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Huessy B, Bumann D, Ebert D. Ectopical expression of bacterial collagen-like protein supports its role as adhesin in host-parasite coevolution. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231441. [PMID: 38577215 PMCID: PMC10987987 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
For a profound understanding of antagonistic coevolution, it is necessary to identify the coevolving genes. The bacterium Pasteuria and its host, the microcrustacean Daphnia, are a well-characterized paradigm for co-evolution, but the underlying genes remain largely unknown. A genome-wide association study suggested a Pasteuria collagen-like protein 7 (Pcl7) as a candidate mediating parasite attachment and driving its coevolution with the host. Since Pasteuria ramosa cannot currently be genetically manipulated, we used Bacillus thuringiensis to express a fusion protein of a Pcl7 carboxy-terminus from P. ramosa and the amino-terminal domain of a B. thuringiensis collagen-like protein (CLP). Mutant B. thuringiensis (Pcl7-Bt) spores but not wild-type B. thuringiensis (WT-Bt) spores attached to the same site of susceptible hosts as P. ramosa. Furthermore, Pcl7-Bt spores attached readily to susceptible host genotypes, but only slightly to resistant host genotypes. These findings indicated that the fusion protein was properly expressed and folded and demonstrated that indeed the C-terminus of Pcl7 mediates attachment in a host genotype-specific manner. These results provide strong evidence for the involvement of a CLP in the coevolution of Daphnia and P. ramosa and open new avenues for genetic epidemiological studies of host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Huessy
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology, University of Basel, Basel4051, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel4056, Switzerland
| | | | - Dieter Ebert
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology, University of Basel, Basel4051, Switzerland
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2
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Nakaya Y, Uchiike M, Hattori M, Moriyama M, Abe K, Kim E, Eichenberger P, Imamura D, Sato T. Identification of CgeA as a glycoprotein that anchors polysaccharides to the spore surface in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:384-396. [PMID: 37485949 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis spore is composed of a core, containing chromosomal DNA, surrounded by a cortex layer made of peptidoglycan, and a coat composed of concentric proteinaceous layers. A polysaccharide layer is added to the spore surface, and likely anchored to the crust, the coat outermost layer. However, the identity of the coat protein(s) to which the spore polysaccharides (SPS) are attached is uncertain. First, we showed that the crust proteins CotVWXYZ and CgeA were all contained in the peeled SPS layer obtained from a strain missing CotE, the outer coat morphogenetic protein, suggesting that the SPS is indeed bound to at least one of the spore surface proteins. Second, CgeA is known to be located at the most downstream position in the crust assembly pathway. An analysis of truncated variants of CgeA suggested that its N-terminal half is required for localization to the spore surface, while its C-terminal half is necessary for SPS addition. Third, an amino acid substitution strategy revealed that SPS was anchored at threonine 112 (T112), which constitutes a probable O-glycosylation site on CgeA. Our results indicated that CgeA is a glycoprotein required to initiate SPS assembly and serves as an anchor protein linking the crust and SPS layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusei Nakaya
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miu Uchiike
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mayuko Hattori
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Momoka Moriyama
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kimihiro Abe
- Research Center of Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ella Kim
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Daisuke Imamura
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sato
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center of Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
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3
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Chattopadhyay D, Walker DR, Rich-New ST, Kearney JF, Turnbough, Jr. CL. Crystal structure and induced stability of trimeric BxpB: implications for the assembly of BxpB-BclA complexes in the exosporium of Bacillus anthracis. mBio 2023; 14:e0117223. [PMID: 37382447 PMCID: PMC10470788 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01172-23] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The outermost exosporium layer of Bacillus anthracis spores, the causative agents of anthrax, is comprised of a basal layer and an external hair-like nap. The nap includes filaments composed of trimers of the collagen-like glycoprotein BclA. Essentially all BclA trimers are attached to the spore in a process in which part of the 38-residue amino-terminal domain (NTD) of BclA forms an extremely stable interaction with the basal layer protein BxpB. Evidence indicates that the BclA-BxpB interaction is direct and requires trimeric BxpB. To further investigate the nature of the BclA-BxpB interaction, we determined the crystal structure of BxpB. The structure was trimeric with each monomer consisting of 11 β strands with connecting loops. The structure did not include apparently disordered amino acids 1-19, which contain the only two cysteine residues of the 167-residue BxpB. The orientation of the structure reveals regions of BxpB that could be involved in interacting with the BclA NTD and with adjacent cysteine-rich proteins in the basal layer. Furthermore, the BxpB structure closely resembles that of the 134-residue carboxyl-terminal domain of BclA, which forms trimers that are highly resistant to heat and detergent. We demonstrated that BxpB trimers do not share this resistance. However, when BxpB trimers are mixed with a peptide containing residues 20-38 of BclA, they form a complex that is as stable as BclA-BxpB complexes extracted from spores. Together, our results provide new insights into the mechanism of BclA-BxpB attachment and incorporation into the exosporium. IMPORTANCE The B. anthracis exosporium plays major roles in spore survival and infectivity, but the complex mechanism of its assembly is poorly understood. Key steps in this process are the stable attachment of collagen-like BclA filaments to the major basal layer structural protein BxpB and the insertion of BxpB into an underlying basal layer scaffold. The goal of this study is to further elucidate these interactions thereby advancing our understanding of exosporium assembly, a process shared by many spore-forming bacteria including important human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dionna R. Walker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Shane T. Rich-New
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - John F. Kearney
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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4
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Norris MH, Bluhm AP, Metrailer MC, Jiranantasak T, Kirpich A, Hadfield T, Ponciano JM, Blackburn JK. Beyond the spore, the exosporium sugar anthrose impacts vegetative Bacillus anthracis gene regulation in cis and trans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5060. [PMID: 36977718 PMCID: PMC10050317 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32162-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus anthracis exosporium nap is the outermost portion of spore that interacts with the environment and host systems. Changes to this layer have the potential to impact wide-ranging physiological and immunological processes. The unique sugar, anthrose, normally coats the exosporium nap at its most distal points. We previously identified additional mechanisms rendering B. anthracis anthrose negative. In this work, several new ant - B. anthracis strains are identified and the impact of anthrose negativity on spore physiology is investigated. We demonstrate that live-attenuated Sterne vaccines as well as culture filtrate anthrax vaccines generate antibodies targeting non-protein components of the spore. The role of anthrose as a vegetative B. anthracis Sterne signaling molecule is implicated by luminescent expression strain assays, RNA-seq experiments, and toxin secretion analysis by western blot. Pure anthrose and the sporulation-inducing nucleoside analogue decoyinine had similar effects on toxin expression. Co-culture experiments demonstrated gene expression changes in B. anthracis depend on intracellular anthrose status (cis) in addition to anthrose status of extracellular interactions (trans). These findings provide a mechanism for how a unique spore-specific sugar residue affects physiology, expression and genetics of vegetative B. anthracis with impacts on the ecology, pathogenesis, and vaccinology of anthrax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Norris
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Andrew P Bluhm
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Morgan C Metrailer
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Treenate Jiranantasak
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alexander Kirpich
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ted Hadfield
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Jason K Blackburn
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Semi-automated water sampling module for repeated sampling and concentration of Bacillus cereus group spores. Sci Rep 2023; 13:831. [PMID: 36646757 PMCID: PMC9842714 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27900-0] [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: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring the presence of pathogenic Bacillus spores is important for industrial applications, as well as necessary for ensuring human health. Bacillus thuringiensis is used as a biopesticide against several insect pests. Bacillus cereus spores are a significant cause of food poisoning, and Bacillus anthracis is a recognized biosecurity threat. Laboratory-based methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization spectroscopy provide sensitive detection of bacteria and spores, but the application of those methods for quasi-continuous environmental monitoring presents a significant challenge requiring frequent human intervention. To address this challenge, we developed a workstation for quasi-autonomous monitoring of water reservoirs for the presence of bacteria and spores, and designed and validated the functionality of a microprocessor-controlled module capable of repetitive collection and pre-concentration of spores in liquid samples tested with fiberglass (FG), polyether sulfone and polyvinylidene fluoride filters. The best results were obtained with FG filters delivering a 20× concentration of B. thuringiensis and B. cereus spores from saline suspensions. The successful 20× pre-concentration of Bacillus spores demonstrated with FG filters could be repeated up to 3 times when bleach decontamination is applied between filtrations. Taken together, our results demonstrate an attractive instrument suitable for semi-automated, quasi-continuous sampling and pre-processing of water samples for biosensing of bacterial spores originating from a complex environment.
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Moteshareie H, Hassen WM, Dirieh Y, Groulx E, Dubowski JJ, Tayabali AF. Rapid, Sensitive, and Selective Quantification of Bacillus cereus Spores Using xMAP Technology. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071408. [PMID: 35889128 PMCID: PMC9319878 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming ubiquitous bacterium notable as a food poisoning agent. Detection of B. cereus spores using selective media is laborious and non-specific. Herein, the quantitative detection of B. cereus spores was investigated with commercial antibodies and published aptamer sequences. Several detection reagents were screened for affinity to Bacillus collagen-like protein A (BclA), an abundant exosporium glycoprotein. Sensitivity and selectivity toward B. cereus spores were tested using immunoassays and multi-analyte profiling (xMAP). A recombinant antibody developed in llama against BclA protein showed B. cereus spore selectivity and sensitivity between 102 and 105 spores/mL using xMAP. DNA aptamer sequences demonstrated sensitivity from 103 to 107 spores/mL and no cross-reaction to B. megaterium and B. subtilis. Selectivity for B. cereus spores was also demonstrated in a mixture of several diverse microorganisms and within a food sample with no compromise of sensitivity. As proof of concept for multiplexed measurement of human pathogens, B. cereus and three other microorganisms, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. cerevisiae, were simultaneously detected using xMAP. These data support the development of a rapid, sensitive, and selective system for quantitation of B. cereus spores and multiplexed monitoring of human pathogens in complex matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houman Moteshareie
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT), Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada; (H.M.); (W.M.H.); (J.J.D.)
| | - Walid M. Hassen
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT), Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada; (H.M.); (W.M.H.); (J.J.D.)
| | - Yasmine Dirieh
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Environmental Health Centre, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada; (Y.D.); (E.G.)
| | - Emma Groulx
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Environmental Health Centre, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada; (Y.D.); (E.G.)
| | - Jan J. Dubowski
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT), Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada; (H.M.); (W.M.H.); (J.J.D.)
| | - Azam F. Tayabali
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Environmental Health Centre, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada; (Y.D.); (E.G.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Harvey DJ. ANALYSIS OF CARBOHYDRATES AND GLYCOCONJUGATES BY MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER DESORPTION/IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY: AN UPDATE FOR 2015-2016. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2021; 40:408-565. [PMID: 33725404 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This review is the ninth update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2016. Also included are papers that describe methods appropriate to analysis by MALDI, such as sample preparation techniques, even though the ionization method is not MALDI. Topics covered in the first part of the review include general aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, fragmentation and arrays. The second part of the review is devoted to applications to various structural types such as oligo- and poly-saccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides and biopharmaceuticals. Much of this material is presented in tabular form. The third part of the review covers medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions and applications to chemical synthesis. The reported work shows increasing use of combined new techniques such as ion mobility and the enormous impact that MALDI imaging is having. MALDI, although invented over 30 years ago is still an ideal technique for carbohydrate analysis and advancements in the technique and range of applications show no sign of deminishing. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Harvey
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom
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8
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Andras JP, Fields PD, Du Pasquier L, Fredericksen M, Ebert D. Genome-Wide Association Analysis Identifies a Genetic Basis of Infectivity in a Model Bacterial Pathogen. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:3439-3452. [PMID: 32658956 PMCID: PMC7743900 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the genetic architecture of pathogen infectivity and host resistance is essential for a mechanistic understanding of coevolutionary processes, yet the genetic basis of these interacting traits remains unknown for most host-pathogen systems. We used a comparative genomic approach to explore the genetic basis of infectivity in Pasteuria ramosa, a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen of planktonic crustaceans that has been established as a model for studies of Red Queen host-pathogen coevolution. We sequenced the genomes of a geographically, phenotypically, and genetically diverse collection of P. ramosa strains and performed a genome-wide association study to identify genetic correlates of infection phenotype. We found multiple polymorphisms within a single gene, Pcl7, that correlate perfectly with one common and widespread infection phenotype. We then confirmed this perfect association via Sanger sequencing in a large and diverse sample set of P. ramosa clones. Pcl7 codes for a collagen-like protein, a class of adhesion proteins known or suspected to be involved in the infection mechanisms of a number of important bacterial pathogens. Consistent with expectations under Red Queen coevolution, sequence variation of Pcl7 shows evidence of balancing selection, including extraordinarily high diversity and absence of geographic structure. Based on structural homology with a collagen-like protein of Bacillus anthracis, we propose a hypothesis for the structure of Pcl7 and the physical location of the phenotype-associated polymorphisms. Our results offer strong evidence for a gene governing infectivity and provide a molecular basis for further study of Red Queen dynamics in this model host-pathogen system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Andras
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
| | - Peter D Fields
- Division of Zoology, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Louis Du Pasquier
- Division of Zoology, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maridel Fredericksen
- Division of Zoology, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dieter Ebert
- Division of Zoology, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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9
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Kananavičiūtė R, Kvederavičiūtė K, Dabkevičienė D, Mackevičius G, Kuisienė N. Collagen-like sequences encoded by extremophilic and extremotolerant bacteria. Genomics 2019; 112:2271-2281. [PMID: 31884159 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2019.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Collagens and collagen-like proteins are found in a wide range of organisms. The common feature of these proteins is a triple helix fold, requiring a characteristic pattern of amino acid sequences, composed of Gly-X-Y tripeptide repeats. Collagen-like proteins from bacteria are heterogeneous in terms of length and amino acid composition of their collagenous sequences. However, different bacteria live in different environments, some at extreme temperatures and conditions. This study explores the occurrence of collagen-like sequences in the genomes of different extreme condition-adapted bacteria, and investigates features that could be linked to conditions where they thrive. Our results show that proteins containing collagen-like sequences are encoded by genomes of various extremophiles. Some of these proteins contain conservative domains, characteristic of cell or endospore surface proteins, while most other proteins are unknown. The characteristics of collagenous sequences may depend on both, the phylogenetic relationship and the living conditions of the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rūta Kananavičiūtė
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 7, LT- 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Kotryna Kvederavičiūtė
- Institute of Biotechnology Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 7, LT- 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Daiva Dabkevičienė
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 7, LT- 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gytis Mackevičius
- Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Vilnius University, Naugarduko g. 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Nomeda Kuisienė
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 7, LT- 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
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10
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Shuster B, Khemmani M, Abe K, Huang X, Nakaya Y, Maryn N, Buttar S, Gonzalez AN, Driks A, Sato T, Eichenberger P. Contributions of crust proteins to spore surface properties in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Microbiol 2019; 111:825-843. [PMID: 30582883 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Surface properties, such as adhesion and hydrophobicity, constrain dispersal of bacterial spores in the environment. In Bacillus subtilis, these properties are influenced by the outermost layer of the spore, the crust. Previous work has shown that two clusters, cotVWXYZ and cgeAB, encode the protein components of the crust. Here, we characterize the respective roles of these genes in surface properties using Bacterial Adherence to Hydrocarbons assays, negative staining of polysaccharides by India ink and Transmission Electron Microscopy. We showed that inactivation of crust genes caused increases in spore relative hydrophobicity, disrupted the spore polysaccharide layer, and impaired crust structure and attachment to the rest of the coat. We also found that cotO, previously identified for its role in outer coat formation, is necessary for proper encasement of the spore by the crust. In parallel, we conducted fluorescence microscopy experiments to determine the full network of genetic dependencies for subcellular localization of crust proteins. We determined that CotZ is required for the localization of most crust proteins, while CgeA is at the bottom of the genetic interaction hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bentley Shuster
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Mark Khemmani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Kimihiro Abe
- Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Xiaoyu Huang
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Yusei Nakaya
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nina Maryn
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Sally Buttar
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Adriana N Gonzalez
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Adam Driks
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Tsutomu Sato
- Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Patrick Eichenberger
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
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11
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Chateau A, Lunderberg JM, Oh SY, Abshire T, Friedlander A, Quinn CP, Missiakas DM, Schneewind O. Galactosylation of the Secondary Cell Wall Polysaccharide of Bacillus anthracis and Its Contribution to Anthrax Pathogenesis. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:e00562-17. [PMID: 29229702 PMCID: PMC5809694 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00562-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax disease, elaborates a secondary cell wall polysaccharide (SCWP) that is essential for bacterial growth and cell division. B. anthracis SCWP is comprised of trisaccharide repeats with the structure, [→4)-β-ManNAc-(1→4)-β-GlcNAc(O3-α-Gal)-(1→6)-α-GlcNAc(O3-α-Gal, O4-β-Gal)-(1→]6-12 The genes whose products promote the galactosylation of B. anthracis SCWP are not yet known. We show here that the expression of galE1, encoding a UDP-glucose 4-epimerase necessary for the synthesis of UDP-galactose, is required for B. anthracis SCWP galactosylation. The galE1 mutant assembles surface (S) layer and S layer-associated proteins that associate with ketal-pyruvylated SCWP via their S layer homology domains similarly to wild-type B. anthracis, but the mutant displays a defect in γ-phage murein hydrolase binding to SCWP. Furthermore, deletion of galE1 diminishes the capsulation of B. anthracis with poly-d-γ-glutamic acid (PDGA) and causes a reduction in bacterial virulence. These data suggest that SCWP galactosylation is required for the physiologic assembly of the B. anthracis cell wall envelope and for the pathogenesis of anthrax disease.IMPORTANCE Unlike virulent Bacillus anthracis isolates, B. anthracis strain CDC684 synthesizes secondary cell wall polysaccharide (SCWP) trisaccharide repeats without galactosyl modification, exhibits diminished growth in vitro in broth cultures, and is severely attenuated in an animal model of anthrax. To examine whether SCWP galactosylation is a requirement for anthrax disease, we generated variants of B. anthracis strains Sterne 34F2 and Ames lacking UDP-glucose 4-epimerase by mutating the genes galE1 and galE2 We identified galE1 as necessary for SCWP galactosylation. Deletion of galE1 decreased the poly-d-γ-glutamic acid (PDGA) capsulation of the vegetative form of B. anthracis and increased the bacterial inoculum required to produce lethal disease in mice, indicating that SCWP galactosylation is indeed a determinant of anthrax disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Chateau
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Justin Mark Lunderberg
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - So Young Oh
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Teresa Abshire
- Diagnostic Systems Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Arthur Friedlander
- Headquarters, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Conrad P Quinn
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dominique M Missiakas
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Olaf Schneewind
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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12
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Latousakis D, Juge N. How Sweet Are Our Gut Beneficial Bacteria? A Focus on Protein Glycosylation in Lactobacillus. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19010136. [PMID: 29301365 PMCID: PMC5796085 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19010136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein glycosylation is emerging as an important feature in bacteria. Protein glycosylation systems have been reported and studied in many pathogenic bacteria, revealing an important diversity of glycan structures and pathways within and between bacterial species. These systems play key roles in virulence and pathogenicity. More recently, a large number of bacterial proteins have been found to be glycosylated in gut commensal bacteria. We present an overview of bacterial protein glycosylation systems (O- and N-glycosylation) in bacteria, with a focus on glycoproteins from gut commensal bacteria, particularly Lactobacilli. These emerging studies underscore the importance of bacterial protein glycosylation in the interaction of the gut microbiota with the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Latousakis
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, The Gut Health and Food Safety Institute Strategic Programme, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK.
| | - Nathalie Juge
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, The Gut Health and Food Safety Institute Strategic Programme, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK.
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13
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Shornikov A, Tran H, Macias J, Halavaty AS, Minasov G, Anderson WF, Kuhn ML. Structure of the Bacillus anthracis dTDP-L-rhamnose-biosynthetic enzyme dTDP-4-dehydrorhamnose 3,5-epimerase (RfbC). Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2017; 73:664-671. [PMID: 29199987 PMCID: PMC5713671 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x17015849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The exosporium layer of Bacillus anthracis spores is rich in L-rhamnose, a common bacterial cell-wall component, which often contributes to the virulence of pathogens by increasing their adherence and immune evasion. The biosynthetic pathway used to form the activated L-rhamnose donor dTDP-L-rhamnose consists of four enzymes (RfbA, RfbB, RfbC and RfbD) and is an attractive drug target because there are no homologs in mammals. It was found that co-purifying and screening RfbC (dTDP-6-deoxy-D-xylo-4-hexulose 3,5-epimerase) from B. anthracis in the presence of the other three B. anthracis enzymes of the biosynthetic pathway yielded crystals that were suitable for data collection. RfbC crystallized as a dimer and its structure was determined at 1.63 Å resolution. Two different ligands were bound in the protein structure: pyrophosphate in the active site of one monomer and dTDP in the other monomer. A structural comparison with RfbC homologs showed that the key active-site residues are conserved across kingdoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ha Tran
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Francisco State University, USA
| | - Jennifer Macias
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Francisco State University, USA
| | - Andrei S. Halavaty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), USA
| | - George Minasov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), USA
| | - Wayne F. Anderson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), USA
| | - Misty L. Kuhn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Francisco State University, USA
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14
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Li Z, Mukherjee T, Bowler K, Namdari S, Snow Z, Prestridge S, Carlton A, Bar-Peled M. A four-gene operon in Bacillus cereus produces two rare spore-decorating sugars. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:7636-7650. [PMID: 28298443 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.777417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial glycan structures on cell surfaces are critical for cell-cell recognition and adhesion and in host-pathogen interactions. Accordingly, unraveling the sugar composition of bacterial cell surfaces can shed light on bacterial growth and pathogenesis. Here, we found that two rare sugars with a 3-C-methyl-6-deoxyhexose structure were linked to spore glycans in Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 and ATCC 10876. Moreover, we identified a four-gene operon in B. cereus ATCC 14579 that encodes proteins with the following sequential enzyme activities as determined by mass spectrometry and one- and two-dimensional NMR methods: CTP:glucose-1-phosphate cytidylyltransferase, CDP-Glc 4,6-dehydratase, NADH-dependent SAM:C-methyltransferase, and NADPH-dependent CDP-3-C-methyl-6-deoxyhexose 4-reductase. The last enzyme predominantly yielded CDP-3-C-methyl-6-deoxygulose (CDP-cereose) and likely generated a 4-epimer CDP-3-C-methyl-6-deoxyallose (CDP-cillose). Some members of the B. cereus sensu lato group produce CDP-3-C-methyl-6-deoxy sugars for the formation of cereose-containing glycans on spores, whereas others such as Bacillus anthracis do not. Gene knockouts of the Bacillus C-methyltransferase and the 4-reductase confirmed their involvement in the formation of cereose-containing glycan on B. cereus spores. We also found that cereose represented 0.2-1% spore dry weight. Moreover, mutants lacking cereose germinated faster than the wild type, yet the mutants exhibited no changes in sporulation or spore resistance to heat. The findings reported here may provide new insights into the roles of the uncommon 3-C-methyl-6-deoxy sugars in cell-surface recognition and host-pathogen interactions of the genus Bacillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi Li
- From the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and.,the Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | | | - Kyle Bowler
- From the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and
| | | | - Zachary Snow
- From the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and
| | | | | | - Maor Bar-Peled
- From the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and .,the Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
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15
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Schäffer C, Messner P. Emerging facets of prokaryotic glycosylation. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 41:49-91. [PMID: 27566466 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation of proteins is one of the most prevalent post-translational modifications occurring in nature, with a wide repertoire of biological implications. Pathways for the main types of this modification, the N- and O-glycosylation, can be found in all three domains of life-the Eukarya, Bacteria and Archaea-thereby following common principles, which are valid also for lipopolysaccharides, lipooligosaccharides and glycopolymers. Thus, studies on any glycoconjugate can unravel novel facets of the still incompletely understood fundamentals of protein N- and O-glycosylation. While it is estimated that more than two-thirds of all eukaryotic proteins would be glycosylated, no such estimate is available for prokaryotic glycoproteins, whose understanding is lagging behind, mainly due to the enormous variability of their glycan structures and variations in the underlying glycosylation processes. Combining glycan structural information with bioinformatic, genetic, biochemical and enzymatic data has opened up an avenue for in-depth analyses of glycosylation processes as a basis for glycoengineering endeavours. Here, the common themes of glycosylation are conceptualised for the major classes of prokaryotic (i.e. bacterial and archaeal) glycoconjugates, with a special focus on glycosylated cell-surface proteins. We describe the current knowledge of biosynthesis and importance of these glycoconjugates in selected pathogenic and beneficial microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Schäffer
- Department of NanoBiotechnology, Institute of Biologically Inspired Materials, NanoGlycobiology unit, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Messner
- Department of NanoBiotechnology, Institute of Biologically Inspired Materials, NanoGlycobiology unit, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
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