TagElDein MA, Mohamed NG, Shahein YE, Ziko L, Hussein NA. Altering Escherichia coli envelope integrity by mimicking the lipoprotein RcsF.
Arch Microbiol 2023;
206:12. [PMID:
38070002 PMCID:
PMC10710380 DOI:
10.1007/s00203-023-03733-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli cell envelope is crucial for stress sensing and signal transduction, mediated by numerous protein-protein interactions to enable adaptation and survival. Interfering with these interactions might affect envelope integrity leading to bacterial death. The outer membrane lipoprotein (RcsF) is the stress sensor of the regulator of capsule synthesis (Rcs) phosphorelay that senses envelope threats. RcsF interacts with two essential proteins, IgaA (repressing the Rcs system) and BamA (inserting β-barrel proteins in the outer membrane). Disturbing RcsF interactions may alter Rcs signaling and/or membrane integrity thus affecting bacterial survival. Here, we derived the sequence of a peptide mimicking RcsF (RcsFmim), based on the in silico docking of RcsF with IgaA. Expression of rcsFmim caused 3-to-4-fold activation of the Rcs system and perturbation of the outer membrane. Both effects result in decreased E. coli growth rate. We anticipate that RcsFmim present a candidate for future antibacterial peptide development.
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