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Qin H, Anderson D, Zou Z, Higashi D, Borland C, Kreth J, Merritt J. Mass spectrometry and split luciferase complementation assays reveal the MecA protein interactome of Streptococcus mutans. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0369123. [PMID: 38230956 PMCID: PMC10845952 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03691-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
MecA is a highly conserved adaptor protein encoded by prokaryotes from the Bacillota phylum. MecA mutants exhibit similar pleiotropic defects in a variety of organisms, although most of these phenotypes currently lack a mechanistic basis. MecA mediates ClpCP-dependent proteolysis of its substrates, but only several such substrates have been reported in the literature and there are suggestions that proteolysis-independent regulatory mechanisms may also exist. Here, we provide the first comprehensive characterization of the MecA interactome and further assess its regulatory role in Clp-dependent proteolysis. Untargeted coimmunoprecipitation assays coupled with mass spectrometry revealed that the MecA ortholog from the oral pathobiont Streptococcus mutans likely serves as a major protein interaction network hub by potentially complexing with >100 distinct protein substrates, most of which function in highly conserved metabolic pathways. The interactome results were independently verified using a newly developed prokaryotic split luciferase complementation assay (SLCA) to detect MecA protein-protein interactions in vivo. In addition, we further develop a new application of SLCA to support in vivo measurements of MecA relative protein binding affinities. SLCA results were independently verified using targeted coimmunoprecipitation assays, suggesting the general utility of this approach for prokaryotic protein-protein interaction studies. Our results indicate that MecA indeed regulates its interactome through both Clp-dependent proteolysis as well as through an as-yet undefined proteolysis-independent mechanism that may affect more than half of its protein interactome. This suggests a significant aspect of the MecA regulatory function still has yet to be discovered.IMPORTANCEDespite multiple decades of study, the regulatory mechanism and function of MecA have remained largely a mystery. The current study provides the first detailed roadmap to investigate these functions in other medically significant bacteria. Furthermore, this study developed new genetic approaches to assay prokaryotic protein-protein interactions via the split luciferase complementation assay (SLCA). SLCA technology is commonly employed in eukaryotic genetic research but has not yet been established for studies of bacterial protein-protein interactions. The SLCA protein binding affinity assay described here is a new technological advance exclusive to the current study and has not been reported elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Qin
- Division of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - David Anderson
- Division of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Zhengzhong Zou
- Division of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Dustin Higashi
- Division of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Christina Borland
- Division of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jens Kreth
- Division of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Justin Merritt
- Division of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Merritt J, Kreth J. Illuminating the oral microbiome and its host interactions: tools and approaches for molecular microbiology studies. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuac050. [PMID: 36549660 PMCID: PMC10719069 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancements in DNA sequencing technologies within the last decade have stimulated an unprecedented interest in the human microbiome, largely due the broad diversity of human diseases found to correlate with microbiome dysbiosis. As a direct consequence of these studies, a vast number of understudied and uncharacterized microbes have been identified as potential drivers of mucosal health and disease. The looming challenge in the field is to transition these observations into defined molecular mechanistic studies of symbiosis and dysbiosis. In order to meet this challenge, many of these newly identified microbes will need to be adapted for use in experimental models. Consequently, this review presents a comprehensive overview of the molecular microbiology tools and techniques that have played crucial roles in genetic studies of the bacteria found within the human oral microbiota. Here, we will use specific examples from the oral microbiome literature to illustrate the biology supporting these techniques, why they are needed in the field, and how such technologies have been implemented. It is hoped that this information can serve as a useful reference guide to help catalyze molecular microbiology studies of the many new understudied and uncharacterized species identified at different mucosal sites in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Merritt
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Jens Kreth
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
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Usuda M, Kametani M, Hamada M, Suehiro Y, Matayoshi S, Okawa R, Naka S, Matsumoto-Nakano M, Akitomo T, Mitsuhata C, Koumoto K, Kawauchi K, Nishikata T, Yagi M, Mizoguchi T, Fujikawa K, Taniguchi T, Nakano K, Nomura R. Inhibitory Effect of Adsorption of Streptococcus mutans onto Scallop-Derived Hydroxyapatite. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11371. [PMID: 37511130 PMCID: PMC10379008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydroxyapatite adsorbs various substances, but little is known about the effects on oral bacteria of adsorption onto hydroxyapatite derived from scallop shells. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of adsorption of Streptococcus mutans onto scallop-derived hydroxyapatite. When scallop-derived hydroxyapatite was mixed with S. mutans, a high proportion of the bacterial cells adsorbed onto the hydroxyapatite in a time-dependent manner. An RNA sequencing analysis of S. mutans adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite showed that the upregulation of genes resulted in abnormalities in pathways involved in glycogen and histidine metabolism and biosynthesis compared with cells in the absence of hydroxyapatite. S. mutans adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite was not killed, but the growth of the bacteria was inhibited. Electron microscopy showed morphological changes in S. mutans cells adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite. Our results suggest that hydroxyapatite derived from scallop shells showed a high adsorption ability for S. mutans. This hydroxyapatite also caused changes in gene expression related to the metabolic and biosynthetic processes, including the glycogen and histidine of S. mutans, which may result in a morphological change in the surface layer and the inhibition of the growth of the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momoko Usuda
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Mariko Kametani
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Masakazu Hamada
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Oncology and Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuto Suehiro
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Saaya Matayoshi
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Rena Okawa
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shuhei Naka
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Michiyo Matsumoto-Nakano
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Akitomo
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Chieko Mitsuhata
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Kazuya Koumoto
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Keiko Kawauchi
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Takahito Nishikata
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Yagi
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Pharmacrea Kobe Co., Ltd., Kobe 651-0085, Japan
| | - Toshiro Mizoguchi
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- TSET Co., Ltd., Kariya 448-0022, Japan
| | - Koki Fujikawa
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- TSET Co., Ltd., Kariya 448-0022, Japan
| | - Taizo Taniguchi
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Pharmacrea Kobe Co., Ltd., Kobe 651-0085, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakano
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ryota Nomura
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Japan
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Li L, Krieger M, Qin H, Zou Z, Kreth J, Merritt J. Adaptation of Prokaryotic Toxins for Negative Selection and Cloning-Independent Markerless Mutagenesis in Streptococcus Species. mSphere 2023:e0068222. [PMID: 37093065 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00682-22] [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: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Streptococcus mutans genetic system offers a variety of strategies to rapidly engineer targeted chromosomal mutations. Previously, we reported the first S. mutans negative selection system that functions in a wild-type background. This system utilizes induced sensitivity to the toxic amino acid analog p-chlorophenylalanine (4-CP) as a negative selection mechanism and was developed for counterselection-based cloning-independent markerless mutagenesis (CIMM). While we have employed this system extensively for our ongoing genetic studies, we have encountered a couple limitations with the system, mainly its narrow host range and the requirement for selection on a toxic substrate. Here, we report the development of a new negative selection system that addresses both limitations, while still retaining the utility of the previous 4-CP-based markerless mutagenesis system. We placed a variety of toxin-encoding genes under the control of the xylose-inducible gene expression cassette (Xyl-S) and found the Fst-sm and ParE toxins to be suitable candidates for inducible negative selection. We combined the inducible toxins with an antibiotic resistance gene to create several different counterselection cassettes. The most broadly useful of these contained a wild-type fst-sm open reading frame transcriptionally fused to a point mutant form of the Xyl-S expression system, which we subsequently named IFDC4. IFDC4 was shown to exhibit exceptionally low background resistance, with 3- to 4-log reductions in cell number observed when plating on xylose-supplemented medium. IFDC4 also functioned similarly in multiple strains of S. mutans as well as with Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis. We performed CIMM with IFDC4 and successfully engineered a variety of different types of markerless mutations in all three species. The counterselection strategy described here provides a template approach that should be adaptable for the creation of similar counterselection systems in many other bacteria. IMPORTANCE Multiple medically significant Streptococcus species, such as S. mutans, have highly sophisticated genetic systems available, largely as a consequence of their amenability to genetic manipulation via natural competence. Despite this, few options are available for the creation of markerless mutations in streptococci, especially within wild-type strains. Markerless mutagenesis is a critical tool for genetic studies, as it allows the user to explore many fundamental questions that are not easily addressable using marked mutagenesis. Here, we describe a new approach for streptococcal markerless mutagenesis that offers a variety of advantages over the current approach, which employs induced sensitivity to the toxic substrate 4-CP. The approach employed here should be readily adaptable for the creation of similar markerless mutagenesis systems in other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Li
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Madeline Krieger
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Hua Qin
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Zhengzhong Zou
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jens Kreth
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Justin Merritt
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Kreth J, Merritt J. Illuminating the oral microbiome and its host interactions: tools and approaches for molecular ecological studies. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuac052. [PMID: 36564013 PMCID: PMC9936263 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A more comprehensive understanding of oral diseases like caries and periodontitis is dependent on an intimate understanding of the microbial ecological processes that are responsible for disease development. With this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of relevant molecular ecology techniques that have played critical roles in the current understanding of human oral biofilm development, interspecies interactions, and microbiome biogeography. The primary focus is on relevant technologies and examples available in the oral microbiology literature. However, most, if not all, of the described technologies should be readily adaptable for studies of microbiomes from other mucosal sites in the body. Therefore, this review is intended to serve as a reference guide used by microbiome researchers as they inevitably transition into molecular mechanistic studies of the many significant phenotypes observed clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Kreth
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, MRB433, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., #L595, Portland, OR 97239, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Justin Merritt
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, MRB433, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., #L595, Portland, OR 97239, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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Teng K, Huang F, Liu Y, Wang Y, Xia T, Yun F, Zhong J. Food and gut originated bacteriocins involved in gut microbe-host interactions. Crit Rev Microbiol 2022:1-13. [PMID: 35713699 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2082860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The gut microbes interact with each other as well as host, influencing human health and some diseases. Many gut commensals and food originated bacteria produce bacteriocins which can inhibit pathogens and modulate gut microbiota. Bacteriocins have comparable narrow antimicrobial spectrum and are attractive potentials for precision therapy of gut disorders. In this review, the bacteriocins from food and gut microbiomes and their involvement in the interaction between producers and gut ecosystem, along with their characteristics, types, biosynthesis, and functions are described and discussed. Bacteriocins are produced by many intestinal commensals and food microbes among which lactic acid bacteria (many are probiotics) has been paid more attention. Bacteriocin production has been generally regarded as a probiotic trait. They give a competitive advantage to bacteria, enabling their colonization in human gut, and mediating the interaction between the producers and host ecosystem. They fight against unwanted bacteria and pathogens without significant impact on the composition of commensal microbiota. Bacteriocins assist the producers to survive and colonize in the gut microbial populations. There is a great need to evaluate and utilize the potential of bacteriocins for improved therapeutic implications for intestinal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunling Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fuqing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yayong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yudong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianqi Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fangfei Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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