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Purkait D, Ilyas M, Atmakuri K. Protein-Protein Interactions: Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation and Cytology Two Hybrid. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2715:247-257. [PMID: 37930533 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3445-5_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Identifying protein-protein interactions between machine components of bacterial secretion systems and their cognate substrates is central to delineating how the machines operate to translocate their substrates. Further, establishing which among the machine components and their substrates interact with each other facilitates (i) advancement in our understanding of the architecture and assembly of the machines, (ii) understanding the substrates' translocation routes and mechanisms, and (iii) how the machines and the substrates talk to each other. Currently, though diverse biochemical methods exist in identifying direct and indirect protein-protein interactions, they primarily remain in vitro and can be quite labor intensive. They also may capture/exhibit false-positive interactions because of barrier breakdowns as part of methodology. Thus, adopting novel genetic approaches to help visualize the same in vivo can yield quick, advantageous, reliable, and informative protein-protein interactions data. Here, we describe the easily adoptable bimolecular fluorescence complementation and cytology-based two-hybrid assays to understand the bacterial secretions systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dyuti Purkait
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Mohd Ilyas
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Krishnamohan Atmakuri
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
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2
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Ryan ME, Damke PP, Shaffer CL. DNA Transport through the Dynamic Type IV Secretion System. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0043622. [PMID: 37338415 PMCID: PMC10353360 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00436-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The versatile type IV secretion system (T4SS) nanomachine plays a pivotal role in bacterial pathogenesis and the propagation of antibiotic resistance determinants throughout microbial populations. In addition to paradigmatic DNA conjugation machineries, diverse T4SSs enable the delivery of multifarious effector proteins to target prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, mediate DNA export and uptake from the extracellular milieu, and in rare examples, facilitate transkingdom DNA translocation. Recent advances have identified new mechanisms underlying unilateral nucleic acid transport through the T4SS apparatus, highlighting both functional plasticity and evolutionary adaptations that enable novel capabilities. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms underscoring DNA translocation through diverse T4SS machineries, emphasizing the architectural features that implement DNA exchange across the bacterial membrane and license transverse DNA release across kingdom boundaries. We further detail how recent studies have addressed outstanding questions surrounding the mechanisms by which nanomachine architectures and substrate recruitment strategies contribute to T4SS functional diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie E. Ryan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Prashant P. Damke
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Carrie L. Shaffer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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3
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Beckmann J, Gillespie J, Tauritz D. Modeling emergence of Wolbachia toxin-antidote protein functions with an evolutionary algorithm. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1116766. [PMID: 37362913 PMCID: PMC10288140 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1116766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) simulate Darwinian evolution and adeptly mimic natural evolution. Most EA applications in biology encode high levels of abstraction in top-down population ecology models. In contrast, our research merges protein alignment algorithms from bioinformatics into codon based EAs that simulate molecular protein string evolution from the bottom up. We apply our EA to reconcile a problem in the field of Wolbachia induced cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Wolbachia is a microbial endosymbiont that lives inside insect cells. CI is conditional insect sterility that operates as a toxin antidote (TA) system. Although, CI exhibits complex phenotypes not fully explained under a single discrete model. We instantiate in-silico genes that control CI, CI factors (cifs), as strings within the EA chromosome. We monitor the evolution of their enzymatic activity, binding, and cellular localization by applying selective pressure on their primary amino acid strings. Our model helps rationalize why two distinct mechanisms of CI induction might coexist in nature. We find that nuclear localization signals (NLS) and Type IV secretion system signals (T4SS) are of low complexity and evolve fast, whereas binding interactions have intermediate complexity, and enzymatic activity is the most complex. Our model predicts that as ancestral TA systems evolve into eukaryotic CI systems, the placement of NLS or T4SS signals can stochastically vary, imparting effects that might impact CI induction mechanics. Our model highlights how preconditions and sequence length can bias evolution of cifs toward one mechanism or another.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Beckmann
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Joe Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Daniel Tauritz
- Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
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4
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Beckmann J, Gillespie J, Tauritz D. Modelling Emergence of Wolbachia Toxin-Antidote Protein Functions with an Evolutionary Algorithm. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.23.533954. [PMID: 36993585 PMCID: PMC10055314 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.23.533954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) simulate Darwinian evolution and adeptly mimic natural evolution. Most EA applications in biology encode high levels of abstraction in top-down ecological population models. In contrast, our research merges protein alignment algorithms from bioinformatics into codon based EAs that simulate molecular protein string evolution from the bottom up. We apply our EA to reconcile a problem in the field of Wolbachia induced cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Wolbachia is a microbial endosymbiont that lives inside insect cells. CI is conditional insect sterility that operates as a toxin antidote (TA) system. Although, CI exhibits complex phenotypes not fully explained under a single discrete model. We instantiate in-silico genes that control CI, CI factors ( cifs ), as strings within the EA chromosome. We monitor the evolution of their enzymatic activity, binding, and cellular localization by applying selective pressure on their primary amino acid strings. Our model helps rationalize why two distinct mechanisms of CI induction might coexist in nature. We find that nuclear localization signals (NLS) and Type IV secretion system signals (T4SS) are of low complexity and evolve fast, whereas binding interactions have intermediate complexity, and enzymatic activity is the most complex. Our model predicts that as ancestral TA systems evolve into eukaryotic CI systems, the placement of NLS or T4SS signals can stochastically vary, imparting effects that might impact CI induction mechanics. Our model highlights how preconditions, genetic diversity, and sequence length can bias evolution of cifs towards one mechanism or another.
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5
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Huang D, Luo J, OuYang X, Song L. Subversion of host cell signaling: The arsenal of Rickettsial species. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:995933. [PMID: 36389139 PMCID: PMC9659576 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.995933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia is a genus of nonmotile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, highly pleomorphic bacteria that cause severe epidemic rickettsioses. The spotted fever group and typhi group are major members of the genus Rickettsia. Rickettsial species from the two groups subvert diverse host cellular processes, including membrane dynamics, actin cytoskeleton dynamics, phosphoinositide metabolism, intracellular trafficking, and immune defense, to promote their host colonization and intercellular transmission through secreted effectors (virulence factors). However, lineage-specific rickettsiae have exploited divergent strategies to accomplish such challenging tasks and these elaborated strategies focus on distinct host cell processes. In the present review, we summarized current understandings of how different rickettsial species employ their effectors' arsenal to affect host cellular processes in order to promote their own replication or to avoid destruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Huang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Center of Pathogen Biology and Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingjing Luo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Center of Pathogen Biology and Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuan OuYang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Song
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Center of Pathogen Biology and Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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6
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Lacroix B, Citovsky V. Genetic factors governing bacterial virulence and host plant susceptibility during Agrobacterium infection. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2022; 110:1-29. [PMID: 37283660 PMCID: PMC10241481 DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Several species of the Agrobacterium genus represent unique bacterial pathogens able to genetically transform plants, by transferring and integrating a segment of their own DNA (T-DNA, transferred DNA) in their host genome. Whereas in nature this process results in uncontrolled growth of the infected plant cells (tumors), this capability of Agrobacterium has been widely used as a crucial tool to generate transgenic plants, for research and biotechnology. The virulence of Agrobacterium relies on a series of virulence genes, mostly encoded on a large plasmid (Ti-plasmid, tumor inducing plasmid), involved in the different steps of the DNA transfer to the host cell genome: activation of bacterial virulence, synthesis and export of the T-DNA and its associated proteins, intracellular trafficking of the T-DNA and effector proteins in the host cell, and integration of the T-DNA in the host genomic DNA. Multiple interactions between these bacterial encoded proteins and host factors occur during the infection process, which determine the outcome of the infection. Here, we review our current knowledge of the mechanisms by which bacterial and plant factors control Agrobacterium virulence and host plant susceptibility.
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Singh N, Sharma N, Singh P, Pandey M, Ilyas M, Sisodiya L, Choudhury T, Gosain TP, Singh R, Atmakuri K. HupB, a nucleoid-associated protein, is critical for survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis under host-mediated stresses and for enhanced tolerance to key first-line antibiotics. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:937970. [PMID: 36071978 PMCID: PMC9441915 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.937970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
To survive and establish its niche, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) engages in a steady battle against an array of host defenses and a barrage of antibiotics. Here, we demonstrate that Mtb employs HupB, a nucleoid-associated protein (NAP) as its key player to simultaneously battle and survive in these two stress-inducing fronts. Typically, NAPs are key to bacterial survival under a wide array of environmental or host-mediated stresses. Here, we report that for Mtb to survive under different macrophage-induced assaults including acidic pH, nutrient depletion, oxidative and nitrosative stresses, HupB presence is critical. As expected, the hupB knockout mutant is highly sensitive to these host-mediated stresses. Furthermore, Mtb aptly modulates HupB protein levels to overcome these stresses. We also report that HupB aids Mtb to gain tolerance to high levels of rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) exposure. Loss of hupB makes Mtb highly susceptible to even short exposures to reduced amounts of RIF and INH. Overexpressing hupB in Mtb or complementing hupB in the hupB knockout mutant triggers enhanced survival of Mtb under these stresses. We also find that upon loss of hupB, Mtb significantly enhances the permeability of its cell wall by modulating the levels of several surface lipids including phthiocerol dimycocerosates (PDIMs), thus possibly influencing overall susceptibility to host-mediated stresses. Loss of hupB also downregulates efflux pump expression possibly influencing increased susceptibility to INH and RIF. Finally, we find that therapeutic targeting of HupB with SD1, a known small molecule inhibitor, significantly enhances Mtb susceptibility to INH and THP-1 macrophages and significantly reduces MIC to INH. Thus, our data strongly indicate that HupB is a highly promising therapeutic target especially for potential combinatorial shortened therapy with reduced INH and RIF doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niti Singh
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Nishant Sharma
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Padam Singh
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Manitosh Pandey
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Department of Life Sciences, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Mohd Ilyas
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Lovely Sisodiya
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Tejaswini Choudhury
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Tannu Priya Gosain
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Ramandeep Singh
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Krishnamohan Atmakuri
- Infection and Immunology Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- *Correspondence: Krishnamohan Atmakuri
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8
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Kitao T, Kubori T, Nagai H. Recent advances in structural studies of the Legionella pneumophila Dot/Icm type IV secretion system. Microbiol Immunol 2021; 66:67-74. [PMID: 34807482 PMCID: PMC9302130 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The intracellular bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila utilizes the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system to translocate approximately 300 effector proteins to establish a replicative niche known as the Legionella‐containing vacuole. The Dot/Icm system is classified as a type IVB secretion system, which is evolutionarily closely related to the I‐type conjugation systems and is distinct from type IVA secretion systems, such as the Agrobacterium VirB/D4 system. Although both type IVA and IVB systems directly transport nucleic acids or proteins into the cytosol of recipient cells, the components and architecture of type IVB systems are much more complex than those of type IVA systems. Taking full advantage of rapidly developing cryo‐electron microscopy techniques, the structural details of the transport apparatus and coupling complexes in the Dot/Icm system have been clarified in the past few years. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the structural studies of the L. pneumophila type IVB secretion system and the insights gained into the mechanisms of substrate recognition and transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoe Kitao
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan
| | - Tomoko Kubori
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan.,G-CHAIN, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nagai
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan.,G-CHAIN, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan
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9
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Abstract
Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, is a facultative intracellular pathogen that survives inside phagocytic host cells by establishing a protected replication niche, termed the "Legionella-containing vacuole" (LCV). To form an LCV and subvert pivotal host pathways, L. pneumophila employs a type IV secretion system (T4SS), which translocates more than 300 different effector proteins into the host cell. The L. pneumophila T4SS complex has been shown to span the bacterial cell envelope at the bacterial poles. However, the interactions between the T4SS and the LCV membrane are not understood. Using cryo-focused ion beam milling, cryo-electron tomography, and confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy, we show that up to half of the intravacuolar L. pneumophila bacteria tether their cell pole to the LCV membrane. Tethering coincides with the presence and function of T4SSs and likely promotes the establishment of distinct contact sites between T4SSs and the LCV membrane. Contact sites are characterized by indentations in the limiting LCV membrane and localize juxtaposed to T4SS machineries. The data are in agreement with the notion that effector translocation occurs by close membrane contact rather than by an extended pilus. Our findings provide novel insights into the interactions of the L. pneumophila T4SS with the LCV membrane in situ. IMPORTANCE Legionnaires' disease is a life-threatening pneumonia, which is characterized by high fever, coughing, shortness of breath, muscle pain, and headache. The disease is caused by the amoeba-resistant bacterium L. pneumophila found in various soil and aquatic environments and is transmitted to humans via the inhalation of small bacteria-containing droplets. An essential virulence factor of L. pneumophila is a so-called "type IV secretion system" (T4SS), which, by injecting a plethora of "effector proteins" into the host cell, determines pathogen-host interactions and the formation of a distinct intracellular compartment, the "Legionella-containing vacuole" (LCV). It is unknown how the T4SS makes contact to the LCV membrane to deliver the effectors. In this study, we identify indentations in the host cell membrane in close proximity to functional T4SSs localizing at the bacterial poles. Our work reveals first insights into the architecture of Legionella-LCV contact sites.
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Manera K, Kamal F, Burkinshaw B, Dong TG. Essential functions of chaperones and adaptors of protein secretion systems in Gram-negative bacteria. FEBS J 2021; 289:4704-4717. [PMID: 34092034 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Equipped with a plethora of secreted toxic effectors, protein secretion systems are essential for bacteria to interact with and manipulate their neighboring environment to survive in host microbiota and other highly competitive communities. While effectors have received spotlight attention in secretion system studies, many require accessory chaperone and adaptor proteins for proper folding/unfolding and stability throughout the secretion process. Here, we review the functions of chaperones and adaptors of three protein secretions systems, type 3 secretion system (T3SS), type 4 secretion system (T4SS), and type 6 secretion system (T6SS), which are employed by many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens to deliver toxins to bacterial, plant, and mammalian host cells through direct contact. Since chaperone and adaptor functions of the T3SS and the T4SS are relatively well studied, we discuss in detail the methods of chaperone-facilitated effector secretion by the T6SS and highlight commonalities between the effector chaperone/adaptor proteins of these diverse secretion systems. While the chaperones and adaptors are generally referred to as accessory proteins as they are not directly involved in toxicities to target cells, they are nonetheless vital for the biological functions of the secretion systems. Future research on biochemical and structural properties of these chaperones will not only elucidate the mechanisms of chaperone-effector binding and release process but also facilitate custom design of cargo effectors to be translocated by these widespread secretion systems for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Manera
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Fatima Kamal
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, Canada
| | | | - Tao G Dong
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, Canada.,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
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11
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Santin YG, Doan T, Journet L, Cascales E. Cell Width Dictates Type VI Secretion Tail Length. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3707-3713.e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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12
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Lacroix B, Citovsky V. Pathways of DNA Transfer to Plants from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Related Bacterial Species. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2019; 57:231-251. [PMID: 31226020 PMCID: PMC6717549 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-082718-100101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Genetic transformation of host plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and related species represents a unique model for natural horizontal gene transfer. Almost five decades of studying the molecular interactions between Agrobacterium and its host cells have yielded countless fundamental insights into bacterial and plant biology, even though several steps of the DNA transfer process remain poorly understood. Agrobacterium spp. may utilize different pathways for transferring DNA, which likely reflects the very wide host range of Agrobacterium. Furthermore, closely related bacterial species, such as rhizobia, are able to transfer DNA to host plant cells when they are provided with Agrobacterium DNA transfer machinery and T-DNA. Homologs of Agrobacterium virulence genes are found in many bacterial genomes, but only one non-Agrobacterium bacterial strain, Rhizobium etli CFN42, harbors a complete set of virulence genes and can mediate plant genetic transformation when carrying a T-DNA-containing plasmid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Lacroix
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5215, USA;
| | - Vitaly Citovsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5215, USA;
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13
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Abstract
The bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are a functionally diverse superfamily of secretion systems found in many species of bacteria. Collectively, the T4SSs translocate DNA and monomeric and multimeric protein substrates to bacterial and eukaryotic cell types. T4SSs are composed of two large subfamilies, the conjugation machines and the effector translocators that transmit their cargoes through establishment of direct donor-target cell contacts, and a third small subfamily capable of importing or exporting substrates from or to the milieu. This review summarizes recent mechanistic and structural findings that are shedding new light on how T4SSs have evolved such functional diversity. Translocation signals are now known to be located C terminally or embedded internally in structural folds; these signals in combination with substrate-associated adaptor proteins mediate the docking of specific substrate repertoires to cognate VirD4-like receptors. For the Legionella pneumophila Dot/Icm system, recent work has elucidated the structural basis for adaptor-dependent substrate loading onto the VirD4-like DotL receptor. Advances in definition of T4SS machine structures now allow for detailed comparisons of nanomachines closely related to the Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/VirD4 T4SS with those more distantly related, e.g., the Dot/Icm and Helicobacter pylori Cag T4SSs. Finally, it is increasingly evident that T4SSs have evolved a variety of mechanisms dependent on elaboration of conjugative pili, membrane tubes, or surface adhesins to establish productive contacts with target cells. T4SSs thus have evolved extreme functional diversity through a plethora of adaptations impacting substrate selection, machine architecture, and target cell binding.
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14
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Christie PJ, Gomez Valero L, Buchrieser C. Biological Diversity and Evolution of Type IV Secretion Systems. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2019; 413:1-30. [PMID: 29536353 PMCID: PMC5912172 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75241-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are a highly functionally and structurally diverse superfamily of secretion systems found in many species of Gram-negative and -positive bacteria. Collectively, the T4SSs can translocate DNA and monomeric and multimeric protein substrates to a variety of bacterial and eukaryotic cell types. Detailed phylogenomics analyses have established that the T4SSs evolved from ancient conjugation machines whose original functions were to disseminate mobile DNA elements within and between bacterial species. How members of the T4SS superfamily evolved to recognize and translocate specific substrate repertoires to prokaryotic or eukaryotic target cells is a fascinating question from evolutionary, biological, and structural perspectives. In this chapter, we will summarize recent findings that have shaped our current view of the biological diversity of the T4SSs. We focus mainly on two subtypes, designated as the types IVA (T4ASS) and IVB (T4BSS) systems that respectively are represented by the paradigmatic Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/VirD4 and Legionella pneumophila Dot/Icm T4SSs. We present current information about the composition and architectures of these representative systems. We also describe how these and a few related T4ASS and T4BSS members evolved as specialized nanomachines through acquisition of novel domains or subunits, a process that ultimately generated extensive genetic and structural mosaicism among this secretion superfamily. Finally, we present new phylogenomics information establishing that the T4BSSs are much more broadly distributed than initially envisioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Christie
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Laura Gomez Valero
- Institut Pasteur, Biologie des Bactéries Intracellulaires, 75724, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 3525, 75724, Paris, France
| | - Carmen Buchrieser
- Institut Pasteur, Biologie des Bactéries Intracellulaires, 75724, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 3525, 75724, Paris, France
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15
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Boudaher E, Shaffer CL. Inhibiting bacterial secretion systems in the fight against antibiotic resistance. MEDCHEMCOMM 2019; 10:682-692. [PMID: 31741728 PMCID: PMC6677025 DOI: 10.1039/c9md00076c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a mounting global health crisis that threatens a resurgence of life-threatening bacterial infections. Despite intensive drug discovery efforts, the rate of antimicrobial resistance outpaces the discovery of new antibiotic agents. One of the major mechanisms driving the rapid propagation of antibiotic resistance is bacterial conjugation mediated by the versatile type IV secretion system (T4SS). The search for therapeutic compounds that prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance via T4SS-dependent mechanisms has identified several promising molecular scaffolds that disrupt resistance determinant dissemination. In this brief review, we highlight the progress and potential of conjugation inhibitors and anti-virulence compounds that target diverse T4SS machineries. These studies provide a solid foundation for the future development of potent, dual-purpose molecular scaffolds that can be used as biochemical tools to probe type IV secretion mechanisms and target bacterial conjugation in clinical settings to prevent the dissemination of antibiotic resistance throughout microbial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Boudaher
- University of Kentucky , Department of Veterinary Science , Gluck Equine Research Center , 1400 Nicholasville Road , Lexington , KY , USA . ; Tel: +1 (859) 218 1168
| | - Carrie L Shaffer
- University of Kentucky , Department of Veterinary Science , Gluck Equine Research Center , 1400 Nicholasville Road , Lexington , KY , USA . ; Tel: +1 (859) 218 1168
- University of Kentucky , Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics , 800 Rose Street , Lexington , KY , USA
- University of Kentucky , Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , 789 South Limestone Street , Lexington , KY , USA
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16
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Sharma N, Aggarwal S, Kumar S, Sharma R, Choudhury K, Singh N, Jayaswal P, Goel R, Wajid S, Yadav AK, Atmakuri K. Comparative analysis of homologous aminopeptidase PepN from pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria reveals divergent traits. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215123. [PMID: 30969995 PMCID: PMC6457555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) secretes proteases and peptidases to subjugate its host. Out of its sixty plus proteases, atleast three are reported to reach host macrophages. In this study, we show that Mtb also delivers a lysyl alanine aminopeptidase, PepN (Rv2467) into host macrophage cytosol. Our comparative in silico analysis shows PepNMtb highly conserved across all pathogenic mycobacteria. Non-pathogenic mycobacteria including M. smegmatis (Msm) also encode pepN. PepN protein levels in both Mtb (pathogenic) and Msm (non-pathogenic) remain uniform across all in vitro growth phases. Despite such tight maintenance of PepNs' steady state levels, upon supplementation, Mtb alone allows accumulation of any excessive PepN. In contrast, Msm does not. It not only proteolyzes, but also secretes out the excessive PepN, be it native or foreign. Interestingly, while PepNMtb is required for modulating virulence in vivo, PepNMsm is essential for Msm growth in vitro. Despite such essentiality difference, both PepNMtb and PepNMsm harbor almost identical N-terminal M1-type peptidase domains that significantly align in their amino acid sequences and overlap in their secondary structures. Their C-terminal ERAP1_C-like domains however align much more moderately. Our in vitro macrophage-based infection experiments with MtbΔpepN-expressing pepNMsm reveals PepNMsm also retaining the ability to reach host cytosol. Lastly, but notably, we determined the PepNMtb and PepNMsm interactomes and found them to barely coincide. While PepNMtb chiefly interacts with Mtb's secreted proteins, PepNMsm primarily coimmunoprecipitates with Msm's housekeeping proteins. Thus, despite high sequence homology and several common properties, our comparative analytical study reveals host-centric traits of pathogenic and bacterial-centric traits of non-pathogenic PepNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant Sharma
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
| | - Suruchi Aggarwal
- Drug Discovery Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
| | - Saravanan Kumar
- Proteomics Facility, Thermo Fisher Scientific Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA
| | - Rahul Sharma
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
| | - Konika Choudhury
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
| | - Niti Singh
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
- INDIAManipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, INDIA
| | - Praapti Jayaswal
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
| | - Renu Goel
- Drug Discovery Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
| | - Saima Wajid
- Dept. of Biotechnology, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
| | - Amit Kumar Yadav
- Drug Discovery Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
| | - Krishnamohan Atmakuri
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, INDIA
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17
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Groenewold MK, Hebecker S, Fritz C, Czolkoss S, Wiesselmann M, Heinz DW, Jahn D, Narberhaus F, Aktas M, Moser J. Virulence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens requires lipid homeostasis mediated by the lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol hydrolase AcvB. Mol Microbiol 2018; 111:269-286. [PMID: 30353924 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers oncogenic T-DNA via the type IV secretion system (T4SS) into plants causing tumor formation. The acvB gene encodes a virulence factor of unknown function required for plant transformation. Here we specify AcvB as a periplasmic lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (L-PG) hydrolase, which modulates L-PG homeostasis. Through functional characterization of recombinant AcvB variants, we showed that the C-terminal domain of AcvB (residues 232-456) is sufficient for full enzymatic activity and defined key residues for catalysis. Absence of the hydrolase resulted in ~10-fold increase in L-PG in Agrobacterium membranes and abolished T-DNA transfer and tumor formation. Overproduction of the L-PG synthase gene (lpiA) in wild-type A. tumefaciens resulted in a similar increase in the L-PG content (~7-fold) and a virulence defect even in the presence of intact AcvB. These results suggest that elevated L-PG amounts (either by overproduction of the synthase or absence of the hydrolase) are responsible for the virulence phenotype. Gradually increasing the L-PG content by complementation with different acvB variants revealed that cellular L-PG levels above 3% of total phospholipids interfere with T-DNA transfer. Cumulatively, this study identified AcvB as a novel virulence factor required for membrane lipid homeostasis and T-DNA transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike K Groenewold
- Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefanie Hebecker
- Institute for Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Christiane Fritz
- Lehrstuhl für Biologie der Mikroorganismen, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Simon Czolkoss
- Lehrstuhl für Biologie der Mikroorganismen, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Milan Wiesselmann
- Institute for Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dirk W Heinz
- Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dieter Jahn
- Institute for Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Franz Narberhaus
- Lehrstuhl für Biologie der Mikroorganismen, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Meriyem Aktas
- Lehrstuhl für Biologie der Mikroorganismen, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jürgen Moser
- Institute for Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
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18
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Mary C, Baron C. Bases moléculaires de l’infection de plantes parAgrobacterium tumefaciensvia un système de sécrétion de type IV. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 97:215-223. [PMID: 30142282 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2018-0160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a well studied phytopathogen given its various applications for deciphering host-pathogen interactions, bacterial communication, and capacity to transfer DNA fragments into host cells via a membrane protein system, the type IV secretion system (T4SS). T4SS mechanism is similar to the one responsible for antibiotic resistance gene transmission, and new knowledge gained could be applied to other organisms using such a mechanism. As well, A. tumefaciens is of economic importance in biotechnology due to its capacity to generate genetically modified plants. Agrobacterium tumefaciens harbours a plasmid known as Ti plasmid encoding T4SS function genes used for transferring genetic information and plant colonization. In this review, the authors describe the molecular basis of infection, from detection of host signals, to the description of different regions of Ti plasmid key to infection, ending with substrate transfer through bacterial wall. [Journal translation].
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Affiliation(s)
- Charline Mary
- Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.,Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Christian Baron
- Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.,Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
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19
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Abstract
Identifying protein-protein interactions between the machine components of bacterial secretion systems and their cognate substrates is essential. Establishing which component and substrate interactions are direct or indirect further facilitates (1) advancing the architecture and assembly of the machines and (2) understanding the substrates' translocation mechanistics. Currently, though biochemical means exist for identifying such direct interactions, they primarily remain in vitro and are quite labor intensive. Thus, adopting genetic approaches to help visualize these interactions in vivo is quick and advantageous. Here I describe bimolecular fluorescence complementation and cytology-based two-hybrid assays that could easily be adopted to understand the bacterial secretions systems.
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20
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Sardesai N, Subramanyam S. Agrobacterium: A Genome-Editing Tool-Delivery System. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2018; 418:463-488. [PMID: 30043343 DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
With the rapidly increasing global population, it will be extremely challenging to provide food to the world without increasing food production by at least 70% over the next 30 years. As we reach the limits of expanding arable land, the responsibility of meeting this production goal will rely on increasing yields. Traditional plant breeding practices will not be able to realistically meet these expectations, thrusting plant biotechnology into the limelight to fulfill these needs. Better varieties will need to be developed faster and with the least amount of regulatory hurdles. With the need to add, delete, and substitute genes into existing genomes, the field of genome editing and gene targeting is now rapidly developing with numerous new technologies coming to the forefront. Agrobacterium-mediated crop transformation has been the most utilized method to generate transgenic varieties that are better yielding, have new traits, and are disease and pathogen resistant. Genome-editing technologies rely on the creation of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the genomic DNA of target species to facilitate gene disruption, addition, or replacement through either non-homologous end joining or homology-dependent repair mechanisms. DSBs can be introduced through the use of zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), or clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas nucleases, among others. Agrobacterium strains have been employed to deliver the reagents for genome editing to the specific target cells. Understanding the biology of transformation from the perspective not only of Agrobacterium, but also of the host, from processing of T-DNA to its integration in the host genome, has resulted in a wealth of information that has been used to engineer Agrobacterium strains having increased virulence. As more technologies are being developed, that will help overcome issues of Agrobacterium host range and random integration of DNA, combined with highly sequence-specific nucleases, a robust crop genome-editing toolkit finally seems attainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagesh Sardesai
- Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, 8305 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, USA.
| | - Subhashree Subramanyam
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, 915 W State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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21
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Li YG, Christie PJ. The Agrobacterium VirB/VirD4 T4SS: Mechanism and Architecture Defined Through In Vivo Mutagenesis and Chimeric Systems. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2018; 418:233-260. [PMID: 29808338 DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/VirD4 translocation machine is a member of a superfamily of translocators designated as type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) that function in many species of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. T4SSs evolved from ancestral conjugation systems for specialized purposes relating to bacterial colonization or infection. A. tumefaciens employs the VirB/VirD4 T4SS to deliver oncogenic DNA (T-DNA) and effector proteins to plant cells, causing the tumorous disease called crown gall. This T4SS elaborates both a cell-envelope-spanning channel and an extracellular pilus for establishing target cell contacts. Recent mechanistic and structural studies of the VirB/VirD4 T4SS and related conjugation systems in Escherichia coli have defined T4SS architectures, bases for substrate recruitment, the translocation route for DNA substrates, and steps in the pilus biogenesis pathway. In this review, we provide a brief history of A. tumefaciens VirB/VirD4 T4SS from its discovery in the 1980s to its current status as a paradigm for the T4SS superfamily. We discuss key advancements in defining VirB/VirD4 T4SS function and structure, and we highlight the power of in vivo mutational analyses and chimeric systems for identifying mechanistic themes and specialized adaptations of this fascinating nanomachine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Grace Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Peter J Christie
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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22
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Tu H, Li X, Yang Q, Peng L, Pan SQ. Real-Time Trafficking of Agrobacterium Virulence Protein VirE2 Inside Host Cells. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2018; 418:261-286. [PMID: 30182197 DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A. tumefaciens delivers T-DNA and virulence proteins, including VirE2, into host plant cells, where T-DNA is proposed to be protected by VirE2 molecules as a nucleoprotein complex (T-complex) and trafficked into the nucleus. VirE2 is a protein that can self-aggregate and contains targeting sequences so that it can efficiently move from outside of a cell to the nucleus. We adopted a split-GFP approach and generated a VirE2-GFP fusion which retains the self-aggregating property and the targeting sequences. The fusion protein is fully functional and can move inside cells in real time in a readily detectable format: fluorescent and unique filamentous aggregates. Upon delivery mediated by the bacterial type IV secretion system (T4SS), VirE2-GFP is internalized into the plant cells via clathrin adaptor complex AP2-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, VirE2-GFP binds to membrane structures such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is trafficked within the cell. This enables us to observe the highly dynamic activities of the cell. If a compound, a gene, or a condition affects the cell, the cellular dynamics shown by the VirE2-GFP will be affected and thus readily observed by confocal microscopy. This represents an excellent model to study the delivery and trafficking of an exogenously produced and delivered protein inside a cell in a natural setting in real time. The model may be used to explore the theoretical and applied aspects of natural protein delivery and targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Tu
- School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan Institute of Molecular Bio-Engineering, Foshan University, 528000, Foshan, China
| | - Xiaoyang Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qinghua Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ling Peng
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shen Q Pan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore.
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23
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do Vale A, Pereira C, Osorio CR, dos Santos NMS. The Apoptogenic Toxin AIP56 Is Secreted by the Type II Secretion System of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9110368. [PMID: 29135911 PMCID: PMC5705983 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9110368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIP56 (apoptosis-inducing protein of 56 kDa) is a key virulence factor of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Phdp), the causative agent of a septicaemia affecting warm water marine fish species. Phdp-associated pathology is triggered by AIP56, a short trip AB toxin with a metalloprotease A domain that cleaves the p65 subunit of NF-κB, an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor that regulates the expression of inflammatory and anti-apoptotic genes and plays a central role in host responses to infection. During infection by Phdp, AIP56 is systemically disseminated and induces apoptosis of macrophages and neutrophils, compromising the host phagocytic defence and contributing to the genesis of pathology. Although it is well established that the secretion of AIP56 is crucial for Phdp pathogenicity, the protein secretion systems operating in Phdp and the mechanism responsible for the extracellular release of the toxin remain unknown. Here, we report that Phdp encodes a type II secretion system (T2SS) and show that mutation of the EpsL component of this system impairs AIP56 secretion. This work demonstrates that Phdp has a functional T2SS that mediates secretion of its key virulence factor AIP56.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana do Vale
- Fish Immunology and Vaccinology Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-235 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Cassilda Pereira
- Fish Immunology and Vaccinology Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-235 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Carlos R Osorio
- Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Nuno M S dos Santos
- Fish Immunology and Vaccinology Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-235 Porto, Portugal.
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24
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Alandiyjany MN, Croxall NJ, Grove JI, Delahay RM. A role for the tfs3 ICE-encoded type IV secretion system in pro-inflammatory signalling by the Helicobacter pylori Ser/Thr kinase, CtkA. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182144. [PMID: 28759055 PMCID: PMC5536186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Two distinct type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) can be identified in certain Helicobacter pylori strains, encoded on mobile genetic elements termed tfs3 and tfs4. Although their function remains unknown, both have been implicated in clinical outcomes of H. pylori infection. Here we provide evidence that the Tfs3 T4SS is required for activity of the pro-inflammatory Ser/Thr kinase protein, CtkA, in a gastric epithelial cell infection model. Previously, purified recombinant CtkA protein has been shown to upregulate NF-kappaB signalling and induce TNF-alpha and IL-8 cytokine secretion from cultured macrophages suggesting that it may potentiate the H. pylori-mediated inflammatory response. In this study, we show that CtkA expressed from its native host, H. pylori has a similar capacity for stimulation of a pro-inflammatory response from gastric epithelial cells. CtkA interaction was found to be dependent upon a complement of tfs3 T4SS genes, but independent of the T4SSs encoded by either tfs4 or the cag pathogenicity island. Moreover, the availability of CtkA for host cell interaction was shown to be conditional upon the carboxyl-terminus of CtkA, encoding a putative conserved secretion signal common to other variably encoded Tfs3 proteins. Collectively, our observations indicate a role for the Tfs3 T4SS in CtkA-mediated pro-inflammatory signalling by H. pylori and identify CtkA as a likely Tfs3 T4SS secretion substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maher N. Alandiyjany
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J. Croxall
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jane I. Grove
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Robin M. Delahay
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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25
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Kwak MJ, Kim JD, Kim H, Kim C, Bowman JW, Kim S, Joo K, Lee J, Jin KS, Kim YG, Lee NK, Jung JU, Oh BH. Architecture of the type IV coupling protein complex of Legionella pneumophila. Nat Microbiol 2017; 2:17114. [PMID: 28714967 PMCID: PMC6497169 DOI: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2017.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Many bacteria, including Legionella pneumophila, rely on the type IV secretion system to translocate a repertoire of effector proteins into the hosts for their survival and growth. Type IV coupling protein (T4CP) is a hexameric ATPase that links translocating substrates to the transenvelope secretion conduit. Yet, how a large number of effector proteins are selectively recruited and processed by T4CPs remains enigmatic. DotL, the T4CP of L. pneumophila, contains an ATPase domain and a C-terminal extension whose function is unknown. Unlike T4CPs involved in plasmid DNA translocation, DotL appeared to function by forming a multiprotein complex with four other proteins. Here, we show that the C-terminal extension of DotL interacts with DotN, IcmS, IcmW and an additionally identified subunit LvgA, and that this pentameric assembly binds Legionella effector proteins. We determined the crystal structure of this assembly and built an architecture of the T4CP holocomplex by combining a homology model of the ATPase domain of DotL. The holocomplex is a hexamer of a bipartite structure composed of a membrane-proximal ATPase domain and a membrane-distal substrate-recognition assembly. The presented information demonstrates the architecture and functional dissection of the multiprotein T4CP complexes and provides important insights into their substrate recruitment and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Jeong Kwak
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST Institute for the Biocentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - J. Dongun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST Institute for the Biocentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Hyunmin Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST Institute for the Biocentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Cheolhee Kim
- Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Kyungbuk 37673, Korea
| | - James W. Bowman
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1975 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Seonghoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST Institute for the Biocentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Keehyoung Joo
- Center for Advanced Computation, School of Computational Sciences, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul 02455, Korea
| | - Jooyoung Lee
- Center for Advanced Computation, School of Computational Sciences, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul 02455, Korea
| | - Kyeong Sik Jin
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Kyungbuk 37673, Korea
| | - Yeon-Gil Kim
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Kyungbuk 37673, Korea
| | - Nam Ki Lee
- Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Kyungbuk 37673, Korea
| | - Jae U. Jung
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1975 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Byung-Ha Oh
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST Institute for the Biocentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
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26
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Polar delivery of Legionella type IV secretion system substrates is essential for virulence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:8077-8082. [PMID: 28696299 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1621438114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A recurrent emerging theme is the targeting of proteins to subcellular microdomains within bacterial cells, particularly to the poles. In most cases, it has been assumed that this localization is critical to the protein's function. Legionella pneumophila uses a type IVB secretion system (T4BSS) to export a large number of protein substrates into the cytoplasm of host cells. Here we show that the Legionella export apparatus is localized to the bacterial poles, as is consistent with many T4SS substrates being retained on the phagosomal membrane adjacent to the poles of the bacterium. More significantly, we were able to demonstrate that polar secretion of substrates is critically required for Legionella's alteration of the host endocytic pathway, an activity required for this pathogen's virulence.
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27
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Sharifahmadian M, Baron C. Type IV Secretion in Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Development of Specific Inhibitors. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2017. [PMID: 29536359 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75241-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/D4 type IV secretion system (T4SS) comprises 12 membrane-bound proteins, and it assembles a surface-exposed T-pilus. It is considered to be the archetypical system that is generally used to orient the nomenclature of other T4SS. Whereas the sequence similarities between T4SSs from different organisms are often limited, the general mechanism of action appears to be conserved, and the evolutionary relationship to bacterial conjugation systems and to T4SSs from animal pathogens is well established. Agrobacterium is a natural genetic engineer that is extensively used for the generation of transgenic plants for research and for agro-biotechnological applications. It also served as an early model for the understanding of pathogen-host interactions and for the transfer of macromolecular virulence factors into host cells. The knowledge on the mechanism of its T4SS inspired the search for small molecules that inhibit the virulence of bacterial pathogens and of bacterial conjugation. Inhibitors of bacterial virulence and of conjugation have interesting potential as alternatives to antibiotics and as inhibitors of antimicrobial resistance gene transfer. Mechanistic work on the Agrobacterium T4SS will continue to inspire the search for inhibitor target sites and drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahzad Sharifahmadian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Christian Baron
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
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28
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Chimeric Coupling Proteins Mediate Transfer of Heterologous Type IV Effectors through the Escherichia coli pKM101-Encoded Conjugation Machine. J Bacteriol 2016; 198:2701-18. [PMID: 27432829 PMCID: PMC5019051 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00378-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are composed of two major subfamilies, conjugation machines dedicated to DNA transfer and effector translocators for protein transfer. We show here that the Escherichia coli pKM101-encoded conjugation system, coupled with chimeric substrate receptors, can be repurposed for transfer of heterologous effector proteins. The chimeric receptors were composed of the N-terminal transmembrane domain of pKM101-encoded TraJ fused to soluble domains of VirD4 homologs functioning in Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, or Wolbachia pipientis A chimeric receptor assembled from A. tumefaciens VirD4 (VirD4At) mediated transfer of a MOBQ plasmid (pML122) and A. tumefaciens effector proteins (VirE2, VirE3, and VirF) through the pKM101 transfer channel. Equivalent chimeric receptors assembled from the rickettsial VirD4 homologs similarly supported the transfer of known or candidate effectors from rickettsial species. These findings establish a proof of principle for use of the dedicated pKM101 conjugation channel, coupled with chimeric substrate receptors, to screen for translocation competency of protein effectors from recalcitrant species. Many T4SS receptors carry sequence-variable C-terminal domains (CTDs) with unknown function. While VirD4At and the TraJ/VirD4At chimera with their CTDs deleted supported pML122 transfer at wild-type levels, ΔCTD variants supported transfer of protein substrates at strongly diminished or elevated levels. We were unable to detect binding of VirD4At's CTD to the VirE2 effector, although other VirD4At domains bound this substrate in vitro We propose that CTDs evolved to govern the dynamics of substrate presentation to the T4SS either through transient substrate contacts or by controlling substrate access to other receptor domains. IMPORTANCE Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) display striking versatility in their capacity to translocate DNA and protein substrates to prokaryotic and eukaryotic target cells. A hexameric ATPase, the type IV coupling protein (T4CP), functions as a substrate receptor for nearly all T4SSs. Here, we report that chimeric T4CPs mediate transfer of effector proteins through the Escherichia coli pKM101-encoded conjugation system. Studies with these repurposed conjugation systems established a role for acidic C-terminal domains of T4CPs in regulating substrate translocation. Our findings advance a mechanistic understanding of T4CP receptor activity and, further, support a model in which T4SS channels function as passive conduits for any DNA or protein substrates that successfully engage with and pass through the T4CP specificity checkpoint.
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Gillespie JJ, Phan IQH, Driscoll TP, Guillotte ML, Lehman SS, Rennoll-Bankert KE, Subramanian S, Beier-Sexton M, Myler PJ, Rahman MS, Azad AF. The Rickettsia type IV secretion system: unrealized complexity mired by gene family expansion. Pathog Dis 2016; 74:ftw058. [PMID: 27307105 PMCID: PMC5505475 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftw058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many prokaryotes utilize type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) to translocate substrates (e.g. nucleoprotein, DNA, protein) across the cell envelope, and/or to elaborate surface structures (i.e. pili or adhesins). Among eight distinct T4SS classes, P-T4SSs are typified by the Agrobacterium tumefaciens vir T4SS, which is comprised of 12 scaffold components (VirB1-VirB11, VirD4). While most P-T4SSs include all 12 Vir proteins, some differ from the vir archetype by either containing additional scaffold components not analogous to Vir proteins or lacking one or more of the Vir proteins. In a special case, the Rickettsiales vir homolog (rvh) P-T4SS comprises unprecedented gene family expansion. rvh contains three families of gene duplications (rvhB9, rvhB8, rvhB4): RvhB9,8,4-I are conserved relative to equivalents in other P-T4SSs, while RvhB9,8,4-II have evolved atypical features that deviate substantially from other homologs. Furthermore, rvh contains five VirB6-like genes (rvhB6a-e), which are tandemly arrayed and contain large N- and C-terminal extensions. Our work herein focuses on the complexity underpinned by rvh gene family expansion. Furthermore, we describe an RvhB10 insertion, which occurs in a region that forms the T4SS pore. The significance of these curious properties to rvh structure and function is evaluated, shedding light on a highly complex T4SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., HSF I Suite 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Isabelle Q H Phan
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, 307 Westlake Ave North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA Center for Infectious Disease Research (formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute), Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Timothy P Driscoll
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Life Sciences Building, PO Box 6057, Morgantown, WV 26506-6201, USA
| | - Mark L Guillotte
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., HSF I Suite 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Stephanie S Lehman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., HSF I Suite 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kristen E Rennoll-Bankert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., HSF I Suite 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, 307 Westlake Ave North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA Center for Infectious Disease Research (formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute), Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Magda Beier-Sexton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., HSF I Suite 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Peter J Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, 307 Westlake Ave North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA Center for Infectious Disease Research (formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute), Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - M Sayeedur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., HSF I Suite 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdu F Azad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., HSF I Suite 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Rennoll-Bankert KE, Rahman MS, Gillespie JJ, Guillotte ML, Kaur SJ, Lehman SS, Beier-Sexton M, Azad AF. Which Way In? The RalF Arf-GEF Orchestrates Rickettsia Host Cell Invasion. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005115. [PMID: 26291822 PMCID: PMC4546372 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial Sec7-domain-containing proteins (RalF) are known only from species of Legionella and Rickettsia, which have facultative and obligate intracellular lifestyles, respectively. L. pneumophila RalF, a type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector, is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) of ADP-ribosylation factors (Arfs), activating and recruiting host Arf1 to the Legionella-containing vacuole. In contrast, previous in vitro studies showed R. prowazekii (Typhus Group) RalF is a functional Arf-GEF that localizes to the host plasma membrane and interacts with the actin cytoskeleton via a unique C-terminal domain. As RalF is differentially encoded across Rickettsia species (e.g., pseudogenized in all Spotted Fever Group species), it may function in lineage-specific biology and pathogenicity. Herein, we demonstrate RalF of R. typhi (Typhus Group) interacts with the Rickettsia T4SS coupling protein (RvhD4) via its proximal C-terminal sequence. RalF is expressed early during infection, with its inactivation via antibody blocking significantly reducing R. typhi host cell invasion. For R. typhi and R. felis (Transitional Group), RalF ectopic expression revealed subcellular localization with the host plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton. Remarkably, R. bellii (Ancestral Group) RalF showed perinuclear localization reminiscent of ectopically expressed Legionella RalF, for which it shares several structural features. For R. typhi, RalF co-localization with Arf6 and PI(4,5)P2 at entry foci on the host plasma membrane was determined to be critical for invasion. Thus, we propose recruitment of PI(4,5)P2 at entry foci, mediated by RalF activation of Arf6, initiates actin remodeling and ultimately facilitates bacterial invasion. Collectively, our characterization of RalF as an invasin suggests that, despite carrying a similar Arf-GEF unknown from other bacteria, different intracellular lifestyles across Rickettsia and Legionella species have driven divergent roles for RalF during infection. Furthermore, our identification of lineage-specific Arf-GEF utilization across some rickettsial species illustrates different pathogenicity factors that define diverse agents of rickettsial diseases. Phylogenomics analysis indicates divergent mechanisms for host cell invasion across diverse species of obligate intracellular Rickettsia. For instance, only some Rickettsia species carry RalF, the rare bacterial Arf-GEF effector utilized by Legionella pneumophila to facilitate fusion of ER-derived membranes with its host-derived vacuole. For R. prowazekii (Typhus Group, TG), prior in vitro studies suggested the Arf-GEF activity of RalF, which is absent from Spotted Fever Group species, might be spatially regulated at the host plasma membrane. Herein, we demonstrate RalF of R. typhi (TG) and R. felis (Transitional Group) localizes to the host plasma membrane, yet R. bellii (Ancestral Group) RalF shows perinuclear localization reminiscent of RalF-mediated recruitment of Arf1 by L. pneumophila to its vacuole. For R. typhi, RalF expression occurs early during infection, with RalF inactivation significantly reducing host cell invasion. Furthermore, RalF co-localization with Arf6 and the phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P2 at the host plasma membrane was determined to be critical for R. typhi invasion. Thus, our work illustrates that different intracellular lifestyles across species of Rickettsia and Legionella have driven divergent roles for RalF during host cell infection. Collectively, we identify lineage-specific Arf-GEF utilization across diverse rickettsial species, previously unappreciated mechanisms for host cell invasion and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E. Rennoll-Bankert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - M. Sayeedur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph J. Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mark L. Guillotte
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Simran J. Kaur
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Stephanie S. Lehman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Magda Beier-Sexton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Abdu F. Azad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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The All-Alpha Domains of Coupling Proteins from the Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/VirD4 and Enterococcus faecalis pCF10-Encoded Type IV Secretion Systems Confer Specificity to Binding of Cognate DNA Substrates. J Bacteriol 2015; 197:2335-49. [PMID: 25939830 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00189-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bacterial type IV coupling proteins (T4CPs) bind and mediate the delivery of DNA substrates through associated type IV secretion systems (T4SSs). T4CPs consist of a transmembrane domain, a conserved nucleotide-binding domain (NBD), and a sequence-variable helical bundle called the all-alpha domain (AAD). In the T4CP structural prototype, plasmid R388-encoded TrwB, the NBD assembles as a homohexamer resembling RecA and DNA ring helicases, and the AAD, which sits at the channel entrance of the homohexamer, is structurally similar to N-terminal domain 1 of recombinase XerD. Here, we defined the contributions of AADs from the Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirD4 and Enterococcus faecalis PcfC T4CPs to DNA substrate binding. AAD deletions abolished DNA transfer, whereas production of the AAD in otherwise wild-type donor strains diminished the transfer of cognate but not heterologous substrates. Reciprocal swaps of AADs between PcfC and VirD4 abolished the transfer of cognate DNA substrates, although strikingly, the VirD4-AADPcfC chimera (VirD4 with the PcfC AAD) supported the transfer of a mobilizable plasmid. Purified AADs from both T4CPs bound DNA substrates without sequence preference but specifically bound cognate processing proteins required for cleavage at origin-of-transfer sequences. The soluble domains of VirD4 and PcfC lacking their AADs neither exerted negative dominance in vivo nor specifically bound cognate processing proteins in vitro. Our findings support a model in which the T4CP AADs contribute to DNA substrate selection through binding of associated processing proteins. Furthermore, MOBQ plasmids have evolved a docking mechanism that bypasses the AAD substrate discrimination checkpoint, which might account for their capacity to promiscuously transfer through many different T4SSs. IMPORTANCE For conjugative transfer of mobile DNA elements, members of the VirD4/TraG/TrwB receptor superfamily bind cognate DNA substrates through mechanisms that are largely undefined. Here, we supply genetic and biochemical evidence that a helical bundle, designated the all-alpha domain (AAD), of T4SS receptors functions as a substrate specificity determinant. We show that AADs from two substrate receptors, Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirD4 and Enterococcus faecalis PcfC, bind DNA without sequence or strand preference but specifically bind the cognate relaxases responsible for nicking and piloting the transferred strand through the T4SS. We propose that interactions of receptor AADs with DNA-processing factors constitute a basis for selective coupling of mobile DNA elements with type IV secretion channels.
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Voronin D, Guimarães AF, Molyneux GR, Johnston KL, Ford L, Taylor MJ. Wolbachia lipoproteins: abundance, localisation and serology of Wolbachia peptidoglycan associated lipoprotein and the Type IV Secretion System component, VirB6 from Brugia malayi and Aedes albopictus. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:462. [PMID: 25287420 PMCID: PMC4197220 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0462-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipoproteins are the major agonists of Wolbachia-dependent inflammatory pathogenesis in filariasis and a validated target for drug discovery. Here we characterise the abundance, localisation and serology of the Wolbachia lipoproteins: Wolbachia peptidoglycan associated lipoprotein and the Type IV Secretion System component, VirB6. METHODS We used proteomics to confirm lipoprotein presence and relative abundance; fractionation, immunoblotting and confocal and electron immuno-microscopy for localisation and ELISA for serological analysis. RESULTS Proteomic analysis of Brugia malayi adult female protein extracts confirmed the presence of two lipoproteins, previously predicted through bioinformatics: Wolbachia peptidoglycan associated lipoprotein (wBmPAL) and the Type IV Secretion System component, VirB6 (wBmVirB6). wBmPAL was among the most abundant Wolbachia proteins present in an extract of adult female worms with wBmVirB6 only detected at a much lower abundance. This differential abundance was reflected in the immunogold-labelling, which showed wBmPAL localised at numerous sites within the bacterial membranes, whereas wBmVirB6 was present as a single cluster on each bacterial cell and also located within the bacterial membranes. Immunoblotting of fractionated extracts confirmed the localisation of wBmPAL to membranes and its absence from cytosolic fractions of C6/36 mosquito cells infected with wAlbB. In whole worm mounts, antibody labelling of both lipoproteins were associated with Wolbachia. Serological analysis showed that both proteins were immunogenic and raised antibody responses in the majority of individuals infected with Wuchereria bancrofti. CONCLUSIONS Two Wolbachia lipoproteins, wBmPAL and wBmVirB6, are present in extracts of Brugia malayi with wBmPAL among the most abundant of Wolbachia proteins. Both lipoproteins localised to bacterial membranes with wBmVirB6 present as a single cluster suggesting a single Type IV Secretory System on each Wolbachia cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Voronin
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Ana F Guimarães
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Gemma R Molyneux
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Kelly L Johnston
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Louise Ford
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
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Das A, Das A. Delineation of polar localization domains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens type IV secretion apparatus proteins VirB4 and VirB11. Microbiologyopen 2014; 3:793-802. [PMID: 25220247 PMCID: PMC4234268 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers DNA and proteins to a plant cell through a type IV secretion apparatus assembled by the VirB proteins. All VirB proteins localized to a cell pole, although these conclusions are in dispute. To study subcellular location of the VirB proteins and to identify determinants of their subcellular location, we tagged two proteins, VirB4 and VirB11, with the visual marker green fluorescent protein (GFP) and studied localization of the fusion proteins by epifluorescence microscopy. Both GFP-VirB4 and GFP-VirB11 fusions localized to a single cell pole. GFP-VirB11 was also functional in DNA transfer. To identify the polar localization domains (PLDs) of VirB4 and VirB11, we analyzed fusions of GFP with smaller segments of the two proteins. Two noncontiguous regions in VirB4, residues 236–470 and 592–789, contain PLDs. The VirB11 PLD mapped to a 69 amino acid segment, residues 149–217, in the central region of the protein. These domains are probably involved in interactions that target the two proteins to a cell pole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Das
- Roseville Area High School, Roseville, Minnesota, 55113
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Heindl JE, Wang Y, Heckel BC, Mohari B, Feirer N, Fuqua C. Mechanisms and regulation of surface interactions and biofilm formation in Agrobacterium. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:176. [PMID: 24834068 PMCID: PMC4018554 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2014] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
For many pathogenic bacteria surface attachment is a required first step during host interactions. Attachment can proceed to invasion of host tissue or cells or to establishment of a multicellular bacterial community known as a biofilm. The transition from a unicellular, often motile, state to a sessile, multicellular, biofilm-associated state is one of the most important developmental decisions for bacteria. Agrobacterium tumefaciens genetically transforms plant cells by transfer and integration of a segment of plasmid-encoded transferred DNA (T-DNA) into the host genome, and has also been a valuable tool for plant geneticists. A. tumefaciens attaches to and forms a complex biofilm on a variety of biotic and abiotic substrates in vitro. Although rarely studied in situ, it is hypothesized that the biofilm state plays an important functional role in the ecology of this organism. Surface attachment, motility, and cell division are coordinated through a complex regulatory network that imparts an unexpected asymmetry to the A. tumefaciens life cycle. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which A. tumefaciens associates with surfaces, and regulation of this process. We focus on the transition between flagellar-based motility and surface attachment, and on the composition, production, and secretion of multiple extracellular components that contribute to the biofilm matrix. Biofilm formation by A. tumefaciens is linked with virulence both mechanistically and through shared regulatory molecules. We detail our current understanding of these and other regulatory schemes, as well as the internal and external (environmental) cues mediating development of the biofilm state, including the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP, nutrient levels, and the role of the plant host in influencing attachment and biofilm formation. A. tumefaciens is an important model system contributing to our understanding of developmental transitions, bacterial cell biology, and biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Clay Fuqua
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, BloomingtonIN, USA
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Whitney JC, Beck CM, Goo YA, Russell AB, Harding BN, De Leon JA, Cunningham DA, Tran BQ, Low DA, Goodlett DR, Hayes CS, Mougous JD. Genetically distinct pathways guide effector export through the type VI secretion system. Mol Microbiol 2014; 92:529-42. [PMID: 24589350 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial secretion systems often employ molecular chaperones to recognize and facilitate export of their substrates. Recent work demonstrated that a secreted component of the type VI secretion system (T6SS), haemolysin co-regulated protein (Hcp), binds directly to effectors, enhancing their stability in the bacterial cytoplasm. Herein, we describe a quantitative cellular proteomics screen for T6S substrates that exploits this chaperone-like quality of Hcp. Application of this approach to the Hcp secretion island I-encoded T6SS (H1-T6SS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa led to the identification of a novel effector protein, termed Tse4 (type VI secretion exported 4), subsequently shown to act as a potent intra-specific H1-T6SS-delivered antibacterial toxin. Interestingly, our screen failed to identify two predicted H1-T6SS effectors, Tse5 and Tse6, which differ from Hcp-stabilized substrates by the presence of toxin-associated PAAR-repeat motifs and genetic linkage to members of the valine-glycine repeat protein G (vgrG) genes. Genetic studies further distinguished these two groups of effectors: Hcp-stabilized effectors were found to display redundancy in interbacterial competition with respect to the requirement for the two H1-T6SS-exported VgrG proteins, whereas Tse5 and Tse6 delivery strictly required a cognate VgrG. Together, we propose that interaction with either VgrG or Hcp defines distinct pathways for T6S effector export.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Whitney
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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Padavannil A, Jobichen C, Qinghua Y, Seetharaman J, Velazquez-Campoy A, Yang L, Pan SQ, Sivaraman J. Dimerization of VirD2 binding protein is essential for Agrobacterium induced tumor formation in plants. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1003948. [PMID: 24626239 PMCID: PMC3953389 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Type IV Secretion System (T4SS) is the only bacterial secretion system known to translocate both DNA and protein substrates. The VirB/D4 system from Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a typical T4SS. It facilitates the bacteria to translocate the VirD2-T-DNA complex to the host cell cytoplasm. In addition to protein-DNA complexes, the VirB/D4 system is also involved in the translocation of several effector proteins, including VirE2, VirE3 and VirF into the host cell cytoplasm. These effector proteins aid in the proper integration of the translocated DNA into the host genome. The VirD2-binding protein (VBP) is a key cytoplasmic protein that recruits the VirD2-T-DNA complex to the VirD4-coupling protein (VirD4 CP) of the VirB/D4 T4SS apparatus. Here, we report the crystal structure and associated functional studies of the C-terminal domain of VBP. This domain mainly consists of α-helices, and the two monomers of the asymmetric unit form a tight dimer. The structural analysis of this domain confirms the presence of a HEPN (higher eukaryotes and prokaryotes nucleotide-binding) fold. Biophysical studies show that VBP is a dimer in solution and that the HEPN domain is the dimerization domain. Based on structural and mutagenesis analyses, we show that substitution of key residues at the interface disrupts the dimerization of both the HEPN domain and full-length VBP. In addition, pull-down analyses show that only dimeric VBP can interact with VirD2 and VirD4 CP. Finally, we show that only Agrobacterium harboring dimeric full-length VBP can induce tumors in plants. This study sheds light on the structural basis of the substrate recruiting function of VBP in the T4SS pathway of A. tumefaciens and in other pathogenic bacteria employing similar systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilash Padavannil
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chacko Jobichen
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yang Qinghua
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jayaraman Seetharaman
- X4 Beamline, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, United States of America
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint-Unit IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain, and Fundacion ARAID, Government of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shen Q. Pan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - J. Sivaraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
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Li X, Yang Q, Tu H, Lim Z, Pan SQ. Direct visualization of Agrobacterium-delivered VirE2 in recipient cells. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 77:487-95. [PMID: 24299048 PMCID: PMC4282531 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Revised: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a natural genetic engineer widely used to deliver DNA into various recipients, including plant, yeast and fungal cells. The bacterium can transfer single-stranded DNA molecules (T-DNAs) and bacterial virulence proteins, including VirE2. However, neither the DNA nor the protein molecules have ever been directly visualized after the delivery. In this report, we adopted a split-GFP approach: the small GFP fragment (GFP11) was inserted into VirE2 at a permissive site to create the VirE2-GFP11 fusion, which was expressed in A. tumefaciens; and the large fragment (GFP1-10) was expressed in recipient cells. Upon delivery of VirE2-GFP11 into the recipient cells, GFP fluorescence signals were visualized. VirE2-GFP11 was functional like VirE2; the GFP fusion movement could indicate the trafficking of Agrobacterium-delivered VirE2. As the natural host, all plant cells seen under a microscope received the VirE2 protein in a leaf-infiltration assay; most of VirE2 moved at a speed of 1.3-3.1 μm sec⁻¹ in a nearly linear direction, suggesting an active trafficking process. Inside plant cells, VirE2-GFP formed filamentous structures of different lengths, even in the absence of T-DNA. As a non-natural host recipient, 51% of yeast cells received VirE2, which did not move inside yeast. All plant cells seen under a microscope transiently expressed the Agrobacterium-delivered transgene, but only 0.2% yeast cells expressed the transgene. This indicates that Agrobacterium is a more efficient vector for protein delivery than T-DNA transformation for a non-natural host recipient: VirE2 trafficking is a limiting factor for the genetic transformation of a non-natural host recipient. The split-GFP approach could enable the real-time visualization of VirE2 trafficking inside recipient cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Qinghua Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Haitao Tu
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Zijie Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Shen Q Pan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingapore, 117543, Singapore
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38
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Christie PJ, Whitaker N, González-Rivera C. Mechanism and structure of the bacterial type IV secretion systems. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2014; 1843:1578-91. [PMID: 24389247 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2013.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) translocate DNA and protein substrates to bacterial or eukaryotic target cells generally by a mechanism dependent on direct cell-to-cell contact. The T4SSs encompass two large subfamilies, the conjugation systems and the effector translocators. The conjugation systems mediate interbacterial DNA transfer and are responsible for the rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence determinants in clinical settings. The effector translocators are used by many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens for delivery of potentially hundreds of virulence proteins to eukaryotic cells for modulation of different physiological processes during infection. Recently, there has been considerable progress in defining the structures of T4SS machine subunits and large machine subassemblies. Additionally, the nature of substrate translocation sequences and the contributions of accessory proteins to substrate docking with the translocation channel have been elucidated. A DNA translocation route through the Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/VirD4 system was defined, and both intracellular (DNA ligand, ATP energy) and extracellular (phage binding) signals were shown to activate type IV-dependent translocation. Finally, phylogenetic studies have shed light on the evolution and distribution of T4SSs, and complementary structure-function studies of diverse systems have identified adaptations tailored for novel functions in pathogenic settings. This review summarizes the recent progress in our understanding of the architecture and mechanism of action of these fascinating machines, with emphasis on the 'archetypal' A. tumefaciens VirB/VirD4 T4SS and related conjugation systems. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein trafficking and secretion in bacteria. Guest Editors: Anastassios Economou and Ross Dalbey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Christie
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UT-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin, JFB1.765, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Neal Whitaker
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UT-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin, JFB1.765, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Christian González-Rivera
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UT-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin, JFB1.765, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Lee LY, Gelvin SB. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation for imaging protein interactions in plant hosts of microbial pathogens. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1197:185-208. [PMID: 25172282 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1261-2_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions mediate many aspects of cellular function. Scientists have developed numerous techniques to investigate these interactions, both in vitro and in vivo. Among these, the peptide complementation assay Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) allows visualization of the subcellular sites of protein-protein interactions in living cells. BiFC comprises a "split GFP" system: GFP protein (or its derivatives) is split into two fragments, neither of which fluoresces on its own. Interacting proteins linked to these peptide fragments may bring them into proximity, allowing them to refold and restore fluorescence. Although this system was first exploited for use in animal cells, we have developed BiFC for use in plants. Pathogens transfer numerous effector proteins into eukaryotic cells and manipulate host cellular processes through interactions between effector and host proteins. BiFC can therefore facilitate studies of host-bacterial interactions. In this chapter, we describe the numerous BiFC vectors we have constructed, their uses, and their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan-Ying Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 1392 Lilly Hall, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-1392, USA
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40
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Segura RL, Aguila-Arcos S, Ugarte-Uribe B, Vecino AJ, de la Cruz F, Goñi FM, Alkorta I. Subcellular location of the coupling protein TrwB and the role of its transmembrane domain. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2013; 1838:223-30. [PMID: 24016550 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Revised: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Conjugation is the most important mechanism for horizontal gene transfer and it is the main responsible for the successful adaptation of bacteria to the environment. Conjugative plasmids are the DNA molecules transferred and a multiprotein system encoded by the conjugative plasmid itself is necessary. The high number of proteins involved in the process suggests that they should have a defined location in the cell and therefore, they should be recruited to that specific point. One of these proteins is the coupling protein that plays an essential role in bacterial conjugation. TrwB is the coupling protein of R388 plasmid that is divided in two domains: i) The N-terminal domain referred as transmembrane domain and ii) a large cytosolic domain that contains a nucleotide-binding motif similar to other ATPases. To investigate the role of these domains in the subcellular location of TrwB, we constructed two mutant proteins that comprised the transmembrane (TrwBTM) or the cytoplasmic (TrwBΔN70) domain of TrwB. By immunofluorescence and GFP-fusion proteins we demonstrate that TrwB and TrwBTM mutant protein were localized to the cell pole independently of the remaining R388 proteins. On the contrary, a soluble mutant protein (TrwBΔN70) was localized to the cytoplasm in the absence of R388 proteins. However, in the presence of other R388-encoded proteins, TrwBΔN70 localizes uniformly to the cell membrane, suggesting that interactions between the cytosolic domain of TrwB and other membrane proteins of R388 plasmid may happen. Our results suggest that the transmembrane domain of TrwB leads the protein to the cell pole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa L Segura
- Unidad de Biofísica (CSIC, UPV/EHU), and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
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41
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F conjugation: Back to the beginning. Plasmid 2013; 70:18-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2013.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Revised: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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42
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Smith AM, Harrison JS, Sprague KM, Roy H. A conserved hydrolase responsible for the cleavage of aminoacylphosphatidylglycerol in the membrane of Enterococcus faecium. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:22768-76. [PMID: 23793054 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.484402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacylphosphatidylglycerol synthases (aaPGSs) are enzymes that transfer amino acids from aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) to phosphatidylglycerol (PG) to form aa-PG in the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. aa-PGs provide bacteria with resistance to a range of antimicrobial compounds and stress conditions. Enterococcus faecium encodes a triple-specific aaPGS (RakPGS) that utilizes arginine, alanine, and lysine as substrates. Here we identify a novel hydrolase (AhyD), encoded immediately adjacent to rakPGS in E. faecium, which is responsible for the hydrolysis of aa-PG. The genetic synteny of aaPGS and ahyD is conserved in >60 different bacterial species. Deletion of ahyD in E. faecium resulted in increased formation of Ala-PG and Lys-PG and increased sensitivity to bacitracin. Our results suggest that AhyD and RakPGS act together to maintain optimal levels of aa-PG in the bacterial membrane to confer resistance to certain antimicrobial compounds and stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Smith
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32826, USA
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43
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Rahman MS, Gillespie JJ, Kaur SJ, Sears KT, Ceraul SM, Beier-Sexton M, Azad AF. Rickettsia typhi possesses phospholipase A2 enzymes that are involved in infection of host cells. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003399. [PMID: 23818842 PMCID: PMC3688537 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The long-standing proposal that phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes are involved in rickettsial infection of host cells has been given support by the recent characterization of a patatin phospholipase (Pat2) with PLA2 activity from the pathogens Rickettsia prowazekii and R. typhi. However, pat2 is not encoded in all Rickettsia genomes; yet another uncharacterized patatin (Pat1) is indeed ubiquitous. Here, evolutionary analysis of both patatins across 46 Rickettsia genomes revealed 1) pat1 and pat2 loci are syntenic across all genomes, 2) both Pat1 and Pat2 do not contain predicted Sec-dependent signal sequences, 3) pat2 has been pseudogenized multiple times in rickettsial evolution, and 4) ubiquitous pat1 forms two divergent groups (pat1A and pat1B) with strong evidence for recombination between pat1B and plasmid-encoded homologs. In light of these findings, we extended the characterization of R. typhi Pat1 and Pat2 proteins and determined their role in the infection process. As previously demonstrated for Pat2, we determined that 1) Pat1 is expressed and secreted into the host cytoplasm during R. typhi infection, 2) expression of recombinant Pat1 is cytotoxic to yeast cells, 3) recombinant Pat1 possesses PLA2 activity that requires a host cofactor, and 4) both Pat1 cytotoxicity and PLA2 activity were reduced by PLA2 inhibitors and abolished by site-directed mutagenesis of catalytic Ser/Asp residues. To ascertain the role of Pat1 and Pat2 in R. typhi infection, antibodies to both proteins were used to pretreat rickettsiae. Subsequent invasion and plaque assays both indicated a significant decrease in R. typhi infection compared to that by pre-immune IgG. Furthermore, antibody-pretreatment of R. typhi blocked/delayed phagosomal escapes. Together, these data suggest both enzymes are involved early in the infection process. Collectively, our study suggests that R. typhi utilizes two evolutionary divergent patatin phospholipases to support its intracellular life cycle, a mechanism distinguishing it from other rickettsial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sayeedur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
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Cascales E, Atmakuri K, Sarkar MK, Christie PJ. DNA substrate-induced activation of the Agrobacterium VirB/VirD4 type IV secretion system. J Bacteriol 2013; 195:2691-704. [PMID: 23564169 PMCID: PMC3676061 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00114-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 03/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The bitopic membrane protein VirB10 of the Agrobacterium VirB/VirD4 type IV secretion system (T4SS) undergoes a structural transition in response to sensing of ATP binding or hydrolysis by the channel ATPases VirD4 and VirB11. This transition, detectable as a change in protease susceptibility, is required for DNA substrate passage through the translocation channel. Here, we present evidence that DNA substrate engagement with VirD4 and VirB11 also is required for activation of VirB10. Several DNA substrates (oncogenic T-DNA and plasmids RSF1010 and pCloDF13) induced the VirB10 conformational change, each by mechanisms requiring relaxase processing at cognate oriT sequences. VirD2 relaxase deleted of its translocation signal or any of the characterized relaxases produced in the absence of cognate DNA substrates did not induce the structural transition. Translocated effector proteins, e.g., VirE2, VirE3, and VirF, also did not induce the transition. By mutational analyses, we supplied evidence that the N-terminal periplasmic loop of VirD4, in addition to its catalytic site, is essential for early-stage DNA substrate transfer and the VirB10 conformational change. Further studies of VirB11 mutants established that three T4SS-mediated processes, DNA transfer, protein transfer, and pilus production, can be uncoupled and that the latter two processes proceed independently of the VirB10 conformational change. Our findings support a general model whereby DNA ligand binding with VirD4 and VirB11 stimulates ATP binding/hydrolysis, which in turn activates VirB10 through a structural transition. This transition confers an open-channel configuration enabling passage of the DNA substrate to the cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Cascales
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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45
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Thanassi DG, Bliska JB, Christie PJ. Surface organelles assembled by secretion systems of Gram-negative bacteria: diversity in structure and function. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2012; 36:1046-82. [PMID: 22545799 PMCID: PMC3421059 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2012.00342.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2011] [Revised: 03/08/2012] [Accepted: 04/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria express a wide variety of organelles on their cell surface. These surface structures may be the end products of secretion systems, such as the hair-like fibers assembled by the chaperone/usher (CU) and type IV pilus pathways, which generally function in adhesion to surfaces and bacterial-bacterial and bacterial-host interactions. Alternatively, the surface organelles may be integral components of the secretion machinery itself, such as the needle complex and pilus extensions formed by the type III and type IV secretion systems, which function in the delivery of bacterial effectors inside host cells. Bacterial surface structures perform functions critical for pathogenesis and have evolved to withstand forces exerted by the external environment and cope with defenses mounted by the host immune system. Given their essential roles in pathogenesis and exposed nature, bacterial surface structures also make attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. This review will describe the structure and function of surface organelles assembled by four different Gram-negative bacterial secretion systems: the CU pathway, the type IV pilus pathway, and the type III and type IV secretion systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Thanassi
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5120, USA.
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46
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Diversity in genetic in vivo methods for protein-protein interaction studies: from the yeast two-hybrid system to the mammalian split-luciferase system. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2012; 76:331-82. [PMID: 22688816 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.05021-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast two-hybrid system pioneered the field of in vivo protein-protein interaction methods and undisputedly gave rise to a palette of ingenious techniques that are constantly pushing further the limits of the original method. Sensitivity and selectivity have improved because of various technical tricks and experimental designs. Here we present an exhaustive overview of the genetic approaches available to study in vivo binary protein interactions, based on two-hybrid and protein fragment complementation assays. These methods have been engineered and employed successfully in microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli, but also in higher eukaryotes. From single binary pairwise interactions to whole-genome interactome mapping, the self-reassembly concept has been employed widely. Innovative studies report the use of proteins such as ubiquitin, dihydrofolate reductase, and adenylate cyclase as reconstituted reporters. Protein fragment complementation assays have extended the possibilities in protein-protein interaction studies, with technologies that enable spatial and temporal analyses of protein complexes. In addition, one-hybrid and three-hybrid systems have broadened the types of interactions that can be studied and the findings that can be obtained. Applications of these technologies are discussed, together with the advantages and limitations of the available assays.
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47
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Cameron TA, Roper M, Zambryski PC. Quantitative image analysis and modeling indicate the Agrobacterium tumefaciens type IV secretion system is organized in a periodic pattern of foci. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42219. [PMID: 22860087 PMCID: PMC3408489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram negative plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens is uniquely capable of genetically transforming eukaryotic host cells during the infection process. DNA and protein substrates are transferred into plant cells via a type IV secretion system (T4SS), which forms large cell-envelope spanning complexes at multiple sites around the bacterial circumference. To gain a detailed understanding of T4SS positioning, the spatial distribution of fluorescently labeled T4SS components was quantitatively assessed to distinguish between random and structured localization processes. Through deconvolution microscopy followed by Fourier analysis and modeling, T4SS foci were found to localize in a non-random periodic pattern. These results indicate that T4SS complexes are dependent on an underlying scaffold or assembly process to obtain an organized distribution suitable for effective delivery of substrates into host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A. Cameron
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Marcus Roper
- Department of Mathematics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Patricia C. Zambryski
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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48
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Vincent CD, Friedman JR, Jeong KC, Sutherland MC, Vogel JP. Identification of the DotL coupling protein subcomplex of the Legionella Dot/Icm type IV secretion system. Mol Microbiol 2012; 85:378-91. [PMID: 22694730 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.08118.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, survives in macrophages by altering the endocytic pathway of its host cell. To accomplish this, the bacterium utilizes a type IVB secretion system to deliver effector molecules into the host cell cytoplasm. In a previous report, we performed an extensive characterization of the L. pneumophila type IVB secretion system that resulted in the identification of a critical five-protein subcomplex that forms the core of the secretion apparatus. Here we describe a second Dot/Icm protein subassembly composed of the type IV coupling protein DotL, the apparatus proteins DotM and DotN, and the secretion adaptor proteins IcmS and IcmW. In the absence of IcmS or IcmW, DotL becomes destabilized at the transition from the exponential to stationary phases of growth, concurrent with the expression of many secreted substrates. Loss of DotL is dependent on ClpA, a regulator of the cytoplasmic protease ClpP. The resulting decreased levels of DotL in the icmS and icmW mutants exacerbates the intracellular defects of these strains and can be partially suppressed by overproduction of DotL. Thus, in addition to their role as chaperones for Legionella type IV secretion system substrates, IcmS and IcmW perform a second function as part of the Dot/Icm type IV coupling protein subcomplex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carr D Vincent
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
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49
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Enterococcus faecalis PrgJ, a VirB4-like ATPase, mediates pCF10 conjugative transfer through substrate binding. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:4041-51. [PMID: 22636769 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00648-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Enterococcus faecalis prg and pcf genes of plasmid pCF10 encode a type IV secretion system (T4SS) required for conjugative transfer. PrgJ is a member of the VirB4 family of ATPases that are universally associated with T4SSs. Here, we report that purified PrgJ dimers displayed ATP binding and hydrolysis activities. A PrgJ nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) binding site mutation (K471E) slightly diminished ATP binding but abolished ATP hydrolysis in vitro and blocked pCF10 transfer in vivo. As shown with affinity pulldown assays, PrgJ and the K471E mutant protein interacted with the substrate receptor PcfC and with relaxase PcfG and accessory factor PcfF, which together form the relaxosome at the oriT sequence to initiate plasmid processing. The purified PrgJ and K471E proteins also bound single- and double-stranded DNA substrates without sequence specificity in vitro, and both PrgJ derivatives bound pCF10 in vivo by a mechanism dependent on an intact oriT sequence and cosynthesis of PcfC, PcfF, and PcfG, as shown by a formaldehyde-cross-linking assay. Our findings support a model in which the PcfC receptor coordinates with the PrgJ ATPase to drive early steps of pCF10 processing/transfer: (i) PcfC first binds the pCF10 relaxosome through contacts with PcfF, PcfG, and DNA; (ii) PcfC delivers the plasmid substrate to PrgJ; and (iii) PrgJ catalyzes substrate transfer to the membrane translocase. Substrate engagement with a VirB4-like subunit has not been previously described; consequently, our studies point to a novel function for these signature T4SS ATPases in mediating early steps of type IV secretion.
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50
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Zilian E, Maiss E. Detection of plum pox potyviral protein-protein interactions in planta using an optimized mRFP-based bimolecular fluorescence complementation system. J Gen Virol 2011; 92:2711-2723. [PMID: 21880839 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.033811-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In previous studies, protein interaction maps of different potyviruses have been generated using yeast two-hybrid (YTH) systems, and these maps have demonstrated a high diversity of interactions of potyviral proteins. Using an optimized bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) system, a complete interaction matrix for proteins of a potyvirus was developed for the first time under in planta conditions with ten proteins from plum pox virus (PPV). In total, 52 of 100 possible interactions were detected, including the self-interactions of CI, 6K2, VPg, NIa-Pro, NIb and CP, which is more interactions than have ever been detected for any other potyvirus in a YTH approach. Moreover, the BiFC system was shown to be able to localize the protein interactions, which was typified for the protein self-interactions indicated above. Additionally, experiments were carried out with the P3N-PIPO protein, revealing an interaction with CI but not with CP and supporting the involvement of P3N-PIPO in the cell-to-cell movement of potyviruses. No self-interaction of the PPV helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) was detected using BiFC in planta. Therefore, additional experiments with turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) HC-Pro, PPV_HC-Pro and their mutants were conducted. The self-interaction of TuMV_HCpro, as recently demonstrated, and the self-interaction of the TuMV_ and PPV_HC-Pro mutants were shown by BiFC in planta, indicating that HC-Pro self-interactions may be species-specific. BiFC is a very useful and reliable method for the detection and localization of protein interactions in planta, thus enabling investigations under more natural conditions than studies in yeast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Zilian
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University of Hannover, Institute of Plant Diseases and Plant Protection, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany
| | - Edgar Maiss
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University of Hannover, Institute of Plant Diseases and Plant Protection, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany
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