1
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Üresin D, Schulte J, Morgner N, Soppa J. C(P)XCG Proteins of Haloferax volcanii with Predicted Zinc Finger Domains: The Majority Bind Zinc, but Several Do Not. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7166. [PMID: 39000272 PMCID: PMC11241148 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137166] [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: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, interest in very small proteins (µ-proteins) has increased significantly, and they were found to fulfill important functions in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic species. The halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii encodes about 400 µ-proteins of less than 70 amino acids, 49 of which contain at least two C(P)XCG motifs and are, thus, predicted zinc finger proteins. The determination of the NMR solution structure of HVO_2753 revealed that only one of two predicted zinc fingers actually bound zinc, while a second one was metal-free. Therefore, the aim of the current study was the homologous production of additional C(P)XCG proteins and the quantification of their zinc content. Attempts to produce 31 proteins failed, underscoring the particular difficulties of working with µ-proteins. In total, 14 proteins could be produced and purified, and the zinc content was determined. Only nine proteins complexed zinc, while five proteins were zinc-free. Three of the latter could be analyzed using ESI-MS and were found to contain another metal, most likely cobalt or nickel. Therefore, at least in haloarchaea, the variability of predicted C(P)XCG zinc finger motifs is higher than anticipated, and they can be metal-free, bind zinc, or bind another metal. Notably, AlphaFold2 cannot correctly predict whether or not the four cysteines have the tetrahedral configuration that is a prerequisite for metal binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Üresin
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany;
| | - Jonathan Schulte
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany; (J.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Nina Morgner
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany; (J.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Jörg Soppa
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany;
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2
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Diana D, Pirone L, Russo L, D'Abrosca G, Madheswaran M, Benfante R, Di Lascio S, Caldinelli L, Fornasari D, Acconcia C, Corvino A, Ventserova N, Pollegioni L, Isernia C, Di Gaetano S, Malgieri G, Pedone EM, Fattorusso R. Structural characterization of PHOX2B and its DNA interaction shed light on the molecular basis of the +7Ala variant pathogenicity in CCHS. Chem Sci 2024; 15:8858-8872. [PMID: 38873078 PMCID: PMC11168103 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06427a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
An expansion of poly-alanine up to +13 residues in the C-terminus of the transcription factor PHOX2B underlies the onset of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS). Recent studies demonstrated that the alanine tract expansion influences PHOX2B folding and activity. Therefore, structural information on PHOX2B is an important target for obtaining clues to elucidate the insurgence of the alanine expansion-related syndrome and also for defining a viable therapy. Here we report by NMR spectroscopy the structural characterization of the homeodomain (HD) of PHOX2B and HD + C-terminus PHOX2B protein, free and in the presence of the target DNA. The obtained structural data are then exploited to obtain a structural model of the PHOX2B-DNA interaction. In addition, the variant +7Ala, responsible for one of the most frequent forms of the syndrome, was analysed, showing different conformational proprieties in solution and a strong propensity to aggregation. Our data suggest that the elongated poly-alanine tract would be related to disease onset through a loss-of-function mechanism. Overall, this study paves the way for the future rational design of therapeutic drugs, suggesting as a possible therapeutic route the use of specific anti-aggregating molecules capable of preventing variant aggregation and possibly restoring the DNA-binding activity of PHOX2B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Diana
- CNR - Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging Via Pietro Castellino 111 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Luciano Pirone
- CNR - Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging Via Pietro Castellino 111 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Gianluca D'Abrosca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine - University of Foggia Viale Luigi Pinto 71122 Foggia Italy
| | - Manoj Madheswaran
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Roberta Benfante
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine (BIOMETRA), Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
- CNR - Institute of Neuroscience Vedano Al Lambro (MB) Italy
- NeuroMi - Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano Bicocca Milan Italy
| | - Simona Di Lascio
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine (BIOMETRA), Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
| | - Laura Caldinelli
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria Via J.H. Dunant 3 21100 Varese Italy
| | - Diego Fornasari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine (BIOMETRA), Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
| | - Clementina Acconcia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Andrea Corvino
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Nataliia Ventserova
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Loredano Pollegioni
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria Via J.H. Dunant 3 21100 Varese Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Sonia Di Gaetano
- CNR - Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging Via Pietro Castellino 111 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Gaetano Malgieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Emilia M Pedone
- CNR - Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging Via Pietro Castellino 111 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
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3
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Campolattano N, D'Abrosca G, Russo L, De Siena B, Della Gala M, De Chiara I, Marasco R, Goff A, Waddell SJ, Sacco M, Muscariello L. Insight into the on/off switch that regulates expression of the MSMEG-3762/63 efflux pump in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20332. [PMID: 37989843 PMCID: PMC10663510 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47695-4] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is one of the most difficult challenges facing tuberculosis (TB) control. Drug efflux is among the mechanisms leading to drug resistance. In our previous studies, we partially characterized the ABC-type MSMEG-3762/63 efflux pump in Mycobacterium smegmatis, which shares high percentage of identity with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv1687/86c pump. MSMEG-3762/63 was shown to have extrusion activity for rifampicin and ciprofloxacin, used in first and second-line anti-TB treatments. Moreover, we described the functional role of the TetR-like MSMEG-3765 protein as a repressor of the MSMEG_3762/63/65 operon and orthologous Rv1687/86/85c in M. tuberculosis. Here we show that the operon is upregulated in the macrophage environment, supporting a previous observation of induction triggered by acid-nitrosative stress. Expression of the efflux pump was also induced by sub-inhibitory concentrations of rifampicin or ciprofloxacin. Both these drugs also prevented the binding of the MSMEG-3765 TetR repressor protein to its operator in the MSMEG_3762/63/65 operon. The hypothesis that these two drugs might be responsible for the induction of the efflux pump operon was assessed by bioinformatics analyses. Docking studies using a structural model of the regulator MSMEG-3765 showed that both antibiotics abolished the ability of this transcriptional repressor to recognize the efflux pump operon by interacting with the homodimer at different binding sites within the same binding pocket. Reduced binding of the repressor leads to induction of the efflux pump in M. smegmatis, and reduced efficacy of these two anti-mycobacterial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Campolattano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Gianluca D'Abrosca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Barbara De Siena
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Milena Della Gala
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Ida De Chiara
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosangela Marasco
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Aaron Goff
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK
| | - Simon J Waddell
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK
| | - Margherita Sacco
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Lidia Muscariello
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy.
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4
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The Ros/MucR Zinc-Finger Protein Family in Bacteria: Structure and Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415536. [PMID: 36555178 PMCID: PMC9779718 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415536] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ros/MucR is a widespread family of bacterial zinc-finger-containing proteins that integrate multiple functions, such as symbiosis, virulence, transcription regulation, motility, production of surface components, and various other physiological processes in cells. This regulatory protein family is conserved in bacteria and is characterized by its zinc-finger motif, which has been proposed as the ancestral domain from which the eukaryotic C2H2 zinc-finger structure has evolved. The first prokaryotic zinc-finger domain found in the transcription regulator Ros was identified in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In the past decades, a large body of evidence revealed Ros/MucR as pleiotropic transcriptional regulators that mainly act as repressors through oligomerization and binding to AT-rich target promoters. The N-terminal domain and the zinc-finger-bearing C-terminal region of these regulatory proteins are engaged in oligomerization and DNA binding, respectively. These properties of the Ros/MucR proteins are similar to those of xenogeneic silencers, such as H-NS, MvaT, and Lsr2, which are mainly found in other lineages. In fact, a novel functional model recently proposed for this protein family suggests that they act as H-NS-'like' gene silencers. The prokaryotic zinc-finger domain exhibits interesting structural and functional features that are different from that of its eukaryotic counterpart (a βββα topology), as it folds in a significantly larger zinc-binding globular domain (a βββαα topology). Phylogenetic analysis of Ros/MucR homologs suggests an ancestral origin of this type of protein in α-Proteobacteria. Furthermore, multiple duplications and lateral gene transfer events contributing to the diversity and phyletic distribution of these regulatory proteins were found in bacterial genomes.
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5
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della Valle M, D'Abrosca G, Gentile MT, Russo L, Isernia C, Di Gaetano S, Avolio R, Castaldo R, Cocca M, Gentile G, Malgieri G, Errico ME, Fattorusso R. Polystyrene nanoplastics affect the human ubiquitin structure and ubiquitination in cells: a high-resolution study. Chem Sci 2022; 13:13563-13573. [PMID: 36507175 PMCID: PMC9682910 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc04434j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are estimated to consume several grams per week of nanoplastics (NPs) through exposure to a variety of contamination sources. Nonetheless, the effects of these polymeric particles on living systems are still mostly unknown. Here, by means of CD, NMR and TEM analyses, we describe at an atomic resolution the interaction of ubiquitin with polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs), showing how a hard protein corona is formed. Moreover, we report that in human HeLa cells exposure to PS-NPs leads to a sensible reduction of ubiquitination. Our study overall indicates that PS-NPs cause significant structural effects on ubiquitin, thereby influencing one of the key metabolic processes at the base of cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. della Valle
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania – Luigi VanvitelliVia Vivaldi 4381100 CasertaItaly
| | - G. D'Abrosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania – Luigi VanvitelliVia Vivaldi 4381100 CasertaItaly
| | - M. T. Gentile
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania – Luigi VanvitelliVia Vivaldi 4381100 CasertaItaly
| | - L. Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania – Luigi VanvitelliVia Vivaldi 4381100 CasertaItaly
| | - C. Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania – Luigi VanvitelliVia Vivaldi 4381100 CasertaItaly
| | - S. Di Gaetano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging-CNRVia Mezzocannone 1680134 NaplesItaly
| | - R. Avolio
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials – CNRVia Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 PozzuoliNaplesItaly
| | - R. Castaldo
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials – CNRVia Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 PozzuoliNaplesItaly
| | - M. Cocca
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials – CNRVia Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 PozzuoliNaplesItaly
| | - G. Gentile
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials – CNRVia Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 PozzuoliNaplesItaly
| | - G. Malgieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania – Luigi VanvitelliVia Vivaldi 4381100 CasertaItaly
| | - M. E. Errico
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials – CNRVia Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 PozzuoliNaplesItaly
| | - R. Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania – Luigi VanvitelliVia Vivaldi 4381100 CasertaItaly
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6
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Dragone M, Grazioso R, D’Abrosca G, Baglivo I, Iacovino R, Esposito S, Paladino A, Pedone PV, Russo L, Fattorusso R, Malgieri G, Isernia C. Copper (I) or (II) Replacement of the Structural Zinc Ion in the Prokaryotic Zinc Finger Ros Does Not Result in a Functional Domain. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911010. [PMID: 36232306 PMCID: PMC9569694 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A strict interplay is known to involve copper and zinc in many cellular processes. For this reason, the results of copper’s interaction with zinc binding proteins are of great interest. For instance, copper interferences with the DNA-binding activity of zinc finger proteins are associated with the development of a variety of diseases. The biological impact of copper depends on the chemical properties of its two common oxidation states (Cu(I) and Cu(II)). In this framework, following the attention addressed to unveil the effect of metal ion replacement in zinc fingers and in zinc-containing proteins, we explore the effects of the Zn(II) to Cu(I) or Cu(II) replacement in the prokaryotic zinc finger domain. The prokaryotic zinc finger protein Ros, involved in the horizontal transfer of genes from A. tumefaciens to a host plant infected by it, belongs to a family of proteins, namely Ros/MucR, whose members have been recognized in different bacteria symbionts and pathogens of mammals and plants. Interestingly, the amino acids of the coordination sphere are poorly conserved in most of these proteins, although their sequence identity can be very high. In fact, some members of this family of proteins do not bind zinc or any other metal, but assume a 3D structure similar to that of Ros with the residues replacing the zinc ligands, forming a network of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions that surrogates the Zn-coordinating role. These peculiar features of the Ros ZF domain prompted us to study the metal ion replacement with ions that have different electronic configuration and ionic radius. The protein was intensely studied as a perfectly suited model of a metal-binding protein to study the effects of the metal ion replacement; it appeared to tolerate the Zn to Cd substitution, but not the replacement of the wildtype metal by Ni(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II). The structural characterization reported here gives a high-resolution description of the interaction of copper with Ros, demonstrating that copper, in both oxidation states, binds the protein, but the replacement does not give rise to a functional domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Dragone
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Rinaldo Grazioso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Gianluca D’Abrosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Ilaria Baglivo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosa Iacovino
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Sabrina Esposito
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Antonella Paladino
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council (IBB-CNR), Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo V. Pedone
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Gaetano Malgieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
- Correspondence:
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7
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Shi WT, Zhang B, Li ML, Liu KH, Jiao J, Tian CF. The convergent xenogeneic silencer MucR predisposes α-proteobacteria to integrate AT-rich symbiosis genes. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8580-8598. [PMID: 36007892 PMCID: PMC9410896 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial adaptation is largely shaped by horizontal gene transfer, xenogeneic silencing mediated by lineage-specific DNA bridgers (H-NS, Lsr2, MvaT and Rok), and various anti-silencing mechanisms. No xenogeneic silencing DNA bridger is known for α-proteobacteria, from which mitochondria evolved. By investigating α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium fredii, a facultative legume microsymbiont, here we report the conserved zinc-finger bearing MucR as a novel xenogeneic silencing DNA bridger. Self-association mediated by its N-terminal domain (NTD) is required for DNA–MucR–DNA bridging complex formation, maximizing MucR stability, transcriptional silencing, and efficient symbiosis in legume nodules. Essential roles of NTD, CTD (C-terminal DNA-binding domain), or full-length MucR in symbiosis can be replaced by non-homologous NTD, CTD, or full-length protein of H-NS from γ-proteobacterium Escherichia coli, while NTD rather than CTD of Lsr2 from Gram-positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis can replace the corresponding domain of MucR in symbiosis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing reveals similar recruitment profiles of H-NS, MucR and various functional chimeric xenogeneic silencers across the multipartite genome of S. fredii, i.e. preferring AT-rich genomic islands and symbiosis plasmid with key symbiosis genes as shared targets. Collectively, the convergently evolved DNA bridger MucR predisposed α-proteobacteria to integrate AT-rich foreign DNA including symbiosis genes, horizontal transfer of which is strongly selected in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Tao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Biliang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Meng-Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Ke-Han Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Jian Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Chang-Fu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
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8
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Farina B, Pirone L, D’Abrosca G, Della Valle M, Russo L, Isernia C, Sassano M, Del Gatto A, Di Gaetano S, Zaccaro L, Malgieri G, Pedone EM, Fattorusso R. Screening a Molecular Fragment Library to Modulate the PED/PEA15-Phospholipase D1 Interaction in Cellular Lysate Environments. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:2798-2807. [PMID: 34825823 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The overexpression of PED/PEA15, the phosphoprotein enriched in diabetes/phosphoprotein enriched in the astrocytes 15 protein (here referred simply to as PED), observed in some forms of type II diabetes, reduces the transport of insulin-stimulated glucose by binding to the phospholipase D1 (PLD1). The inhibition of the PED/PLD1 interaction was shown to restore basal glucose transport, indicating PED as a pharmacological target for the development of drugs capable of improving insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. We here report the identification and selection of PED ligands by means of NMR screening of a library of small organic molecules, NMR characterization of the PED/PLD1 interaction in lysates of cells expressing PLD1, and modulation of such interactions using BPH03, the best selected ligand. Overall, we complement the available literature data by providing detailed information on the structural determinants of the PED/PLD1 interaction in a cellular lysate environment and indicate BPH03 as a precious scaffold for the development of novel compounds that are able to modulate such interactions with possible therapeutic applications in type II diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biancamaria Farina
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luciano Pirone
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Gianluca D’Abrosca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania─L. Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Maria Della Valle
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania─L. Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania─L. Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania─L. Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Marica Sassano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania─L. Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Annarita Del Gatto
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Sonia Di Gaetano
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Laura Zaccaro
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Gaetano Malgieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania─L. Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Emilia M. Pedone
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania─L. Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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9
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Grazioso R, García-Viñuales S, D'Abrosca G, Baglivo I, Pedone PV, Milardi D, Fattorusso R, Isernia C, Russo L, Malgieri G. The change of conditions does not affect Ros87 downhill folding mechanism. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21067. [PMID: 33273582 PMCID: PMC7713307 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78008-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Downhill folding has been defined as a unique thermodynamic process involving a conformations ensemble that progressively loses structure with the decrease of protein stability. Downhill folders are estimated to be rather rare in nature as they miss an energetically substantial folding barrier that can protect against aggregation and proteolysis. We have previously demonstrated that the prokaryotic zinc finger protein Ros87 shows a bipartite folding/unfolding process in which a metal binding intermediate converts to the native structure through a delicate barrier-less downhill transition. Significant variation in folding scenarios can be detected within protein families with high sequence identity and very similar folds and for the same sequence by varying conditions. For this reason, we here show, by means of DSC, CD and NMR, that also in different pH and ionic strength conditions Ros87 retains its partly downhill folding scenario demonstrating that, at least in metallo-proteins, the downhill mechanism can be found under a much wider range of conditions and coupled to other different transitions. We also show that mutations of Ros87 zinc coordination sphere produces a different folding scenario demonstrating that the organization of the metal ion core is determinant in the folding process of this family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinaldo Grazioso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca D'Abrosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Ilaria Baglivo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Paolo Vincenzo Pedone
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Danilo Milardi
- Institute of Crystallography-CNR, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126, Catania, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Gaetano Malgieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
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10
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Jiao J, Tian CF. Ancestral zinc-finger bearing protein MucR in alpha-proteobacteria: A novel xenogeneic silencer? Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:3623-3631. [PMID: 33304460 PMCID: PMC7710501 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The MucR/Ros family protein is conserved in alpha-proteobacteria and characterized by its zinc-finger motif that has been proposed as the ancestral domain from which the eukaryotic C2H2 zinc-finger structure evolved. In the past decades, accumulated evidences have revealed MucR as a pleiotropic transcriptional regulator that integrating multiple functions such as virulence, symbiosis, cell cycle and various physiological processes. Scattered reports indicate that MucR mainly acts as a repressor, through oligomerization and binding to multiple sites of AT-rich target promoters. The N-terminal region and zinc-finger bearing C-terminal region of MucR mediate oligomerization and DNA-binding, respectively. These features are convergent to those of xenogeneic silencers such as H-NS, MvaT, Lsr2 and Rok, which are mainly found in other lineages. Phylogenetic analysis of MucR homologs suggests an ancestral origin of MucR in alpha- and delta-proteobacteria. Multiple independent duplication and lateral gene transfer events contribute to the diversity and phyletic distribution of MucR. Finally, we posed questions which remain unexplored regarding the putative roles of MucR as a xenogeneic silencer and a general manager in balancing adaptation and regulatory integration in the pangenome context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Fu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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11
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Substitution of the Native Zn(II) with Cd(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) Changes the Downhill Unfolding Mechanism of Ros87 to a Completely Different Scenario. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218285. [PMID: 33167398 PMCID: PMC7663847 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural effects of zinc replacement by xenobiotic metal ions have been widely studied in several eukaryotic and prokaryotic zinc-finger-containing proteins. The prokaryotic zinc finger, that presents a bigger βββαα domain with a larger hydrophobic core with respect to its eukaryotic counterpart, represents a valuable model protein to study metal ion interaction with metallo-proteins. Several studies have been conducted on Ros87, the DNA binding domain of the prokaryotic zinc finger Ros, and have demonstrated that the domain appears to structurally tolerate Ni(II), albeit with important structural perturbations, but not Pb(II) and Hg(II), and it is in vitro functional when the zinc ion is replaced by Cd(II). We have previously shown that Ros87 unfolding is a two-step process in which a zinc binding intermediate converts to the native structure thorough a delicate downhill folding transition. Here, we explore the folding/unfolding behaviour of Ros87 coordinated to Co(II), Ni(II) or Cd(II), by UV-Vis, CD, DSC and NMR techniques. Interestingly, we show how the substitution of the native metal ion results in complete different folding scenarios. We found a two-state unfolding mechanism for Cd-Ros87 whose metal affinity Kd is comparable to the one obtained for the native Zn-Ros87, and a more complex mechanism for Co-Ros87 and Ni-Ros87, that show higher Kd values. Our data outline the complex cross-correlation between the protein-metal ion equilibrium and the folding mechanism proposing such an interplay as a key factor in the proper metal ion selection by a specific metallo-protein.
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