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Zhao C, Lu D, Zhao Q, Ren C, Zhang H, Zhai J, Gou J, Zhu S, Zhang Y, Gong X. Computational methods for in situ structural studies with cryogenic electron tomography. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1135013. [PMID: 37868346 PMCID: PMC10586593 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1135013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) plays a critical role in imaging microorganisms in situ in terms of further analyzing the working mechanisms of viruses and drug exploitation, among others. A data processing workflow for cryo-ET has been developed to reconstruct three-dimensional density maps and further build atomic models from a tilt series of two-dimensional projections. Low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and missing wedge are two major factors that make the reconstruction procedure challenging. Because only few near-atomic resolution structures have been reconstructed in cryo-ET, there is still much room to design new approaches to improve universal reconstruction resolutions. This review summarizes classical mathematical models and deep learning methods among general reconstruction steps. Moreover, we also discuss current limitations and prospects. This review can provide software and methods for each step of the entire procedure from tilt series by cryo-ET to 3D atomic structures. In addition, it can also help more experts in various fields comprehend a recent research trend in cryo-ET. Furthermore, we hope that more researchers can collaborate in developing computational methods and mathematical models for high-resolution three-dimensional structures from cryo-ET datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuicui Zhao
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Da Lu
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Chongjiao Ren
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Huangtao Zhang
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhai
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Gou
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Shilin Zhu
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqi Zhang
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xinqi Gong
- Mathematical Intelligence Application LAB, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
- Beijing Academy of Intelligence, Beijing, China
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2
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Poger D, Yen L, Braet F. Big data in contemporary electron microscopy: challenges and opportunities in data transfer, compute and management. Histochem Cell Biol 2023; 160:169-192. [PMID: 37052655 PMCID: PMC10492738 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-023-02191-8] [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] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The second decade of the twenty-first century witnessed a new challenge in the handling of microscopy data. Big data, data deluge, large data, data compliance, data analytics, data integrity, data interoperability, data retention and data lifecycle are terms that have introduced themselves to the electron microscopy sciences. This is largely attributed to the booming development of new microscopy hardware tools. As a result, large digital image files with an average size of one terabyte within one single acquisition session is not uncommon nowadays, especially in the field of cryogenic electron microscopy. This brings along numerous challenges in data transfer, compute and management. In this review, we will discuss in detail the current state of international knowledge on big data in contemporary electron microscopy and how big data can be transferred, computed and managed efficiently and sustainably. Workflows, solutions, approaches and suggestions will be provided, with the example of the latest experiences in Australia. Finally, important principles such as data integrity, data lifetime and the FAIR and CARE principles will be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Poger
- Microscopy Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Lisa Yen
- Microscopy Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Filip Braet
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences (Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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3
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Kaplan M, Chang YW, Oikonomou CM, Nicolas WJ, Jewett AI, Kreida S, Dutka P, Rettberg LA, Maggi S, Jensen GJ. Bdellovibrio predation cycle characterized at nanometre-scale resolution with cryo-electron tomography. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:1267-1279. [PMID: 37349588 PMCID: PMC11061892 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01401-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a microbial predator that offers promise as a living antibiotic for its ability to kill Gram-negative bacteria, including human pathogens. Even after six decades of study, fundamental details of its predation cycle remain mysterious. Here we used cryo-electron tomography to comprehensively image the lifecycle of B. bacteriovorus at nanometre-scale resolution. With high-resolution images of predation in a native (hydrated, unstained) state, we discover several surprising features of the process, including macromolecular complexes involved in prey attachment/invasion and a flexible portal structure lining a hole in the prey peptidoglycan that tightly seals the prey outer membrane around the predator during entry. Unexpectedly, we find that B. bacteriovorus does not shed its flagellum during invasion, but rather resorbs it into its periplasm for degradation. Finally, following growth and division in the bdelloplast, we observe a transient and extensive ribosomal lattice on the condensed B. bacteriovorus nucleoid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Kaplan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Catherine M Oikonomou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - William J Nicolas
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Andrew I Jewett
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Stefan Kreida
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Przemysław Dutka
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Stefano Maggi
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Grant J Jensen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
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4
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Lai L, Cheung YW, Martinez M, Kixmoeller K, Palao L, Steimle S, Ho MC, Black BE, Lai EM, Chang YW. In Situ Structure Determination of Bacterial Surface Nanomachines Using Cryo-Electron Tomography. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2646:211-248. [PMID: 36842118 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3060-0_18] [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] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial surface nanomachines are often refractory to structural determination in their intact form due to their extensive association with the cell envelope preventing them from being properly purified for traditional structural biology methods. Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is an emerging branch of cryo-electron microscopy that can visualize supramolecular complexes directly inside frozen-hydrated cells in 3D at nanometer resolution, therefore posing a unique capability to study the intact structures of bacterial surface nanomachines in situ and reveal their molecular association with other cellular components. Furthermore, the resolution of cryo-ET is continually improving alongside methodological advancement. Here, using the type IV pilus machine in Myxococcus xanthus as an example, we describe a step-by-step workflow for in situ structure determination including sample preparation and screening, microscope and camera tuning, tilt series acquisition, data processing and tomogram reconstruction, subtomogram averaging, and structural analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longsheng Lai
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yee-Wai Cheung
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Matthew Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathryn Kixmoeller
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leon Palao
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stefan Steimle
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Meng-Chiao Ho
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ben E Black
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Erh-Min Lai
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Discovery of a Novel Inner Membrane-Associated Bacterial Structure Related to the Flagellar Type III Secretion System. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0014422. [PMID: 35862756 PMCID: PMC9380563 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00144-22] [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: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial flagellar type III secretion system (fT3SS) is a suite of membrane-embedded and cytoplasmic proteins responsible for building the flagellar motility machinery. Homologous nonflagellar (NF-T3SS) proteins form the injectisome machinery that bacteria use to deliver effector proteins into eukaryotic cells, and other family members were recently reported to be involved in the formation of membrane nanotubes. Here, we describe a novel, evolutionarily widespread, hat-shaped structure embedded in the inner membranes of bacteria, of yet-unidentified function, that is present in species containing fT3SS. Mutant analysis suggests a relationship between this novel structure and the fT3SS, but not the NF-T3SS. While the function of this novel structure remains unknown, we hypothesize that either some of the fT3SS proteins assemble within the hat-like structure, perhaps including the fT3SS core complex, or that fT3SS components regulate other proteins that form part of this novel structure. IMPORTANCE The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a fascinating suite of proteins involved in building diverse macromolecular systems, including the bacterial flagellar motility machine, the injectisome machinery that bacteria use to inject effector proteins into host cells, and probably membrane nanotubes which connect bacterial cells. Here, we accidentally discovered a novel inner membrane-associated complex related to the flagellar T3SS. Examining our lab database, which is comprised of more than 40,000 cryo-tomograms of dozens of species, we discovered that this novel structure is both ubiquitous and ancient, being present in highly divergent classes of bacteria. Discovering a novel, widespread structure related to what are among the best-studied molecular machines in bacteria will open new venues for research aiming at understanding the function and evolution of T3SS proteins.
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6
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Kaplan M, Oikonomou CM, Wood CR, Chreifi G, Subramanian P, Ortega DR, Chang Y, Beeby M, Shaffer CL, Jensen GJ. Novel transient cytoplasmic rings stabilize assembling bacterial flagellar motors. EMBO J 2022; 41:e109523. [PMID: 35301732 PMCID: PMC9108667 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The process by which bacterial cells build their intricate flagellar motility apparatuses has long fascinated scientists. Our understanding of this process comes mainly from studies of purified flagella from two species, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. Here, we used electron cryo-tomography (cryo-ET) to image the assembly of the flagellar motor in situ in diverse Proteobacteria: Hylemonella gracilis, Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter jejuni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Shewanella oneidensis. Our results reveal the in situ structures of flagellar intermediates, beginning with the earliest flagellar type III secretion system core complex (fT3SScc) and MS-ring. In high-torque motors of Beta-, Gamma-, and Epsilon-proteobacteria, we discovered novel cytoplasmic rings that interact with the cytoplasmic torque ring formed by FliG. These rings, associated with the MS-ring, assemble very early and persist until the stators are recruited into their periplasmic ring; in their absence the stator ring does not assemble. By imaging mutants in Helicobacter pylori, we found that the fT3SScc proteins FliO and FliQ are required for the assembly of these novel cytoplasmic rings. Our results show that rather than a simple accretion of components, flagellar motor assembly is a dynamic process in which accessory components interact transiently to assist in building the complex nanomachine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Kaplan
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Catherine M Oikonomou
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Cecily R Wood
- Department of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Georges Chreifi
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Poorna Subramanian
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Davi R Ortega
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Yi‐Wei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Morgan Beeby
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Carrie L Shaffer
- Department of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Grant J Jensen
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryBrigham Young UniversityProvoUTUSA
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7
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Kaplan M, Chreifi G, Metskas LA, Liedtke J, Wood CR, Oikonomou CM, Nicolas WJ, Subramanian P, Zacharoff LA, Wang Y, Chang YW, Beeby M, Dobro MJ, Zhu Y, McBride MJ, Briegel A, Shaffer CL, Jensen GJ. In situ imaging of bacterial outer membrane projections and associated protein complexes using electron cryo-tomography. eLife 2021; 10:73099. [PMID: 34468314 PMCID: PMC8455137 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to produce outer membrane projections in the form of tubular membrane extensions (MEs) and membrane vesicles (MVs) is a widespread phenomenon among diderm bacteria. Despite this, our knowledge of the ultrastructure of these extensions and their associated protein complexes remains limited. Here, we surveyed the ultrastructure and formation of MEs and MVs, and their associated protein complexes, in tens of thousands of electron cryo-tomograms of ~90 bacterial species that we have collected for various projects over the past 15 years (Jensen lab database), in addition to data generated in the Briegel lab. We identified outer MEs and MVs in 13 diderm bacterial species and classified several major ultrastructures: (1) tubes with a uniform diameter (with or without an internal scaffold), (2) tubes with irregular diameter, (3) tubes with a vesicular dilation at their tip, (4) pearling tubes, (5) connected chains of vesicles (with or without neck-like connectors), (6) budding vesicles and nanopods. We also identified several protein complexes associated with these MEs and MVs which were distributed either randomly or exclusively at the tip. These complexes include a secretin-like structure and a novel crown-shaped structure observed primarily in vesicles from lysed cells. In total, this work helps to characterize the diversity of bacterial membrane projections and lays the groundwork for future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Kaplan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Georges Chreifi
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Lauren Ann Metskas
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Janine Liedtke
- Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratories, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Cecily R Wood
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States
| | - Catherine M Oikonomou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - William J Nicolas
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Poorna Subramanian
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Lori A Zacharoff
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Yuhang Wang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Morgan Beeby
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yongtao Zhu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Minnesota State University, Mankato, United States
| | - Mark J McBride
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratories, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Carrie L Shaffer
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States
| | - Grant J Jensen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
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Oikonomou CM, Jensen GJ. The Atlas of Bacterial & Archaeal Cell Structure: an Interactive Open-Access Microbiology Textbook. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOLOGY EDUCATION 2021; 22:jmbe00128-21. [PMID: 34594449 PMCID: PMC8442016 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.00128-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Here, we describe a new open-access digital textbook for microbiology, The Atlas of Bacterial & Archaeal Cell Structure (available at cellstructureatlas.org). The book addresses a fundamental gap in existing textbooks, namely, what bacterial and archaeal cells look like and how the macromolecular structures they contain give rise to their diverse and complex functions. The interactive, multimedia resource features real data from more than 150 cells belonging to approximately 70 different species, imaged by cutting-edge cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Complementary animations show the cellular machinery in action. Only a basic familiarity with fundamental biology concepts is required to understand the material, which targets a wide range of students in courses from general biology for nonmajors to specialized graduate-level microbiology. The content can be digested in several hours, making it well suited to be assigned as a supplemental resource for a course covering either more diverse topics in cell biology or a more specialized topic such as medical microbiology. By making this resource freely available online, we hope it will serve students in diverse educational settings, including self-directed learners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M. Oikonomou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Grant J. Jensen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
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Abstract
The bacterial flagellar motor is a complex macromolecular machine whose function and self-assembly present a fascinating puzzle for structural biologists. Here, we report that in diverse bacterial species, cell lysis leads to loss of the cytoplasmic switch complex and associated ATPase before other components of the motor. This loss may be prevented by the formation of a cytoplasmic vesicle around the complex. These observations suggest a relatively loose association of the switch complex with the rest of the flagellar machinery. IMPORTANCE We show in eight different bacterial species (belonging to different phyla) that the flagellar motor loses its cytoplasmic switch complex upon cell lysis, while the rest of the flagellum remains attached to the cell body. This suggests an evolutionary conserved weak interaction between the switch complex and the rest of the flagellum which is important to understand how the motor evolved. In addition, this information is crucial for mimicking such nanomachines in the laboratory.
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10
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Ortega DR, Yang W, Subramanian P, Mann P, Kjær A, Chen S, Watts KJ, Pirbadian S, Collins DA, Kooger R, Kalyuzhnaya MG, Ringgaard S, Briegel A, Jensen GJ. Repurposing a chemosensory macromolecular machine. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2041. [PMID: 32341341 PMCID: PMC7184735 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15736-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
How complex, multi-component macromolecular machines evolved remains poorly understood. Here we reveal the evolutionary origins of the chemosensory machinery that controls flagellar motility in Escherichia coli. We first identify ancestral forms still present in Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella oneidensis and Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum, characterizing their structures by electron cryotomography and finding evidence that they function in a stress response pathway. Using bioinformatics, we trace the evolution of the system through γ-Proteobacteria, pinpointing key evolutionary events that led to the machine now seen in E. coli. Our results suggest that two ancient chemosensory systems with different inputs and outputs (F6 and F7) existed contemporaneously, with one (F7) ultimately taking over the inputs and outputs of the other (F6), which was subsequently lost. Bacterial chemosensory systems are grouped into 17 flagellar classes (F1-17). Here the authors employ electron cryotomography and comparative genomics to characterise the chemosensory arrays in γ-proteobacteria and identify a structural distinct form of F7 that was repurposed to a different biological role over the course of its evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi R Ortega
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, C1125, USA
| | - Wen Yang
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Poorna Subramanian
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, C1125, USA
| | - Petra Mann
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, D-35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Kjær
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, C1125, USA.,Rex Richards Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Songye Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, C1125, USA
| | - Kylie J Watts
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Sahand Pirbadian
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - David A Collins
- Department of Biology, Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Romain Kooger
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marina G Kalyuzhnaya
- Department of Biology, Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Simon Ringgaard
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, D-35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Grant J Jensen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, C1125, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA.
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11
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Bacterial flagellar motor PL-ring disassembly subcomplexes are widespread and ancient. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:8941-8947. [PMID: 32241888 PMCID: PMC7183148 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1916935117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to understand the evolution of complex biological machines like the bacterial flagellar motor, it is crucial to know what each component does and when it arose. Here, we show that a subcomplex of the motor thought to act as a bushing for the spinning motor likely also serves another function—it plugs the hole in the outer membrane left when the flagellum disassembles. Moreover, this component and function is ancient, since it appears in diverse phyla without evidence of recent gene transfer. The bacterial flagellum is an amazing nanomachine. Understanding how such complex structures arose is crucial to our understanding of cellular evolution. We and others recently reported that in several Gammaproteobacterial species, a relic subcomplex comprising the decorated P and L rings persists in the outer membrane after flagellum disassembly. Imaging nine additional species with cryo-electron tomography, here, we show that this subcomplex persists after flagellum disassembly in other phyla as well. Bioinformatic analyses fail to show evidence of any recent horizontal transfers of the P- and L-ring genes, suggesting that this subcomplex and its persistence is an ancient and conserved feature of the flagellar motor. We hypothesize that one function of the P and L rings is to seal the outer membrane after motor disassembly.
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12
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Distinct Chemotaxis Protein Paralogs Assemble into Chemoreceptor Signaling Arrays To Coordinate Signaling Output. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01757-19. [PMID: 31551333 PMCID: PMC6759762 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01757-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The assembly of chemotaxis receptors and signaling proteins into polar arrays is universal in motile chemotactic bacteria. Comparative genome analyses indicate that most motile bacteria possess multiple chemotaxis signaling systems, and experimental evidence suggests that signaling from distinct chemotaxis systems is integrated. Here, we identify one such mechanism. We show that paralogs from two chemotaxis systems assemble together into chemoreceptor arrays, forming baseplates comprised of proteins from both chemotaxis systems. These mixed arrays provide a straightforward mechanism for signal integration and coordinated response output from distinct chemotaxis systems. Given that most chemotactic bacteria encode multiple chemotaxis systems and the propensity for these systems to be laterally transferred, this mechanism may be common to ensure chemotaxis signal integration occurs. Most chemotactic motile bacteria possess multiple chemotaxis signaling systems, the functions of which are not well characterized. Chemotaxis signaling is initiated by chemoreceptors that assemble as large arrays, together with chemotaxis coupling proteins (CheW) and histidine kinase proteins (CheA), which form a baseplate with the cytoplasmic tips of receptors. These cell pole-localized arrays mediate sensing, signaling, and signal amplification during chemotaxis responses. Membrane-bound chemoreceptors with different cytoplasmic domain lengths segregate into distinct arrays. Here, we show that a bacterium, Azospirillum brasilense, which utilizes two chemotaxis signaling systems controlling distinct motility parameters, coordinates its chemotactic responses through the production of two separate membrane-bound chemoreceptor arrays by mixing paralogs within chemotaxis baseplates. The polar localization of chemoreceptors of different length classes is maintained in strains that had baseplate signaling proteins from either chemotaxis system but was lost when both systems were deleted. Chemotaxis proteins (CheA and CheW) from each of the chemotaxis signaling systems (Che1 and Che4) could physically interact with one another, and chemoreceptors from both classes present in A. brasilense could interact with Che1 and Che4 proteins. The assembly of paralogs from distinct chemotaxis pathways into baseplates provides a straightforward mechanism for coordinating signaling from distinct pathways, which we predict is not unique to this system given the propensity of chemotaxis systems for horizontal gene transfer.
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Gan L, Ng CT, Chen C, Cai S. A collection of yeast cellular electron cryotomography data. Gigascience 2019; 8:giz077. [PMID: 31247098 PMCID: PMC6596884 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giz077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cells are powered by a large set of macromolecular complexes, which work together in a crowded environment. The in situ mechanisms of these complexes are unclear because their 3D distribution, organization, and interactions are largely unknown. Electron cryotomography (cryo-ET) can address these knowledge gaps because it produces cryotomograms-3D images that reveal biological structure at ∼4-nm resolution. Cryo-ET uses no fixation, dehydration, staining, or plastic embedment, so cellular features are visualized in a life-like, frozen-hydrated state. To study chromatin and mitotic machinery in situ, we subjected yeast cells to genetic and chemical perturbations, cryosectioned them, and then imaged the cells by cryo-ET. FINDINGS Here we share >1,000 cryo-ET raw datasets of cryosectioned budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiaecollected as part of previously published studies. These data will be valuable to cell biologists who are interested in the nanoscale organization of yeasts and of eukaryotic cells in general. All the unpublished tilt series and a subset of corresponding cryotomograms have been deposited in the EMPIAR resource for the community to use freely. To improve tilt series discoverability, we have uploaded metadata and preliminary notes to publicly accessible Google Sheets, EMPIAR, and GigaDB. CONCLUSIONS Cellular cryo-ET data can be mined to obtain new cell-biological, structural, and 3D statistical insights in situ. These data contain structures not visible in traditional electron-microscopy data. Template matching and subtomogram averaging of known macromolecular complexes can reveal their 3D distributions and low-resolution structures. Furthermore, these data can serve as testbeds for high-throughput image-analysis pipelines, as training sets for feature-recognition software, for feasibility analysis when planning new structural-cell-biology projects, and as practice data for students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Gan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
| | - Cai Tong Ng
- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
| | - Shujun Cai
- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
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Ortega DR, Oikonomou CM, Ding HJ, Rees-Lee P, Jensen GJ. ETDB-Caltech: A blockchain-based distributed public database for electron tomography. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215531. [PMID: 30986271 PMCID: PMC6464211 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional electron microscopy techniques like electron tomography provide valuable insights into cellular structures, and present significant challenges for data storage and dissemination. Here we explored a novel method to publicly release more than 11,000 such datasets, more than 30 TB in total, collected by our group. Our method, based on a peer-to-peer file sharing network built around a blockchain ledger, offers a distributed solution to data storage. In addition, we offer a user-friendly browser-based interface, https://etdb.caltech.edu, for anyone interested to explore and download our data. We discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of this system and provide tools for other groups to mine our data and/or use the same approach to share their own imaging datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi R. Ortega
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Catherine M. Oikonomou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - H. Jane Ding
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Prudence Rees-Lee
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | | | - Grant J. Jensen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Henderson LD, Beeby M. High-Throughput Electron Cryo-tomography of Protein Complexes and Their Assembly. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1764:29-44. [PMID: 29605906 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7759-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Electron cryo-tomography and subtomogram averaging enable visualization of protein complexes in situ, in three dimensions, in a near-native frozen-hydrated state to nanometer resolutions. To achieve this, intact cells are vitrified and imaged over a range of tilts within an electron microscope. These images can subsequently be reconstructed into a three-dimensional volume representation of the sample cell. Because complexes are visualized in situ, crucial insights into their mechanism, assembly process, and dynamic interactions with other proteins become possible. To illustrate the electron cryo-tomography workflow for visualizing protein complexes in situ, we describe our workflow of preparing samples, imaging, and image processing using Leginon for data collection, IMOD for image reconstruction, and PEET for subtomogram averaging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Morgan Beeby
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
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Baldwin PR, Tan YZ, Eng ET, Rice WJ, Noble AJ, Negro CJ, Cianfrocco MA, Potter CS, Carragher B. Big data in cryoEM: automated collection, processing and accessibility of EM data. Curr Opin Microbiol 2017; 43:1-8. [PMID: 29100109 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The scope and complexity of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) data has greatly increased, and will continue to do so, due to recent and ongoing technical breakthroughs that have led to much improved resolutions for macromolecular structures solved using this method. This big data explosion includes single particle data as well as tomographic tilt series, both generally acquired as direct detector movies of ∼10-100 frames per image or per tilt-series. We provide a brief survey of the developments leading to the current status, and describe existing cryoEM pipelines, with an emphasis on the scope of data acquisition, methods for automation, and use of cloud storage and computing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip R Baldwin
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Yong Zi Tan
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Edward T Eng
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - William J Rice
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Alex J Noble
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Carl J Negro
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Michael A Cianfrocco
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Clinton S Potter
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Bridget Carragher
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Chen M, Dai W, Sun SY, Jonasch D, He CY, Schmid MF, Chiu W, Ludtke SJ. Convolutional neural networks for automated annotation of cellular cryo-electron tomograms. Nat Methods 2017; 14:983-985. [PMID: 28846087 PMCID: PMC5623144 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cellular Electron Cryotomography (CryoET) offers the ability to look inside cells and observe macromolecules frozen in action. A primary challenge for this technique is identifying and extracting the molecular components within the crowded cellular environment. We introduce a method using neural networks to dramatically reduce the time and human effort required for subcellular annotation and feature extraction. Subsequent subtomogram classification and averaging yields in-situ structures of molecular components of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muyuan Chen
- Graduate Program in Structural and Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Verna Marrs and McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Wei Dai
- Verna Marrs and McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Stella Y Sun
- Verna Marrs and McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Darius Jonasch
- Verna Marrs and McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cynthia Y He
- Department of Biological Science, Centre for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michael F Schmid
- Verna Marrs and McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Wah Chiu
- Verna Marrs and McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Steven J Ludtke
- Verna Marrs and McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Uncharacterized Bacterial Structures Revealed by Electron Cryotomography. J Bacteriol 2017; 199:JB.00100-17. [PMID: 28607161 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00100-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Electron cryotomography (ECT) can reveal the native structure and arrangement of macromolecular complexes inside intact cells. This technique has greatly advanced our understanding of the ultrastructure of bacterial cells. We now view bacteria as structurally complex assemblies of macromolecular machines rather than as undifferentiated bags of enzymes. To date, our group has applied ECT to nearly 90 different bacterial species, collecting more than 15,000 cryotomograms. In addition to known structures, we have observed, to our knowledge, several uncharacterized features in these tomograms. Some are completely novel structures; others expand the features or species range of known structure types. Here, we present a survey of these uncharacterized bacterial structures in the hopes of accelerating their identification and study, and furthering our understanding of the structural complexity of bacterial cells.IMPORTANCE Bacteria are more structurally complex than is commonly appreciated. Here we present a survey of previously uncharacterized structures that we observed in bacterial cells by electron cryotomography, structures that will initiate new lines of research investigating their identities and roles.
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Chang YW, Rettberg LA, Ortega DR, Jensen GJ. In vivo structures of an intact type VI secretion system revealed by electron cryotomography. EMBO Rep 2017; 18:1090-1099. [PMID: 28487352 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201744072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a versatile molecular weapon used by many bacteria against eukaryotic hosts or prokaryotic competitors. It consists of a cytoplasmic bacteriophage tail-like structure anchored in the bacterial cell envelope via a cytoplasmic baseplate and a periplasmic membrane complex. Rapid contraction of the sheath in the bacteriophage tail-like structure propels an inner tube/spike complex through the target cell envelope to deliver effectors. While structures of purified contracted sheath and purified membrane complex have been solved, because sheaths contract upon cell lysis and purification, no structure is available for the extended sheath. Structural information about the baseplate is also lacking. Here, we use electron cryotomography to directly visualize intact T6SS structures inside Myxococcus xanthus cells. Using sub-tomogram averaging, we resolve the structure of the extended sheath and membrane-associated components including the baseplate. Moreover, we identify novel extracellular bacteriophage tail fiber-like antennae. These results provide new structural insights into how the extended sheath prevents premature disassembly and how this sophisticated machine may recognize targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Wei Chang
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Davi R Ortega
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Grant J Jensen
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA
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22
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Yao Q, Jewett AI, Chang YW, Oikonomou CM, Beeby M, Iancu CV, Briegel A, Ghosal D, Jensen GJ. Short FtsZ filaments can drive asymmetric cell envelope constriction at the onset of bacterial cytokinesis. EMBO J 2017; 36:1577-1589. [PMID: 28438890 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201696235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
FtsZ, the bacterial homologue of eukaryotic tubulin, plays a central role in cell division in nearly all bacteria and many archaea. It forms filaments under the cytoplasmic membrane at the division site where, together with other proteins it recruits, it drives peptidoglycan synthesis and constricts the cell. Despite extensive study, the arrangement of FtsZ filaments and their role in division continue to be debated. Here, we apply electron cryotomography to image the native structure of intact dividing cells and show that constriction in a variety of Gram-negative bacterial cells, including Proteus mirabilis and Caulobacter crescentus, initiates asymmetrically, accompanied by asymmetric peptidoglycan incorporation and short FtsZ-like filament formation. These results show that a complete ring of FtsZ is not required for constriction and lead us to propose a model for FtsZ-driven division in which short dynamic FtsZ filaments can drive initial peptidoglycan synthesis and envelope constriction at the onset of cytokinesis, later increasing in length and number to encircle the division plane and complete constriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Andrew I Jewett
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Catherine M Oikonomou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Morgan Beeby
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Cristina V Iancu
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Debnath Ghosal
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Grant J Jensen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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23
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Automated tilt series alignment and tomographic reconstruction in IMOD. J Struct Biol 2016; 197:102-113. [PMID: 27444392 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2016.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 377] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Automated tomographic reconstruction is now possible in the IMOD software package, including the merging of tomograms taken around two orthogonal axes. Several developments enable the production of high-quality tomograms. When using fiducial markers for alignment, the markers to be tracked through the series are chosen automatically; if there is an excess of markers available, a well-distributed subset is selected that is most likely to track well. Marker positions are refined by applying an edge-enhancing Sobel filter, which results in a 20% improvement in alignment error for plastic-embedded samples and 10% for frozen-hydrated samples. Robust fitting, in which outlying points are given less or no weight in computing the fitting error, is used to obtain an alignment solution, so that aberrant points from the automated tracking can have little effect on the alignment. When merging two dual-axis tomograms, the alignment between them is refined from correlations between local patches; a measure of structure was developed so that patches with insufficient structure to give accurate correlations can now be excluded automatically. We have also developed a script for running all steps in the reconstruction process with a flexible mechanism for setting parameters, and we have added a user interface for batch processing of tilt series to the Etomo program in IMOD. Batch processing is fully compatible with interactive processing and can increase efficiency even when the automation is not fully successful, because users can focus their effort on the steps that require manual intervention.
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