1
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Basak P, Dastidar DG, Ghosh D, Chakraborty T, Sau S, Chakrabarti G. Staphylococcus aureus major cell division protein FtsZ assembly is inhibited by silibinin, a natural flavonolignan that also blocked bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 279:135252. [PMID: 39222779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The bacterial cell division protein FtsZ has been considered a potential therapeutic target due to its rapid treadmilling that induces cellular wall construction in bacteria. The current study discovered a novel antimicrobial compound, silibinin, a natural flavonolignan and its impact on the recombinant S. aureus FtsZ (SaFtsZ). Silibinin inhibited S. aureus Newman growth in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 and MIC values for silibinin were 75 μM and 200 μM, respectively. It had no cytotoxicity against HEK293 cells in vitro. Silibinin also enlarged the bacterial cell morphology by ∼40 folds and showed antibiofilm property. It perturbed the S. aureus membrane potential both at IC50 conc. and at MIC conc. Further, it inhibited both the polymerization and GTPase activity of SaFtsZ. It did not inhibit tubulin assembly, a eukaryotic FtsZ homolog. A fluorescence quenching study yielded the Kd value for SaFtsZ-Silibinin interaction and binding stoichiometry 0.857 ± 0.188 μM and 1:1, respectively. Both in silico study and competition assay indicated that silibinin binds at the GTP binding site on SaFtsZ. The Ki value for the silibinin-mediated inhibition of SaFtsZ was 8.8 μM. Therefore, these findings have comprehensively shown the antimicrobial behavior of silibinin on S. aureus Newman cells targeting SaFtsZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prithvi Basak
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. B. C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, WB 700 019, India
| | - Debabrata Ghosh Dastidar
- Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science & Technology, 157/F Nilgunj Road, Panihati, Kolkata 700114, West Bengal, India
| | - Dipanjan Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. B. C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, WB 700 019, India
| | - Tushar Chakraborty
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700091, West Bengal, India
| | - Subrata Sau
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700091, West Bengal, India
| | - Gopal Chakrabarti
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. B. C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, WB 700 019, India.
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2
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Perez AJ, Xiao J. Stay on track - revelations of bacterial cell wall synthesis enzymes and things that go by single-molecule imaging. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102490. [PMID: 38821027 PMCID: PMC11162910 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
In this review, we explore the regulation of septal peptidoglycan (sPG) synthesis in bacterial cell division, a critical process for cell viability and proper morphology. Recent single-molecule imaging studies have revealed the processive movement of the FtsW:bPBP synthase complex along the septum, shedding light on the spatiotemporal dynamics of sPG synthases and their regulators. In diderm bacteria (E. coli and C. crescentus), the movement occurs at two distinct speeds, reflecting active synthesis or inactivity driven by FtsZ-treadmilling. In monoderm bacteria (B. subtilis, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus), however, these enzymes exhibit only the active sPG-track-coupled processive movement. By comparing the dynamics of sPG synthases in these organisms and that of class-A penicillin-binding proteins in vivo and in vitro, we propose a unifying model for septal cell wall synthesis regulation across species, highlighting the roles of the sPG- and Z-tracks in orchestrating a robust bacterial cell wall constriction process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amilcar J Perez
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jie Xiao
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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3
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Yan R, Zhao C, Zhao N. Attractive crowding effect on passive and active polymer looping kinetics. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:134902. [PMID: 38568946 DOI: 10.1063/5.0199023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Loop formation in complex environments is crucially important to many biological processes in life. In the present work, we adopt three-dimensional Langevin dynamics simulations to investigate passive and active polymer looping kinetics in crowded media featuring polymer-crowder attraction. We find polymers undergo a remarkable coil-globule-coil transition, highlighted by a marked change in the Flory scaling exponent of the gyration radius. Meanwhile, looping time as a function of the crowder's volume fraction demonstrates an apparent non-monotonic alteration. A small number of crowders induce a compact structure, which largely facilitates the looping process. While a large number of crowders heavily impede end-to-end diffusion, looping kinetics is greatly inhibited. For a self-propelled chain, we find that the attractive crowding triggers an unusual activity effect on looping kinetics. Once a globular state is formed, activity takes an effort to open the chain from the compact structure, leading to an unexpected activity-induced inhibition of looping. If the chain maintains a coil state, the dominant role of activity is to enhance diffusivity and, thus, speed up looping kinetics. The novel conformational change and looping kinetics of both passive and active polymers in the presence of attractive crowding highlight a rather distinct scenario that has no analogy in a repulsive crowding counterpart. The underlying mechanism enriches our understanding of the crucial role of attractive interactions in modulating polymer structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Yan
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Chaonan Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Nanrong Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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4
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Schäper S, Brito AD, Saraiva BM, Squyres GR, Holmes MJ, Garner EC, Hensel Z, Henriques R, Pinho MG. Cell constriction requires processive septal peptidoglycan synthase movement independent of FtsZ treadmilling in Staphylococcus aureus. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:1049-1063. [PMID: 38480900 PMCID: PMC10994846 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01629-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial cell division requires recruitment of peptidoglycan (PG) synthases to the division site by the tubulin homologue, FtsZ. Septal PG synthases promote septum growth. FtsZ treadmilling is proposed to drive the processive movement of septal PG synthases and septal constriction in some bacteria; however, the precise mechanisms spatio-temporally regulating PG synthase movement and activity and FtsZ treadmilling are poorly understood. Here using single-molecule imaging of division proteins in the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, we showed that the septal PG synthase complex FtsW/PBP1 and its putative activator protein, DivIB, move with similar velocity around the division site. Impairing FtsZ treadmilling did not affect FtsW or DivIB velocities or septum constriction rates. Contrarily, PG synthesis inhibition decelerated or stopped directional movement of FtsW and DivIB, and septum constriction. Our findings suggest that a single population of processively moving FtsW/PBP1 associated with DivIB drives cell constriction independently of FtsZ treadmilling in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schäper
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - António D Brito
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Saraiva
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Georgia R Squyres
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Holmes
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ethan C Garner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Zach Hensel
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Henriques
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- MRC-Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mariana G Pinho
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.
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5
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Radler P, Loose M. A dynamic duo: Understanding the roles of FtsZ and FtsA for Escherichia coli cell division through in vitro approaches. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151380. [PMID: 38218128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151380] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria divide by binary fission. The protein machine responsible for this process is the divisome, a transient assembly of more than 30 proteins in and on the surface of the cytoplasmic membrane. Together, they constrict the cell envelope and remodel the peptidoglycan layer to eventually split the cell into two. For Escherichia coli, most molecular players involved in this process have probably been identified, but obtaining the quantitative information needed for a mechanistic understanding can often not be achieved from experiments in vivo alone. Since the discovery of the Z-ring more than 30 years ago, in vitro reconstitution experiments have been crucial to shed light on molecular processes normally hidden in the complex environment of the living cell. In this review, we summarize how rebuilding the divisome from purified components - or at least parts of it - have been instrumental to obtain the detailed mechanistic understanding of the bacterial cell division machinery that we have today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Radler
- Institute for Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria; University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Wien, Austria.
| | - Martin Loose
- Institute for Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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6
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Huang J, Shao ZG. Collective motion of chiral particles in complex noise environments. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2024; 47:11. [PMID: 38319445 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Collective motion of chiral particles in complex noise environments is investigated based on the Vicsek model. In the model, we added chirality, along with complex noise, affecting particles clustering motion. Particles can only avoid noise interference in a specific channel, and this consideration is more realistic due to the complexity of the environment. Via simulations, we find that the channel proportion, p, critically influences chiral particle synchronization. Specifically, we observe a disorder-order transition at critical [Formula: see text], only when [Formula: see text], the system can achieve global synchronization. Combined with our definition of spatial distribution parameter and observation of the model, the reason is that particles begin to escape from the noise region under the influence of complex noise. In addition, the value of [Formula: see text] increases linearly with velocity, while it decreases monotonically with the increase in chirality and interaction radius. Interestingly, an appropriate noise amplitude minimizes [Formula: see text]. Our findings may inspire novel strategies to manipulate self-propelled particles of distinct chirality to achieve desired spatial migration and global synchronization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Huang
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Structure and Fundamental Interactions of Matter, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, School of Physics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Shao
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Structure and Fundamental Interactions of Matter, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, School of Physics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Quantum Matter, Frontier Research Institute for Physics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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7
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Kalia VC, Patel SKS, Karthikeyan KK, Jeya M, Kim IW, Lee JK. Manipulating Microbial Cell Morphology for the Sustainable Production of Biopolymers. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:410. [PMID: 38337299 DOI: 10.3390/polym16030410] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The total rate of plastic production is anticipated to surpass 1.1 billion tons per year by 2050. Plastic waste is non-biodegradable and accumulates in natural ecosystems. In 2020, the total amount of plastic waste was estimated to be 367 million metric tons, leading to unmanageable waste disposal and environmental pollution issues. Plastics are produced from petroleum and natural gases. Given the limited fossil fuel reserves and the need to circumvent pollution problems, the focus has shifted to biodegradable biopolymers, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polylactic acid, and polycaprolactone. PHAs are gaining importance because diverse bacteria can produce them as intracellular inclusion bodies using biowastes as feed. A critical component in PHA production is the downstream processing procedures of recovery and purification. In this review, different bioengineering approaches targeted at modifying the cell morphology and synchronizing cell lysis with the biosynthetic cycle are presented for product separation and extraction. Complementing genetic engineering strategies with conventional downstream processes, these approaches are expected to produce PHA sustainably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipin C Kalia
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanjay K S Patel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Kugalur K Karthikeyan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Marimuthu Jeya
- Marine Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai 600100, India
| | - In-Won Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Kul Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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8
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Tan F, Wang J, Yan R, Zhao N. Forced and spontaneous translocation dynamics of a semiflexible active polymer in two dimensions. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:1120-1132. [PMID: 38224190 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01409f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Polymer translocation is a fundamental topic in non-equilibrium physics and is crucially important to many biological processes in life. In the present work, we adopt two-dimensional Langevin dynamics simulations to study the forced and spontaneous translocation dynamics of an active filament. The influence of polymer stiffness on the underlying dynamics is explicitly analyzed. For the forced translocation, the results show a robust stiffness-induced inhibition, and the translocation time exhibits a dual-exponent scaling relationship with the bending modulus. Tension propagation (TP) is also examined, where we find prominent modifications in terms of both activity and stiffness. For spontaneous translocation into a pure solvent, the translocation time is almost independent of the polymer stiffness. However, when the polymer is translocated into a porous medium, an intriguing non-monotonic alteration of translocation time with increasing chain stiffness is demonstrated. The semiflexible chain is beneficial for translocation while the rigid chain is not conducive. Stiffness regulation on the diffusion dynamics of the polymer in porous media shows a consistent scenario. The interplay of activity, stiffness, and porous crowding provides a new mechanism for understanding the non-trivial translocation dynamics of an active filament in complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Tan
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Jingli Wang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Ran Yan
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Nanrong Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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9
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Morrison JJ, Camberg JL. Building the Bacterial Divisome at the Septum. Subcell Biochem 2024; 104:49-71. [PMID: 38963483 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-58843-3_4] [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] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Across living organisms, division is necessary for cell survival and passing heritable information to the next generation. For this reason, cell division is highly conserved among eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Among the most highly conserved cell division proteins in eukaryotes are tubulin and actin. Tubulin polymerizes to form microtubules, which assemble into cytoskeletal structures in eukaryotes, such as the mitotic spindle that pulls chromatids apart during mitosis. Actin polymerizes to form a morphological framework for the eukaryotic cell, or cytoskeleton, that undergoes reorganization during mitosis. In prokaryotes, two of the most highly conserved cell division proteins are the tubulin homolog FtsZ and the actin homolog FtsA. In this chapter, the functions of the essential bacterial cell division proteins FtsZ and FtsA and their roles in assembly of the divisome at the septum, the site of cell division, will be discussed. In most bacteria, including Escherichia coli, the tubulin homolog FtsZ polymerizes at midcell, and this step is crucial for recruitment of many other proteins to the division site. For this reason, both FtsZ abundance and polymerization are tightly regulated by a variety of proteins. The actin-like FtsA protein polymerizes and tethers FtsZ polymers to the cytoplasmic membrane. Additionally, FtsA interacts with later stage cell division proteins, which are essential for division and for building the new cell wall at the septum. Recent studies have investigated how actin-like polymerization of FtsA on the lipid membrane may impact division, and we will discuss this and other ways that division in bacteria is regulated through FtsZ and FtsA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah J Morrison
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Jodi L Camberg
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.
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10
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Cameron TA, Margolin W. Insights into the assembly and regulation of the bacterial divisome. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:33-45. [PMID: 37524757 PMCID: PMC11102604 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00942-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The ability to split one cell into two is fundamental to all life, and many bacteria can accomplish this feat several times per hour with high accuracy. Most bacteria call on an ancient homologue of tubulin, called FtsZ, to localize and organize the cell division machinery, the divisome, into a ring-like structure at the cell midpoint. The divisome includes numerous other proteins, often including an actin homologue (FtsA), that interact with each other at the cytoplasmic membrane. Once assembled, the protein complexes that comprise the dynamic divisome coordinate membrane constriction with synthesis of a division septum, but only after overcoming checkpoints mediated by specialized protein-protein interactions. In this Review, we summarize the most recent evidence showing how the divisome proteins of Escherichia coli assemble at the cell midpoint, interact with each other and regulate activation of septum synthesis. We also briefly discuss the potential of divisome proteins as novel antibiotic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A Cameron
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William Margolin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
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11
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Mahata T, Molshanski-Mor S, Goren MG, Kohen-Manor M, Yosef I, Avram O, Salomon D, Qimron U. Inhibition of host cell division by T5 protein 008 (Hdi). Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0169723. [PMID: 37888989 PMCID: PMC10714956 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01697-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE We have identified a novel phage-encoded inhibitor of the major cytoskeletal protein in bacterial division, FtsZ. The inhibition is shown to confer T5 bacteriophage with a growth advantage in dividing hosts. Our studies demonstrate a strategy in bacteriophages to maximize their progeny number by inhibiting escape of one of the daughter cells of an infected bacterium. They further emphasize that FtsZ is a natural target for bacterial growth inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tridib Mahata
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shahar Molshanski-Mor
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Moran G. Goren
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Miriam Kohen-Manor
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ido Yosef
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Oren Avram
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dor Salomon
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Udi Qimron
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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12
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Tan F, Yan R, Zhao C, Zhao N. Translocation Dynamics of an Active Filament through a Long-Length Scale Channel. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:8603-8615. [PMID: 37782905 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Active filament translocation through a confined space is crucial for diverse biological processes. By using Langevin dynamics simulations, we investigate the translocation dynamics of an axially self-propelled chain through a channel. First, results show a suggestive reciprocal scaling of translocation time versus active force. Second, in the case of a long channel, we demonstrate a very intriguing nonmonotonic change of translocation time with increasing channel width. The driving force shows a similar trend, providing a consistent picture to understand the unexpected channel width effect. In particular, in a moderately broad channel, the disordered chain conformation results in a loss of driving force and thus inhibits translocation dynamics. Chain adsorption might occur in a wide channel, which accounts for a facilitated translocation. Lastly, we connect the translocation process to tension propagation (TP). A modified TP picture is proposed to interpret the waiting time distribution. Our work highlights the new phenomenology owing to the crucial interplay of activity and spacial confinement, which drives the translocation dynamics, going beyond the traditional entropic barrier scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Tan
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Ran Yan
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Chaonan Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Nanrong Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
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13
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Harpring M, Cox JV. Plasticity in the cell division processes of obligate intracellular bacteria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1205488. [PMID: 37876871 PMCID: PMC10591338 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1205488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Most bacteria divide through a highly conserved process called binary fission, in which there is symmetric growth of daughter cells and the synthesis of peptidoglycan at the mid-cell to enable cytokinesis. During this process, the parental cell replicates its chromosomal DNA and segregates replicated chromosomes into the daughter cells. The mechanisms that regulate binary fission have been extensively studied in several model organisms, including Eschericia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Caulobacter crescentus. These analyses have revealed that a multi-protein complex called the divisome forms at the mid-cell to enable peptidoglycan synthesis and septation during division. In addition, rod-shaped bacteria form a multi-protein complex called the elongasome that drives sidewall peptidoglycan synthesis necessary for the maintenance of rod shape and the lengthening of the cell prior to division. In adapting to their intracellular niche, the obligate intracellular bacteria discussed here have eliminated one to several of the divisome gene products essential for binary fission in E. coli. In addition, genes that encode components of the elongasome, which were mostly lost as rod-shaped bacteria evolved into coccoid organisms, have been retained during the reductive evolutionary process that some coccoid obligate intracellular bacteria have undergone. Although the precise molecular mechanisms that regulate the division of obligate intracellular bacteria remain undefined, the studies summarized here indicate that obligate intracellular bacteria exhibit remarkable plasticity in their cell division processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John V. Cox
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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14
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Alotaibi BS. Targeting Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) with bioactive phytoconstituents: An emerging strategy for antibacterial therapy. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290852. [PMID: 37647309 PMCID: PMC10468062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The rise and widespread occurrence of bacterial resistance has created an evident need for novel antibacterial drugs. Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) is a crucial bacterial protein that forms a ring-like structure known as the Z-ring, playing a significant role in cell division. Targeting FtsZ is an effective approach for developing antibiotics that disrupt bacterial cell division and halt growth. This study aimed to use a virtual screening approach to search for bioactive phytoconstituents with the potential to inhibit FtsZ. The screening process proceeded with the filtering compounds from the IMPPAT library of phytochemicals based on their physicochemical properties using the Lipinski rule of five. This was followed by molecular docking, Pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS) filter, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), prediction of activity spectra for biologically active substances (PASS), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. These filters ensured that any adverse effects that could impede the identification of potential inhibitors of FtsZ were eliminated. Following this, two phytocompounds, Withaperuvin C and Trifolirhizin, were selected after the screening, demonstrating noteworthy binding potential with FtsZ's GTP binding pocket, acting as potent GTP-competitive inhibitors of FtsZ. The study suggested that these compounds could be further investigated for developing a novel class of antibiotics after required studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bader Saud Alotaibi
- Department of Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Alquwayiyah, Saudi Arabia
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15
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Caprini L, Löwen H, Marini Bettolo Marconi U. Chiral active matter in external potentials. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6234-6246. [PMID: 37555622 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00793f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the interplay between chirality and confinement induced by the presence of an external potential. For potentials having radial symmetry, the circular character of the trajectories induced by the chiral motion reduces the spatial fluctuations of the particle, thus providing an extra effective confining mechanism, that can be interpreted as a lowering of the effective temperature. In the case of non-radial potentials, for instance, with an elliptic shape, chirality displays a richer scenario. Indeed, the chirality can break the parity symmetry of the potential that is always fulfilled in the non-chiral system. The probability distribution displays a strong non-Maxwell-Boltzmann shape that emerges in cross-correlations between the two Cartesian components of the position, that vanishes in the absence of chirality or when radial symmetry of the potential is restored. These results are obtained by considering two popular models in active matter, i.e. chiral Active Brownian particles and chiral active Ornstein-Uhlenbeck particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Caprini
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Theoretische Physik II - Weiche Materie, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Hartmut Löwen
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Theoretische Physik II - Weiche Materie, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Umberto Marini Bettolo Marconi
- Scuola di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università di Camerino - via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032, Camerino, Italy
- INFN Sezione di Perugia, I-06123 Perugia, Italy.
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16
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Nanninga N. Molecular Cytology of 'Little Animals': Personal Recollections of Escherichia coli (and Bacillus subtilis). Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1782. [PMID: 37629639 PMCID: PMC10455606 DOI: 10.3390/life13081782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This article relates personal recollections and starts with the origin of electron microscopy in the sixties of the previous century at the University of Amsterdam. Novel fixation and embedding techniques marked the discovery of the internal bacterial structures not visible by light microscopy. A special status became reserved for the freeze-fracture technique. By freeze-fracturing chemically fixed cells, it proved possible to examine the morphological effects of fixation. From there on, the focus switched from bacterial structure as such to their cell cycle. This invoked bacterial physiology and steady-state growth combined with electron microscopy. Electron-microscopic autoradiography with pulses of [3H] Dap revealed that segregation of replicating DNA cannot proceed according to a model of zonal growth (with envelope-attached DNA). This stimulated us to further investigate the sacculus, the peptidoglycan macromolecule. In particular, we focused on the involvement of penicillin-binding proteins such as PBP2 and PBP3, and their role in division. Adding aztreonam (an inhibitor of PBP3) blocked ongoing divisions but not the initiation of new ones. A PBP3-independent peptidoglycan synthesis (PIPS) appeared to precede a PBP3-dependent step. The possible chemical nature of PIPS is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanne Nanninga
- Molecular Cytology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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17
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Fujita J, Amesaka H, Yoshizawa T, Hibino K, Kamimura N, Kuroda N, Konishi T, Kato Y, Hara M, Inoue T, Namba K, Tanaka SI, Matsumura H. Structures of a FtsZ single protofilament and a double-helical tube in complex with a monobody. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4073. [PMID: 37429870 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39807-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
FtsZ polymerizes into protofilaments to form the Z-ring that acts as a scaffold for accessory proteins during cell division. Structures of FtsZ have been previously solved, but detailed mechanistic insights are lacking. Here, we determine the cryoEM structure of a single protofilament of FtsZ from Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpFtsZ) in a polymerization-preferred conformation. We also develop a monobody (Mb) that binds to KpFtsZ and FtsZ from Escherichia coli without affecting their GTPase activity. Crystal structures of the FtsZ-Mb complexes reveal the Mb binding mode, while addition of Mb in vivo inhibits cell division. A cryoEM structure of a double-helical tube of KpFtsZ-Mb at 2.7 Å resolution shows two parallel protofilaments. Our present study highlights the physiological roles of the conformational changes of FtsZ in treadmilling that regulate cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junso Fujita
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- JEOL YOKOGUSHI Research Alliance Laboratories, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Amesaka
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, Kyoto Prefectural University, 1-5 Hangi-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshizawa
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Kota Hibino
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Natsuki Kamimura
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Natsuko Kuroda
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Takamoto Konishi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Yuki Kato
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Mizuho Hara
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, Kyoto Prefectural University, 1-5 Hangi-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, 2-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- dotAqua Inc., 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keiichi Namba
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- JEOL YOKOGUSHI Research Alliance Laboratories, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research and SPring-8 Center, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shun-Ichi Tanaka
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, Kyoto Prefectural University, 1-5 Hangi-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan.
| | - Hiroyoshi Matsumura
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
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18
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Guo K, Glatter T, Paczia N, Liesack W. Asparagine Uptake: a Cellular Strategy of Methylocystis to Combat Severe Salt Stress. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0011323. [PMID: 37184406 PMCID: PMC10305061 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00113-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Methylocystis spp. are known to have a low salt tolerance (≤1.0% NaCl). Therefore, we tested various amino acids and other well-known osmolytes for their potential to act as an osmoprotectant under otherwise growth-inhibiting NaCl conditions. Adjustment of the medium to 10 mM asparagine had the greatest osmoprotective effect under severe salinity (1.50% NaCl), leading to partial growth recovery of strain SC2. The intracellular concentration of asparagine increased to 264 ± 57 mM, with a certain portion hydrolyzed to aspartate (4.20 ± 1.41 mM). In addition to general and oxidative stress responses, the uptake of asparagine specifically induced major proteome rearrangements related to the KEGG level 3 categories of "methane metabolism," "pyruvate metabolism," "amino acid turnover," and "cell division." In particular, various proteins involved in cell division (e.g., ChpT, CtrA, PleC, FtsA, FtsH1) and peptidoglycan synthesis showed a positive expression response. Asparagine-derived 13C-carbon was incorporated into nearly all amino acids. Both the exometabolome and the 13C-labeling pattern suggest that in addition to aspartate, the amino acids glutamate, glycine, serine, and alanine, but also pyruvate and malate, were most crucially involved in the osmoprotective effect of asparagine, with glutamate being a major hub between the central carbon and amino acid pathways. In summary, asparagine induced significant proteome rearrangements, leading to major changes in central metabolic pathway activity and the sizes of free amino acid pools. In consequence, asparagine acted, in part, as a carbon source for the growth recovery of strain SC2 under severe salinity. IMPORTANCE Methylocystis spp. play a major role in reducing methane emissions into the atmosphere from methanogenic wetlands. In addition, they contribute to atmospheric methane oxidation in upland soils. Although these bacteria are typical soil inhabitants, Methylocystis spp. are thought to have limited capacity to acclimate to salt stress. This called for a thorough study into potential osmoprotectants, which revealed asparagine as the most promising candidate. Intriguingly, asparagine was taken up quantitatively and acted, at least in part, as an intracellular carbon source under severe salt stress. The effect of asparagine as an osmoprotectant for Methylocystis spp. is an unexpected finding. It may provide Methylocystis spp. with an ecological advantage in wetlands, where these methanotrophs colonize the roots of submerged vascular plants. Collectively, our study offers a new avenue into research on compounds that may increase the resilience of Methylocystis spp. to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangli Guo
- Methanotrophic Bacteria and Environmental Genomics/Transcriptomics Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Timo Glatter
- Core Facility for Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Paczia
- Core Facility for Metabolomics and Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Werner Liesack
- Methanotrophic Bacteria and Environmental Genomics/Transcriptomics Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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19
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Morrison JJ, Ferreira CN, Siler EM, Nelson K, Trebino CE, Piraino B, Camberg JL. Nucleotide-dependent activities of FtsA regulate the early establishment of a functional divisome during the Escherichia coli cell cycle. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1171376. [PMID: 37250038 PMCID: PMC10213515 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1171376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
During cell division in Escherichia coli, the highly conserved tubulin homolog FtsZ polymerizes and assembles into a ring-like structure, called the Z-ring, at the site of septation. For recruitment to the membrane surface, FtsZ polymers directly interact with membrane-associated proteins, predominantly FtsA in E. coli. FtsA shares structural homology with actin and, like actin, hydrolyzes ATP. Yeast actin detects nucleotide occupancy through a sensor region adjacent to the nucleotide binding site and adopts distinct conformations in monomeric and filamentous actin. Bacterial actin homologs also display considerable conformational flexibility across different nucleotide-bound states and polymerize. Here, we show that several amino acid residues proximal to the nucleotide binding site in FtsA are critical for function in vitro and in vivo. Each of these residues are important for ATP hydrolysis, phospholipid (PL) binding, ATP-dependent vesicle remodeling, and recruitment to the divisome in vivo, to varying degrees. Notably, we observed that Ser 84 and Glu 14 are essential for ATP-dependent vesicle remodeling and magnesium-dependent membrane release of FtsA from vesicles in vitro, and these defects likely underlie the loss of function by FtsA(E14R) and FtsA(S84L) in vivo. Finally, we demonstrate that FtsA(A188V), which is associated with temperature-sensitive growth in vivo, is defective for rapid ATP hydrolysis and ATP-dependent remodeling of PL vesicles in vitro. Together, our results show that loss of nucleotide-dependent activities by FtsA, such as ATP hydrolysis, membrane binding and release, and, most importantly, ATP-dependent PL remodeling, lead to failed Z-ring assembly and division defects in cells.
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20
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Chen YW, Kong WP, Wong KY. The structural integrity of the membrane-embedded bacterial division complex FtsQBL studied with molecular dynamics simulations. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2602-2612. [PMID: 37114213 PMCID: PMC10126914 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.03.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The FtsQBL is an essential molecular complex sitting midway through bacterial divisome assembly. To visualize and understand its structure, and the consequences of its membrane anchorage, we produced a model of the E. coli complex using the deep-learning prediction utility, AlphaFold 2. The heterotrimeric model was inserted into a 3-lipid model membrane and subjected to a 500-ns atomistic molecular dynamics simulation. The model is superb in quality and captures most experimentally derived structural features, at both the secondary structure and the side-chain levels. The model consists of a uniquely interlocking module contributed by the C-terminal regions of all three proteins. The functionally important constriction control domain residues of FtsB and FtsL are located at a fixed vertical position of ∼43-49 Å from the membrane surface. While the periplasmic domains of all three proteins are well-defined and rigid, the single transmembrane helices of each are flexible and their collective twisting and bending contribute to most structural variations, according to principal component analysis. Considering FtsQ only, the protein is more flexible in its free state relative to its complexed state-with the biggest structural changes located at the elbow between the transmembrane helix and the α-domain. The disordered N-terminal domains of FtsQ and FtsL associate with the cytoplasmic surface of the inner membrane instead of freely venturing into the solvent. Contact network analysis highlighted the formation of the interlocking trimeric module in FtsQBL as playing a central role in mediating the overall structure of the complex.
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21
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Wang Y, Jiménez DJ, Zhang Z, van Elsas JD. Functioning of a tripartite lignocellulolytic microbial consortium cultivated under two shaking conditions: a metatranscriptomic study. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:54. [PMID: 36991472 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02289-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
In a previous study, shaking speed was found to be an important factor affecting the population dynamics and lignocellulose-degrading activities of a synthetic lignocellulolytic microbial consortium composed of the bacteria Sphingobacterium paramultivorum w15, Citrobacter freundii so4, and the fungus Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1. Here, the gene expression profiles of each strain in this consortium were examined after growth at two shaking speeds (180 and 60 rpm) at three time points (1, 5 and 13 days).
Results
The results indicated that, at 60 rpm, C. freundii so4 switched, to a large extent, from aerobic to flexible (aerobic/microaerophilic/anaerobic) metabolism, resulting in continued slow growth till late stage. In addition, Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1 tended to occur to a larger extent in the hyphal form, with genes encoding adhesion proteins being highly expressed. Much like at 180 rpm, at 60 rpm, S. paramultivorum w15 and Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1 were key players in hemicellulose degradation processes, as evidenced from the respective CAZy-specific transcripts. Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1 exhibited expression of genes encoding arabinoxylan-degrading enzymes (i.e., of CAZy groups GH10, GH11, CE1, CE5 and GH43), whereas, at 180 rpm, some of these genes were suppressed at early stages of growth. Moreover, C. freundii so4 stably expressed genes that were predicted to encode proteins with (1) β-xylosidase/β-glucosidase and (2) peptidoglycan/chitinase activities, (3) stress response- and detoxification-related proteins. Finally, S. paramultivorum w15 showed involvement in vitamin B2 generation in the early stages across the two shaking speeds, while this role was taken over by C. freundii so4 at late stage at 60 rpm.
Conclusions
We provide evidence that S. paramultivorum w15 is involved in the degradation of mainly hemicellulose and in vitamin B2 production, and C. freundii so4 in the degradation of oligosaccharides or sugar dimers, next to detoxification processes. Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1 was held to be strongly involved in cellulose and xylan (at early stages), next to lignin modification processes (at later stages). The synergism and alternative functional roles presented in this study enhance the eco-enzymological understanding of the degradation of lignocellulose in this tripartite microbial consortium.
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22
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Wagstaff JM, Planelles-Herrero VJ, Sharov G, Alnami A, Kozielski F, Derivery E, Löwe J. Diverse cytomotive actins and tubulins share a polymerization switch mechanism conferring robust dynamics. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf3021. [PMID: 36989372 PMCID: PMC10058229 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf3021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Protein filaments are used in myriads of ways to organize other molecules within cells. Some filament-forming proteins couple the hydrolysis of nucleotides to their polymerization cycle, thus powering the movement of other molecules. These filaments are termed cytomotive. Only members of the actin and tubulin protein superfamilies are known to form cytomotive filaments. We examined the basis of cytomotivity via structural studies of the polymerization cycles of actin and tubulin homologs from across the tree of life. We analyzed published data and performed structural experiments designed to disentangle functional components of these complex filament systems. Our analysis demonstrates the existence of shared subunit polymerization switches among both cytomotive actins and tubulins, i.e., the conformation of subunits switches upon assembly into filaments. These cytomotive switches can explain filament robustness, by enabling the coupling of kinetic and structural polarities required for cytomotive behaviors and by ensuring that single cytomotive filaments do not fall apart.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Mark Wagstaff
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | - Grigory Sharov
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Aisha Alnami
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Frank Kozielski
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Emmanuel Derivery
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Jan Löwe
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
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23
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Smrt ST, Escobar CA, Dey S, Cross TA, Zhou HX. An Arg/Ala-rich helix in the N-terminal region of M. tuberculosis FtsQ is a potential membrane anchor of the Z-ring. Commun Biol 2023; 6:311. [PMID: 36959324 PMCID: PMC10036325 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04686-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Mtb infects a quarter of the worldwide population. Most drugs for treating tuberculosis target cell growth and division. With rising drug resistance, it becomes ever more urgent to better understand Mtb cell division. This process begins with the formation of the Z-ring via polymerization of FtsZ and anchoring of the Z-ring to the inner membrane. Here we show that the transmembrane protein FtsQ is a potential membrane anchor of the Mtb Z-ring. In the otherwise disordered cytoplasmic region of FtsQ, a 29-residue, Arg/Ala-rich α-helix is formed that interacts with upstream acidic residues in solution and with acidic lipids at the membrane surface. This helix also binds to the GTPase domain of FtsZ, with implications for drug binding and Z-ring formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean T Smrt
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Cristian A Escobar
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Souvik Dey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Timothy A Cross
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
| | - Huan-Xiang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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24
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Models versus pathogens: how conserved is the FtsZ in bacteria? Biosci Rep 2023; 43:232502. [PMID: 36695643 PMCID: PMC9939409 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20221664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Combating anti-microbial resistance by developing alternative strategies is the need of the hour. Cell division, particularly FtsZ, is being extensively studied for its potential as an alternative target for anti-bacterial therapy. Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli are the two well-studied models for research on FtsZ, the leader protein of the cell division machinery. As representatives of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, respectively, these organisms have provided an extensive outlook into the process of cell division in rod-shaped bacteria. However, research on other shapes of bacteria, like cocci and ovococci, lags behind that of model rods. Even though most regions of FtsZ show sequence and structural conservation throughout bacteria, the differences in FtsZ functioning and interacting partners establish several different modes of division in different bacteria. In this review, we compare the features of FtsZ and cell division in the model rods B. subtilis and E. coli and the four pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Reviewing several recent articles on these pathogenic bacteria, we have highlighted the functioning of FtsZ, the unique roles of FtsZ-associated proteins, and the cell division processes in them. Further, we provide a detailed look at the anti-FtsZ compounds discovered and their target bacteria, emphasizing the need for elucidation of the anti-FtsZ mechanism of action in different bacteria. Current challenges and opportunities in the ongoing journey of identifying potent anti-FtsZ drugs have also been described.
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25
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Kumar P, Chakrabarti R. Dynamics of self-propelled tracer particles inside a polymer network. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:1937-1946. [PMID: 36541408 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp04253c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The transport of tracer particles through mesh-like environments such as biological hydrogels and polymer matrices is ubiquitous in nature. These tracers can be passive, such as colloids, or active (self-propelled), for example, synthetic nanomotors or bacteria. Computer simulations in principle could be extremely useful in exploring the mechanism of the active transport of tracer particles through mesh-like environments. Therefore, we construct a polymer network on a diamond lattice and use computer simulations to investigate the dynamics of spherical self-propelled particles inside the network. Our main objective is to elucidate the effect of the self-propulsion on the tracer particle dynamics as a function of the tracer size and the stiffness of the polymer network. We compute the time-averaged mean-squared displacement (MSD) and the van-Hove correlations of the tracer. On the one hand, in the case of a bigger sticky particle, the caging caused by the network particles wins over the escape assisted by the self-propulsion. This results an intermediate-time subdiffusion. On the other hand, smaller tracers or tracers with high self-propulsion velocities can easily escape from the cages and show intermediate-time superdiffusion. The stiffer the network, the slower the dynamics of the tracer, and bigger tracers exhibit longer lived intermediate time superdiffusion, since the persistence time scales as ∼σ3, where σ is the diameter of the tracer. At the intermediate time, non-Gaussianity is more pronounced for active tracers. At the long time, the dynamics of the tracer, if passive or weakly active, becomes Gaussian and diffusive, but remains flat for tracers with high self-propulsion, accounting for their seemingly unrestricted motion inside the network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India.
| | - Rajarshi Chakrabarti
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India.
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26
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Porter KJ, Cao L, Osteryoung KW. Dynamics of the Synechococcus elongatus cytoskeletal GTPase FtsZ yields mechanistic and evolutionary insight into cyanobacterial and chloroplast FtsZs. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102917. [PMID: 36657643 PMCID: PMC9975276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The division of cyanobacteria and their chloroplast descendants is orchestrated by filamenting temperature-sensitive Z (FtsZ), a cytoskeletal GTPase that polymerizes into protofilaments that form a "Z ring" at the division site. The Z ring has both a scaffolding function for division-complex assembly and a GTPase-dependent contractile function that drives cell or organelle constriction. A single FtsZ performs these functions in bacteria, whereas in chloroplasts, they are performed by two copolymerizing FtsZs, called AtFtsZ2 and AtFtsZ1 in Arabidopsis thaliana, which promote protofilament stability and dynamics, respectively. To probe the differences between cyanobacterial and chloroplast FtsZs, we used light scattering to characterize the in vitro protofilament dynamics of FtsZ from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (SeFtsZ) and investigate how coassembly of AtFtsZ2 or AtFtsZ1 with SeFtsZ influences overall dynamics. SeFtsZ protofilaments assembled rapidly and began disassembling before GTP depletion, whereas AtFtsZ2 protofilaments were far more stable, persisting beyond GTP depletion. Coassembled SeFtsZ-AtFtsZ2 protofilaments began disassembling before GTP depletion, similar to SeFtsZ. In contrast, AtFtsZ1 did not alter disassembly onset when coassembled with SeFtsZ, but fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis showed it increased the turnover of SeFtsZ subunits from SeFtsZ-AtFtsZ1 protofilaments, mirroring its effect upon coassembly with AtFtsZ2. Comparisons of our findings with previous work revealed consistent differences between cyanobacterial and chloroplast FtsZ dynamics and suggest that the scaffolding and dynamics-promoting functions were partially separated during evolution of two chloroplast FtsZs from their cyanobacterial predecessor. They also suggest that chloroplasts may have evolved a mechanism distinct from that in cyanobacteria for promoting FtsZ protofilament dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie J Porter
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Lingyan Cao
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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27
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McCoy KM, Fritzsching KJ, McDermott AE. GTP-Bound Escherichia coli FtsZ Filaments Are Composed of Tense Monomers: a Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study Using Interface Detection. mBio 2022; 13:e0235822. [PMID: 36214571 PMCID: PMC9765660 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02358-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
FtsZ filaments are the major structural component of the bacterial Z ring and are drivers of bacterial division. Crystal structures for FtsZ from some Gram-positive bacteria in the presence of GTP analogs suggest the possibility of a high-energy, "tense" conformation. It remains important to elucidate whether this tense form is the dominant form in filaments. Using dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and differential isotopic labeling, we directly detected residues located at the intermonomer interface of GTP-bound wild-type (WT) Escherichia coli FtsZ filaments. We combined chemical shift prediction, homology modeling, and heteronuclear dipolar recoupling techniques to characterize the E. coli FtsZ filament interface and demonstrated that the monomers in active filaments assume a tense conformation. IMPORTANCE Bacterial replication is dependent on the cytoskeletal protein FtsZ, which forms filaments that scaffold and recruit other essential division proteins. While the FtsZ monomer is well studied across organisms, many questions remain about how the filaments form and function. Recently, a second monomer form was identified in Staphylococcus aureus that has far-reaching implications for FtsZ structure and function. However, to date, this form has not been directly observed outside S. aureus. In this study, we used solid-state NMR and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) to directly study the filaments of E. coli FtsZ to demonstrate that E. coli FtsZ filaments are primarily composed of this second, "tense" form of the monomer. This work is the first time GTP-bound, wild-type FtsZ filaments have been studied directly at atomic resolution and is an important step forward for the study of FtsZ filaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M. McCoy
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Ann E. McDermott
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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28
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MipZ caps the plus-end of FtsZ polymers to promote their rapid disassembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208227119. [PMID: 36490318 PMCID: PMC9897490 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208227119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatiotemporal regulation of cell division is a fundamental issue in cell biology. Bacteria have evolved a variety of different systems to achieve proper division site placement. In many cases, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still incompletely understood. In this study, we investigate the function of the cell division regulator MipZ from Caulobacter crescentus, a P-loop ATPase that inhibits the polymerization of the treadmilling tubulin homolog FtsZ near the cell poles, thereby limiting the assembly of the cytokinetic Z ring to the midcell region. We show that MipZ interacts with FtsZ in both its monomeric and polymeric forms and induces the disassembly of FtsZ polymers in a manner that is not dependent but enhanced by the FtsZ GTPase activity. Using a combination of biochemical and genetic approaches, we then map the MipZ-FtsZ interaction interface. Our results reveal that MipZ employs a patch of surface-exposed hydrophobic residues to interact with the C-terminal region of the FtsZ core domain. In doing so, it sequesters FtsZ monomers and caps the (+)-end of FtsZ polymers, thereby promoting their rapid disassembly. We further show that MipZ influences the conformational dynamics of interacting FtsZ molecules, which could potentially contribute to modulating their assembly kinetics. Together, our findings show that MipZ uses a combination of mechanisms to control FtsZ polymerization, which may be required to robustly regulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of Z ring assembly within the cell.
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29
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Dey S, Zhou HX. Membrane Tethering of SepF, a Membrane Anchor for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Z-ring. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167817. [PMID: 36087777 PMCID: PMC9992448 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167817] [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: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial cell division begins with the formation of the Z-ring via polymerization of FtsZ and the localization of Z-ring beneath the inner membrane through membrane anchors. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), SepF is one such membrane anchor, but our understanding of the underlying mechanism is very limited. Here we used molecular dynamics simulations to characterize how SepF itself, a water-soluble protein, tethers to acidic membranes that mimic the Mtb inner membrane. In addition to an amphipathic helix (residues 1-12) at the N-terminus, membrane binding also occurs through two stretches of positively charged residues (Arg27-Arg37 and Arg95-Arg107) in the long linker preceding the FtsZ-binding core domain (residues 128-218). The additional interactions via the disordered linker stabilize the membrane tethering of SepF, and keep the core domain of SepF and hence the attached Z-ring close to the membrane. The resulting membrane proximity of the Z-ring in turn enables its interactions with and thus recruitment of two membrane proteins, FtsW and CrgA, at the late stage of cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Dey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Huan-Xiang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60607, USA; Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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30
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In vitro assembly, positioning and contraction of a division ring in minimal cells. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6098. [PMID: 36243816 PMCID: PMC9569390 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33679-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Constructing a minimal machinery for autonomous self-division of synthetic cells is a major goal of bottom-up synthetic biology. One paradigm has been the E. coli divisome, with the MinCDE protein system guiding assembly and positioning of a presumably contractile ring based on FtsZ and its membrane adaptor FtsA. Here, we demonstrate the full in vitro reconstitution of this machinery consisting of five proteins within lipid vesicles, allowing to observe the following sequence of events in real time: 1) Assembly of an isotropic filamentous FtsZ network, 2) its condensation into a ring-like structure, along with pole-to-pole mode selection of Min oscillations resulting in equatorial positioning, and 3) onset of ring constriction, deforming the vesicles from spherical shape. Besides demonstrating these essential features, we highlight the importance of decisive experimental factors, such as macromolecular crowding. Our results provide an exceptional showcase of the emergence of cell division in a minimal system, and may represent a step towards developing a synthetic cell.
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31
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Halogenation of tyrosine perturbs large-scale protein self-organization. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4843. [PMID: 35977922 PMCID: PMC9385671 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32535-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein halogenation is a common non-enzymatic post-translational modification contributing to aging, oxidative stress-related diseases and cancer. Here, we report a genetically encodable halogenation of tyrosine residues in a reconstituted prokaryotic filamentous cell-division protein (FtsZ) as a platform to elucidate the implications of halogenation that can be extrapolated to living systems of much higher complexity. We show how single halogenations can fine-tune protein structures and dynamics of FtsZ with subtle perturbations collectively amplified by the process of FtsZ self-organization. Based on experiments and theories, we have gained valuable insights into the mechanism of halogen influence. The bending of FtsZ structures occurs by affecting surface charges and internal domain distances and is reflected in the decline of GTPase activities by reducing GTP binding energy during polymerization. Our results point to a better understanding of the physiological and pathological effects of protein halogenation and may contribute to the development of potential diagnostic tools.
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32
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Godino E, Doerr A, Danelon C. Min waves without MinC can pattern FtsA-anchored FtsZ filaments on model membranes. Commun Biol 2022; 5:675. [PMID: 35798943 PMCID: PMC9262947 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03640-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the essential proteins that drive bacterial cytokinesis have been identified, the precise mechanisms by which they dynamically interact to enable symmetrical division are largely unknown. In Escherichia coli, cell division begins with the formation of a proto-ring composed of FtsZ and its membrane-tethering proteins FtsA and ZipA. In the broadly proposed molecular scenario for ring positioning, Min waves composed of MinD and MinE distribute the FtsZ-polymerization inhibitor MinC away from mid-cell, where the Z-ring can form. Therefore, MinC is believed to be an essential element connecting the Min and FtsZ subsystems. Here, by combining cell-free protein synthesis with planar lipid membranes and microdroplets, we demonstrate that MinDE drive the formation of dynamic, antiphase patterns of FtsA-anchored FtsZ filaments even in the absence of MinC. These results suggest that Z-ring positioning may be achieved with a more minimal set of proteins than previously envisaged, providing a fresh perspective about synthetic cell division. Cell-free protein synthesis of bacterial cytokinesis factors reveals that MinDE surface waves regulate FtsA-anchored FtsZ filaments in time and space independently of MinC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Godino
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Doerr
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Christophe Danelon
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands.
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33
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Vélez M. How Does the Spatial Confinement of FtsZ to a Membrane Surface Affect Its Polymerization Properties and Function? Front Microbiol 2022; 13:757711. [PMID: 35592002 PMCID: PMC9111741 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.757711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
FtsZ is the cytoskeletal protein that organizes the formation of the septal ring and orchestrates bacterial cell division. Its association to the membrane is essential for its function. In this mini-review I will address the question of how this association can interfere with the structure and dynamic properties of the filaments and argue that its dynamics could also remodel the underlying lipid membrane through its activity. Thus, lipid rearrangement might need to be considered when trying to understand FtsZ’s function. This new element could help understand how FtsZ assembly coordinates positioning and recruitment of the proteins forming the septal ring inside the cell with the activity of the machinery involved in peptidoglycan synthesis located in the periplasmic space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisela Vélez
- Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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34
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Radler P, Baranova N, Caldas P, Sommer C, López-Pelegrín M, Michalik D, Loose M. In vitro reconstitution of Escherichia coli divisome activation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2635. [PMID: 35550516 PMCID: PMC9098913 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30301-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The actin-homologue FtsA is essential for E. coli cell division, as it links FtsZ filaments in the Z-ring to transmembrane proteins. FtsA is thought to initiate cell constriction by switching from an inactive polymeric to an active monomeric conformation, which recruits downstream proteins and stabilizes the Z-ring. However, direct biochemical evidence for this mechanism is missing. Here, we use reconstitution experiments and quantitative fluorescence microscopy to study divisome activation in vitro. By comparing wild-type FtsA with FtsA R286W, we find that this hyperactive mutant outperforms FtsA WT in replicating FtsZ treadmilling dynamics, FtsZ filament stabilization and recruitment of FtsN. We could attribute these differences to a faster exchange and denser packing of FtsA R286W below FtsZ filaments. Using FRET microscopy, we also find that FtsN binding promotes FtsA self-interaction. We propose that in the active divisome FtsA and FtsN exist as a dynamic copolymer that follows treadmilling filaments of FtsZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Radler
- Institute for Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Natalia Baranova
- Institute for Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria
- University of Vienna, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paulo Caldas
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Christoph Sommer
- Institute for Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Mar López-Pelegrín
- Institute for Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - David Michalik
- Institute for Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Martin Loose
- Institute for Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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35
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Lamanna MM, Maurelli AT. What Is Motion? Recent Advances in the Study of Molecular Movement Patterns of the Peptidoglycan Synthesis Machines. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0059821. [PMID: 34928180 PMCID: PMC9017339 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00598-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
How proteins move through space and time is a fundamental question in biology. While great strides have been made toward a mechanistic understanding of protein movement, many questions remain. We discuss the biological implications of motion in the context of the peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis machines. We reviewed systems in several bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and present a comprehensive view of our current knowledge regarding movement dynamics. Discrepancies are also addressed because "one size does not fit all". For bacteria to divide, new PG is synthesized and incorporated into the growing cell wall by complex multiprotein nanomachines consisting of PG synthases (transglycosylases [TG] and/or transpeptidases [TP]) as well as a variety of regulators and cytoskeletal factors. Advances in imaging capabilities and labeling methods have revealed that these machines are not static but rather circumferentially transit the cell via directed motion perpendicular to the long axis of model rod-shaped bacteria such as E. coli and B. subtilis. The enzymatic activity of the TG:TPs drives motion in some species while motion is mediated by FtsZ treadmilling in others. In addition, both directed and diffusive motion of the PG synthases have been observed using single-particle tracking technology. Here, we examined the biological role of diffusion regarding transit. Lastly, findings regarding the monofunctional transglycosylases (RodA and FtsW) as well as the Class A PG synthases are discussed. This minireview serves to showcase recent advances, broach mechanistic unknowns, and stimulate future areas of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Mae Lamanna
- Department of Environmental & Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Floridagrid.15276.37, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Anthony T. Maurelli
- Department of Environmental & Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Floridagrid.15276.37, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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36
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Chen Y, Yan R, Zhao N. Passive and active tracer dynamics in polymer solutions with isotropic-to-nematic phase transition. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:7415-7429. [PMID: 35266498 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp00323f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Macromolecular crowding plays a crucial role in determining the dynamics in a living cell. We adopt Langevin dynamics simulations to investigate the anomalous diffusion dynamics of passive and active particles in a solution of polymer chains with tunable stiffness. The solution's anisotropic feature is modulated by changing both the polymer stiffness and volume fraction, where isotropic-to-nematic phase transition is involved. Our results demonstrate the significant impact of polymer flexibility on the dynamics of both passive and active probes. The distinct diffusion mechanism for an active particle is clarified by the interplay between polymer stiffness, crowdedness and activity. Polymer stiffness leads to a global inhibition effect on passive particle diffusion. The diffusion coefficient exhibits an intriguing non-monotonic variation at increasing polymer stiffness, which is due to the fact that the alignment of polymer chains is beneficial for diffusion along the nematic direction but unfavorable for that in the direction perpendicular to it. In sharp contrast, polymer stiffness plays a dominant role in facilitating active particle diffusion. Self-propulsion of the particle can utilize stiffness-induced elastic interactions more efficiently, which promotes its mobility in both directions. Meanwhile, an active particle might have a stronger ability to take advantage of the polymer alignment, contributing substantially enhanced diffusivity. In addition, the diffusion coefficient of an active particle is subject to a tendency of degeneration against varying volume fraction. This counter-intuitive behavior is due to the contrasting factors that increasing crowdedness induces a lower particle speed but a longer persistent motion time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Ran Yan
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Nanrong Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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37
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Ruiz FM, Huecas S, Santos-Aledo A, Prim EA, Andreu JM, Fernández-Tornero C. FtsZ filament structures in different nucleotide states reveal the mechanism of assembly dynamics. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001497. [PMID: 35312677 PMCID: PMC8936486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Treadmilling protein filaments perform essential cellular functions by growing from one end while shrinking from the other, driven by nucleotide hydrolysis. Bacterial cell division relies on the primitive tubulin homolog FtsZ, a target for antibiotic discovery that assembles into single treadmilling filaments that hydrolyse GTP at an active site formed upon subunit association. We determined high-resolution filament structures of FtsZ from the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus in complex with different nucleotide analogs and cations, including mimetics of the ground and transition states of catalysis. Together with mutational and biochemical analyses, our structures reveal interactions made by the GTP γ-phosphate and Mg2+ at the subunit interface, a K+ ion stabilizing loop T7 for co-catalysis, new roles of key residues at the active site and a nearby crosstalk area, and rearrangements of a dynamic water shell bridging adjacent subunits upon GTP hydrolysis. We propose a mechanistic model that integrates nucleotide hydrolysis signaling with assembly-associated conformational changes and filament treadmilling. Equivalent assembly mechanisms may apply to more complex tubulin and actin cytomotive filaments that share analogous features with FtsZ. Bacterial cell division critically relies on the tubulin homolog FtsZ, which assembles into filaments that treadmill, fuelled by GTP hydrolysis. This structural and biochemical study of FtsZ from Staphylocuccus aureus reveals the mechanism of GTP hydrolysis and its connection with filament dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico M. Ruiz
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Huecas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Elena A. Prim
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. Andreu
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (JMA); (CFT)
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38
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Sahoo R, Theeyancheri L, Chakrabarti R. Transport of a self-propelled tracer through a hairy cylindrical channel: interplay of stickiness and activity. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:1310-1318. [PMID: 35060583 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01693h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Active transport of biomolecules assisted by motor proteins is imperative for the proper functioning of cellular activities. Inspired by the diffusion of active agents in crowded cellular channels, we computationally investigate the transport of an active tracer through a polymer grafted cylindrical channel by varying the activity of the tracer and stickiness of the tracer to the polymers. Our results reveal that the passive tracer exhibits profound subdiffusion with increasing stickiness by exploring deep into the grafted polymeric zone, while purely repulsive one prefers to diffuse through the pore-like space created along the cylindrical axis of the channel. In contrast, the active tracer shows faster dynamics and intermediate superdiffusion even though the tracer preferentially stays close to the dense polymeric region. This observation is further supported by the sharp peaks in the density profile of the probability of radial displacement of the tracer. We discover that the activity plays an important role in deciding the pathway that the tracer takes through the narrow channel. Interestingly, increasing the activity washes out the effect of stickiness. Adding to this, van-Hove functions manifest that the active tracer dynamics deviates from Gaussianity, and the degree of deviation grows with the activity. Our work has direct implications on how effective transportation and delivery of cargo can be achieved through a confined medium where activity, interactions, and crowding are interplaying. Looking ahead, these factors will be crucial for understanding the mechanism of artificial self-powered machines navigating through the cellular channels and performing in vivo challenging tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiblochan Sahoo
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India.
| | - Ligesh Theeyancheri
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India.
| | - Rajarshi Chakrabarti
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India.
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39
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Morrison JJ, Conti J, Camberg JL. Assembly and architecture of Escherichia coli divisome proteins FtsA and FtsZ. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101663. [PMID: 35104502 PMCID: PMC8897712 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During Escherichia coli cell division, an intracellular complex of cell division proteins known as the Z-ring assembles at midcell during early division and serves as the site of constriction. While the predominant protein in the Z-ring is the widely conserved tubulin homolog FtsZ, the actin homolog FtsA tethers the Z-ring scaffold to the cytoplasmic membrane by binding to FtsZ. While FtsZ is known to function as a dynamic, polymerized GTPase, the assembly state of its partner, FtsA, and the role of ATP are still unclear. We report that a substitution mutation in the FtsA ATP-binding site impairs ATP hydrolysis, phospholipid vesicle remodeling in vitro, and Z-ring assembly in vivo. We demonstrate by transmission electron microscopy and Förster Resonance Energy Transfer that a truncated FtsA variant, FtsA(ΔMTS) lacking a C-terminal membrane targeting sequence, self assembles into ATP-dependent filaments. These filaments coassemble with FtsZ polymers but are destabilized by unassembled FtsZ. These findings suggest a model wherein ATP binding drives FtsA polymerization and membrane remodeling at the lipid surface, and FtsA polymerization is coregulated with FtsZ polymerization. We conclude that the coordinated assembly of FtsZ and FtsA polymers may serve as a key checkpoint in division that triggers cell wall synthesis and division progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah J Morrison
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Joseph Conti
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jodi L Camberg
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA.
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40
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Levin PA, Janakiraman A. Localization, Assembly, and Activation of the Escherichia coli Cell Division Machinery. EcoSal Plus 2021; 9:eESP00222021. [PMID: 34910577 PMCID: PMC8919703 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0022-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Decades of research, much of it in Escherichia coli, have yielded a wealth of insight into bacterial cell division. Here, we provide an overview of the E. coli division machinery with an emphasis on recent findings. We begin with a short historical perspective into the discovery of FtsZ, the tubulin homolog that is essential for division in bacteria and archaea. We then discuss assembly of the divisome, an FtsZ-dependent multiprotein platform, at the midcell septal site. Not simply a scaffold, the dynamic properties of polymeric FtsZ ensure the efficient and uniform synthesis of septal peptidoglycan. Next, we describe the remodeling of the cell wall, invagination of the cell envelope, and disassembly of the division apparatus culminating in scission of the mother cell into two daughter cells. We conclude this review by highlighting some of the open questions in the cell division field, emphasizing that much remains to be discovered, even in an organism as extensively studied as E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Anne Levin
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for Science & Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Anuradha Janakiraman
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, New York, New York, USA
- Programs in Biology and Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
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41
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Zhang B, Tan F, Zhao N. Polymer looping kinetics in active heterogeneous environments. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:10334-10349. [PMID: 34734953 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01259b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A typical biological environment is usually featured by crowding and heterogeneity, leading to complex reaction kinetics of the immersed macromolecules. In the present work, we adopt Langevin dynamics simulations to systematically investigate polymer looping kinetics in active heterogeneous media crowded with a mixture of mobile active particles and immobile obstacles. For comparison, a parallel study is also performed in the passive heterogeneous media. We explicitly analyze the change of looping time and looping probability with the variation of obstacle ratio, volume fraction and crowder size. We reveal the novel phenomena of inhibition-facilitation transition of the looping rate induced by heterogeneity, crowdedness and activity. In addition, our results demonstrate a very non-trivial crowder size effect on the looping kinetics. The underlying mechanism is rationalized by the interplay of polymer diffusion, conformational change and looping free-energy barrier. The competing effect arising from active particles and obstacles on structural and dynamical properties of the polymer yields a consistent scenario for our observations. Lastly, the non-exponential kinetics of the looping process is also analyzed. We find that both activity and crowding can strengthen the heterogeneity degree of the looping kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Fei Tan
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Nanrong Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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42
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Huang D, Du Y, Jiang H, Hou Z. Emergent spiral vortex of confined biased active particles. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:034606. [PMID: 34654190 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.034606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Confinement is known to have profound effects on the collective dynamics of many active systems. Here, we investigate a modeled active system in circular confinement consisting of biased active particles, where the direction of active force deviates a biased angle from the principle orientation of the anisotropic interaction. We find that such particles can spontaneously form a spiral vortex with two concentric and counter-rotating regions near the boundary. The emerged vortex can be measured by the vortex order parameter which shows nonmonotonic dependencies on both the biased angle and the strength of the anisotropic interaction. Our work can provide an understanding of such dynamic behaviors and enable different strategies for designing ordered collective behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deping Huang
- Department of Chemical Physics and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscales, iChEM, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Yunfei Du
- Department of Chemical Physics and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscales, iChEM, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Huijun Jiang
- Department of Chemical Physics and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscales, iChEM, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Zhonghuai Hou
- Department of Chemical Physics and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscales, iChEM, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
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43
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Schwille P, Frohn BP. Hidden protein functions and what they may teach us. Trends Cell Biol 2021; 32:102-109. [PMID: 34654605 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Bottom-up synthetic biology is a new research field with the goal of constructing living systems from a minimal number of functional components. The key challenges are, first, to identify a necessary canon of functions for a system to be considered alive, and second, to reconstitute these respective modules in vitro. When using proteins as obvious candidates, it appears that not only some of their described physiological functions fail to unfold outside the cellular context, but that completely new and unexpected functions are being observed. We put these insights in the context of other recent findings on protein functionality and discuss their potential role in the emergence and evolution of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Schwille
- Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Béla P Frohn
- Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
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44
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Liu ZT, Shi Y, Zhao Y, Chaté H, Shi XQ, Zhang TH. Activity waves and freestanding vortices in populations of subcritical Quincke rollers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2104724118. [PMID: 34588304 PMCID: PMC8501844 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104724118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Virtually all of the many active matter systems studied so far are made of units (biofilaments, cells, colloidal particles, robots, animals, etc.) that move even when they are alone or isolated. Their collective properties continue to fascinate, and we now understand better how they are unique to the bulk transduction of energy into work. Here we demonstrate that systems in which isolated but potentially active particles do not move can exhibit specific and remarkable collective properties. Combining experiments, theory, and numerical simulations, we show that such subcritical active matter can be realized with Quincke rollers, that is, dielectric colloidal particles immersed in a conducting fluid subjected to a vertical DC electric field. Working below the threshold field value marking the onset of motion for a single colloid, we find fast activity waves, reminiscent of excitable systems, and stable, arbitrarily large self-standing vortices made of thousands of particles moving at the same speed. Our theoretical model accounts for these phenomena and shows how they can arise in the absence of confining boundaries and individual chirality. We argue that our findings imply that a faithful description of the collective properties of Quincke rollers need to consider the fluid surrounding particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeng Tao Liu
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Yongfeng Zhao
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hugues Chaté
- Service de Physique de l'Etat Condensé, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;
- Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xia-Qing Shi
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China;
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Tian Hui Zhang
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China;
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
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45
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Structural, molecular docking computational studies and in-vitro evidence for antibacterial activity of mixed ligand complexes. J Mol Struct 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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46
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The Division Defect of a Bacillus subtilis minD noc Double Mutant Can Be Suppressed by Spx-Dependent and Spx-Independent Mechanisms. J Bacteriol 2021; 203:e0024921. [PMID: 34181483 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00249-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During growth, bacteria increase in size and divide. Division is initiated by the formation of the Z-ring, a ring-like cytoskeletal structure formed by treadmilling protofilaments of the tubulin homolog FtsZ. FtsZ localization is thought to be controlled by the Min and Noc systems, and here we explore why cell division fails at high temperature when the Min and Noc systems are simultaneously mutated. Microfluidic analysis of a minD noc double mutant indicated that FtsZ formed proto-Z-rings at periodic interchromosome locations but that the rings failed to mature and become functional. Extragenic suppressor analysis indicated that a variety of mutations restored high temperature growth to the minD noc double mutant, and while many were likely pleiotropic, others implicated the proteolysis of the transcription factor Spx. Further analysis indicated that a Spx-dependent pathway activated the expression of ZapA, a protein that primarily compensates for the absence of Noc. In addition, an Spx-independent pathway reduced the length of the cytokinetic period, perhaps by increasing divisome activity. Finally, we provide evidence of an as-yet-unidentified protein that is activated by Spx and governs the frequency of polar division and minicell formation. IMPORTANCE Bacteria must properly position the location of the cell division machinery in order to grow, divide, and ensure each daughter cell receives one copy of the chromosome. In Bacillus subtilis, cell division site selection depends on the Min and Noc systems, and while neither is individually essential, cells fail to grow at high temperature when both are mutated. Here, we show that cell division fails in the absence of Min and Noc, due not to a defect in FtsZ localization but rather to a failure in the maturation of the cell division machinery. Suppressor mutations that restored growth were selected, and while some activated the expression of ZapA via the Spx stress response pathway, others appeared to directly enhance divisome activity.
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Abstract
Most bacteria are surrounded by a peptidoglycan cell wall that defines their shape and protects them from osmotic lysis. The expansion and division of this structure therefore plays an integral role in bacterial growth and division. Additionally, the biogenesis of the peptidoglycan layer is the target of many of our most effective antibiotics. Thus, a better understanding of how the cell wall is built will enable the development of new therapies to combat the rise of drug-resistant bacterial infections. This review covers recent advances in defining the mechanisms involved in assembling the peptidoglycan layer with an emphasis on discoveries related to the function and regulation of the cell elongation and division machineries in the model organisms Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 75 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia D A Rohs
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Current affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Thomas G Bernhardt
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Liao GJ, Klapp SHL. Emergent vortices and phase separation in systems of chiral active particles with dipolar interactions. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:6833-6847. [PMID: 34223596 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00545f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Using Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations we investigate the self-organization of a monolayer of chiral active particles with dipolar interactions. Each particle is driven by both, translational and rotational self-propulsion, and carries a permanent point dipole moment at its center. The direction of the translational propulsion for each particle is chosen to be parallel to its dipole moment. Simulations are performed at high dipolar coupling strength and a density below that related to motility-induced phase separation in simple active Brownian particles. Despite this restriction, we observe a wealth of phenomena including formation of two types of vortices, phase separation, and flocking transitions. To understand the appearance and disappearance of vortices in the many-particle system, we further investigate the dynamics of simple ring structures under the impact of self-propulsion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Jun Liao
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sabine H L Klapp
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
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Ramirez-Diaz DA, Merino-Salomón A, Meyer F, Heymann M, Rivas G, Bramkamp M, Schwille P. FtsZ induces membrane deformations via torsional stress upon GTP hydrolysis. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3310. [PMID: 34083531 PMCID: PMC8175707 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23387-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
FtsZ is a key component in bacterial cell division, being the primary protein of the presumably contractile Z ring. In vivo and in vitro, it shows two distinctive features that could so far, however, not be mechanistically linked: self-organization into directionally treadmilling vortices on solid supported membranes, and shape deformation of flexible liposomes. In cells, circumferential treadmilling of FtsZ was shown to recruit septum-building enzymes, but an active force production remains elusive. To gain mechanistic understanding of FtsZ dependent membrane deformations and constriction, we design an in vitro assay based on soft lipid tubes pulled from FtsZ decorated giant lipid vesicles (GUVs) by optical tweezers. FtsZ filaments actively transform these tubes into spring-like structures, where GTPase activity promotes spring compression. Operating the optical tweezers in lateral vibration mode and assigning spring constants to FtsZ coated tubes, the directional forces that FtsZ-YFP-mts rings exert upon GTP hydrolysis can be estimated to be in the pN range. They are sufficient to induce membrane budding with constricting necks on both, giant vesicles and E.coli cells devoid of their cell walls. We hypothesize that these forces result from torsional stress in a GTPase activity dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Ramirez-Diaz
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Graduate School for Quantitative Biosciences (QBM), Ludwig-Maximillians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Adrián Merino-Salomón
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Life Sciences (IMPRS-LS), Munich, Germany
| | - Fabian Meyer
- Institute of General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Unversity, Kiel, Germany
| | - Michael Heymann
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Germán Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marc Bramkamp
- Institute of General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Unversity, Kiel, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
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50
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Zhang B, Lei T, Zhao N. Comparative study of polymer looping kinetics in passive and active environments. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:12171-12190. [PMID: 34008649 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp00591j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Intra-chain looping in complex environments is significant in advancing our understanding of biological processes in life. We adopt Langevin dynamics simulations to perform a comparative study of polymer looping kinetics in passive and active environments. From the analysis of looping quantities, including looping-unlooping times and looping probabilities, we unraveled the intriguing effects of active crowder size, activity and crowding. Firstly, we figured out the phase diagram involving a novel facilitation-inhibition transition in the parameter space of active crowder size and active force, and the two-fold roles of activity are clarified. In particular, we find that active particles of a size comparable to the polymer monomer are most favorable for facilitated looping, while those with a similar size to the polymer gyration radius impede the looping most seriously. Secondly, the underlying looping mechanisms in different active crowder size regimes are rationalized by the interplay among diffusion, polymer conformational change and the free-energy barrier. For small active crowders, activity significantly promotes end-to-end distance diffusion, which dominantly facilitates both looping and unlooping processes. In the case of moderate active crowders, the polymer chain suffers from prominent swelling, and thus inevitable inhibited looping will occur. For large active crowders, activity induces a counterintuitive non-cage effect on the looping kinetics, through yielding a higher effective temperature and larger unlooping free-energy barrier. This is in sharp contrast to the caging phenomena observed in passive media. Lastly, the volume-fraction dependence of the looping quantities in an active bath demonstrates dramatic discrepancies from that in a passive bath, which highlights the contrasting effects of activity and crowding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Ting Lei
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Nanrong Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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