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Huang Z, Yu K, Lan R, Glenn Morris J, Xiao Y, Ye J, Zhang L, Luo L, Gao H, Bai X, Wang D. Vibrio metschnikovii as an emergent pathogen: analyses of phylogeny and O-antigen and identification of possible virulence characteristics. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2252522. [PMID: 37616379 PMCID: PMC10484048 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2252522] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio metschnikovii is an emergent pathogen that causes human infections which may be fatal. However, the phylogenetic characteristics and pathogenicity determinants of V. metschnikovii are poorly understood. Here, the whole-genome features of 103 V. metschnikovii strains isolated from different sources are described. On phylogenetic analysis V. metschnikovii populations could be divided into two major lineages, defined as lineage 1 (L1) and 2 (L2), of which L1 was more likely to be associated with human activity. Meanwhile, we defined 29 V. metschnikovii O-genotypes (VMOg, named VMOg1-VMOg29) by analysis of the O-antigen biosynthesis gene clusters (O-AGCs). Most VMOgs (VMOg1 to VMOg28) were assembled by the Wzx/Wzy pathway, while only VMOg29 used the ABC transporter pathway. Based on the sequence variation of the wzx and wzt genes, an in silico O-genotyping system for V. metschnikovii was developed. Furthermore, nineteen virulence-associated factors involving 161 genes were identified within the V. metschnikovii genomes, including genes encoding motility, adherence, toxins, and secretion systems. In particular, V. metschnikovii was found to promote a high level of cytotoxicity through the synergistic action of the lateral flagella and T6SS. The lateral flagellar-associated flhA gene played an important role in the adhesion and colonization of V. metschnikovii during the early stages of infection. Overall, this study provides an enhanced understanding of the genomic evolution, O-AGCs diversity, and potential pathogenic features of V. metschnikovii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhou Huang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Human Pathogenic Culture Collection, China CDC, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Keyi Yu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Human Pathogenic Culture Collection, China CDC, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ruiting Lan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - J. Glenn Morris
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yue Xiao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Human Pathogenic Culture Collection, China CDC, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Julian Ye
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Leyi Zhang
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Longze Luo
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - He Gao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Human Pathogenic Culture Collection, China CDC, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuemei Bai
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Human Pathogenic Culture Collection, China CDC, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Duochun Wang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Human Pathogenic Culture Collection, China CDC, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Ozhelvaci F, Steczkiewicz K. Identification and Classification of Papain-like Cysteine Proteinases. J Biol Chem 2023:104801. [PMID: 37164157 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104801] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Papain-like cysteine peptidases form a big and highly diverse superfamily of proteins involved in many important biological functions, such as protein turnover, deubiquitination, tissue remodeling, blood clotting, virulence, defense, and cell wall remodeling. High sequence and structure diversity observed within these proteins hinders their comprehensive classification as well as the identification of new representatives. Moreover, in general protein databases, many families already classified as papain-like lack details regarding their mechanism of action or biological function. Here, we use transitive remote homology searches and 3D modeling to newly classify 21 families to the papain-like cysteine peptidase superfamily. We attempt to predict their biological function, and provide structural chacterization of 89 protein clusters defined based on sequence similarity altogether spanning 106 papain-like families. Moreover, we systematically discuss observed diversity in sequences, structures, and catalytic sites. Eventually, we expand the list of human papain-related proteins by seven representatives, including dopamine receptor-interacting protein (DRIP1) as potential deubiquitinase, and centriole duplication regulating CEP76 as retaining catalytically active peptidase-like domain. The presented results not only provide structure-based rationales to already existing peptidase databases but also may inspire further experimental research focused on peptidase-related biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Ozhelvaci
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Steczkiewicz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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The inside scoop: Comparative genomics of two intranuclear bacteria, "Candidatus Berkiella cookevillensis" and "Candidatus Berkiella aquae". PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278206. [PMID: 36584052 PMCID: PMC9803151 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
"Candidatus Berkiella cookevillensis" (strain CC99) and "Candidatus Berkiella aquae" (strain HT99), belonging to the Coxiellaceae family, are gram-negative bacteria isolated from amoebae in biofilms present in human-constructed water systems. Both bacteria are obligately intracellular, requiring host cells for growth and replication. The intracellular bacteria-containing vacuoles of both bacteria closely associate with or enter the nuclei of their host cells. In this study, we analyzed the genome sequences of CC99 and HT99 to better understand their biology and intracellular lifestyles. The CC99 genome has a size of 2.9Mb (37.9% GC) and contains 2,651 protein-encoding genes (PEGs) while the HT99 genome has a size of 3.6Mb (39.4% GC) and contains 3,238 PEGs. Both bacteria encode high proportions of hypothetical proteins (CC99: 46.5%; HT99: 51.3%). The central metabolic pathways of both bacteria appear largely intact. Genes for enzymes involved in the glycolytic pathway, the non-oxidative branch of the phosphate pathway, the tricarboxylic acid pathway, and the respiratory chain were present. Both bacteria, however, are missing genes for the synthesis of several amino acids, suggesting reliance on their host for amino acids and intermediates. Genes for type I and type IV (dot/icm) secretion systems as well as type IV pili were identified in both bacteria. Moreover, both bacteria contain genes encoding large numbers of putative effector proteins, including several with eukaryotic-like domains such as, ankyrin repeats, tetratricopeptide repeats, and leucine-rich repeats, characteristic of other intracellular bacteria.
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Wood TE, Westervelt KA, Yoon JM, Eshleman HD, Levy R, Burnes H, Slade DJ, Lesser CF, Goldberg MB. The Shigella Spp. Type III Effector Protein OspB Is a Cysteine Protease. mBio 2022; 13:e0127022. [PMID: 35638611 PMCID: PMC9239218 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01270-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The type III secretion system is required for virulence of many pathogenic bacteria. Bacterial effector proteins delivered into target host cells by this system modulate host signaling pathways and processes in a manner that promotes infection. Here, we define the activity of the effector protein OspB of the human pathogen Shigella spp., the etiological agent of shigellosis and bacillary dysentery. Using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism, we show that OspB sensitizes cells to inhibition of TORC1, the central regulator of growth and metabolism. In silico analyses reveal that OspB bears structural homology to bacterial cysteine proteases that target mammalian cell processes, and we define a conserved cysteine-histidine catalytic dyad required for OspB function. Using yeast genetic screens, we identify a crucial role for the arginine N-degron pathway in the yeast growth inhibition phenotype and show that inositol hexakisphosphate is an OspB cofactor. We find that a yeast substrate for OspB is the TORC1 component Tco89p, proteolytic cleavage of which generates a C-terminal fragment that is targeted for degradation via the arginine N-degron pathway; processing and degradation of Tco89p is required for the OspB phenotype. In all, we demonstrate that the Shigella T3SS effector OspB is a cysteine protease and decipher its interplay with eukaryotic cell processes. IMPORTANCEShigella spp. are important human pathogens and among the leading causes of diarrheal mortality worldwide, especially in children. Virulence depends on the Shigella type III secretion system (T3SS). Definition of the roles of the bacterial effector proteins secreted by the T3SS is key to understanding Shigella pathogenesis. The effector protein OspB contributes to a range of phenotypes during infection, yet the mechanism of action is unknown. Here, we show that S. flexneri OspB possesses cysteine protease activity in both yeast and mammalian cells, and that enzymatic activity of OspB depends on a conserved cysteine-histidine catalytic dyad. We determine how its protease activity sensitizes cells to TORC1 inhibition in yeast, finding that OspB cleaves a component of yeast TORC1, and that the degradation of the C-terminal cleavage product is responsible for OspB-mediated hypersensitivity to TORC1 inhibitors. Thus, OspB is a cysteine protease that depends on a conserved cysteine-histidine catalytic dyad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E. Wood
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kathleen A. Westervelt
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica M. Yoon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Heather D. Eshleman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Roie Levy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Henry Burnes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel J. Slade
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Cammie F. Lesser
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marcia B. Goldberg
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Actin Cross-Linking Effector Domain of the Vibrio vulnificus F-Type MARTX Toxin Dominates Disease Progression During Intestinal Infection. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0062721. [PMID: 35254094 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00627-21] [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: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and septicemia in humans. The V. vulnificus multifunctional-autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin is a pore-forming toxin that translocates multiple functionally independent effector domains into target cells and an essential virulence factor for fatal disease. The effector repertoire delivered and thus the mechanism of action of the toxin can differ dramatically across V. vulnificus isolates. Here, we utilize a strain of V. vulnificus that carries an F-type MARTX toxin that delivers an actin cross-linking domain (ACD) and four other effector domains. We demonstrate that ACD is the primary driver of virulence following intragastric infection and of bacterial dissemination to distal organs. We additionally show that ACD activates the transcription of intermediate early response genes in cultured intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). However, the genes activated by ACD are suppressed, at least in part, by the codelivered Ras/Rap1-specific endopeptidase (RRSP). The transcriptional response induced by strains translocating only RRSP results in a unique transcriptional profile, demonstrating that the transcriptional response to V. vulnificus is remodeled rather than simply suppressed by the MARTX toxin effector repertoire. Regardless, the transcriptional response in the intestinal tissue of infected mice is dominated by ACD-mediated induction of genes associated with response to tissue damage and is not impacted by RRSP or the three other effectors codelivered with ACD and RRSP. These data demonstrate that while other effectors do remodel early intestinal innate immune responses, ACD is the dominant driver of disease progression by ACD+ V. vulnificus during intestinal infection.
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Abstract
Large clostridial toxins (LCTs) are a family of bacterial exotoxins that infiltrate and destroy target cells. Members of the LCT family include Clostridioides difficile toxins TcdA and TcdB, Paeniclostridium sordellii toxins TcsL and TcsH, Clostridium novyi toxin TcnA, and Clostridium perfringens toxin TpeL. Since the 19th century, LCT-secreting bacteria have been isolated from the blood, organs, and wounds of diseased individuals, and LCTs have been implicated as the primary virulence factors in a variety of infections, including C. difficile infection and some cases of wound-associated gas gangrene. Clostridia express and secrete LCTs in response to various physiological signals. LCTs invade host cells by binding specific cell surface receptors, ultimately leading to internalization into acidified vesicles. Acidic pH promotes conformational changes within LCTs, which culminates in translocation of the N-terminal glycosyltransferase and cysteine protease domain across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol, leading first to cytopathic effects and later to cytotoxic effects. The focus of this review is on the role of LCTs in infection and disease, the mechanism of LCT intoxication, with emphasis on recent structural work and toxin subtyping analysis, and the genomic discovery and characterization of LCT homologues. We provide a comprehensive review of these topics and offer our perspective on emerging questions and future research directions for this enigmatic family of toxins.
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Choi S, Kim BS, Hwang J, Kim MH. Reduced virulence of the MARTX toxin increases the persistence of outbreak-associated Vibrio vulnificus in host reservoirs. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100777. [PMID: 33992647 PMCID: PMC8191300 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100777] [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: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic bacteria strategically dampen their virulence to allow them to survive and propagate in hosts. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying virulence control are not clearly understood. Here, we found that the opportunistic pathogen Vibrio vulnificus biotype 3, which caused an outbreak of severe wound and intestinal infections associated with farmed tilapia, secretes significantly less virulent multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin, which is the most critical virulence factor in other clinical Vibrio strains. The biotype 3 MARTX toxin contains a cysteine protease domain (CPD) evolutionarily retaining a unique autocleavage site and a distinct β-flap region. CPD autoproteolytic activity is attenuated following its autocleavage because of the β-flap region. This β-flap blocks the active site, disabling further autoproteolytic processing and release of the modularly structured effector domains within the toxin. Expression of this altered CPD consequently results in attenuated release of effectors by the toxin and significantly reduces the virulence of V. vulnificus biotype 3 in cells and in mice. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that this virulence mechanism is shared in all biotype 3 strains. Thus, these data provide new insights into the mechanisms by which opportunistic bacteria persist in an environmental reservoir, prolonging the potential to cause outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghyeon Choi
- Infection and Immunity Research Laboratory, Metabolic Regulation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea; Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Byoung Sik Kim
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jungwon Hwang
- Infection and Immunity Research Laboratory, Metabolic Regulation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea.
| | - Myung Hee Kim
- Infection and Immunity Research Laboratory, Metabolic Regulation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea.
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Spatiotemporal Regulation of Vibrio Exotoxins by HlyU and Other Transcriptional Regulators. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12090544. [PMID: 32842612 PMCID: PMC7551375 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12090544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
After invading a host, bacterial pathogens secrete diverse protein toxins to disrupt host defense systems. To ensure successful infection, however, pathogens must precisely regulate the expression of those exotoxins because uncontrolled toxin production squanders energy. Furthermore, inappropriate toxin secretion can trigger host immune responses that are detrimental to the invading pathogens. Therefore, bacterial pathogens use diverse transcriptional regulators to accurately regulate multiple exotoxin genes based on spatiotemporal conditions. This review covers three major exotoxins in pathogenic Vibrio species and their transcriptional regulation systems. When Vibrio encounters a host, genes encoding cytolysin/hemolysin, multifunctional-autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin, and secreted phospholipases are coordinately regulated by the transcriptional regulator HlyU. At the same time, however, they are distinctly controlled by a variety of other transcriptional regulators. How this coordinated but distinct regulation of exotoxins makes Vibrio species successful pathogens? In addition, anti-virulence strategies that target the coordinating master regulator HlyU and related future research directions are discussed.
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Gavin HE, Satchell KJF. RRSP and RID Effector Domains Dominate the Virulence Impact of Vibrio vulnificus MARTX Toxin. J Infect Dis 2020; 219:889-897. [PMID: 30289477 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The bacterial pathogen Vibrio vulnificus causes severe septic foodborne infections. The multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxins (MARTX) toxin is an important secreted virulence factor. The effector domain region is essential for lethal intestinal infection in mice, but the contribution of each of the 5 effector domains to infection has not been investigated. METHODS V. vulnificus mutants with varying effector domain content were inoculated intragastrically to mice, and the time to death was monitored to establish the contribution of each effector domain to overall virulence. Each strain was also tested for bacterial dissemination from the intestine to internal organs and for inhibition of phagocytosis. RESULTS The effector domain region was required for V. vulnificus to inhibit phagocytosis by J774 macrophages, but no single effector domain was required. No single MARTX effector domain was necessary for bacterial dissemination. Nonetheless, overall survival of infected mice differed with respect to the infecting V. vulnificus strain. Removal of rid or rrsp significantly reduced the virulence potential of V. vulnificus, while deletion of duf1 or abh accelerated the time to death. CONCLUSION Rho GTPases inactivation domain and Ras/Rap1-specific endopeptidase each exert greater effects on virulence than other MARTX domains, suggesting that modulation of the Rho/Ras family of GTPases is a critical function of the toxin during intestinal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Gavin
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Karla J F Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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Makes caterpillars floppy-like effector-containing MARTX toxins require host ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) proteins for systemic pathogenicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:18031-18040. [PMID: 31427506 PMCID: PMC6731672 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1905095116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
MARTX toxins present across multiple bacterial genera are primary virulence factors that facilitate initial colonization, dissemination, and lethality in a wide range of hosts, including humans. Upon entry into host cells, the toxins undergo a processing event to release their disease-related modularly structured effector domains. However, the mechanisms underlying processing and activation of diverse effector domains within the toxins remain unclear. Here, we use biochemical and structural biological approaches, in combination with cellular microbiological experiments, to demonstrate how Makes caterpillars floppy-like effector (MCF) or its homolog-containing MARTX toxins process effector modules and fully activate effectors. MCF-containing toxins target ADP-ribosylation factor proteins ubiquitously expressed in cells to activate and disseminate effectors across subcellular compartments simultaneously, eventually leading to systemic pathogenicity. Upon invading target cells, multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxins secreted by bacterial pathogens release their disease-related modularly structured effector domains. However, it is unclear how a diverse repertoire of effector domains within these toxins are processed and activated. Here, we report that Makes caterpillars floppy-like effector (MCF)-containing MARTX toxins require ubiquitous ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) proteins for processing and activation of intermediate effector modules, which localize in different subcellular compartments following limited processing of holo effector modules by the internal cysteine protease. Effector domains structured tandemly with MCF in intermediate modules become disengaged and fully activated by MCF, which aggressively interacts with ARF proteins present at the same location as intermediate modules and is converted allosterically into a catalytically competent protease. MCF-mediated effector processing leads ultimately to severe virulence in mice via an MCF-mediated ARF switching mechanism across subcellular compartments. This work provides insight into how bacteria take advantage of host systems to induce systemic pathogenicity.
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Woida PJ, Satchell KJF. Coordinated delivery and function of bacterial MARTX toxin effectors. Mol Microbiol 2017; 107:133-141. [PMID: 29114985 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria often coordinate virulence factors to fine-tune the host response during infection. These coordinated events can include toxins counteracting or amplifying effects of another toxin or though regulating the stability of virulence factors to remove their function once it is no longer needed. Multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in toxin (MARTX) toxins are effector delivery toxins that form a pore into the plasma membrane of a eukaryotic cell to deliver multiple effector proteins into the cytosol of the target cell. The function of these proteins includes manipulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics, regulating signal transduction pathways and inhibiting host secretory pathways. Investigations into the molecular mechanisms of these effector domains are providing insight into how the function of some effectors overlap and regulate one another during infection. Coordinated crosstalk of effector function suggests that MARTX toxins are not simply a sum of all their parts. Instead, modulation of cell function by effector domains may depend on which other effector domain are co-delivered. Future studies will elucidate how these effectors interact with each other to modulate the bacterial host interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Woida
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Karla J F Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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Chen CL, Chien SC, Leu TH, Harn HIC, Tang MJ, Hor LI. Vibrio vulnificus MARTX cytotoxin causes inactivation of phagocytosis-related signaling molecules in macrophages. J Biomed Sci 2017; 24:58. [PMID: 28822352 PMCID: PMC5563386 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-017-0368-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vibrio vulnificus is a marine bacterial species that causes opportunistic infections manifested by serious skin lesions and fulminant septicemia in humans. We have previously shown that the multifunctional autoprocessing repeats in toxin (MARTXVv1) of a biotype 1 V. vulnificus strain promotes survival of this organism in the host by preventing it from engulfment by the phagocytes. The purpose of this study was to further explore how MARTXVv1 inhibits phagocytosis of this microorganism by the macrophage. Methods We compared between a wild-type V. vulnificus strain and its MARTXVv1-deficient mutant for a variety of phagocytosis-related responses, including morphological change and activation of signaling molecules, they induced in the macrophage. We also characterized a set of MARTXVv1 domain-deletion mutants to define the regions associated with antiphagocytosis activity. Results The RAW 264.7 cells and mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages underwent cell rounding accompanied by F-actin disorganization in the presence of MARTXVv1. In addition, phosphorylation of some F-actin rearrangement-associated signaling molecules, including Lyn, Fgr and Hck of the Src family kinases (SFKs), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt, but not p38, was decreased. By using specific inhibitors, we found that these kinases were all involved in the phagocytosis of MARTXVv1-deficient mutant in an order of SFKs-FAK/Pyk2-PI3K-Akt. Deletion of the effector domains in the central region of MARTXVv1 could lead to reduced cytotoxicity, depending on the region and size of deletion, but did not affect the antiphagocytosis activity and ability to cause rounding of macrophage. Reduced phosphorylation of Akt was closely associated with inhibition of phagocytosis by the wild-type strain and MARTXVv1 domain-deletion mutants, and expression of the constitutively active Akt, myr-Akt, enhanced the engulfment of these strains by macrophage. Conclusions MARTXVv1 could inactivate the SFKs-FAK/Pyk2-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in the macrophages. This might lead to impaired phagocytosis of the V. vulnificus-infected macrophage. The majority of the central region of MARTXVv1 is not associated with the antiphagocytosis activity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12929-017-0368-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Liang Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Chun Chien
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Tzeng-Horng Leu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacology College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Hans I-Chen Harn
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Jer Tang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.,Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Lien-I Hor
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan. .,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.
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Abstract
Clostridium difficile is the cause of antibiotics-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. The pathogen produces three protein toxins: C. difficile toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB), and C. difficile transferase toxin (CDT). The single-chain toxins TcdA and TcdB are the main virulence factors. They bind to cell membrane receptors and are internalized. The N-terminal glucosyltransferase and autoprotease domains of the toxins translocate from low-pH endosomes into the cytosol. After activation by inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6), the autoprotease cleaves and releases the glucosyltransferase domain into the cytosol, where GTP-binding proteins of the Rho/Ras family are mono-O-glucosylated and, thereby, inactivated. Inactivation of Rho proteins disturbs the organization of the cytoskeleton and affects multiple Rho-dependent cellular processes, including loss of epithelial barrier functions, induction of apoptosis, and inflammation. CDT, the third C. difficile toxin, is a binary actin-ADP-ribosylating toxin that causes depolymerization of actin, thereby inducing formation of the microtubule-based protrusions. Recent progress in understanding of the toxins' actions include insights into the toxin structures, their interaction with host cells, and functional consequences of their actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Aktories
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; , ,
| | - Carsten Schwan
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; , ,
| | - Thomas Jank
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; , ,
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Lee TH, Cha SS, Lee CS, Rhee JH, Woo HR, Chung KM. Cross-protection against Vibrio cholerae infection by monoclonal antibodies against Vibrio vulnificus RtxA1/MARTX Vv. Microbiol Immunol 2016; 60:793-800. [PMID: 27921342 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12449] [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: 06/18/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Gram-negative Vibrio species secrete multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxins associated with bacterial pathogenesis. Here, the cross-reactivity and cross-protectivity of mAbs against V. vulnificus RtxA1/MARTXVv was evaluated. Passive administration of any of these mAbs (21RA, 24RA, 46RA, 47RA and 50RA) provided strong protection against lethal V. cholerae infection. Interestingly, 24RA and 46RA, which map to the cysteine protease domain of V. cholerae MARTXVc , inhibited CPD autocleavage in vitro; this process is involved in V. cholerae pathogenesis. These results generate new insight into the development of broadly protective mAbs and/or vaccines against Vibrio species with MARTX toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Hee Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, Republic of Korea.,Institute for Medical Science, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Shin Cha
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Seop Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Haeng Rhee
- Department of Microbiology and Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Ryun Woo
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Min Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, Republic of Korea.,Institute for Medical Science, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, Republic of Korea
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15
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Abstract
Multifunctional-autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxins are a heterogeneous group of toxins found in a number of Vibrio species and other Gram-negative bacteria. The toxins are composed of conserved repeat regions and an autoprocessing protease domain that together function as a delivery platform for transfer of cytotoxic and cytopathic domains into target eukaryotic cell cytosol. Within the cells, the effectors can alter biological processes such as signaling or cytoskeletal structure, presumably to the benefit of the bacterium. Ten effector domains are found in the various Vibrio MARTX toxins, although any one toxin carries only two to five effector domains. The specific toxin variant expressed by a species can be modified by homologous recombination to acquire or lose effector domains, such that different strains within the same species can express distinct variants of the toxins. This review examines the conserved structural elements of the MARTX toxins and details the different toxin arrangements carried by Vibrio species and strains. The catalytic function of domains and how the toxins are linked to pathogenesis of human and animals is described.
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16
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Murfin KE, Whooley AC, Klassen JL, Goodrich-Blair H. Comparison of Xenorhabdus bovienii bacterial strain genomes reveals diversity in symbiotic functions. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:889. [PMID: 26525894 PMCID: PMC4630870 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2000-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Xenorhabdus bacteria engage in a beneficial symbiosis with Steinernema nematodes, in part by providing activities that help kill and degrade insect hosts for nutrition. Xenorhabdus strains (members of a single species) can display wide variation in host-interaction phenotypes and genetic potential indicating that strains may differ in their encoded symbiosis factors, including secreted metabolites. METHODS To discern strain-level variation among symbiosis factors, and facilitate the identification of novel compounds, we performed a comparative analysis of the genomes of 10 Xenorhabdus bovienii bacterial strains. RESULTS The analyzed X. bovienii draft genomes are broadly similar in structure (e.g. size, GC content, number of coding sequences). Genome content analysis revealed that general classes of putative host-microbe interaction functions, such as secretion systems and toxin classes, were identified in all bacterial strains. In contrast, we observed diversity of individual genes within families (e.g. non-ribosomal peptide synthetase clusters and insecticidal toxin components), indicating the specific molecules secreted by each strain can vary. Additionally, phenotypic analysis indicates that regulation of activities (e.g. enzymes and motility) differs among strains. CONCLUSIONS The analyses presented here demonstrate that while general mechanisms by which X. bovienii bacterial strains interact with their invertebrate hosts are similar, the specific molecules mediating these interactions differ. Our data support that adaptation of individual bacterial strains to distinct hosts or niches has occurred. For example, diverse metabolic profiles among bacterial symbionts may have been selected by dissimilarities in nutritional requirements of their different nematode hosts. Similarly, factors involved in parasitism (e.g. immune suppression and microbial competition factors), likely differ based on evolution in response to naturally encountered organisms, such as insect hosts, competitors, predators or pathogens. This study provides insight into effectors of a symbiotic lifestyle, and also highlights that when mining Xenorhabdus species for novel natural products, including antibiotics and insecticidal toxins, analysis of multiple bacterial strains likely will increase the potential for the discovery of novel molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E Murfin
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Amy C Whooley
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Jonathan L Klassen
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
| | - Heidi Goodrich-Blair
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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Gavin HE, Satchell KJF. MARTX toxins as effector delivery platforms. Pathog Dis 2015; 73:ftv092. [PMID: 26472741 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftv092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria frequently manipulate their host environment via delivery of microbial 'effector' proteins to the cytosol of eukaryotic cells. In the case of the multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxins (MARTX) toxin, this phenomenon is accomplished by a single, >3500 amino acid polypeptide that carries information for secretion, translocation, autoprocessing and effector activity. MARTX toxins are secreted from bacteria by dedicated Type I secretion systems. The released MARTX toxins form pores in target eukaryotic cell membranes for the delivery of up to five cytopathic effectors, each of which disrupts a key cellular process. Targeted cellular processes include modulation or modification of small GTPases, manipulation of host cell signaling and disruption of cytoskeletal integrity. More recently, MARTX toxins have been shown to be capable of heterologous protein translocation. Found across multiple bacterial species and genera--frequently in pathogens lacking Type 3 or Type 4 secretion systems--MARTX toxins in multiple cases function as virulence factors. Innovative research at the intersection of toxin biology and bacterial genetics continues to elucidate the intricacies of the toxin as well as the cytotoxic mechanisms of its diverse effector collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Gavin
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Karla J F Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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18
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Lee TH, Chung KM. Development and characterization of a catalytically inactive cysteine protease domain of RtxA1/MARTXVv as a potential vaccine for Vibrio vulnificus. Microbiol Immunol 2015; 59:555-61. [PMID: 26177798 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have defined several virulence factors as vaccine candidates against Vibrio vulnificus. However, most of these factors have the potential to cause pathogenic effects in the vaccinees or induce incomplete protection. To overcome these drawbacks, a catalytically inactive form, CPDVv (C3725S), of the well-conserved cysteine protease domain (CPD) of V. vulnificus multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTXVv /RtxA1) was recombinantly generated and characterized. Notably, active and passive immunization with CPDVv (C3725S) conferred protective immunity against V. vulnificus strains. These results may provide a novel framework for developing safe and efficient subunit vaccines and/or therapeutics against V. vulnificus that target the CPD of MARTX toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyung Min Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology.,Institute for Medical Science, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, 561-756, Korea
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19
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Agarwal S, Agarwal S, Biancucci M, Satchell KJF. Induced autoprocessing of the cytopathic Makes caterpillars floppy-like effector domain of the Vibrio vulnificus MARTX toxin. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1494-509. [PMID: 25912102 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The multifunctional-autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX(Vv)) toxin that harbours a varied repertoire of effector domains is the primary virulence factor of Vibrio vulnificus. Although ubiquitously present among Biotype I toxin variants, the 'Makes caterpillars floppy-like' effector domain (MCF(Vv)) is previously unstudied. Using transient expression and protein delivery, MCF(Vv) and MCF(Ah) from the Aeromonas hydrophila MARTX(Ah)) toxin are shown for the first time to induce cell rounding. Alanine mutagenesis across the C-terminal subdomain of MCF(Vv) identified an Arg-Cys-Asp (RCD) tripeptide motif shown to comprise a cysteine protease catalytic site essential for autoprocessing of MCF(Vv). The autoprocessing could be recapitulated in vitro by the addition of host cell lysate to recombinant MCF(Vv), indicating induced autoprocessing by cellular factors. The RCD motif is also essential for cytopathicity, suggesting autoprocessing is essential first to activate the toxin and then to process a cellular target protein resulting in cell rounding. Sequence homology places MCF(Vv) within the C58 cysteine protease family that includes the type III secretion effectors YopT from Yersinia spp. and AvrPphB from Pseudomonas syringae. However, the catalytic site RCD motif is unique compared with other C58 peptidases and is here proposed to represent a new subgroup of autopeptidase found within a number of putative large bacterial toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivangi Agarwal
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Shivani Agarwal
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Marco Biancucci
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Karla J F Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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20
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Vibrio vulnificus RtxA1 modulated calcium flux contributes reduced internalization in phagocytes. Life Sci 2015; 132:55-60. [PMID: 25916802 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Vibrio vulnificusis an opportunistic pathogen that causes primary septicemia and wound infection with high mortality rate. This pathogen produces an RTX toxin (RtxA1) which can cause host cell rounding, cell death and interference with internalization by host phagocytes. However, the mechanism of RtxA1-induced phagocyte paralysis is not clear. MAIN METHODS Using the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7, we measured cytotoxicity and phagocytosis of V. vulnificusin normal and calcium-depleted media. To deplete extracellular and cytosolic Ca(2+), cells were exposed to the calcium chelators ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and 1,2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, tetraacetoxymethyl esteris (BAPTA-AM), respectively. The cytotoxicity was examined by measuring the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released from the damaged cells. The gentamicin protection assay was conducted to determine the number of internalized bacteria, while acridine orange staining was applied to visualize the intracellular bacteria. The fluorescent indicator fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester (fura 2-AM) was used to measure the Ca(2+)signal post-infection. KEY FINDINGS We revealed that extracellular Ca(2+)was essential for phagocytes to internalize V. vulnificus. Meanwhile, cytosolic Ca(2+)flux in RAW264.7 cells induced by an RtxA1 isogenic mutant was repressed by the parent strain. Furthermore, depletion of extracellular Ca(2+)level by EGTA significantly reduced the cytotoxicity but did not affect the antiphagocytic activity of RtxA1 toxin. SIGNIFICANCE Our results indicated that RtxA1 may interfere with cytosolic Ca(2+)flux of phagocyte to promote bacteria colonization.
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21
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Distinct roles of the repeat-containing regions and effector domains of the Vibrio vulnificus multifunctional-autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin. mBio 2015; 6:mBio.00324-15. [PMID: 25827415 PMCID: PMC4453568 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00324-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio vulnificus is a seafood-borne pathogen that destroys the intestinal epithelium, leading to rapid bacterial dissemination and death. The most important virulence factor is the multifunctional-autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin comprised of effector domains in the center region flanked by long repeat-containing regions which are well conserved among MARTX toxins and predicted to translocate effector domains. Here, we examined the role of the repeat-containing regions using a modified V. vulnificus MARTX (MARTXVv) toxin generated by replacing all the internal effector domains with β-lactamase (Bla). Bla activity was detected in secretions from the bacterium and also in the cytosol of intoxicated epithelial cells. The modified MARTXVv toxin without effector domains retained its necrotic activity but lost its cell-rounding activity. Further, deletion of the carboxyl-terminal repeat-containing region blocked toxin secretion from the bacterium. Deletion of the amino-terminal repeat-containing region had no effect on secretion but completely abolished translocation and necrosis. Neither secretion nor translocation was affected by enzymatically inactivating the cysteine protease domain of the toxin. These data demonstrate that the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal repeat-containing regions of the MARTXVv toxin are necessary and sufficient for the delivery of effector domains and epithelial cell lysis in vitro but that effector domains are required for other cytopathic functions. Furthermore, Ca2+-dependent secretion of the modified MARTXVv toxin suggests that nonclassical RTX-like repeats found in the carboxyl-terminal repeat-containing region are functionally similar to classical RTX repeats found in other RTX proteins. Up to 95% of deaths from seafood-borne infections in the United States are due solely to one pathogen, V. vulnificus. Among its various virulence factors, the MARTXVv toxin has been characterized as a critical exotoxin for successful pathogenesis of V. vulnificus in mouse infection models. Similarly to MARTX toxins of other pathogens, MARTXVv toxin is comprised of repeat-containing regions, central effector domains, and an autoprocessing cysteine protease domain. Yet how each of these regions contributes to essential activities of the toxins has not been fully identified for any of MARTX toxins. Using modified MARTXVv toxin fused with β-lactamase as a reporter enzyme, the portion(s) responsible for toxin secretion from bacteria, effector domain translocation into host cells, rapid host cell rounding, and necrotic host cell death was identified. The results are relevant for understanding how MARTXVv toxin serves as both a necrotic pore-forming toxin and an effector delivery platform.
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22
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McLuskey K, Mottram J. Comparative structural analysis of the caspase family with other clan CD cysteine peptidases. Biochem J 2015; 466:219-32. [PMID: 25697094 PMCID: PMC4357240 DOI: 10.1042/bj20141324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Revised: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Clan CD forms a structural group of cysteine peptidases, containing seven individual families and two subfamilies of structurally related enzymes. Historically, it is most notable for containing the mammalian caspases, on which the structures of the clan were founded. Interestingly, the caspase family is split into two subfamilies: the caspases, and a second subfamily containing both the paracaspases and the metacaspases. Structural data are now available for both the paracaspases and the metacaspases, allowing a comprehensive structural analysis of the entire caspase family. In addition, a relative plethora of structural data has recently become available for many of the other families in the clan, allowing both the structures and the structure-function relationships of clan CD to be fully explored. The present review compares the enzymes in the caspase subfamilies with each other, together with a comprehensive comparison of all the structural families in clan CD. This reveals a diverse group of structures with highly conserved structural elements that provide the peptidases with a variety of substrate specificities and activation mechanisms. It also reveals conserved structural elements involved in substrate binding, and potential autoinhibitory functions, throughout the clan, and confirms that the metacaspases are structurally diverse from the caspases (and paracaspases), suggesting that they should form a distinct family of clan CD peptidases.
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Key Words
- caspase
- clan cd
- crystallography
- metacaspase
- peptidase
- protein structure
- ap, activation peptide
- card, caspase recruitment domain
- chf, caspase/haemoglobinase fold
- cpd, cysteine peptidase domain
- csd, c-terminal subdomain
- dd, death domain
- ded, death effector domain
- insp6, myo-inositol hexakisphosphate
- lsam, legumain stabilization and activity modulation
- lsd1, lesion-simulating disease 1
- malt1, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue translocation protein 1
- martx, multi-functional, autoprocessing repeat in toxin
- rmsd, root-mean-square deviation
- sse, secondary structural element
- xiap, x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis
- z-vrpr-fmk, benzoxycarbonyl-val-arg-pro-arg-fluoromethylketone
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen McLuskey
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Jeremy C. Mottram
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
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Schmidt G, Papatheodorou P, Aktories K. Novel receptors for bacterial protein toxins. Curr Opin Microbiol 2015; 23:55-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Revised: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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24
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Dolores JS, Agarwal S, Egerer M, Satchell KJF. Vibrio cholerae MARTX toxin heterologous translocation of beta-lactamase and roles of individual effector domains on cytoskeleton dynamics. Mol Microbiol 2015; 95:590-604. [PMID: 25427654 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Vibrio cholerae MARTXVc toxin delivers three effector domains to eukaryotic cells. To study toxin delivery and function of individual domains, the rtxA gene was modified to encode toxin with an in-frame beta-lactamase (Bla) fusion. The hybrid RtxA::Bla toxin was Type I secreted from bacteria; and then Bla was translocated into eukaryotic cells and delivered by autoprocessing, demonstrating that the MARTXVc toxin is capable of heterologous protein transfer. Strains that produce hybrid RtxA::Bla toxins that carry one effector domain in addition to Bla were found to more efficiently translocate Bla. In cell biological assays, the actin cross-linking domain (ACD) and Rho-inactivation domain (RID) are found to cross-link actin and inactivate RhoA, respectively, when other effector domains are absent, with toxin autoprocessing required for high efficiency. The previously unstudied alpha-beta hydrolase domain (ABH) is shown here to activate CDC42, although the effect is ameliorated when RID is also present. Despite all effector domains acting on cytoskeleton assembly, the ACD was sufficient to rapidly inhibit macrophage phagocytosis. Both the ACD and RID independently disrupted polarized epithelial tight junction integrity. The sufficiency of ACD but strong selection for retention of RID and ABH suggests these two domains may primarily function by modulating cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazel S Dolores
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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25
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Gall DL, Ralph J, Donohue TJ, Noguera D. A group of sequence-related sphingomonad enzymes catalyzes cleavage of β-aryl ether linkages in lignin β-guaiacyl and β-syringyl ether dimers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:12454-63. [PMID: 25232892 PMCID: PMC4207535 DOI: 10.1021/es503886d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Lignin biosynthesis occurs via radical coupling of guaiacyl and syringyl hydroxycinnamyl alcohol monomers (i.e., "monolignols") through chemical condensation with the growing lignin polymer. With each chain-extension step, monolignols invariably couple at their β-positions, generating chiral centers. Here, we report on activities of bacterial glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzymes that cleave β-aryl ether bonds in lignin dimers that are composed of different monomeric units. Our data reveal that these sequence-related enzymes from Novosphingobium sp. strain PP1Y, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans strain DSM12444, and Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6 have conserved functions as β-etherases, catalyzing cleavage of each of the four dimeric α-keto-β-aryl ether-linked substrates (i.e., guaiacyl-β-guaiacyl, guaiacyl-β-syringyl, syringyl-β-guaiacyl, and syringyl-β-syringyl). Although each β-etherase cleaves β-guaiacyl and β-syringyl substrates, we have found that each is stereospecific for a given β-enantiomer in a racemic substrate; LigE and LigP β-etherase homologues exhibited stereospecificity toward β(R)-enantiomers whereas LigF and its homologues exhibited β(S)-stereospecificity. Given the diversity of lignin's monomeric units and the racemic nature of lignin polymers, we propose that bacterial catabolic pathways have overcome the existence of diverse lignin-derived substrates in nature by evolving multiple enzymes with broad substrate specificities. Thus, each bacterial β-etherase is able to cleave β-guaiacyl and β-syringyl ether-linked compounds while retaining either β(R)- or β(S)-stereospecificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L. Gall
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- U.S.
Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison Wisconsin 53726, United States
- Phone: 608-265-8465; e-mail:
| | - John Ralph
- U.S.
Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison Wisconsin 53726, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Timothy J. Donohue
- U.S.
Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison Wisconsin 53726, United States
- Department
of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Daniel
R. Noguera
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- U.S.
Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison Wisconsin 53726, United States
- Environmental
Chemistry and Technology Program, University
of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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Durighello E, Christie-Oleza JA, Armengaud J. Assessing the exoproteome of marine bacteria, lesson from a RTX-toxin abundantly secreted by Phaeobacter strain DSM 17395. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89691. [PMID: 24586966 PMCID: PMC3933643 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria from the Roseobacter clade are abundant in surface marine ecosystems as over 10% of bacterial cells in the open ocean and 20% in coastal waters belong to this group. In order to document how these marine bacteria interact with their environment, we analyzed the exoproteome of Phaeobacter strain DSM 17395. We grew the strain in marine medium, collected the exoproteome and catalogued its content with high-throughput nanoLC-MS/MS shotgun proteomics. The major component represented 60% of the total protein content but was refractory to either classical proteomic identification or proteogenomics. We de novo sequenced this abundant protein with high-resolution tandem mass spectra which turned out being the 53 kDa RTX-toxin ZP_02147451. It comprised a peptidase M10 serralysin domain. We explained its recalcitrance to trypsin proteolysis and proteomic identification by its unusual low number of basic residues. We found this is a conserved trait in RTX-toxins from Roseobacter strains which probably explains their persistence in the harsh conditions around bacteria. Comprehensive analysis of exoproteomes from environmental bacteria should take into account this proteolytic recalcitrance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emie Durighello
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Biochim System Perturb, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | | | - Jean Armengaud
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Biochim System Perturb, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
- * E-mail:
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Gall DL, Kim H, Lu F, Donohue TJ, Noguera DR, Ralph J. Stereochemical features of glutathione-dependent enzymes in the Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6 β-aryl etherase pathway. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:8656-67. [PMID: 24509858 PMCID: PMC3961688 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.536250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutathione-dependent enzymes play important protective, repair, or metabolic roles in cells. In particular, enzymes in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily function in stress responses, defense systems, or xenobiotic detoxification. Here, we identify novel features of bacterial GSTs that cleave β-aryl ether bonds typically found in plant lignin. Our data reveal several original features of the reaction cycle of these GSTs, including stereospecific substrate recognition and stereoselective formation of β-S-thioether linkages. Products of recombinant GSTs (LigE, LigP, and LigF) are β-S-glutathionyl-α-keto-thioethers that are degraded by a β-S-thioetherase (LigG). All three Lig GSTs produced the ketone product (β-S-glutathionyl-α-veratrylethanone) from an achiral side chain-truncated model substrate (β-guaiacyl-α-veratrylethanone). However, when β-etherase assays were conducted with a racemic model substrate, β-guaiacyl-α-veratrylglycerone, LigE- or LigP-catalyzed reactions yielded only one of two potential product (β-S-glutathionyl-α-veratrylglycerone) epimers, whereas the other diastereomer (differing in configuration at the β-position (i.e. its β-epimer)) was produced only in the LigF-catalyzed reaction. Thus, β-etherase catalysis causes stereochemical inversion of the chiral center, converting a β(R)-substrate to a β(S)-product (LigE and LigP), and a β(S)-substrate to a β(R)-product (LigF). Further, LigG catalyzed glutathione-dependent β-S-thioether cleavage with β-S-glutathionyl-α-veratrylethanone and with β(R)-configured β-S-glutathionyl-α-veratrylglycerone but exhibited no or significantly reduced β-S-thioether-cleaving activity with the β(S)-epimer, demonstrating that LigG is a stereospecific β-thioetherase. We therefore propose that multiple Lig enzymes are needed in this β-aryl etherase pathway in order to cleave the racemic β-ether linkages that are present in the backbone of the lignin polymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Gall
- From the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Abstract
The development of affinity tags has greatly simplified protein purification procedures. A variety of affinity tags are now available to improve expression, solubility, and/or tag removal. In this chapter, we describe a method for purifying recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli that uses a highly specific, inducible, C-terminal autoprocessing protease tag. This method streamlines affinity purification, cleavage, and tag separation into a one-step purification procedure, avoiding the need to remove fusion tags from target proteins with exogenous proteases. In addition to accelerating protein purification, we show that this method can enhance the expression, stability, and solubility of select proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Shen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, 95 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA,
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29
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Miyoshi SI. Extracellular proteolytic enzymes produced by human pathogenic vibrio species. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:339. [PMID: 24302921 PMCID: PMC3831164 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 10/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria in the genus Vibrio produce extracellular proteolytic enzymes to obtain nutrients via digestion of various protein substrates. However, the enzymes secreted by human pathogenic species have been documented to modulate the bacterial virulence. Several species including Vibrio cholerae and V. vulnificus are known to produce thermolysin-like metalloproteases termed vibriolysin. The vibriolysin from V. vulnificus, a causative agent of serious systemic infection, is a major toxic factor eliciting the secondary skin damage characterized by formation of the hemorrhagic brae. The vibriolysin from intestinal pathogens may play indirect roles in pathogenicity because it can activate protein toxins and hemagglutinin by the limited proteolysis and can affect the bacterial attachment to or detachment from the intestinal surface by degradation of the mucus layer. Two species causing wound infections, V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus, produce another metalloproteases so-called collagenases. Although the detailed pathological roles have not been studied, the collagenase is potent to accelerate the bacterial dissemination through digestion of the protein components of the extracellular matrix. Some species produce cymotrypsin-like serine proteases, which may also affect the bacterial virulence potential. The intestinal pathogens produce sufficient amounts of the metalloprotease at the small intestinal temperature; however, the metalloprotease production by extra-intestinal pathogens is much higher around the body surface temperature. On the other hand, the serine protease is expressed only in the absence of the metalloprotease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Ichi Miyoshi
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Okayama, Japan
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30
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Hor LI, Chen CL. Cytotoxins of Vibrio vulnificus: Functions and roles in pathogenesis. Biomedicine (Taipei) 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomed.2012.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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31
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Li S, Shi L, Yang Z, Feng H. Cytotoxicity of Clostridium difficile toxin B does not require cysteine protease-mediated autocleavage and release of the glucosyltransferase domain into the host cell cytosol. Pathog Dis 2013; 67:11-8. [PMID: 23620115 DOI: 10.1111/2049-632x.12016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Revised: 11/26/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile virulence requires secretion of two exotoxins: TcdA and TcdB. The precise mechanism of toxin uptake and delivery is undefined, but current models predict that the cysteine protease domain (CPD)-mediated autocleavage and release of glucosyltransferase domain (GTD) are crucial for intoxication. To determine the importance of CPD-mediated cleavage to TcdB cytotoxicity, we generated two mutant toxins--TcdB-C698S and TcdB-H653A--and assayed their abilities to intoxicate cells. The CPD mutants include an intact GTD but lack the cysteine protease activity. The mutants had reduced potency in that their effect on cells was delayed and required higher concentrations than wild-type TcdB. They did eventually cause cell rounding, glucosylation of Rho GTPases, and apoptosis that was indistinguishable from that caused by TcdB. Although the mutant toxins caused a complete cell rounding, they failed to release their GTD into cytosol, whereas wild-type TcdB displayed significant autocleavage and release of GTD. We conclude that the cysteine protease-mediated autocleavage and release of GTD is not a prerequisite for the cytotoxic activity of TcdB, but rather limits the potency and speed of Rho GTPase glucosylation. Our findings revise and refine the current model for the mode of the action and cellular trafficking of TcdB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Li
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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32
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Ahrens S, Geissler B, Satchell KJF. Identification of a His-Asp-Cys catalytic triad essential for function of the Rho inactivation domain (RID) of Vibrio cholerae MARTX toxin. J Biol Chem 2012. [PMID: 23184949 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.396309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera. For V. cholerae to colonize the intestinal epithelium, accessory toxins such as the multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX(Vc)) toxin are required. MARTX toxins are composite toxins comprised of arrayed effector domains that carry out distinct functions inside the host cell. Among the three effector domains of MARTX(Vc) is the Rho inactivation domain (RID(Vc)) known to cause cell rounding through inactivation of small RhoGTPases. Using alanine scanning mutagenesis in the activity subdomain of RID(Vc), four residues, His-2782, Leu-2851, Asp-2854, and Cys-3022, were identified as impacting RID(Vc) function in depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton and inactivation of RhoA. Tyr-2807 and Tyr-3015 were identified as important potentially for forming the active structure for substrate contact but are not involved in catalysis or post translational modifications. Finally, V. cholerae strains modified to carry a catalytically inactive RID(Vc) show that the rate and efficiency of MARTX(Vc) actin cross-linking activity does not depend on a functional RID(Vc), demonstrating that these domains function independently in actin depolymerization. Overall, our results indicate a His-Asp-Cys catalytic triad is essential for function of the RID effector domain family shared by MARTX toxins produced by many Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Ahrens
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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Zhang D, de Souza RF, Anantharaman V, Iyer LM, Aravind L. Polymorphic toxin systems: Comprehensive characterization of trafficking modes, processing, mechanisms of action, immunity and ecology using comparative genomics. Biol Direct 2012; 7:18. [PMID: 22731697 PMCID: PMC3482391 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6150-7-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 358] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 05/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proteinaceous toxins are observed across all levels of inter-organismal and intra-genomic conflicts. These include recently discovered prokaryotic polymorphic toxin systems implicated in intra-specific conflicts. They are characterized by a remarkable diversity of C-terminal toxin domains generated by recombination with standalone toxin-coding cassettes. Prior analysis revealed a striking diversity of nuclease and deaminase domains among the toxin modules. We systematically investigated polymorphic toxin systems using comparative genomics, sequence and structure analysis. RESULTS Polymorphic toxin systems are distributed across all major bacterial lineages and are delivered by at least eight distinct secretory systems. In addition to type-II, these include type-V, VI, VII (ESX), and the poorly characterized "Photorhabdus virulence cassettes (PVC)", PrsW-dependent and MuF phage-capsid-like systems. We present evidence that trafficking of these toxins is often accompanied by autoproteolytic processing catalyzed by HINT, ZU5, PrsW, caspase-like, papain-like, and a novel metallopeptidase associated with the PVC system. We identified over 150 distinct toxin domains in these systems. These span an extraordinary catalytic spectrum to include 23 distinct clades of peptidases, numerous previously unrecognized versions of nucleases and deaminases, ADP-ribosyltransferases, ADP ribosyl cyclases, RelA/SpoT-like nucleotidyltransferases, glycosyltranferases and other enzymes predicted to modify lipids and carbohydrates, and a pore-forming toxin domain. Several of these toxin domains are shared with host-directed effectors of pathogenic bacteria. Over 90 families of immunity proteins might neutralize anywhere between a single to at least 27 distinct types of toxin domains. In some organisms multiple tandem immunity genes or immunity protein domains are organized into polyimmunity loci or polyimmunity proteins. Gene-neighborhood-analysis of polymorphic toxin systems predicts the presence of novel trafficking-related components, and also the organizational logic that allows toxin diversification through recombination. Domain architecture and protein-length analysis revealed that these toxins might be deployed as secreted factors, through directed injection, or via inter-cellular contact facilitated by filamentous structures formed by RHS/YD, filamentous hemagglutinin and other repeats. Phyletic pattern and life-style analysis indicate that polymorphic toxins and polyimmunity loci participate in cooperative behavior and facultative 'cheating' in several ecosystems such as the human oral cavity and soil. Multiple domains from these systems have also been repeatedly transferred to eukaryotes and their viruses, such as the nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses. CONCLUSIONS Along with a comprehensive inventory of toxins and immunity proteins, we present several testable predictions regarding active sites and catalytic mechanisms of toxins, their processing and trafficking and their role in intra-specific and inter-specific interactions between bacteria. These systems provide insights regarding the emergence of key systems at different points in eukaryotic evolution, such as ADP ribosylation, interaction of myosin VI with cargo proteins, mediation of apoptosis, hyphal heteroincompatibility, hedgehog signaling, arthropod toxins, cell-cell interaction molecules like teneurins and different signaling messengers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Zhang
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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34
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Pruitt RN, Lacy DB. Toward a structural understanding of Clostridium difficile toxins A and B. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:28. [PMID: 22919620 PMCID: PMC3417631 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is a toxin-producing bacterium that is a frequent cause of hospital-acquired and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The incidence, severity, and costs associated with C. difficile associated disease are substantial and increasing, making C. difficile a significant public health concern. The two primary toxins, TcdA and TcdB, disrupt host cell function by inactivating small GTPases that regulate the actin cytoskeleton. This review will discuss the role of these two toxins in pathogenesis and the structural and molecular mechanisms by which they intoxicate cells. A focus will be placed on recent publications highlighting mechanistic similarities and differences between TcdA, TcdB, and different TcdB variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory N Pruitt
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville TN, USA
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35
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Deu E, Verdoes M, Bogyo M. New approaches for dissecting protease functions to improve probe development and drug discovery. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2012; 19:9-16. [PMID: 22218294 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Proteases are well-established targets for pharmaceutical development because of their known enzymatic mechanism and their regulatory roles in many pathologies. However, many potent clinical lead compounds have been unsuccessful either because of a lack of specificity or because of our limited understanding of the biological roles of the targeted protease. In order to successfully develop protease inhibitors as drugs, it is necessary to understand protease functions and to expand the platform of inhibitor development beyond active site-directed design and in vitro optimization. Several newly developed technologies will enhance assessment of drug selectivity in living cells and animal models, allowing researchers to focus on compounds with high specificity and minimal side effects in vivo. In this review, we highlight advances in the development of chemical probes, proteomic methods and screening tools that we feel will help facilitate this paradigm shift in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Deu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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36
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Oezguen N, Power TD, Urvil P, Feng H, Pothoulakis C, Stamler JS, Braun W, Savidge TC. Clostridial toxins: sensing a target in a hostile gut environment. Gut Microbes 2012; 3:35-41. [PMID: 22356854 PMCID: PMC3337123 DOI: 10.4161/gmic.19250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The current global outbreak of Clostridium difficile infection exemplifies the major public health threat posed by clostridial glucosylating toxins. In the western world, C. difficile infection is one of the most prolific causes of bacterial-induced diarrhea and potentially fatal colitis. Two pathogenic enterotoxins, TcdA and TcdB, cause the disease. Vancomycin and metronidazole remain readily available treatment options for C. difficile infection, but neither is fully effective as is evident by high clinical relapse and fatality rates. Thus, there is an urgent need to find an alternative therapy that preferentially targets the toxins and not the drug-resistant pathogen. Recently, we addressed these critical issues in a Nature Medicine letter, describing a novel host defense mechanism for subverting toxin virulence that we translated into prototypic allosteric therapy for C. difficile infection. In this addendum article, we provide a continued perspective of this antitoxin mechanism and consider the broader implications of therapeutic allostery in combating gut microbial pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Numan Oezguen
- Department of Internal Medicine; University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX USA
| | - Trevor D. Power
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX USA
| | - Petri Urvil
- Department of Internal Medicine; University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX USA
| | - Hanping Feng
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis; University of Maryland Dental School; Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Charalabos Pothoulakis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Division of Digestive Diseases; University of California at Los Angeles; Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Jonathan S. Stamler
- Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine; Department of Medicine; University Hospitals; Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Werner Braun
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX USA
| | - Tor C. Savidge
- Department of Internal Medicine; University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX USA,Correspondence to: Tor C. Savidge;
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37
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Satchell KJ. Structure and Function of MARTX Toxins and Other Large Repetitive RTX Proteins. Annu Rev Microbiol 2011; 65:71-90. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-090110-102943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karla J.F. Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611;
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38
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Hansen AK, Vorburger C, Moran NA. Genomic basis of endosymbiont-conferred protection against an insect parasitoid. Genome Res 2011; 22:106-14. [PMID: 21948522 DOI: 10.1101/gr.125351.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial endosymbionts exert a variety of beneficial effects on insect hosts. In pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), several inherited endosymbiont species protect their hosts against parasitoid wasps, which are major natural enemies. However, strains of these symbiont species vary in their ability to confer protection against parasitoids, with some conferring almost complete protection and others conferring almost none. In this study, two strains of the endosymbiont Regiella insecticola (R. insecticola 5.15 and R. insecticola LSR1) were found to differ in ability to protect pea aphids attacked by the parasitoid Aphidius ervi. Parasitism trials reveal that R. insecticola 5.15, but not R. insecticola LSR1, significantly reduced parasitoid success and increased aphid survivorship. To address the potential genetic basis of protection conferred by R. insecticola 5.15 we sequenced the genome of this symbiont strain, and then compared its gene repertoire with that of the already sequenced nonprotective strain R. insecticola LSR1. We identified striking differences in gene sets related to eukaryote pathogenicity. The protective strain R. insecticola 5.15 encoded five categories of pathogenicity factors that were missing or inactivated in R. insecticola LSR1. These included genes encoding the O-antigen biosynthetic pathway, an intact Type 1 Secretion System and its secreted RTX toxins, an intact SPI-1 Type 3 Secretion System and its effectors, hemin transport, and the two-component system PhoPQ. These five pathogenicity factors and translocation systems are hypothesized to collectively play key roles in the endosymbiont's virulence against parasitoids, resulting in aphid protection. Mechanisms through which these factors may target parasitoids are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison K Hansen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut 06516-7388, USA
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39
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Savidge TC, Urvil P, Oezguen N, Ali K, Choudhury A, Acharya V, Pinchuk I, Torres AG, English RD, Wiktorowicz JE, Loeffelholz M, Kumar R, Shi L, Nie W, Braun W, Herman B, Hausladen A, Feng H, Stamler JS, Pothoulakis C. Host S-nitrosylation inhibits clostridial small molecule-activated glucosylating toxins. Nat Med 2011; 17:1136-41. [PMID: 21857653 DOI: 10.1038/nm.2405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The global prevalence of severe Clostridium difficile infection highlights the profound clinical significance of clostridial glucosylating toxins. Virulence is dependent on the autoactivation of a toxin cysteine protease, which is promoted by the allosteric cofactor inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)). Host mechanisms that protect against such exotoxins are poorly understood. It is increasingly appreciated that the pleiotropic functions attributed to nitric oxide (NO), including host immunity, are in large part mediated by S-nitrosylation of proteins. Here we show that C. difficile toxins are S-nitrosylated by the infected host and that S-nitrosylation attenuates virulence by inhibiting toxin self-cleavage and cell entry. Notably, InsP(6)- and inositol pyrophosphate (InsP(7))-induced conformational changes in the toxin enabled host S-nitrosothiols to transnitrosylate the toxin catalytic cysteine, which forms part of a structurally conserved nitrosylation motif. Moreover, treatment with exogenous InsP(6) enhanced the therapeutic actions of oral S-nitrosothiols in mouse models of C. difficile infection. Allostery in bacterial proteins has thus been successfully exploited in the evolutionary development of nitrosothiol-based innate immunity and may provide an avenue to new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tor C Savidge
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
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40
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Lee TH, Kim YR, Rhee JH, Kim JH, Woo HR, Chung KM. Characterization of monoclonal antibodies targeting the RtxA1 toxin of Vibrio vulnificus. Process Biochem 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Vibrio are normal habitants of the aquatic environment but the some species are believed to be human pathogens. Pathogenic vibrios produce various pathogenic factors, and the proteases are also recognized to play pathogenic roles in the infection: the direct roles by digesting many kinds of host proteins or indirect roles by processing other pathogenic protein factors. Especially VVP from Vibrio vulnificus is thought to be a major pathogenic factor of the vibrio. Although HA/P, the V. cholerae hemagglutinin/protease, is not a direct toxic factor of cholera vibrio, its significance is an undeniable fact. Production of HA/P is regulated together with major pathogenic factors such as CT (cholera toxin) or TCP (toxin co-regulated pilus) by a quorum-sensing system. HA/P is necessary for full expression of pathogenicity of the vibrio by supporting growth and translocation in the digestive tract. Processing of protein toxins such as CT or El Tor hemolysin is also an important pathogenic role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumio Shinoda
- Faculty of Science, Okayama University of Science, Okayama University of Science, Ridai-cho, Okayama 700-005, Japan.
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42
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Rational design of inhibitors and activity-based probes targeting Clostridium difficile virulence factor TcdB. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 17:1201-11. [PMID: 21095570 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2010.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2010] [Revised: 09/30/2010] [Accepted: 09/30/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of nosocomial infections. The major virulence factors of this pathogen are the multi-domain toxins TcdA and TcdB. These toxins contain a cysteine protease domain (CPD) that autoproteolytically releases a cytotoxic effector domain upon binding intracellular inositol hexakisphosphate. Currently, there are no known inhibitors of this protease. Here, we describe the rational design of covalent small molecule inhibitors of TcdB CPD. We identified compounds that inactivate TcdB holotoxin function in cells and solved the structure of inhibitor-bound protease to 2.0 Å. This structure reveals the molecular basis of CPD substrate recognition and informed the synthesis of activity-based probes for this enzyme. The inhibitors presented will guide the development of therapeutics targeting C. difficile, and the probes will serve as tools for studying the unique activation mechanism of bacterial toxin CPDs.
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Defining an allosteric circuit in the cysteine protease domain of Clostridium difficile toxins. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2011; 18:364-71. [PMID: 21317893 PMCID: PMC3076311 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
An internal cysteine protease domain (CPD) autoproteolytically regulates Clostridium difficile glucosylating toxins by releasing a cytotoxic effector domain into target cells. CPD activity is itself allosterically regulated by the eukaryotic-specific molecule inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6). Although allostery controls the function of most proteins, the molecular details underlying this regulatory mechanism are often difficult to characterize. Here we use chemical probes to show that apo-CPD is in dynamic equilibrium between active and inactive states. InsP6 dramatically shifts this equilibrium towards an active conformer that is further restrained upon binding a suicide substrate. Structural analyses combined with systematic mutational and disulfide bond engineering studies reveal that residues within a β-hairpin region functionally couple the InsP6 binding site to the active site. Collectively, our results identify an allosteric circuit that allows bacterial virulence factors to sense and respond to the eukaryotic environment.
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44
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Kern SM, Feig AL. Adaptation of Clostridium difficile toxin A for use as a protein translocation system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 405:570-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.01.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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45
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Self-cleaving fusion tags for recombinant protein production. Biotechnol Lett 2011; 33:869-81. [PMID: 21267760 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-011-0533-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 12/23/2010] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Fusion expression is a common practice for recombinant protein production. Some fusion tags confer solubility on the target protein whereas others provide affinity handles that facilitate purification. However, the tag usually needs to be removed from the final product, which involves using expensive proteases or hazardous chemicals and requires additional chromatography steps. Self-cleaving tags are a special group of fusion tags that possess inducible proteolytic activity. Combined with appropriate affinity tags, they enable fusion purification, cleavage and target separation to be achieved in a single step, which saves time, labor and cost. This paper reviews currently available self-cleaving fusion tags for recombinant protein production. For each system, an introduction of its key characteristics and a brief discussion of its advantages and disadvantages is given.
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46
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Hsu FY, Chou LF, Hor LI, Chang HY. A human single-chain variable fragment targeting to Vibrio vulnificus RtxA toxin. J Microbiol Methods 2011; 84:94-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2010.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2010] [Revised: 10/18/2010] [Accepted: 11/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Domain organization and evolution of multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin in Vibrio vulnificus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 77:657-68. [PMID: 21075892 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01806-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to analyze multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin domain organization within the aquatic species Vibrio vulnificus as well as to study the evolution of the rtxA1 gene. The species is subdivided into three biotypes that differ in host range and geographical distribution. We have found three different types (I, II, and III) of V. vulnificus MARTX (MARTX(Vv)) toxins with common domains (an autocatalytic cysteine protease domain [CPD], an α/β-hydrolase domain, and a domain resembling that of the LifA protein of Escherichia coli O127:H6 E2348/69 [Efa/LifA]) and specific domains (a Rho-GTPase inactivation domain [RID], a domain of unknown function [DUF], a domain resembling that of the rtxA protein of Photorhabdus asymbiotica [rtxA(PA)], and an actin cross-linking domain [ACD]). Biotype 1 isolates harbor MARTX(Vv) toxin types I and II, biotype 2 isolates carry MARTX(Vv) toxin type III, and biotype 3 isolates have MARTX(Vv) toxin type II. The analyzed biotype 2 isolates harbor two identical copies of rtxA1, one chromosomal and the other plasmidic. The evolutionary history of the gene demonstrates that MARTX(Vv) toxins are mosaics, comprising pieces with different evolutionary histories, some of which have been acquired by intra- or interspecific horizontal gene transfer. Finally, we have found evidence that the evolutionary history of the rtxA1 gene for biotype 2 differs totally from the gene history of biotypes 1 and 3.
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Kreimeyer I, Euler F, Marckscheffel A, Tatge H, Pich A, Olling A, Schwarz J, Just I, Gerhard R. Autoproteolytic cleavage mediates cytotoxicity of Clostridium difficile toxin A. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2010; 383:253-62. [PMID: 21046073 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-010-0574-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 10/19/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Toxin A and toxin B from Clostridium difficile are the causative agents of the antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis. They are of an A/B structure type and possess inositol hexakisphosphate-inducible autoproteolytic activity to release their glucosyltransferase domain to the cytoplasm of target cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of extracellular and intracellular autoproteolytic cleavage on the function of TcdA. Extracellular cleavage led to functional inactivation albeit TcdA was less susceptible to inositol hexakisphosphate-induced autoproteolysis than TcdB. A non-cleavable TcdA mutant (TcdA A541 G542 A543) was generated to investigate whether autoproteolysis is a prerequisite for intracellular function of TcdA. Although the EC(50) regarding cell rounding was about 75-fold reduced in short-term assay, non-cleavable TcdA was able to induce complete cell rounding and apoptosis after 36 h comparable to wildtype TcdA when continuously present. Studies with limited uptake of toxins revealed progressive Rac1 glucosylation and complete cell rounding for TcdA, whereas the effect induced by non-cleavable TcdA was reversible. These findings argue for cytosolic accumulation of the released glucosyltransferase domain of wild-type TcdA and rapid degradation of the non-cleavable TcdA. In summary, extracellular cleavage functionally inactivates TcdA (and TcdB), whereas intracellular autoproteolytic cleavage is not essential for function of TcdA but defines its potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isa Kreimeyer
- Institut für Toxikologie, Medizinische Hochschule, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Le Roux F, Labreuche Y, Davis BM, Iqbal N, Mangenot S, Goarant C, Mazel D, Waldor MK. Virulence of an emerging pathogenic lineage of Vibrio nigripulchritudo is dependent on two plasmids. Environ Microbiol 2010; 13:296-306. [PMID: 20825454 PMCID: PMC3020234 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02329.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Vibrioses are the predominant bacterial infections in marine shrimp farms. Vibrio nigripulchritudo is an emerging pathogen of the cultured shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris in New Caledonia and other regions in the Indo-Pacific. The molecular determinants of V. nigripulchritudo pathogenicity are unknown; however, molecular epidemiological studies have revealed that recent pathogenic V. nigripulchritudo isolates from New Caledonia all cluster into a monophyletic clade and contain a small plasmid, pB1067. Here, we report that a large plasmid, pA1066 (247 kb), can also serve as a marker for virulent V. nigripulchritudo, and that an ancestral version of this plasmid was likely acquired prior to other virulence-linked markers. Additionally, we demonstrate that pA1066 is critical for the full virulence of V. nigripulchritudo in several newly developed experimental models of infection. Plasmid pB1067 also contributes to virulence; only strains containing both plasmids induced the highest level of shrimp mortality. Thus, it appears that these plasmids, which are absent from non-pathogenic isolates, may be driving forces, as well as markers, for the emergence of a pathogenic lineage of V. nigripulchritudo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédérique Le Roux
- Laboratoire de Génétique et Pathologie, IFREMER, 3790 La Tremblade, France.
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Abstract
Large bacterial protein toxins autotranslocate functional effector domains to the eukaryotic cell cytosol, resulting in alterations to cellular functions that ultimately benefit the infecting pathogen. Among these toxins, the clostridial glucosylating toxins (CGTs) produced by Gram-positive bacteria and the multifunctional-autoprocessing RTX (MARTX) toxins of Gram-negative bacteria have distinct mechanisms for effector translocation, but a shared mechanism of post-translocation autoprocessing that releases these functional domains from the large holotoxins. These toxins carry an embedded cysteine protease domain (CPD) that is activated for autoprocessing by binding inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6), a molecule found exclusively in eukaryotic cells. Thus, InsP6-induced autoprocessing represents a unique mechanism for toxin effector delivery specifically within the target cell. This review summarizes recent studies of the structural and molecular events for activation of autoprocessing for both CGT and MARTX toxins, demonstrating both similar and potentially distinct aspects of autoprocessing among the toxins that utilize this method of activation and effector delivery.
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