and swimming. These results suggest that the swimming originated from the differentiation and coupling of bacterial actins, and we obtained a minimal system for motility of the synthetic bacterium.

Cytoskeletal components can turn wall-less spherical bacteria into kinking helices

Bacterial cell shape is generally determined through an interplay between the peptidoglycan cell wall and cytoplasmic filaments made of polymerized MreB. Indeed, some bacteria (e.g., Mycoplasma) that lack both a cell wall and mreB genes consist of non-motile cells that are spherical or pleomorphic. However, other members of the same class Mollicutes (e.g., Spiroplasma, also lacking a cell wall) display a helical cell shape and kink-based motility, which is thought to rely on the presence of five MreB isoforms and a specific fibril protein. Here, we show that heterologous expression of Spiroplasma fibril and MreB proteins confers helical shape and kinking ability to Mycoplasma capricolum cells. Isoform MreB5 is sufficient to confer helicity and kink propagation to mycoplasma cells. Cryoelectron microscopy confirms the association of cytoplasmic MreB filaments with the plasma membrane, suggesting a direct effect on membrane curvature. However, in our experiments, the heterologous expression of MreBs and fibril did not result in efficient motility in culture broth, indicating that additional, unknown Spiroplasma components are required for swimming.

The genome and antigen proteome analysis of Spiroplasma mirum

Spiroplasma mirum, small motile wall-less bacteria, was originally isolated from a rabbit tick and had the ability to infect newborn mice and caused cataracts. In this study, the whole genome and antigen proteins of S. mirum were comparative analyzed and investigated. Glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, arginine metabolism, nucleotide biosynthesis, and citrate fermentation were found in S. mirum, while trichloroacetic acid, fatty acids metabolism, phospholipid biosynthesis, terpenoid biosynthesis, lactose-specific PTS, and cofactors synthesis were completely absent. The Sec systems of S. mirum consist of SecA, SecE, SecDF, SecG, SecY, and YidC. Signal peptidase II was identified in S. mirum, but no signal peptidase I. The relative gene order in S. mirum is largely conserved. Genome analysis of available species in Mollicutes revealed that they shared only 84 proteins. S. mirum genome has 381 pseudogenes, accounting for 31.6% of total protein-coding genes. This is the evidence that spiroplasma genome is under an ongoing genome reduction. Immunoproteomics, a new scientific technique combining proteomics and immunological analytical methods, provided the direction of our research on S. mirum. We identified 49 proteins and 11 proteins (9 proteins in common) in S. mirum by anti-S. mirum serum and negative serum, respectively. Forty proteins in S. mirum were identified in relation to the virulence. All these proteins may play key roles in the pathogeny and can be used in the future for diagnoses and prevention.

Characterization of heterologously expressed Fibril, a shape and motility determining cytoskeletal protein of the helical bacterium Spiroplasma

Fibril is a constitutive filament-forming cytoskeletal protein of unidentified fold, exclusive to members of genus Spiroplasma. It is hypothesized to undergo conformational changes necessary to bring about Spiroplasma motility through changes in cell helicity. However, the mechanism driving conformational changes in Fibril remains unknown. We expressed Fibril from S. citri in E. coli for its purification and characterization. Sodium dodecyl sulfate solubilized Fibril filaments and facilitated purification by affinity chromatography. An alternative protocol for obtaining enriched insoluble Fibril filaments was standardized using density gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopy of Fibril purified by these protocols revealed filament bundles. Probable domain boundaries of Fibril protein were identified based on mass spectrometric analysis of proteolytic fragments. Presence of α-helical and β-sheet signatures in FT-IR measurements suggests that Fibril filaments consist of an assembly of folded globular domains, and not a β-strand-based aggregation like amyloid fibrils.

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Codon-optimized Spiroplasma citri Fibril was expressed in E. coli

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SDS treatment does not denature Fibril filaments

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Fibril possesses α helices and β sheet and is not an amyloid-like protein

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Domain boundaries were predicted using mass spectrometry of proteolytic fragments

ATP-dependent polymerization dynamics of bacterial actin proteins involved in Spiroplasma swimming

MreB is a bacterial protein belonging to the actin superfamily. This protein polymerizes into an antiparallel double-stranded filament that determines cell shape by maintaining cell wall synthesis. Spiroplasma eriocheiris, a helical wall-less bacterium, has five MreB homologous (SpeMreB1-5) that probably contribute to swimming motility. Here, we investigated the structure, ATPase activity and polymerization dynamics of SpeMreB3 and SpeMreB5. SpeMreB3 polymerized into a double-stranded filament with possible antiparallel polarity, while SpeMreB5 formed sheets which contained the antiparallel filament, upon nucleotide binding. SpeMreB3 showed slow P_i release owing to the lack of an amino acid motif conserved in the catalytic centre of MreB family proteins. Our SpeMreB3 crystal structures and analyses of SpeMreB3 and SpeMreB5 variants showed that the amino acid motif probably plays a role in eliminating a nucleophilic water proton during ATP hydrolysis. Sedimentation assays suggest that SpeMreB3 has a lower polymerization activity than SpeMreB5, though their polymerization dynamics are qualitatively similar to those of other actin superfamily proteins, in which pre-ATP hydrolysis and post-P_i release states are unfavourable for them to remain as filaments.

The wall-less bacterium Spiroplasma poulsonii builds a polymeric cytoskeleton composed of interacting MreB isoforms

A rigid cell wall defines the morphology of most bacteria. MreB, a bacterial homologue of actin, plays a major role in coordinating cell wall biogenesis and defining cell shape. Spiroplasma are wall-less bacteria that robustly grow with a characteristic helical shape. Paradoxal to their lack of cell wall, the Spiroplasma genome contains five homologs of MreB (SpMreBs). Here, we investigate the function of SpMreBs in forming a polymeric cytoskeleton. We found that, in vivo, Spiroplasma maintain a high concentration of all MreB isoforms. By leveraging a heterologous expression system that bypasses the poor genetic tractability of Spiroplasma, we found that SpMreBs produced polymeric filaments of various morphologies. We characterized an interaction network between isoforms that regulate filament formation and patterning. Therefore, our results support the hypothesis where combined SpMreB isoforms would form an inner polymeric cytoskeleton in vivo that shapes the cell in a wall-independent manner.

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The five Spiroplasma MreB isoforms are extremely abundant proteins in vivo

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Each isoform produces filaments when expressed in a heterologous system

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SpMreBs form an interaction network that regulates filament length and shape

Prospects for the Mechanism of Spiroplasma Swimming

Spiroplasma are helical bacteria that lack a peptidoglycan layer. They are widespread globally as parasites of arthropods and plants. Their infectious processes and survival are most likely supported by their unique swimming system, which is unrelated to well-known bacterial motility systems such as flagella and pili. Spiroplasma swims by switching the left- and right-handed helical cell body alternately from the cell front. The kinks generated by the helicity shift travel down along the cell axis and rotate the cell body posterior to the kink position like a screw, pushing the water backward and propelling the cell body forward. An internal structure called the "ribbon" has been focused to elucidate the mechanisms for the cell helicity formation and swimming. The ribbon is composed of Spiroplasma-specific fibril protein and a bacterial actin, MreB. Here, we propose a model for helicity-switching swimming focusing on the ribbon, in which MreBs generate a force like a bimetallic strip based on ATP energy and switch the handedness of helical fibril filaments. Cooperative changes of these filaments cause helicity to shift down the cell axis. Interestingly, unlike other motility systems, the fibril protein and Spiroplasma MreBs can be traced back to their ancestors. The fibril protein has evolved from methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine (MTA/SAH) nucleosidase, which is essential for growth, and MreBs, which function as a scaffold for peptidoglycan synthesis in walled bacteria.

Phylogenetic origin and sequence features of MreB from the wall-less swimming bacteria Spiroplasma

Spiroplasma are wall-less bacteria which belong to the phylum Tenericutes that evolved from Firmicutes including Bacillus subtilis. Spiroplasma swim by a mechanism unrelated to widespread bacterial motilities, such as flagellar motility, and caused by helicity switching with kinks traveling along the helical cell body. The swimming force is likely generated by five classes of bacterial actin homolog MreBs (SMreBs 1-5) involved in the helical bone structure. We analyzed sequences of SMreBs to clarify their phylogeny and sequence features. The maximum likelihood method based on around 5000 MreB sequences showed that the phylogenetic tree was divided into several radiations. SMreBs formed a clade adjacent to the radiation of MreBH, an MreB isoform of Firmicutes. Sequence comparisons of SMreBs and Bacillus MreBs were also performed to clarify the features of SMreB. Catalytic glutamic acid and threonine were substituted to aspartic acid and lysine, respectively, in SMreB3. In SMreBs 2 and 4, amino acids involved in inter- and intra-protofilament interactions were significantly different from those in Bacillus MreBs. A membrane-binding region was not identified in most SMreBs 1 and 4 unlike many walled-bacterial MreBs. SMreB5 had a significantly longer C-terminal region than the other MreBs, which possibly forms protein-protein interactions. These features may support the functions responsible for the unique mechanism of Spiroplasma swimming.

MreB5 Is a Determinant of Rod-to-Helical Transition in the Cell-Wall-less Bacterium Spiroplasma

In most rod-shaped bacteria, the spatial coordination of cell wall synthesis machinery by MreBs is the main theme for shape determination and maintenance in cell-walled bacteria [1-9]. However, how rod or spiral shapes are achieved and maintained in cell-wall-less bacteria is currently unknown. Spiroplasma, a helical Mollicute that lacks cell wall synthesis genes, encodes five MreB paralogs and a unique cytoskeletal protein fibril [10, 11]. Here, we show that MreB5, one of the five MreB paralogs, contributes to cell elongation and is essential for the transition from rod-to-helical shape in Spiroplasma. Comparative genomic and proteomic characterization of a helical and motile wild-type Spiroplasma strain and a non-helical, non-motile natural variant helped delineate the specific roles of MreB5. Moreover, complementation of the non-helical strain with MreB5 restored its helical shape and motility by a kink-based mechanism described for Spiroplasma [12]. Earlier studies had proposed that length changes in fibril filaments are responsible for the change in handedness of the helical cell and kink propagation during motility [13]. Through structural and biochemical characterization, we identify that MreB5 exists as antiparallel double protofilaments that interact with fibril and the membrane, and thus potentially assists in kink propagation. In summary, our study provides direct experimental evidence for MreB in maintaining cell length, helical shape, and motility-revealing the role of MreB in sculpting the cell in the absence of a cell wall.

Exploring Spiroplasma Biology: Opportunities and Challenges

Spiroplasmas are cell-wall-deficient helical bacteria belonging to the class Mollicutes. Their ability to maintain a helical shape in the absence of cell wall and their motility in the absence of external appendages have attracted attention from the scientific community for a long time. In this review we compare and contrast motility, shape determination and cytokinesis mechanisms of Spiroplasma with those of other Mollicutes and cell-walled bacteria. The current models for rod-shape determination and cytokinesis in cell-walled bacteria propose a prominent role for the cell wall synthesis machinery. These models also involve the cooperation of the actin-like protein MreB and FtsZ, the bacterial homolog of tubulin. However the exact role of the cytoskeletal proteins is still under much debate. Spiroplasma possess MreBs, exhibit a rod-shape dependent helical morphology, and divide by an FtsZ-dependent mechanism. Hence, spiroplasmas represent model organisms for deciphering the roles of MreBs and FtsZ in fundamental mechanisms of non-spherical shape determination and cytokinesis in bacteria, in the absence of a cell wall. Identification of components implicated in these processes and deciphering their functions would require genetic experiments. Challenges in genetic manipulations in spiroplasmas are a major bottleneck in understanding their biology. We discuss advancements in genome sequencing, gene editing technologies, super-resolution microscopy and electron cryomicroscopy and tomography, which can be employed for addressing long-standing questions related to Spiroplasma biology.

Dynamics of a Protein Chain Motor Driving Helical Bacteria under Stress

The wall-less, helical bacterial genus Spiroplasma has a unique propulsion system; it is not driven by propeller-like flagella but by a membrane-bound, cytoplasmic, linear motor that consists of a contractile chain of identical proteins spanning the entire cell length. By a coordinated spread of conformational changes of the proteins, kinks propagate in pairs along the cell body. However, the mechanisms for the initiation or delay of kinks and their coordinated spread remain unclear. Here, we show how we manipulate the initiation of kinks, their propagation velocities, and the time between two kinks for a single cell trapped in an optical line potential. By interferometric three-dimensional shape tracking, we measured the cells' deformations in response to various external stress situations. We observed a significant dependency of force generation on the cells' local ligand concentrations (likely ATP) and ligand hydrolysis, which we altered in different ways. We developed a mechanistic, mathematical model based on Kramer's rates, describing the subsequent cooperative and conformational switching of the chain's proteins. The model reproduces our experimental observations and can explain deformation characteristics even when the motor is driven to its extreme. Nature has invented a set of minimalistic mechanical driving concepts. To understand or even rebuild them, it is essential to reveal the molecular mechanisms of such protein chain motors, which need only two components-coupled proteins and ligands-to function.

Large variability in the motility of spiroplasmas in media of different viscosities

Spiroplasmas are bacteria that do not possess flagella and their motility is linked to kink propagation coupled to changes in the cell body helicity. While the motility of bacteria with flagellar motion has been studied extensively, less work has been devoted to the motility of spiroplasmas. We first show that the motility of such bacteria has large variability from individual to individual as well as large fluctuations in time. The Brownian motion of such bacteria both in orientation and translation is also highlighted. We propose a simple model to disentangle the different components of this motility by examining trajectories of single bacteria in different viscosity solvents. The mean velocity of the bacteria turns out to depend on the viscosity of the medium as it increases with viscosity. Further, the temporal fluctuations of the bacteria motility turn out to be very strong with a direct link to tumbling events particular to this bacteria.

Prokaryotic cytoskeletons: protein filaments organizing small cells

Most, if not all, bacterial and archaeal cells contain at least one protein filament system. Although these filament systems in some cases form structures that are very similar to eukaryotic cytoskeletons, the term 'prokaryotic cytoskeletons' is used to refer to many different kinds of protein filaments. Cytoskeletons achieve their functions through polymerization of protein monomers and the resulting ability to access length scales larger than the size of the monomer. Prokaryotic cytoskeletons are involved in many fundamental aspects of prokaryotic cell biology and have important roles in cell shape determination, cell division and nonchromosomal DNA segregation. Some of the filament-forming proteins have been classified into a small number of conserved protein families, for example, the almost ubiquitous tubulin and actin superfamilies. To understand what makes filaments special and how the cytoskeletons they form enable cells to perform essential functions, the structure and function of cytoskeletal molecules and their filaments have been investigated in diverse bacteria and archaea. In this Review, we bring these data together to highlight the diverse ways that linear protein polymers can be used to organize other molecules and structures in bacteria and archaea.

Transformation of crustacean pathogenic bacterium Spiroplasma eriocheiris and expression of yellow fluorescent protein

Spiroplasma eriocheiris, the cause of crab trembling disease, is a wall-less bacterium, related to Mycoplasmas, measuring 2.0-10.0 μm long. It features a helical cell shape and a unique swimming mechanism that does not use flagella; instead, it moves by switching the cell helicity at a kink traveling from the front to the tail. S. eriocheiris seems to use a novel chemotactic system that is based on the frequency of reversal swimming behaviors rather than the conventional two-component system, which is generally essential for bacterial chemotaxis. To identify the genes involved in these novel mechanisms, we developed a transformation system by using oriC plasmid harboring the tetracycline resistant gene, tetM, which is under the control of a strong promoter for an abundant protein, elongation factor-Tu. The transformation efficiency achieved was 1.6 × 10^-5 colony forming unit (CFU) for 1 μg DNA, enabling the expression of the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP).

Chemotaxis without Conventional Two-Component System, Based on Cell Polarity and Aerobic Conditions in Helicity-Switching Swimming of Spiroplasma eriocheiris

Spiroplasma eriocheiris is a pathogen that causes mass mortality in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. S. eriocheiris causes tremor disease and infects almost all of the artificial breeding crustaceans, resulting in disastrous effects on the aquaculture economy in China. S. eriocheiris is a wall-less helical bacterium, measuring 2.0 to 10.0 μm long, and can swim up to 5 μm per second in a viscous medium without flagella by switching the cell helicity at a kink traveling from the front to the tail. In this study, we showed that S. eriocheiris performs chemotaxis without the conventional two-component system, a system commonly found in bacterial chemotaxis. The chemotaxis of S. eriocheiris was observed more clearly when the cells were cultivated under anaerobic conditions. The cells were polarized as evidenced by a tip structure, swimming in the direction of the tip, and were shown to reverse their swimming direction in response to attractants. Triton X-100 treatment revealed the internal structure, a dumbbell-shaped core in the tip that is connected by a flat ribbon, which traces the shortest line in the helical cell shape from the tip to the other pole. Sixteen proteins were identified as the components of the internal structure by mass spectrometry, including Fibril protein and four types of MreB proteins.

Structural mechanics and helical geometry of thin elastic composites

Helices are ubiquitous in nature, and helical shape transition is often observed in residually stressed bodies, such as composites, wherein materials with different mechanical properties are glued firmly together to form a whole body. Inspired by a variety of biological examples, the basic physical mechanism responsible for the emergence of twisting and bending in such thin composite structures has been extensively studied. Here, we propose a simplified analytical model wherein a slender membrane tube undergoes a helical transition driven by the contraction of an elastic ribbon bound to the membrane surface. We analytically predict the curvature and twist of an emergent helix as functions of differential strains and elastic moduli, which are confirmed by our numerical simulations. Our results may help understand shapes observed in different biological systems, such as spiral bacteria, and could be applied to novel designs of soft machines and robots.

Systematic analysis of the lysine acetylome of the pathogenic bacterium Spiroplasma eriocheiris reveals acetylated proteins related to metabolism and helical structure

Post-translational modifications such as acetylation are an essential regulatory mechanism of protein function. Spiroplasma eriocheiris, with no cell wall and a helical structure, is a novel pathogen of freshwater crustacean. There is no other evidence of acylation (such as succinylation and propionylation) except acetylation genes in S. eriocheiris concise genome. So the acetylation may play an important role in S. eriocheiris. Here, we conducted the first lysine acetylome in S. eriocheiris. We identified 2567 lysine acetylation sites in 555 proteins, which account for 44.69% of the total proteins in this bacterium. To date, this is the highest ratio of acetylated proteins that have been identified in bacteria. Fifteen types of acetylated peptide sequence motifs were revealed from the acetylome. Forty-five lysine-acetylated proteins showed homology with acetylated proteins previously identified from Escherichia coli, Vibrio parahemolyticus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Notably, most proteins in glycolysis and all proteins in the arginine deiminase system were acetylated. Meanwhile, the cell skeleton proteins (Fibril and Mrebs) were all acetylated the observed acetylation also played an important role in cell skeleton formation. The results imply previously unreported hidden layers of post-translational regulation in lysine acetylation that define the functional state of Spiroplasma.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first time to analyze PTM of Spiroplasma. This is the highest ratio of acetylated proteins that have been identified in bacteria. S. eriocheiris lysine acetylome reveals acetylated proteins related to metabolism and helical structure. These data provide an important resource to elucidate the role of acetylation in Spiroplasma cellular physiology.

Integrated Information and Prospects for Gliding Mechanism of the Pathogenic Bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae forms a membrane protrusion at a cell pole and is known to adhere to solid surfaces, including animal cells, and can glide on these surfaces with a speed up to 1 μm per second. Notably, gliding appears to be involved in the infectious process in addition to providing the bacteria with a means of escaping the host's immune systems. However, the genome of M. pneumoniae does not encode any of the known genes found in other bacterial motility systems or any conventional motor proteins that are responsible for eukaryotic motility. Thus, further analysis of the mechanism underlying M. pneumoniae gliding is warranted. The gliding machinery formed as the membrane protrusion can be divided into the surface and internal structures. On the surface, P1 adhesin, a 170 kDa transmembrane protein forms an adhesin complex with other two proteins. The internal structure features a terminal button, paired plates, and a bowl (wheel) complex. In total, the organelle is composed of more than 15 proteins. By integrating the currently available information by genetics, microscopy, and structural analyses, we have suggested a working model for the architecture of the organelle. Furthermore, in this article, we suggest and discuss a possible mechanism of gliding based on the structural model, in which the force generated around the bowl complex transmits through the paired plates, reaching the adhesin complex, resulting in the repeated catch of sialylated oligosaccharides on the host surface by the adhesin complex.

Production and application of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against Spiroplasma eriocheiris

A new species of spiroplasma, Spiroplasma eriocheiris (S. eriocheiris), was identified as a lethal pathogen of tremor disease (TD) in Chinese mitten crab recently. In order to acquire appropriate biological and diagnostic tools for characterizing this newly discovered pathogen, 5 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and a polyclonal antibody (pAb) against S. eriocheiris were produced. Among the mAbs, 6F5, 7C8 and 12H5 lead to the deformation of S. eriocheiris. A peptide sequence, YMRDMQSGLPRY was identified as a mimic motif of MreB that is the cell shape determining protein of S. eriocheiris interacting with 3 mAbs. Furthermore, a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) for detection of S. eriocheiris was established using the mAb and pAb we prepared. It detected as low as 0.1 μg/mL of S. eriocheiris. No cross-reaction was observed with three other common bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis) and the hemolymph samples of healthy Eriocheir sinensis. Collectively, our results indicated that the mAbs and pAb we prepared could be used in the analysis of S. eriocheiris membrane proteins mimotope and development of a diagnostic kit for S. eriocheiris infections.

A structural framework for a near-minimal form of life: mass and compositional analysis of the helical mollicute Spiroplasma melliferum BC3

Spiroplasma melliferum is a wall-less bacterium with dynamic helical geometry. This organism is geometrically well defined and internally well ordered, and has an exceedingly small genome. Individual cells are chemotactic, polar, and swim actively. Their dynamic helicity can be traced at the molecular level to a highly ordered linear motor (composed essentially of the proteins fib and MreB) that is positioned on a defined helical line along the internal face of the cell's membrane. Using an array of complementary, informationally overlapping approaches, we have taken advantage of this uniquely simple, near-minimal life-form and its helical geometry to analyze the copy numbers of Spiroplasma's essential parts, as well as to elucidate how these components are spatially organized to subserve the whole living cell. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) was used to measure the mass-per-length and mass-per-area of whole cells, membrane fractions, intact cytoskeletons and cytoskeletal components. These local data were fit into whole-cell geometric parameters determined by a variety of light microscopy modalities. Hydrodynamic data obtained by analytical ultracentrifugation allowed computation of the hydration state of whole living cells, for which the relative amounts of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, DNA, and RNA were also estimated analytically. Finally, ribosome and RNA content, genome size and gene expression were also estimated (using stereology, spectroscopy and 2D-gel analysis, respectively). Taken together, the results provide a general framework for a minimal inventory and arrangement of the major cellular components needed to support life.

Methods for modeling cytoskeletal and DNA filaments

This review summarizes the models that researchers use to represent the conformations and dynamics of cytoskeletal and DNA filaments. It focuses on models that address individual filaments in continuous space. Conformation models include the freely jointed, Gaussian, angle-biased chain (ABC), and wormlike chain (WLC) models, of which the first three bend at discrete joints and the last bends continuously. Predictions from the WLC model generally agree well with experiment. Dynamics models include the Rouse, Zimm, stiff rod, dynamic WLC, and reptation models, of which the first four apply to isolated filaments and the last to entangled filaments. Experiments show that the dynamic WLC and reptation models are most accurate. They also show that biological filaments typically experience strong hydrodynamic coupling and/or constrained motion. Computer simulation methods that address filament dynamics typically compute filament segment velocities from local forces using the Langevin equation and then integrate these velocities with explicit or implicit methods; the former are more versatile and the latter are more efficient. Much remains to be discovered in biological filament modeling. In particular, filament dynamics in living cells are not well understood, and current computational methods are too slow and not sufficiently versatile. Although primarily a review, this paper also presents new statistical calculations for the ABC and WLC models. Additionally, it corrects several discrepancies in the literature about bending and torsional persistence length definitions, and their relations to flexural and torsional rigidities.

Nucleotide-independent cytoskeletal scaffolds in bacteria

Bacteria possess a diverse set of cytoskeletal proteins that mediate key cellular processes such as morphogenesis, cell division, DNA segregation, and motility. Similar to eukaryotic actin or tubulin, many of them require nucleotide binding and hydrolysis for proper polymerization and function. However, there is also a growing number of bacterial cytoskeletal elements that assemble in a nucleotide-independent manner, including intermediate filament-like structures as well several classes of bacteria-specific polymers. The members of this group form stable scaffolds that have architectural roles or act as localization factors recruiting other proteins to distinct positions within the cell. Here, we highlight the elements that constitute the nucleotide-independent cytoskeleton of bacteria and discuss their biological functions in different species.

The bacterial cytoskeleton

Bacteria, like eukaryotes, employ cytoskeletal elements to perform many functions, including cell morphogenesis, cell division, DNA partitioning, and cell motility. They not only possess counterparts of eukaryotic actin, tubulin, and intermediate filament proteins, but they also have cytoskeletal elements of their own. Unlike the rigid sequence and structural conservation often observed for eukaryotic cytoskeletal proteins, the bacterial counterparts can display considerable diversity in sequence and function across species. Their wide range of function highlights the flexibility of core cytoskeletal protein motifs, such that one type of cytoskeletal element can perform various functions, and one function can be performed by different types of cytoskeletal elements.

Peptidoglycan crosslinking relaxation promotes Helicobacter pylori's helical shape and stomach colonization

The mechanisms by which bacterial cells generate helical cell shape and its functional role are poorly understood. Helical shape of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori may facilitate penetration of the thick gastric mucus where it replicates. We identified four genes required for helical shape: three LytM peptidoglycan endopeptidase homologs (csd1-3) and a ccmA homolog. Surrounding the cytoplasmic membrane of most bacteria, the peptidoglycan (murein) sacculus is a meshwork of glycan strands joined by peptide crosslinks. Intact cells and isolated sacculi from mutants lacking any single csd gene or ccmA formed curved rods and showed increased peptidoglycan crosslinking. Quantitative morphological analyses of multiple-gene deletion mutants revealed each protein uniquely contributes to a shape-generating pathway. This pathway is required for robust colonization of the stomach in spite of normal directional motility. Our findings suggest that the coordinated action of multiple proteins relaxes peptidoglycan crosslinking, enabling helical cell curvature and twist.

Electron cryotomography

Electron cryotomography (ECT) is an emerging technology that allows thin samples such as macromolecular complexes and small bacterial cells to be imaged in 3-D in a nearly native state to "molecular" ( approximately 4 nm) resolution. As such, ECT is beginning to deliver long-awaited insight into the positions and structures of cytoskeletal fi laments, cell wall elements, motility machines, chemoreceptor arrays, internal compartments, and other ultrastructures. This article describes the technique and summarizes its contributions to bacterial cell biology. For comparable recent reviews, see (Subramaniam 2005; Jensen and Briegel 2007; Murphy and Jensen 2007; Li and Jensen 2009). For reviews on the history, technical details, and broader application of electron tomography in general, see for example (Subramaniam and Milne 2004; Lucić et al. 2005; Leis et al. 2008; Midgley and Dunin-Borkowski 2009).

Sculpting the bacterial cell

Prokaryotes come in a wide variety of shapes, determined largely by natural selection, physical constraints, and patterns of cell growth and division. Because of their relative simplicity, bacterial cells are excellent models for how genes and proteins can directly determine morphology. Recent advances in cytological methods for bacteria have shown that distinct cytoskeletal filaments composed of actin and tubulin homologs are important for guiding growth patterns of the cell wall in bacteria, and that the glycan strands that constitute the wall are generally perpendicular to the direction of growth. This cytoskeleton-directed cell wall patterning is strikingly reminiscent of how plant cell wall growth is regulated by microtubules. In rod-shaped bacilli, helical cables of actin-like MreB protein stretch along the cell length and orchestrate elongation of the cell wall, whereas the tubulin-like FtsZ protein directs formation of the division septum and the resulting cell poles. The overlap and interplay between these two systems and the peptidoglycan-synthesizing enzymes they recruit are the major driving forces of cylindrical shapes. Round cocci, on the other hand, have lost their MreB cables and instead must grow mainly via their division septum, giving them their characteristic round or ovoid shapes. Other bacteria that lack MreB homologs or even cell walls use distinct cytoskeletal systems to maintain their distinct shapes. Here I review what is known about the mechanisms that determine the shape of prokaryotic cells.

Cryo-electron tomography of bacteria: progress, challenges and future prospects

Recent advances in three-dimensional electron microscopy provide remarkable tools to image the interior of bacterial cells. Glimpses of cells at resolutions that are 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than those currently attained with light microscopy can now be obtained with cryo-electron tomography, especially when used in combination with new tools for image averaging. This Review highlights recent advances in this area and provides an assessment of the general applicability, current limitations and type of structural information that can be obtained about the organization of intact cells using tomography. Possible future directions for whole cell imaging are also discussed.

Hydrodynamics of helical-shaped bacterial motility

To reveal the underlying hydrodynamic mechanism for the directed propulsion of the bacterium Spiroplasma, we formulate a coarse-grained elastic polymer model with domains of alternating helicities along the contour. Using hydrodynamic simulations and analytic arguments, we show that the propagation of helical domain walls leads to the directed propulsion of the cell body opposite to the domain-wall traveling direction. Several key features of Spiroplasma motility are reproduced by our model. We in particular show that the helical pitch angle observed for Spiroplasma meliferum, psi=35 degrees , is optimized for maximal swimming speed and energy-conversion efficiency. Our analytic theory based on the slender-body hydrodynamic approximation agrees very well with our numerical data demonstrating how the chirality switch propagating along the helical cell body is converted to a translational thrust for the cell body itself. We in detail consider thermal effects on the propulsion efficiency in the form of orientational fluctuations and conformational fluctuations of the helix shape. The body length dependence of the cell motility is studied numerically and compared to our approximate analytic theory. For fixed pitch angle psi=35 degrees , the swimming speed is maximized at a ratio of cell-body length to domain length of about 2-3, which are typical values for real cells. We also propose simple analytic arguments for an enhancement of the swimming velocity with increasing solution viscosity by taking into account the effects of transient confinement of a helical cell body in a polymeric meshwork. Comparison with a generalized theory for the swimming speed of flagellated bacteria in polymeric meshworks shows that the presence of a finite-sized bacterial head gives rise to a maximal swimming speed at a finite solution viscosity, whereas in the absence of a head the swimming speed monotonically increases with increasing viscosity.