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Méndez AAE, Argüello JM, Soncini FC, Checa SK. Scs system links copper and redox homeostasis in bacterial pathogens. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105710. [PMID: 38309504 PMCID: PMC10907172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105710] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The bacterial envelope is an essential compartment involved in metabolism and metabolites transport, virulence, and stress defense. Its roles become more evident when homeostasis is challenged during host-pathogen interactions. In particular, the presence of free radical groups and excess copper in the periplasm causes noxious reactions, such as sulfhydryl group oxidation leading to enzymatic inactivation and protein denaturation. In response to this, canonical and accessory oxidoreductase systems are induced, performing quality control of thiol groups, and therefore contributing to restoring homeostasis and preserving survival under these conditions. Here, we examine recent advances in the characterization of the Dsb-like, Salmonella-specific Scs system. This system includes the ScsC/ScsB pair of Cu+-binding proteins with thiol-oxidoreductase activity, an alternative ScsB-partner, the membrane-linked ScsD, and a likely associated protein, ScsA, with a role in peroxide resistance. We discuss the acquisition of the scsABCD locus and its integration into a global regulatory pathway directing envelope response to Cu stress during the evolution of pathogens that also harbor the canonical Dsb systems. The evidence suggests that the canonical Dsb systems cannot satisfy the extra demands that the host-pathogen interface imposes to preserve functional thiol groups. This resulted in the acquisition of the Scs system by Salmonella. We propose that the ScsABCD complex evolved to connect Cu and redox stress responses in this pathogen as well as in other bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea A E Méndez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
| | - José M Argüello
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fernando C Soncini
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Susana K Checa
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina.
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2
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Rivera-Millot A, Harrison LB, Veyrier FJ. Copper management strategies in obligate bacterial symbionts: balancing cost and benefit. Emerg Top Life Sci 2024; 8:29-35. [PMID: 38095549 PMCID: PMC10903467 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230113] [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] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria employ diverse mechanisms to manage toxic copper in their environments, and these evolutionary strategies can be divided into two main categories: accumulation and rationalization of metabolic pathways. The strategies employed depend on the bacteria's lifestyle and environmental context, optimizing the metabolic cost-benefit ratio. Environmental and opportunistically pathogenic bacteria often possess an extensive range of copper regulation systems in order to respond to variations in copper concentrations and environmental conditions, investing in diversity and/or redundancy as a safeguard against uncertainty. In contrast, obligate symbiotic bacteria, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Bordetella pertussis, tend to have specialized and more parsimonious copper regulation systems designed to function in the relatively stable host environment. These evolutionary strategies maintain copper homeostasis even in challenging conditions like encounters within phagocytic cells. These examples highlight the adaptability of bacterial copper management systems, tailored to their specific lifestyles and environmental requirements, in the context of an evolutionary the trade-off between benefits and energy costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Rivera-Millot
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Bacterial Symbionts Evolution, Laval, Quebec H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Luke B. Harrison
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Bacterial Symbionts Evolution, Laval, Quebec H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Frédéric J. Veyrier
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Bacterial Symbionts Evolution, Laval, Quebec H7V 1B7, Canada
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3
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Xia F, Xu P, Zhang B, Zhang Y, Liu X, Ma Y, Zhang Y, Wang Q, Shao S. Identification of a novel transcriptional regulator, CorR, for copper stress response in Edwardsiella piscicida. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0089923. [PMID: 37732742 PMCID: PMC10617541 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00899-23] [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: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper plays a vital role in the host-pathogen interface, potentially making components of the bacterial copper response suitable targets for the development of innovative antimicrobial strategies. The anti-copper arsenal of intracellular pathogens has expanded as an adaptation to survive copper toxicity in order to escape intracellular killing by the host immune system. Herein, we employed transposon insertion sequencing to investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying the survival of Edwardsiella piscicida under copper stress. A novel transcriptional regulator, ETAE_2324 (named CorR), was identified to participate in the response to copper ions by controlling the expression of copA, the core component of cytoplasmic copper homeostasis. Furthermore, CorR regulated the expression of virulent determinant eseB, influencing the in vivo colonization of E. piscicida. Collectively, our results contribute to the comprehension of the underlying mechanism of the adaption of intracellular pathogens to copper stress during bacterial infections.IMPORTANCECopper ions play a pivotal role in the interaction between bacteria and the host during infection. The host's innate immune system employs copper ions for their bactericidal properties, thereby making bacterial copper tolerance a crucial determinant of virulence. Edwardsiella piscicida, a significant marine pathogen, has caused substantial losses in the global aquaculture industry. To comprehensively investigate how E. piscicida responds to copper stress, we utilized transposon insertion sequencing to explore genes associated with copper tolerance in culture media containing different concentrations of copper ions. A novel transcriptional regulator, CorR, was identified to respond to copper ions and regulates the expression of crucial components of copper homeostasis CopA, along with the essential virulence factor EseB. These findings offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms that govern bacterial copper tolerance and present novel perspectives for the development of vaccines and therapeutic strategies targeting E. piscicida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Pengfei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Boya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yibei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases of MOA, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases of MOA, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases of MOA, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases of MOA, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases of MOA, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases of MOA, Shanghai, China
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4
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Kadeřábková N, Mahmood AJS, Furniss RCD, Mavridou DAI. Making a chink in their armor: Current and next-generation antimicrobial strategies against the bacterial cell envelope. Adv Microb Physiol 2023; 83:221-307. [PMID: 37507160 PMCID: PMC10517717 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria are uniquely equipped to defeat antibiotics. Their outermost layer, the cell envelope, is a natural permeability barrier that contains an array of resistance proteins capable of neutralizing most existing antimicrobials. As a result, its presence creates a major obstacle for the treatment of resistant infections and for the development of new antibiotics. Despite this seemingly impenetrable armor, in-depth understanding of the cell envelope, including structural, functional and systems biology insights, has promoted efforts to target it that can ultimately lead to the generation of new antibacterial therapies. In this article, we broadly overview the biology of the cell envelope and highlight attempts and successes in generating inhibitors that impair its function or biogenesis. We argue that the very structure that has hampered antibiotic discovery for decades has untapped potential for the design of novel next-generation therapeutics against bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikol Kadeřábková
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Ayesha J S Mahmood
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - R Christopher D Furniss
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Despoina A I Mavridou
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States; John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.
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5
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Cho THS, Pick K, Raivio TL. Bacterial envelope stress responses: Essential adaptors and attractive targets. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119387. [PMID: 36336206 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Millions of deaths a year across the globe are linked to antimicrobial resistant infections. The need to develop new treatments and repurpose of existing antibiotics grows more pressing as the growing antimicrobial resistance pandemic advances. In this review article, we propose that envelope stress responses, the signaling pathways bacteria use to recognize and adapt to damage to the most vulnerable outer compartments of the microbial cell, are attractive targets. Envelope stress responses (ESRs) support colonization and infection by responding to a plethora of toxic envelope stresses encountered throughout the body; they have been co-opted into virulence networks where they work like global positioning systems to coordinate adhesion, invasion, microbial warfare, and biofilm formation. We highlight progress in the development of therapeutic strategies that target ESR signaling proteins and adaptive networks and posit that further characterization of the molecular mechanisms governing these essential niche adaptation machineries will be important for sparking new therapeutic approaches aimed at short-circuiting bacterial adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy H S Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Kat Pick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Tracy L Raivio
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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Reaction of N-Acetylcysteine with Cu 2+: Appearance of Intermediates with High Free Radical Scavenging Activity: Implications for Anti-/Pro-Oxidant Properties of Thiols. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116199. [PMID: 35682881 PMCID: PMC9181168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the kinetics of the reaction of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC or RSH) with cupric ions at an equimolar ratio of the reactants in aqueous acid solution (pH 1.4−2) using UV/Vis absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. Cu2+ showed a strong catalytic effect on the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical (ABTSr) consumption and autoxidation of NAC. Difference spectra revealed the formation of intermediates with absorption maxima at 233 and 302 nm (ε302/Cu > 8 × 103 M−1 cm−1) and two positive Cotton effects centered at 284 and 302 nm. These intermediates accumulate during the first, O2-independent, phase of the NAC autoxidation. The autocatalytic production of another chiral intermediate, characterized by two positive Cotton effects at 280 and 333 nm and an intense negative one at 305 nm, was observed in the second reaction phase. The intermediates are rapidly oxidized by added ABTSr; otherwise, they are stable for hours in the reaction solution, undergoing a slow pH- and O2-dependent photosensitive decay. The kinetic and spectral data are consistent with proposed structures of the intermediates as disulfide-bridged dicopper(I) complexes of types cis-/trans-CuI2(RS)2(RSSR) and CuI2(RSSR)2. The electronic transitions observed in the UV/Vis and CD spectra are tentatively attributed to Cu(I) → disulfide charge transfer with an interaction of the transition dipole moments (exciton coupling). The catalytic activity of the intermediates as potential O2 activators via Cu(II) peroxo-complexes is discussed. A mechanism for autocatalytic oxidation of Cu(I)−thiolates promoted by a growing electronically coupled −[CuI2(RSSR)]n− polymer is suggested. The obtained results are in line with other reported observations regarding copper-catalyzed autoxidation of thiols and provide new insight into these complicated, not yet fully understood systems. The proposed hypotheses point to the importance of the Cu(I)−disulfide interaction, which may have a profound impact on biological systems.
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Petit GA, Hong Y, Djoko KY, Whitten AE, Furlong EJ, McCoy AJ, Gulbis JM, Totsika M, Martin JL, Halili MA. The suppressor of copper sensitivity protein C from Caulobacter crescentus is a trimeric disulfide isomerase that binds copper(I) with subpicomolar affinity. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 78:337-352. [PMID: 35234148 PMCID: PMC8900818 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798322000729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The characterization of the suppressor of copper sensitivity protein C from C. crescentus is reported. The introduction of disulfide bonds into periplasmic proteins is a critical process in many Gram-negative bacteria. The formation and regulation of protein disulfide bonds have been linked to the production of virulence factors. Understanding the different pathways involved in this process is important in the development of strategies to disarm pathogenic bacteria. The well characterized disulfide bond-forming (DSB) proteins play a key role by introducing or isomerizing disulfide bonds between cysteines in substrate proteins. Curiously, the suppressor of copper sensitivity C proteins (ScsCs), which are part of the bacterial copper-resistance response, share structural and functional similarities with DSB oxidase and isomerase proteins, including the presence of a catalytic thioredoxin domain. However, the oxidoreductase activity of ScsC varies with its oligomerization state, which depends on a poorly conserved N-terminal domain. Here, the structure and function of Caulobacter crescentus ScsC (CcScsC) have been characterized. It is shown that CcScsC binds copper in the copper(I) form with subpicomolar affinity and that its isomerase activity is comparable to that of Escherichia coli DsbC, the prototypical dimeric bacterial isomerase. It is also reported that CcScsC functionally complements trimeric Proteus mirabilis ScsC (PmScsC) in vivo, enabling the swarming of P. mirabilis in the presence of copper. Using mass photometry and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) the protein is demonstrated to be trimeric in solution, like PmScsC, and not dimeric like EcDsbC. The crystal structure of CcScsC was also determined at a resolution of 2.6 Å, confirming the trimeric state and indicating that the trimerization results from interactions between the N-terminal α-helical domains of three CcScsC protomers. The SAXS data analysis suggested that the protomers are dynamic, like those of PmScsC, and are able to sample different conformations in solution.
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8
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Expression, purification and characterization of the suppressor of copper sensitivity (Scs) B membrane protein from Proteus mirabilis. Protein Expr Purif 2022; 193:106047. [PMID: 35026386 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2022.106047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Suppressor of copper sensitivity (Scs) proteins play a role in the bacterial response to copper stress in many Gram-negative bacteria, including in the human pathogen Proteus mirabilis. Recently, the ScsC protein from P. mirabilis (PmScsC) was characterized as a trimeric protein with isomerase activity that contributes to the ability of the bacterium to swarm in the presence of copper. The CXXC motif catalytic cysteines of PmScsC are maintained in their active reduced state by the action of its membrane-bound partner protein, the Proteus mirabilis ScsB (PmScsB). Thus, PmScsC and PmScsB form a redox relay in vivo. The predicted domain arrangement of PmScsB comprises a central transmembrane β-domain and two soluble, periplasmic domains, the N-terminal α-domain and C-terminal γ-domain. Here, we provide a procedure for the recombinant expression and purification of the full-length PmScsB protein. Using Lemo21(DE3) cells we expressed PmScsB and, after extraction and purification, we were able to achieve a yield of 3 mg of purified protein per 8L of bacterial culture. Furthermore, using two orthogonal methods - AMS labelling of free thiols and a scrambled RNase activity assay - PmScsB is shown to catalyze the reduction of PmScsC. Our results demonstrate that the PmScsC and PmScsB redox relay can be reconstituted in vitro using recombinant full-length PmScsB membrane protein. This finding provides a promising starting point for the in vitro biochemical and structural characterization of the P. mirabilis ScsC and ScsB interaction.
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da Silva Filho AC, Marchaukoski JN, Raittz RT, De Pierri CR, de Jesus Soares Machado D, Fadel-Picheth CMT, Picheth G. Prediction and Analysis in silico of Genomic Islands in Aeromonas hydrophila. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:769380. [PMID: 34912316 PMCID: PMC8667584 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.769380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aeromonas are Gram-negative rods widely distributed in the environment. They can cause severe infections in fish related to financial losses in the fish industry, and are considered opportunistic pathogens of humans causing infections ranging from diarrhea to septicemia. The objective of this study was to determine in silico the contribution of genomic islands to A. hydrophila. The complete genomes of 17 A. hydrophila isolates, which were separated into two phylogenetic groups, were analyzed using a genomic island (GI) predictor. The number of predicted GIs and their characteristics varied among strains. Strains from group 1, which contains mainly fish pathogens, generally have a higher number of predicted GIs, and with larger size, than strains from group 2 constituted by strains recovered from distinct sources. Only a few predicted GIs were shared among them and contained mostly genes from the core genome. Features related to virulence, metabolism, and resistance were found in the predicted GIs, but strains varied in relation to their gene content. In strains from group 1, O Ag biosynthesis clusters OX1 and OX6 were identified, while strains from group 2 each had unique clusters. Metabolic pathways for myo-inositol, L-fucose, sialic acid, and a cluster encoding QueDEC, tgtA5, and proteins related to DNA metabolism were identified in strains of group 1, which share a high number of predicted GIs. No distinctive features of group 2 strains were identified in their predicted GIs, which are more diverse and possibly better represent GIs in this species. However, some strains have several resistance attributes encoded by their predicted GIs. Several predicted GIs encode hypothetical proteins and phage proteins whose functions have not been identified but may contribute to Aeromonas fitness. In summary, features with functions identified on predicted GIs may confer advantages to host colonization and competitiveness in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeroniza Nunes Marchaukoski
- Department of Bioinformatics, Professional and Technical Education Sector, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Roberto Tadeu Raittz
- Department of Bioinformatics, Professional and Technical Education Sector, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Diogo de Jesus Soares Machado
- Department of Bioinformatics, Professional and Technical Education Sector, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Geraldo Picheth
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil
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Hyre A, Casanova-Hampton K, Subashchandrabose S. Copper Homeostatic Mechanisms and Their Role in the Virulence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. EcoSal Plus 2021; 9:eESP00142020. [PMID: 34125582 PMCID: PMC8669021 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0014-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Copper is an essential micronutrient that also exerts toxic effects at high concentrations. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on copper handling and homeostasis systems in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. We describe the mechanisms by which transcriptional regulators, efflux pumps, detoxification enzymes, metallochaperones, and ancillary copper response systems orchestrate cellular response to copper stress. E. coli and S. enterica are important pathogens of humans and animals. We discuss the critical role of copper during killing of these pathogens by macrophages and in nutritional immunity at the bacterial-pathogen-host interface. In closing, we identify opportunities to advance our understanding of the biological roles of copper in these model enteric bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Hyre
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Kaitlin Casanova-Hampton
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Sargurunathan Subashchandrabose
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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Santos-Martin C, Wang G, Subedi P, Hor L, Totsika M, Paxman JJ, Heras B. Structural bioinformatic analysis of DsbA proteins and their pathogenicity associated substrates. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:4725-4737. [PMID: 34504665 PMCID: PMC8405906 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The disulfide bond (DSB) forming system and in particular DsbA, is a key bacterial oxidative folding catalyst. Due to its role in promoting the correct assembly of a wide range of virulence factors required at different stages of the infection process, DsbA is a master virulence rheostat, making it an attractive target for the development of new virulence blockers. Although DSB systems have been extensively studied across different bacterial species, to date, little is known about how DsbA oxidoreductases are able to recognize and interact with such a wide range of substrates. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the DsbA enzymes, with special attention on their interaction with the partner oxidase DsbB and substrates associated with bacterial virulence. The structurally and functionally diverse set of bacterial proteins that rely on DsbA-mediated disulfide bond formation are summarized. Local sequence and secondary structure elements of these substrates are analyzed to identify common elements recognized by DsbA enzymes. This not only provides information on protein folding systems in bacteria but also offers tools for identifying new DsbA substrates and informs current efforts aimed at developing DsbA targeted anti-microbials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Santos-Martin
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Geqing Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Pramod Subedi
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lilian Hor
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jason John Paxman
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Begoña Heras
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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12
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Subedi P, Paxman JJ, Wang G, Hor L, Hong Y, Verderosa AD, Whitten AE, Panjikar S, Santos-Martin CF, Martin JL, Totsika M, Heras B. Salmonella enterica BcfH Is a Trimeric Thioredoxin-Like Bifunctional Enzyme with Both Thiol Oxidase and Disulfide Isomerase Activities. Antioxid Redox Signal 2021; 35:21-39. [PMID: 33607928 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2020.8218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Aims: Thioredoxin (TRX)-fold proteins are ubiquitous in nature. This redox scaffold has evolved to enable a variety of functions, including redox regulation, protein folding, and oxidative stress defense. In bacteria, the TRX-like disulfide bond (Dsb) family mediates the oxidative folding of multiple proteins required for fitness and pathogenic potential. Conventionally, Dsb proteins have specific redox functions with monomeric and dimeric Dsbs exclusively catalyzing thiol oxidation and disulfide isomerization, respectively. This contrasts with the eukaryotic disulfide forming machinery where the modular TRX protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) mediates thiol oxidation and disulfide reshuffling. In this study, we identified and structurally and biochemically characterized a novel Dsb-like protein from Salmonella enterica termed bovine colonization factor protein H (BcfH) and defined its role in virulence. Results: In the conserved bovine colonization factor (bcf) fimbrial operon, the Dsb-like enzyme BcfH forms a trimeric structure, exceptionally uncommon among the large and evolutionary conserved TRX superfamily. This protein also displays very unusual catalytic redox centers, including an unwound α-helix holding the redox active site and a trans-proline instead of the conserved cis-proline active site loop. Remarkably, BcfH displays both thiol oxidase and disulfide isomerase activities contributing to Salmonella fimbrial biogenesis. Innovation and Conclusion: Typically, oligomerization of bacterial Dsb proteins modulates their redox function, with monomeric and dimeric Dsbs mediating thiol oxidation and disulfide isomerization, respectively. This study demonstrates a further structural and functional malleability in the TRX-fold protein family. BcfH trimeric architecture and unconventional catalytic sites permit multiple redox functions emulating in bacteria the eukaryotic PDI dual oxidoreductase activity. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 35, 21-39.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Subedi
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Jason J Paxman
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Geqing Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Lilian Hor
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Yaoqin Hong
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Anthony D Verderosa
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Andrew E Whitten
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, Australia
| | - Santosh Panjikar
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO, Clayton, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Carlos F Santos-Martin
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Martin
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Brisbane Innovation Park, Nathan, Australia.,Vice-Chancellor's Unit, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Begoña Heras
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
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13
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Maertens L, Cherry P, Tilquin F, Van Houdt R, Matroule JY. Environmental Conditions Modulate the Transcriptomic Response of Both Caulobacter crescentus Morphotypes to Cu Stress. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1116. [PMID: 34064119 PMCID: PMC8224329 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria encounter elevated copper (Cu) concentrations in multiple environments, varying from mining wastes to antimicrobial applications of copper. As the role of the environment in the bacterial response to Cu ion exposure remains elusive, we used a tagRNA-seq approach to elucidate the disparate responses of two morphotypes of Caulobacter crescentus NA1000 to moderate Cu stress in a complex rich (PYE) medium and a defined poor (M2G) medium. The transcriptome was more responsive in M2G, where we observed an extensive oxidative stress response and reconfiguration of the proteome, as well as the induction of metal resistance clusters. In PYE, little evidence was found for an oxidative stress response, but several transport systems were differentially expressed, and an increased need for histidine was apparent. These results show that the Cu stress response is strongly dependent on the cellular environment. In addition, induction of the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor SigF and its regulon was shared by the Cu stress responses in both media, and its central role was confirmed by the phenotypic screening of a sigF::Tn5 mutant. In both media, stalked cells were more responsive to Cu stress than swarmer cells, and a stronger basal expression of several cell protection systems was noted, indicating that the swarmer cell is inherently more Cu resistant. Our approach also allowed for detecting several new transcription start sites, putatively indicating small regulatory RNAs, and additional levels of Cu-responsive regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurens Maertens
- Microbiology Unit, Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.M.); (R.V.H.)
- Research Unit in Microorganisms Biology (URBM), Narilis Institute, University of Namur, 5000 Namur, Belgium; (P.C.); (F.T.)
| | - Pauline Cherry
- Research Unit in Microorganisms Biology (URBM), Narilis Institute, University of Namur, 5000 Namur, Belgium; (P.C.); (F.T.)
| | - Françoise Tilquin
- Research Unit in Microorganisms Biology (URBM), Narilis Institute, University of Namur, 5000 Namur, Belgium; (P.C.); (F.T.)
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.M.); (R.V.H.)
| | - Jean-Yves Matroule
- Research Unit in Microorganisms Biology (URBM), Narilis Institute, University of Namur, 5000 Namur, Belgium; (P.C.); (F.T.)
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14
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Giachino A, Focarelli F, Marles-Wright J, Waldron KJ. Synthetic biology approaches to copper remediation: bioleaching, accumulation and recycling. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6021318. [PMID: 33501489 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the current aims of synthetic biology is the development of novel microorganisms that can mine economically important elements from the environment or remediate toxic waste compounds. Copper, in particular, is a high-priority target for bioremediation owing to its extensive use in the food, metal and electronic industries and its resulting common presence as an environmental pollutant. Even though microbe-aided copper biomining is a mature technology, its application to waste treatment and remediation of contaminated sites still requires further research and development. Crucially, any engineered copper-remediating chassis must survive in copper-rich environments and adapt to copper toxicity; they also require bespoke adaptations to specifically extract copper and safely accumulate it as a human-recoverable deposit to enable biorecycling. Here, we review current strategies in copper bioremediation, biomining and biorecycling, as well as strategies that extant bacteria use to enhance copper tolerance, accumulation and mineralization in the native environment. By describing the existing toolbox of copper homeostasis proteins from naturally occurring bacteria, we show how these modular systems can be exploited through synthetic biology to enhance the properties of engineered microbes for biotechnological copper recovery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Giachino
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Focarelli
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Jon Marles-Wright
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin J Waldron
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
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15
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Principles and practice of determining metal-protein affinities. Biochem J 2021; 478:1085-1116. [PMID: 33710331 PMCID: PMC7959690 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Metal ions play many critical roles in biology, as structural and catalytic cofactors, and as cell regulatory and signalling elements. The metal–protein affinity, expressed conveniently by the metal dissociation constant, KD, describes the thermodynamic strength of a metal–protein interaction and is a key parameter that can be used, for example, to understand how proteins may acquire metals in a cell and to identify dynamic elements (e.g. cofactor binding, changing metal availabilities) which regulate protein metalation in vivo. Here, we outline the fundamental principles and practical considerations that are key to the reliable quantification of metal–protein affinities. We review a selection of spectroscopic probes which can be used to determine protein affinities for essential biological transition metals (including Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(I), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) and, using selected examples, demonstrate how rational probe selection combined with prudent experimental design can be applied to determine accurate KD values.
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16
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Copper Handling in the Salmonella Cell Envelope and Its Impact on Virulence. Trends Microbiol 2021; 29:384-387. [PMID: 33516594 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Copper (Cu) plays a key role at the host-pathogen interface as both an essential element and a toxic element. Intracellular strains of pathogenic Salmonella have acquired the periplasmic Cu chaperone, CueP, and the thiol oxidoreductases complex Scs, while losing the ancestral Cu-detoxification Cus system. Coregulation of these species-specific factors link Cu with redox stress and allows Salmonella to counteract Cu toxicity during infection.
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17
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Reyes C, Hodgskiss LH, Kerou M, Pribasnig T, Abby SS, Bayer B, Kraemer SM, Schleper C. Genome wide transcriptomic analysis of the soil ammonia oxidizing archaeon Nitrososphaera viennensis upon exposure to copper limitation. THE ISME JOURNAL 2020; 14:2659-2674. [PMID: 32665710 PMCID: PMC7785015 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-0715-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are widespread in nature and are involved in nitrification, an essential process in the global nitrogen cycle. The enzymes for ammonia oxidation and electron transport rely heavily on copper (Cu), which can be limited in nature. In this study the model soil archaeon Nitrososphaera viennensis was investigated via transcriptomic analysis to gain insight regarding possible Cu uptake mechanisms and compensation strategies when Cu becomes limiting. Upon Cu limitation, N. viennensis exhibited impaired nitrite production and thus growth, which was paralleled by downregulation of ammonia oxidation, electron transport, carbon fixation, nucleotide, and lipid biosynthesis pathway genes. Under Cu-limitation, 1547 out of 3180 detected genes were differentially expressed, with 784 genes upregulated and 763 downregulated. The most highly upregulated genes encoded proteins with a possible role in Cu binding and uptake, such as the Cu chelator and transporter CopC/D, disulfide bond oxidoreductase D (dsbD), and multicopper oxidases. While this response differs from the marine strain Nitrosopumilus maritimus, conserved sequence motifs in some of the Cu-responsive genes suggest conserved transcriptional regulation in terrestrial AOA. This study provides possible gene regulation and energy conservation mechanisms linked to Cu bioavailability and presents the first model for Cu uptake by a soil AOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Reyes
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Unit, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA1, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Environmental Science Research Network (ESRN), Faculty for Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Logan H Hodgskiss
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Unit, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA1, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Environmental Science Research Network (ESRN), Faculty for Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Melina Kerou
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Unit, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA1, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Environmental Science Research Network (ESRN), Faculty for Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Pribasnig
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Unit, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA1, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Environmental Science Research Network (ESRN), Faculty for Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sophie S Abby
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Barbara Bayer
- Environmental Science Research Network (ESRN), Faculty for Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Limnology and Oceanography, Division of Bio-oceanography, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA1, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9620, USA
| | - Stephan M Kraemer
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Environmental Science Research Network (ESRN), Faculty for Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christa Schleper
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Unit, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA1, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Environmental Science Research Network (ESRN), Faculty for Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA2, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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18
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Giachino A, Waldron KJ. Copper tolerance in bacteria requires the activation of multiple accessory pathways. Mol Microbiol 2020; 114:377-390. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Giachino
- Biosciences Institute Faculty of Medical Sciences Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UK
| | - Kevin J. Waldron
- Biosciences Institute Faculty of Medical Sciences Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UK
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