Purification of a protein from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain A348 that binds phenolic compounds

Mechanistic Analysis of the VirA Sensor Kinase in Agrobacterium tumefaciens Using Structural Models

Agrobacterium tumefaciens pathogenesis of plants is initiated with signal reception and culminates with transforming the genomic DNA of its host. The histidine sensor kinase VirA receives and reacts to discrete signaling molecules for the full induction of the genes necessary for this process. Though many of the components of this process have been identified, the precise mechanism of how VirA coordinates the response to host signals, namely phenols and sugars, is unknown. Recent advances of molecular modeling have allowed us to test structure/function predictions and contextualize previous experiments with VirA. In particular, the deep mind software AlphaFold has generated a structural model for the entire protein, allowing us to construct a model that addresses the mechanism of VirA signal reception. Here, we deepen our analysis of the region of VirA that is critical for phenol reception, model and probe potential phenol-binding sites of VirA, and refine its mechanism to strengthen our understanding of A. tumefaciens signal perception.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens and plant cell interactions and activities required for interkingdom macromolecular transfer

Host recognition and macromolecular transfer of virulence-mediating effectors represent critical steps in the successful transformation of plant cells by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This review focuses on bacterial and plant-encoded components that interact to mediate these two processes. First, we examine the means by which Agrobacterium recognizes the host, via both diffusible plant-derived chemicals and cell-cell contact, with emphasis on the mechanisms by which multiple host signals are recognized and activate the virulence process. Second, we characterize the recognition and transfer of protein and protein-DNA complexes through the bacterial and plant cell membrane and wall barriers, emphasizing the central role of a type IV secretion system-the VirB complex-in this process.

Chemical biology of multi-host/pathogen interactions: chemical perception and metabolic complementation

The xenognostic mechanisms of two multi-host pathogens, the causative agent of crown gall tumors Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the parasitic plant Striga asiatica, are compared. Both organisms are general plant pathogens and require similar information prior to host commitment. Two mechanistic strategies, chemical perception and metabolic complementation, are used to ensure successful host commitment. The critical reactions at host-parasite contact are proton and electron transfer events. Such strategies may be common among multi-host pathogens.

Xenognosin sensing in virulence: is there a phenol receptor in Agrobacterium tumefaciens?

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms of signal perception and transmission in the 'two-component' autokinase transmitters/response regulators are poorly understood, especially considering the vast number of such systems now known. Virulence induction from the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens represents one of the best understood systems with regard to the chemistry of the activating signal, and yet the existing data does not support a receptor-mediated perception event for the xenognostic phenols.

RESULTS

Here we provide the first conclusive evidence that a specific receptor must be involved in xenognostic phenol perception, detail structural requirements of the xenognosins necessary for perception by this receptor, and develop a genetic strategy that demonstrates critical components of the phenol recognition system are not encoded on the Ti plasmid.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the basic elements of the two-component system required for phenol-mediated induction of virulence gene expression are encoded on the Ti plasmid, they are dependent on the chromosomal background for even the very first stage of signal perception. This discovery suggests a curious evolutionary history, and also provides functional insight into the mechanisms of two-component signal detection and transmission in general.

Transcriptional activation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens virulence gene promoters in Escherichia coli requires the A. tumefaciens RpoA gene, encoding the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase

The two-component regulatory system, composed of virA and virG, is indispensable for transcription of virulence genes within Agrobacterium tumefaciens. However, virA and virG are insufficient to activate transcription from virulence gene promoters within Escherichia coli cells, indicating a requirement for additional A. tumefaciens genes. In a search for these additional genes, we have identified the rpoA gene, encoding the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP), which confers significant expression of a virB promoter (virBp)::lacZ fusion in E. coli in the presence of an active transcriptional regulator virG gene. We conducted in vitro transcription assays using either reconstituted E. coli RNAP or hybrid RNAP in which the alpha subunit was derived from A. tumefaciens. The two forms of RNAP were equally efficient in transcription from a sigma(70)-dependent E. coli galP1 promoter; however, only the hybrid RNAP was able to transcribe virBp in a virG-dependent manner. In addition, we provide evidence that the alpha subunit from A. tumefaciens, but not from E. coli, is able to interact with the VirG protein. These data suggest that transcription of virulence genes requires specific interaction between VirG and the alpha subunit of A. tumefaciens and that the alpha subunit from E. coli is unable to effectively interact with the VirG protein. This work provides the basis for future studies designed to examine vir gene expression as well as the T-DNA transfer process in E. coli.

vir-Gene-inducing activities of hydroxycinnamic acid amides in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Expression of Agrobacterium tumefaciens virulence genes and transformation of dicots by this organism are dependent upon host plant phenolic compounds. Several alkylsyringamides have recently been shown to be powerful inducers of these vir-genes. These synthetic amides, and especially ethylsyringamide, are much stronger inducers than syringic acid. In this work, four alkylamides derived from ferulic or sinapic acids were synthesized by a dicyclohexylcarbodiimide method and tested for their potential to induce vir-gene expression on A. tumefaciens strains harbouring virB::lacZ or virE::lacZ fusion plasmids. Their effectiveness was compared to that of ethylsyringamide and tyraminylferulamide, a naturally occurring amide in plants. Whatever the amine moiety of the amide (ethylamine, propylamine, tyramine or beta-alanine ethyl ester) conjugation of the acid functional group clearly diminished the toxicity to the bacteria of the respective acid at high concentration and thereby increased the vir-inducing potential. However, none of the inducers tested exhibited higher activity than acetosyringone, the reference compound for vir-gene induction, with the exception of ethylsyringamide at concentrations above 1mM. When tested on Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain A348(pSM243cd), ethylferulamide and ethylsinapamide were more efficient than the corresponding phenolic acids but only above 100 microM.

Alkylsyringamides, new inducers of Agrobacterium tumefaciens virulence genes

The virulence genes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens are specifically activated by plant phenolic compounds and allow this organism to genetically transform plant cells. New types of phenolic compounds, three phenol amides derived from syringic acid, were synthesized. Introduction of an amide group in syringic acid strongly enhances its vir gene inducing activity.