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Fernández-Yáñez V, Suazo P, Hormazábal C, Ibaceta V, Arenas-Salinas M, Vidal RM, Silva-Ojeda F, Arellano C, Muñoz I, Del Canto F. Distribution of papA and papG Variants among Escherichia coli Genotypes: Association with Major Extraintestinal Pathogenic Lineages. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6657. [PMID: 38928363 PMCID: PMC11203468 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126657] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The pyelonephritis-associated fimbria (P fimbria) is one of the most recognized adhesion determinants of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli strains (ExPECs). Twelve variants have been described for the gene encoding the P fimbria major structural subunit PapA and three variants for the gene encoding the adhesin subunit PapG. However, their distribution among the ExPEC diversity has not been comprehensively addressed. A complete landscape of that distribution might be valuable for delineating basic studies about the pathogenicity mechanisms of ExPECs and following up on the evolution of ExPEC lineages, particularly those most epidemiologically relevant. Therefore, we performed a massive descriptive study to detect the papA and papG variants along different E. coli genotypes represented by genomic sequences contained in the NCBI Assembly Refseq database. The most common papA variants were F11, F10, F48, F16, F12, and F7-2, which were found in significant association with the most relevant ExPEC genotypes, the phylogroups B2 and D, and the sequence types ST95, ST131, ST127, ST69, ST12, and ST73. On the other hand, the papGII variant was by far the most common followed by papGIII, and both were also found to have a significant association with common ExPEC genotypes. We noticed the presence of genomes, mainly belonging to the sequence type ST12, harboring two or three papA variants and two papG variants. Furthermore, the most common papA and papG variants were also detected in records representing strains isolated from humans and animals such as poultry, bovine, and dogs, supporting previous hypotheses of potential cross-transmission. Finally, we characterized a set of 17 genomes from Chilean uropathogenic E. coli strains and found that ST12 and ST73 were the predominant sequence types. Variants F7-1, F7-2, F8, F9, F11, F13, F14, F16, and F48 were detected for papA, and papGII and papGIII variants were detected for papG. Significant associations with the sequence types observed in the analysis of genomes contained in the NCBI Assembly Refseq database were also found in this collection in 16 of 19 cases for papA variants and 7 of 9 cases for the papG variants. This comprehensive characterization might support future basic studies about P fimbria-mediated ExPEC adherence and future typing or epidemiological studies to monitor the evolution of ExPECs producing P fimbria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Fernández-Yáñez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Santiago 9170022, Chile; (V.F.-Y.)
- Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Patricio Suazo
- Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Claudia Hormazábal
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Santiago 9170022, Chile; (V.F.-Y.)
- Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Valentina Ibaceta
- Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Mauricio Arenas-Salinas
- Centro de Bioinformática Simulación y Modelado, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Talca, Av. Lircay s/n, Talca 3460787, Chile
| | - Roberto M. Vidal
- Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Instituto Milenio de Inmunología e Inmunoterapia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Francisco Silva-Ojeda
- Servicio de Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Av. Dr. Carlos Lorca Tobar 999, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Carolina Arellano
- Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Ignacio Muñoz
- Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Felipe Del Canto
- Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile
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Zyla DS, Wiegand T, Bachmann P, Zdanowicz R, Giese C, Meier BH, Waksman G, Hospenthal MK, Glockshuber R. The assembly platform FimD is required to obtain the most stable quaternary structure of type 1 pili. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3032. [PMID: 38589417 PMCID: PMC11001860 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47212-9] [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: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Type 1 pili are important virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli that mediate bacterial attachment to epithelial cells in the urinary tract. The pilus rod is comprised of thousands of copies of the main structural subunit FimA and is assembled in vivo by the assembly platform FimD. Although type 1 pilus rods can self-assemble from FimA in vitro, this reaction is slower and produces structures with lower kinetic stability against denaturants compared to in vivo-assembled rods. Our study reveals that FimD-catalysed in vitro-assembled type 1 pilus rods attain a similar stability as pilus rods assembled in vivo. Employing structural, biophysical and biochemical analyses, we show that in vitro assembly reactions lacking FimD produce pilus rods with structural defects, reducing their stability against dissociation. Overall, our results indicate that FimD is not only required for the catalysis of pilus assembly, but also to control the assembly of the most stable quaternary structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawid S Zyla
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Cir, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Thomas Wiegand
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Stiftstr. 34-36, 45470, Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany
| | - Paul Bachmann
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rafal Zdanowicz
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Giese
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Beat H Meier
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Waksman
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London and Birkbeck, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Manuela K Hospenthal
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London and Birkbeck, London, WC1E 7HX, UK.
| | - Rudi Glockshuber
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
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3
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Zhou Y, Zhou Z, Zheng L, Gong Z, Li Y, Jin Y, Huang Y, Chi M. Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli: Mechanisms of Infection and Treatment Options. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10537. [PMID: 37445714 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310537] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common bacterial infections that represent a severe public health problem. They are often caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia), Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (S. saprophyticus). Among these, uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) are the most common causative agent in both uncomplicated and complicated UTIs. The adaptive evolution of UPEC has been observed in several ways, including changes in colonization, attachment, invasion, and intracellular replication to invade the urothelium and survive intracellularly. While antibiotic therapy has historically been very successful in controlling UTIs, high recurrence rates and increasing antimicrobial resistance among uropathogens threaten to greatly reduce the efficacy of these treatments. Furthermore, the gradual global emergence of multidrug-resistant UPEC has highlighted the need to further explore its pathogenesis and seek alternative therapeutic and preventative strategies. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the clinical status and pathogenesis of UTIs and the advantages and disadvantages of antibiotics as a conventional treatment option could spark a surge in the search for alternative treatment options, especially vaccines and medicinal plants. Such options targeting multiple pathogenic mechanisms of UPEC are expected to be a focus of UTI management in the future to help combat antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Zuying Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Lin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Zipeng Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Yueting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Yang Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Yong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Mingyan Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 4 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550004, China
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Vahvelainen N, Bozkurt E, Maula T, Johansson A, Pöllänen MT, Ihalin R. Pilus PilA of the naturally competent HACEK group pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans stimulates human leukocytes and interacts with both DNA and proinflammatory cytokines. Microb Pathog 2022; 173:105843. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Shanmugasundarasamy T, Karaiyagowder Govindarajan D, Kandaswamy K. A review on pilus assembly mechanisms in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Cell Surf 2022; 8:100077. [PMID: 35493982 PMCID: PMC9046445 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2022.100077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria contains long hair-like proteinaceous protrusion known as pili or fimbriae. Historically, pilin proteins were considered to play a major role in the transfer of genetic material during bacterial conjugation. Recent findings however elucidate their importance in virulence, biofilm formation, phage transduction, and motility. Therefore, it is crucial to gain mechanistic insights on the subcellular assembly of pili and the localization patterns of their subunit proteins (major and minor pilins) that aid the macromolecular pilus assembly at the bacterial surface. In this article, we review the current knowledge of pilus assembly mechanisms in a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including subcellular localization patterns of a few pilin subunit proteins and their role in virulence and pathogenesis.
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Monzon V, Lafita A, Bateman A. Discovery of fibrillar adhesins across bacterial species. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:550. [PMID: 34275445 PMCID: PMC8286594 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07586-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrillar adhesins are long multidomain proteins that form filamentous structures at the cell surface of bacteria. They are an important yet understudied class of proteins composed of adhesive and stalk domains that mediate interactions of bacteria with their environment. This study aims to characterize fibrillar adhesins in a wide range of bacterial phyla and to identify new fibrillar adhesin-like proteins to improve our understanding of host-bacteria interactions. RESULTS Through careful literature and computational searches, we identified 82 stalk and 27 adhesive domain families in fibrillar adhesins. Based on the presence of these domains in the UniProt Reference Proteomes database, we identified and analysed 3,542 fibrillar adhesin-like proteins across species of the most common bacterial phyla. We further enumerate the adhesive and stalk domain combinations found in nature and demonstrate that fibrillar adhesins have complex and variable domain architectures, which differ across species. By analysing the domain architecture of fibrillar adhesins, we show that in Gram positive bacteria, adhesive domains are mostly positioned at the N-terminus and cell surface anchors at the C-terminus of the protein, while their positions are more variable in Gram negative bacteria. We provide an open repository of fibrillar adhesin-like proteins and domains to enable further studies of this class of bacterial surface proteins. CONCLUSION This study provides a domain-based characterization of fibrillar adhesins and demonstrates that they are widely found in species across the main bacterial phyla. We have discovered numerous novel fibrillar adhesins and improved our understanding of pathogenic adhesion and invasion mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Monzon
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Aleix Lafita
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Alex Bateman
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
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7
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Stsiapanava A, Xu C, Brunati M, Zamora‐Caballero S, Schaeffer C, Bokhove M, Han L, Hebert H, Carroni M, Yasumasu S, Rampoldi L, Wu B, Jovine L. Cryo-EM structure of native human uromodulin, a zona pellucida module polymer. EMBO J 2020; 39:e106807. [PMID: 33196145 PMCID: PMC7737619 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020106807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Assembly of extracellular filaments and matrices mediating fundamental biological processes such as morphogenesis, hearing, fertilization, and antibacterial defense is driven by a ubiquitous polymerization module known as zona pellucida (ZP) "domain". Despite the conservation of this element from hydra to humans, no detailed information is available on the filamentous conformation of any ZP module protein. Here, we report a cryo-electron microscopy study of uromodulin (UMOD)/Tamm-Horsfall protein, the most abundant protein in human urine and an archetypal ZP module-containing molecule, in its mature homopolymeric state. UMOD forms a one-start helix with an unprecedented 180-degree twist between subunits enfolded by interdomain linkers that have completely reorganized as a result of propeptide dissociation. Lateral interaction between filaments in the urine generates sheets exposing a checkerboard of binding sites to capture uropathogenic bacteria, and UMOD-based models of heteromeric vertebrate egg coat filaments identify a common sperm-binding region at the interface between subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Stsiapanava
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Chenrui Xu
- School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeSingapore
- NTU Institute of Structural BiologyNanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeSingapore
| | - Martina Brunati
- Molecular Genetics of Renal DisordersDivision of Genetics and Cell BiologyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | | | - Céline Schaeffer
- Molecular Genetics of Renal DisordersDivision of Genetics and Cell BiologyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Marcel Bokhove
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Ling Han
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Hans Hebert
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health SystemsKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | - Marta Carroni
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsScience for Life LaboratoryStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Shigeki Yasumasu
- Department of Materials and Life SciencesFaculty of Science and TechnologySophia UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Luca Rampoldi
- Molecular Genetics of Renal DisordersDivision of Genetics and Cell BiologyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Bin Wu
- School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeSingapore
- NTU Institute of Structural BiologyNanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeSingapore
| | - Luca Jovine
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeSingapore
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8
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Stanisich JJ, Zyla DS, Afanasyev P, Xu J, Kipp A, Olinger E, Devuyst O, Pilhofer M, Boehringer D, Glockshuber R. The cryo-EM structure of the human uromodulin filament core reveals a unique assembly mechanism. eLife 2020; 9:e60265. [PMID: 32815518 PMCID: PMC7486124 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The glycoprotein uromodulin (UMOD) is the most abundant protein in human urine and forms filamentous homopolymers that encapsulate and aggregate uropathogens, promoting pathogen clearance by urine excretion. Despite its critical role in the innate immune response against urinary tract infections, the structural basis and mechanism of UMOD polymerization remained unknown. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of the UMOD filament core at 3.5 Å resolution, comprised of the bipartite zona pellucida (ZP) module in a helical arrangement with a rise of ~65 Å and a twist of ~180°. The immunoglobulin-like ZPN and ZPC subdomains of each monomer are separated by a long linker that interacts with the preceding ZPC and following ZPN subdomains by β-sheet complementation. The unique filament architecture suggests an assembly mechanism in which subunit incorporation could be synchronized with proteolytic cleavage of the C-terminal pro-peptide that anchors assembly-incompetent UMOD precursors to the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dawid S Zyla
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biophysics, ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Jingwei Xu
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biophysics, ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Anne Kipp
- Institute of Physiology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Eric Olinger
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Central ParkwayNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Olivier Devuyst
- Institute of Physiology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Division of Nephrology, UCLouvain Medical SchoolBrusselsBelgium
| | - Martin Pilhofer
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biophysics, ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Rudi Glockshuber
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biophysics, ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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9
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Classical chaperone-usher (CU) adhesive fimbriome: uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2019; 65:45-65. [DOI: 10.1007/s12223-019-00719-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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10
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Waksman G. From conjugation to T4S systems in Gram-negative bacteria: a mechanistic biology perspective. EMBO Rep 2019; 20:embr.201847012. [PMID: 30602585 PMCID: PMC6362355 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201847012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Conjugation is the process by which bacteria exchange genetic materials in a unidirectional manner from a donor cell to a recipient cell. The discovery of conjugation signalled the dawn of genetics and molecular biology. In Gram-negative bacteria, the process of conjugation is mediated by a large membrane-embedded machinery termed "conjugative type IV secretion (T4S) system", a large injection nanomachine, which together with a DNA-processing machinery termed "the relaxosome" and a large extracellular tube termed "pilus" orchestrates directional DNA transfer. Here, the focus is on past and latest research in the field of conjugation and T4S systems in Gram-negative bacteria, with an emphasis on the various questions and debates that permeate the field from a mechanistic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Waksman
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, UCL and Birkbeck, London, UK
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11
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Hospenthal MK, Waksman G. The Remarkable Biomechanical Properties of the Type 1 Chaperone-Usher Pilus: A Structural and Molecular Perspective. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7. [PMID: 30681068 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.psib-0010-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chaperone-usher (CU) pili are long, supramolecular protein fibers tethered to the surface of numerous bacterial pathogens. These virulence factors function primarily in bacterial adhesion to host tissues, but they also mediate biofilm formation. Type 1 and P pili of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the two best-studied CU pilus examples, and here we primarily focus on the former. UPEC can be transmitted to the urinary tract by fecal shedding. It can then ascend up the urinary tract and cause disease by invading and colonizing host tissues of the bladder, causing cystitis, and the kidneys, causing pyelonephritis. FimH is the subunit displayed at the tip of type 1 pili and mediates adhesion to mannosylated host cells via a unique catch-bond mechanism. In response to shear forces caused by urine flow, FimH can transition from a low-affinity to high-affinity binding mode. This clever allosteric mechanism allows UPEC cells to remain tightly attached during periods of urine flow, while loosening their grip to allow dissemination through the urinary tract during urine stasis. Moreover, the bulk of a CU pilus is made up of the rod, which can reversibly uncoil in response to urine flow to evenly spread the tensile forces over the entire pilus length. We here explore the novel structural and mechanistic findings relating to the type 1 pilus FimH catch-bond and rod uncoiling and explain how they function together to enable successful attachment, spread, and persistence in the hostile urinary tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela K Hospenthal
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London and Birkbeck, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Waksman
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London and Birkbeck, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
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12
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Mechanical architecture and folding of E. coli type 1 pilus domains. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2758. [PMID: 30013059 PMCID: PMC6048123 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05107-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli attach to tissues using pili type 1. Each pilus is composed by thousands of coiled FimA domains followed by the domains of the tip fibrillum, FimF-FimG-FimH. The domains are linked by non-covalent β-strands that must resist mechanical forces during attachment. Here, we use single-molecule force spectroscopy to measure the mechanical contribution of each domain to the stability of the pilus and monitor the oxidative folding mechanism of a single Fim domain assisted by periplasmic FimC and the oxidoreductase DsbA. We demonstrate that pilus domains bear high mechanical stability following a hierarchy by which domains close to the tip are weaker than those close to or at the pilus rod. During folding, this remarkable stability is achieved by the intervention of DsbA that not only forms strategic disulfide bonds but also serves as a chaperone assisting the folding of the domains. The pilus type 1 of uropathogenic E. coli must resist mechanical forces to remain attached to the epithelium. Here the authors use single-molecule force spectroscopy to demonstrate a hierarchy of mechanical stability among the pilus domains and show that the oxidoreductase DsbA also acts as a folding chaperone on the domains.
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13
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The Cryoelectron Microscopy Structure of the Type 1 Chaperone-Usher Pilus Rod. Structure 2017; 25:1829-1838.e4. [PMID: 29129382 PMCID: PMC5719983 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Adhesive chaperone-usher pili are long, supramolecular protein fibers displayed on the surface of many bacterial pathogens. The type 1 and P pili of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) play important roles during urinary tract colonization, mediating attachment to the bladder and kidney, respectively. The biomechanical properties of the helical pilus rods allow them to reversibly uncoil in response to flow-induced forces, allowing UPEC to retain a foothold in the unique and hostile environment of the urinary tract. Here we provide the 4.2-Å resolution cryo-EM structure of the type 1 pilus rod, which together with the previous P pilus rod structure rationalizes the remarkable "spring-like" properties of chaperone-usher pili. The cryo-EM structure of the type 1 pilus rod differs in its helical parameters from the structure determined previously by a hybrid approach. We provide evidence that these structural differences originate from different quaternary structures of pili assembled in vivo and in vitro.
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Hepp C, Maier B. Bacterial Translocation Ratchets: Shared Physical Principles with Different Molecular Implementations: How bacterial secretion systems bias Brownian motion for efficient translocation of macromolecules. Bioessays 2017; 39. [PMID: 28895164 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Secretion systems enable bacteria to import and secrete large macromolecules including DNA and proteins. While most components of these systems have been identified, the molecular mechanisms of macromolecular transport remain poorly understood. Recent findings suggest that various bacterial secretion systems make use of the translocation ratchet mechanism for transporting polymers across the cell envelope. Translocation ratchets are powered by chemical potential differences generated by concentration gradients of ions or molecules that are specific to the respective secretion systems. Bacteria employ these potential differences for biasing Brownian motion of the macromolecules within the conduits of the secretion systems. Candidates for this mechanism include DNA import by the type II secretion/type IV pilus system, DNA export by the type IV secretion system, and protein export by the type I secretion system. Here, we propose that these three secretion systems employ different molecular implementations of the translocation ratchet mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christof Hepp
- Department of Physics Universität zu Köln, Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Berenike Maier
- Department of Physics Universität zu Köln, Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
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Wright PE, Hodak H. Marking the Milestones in Structural Biology. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:2591-2593. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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