1
|
Pal A, Ghosh D, Thakur P, Nagpal P, Irulappan M, Maruthan K, Mukherjee S, Patil N, Dutta T, Veeraraghavan B, Vivekanandan P. Clinically relevant mutations in regulatory regions of metabolic genes facilitate early adaptation to ciprofloxacin in Escherichia coli. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:10385-10399. [PMID: 39180403 PMCID: PMC11417348 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The genomic landscape associated with early adaptation to ciprofloxacin is poorly understood. Although the interplay between core metabolism and antimicrobial resistance is being increasingly recognized, mutations in metabolic genes and their biological role remain elusive. Here, we exposed Escherichia coli to increasing gradients of ciprofloxacin with intermittent transfer-bottlenecking and identified mutations in three non-canonical targets linked to metabolism including a deletion (tRNA-ArgΔ414-bp) and point mutations in the regulatory regions of argI (ARG box) and narU. Our findings suggest that these mutations modulate arginine and carbohydrate metabolism, facilitate anaerobiosis and increased ATP production during ciprofloxacin stress. Furthermore, mutations in the regulatory regions of argI and narU were detected in over 70% of sequences from clinical E. coli isolates and were overrepresented among ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates. In sum, we have identified clinically relevant mutations in the regulatory regions of metabolic genes as a central theme that drives physiological changes necessary for adaptation to ciprofloxacin stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Pal
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
- Department of Zoology, Raiganj Surendranath Mahavidyalaya, Sudarshanpur, Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal733134, India
| | - Dipannita Ghosh
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Pratyusha Thakur
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Priya Nagpal
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Madhumathi Irulappan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Karthik Maruthan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sanket Mukherjee
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Nikita G Patil
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tanmay Dutta
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Balaji Veeraraghavan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Perumal Vivekanandan
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Atasoy M, Bartkova S, Çetecioğlu-Gürol Z, P Mira N, O'Byrne C, Pérez-Rodríguez F, Possas A, Scheler O, Sedláková-Kaduková J, Sinčák M, Steiger M, Ziv C, Lund PA. Methods for studying microbial acid stress responses: from molecules to populations. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae015. [PMID: 38760882 PMCID: PMC11418653 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae015] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of how micro-organisms detect and respond to different stresses has a long history of producing fundamental biological insights while being simultaneously of significance in many applied microbiological fields including infection, food and drink manufacture, and industrial and environmental biotechnology. This is well-illustrated by the large body of work on acid stress. Numerous different methods have been used to understand the impacts of low pH on growth and survival of micro-organisms, ranging from studies of single cells to large and heterogeneous populations, from the molecular or biophysical to the computational, and from well-understood model organisms to poorly defined and complex microbial consortia. Much is to be gained from an increased general awareness of these methods, and so the present review looks at examples of the different methods that have been used to study acid resistance, acid tolerance, and acid stress responses, and the insights they can lead to, as well as some of the problems involved in using them. We hope this will be of interest both within and well beyond the acid stress research community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Merve Atasoy
- UNLOCK, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 9101, 6700 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Simona Bartkova
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Zeynep Çetecioğlu-Gürol
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Roslagstullsbacken 21 106 91 Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nuno P Mira
- iBB, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Conor O'Byrne
- Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Fernando Pérez-Rodríguez
- Department of Food Science and Tehcnology, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Aricia Possas
- Department of Food Science and Tehcnology, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ott Scheler
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jana Sedláková-Kaduková
- Institute of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, 91701 Trnava, Republic of Slovakia
| | - Mirka Sinčák
- Institute of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, 91701 Trnava, Republic of Slovakia
| | - Matthias Steiger
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Carmit Ziv
- Department of Postharvest Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, 7505101 Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Peter A Lund
- School of Biosciences and Institute of Microbiology of Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Arroyo-Mendoza M, Proctor A, Correa-Medina A, DeWolf S, Brand MW, Rosas V, Lorenzi H, Wannemuehler MJ, Phillips GJ, Hinton DM. A single rare σ70 variant establishes a unique gene expression pattern in the E. coli pathobiont LF82. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae773. [PMID: 39258538 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
LF82, an adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) pathobiont, is associated with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology. Although AIEC phenotypes differ from those of 'commensal' or pathogenic E. coli, work has failed to identify genetic features accounting for these differences. We have investigated a natural, but rare, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in LF82 present within the highly conserved rpoD gene, encoding σ70 [primary sigma factor, RNA polymerase (RNAP)]. We demonstrate that σ70 D445V results in transcriptomic and phenotypic changes consistent with LF82 phenotypes, including increased antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation and increased capacity for methionine biosynthesis. RNA-seq analyses comparing σ70 V445 versus σ70 D445 identified 24 genes upregulated by σ70 V445 in both LF82 and the laboratory E. coli K-12 strain MG1655. Using in vitro transcription, we demonstrate that σ70 D445V directly increases transcription from promoters for several of the up-regulated genes and that the presence of a 16 bp spacer and -14 G:C is associated with this increase. The position of D445V within RNAP suggests that it could affect RNAP/spacer interaction. Our work represents the first identification of a distinguishing SNP for this pathobiont and suggests an underrecognized mechanism by which pathobionts and strain variants can emerge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Arroyo-Mendoza
- Gene Expression and Regulation Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 8 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Alexandra Proctor
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Abraham Correa-Medina
- Gene Expression and Regulation Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 8 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sarah DeWolf
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Meghan Wymore Brand
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Virginia Rosas
- Gene Expression and Regulation Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 8 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hernan Lorenzi
- TriLab Bioinformatics Group, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 8 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michael J Wannemuehler
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Gregory J Phillips
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Deborah M Hinton
- Gene Expression and Regulation Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 8 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yang X, Yang J, Huang H, Yan X, Li X, Lin Z. Achieving robust synthetic tolerance in industrial E. coli through negative auto-regulation of a DsrA-Hfq module. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2024; 9:462-469. [PMID: 38634002 PMCID: PMC11021974 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2024.04.003] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In industrial fermentation processes, microorganisms often encounter acid stress, which significantly impact their productivity. This study focused on the acid-resistant module composed of small RNA (sRNA) DsrA and the sRNA chaperone Hfq. Our previous study had shown that this module improved the cell growth of Escherichia coli MG1655 at low pH, but failed to obtain this desired phenotype in industrial strains. Here, we performed a quantitative analysis of DsrA-Hfq module to determine the optimal expression mode. We then assessed the potential of the CymR-based negative auto-regulation (NAR) circuit for industrial application, under different media, strains and pH levels. Growth assay at pH 4.5 revealed that NAR-05D04H circuit was the best acid-resistant circuit to improve the cell growth of E. coli MG1655. This circuit was robust and worked well in the industrial lysine-producing strain E. coli SCEcL3 at a starting pH of 6.8 and without pH control, resulting in a 250 % increase in lysine titer and comparable biomass in shaking flask fermentation compared to the parent strain. This study showed the practical application of NAR circuit in regulating DsrA-Hfq module, effectively and robustly improving the acid tolerance of industrial strains, which provides a new approach for breeding industrial strains with tolerance phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Yang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jingduan Yang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Haozheng Huang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiaofang Yan
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiaofan Li
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhanglin Lin
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- School of Biomedicine, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kędzierska B, Stodolna A, Bryszkowska K, Dylewski M, Potrykus K. A simple and unified protocol to purify all seven Escherichia coli RNA polymerase sigma factors. J Appl Genet 2024; 65:615-625. [PMID: 38709457 PMCID: PMC11310293 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-024-00870-3] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
RNA polymerase sigma factors are indispensable in the process of bacterial transcription. They are responsible for a given gene's promoter region recognition on template DNA and hence determine specificity of RNA polymerase and play a significant role in gene expression regulation. Here, we present a simple and unified protocol for purification of all seven Escherichia coli RNA polymerase sigma factors. In our approach, we took advantage of the His8-SUMO tag, known to increase protein solubilization. Sigma factors were first purified in N-terminal fusions with this tag, which was followed by tag removal with Ulp1 protease. This allowed to obtain proteins in their native form. In addition, the procedure is simple and requires only one resin type. With the general protocol we employed, we were able to successfully purify σD, σE, σS, and σN. Final step modification was required for σF, while for σH and σFecI, denaturing conditions had to be applied. All seven sigma factors were fully functional in forming an active holoenzyme with core RNA polymerase which we demonstrated with EMSA studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Kędzierska
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Stodolna
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bryszkowska
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Maciej Dylewski
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Potrykus
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Guesmi S, Ghedira K, Pujic P, Najjari A, Miotello G, Cherif A, Narumi I, Armengaud J, Normand P, Sghaier H. Effect of gamma irradiation on the proteogenome of cold-acclimated Kocuria rhizophila PT10. Res Microbiol 2024:104230. [PMID: 39089347 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2024.104230] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
The effects of ionizing radiation (IR) on the protein dynamics of cold-stressed cells of a radioresistant actinobacterium, Kocuria rhizophila PT10, isolated from the rhizosphere of the desert plant Panicum turgidum were investigated using a shotgun methodology based on nanoflow liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Overall, 1487 proteins were certified, and their abundances were compared between the irradiated condition and control. IR of cold-acclimated PT10 triggered the over-abundance of proteins involved in (1) a strong transcriptional regulation, (2) amidation of peptidoglycan and preservation of cell envelope integrity, (3) detoxification of reactive electrophiles and regulation of the redox status of proteins, (4) base excision repair and prevention of mutagenesis and (5) the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and production of fatty acids. Also, one of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is the SOS response of stressed PT10. Moreover, a comparison of top hits radio-modulated proteins of cold-acclimated PT10 with proteomics data from gamma-irradiated Deinococcus deserti showed that stressed PT10 has a specific response characterised by a high over-abundance of NemA, GatD, and UdgB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sihem Guesmi
- National Agronomy Institute (INAT), Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082, Tunis, Mahrajène, Tunisia; Laboratory "Energy and Matter for Development of Nuclear Sciences" (LR16CNSTN02), National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology (CNSTN), Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020, Tunisia.
| | - Kais Ghedira
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics - LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13, Place Pasteur, Tunis, 1002, Tunisia.
| | - Petar Pujic
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Ecologie Microbienne, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France; CNRS, UMR 5557, Ecologie Microbienne, 69622 Villeurbanne, Cedex, INRA, UMR1418, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Afef Najjari
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, LR03ES03 Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Guylaine Miotello
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols sur Cèze, France.
| | - Ameur Cherif
- Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, 2020, Ariana, Tunisia.
| | - Issay Narumi
- Radiation Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 48-1 Oka, Asaka, Saitama, 351-8510, Japan.
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols sur Cèze, France.
| | - Philippe Normand
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Ecologie Microbienne, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France; CNRS, UMR 5557, Ecologie Microbienne, 69622 Villeurbanne, Cedex, INRA, UMR1418, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Haïtham Sghaier
- Laboratory "Energy and Matter for Development of Nuclear Sciences" (LR16CNSTN02), National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology (CNSTN), Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020, Tunisia; Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, 2020, Ariana, Tunisia.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dalldorf C, Rychel K, Szubin R, Hefner Y, Patel A, Zielinski DC, Palsson BO. The hallmarks of a tradeoff in transcriptomes that balances stress and growth functions. mSystems 2024; 9:e0030524. [PMID: 38829048 PMCID: PMC11264592 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00305-24] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Fast growth phenotypes are achieved through optimal transcriptomic allocation, in which cells must balance tradeoffs in resource allocation between diverse functions. One such balance between stress readiness and unbridled growth in E. coli has been termed the fear versus greed (f/g) tradeoff. Two specific RNA polymerase (RNAP) mutations observed in adaptation to fast growth have been previously shown to affect the f/g tradeoff, suggesting that genetic adaptations may be primed to control f/g resource allocation. Here, we conduct a greatly expanded study of the genetic control of the f/g tradeoff across diverse conditions. We introduced 12 RNA polymerase (RNAP) mutations commonly acquired during adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) and obtained expression profiles of each. We found that these single RNAP mutation strains resulted in large shifts in the f/g tradeoff primarily in the RpoS regulon and ribosomal genes, likely through modifying RNAP-DNA interactions. Two of these mutations additionally caused condition-specific transcriptional adaptations. While this tradeoff was previously characterized by the RpoS regulon and ribosomal expression, we find that the GAD regulon plays an important role in stress readiness and ppGpp in translation activity, expanding the scope of the tradeoff. A phylogenetic analysis found the greed-related genes of the tradeoff present in numerous bacterial species. The results suggest that the f/g tradeoff represents a general principle of transcriptome allocation in bacteria where small genetic changes can result in large phenotypic adaptations to growth conditions.IMPORTANCETo increase growth, E. coli must raise ribosomal content at the expense of non-growth functions. Previous studies have linked RNAP mutations to this transcriptional shift and increased growth but were focused on only two mutations found in the protein's central region. RNAP mutations, however, commonly occur over a large structural range. To explore RNAP mutations' impact, we have introduced 12 RNAP mutations found in laboratory evolution experiments and obtained expression profiles of each. The mutations nearly universally increased growth rates by adjusting said tradeoff away from non-growth functions. In addition to this shift, a few caused condition-specific adaptations. We explored the prevalence of this tradeoff across phylogeny and found it to be a widespread and conserved trend among bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin Rychel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Richard Szubin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Ying Hefner
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Arjun Patel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Daniel C. Zielinski
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Bernhard O. Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jiang H, Milanov M, Jüngert G, Angebauer L, Flender C, Smudde E, Gather F, Vogel T, Jessen HJ, Koch HG. Control of a chemical chaperone by a universally conserved ATPase. iScience 2024; 27:110215. [PMID: 38993675 PMCID: PMC11237923 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The universally conserved YchF/Ola1 ATPases regulate stress response pathways in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Deletion of YchF/Ola1 leads to increased resistance against environmental stressors, such as reactive oxygen species, while their upregulation is associated with tumorigenesis in humans. The current study shows that in E. coli, the absence of YchF stimulates the synthesis of the alternative sigma factor RpoS by a transcription-independent mechanism. Elevated levels of RpoS then enhance the transcription of major stress-responsive genes. In addition, the deletion of ychF increases the levels of polyphosphate kinase, which in turn boosts the production of the evolutionary conserved and ancient chemical chaperone polyphosphate. This potentially provides a unifying concept for the increased stress resistance in bacteria and eukaryotes upon YchF/Ola1 deletion. Intriguingly, the simultaneous deletion of ychF and the polyphosphate-degrading enzyme exopolyphosphatase causes synthetic lethality in E. coli, demonstrating that polyphosphate production needs to be fine-tuned to prevent toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Jiang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Milanov
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Jüngert
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Angebauer
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Clara Flender
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva Smudde
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Gather
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tanja Vogel
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Henning J. Jessen
- Institute for Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University Freiburg 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Koch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Baral R, Ho K, Kumar RP, Hopkins JB, Watkins MB, LaRussa S, Caban-Penix S, Calderone LA, Bradshaw N. A General Mechanism for the General Stress Response in Bacteria. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.16.580724. [PMID: 38405867 PMCID: PMC10889023 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.16.580724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The General Stress Response promotes survival of bacteria in adverse conditions, but how sensor proteins transduce species-specific signals to initiate the response is not known. The serine/threonine phosphatase RsbU initiates the General Stress Response in B. subtilis upon binding a partner protein (RsbT) that is released from sequestration by environmental stresses. We report that RsbT activates RsbU by inducing otherwise flexible linkers of RsbU to form a short coiled-coil that dimerizes and activates the phosphatase domains. Importantly, we present evidence that related coiled-coil linkers and phosphatase dimers transduce signals from diverse sensor domains to control the General Stress Response and other signaling across bacterial phyla. These results additionally resolve the mystery of how shared sensory domains control serine/threonine phosphatases, diguanylate cyclases and histidine kinases, revealing a common coiled-coil linker transduction mechanism. We propose that this provides bacteria with a modularly exchangeable toolkit for the evolution of diverse signaling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rishika Baral
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
- Graduate program in Biochemistry and Biophysics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kristin Ho
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ramasamy P. Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jesse B Hopkins
- Biophysics Collaborative Access Team (BioCAT), Department of Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Maxwell B. Watkins
- Biophysics Collaborative Access Team (BioCAT), Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Salvatore LaRussa
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
- Graduate program in Biochemistry and Biophysics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Suhaily Caban-Penix
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
- Graduate program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Logan A. Calderone
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
- Graduate program in Biochemistry and Biophysics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Niels Bradshaw
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sprenger M, Siemers M, Krautwurst S, Papenfort K. Small RNAs direct attack and defense mechanisms in a quorum sensing phage and its host. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:727-738.e6. [PMID: 38579715 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.03.010] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Many, if not all, bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) to control collective behaviors, and more recently, QS has also been discovered in bacteriophages (phages). Phages can produce communication molecules of their own, or "listen in" on the host's communication processes, to switch between lytic and lysogenic modes of infection. Here, we study the interaction of Vibrio cholerae with the lysogenic phage VP882, which is activated by the QS molecule DPO. We discover that induction of VP882 results in the binding of phage transcripts to the major RNA chaperone Hfq, which in turn outcompetes and downregulates host-encoded small RNAs (sRNAs). VP882 itself also encodes Hfq-binding sRNAs, and we demonstrate that one of these sRNAs, named VpdS, promotes phage replication by regulating host and phage mRNA levels. We further show that host-encoded sRNAs can antagonize phage replication by downregulating phage mRNA expression and thus might be part of the host's phage defense arsenal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Sprenger
- Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Microbiology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Malte Siemers
- Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Microbiology, 07745 Jena, Germany; Microverse Cluster, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Kai Papenfort
- Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Microbiology, 07745 Jena, Germany; Microverse Cluster, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Desai SK, Zhou Y, Dilawari R, Routh AL, Popov V, Kenney LJ. RpoS activates formation of Salmonella Typhi biofilms and drives persistence in the gall bladder. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.26.564249. [PMID: 37961640 PMCID: PMC10634867 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.26.564249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The development of strategies for targeting the asymptomatic carriage of Salmonella Typhi in chronic typhoid patients has suffered owing to our basic lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms that enable the formation of S. Typhi biofilms. Traditionally, studies have relied on cholesterol-attached biofilms formed by a closely related serovar, Typhimurium, to mimic multicellular Typhi communities formed on human gallstones. In long-term infections, S. Typhi adopts the biofilm lifestyle to persist in vivo and survive in the carrier state, ultimately leading to the spread of infections via the fecal-oral route of transmission. In the present work, we studied S. Typhi biofilms directly, applied targeted as well as genome-wide genetic approaches to uncover unique biofilm components that do not conform to the CsgD-dependent pathway established in S. Typhimurium. We undertook a genome-wide Tn5 mutation screen in a highly successful parental lineage of S. Typhi, strain H58, in gallstone-mimicking conditions. We generated New Generation Sequencing libraries based on the ClickSeq technology to identify the key regulators, IraP and RpoS, and the matrix components as Sth fimbriae, Vi capsule and lipopolysaccharide. We discovered that the starvation sigma factor, RpoS, was required for the transcriptional activation of matrix-encoding genes in vitro, and for S. Typhi colonization in persistent infections in vivo, using a heterologous fish larval model. An rpoS null mutant failed to colonize the gall bladder in chronic zebrafish infections. Overall, our work uncovered a novel RpoS-driven paradigm for the formation of cholesterol-attached Typhi biofilms, and emphasized the role(s) of stress signaling pathways for adaptation in chronic infections. Our identification of the biofilm regulators in S. Typhi paves the way for the development of drugs against typhoid carriage, which will ultimately control the increased incidence of gall bladder cancer in typhoid carriers.
Collapse
|
12
|
Wölflingseder M, Fengler VH, Standhartinger V, Wagner GE, Reidl J. The regulatory network comprising ArcAB-RpoS-RssB influences motility in Vibrio cholerae. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:850-864. [PMID: 38323722 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15235] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The diarrheal disease cholera is caused by the versatile and responsive bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which is capable of adapting to environmental changes. Among others, the alternative sigma factor RpoS activates response pathways, including regulation of motility- and chemotaxis-related genes under nutrient-poor conditions in V. cholerae. Although RpoS has been well characterised, links between RpoS and other regulatory networks remain unclear. In this study, we identified the ArcAB two-component system to control rpoS transcription and RpoS protein stability in V. cholerae. In a manner similar to that seen in Escherichia coli, the ArcB kinase not only activates the response regulator ArcA but also RssB, the anti-sigma factor of RpoS. Our results demonstrated that, in V. cholerae, RssB is phosphorylated by ArcB, which subsequently activates RpoS proteolysis. Furthermore, ArcA acts as a repressor of rpoS transcription. Additionally, we determined that the cysteine residue at position 180 of ArcB is crucial for signal recognition and activity. Thus, our findings provide evidence linking RpoS response to the anoxic redox control system ArcAB in V. cholerae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Wölflingseder
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth - University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Vera H Fengler
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth - University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Verena Standhartinger
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth - University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gabriel E Wagner
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Joachim Reidl
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth - University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Said N, Finazzo M, Hilal T, Wang B, Selinger TL, Gjorgjevikj D, Artsimovitch I, Wahl MC. Sm-like protein Rof inhibits transcription termination factor ρ by binding site obstruction and conformational insulation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3186. [PMID: 38622114 PMCID: PMC11018626 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47439-6] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription termination factor ρ is a hexameric, RNA-dependent NTPase that can adopt active closed-ring and inactive open-ring conformations. The Sm-like protein Rof, a homolog of the RNA chaperone Hfq, inhibits ρ-dependent termination in vivo but recapitulation of this activity in vitro has proven difficult and the precise mode of Rof action is presently unknown. Here, our cryo-EM structures of ρ-Rof and ρ-RNA complexes show that Rof undergoes pronounced conformational changes to bind ρ at the protomer interfaces, undercutting ρ conformational dynamics associated with ring closure and occluding extended primary RNA-binding sites that are also part of interfaces between ρ and RNA polymerase. Consistently, Rof impedes ρ ring closure, ρ-RNA interactions and ρ association with transcription elongation complexes. Structure-guided mutagenesis coupled with functional assays confirms that the observed ρ-Rof interface is required for Rof-mediated inhibition of cell growth and ρ-termination in vitro. Bioinformatic analyses reveal that Rof is restricted to Pseudomonadota and that the ρ-Rof interface is conserved. Genomic contexts of rof differ between Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae, suggesting distinct modes of Rof regulation. We hypothesize that Rof and other cellular anti-terminators silence ρ under diverse, but yet to be identified, stress conditions when unrestrained transcription termination by ρ may be detrimental.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nelly Said
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark Finazzo
- Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Tarek Hilal
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
- Research Center of Electron Microscopy and Core Facility BioSupraMol, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstr. 36a, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Tim Luca Selinger
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniela Gjorgjevikj
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medicine, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Irina Artsimovitch
- Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Markus C Wahl
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Snoeck S, Guidi C, De Mey M. "Metabolic burden" explained: stress symptoms and its related responses induced by (over)expression of (heterologous) proteins in Escherichia coli. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:96. [PMID: 38555441 PMCID: PMC10981312 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02370-9] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Engineering bacterial strains to redirect the metabolism towards the production of a specific product has enabled the development of industrial biotechnology. However, rewiring the metabolism can have severe implications for a microorganism, rendering cells with stress symptoms such as a decreased growth rate, impaired protein synthesis, genetic instability and an aberrant cell size. On an industrial scale, this is reflected in processes that are not economically viable. MAIN TEXT In literature, most stress symptoms are attributed to "metabolic burden", however the actual triggers and stress mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Therefore, in this literature review, we aimed to get a better insight in how metabolic engineering affects Escherichia coli and link the observed stress symptoms to its cause. Understanding the possible implications that chosen engineering strategies have, will help to guide the reader towards optimising the envisioned process more efficiently. CONCLUSION This review addresses the gap in literature and discusses the triggers and effects of stress mechanisms that can be activated when (over)expressing (heterologous) proteins in Escherichia coli. It uncovers that the activation of the different stress mechanisms is complex and that many are interconnected. The reader is shown that care has to be taken when (over)expressing (heterologous) proteins as the cell's metabolism is tightly regulated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Snoeck
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Synthetic Biology, Coupure Links 653, Gent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Chiara Guidi
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Synthetic Biology, Coupure Links 653, Gent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Marjan De Mey
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Synthetic Biology, Coupure Links 653, Gent, 9000, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Małecka EM, Woodson SA. RNA compaction and iterative scanning for small RNA targets by the Hfq chaperone. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2069. [PMID: 38453956 PMCID: PMC10920880 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46316-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA-guided enzymes must quickly search a vast sequence space for their targets. This search is aided by chaperones such as Hfq, a protein that mediates regulation by bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs). How RNA binding proteins enhance this search is little known. Using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer, we show that E. coli Hfq performs a one-dimensional scan in which compaction of the target RNA delivers sRNAs to sites distant from the location of Hfq recruitment. We also show that Hfq can transfer an sRNA between different target sites in a single mRNA, favoring the most stable duplex. We propose that compaction and segmental transfer, combined with repeated cycles of base pairing, enable the kinetic selection of optimal sRNA targets. Finally, we show that RNA compaction and sRNA transfer require conserved arginine patches. We suggest that arginine patches are a widespread strategy for enabling the movement of RNA across protein surfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina M Małecka
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St.,5, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
- Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Trojdena 4, Warsaw, 02-109, Poland.
| | - Sarah A Woodson
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St.,5, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Handler S, Kirkpatrick CL. New layers of regulation of the general stress response sigma factor RpoS. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1363955. [PMID: 38505546 PMCID: PMC10948607 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1363955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The general stress response (GSR) sigma factor RpoS from Escherichia coli has emerged as one of the key paradigms for study of how numerous signal inputs are accepted at multiple levels into a single pathway for regulation of gene expression output. While many studies have elucidated the key pathways controlling the production and activity of this sigma factor, recent discoveries have uncovered still more regulatory mechanisms which feed into the network. Moreover, while the regulon of this sigma factor comprises a large proportion of the E. coli genome, the downstream expression levels of all the RpoS target genes are not identically affected by RpoS upregulation but respond heterogeneously, both within and between cells. This minireview highlights the most recent developments in our understanding of RpoS regulation and expression, in particular those which influence the regulatory network at different levels from previously well-studied pathways.
Collapse
|
17
|
Valencia EY, de Moraes Gomes F, Ospino K, Spira B. RpoS role in antibiotic resistance, tolerance and persistence in E. coli natural isolates. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:72. [PMID: 38443813 PMCID: PMC11323705 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03222-7] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intrinsic concentration of RpoS, the second most abundant sigma factor, varies widely across the E. coli species. Bacterial isolates that express high levels of RpoS display high resistance to environmental stresses, such as temperature, pH and osmolarity shifts, but are less nutritional competent, making them less capable of utilising alternative nutrient sources. The role of RpoS in antibiotic resistance and persistence in standard laboratory domesticated strains has been examined in several studies, most demonstrating a positive role for RpoS. RESULTS Using disk diffusion assays we examined bacterial resistance to 15 different antibiotics, including β -lactams (penicillins, monobactams, carbapenems and cephalosporins), aminoglycosides, quinolones and anti-folates, in a representative collection of 328 E. coli natural isolates displaying a continuum of different levels of RpoS. There was an overall trend that isolates with higher levels of RpoS were slightly more resistant to these antibiotics. In addition, the effect of RpoS on bacterial tolerance and persistence to 3 different antibiotics - ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and kanamycin was evaluated through time-kill curves. Again, there was a small beneficial effect of RpoS on tolerance and persistence to these antibiotics, but this difference was not statistically significant. Finally, a K-12 strain expressing high levels of RpoS was compared with its isogenic RpoS-null counterpart, and no significant effect of RpoS was found. CONCLUSION Based on a representative collection of the species E. coli, RpoS was found to have a very small impact on antibiotic resistance, tolerance, or persistence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Estela Ynés Valencia
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe de Moraes Gomes
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Katia Ospino
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Beny Spira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Warrier I, Perry A, Hubbell SM, Eichelman M, van Opijnen T, Meyer MM. RNA cis-regulators are important for Streptococcus pneumoniae in vivo success. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011188. [PMID: 38442125 PMCID: PMC10942264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved complex transcriptional regulatory networks, as well as many diverse regulatory strategies at the RNA level, to enable more efficient use of metabolic resources and a rapid response to changing conditions. However, most RNA-based regulatory mechanisms are not well conserved across different bacterial species despite controlling genes important for virulence or essential biosynthetic processes. Here, we characterize the activity of, and assess the fitness benefit conferred by, twelve cis-acting regulatory RNAs (including several riboswitches and a T-box), in the opportunistic pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4. By evaluating native locus mutants of each regulator that result in constitutively active or repressed expression, we establish that growth defects in planktonic culture are associated with constitutive repression of gene expression, while constitutive activation of gene expression is rarely deleterious. In contrast, in mouse nasal carriage and pneumonia models, strains with either constitutively active and repressed gene expression are significantly less fit than matched control strains. Furthermore, two RNA-regulated pathways, FMN synthesis/transport and pyrimidine synthesis/transport display exceptional sensitivity to mis-regulation or constitutive gene repression in both planktonic culture and in vivo environments. Thus, despite lack of obvious phenotypes associated with constitutive gene expression in vitro, the fitness benefit conferred on bacteria via fine-tuned metabolic regulation through cis-acting regulatory RNAs is substantial in vivo, and therefore easily sufficient to drive the evolution and maintenance of diverse RNA regulatory mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indu Warrier
- Boston College Department of Biology, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ariana Perry
- Boston College Department of Biology, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sara M. Hubbell
- Boston College Department of Biology, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthew Eichelman
- Boston College Department of Biology, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tim van Opijnen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michelle M. Meyer
- Boston College Department of Biology, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Bouillet S, Hamdallah I, Majdalani N, Tripathi A, Gottesman S. A negative feedback loop is critical for recovery of RpoS after stress in Escherichia coli. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011059. [PMID: 38466775 PMCID: PMC10957080 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
RpoS is an alternative sigma factor needed for the induction of the general stress response in many gammaproteobacteria. Tight regulation of RpoS levels and activity is required for bacterial growth and survival under stress. In Escherichia coli, various stresses lead to higher levels of RpoS due to increased translation and decreased degradation. During non-stress conditions, RpoS is unstable, because the adaptor protein RssB delivers RpoS to the ClpXP protease. RpoS degradation is prevented during stress by the sequestration of RssB by anti-adaptors, each of which is induced in response to specific stresses. Here, we examined how the stabilization of RpoS is reversed during recovery of the cell from stress. We found that RpoS degradation quickly resumes after recovery from phosphate starvation, carbon starvation, and when transitioning from stationary phase back to exponential phase. This process is in part mediated by the anti-adaptor IraP, known to promote RpoS stabilization during phosphate starvation via the sequestration of adaptor RssB. The rapid recovery from phosphate starvation is dependent upon a feedback loop in which RpoS transcription of rssB, encoding the adaptor protein, plays a critical role. Crl, an activator of RpoS that specifically binds to and stabilizes the complex between the RNA polymerase and RpoS, is also required for the feedback loop to function efficiently, highlighting a critical role for Crl in restoring RpoS basal levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Bouillet
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Issam Hamdallah
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nadim Majdalani
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Arti Tripathi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Susan Gottesman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ruhland E, Siemers M, Gerst R, Späth F, Vogt LN, Figge MT, Papenfort K, Fröhlich KS. The global RNA-RNA interactome of Klebsiella pneumoniae unveils a small RNA regulator of cell division. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317322121. [PMID: 38377209 PMCID: PMC10907235 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317322121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous RNA chaperone Hfq is involved in the regulation of key biological processes in many species across the bacterial kingdom. In the opportunistic human pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae, deletion of the hfq gene affects the global transcriptome, virulence, and stress resistance; however, the ligands of the major RNA-binding protein in this species have remained elusive. In this study, we have combined transcriptomic, co-immunoprecipitation, and global RNA interactome analyses to compile an inventory of conserved and species-specific RNAs bound by Hfq and to monitor Hfq-mediated RNA-RNA interactions. In addition to dozens of RNA-RNA pairs, our study revealed an Hfq-dependent small regulatory RNA (sRNA), DinR, which is processed from the 3' terminal portion of dinI mRNA. Transcription of dinI is controlled by the master regulator of the SOS response, LexA. As DinR accumulates in K. pneumoniae in response to DNA damage, the sRNA represses translation of the ftsZ transcript by occupation of the ribosome binding site. Ectopic overexpression of DinR causes depletion of ftsZ mRNA and inhibition of cell division, while deletion of dinR antagonizes cell elongation in the presence of DNA damage. Collectively, our work highlights the important role of RNA-based gene regulation in K. pneumoniae and uncovers the central role of DinR in LexA-controlled division inhibition during the SOS response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Ruhland
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
| | - Malte Siemers
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
| | - Ruman Gerst
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology–Hans Knöll Institute, Jena07745, Germany
| | - Felix Späth
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
| | - Laura Nicole Vogt
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
| | - Marc Thilo Figge
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology–Hans Knöll Institute, Jena07745, Germany
| | - Kai Papenfort
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
| | - Kathrin Sophie Fröhlich
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena07743, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhu M, Mu H, Dai X. Integrated control of bacterial growth and stress response by (p)ppGpp in Escherichia coli: A seesaw fashion. iScience 2024; 27:108818. [PMID: 38299113 PMCID: PMC10828813 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108818] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
To thrive in nature, bacteria have to reproduce efficiently under favorable conditions and persist during stress. The global strategy that integrates the growth control and stress response remains to be explored. Here, we find that a moderate induction of (p)ppGpp reduces growth rate but significantly enhances the stress tolerance of E. coli, resulting from a global resource re-allocation from ribosome synthesis to the synthesis of stress-responsive proteins. Strikingly, the activation of stress response by (p)ppGpp is still largely retained in the absence of RpoS. In addition, (p)ppGpp induction could activate the catabolism of alanine and arginine, facilitating the adaption of bacteria to nutrient downshift. Our work demonstrates that the activation of stress response by (p)ppGpp could occur in an RpoS-independent manner and (p)ppGpp enables bacteria to integrate the control of growth and stress response in a seesaw fashion, thus acting as an important global regulator of the bacterial fitness landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manlu Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences & National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haoyan Mu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences & National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiongfeng Dai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences & National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Muriel-Millán LF, Montelongo-Martínez LF, González-Valdez A, Bedoya-Pérez LP, Cocotl-Yañez M, Soberón-Chávez G. The alternative sigma factor RpoS regulates Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing response by repressing the pqsABCDE operon and activating vfr. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:291-303. [PMID: 38169053 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15224] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen. Several of its virulence-related processes, including the synthesis of pyocyanin (PYO) and biofilm formation, are controlled by quorum sensing (QS). It has been shown that the alternative sigma factor RpoS regulates QS through the reduction of lasR and rhlR transcription (encoding QS regulators). However, paradoxically, the absence of RpoS increases PYO production and biofilm development (that are RhlR dependent) by unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that RpoS represses pqsE transcription, which impacts the stability and activity of RhlR. In the absence of RpoS, rhlR transcript levels are reduced but not the RhlR protein concentration, presumably by its stabilization by PqsE, whose expression is increased. We also report that PYO synthesis and the expression of pqsE and phzA1B1C1D1E1F1G1 operon exhibit the same pattern at different RpoS concentrations, suggesting that the RpoS-dependent PYO production is due to its ability to modify PqsE concentration, which in turn modulates the activation of the phzA1 promoter by RhlR. Finally, we demonstrate that RpoS favors the expression of Vfr, which activates the transcription of lasR and rhlR. Our study contributes to the understanding of how RpoS modulates the QS response in P. aeruginosa, exerting both negative and positive regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Felipe Muriel-Millán
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Luis Fernando Montelongo-Martínez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Abigail González-Valdez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Leidy Patricia Bedoya-Pérez
- Programa de Biología Sintética, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Miguel Cocotl-Yañez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Gloria Soberón-Chávez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lejars M, Hajnsdorf E. Bacterial RNase III: Targets and physiology. Biochimie 2024; 217:54-65. [PMID: 37482092 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.07.009] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria can rapidly adapt to changes in their environment thanks to the innate flexibility of their genetic expression. The high turnover rate of RNAs, in particular messenger and regulatory RNAs, provides an important contribution to this dynamic adjustment. Recycling of RNAs is ensured by ribonucleases, among which RNase III is the focus of this review. RNase III enzymes are highly conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes and have the specific ability to cleave double-stranded RNAs. The role of RNase III in bacterial physiology has remained poorly explored for a long time. However, transcriptomic approaches recently uncovered a large impact of RNase III in gene expression in a wide range of bacteria, generating renewed interest in the physiological role of RNase III. In this review, we first describe the RNase III targets identified from global approaches in 8 bacterial species within 4 Phyla. We then present the conserved and unique functions of bacterial RNase III focusing on growth, resistance to stress, biofilm formation, motility and virulence. Altogether, this review highlights the underestimated impact of RNase III in bacterial adaptation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maxence Lejars
- Transborder Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
| | - Eliane Hajnsdorf
- UMR8261, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Brugger C, Srirangam S, Deaconescu AM. IraM remodels the RssB segmented helical linker to stabilize σ s against degradation by ClpXP. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105568. [PMID: 38103640 PMCID: PMC10844676 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105568] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Upon Mg2+ starvation, a condition often associated with virulence, enterobacteria inhibit the ClpXP-dependent proteolysis of the master transcriptional regulator, σs, via IraM, a poorly understood antiadaptor that prevents RssB-dependent loading of σs onto ClpXP. This inhibition results in σs accumulation and expression of stress resistance genes. Here, we report on the structural analysis of RssB bound to IraM, which reveals that IraM induces two folding transitions within RssB, amplified via a segmented helical linker. These conformational changes result in an open, yet inhibited RssB structure in which IraM associates with both the C-terminal and N-terminal domains of RssB and prevents binding of σs to the 4-5-5 face of the N-terminal receiver domain. This work highlights the remarkable structural plasticity of RssB and reveals how a stress-specific RssB antagonist modulates a core stress response pathway that could be leveraged to control biofilm formation, virulence, and the development of antibiotic resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Brugger
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Srinivas Srirangam
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Alexandra M Deaconescu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Turbant F, Machiels Q, Waeytens J, Wien F, Arluison V. The Amyloid Assembly of the Bacterial Hfq Is Lipid-Driven and Lipid-Specific. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1434. [PMID: 38338713 PMCID: PMC10855545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031434] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Under specific conditions, some proteins can self-assemble into fibrillar structures called amyloids. Initially, these proteins were associated with neurodegenerative diseases in eucaryotes. Nevertheless, they have now been identified in the three domains of life. In bacteria, they are involved in diverse biological processes and are usually useful for the cell. For this reason, they are classified as "functional amyloids". In this work, we focus our analysis on a bacterial functional amyloid called Hfq. Hfq is a pleiotropic regulator that mediates several aspects of genetic expression, mainly via the use of small noncoding RNAs. Our previous work showed that Hfq amyloid-fibrils interact with membranes. This interaction influences Hfq amyloid structure formation and stability, but the specifics of the lipid on the dynamics of this process is unknown. Here, we show, using spectroscopic methods, how lipids specifically drive and modulate Hfq amyloid assembly or, conversely, its disassembly. The reported effects are discussed in light of the consequences for bacterial cell life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Turbant
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, CEA, CNRS UMR12, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L’Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin BP48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Quentin Machiels
- Structure et Fonction des Membranes Biologiques, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium; (Q.M.); (J.W.)
| | - Jehan Waeytens
- Structure et Fonction des Membranes Biologiques, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium; (Q.M.); (J.W.)
- Unit of Pharmacognosy, Bioanalysis and Drug Discovery, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Frank Wien
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L’Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin BP48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;
| | - Véronique Arluison
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, CEA, CNRS UMR12, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;
- SDV Department, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Verstraeten S, Layec S, Auger S, Juste C, Henry C, Charif S, Jaszczyszyn Y, Sokol H, Beney L, Langella P, Thomas M, Huillet E. Faecalibacterium duncaniae A2-165 regulates the expression of butyrate synthesis, ferrous iron uptake, and stress-response genes based on acetate consumption. Sci Rep 2024; 14:987. [PMID: 38200051 PMCID: PMC10781979 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-51059-3] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The promising next-generation probiotic Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is one of the most abundant acetate-consuming, butyrate-producing bacteria in the healthy human gut. Yet, little is known about how acetate availability affects this bacterium's gene expression strategies. Here, we investigated the effect of acetate on temporal changes in the transcriptome of F. duncaniae A2-165 cultures using RNA sequencing. We compared gene expression patterns between two growth phases (early stationary vs. late exponential) and two acetate levels (low: 3 mM vs. high: 23 mM). Only in low-acetate conditions, a general stress response was activated. In high-acetate conditions, there was greater expression of genes related to butyrate synthesis and to the importation of B vitamins and iron. Specifically, expression was strongly activated in the case of the feoAABC operon, which encodes a FeoB ferrous iron transporter, but not in the case of the feoAB gene, which encodes a second putative FeoAB transporter. Moreover, excess ferrous iron repressed feoB expression but not feoAB. Lastly, FeoB but not FeoAB peptides from strain A2-165 were found in abundance in a healthy human fecal metaproteome. In conclusion, we characterized two early-stationary transcriptomes based on acetate consumption and this work highlights the regulation of feoB expression in F. duncaniae A2-165.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Verstraeten
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Séverine Layec
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sandrine Auger
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Paris Center for Microbiome Medecine (PaCeMM) FHU, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Juste
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Céline Henry
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sawiya Charif
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Yan Jaszczyszyn
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Harry Sokol
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Paris Center for Microbiome Medecine (PaCeMM) FHU, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Beney
- UMR PAM, INRAe, Université Bourgogne Franche-Conté, AgroSup Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Philippe Langella
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Paris Center for Microbiome Medecine (PaCeMM) FHU, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Muriel Thomas
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Paris Center for Microbiome Medecine (PaCeMM) FHU, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Eugénie Huillet
- Micalis Institute, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
- Paris Center for Microbiome Medecine (PaCeMM) FHU, AP-HP, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Zamba-Campero M, Soliman D, Yu H, Lasseter AG, Chang YY, Liu J, Aravind L, Jewett MW, Storz G, Adams PP. Broadly conserved FlgV controls flagellar assembly and Borrelia burgdorferi dissemination in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.09.574855. [PMID: 38260563 PMCID: PMC10802407 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.09.574855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Flagella propel pathogens through their environments yet are expensive to synthesize and are immunogenic. Thus, complex hierarchical regulatory networks control flagellar gene expression. Spirochetes are highly motile bacteria, but peculiarly in the Lyme spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, the archetypal flagellar regulator σ28 is absent. We rediscovered gene bb0268 in B. burgdorferi as flgV, a broadly-conserved gene in the flagellar superoperon alongside σ28 in many Spirochaetes, Firmicutes and other phyla, with distant homologs in Epsilonproteobacteria. We found that B. burgdorferi FlgV is localized within flagellar motors. B. burgdorferi lacking flgV construct fewer and shorter flagellar filaments and are defective in cell division and motility. During the enzootic cycle, B. burgdorferi lacking flgV survive and replicate in Ixodes ticks but are attenuated for dissemination and infection in mice. Our work defines infection timepoints when spirochete motility is most crucial and implicates FlgV as a broadly distributed structural flagellar component that modulates flagellar assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Zamba-Campero
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel Soliman
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Huaxin Yu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536, USA
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Amanda G. Lasseter
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Yuen-Yan Chang
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536, USA
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - L. Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Mollie W. Jewett
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Gisela Storz
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Philip P. Adams
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
- Postdoctoral Research Associate Program, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Independent Research Scholar Program, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Ortiz-Cortés LY, Aréchiga-Carvajal ET, Ventura-Canseco LMC, Ruíz-Valdiviezo VM, Gutiérrez-Miceli FA, Alvarez-Gutiérrez PE. Analysis of phenotypic changes in high temperature and low pH extreme conditions of Alicyclobacillus sendaiensis PA2 related with the cell wall and sporulation genes. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:53. [PMID: 38180563 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03735-1] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The A. sendaiensis PA2 is a polyextremophile bacterium. In this study, we analyze the A. sendaiensis PA2 genome. The genome was assembled and annotated. The A. sendaiensis PA2 genome structure consists of a 2,956,928 bp long chromosome and 62.77% of G + C content. 3056 CDSs were predicted, and 2921 genes were assigned to a putative function. The ANIm and ANIb value resulted in 97.17% and 96.65%, the DDH value was 75.5%, and the value of TETRA (Z-score) was 0.98. Comparative genomic analyses indicated that three systems are enriched in A. sendaiensis PA2. This strain has phenotypic changes in cell wall during batch culture at 65 °C, pH 5.0 and without carbon and nitrogen source. The presence of unique genes of cell wall and sporulation subsystem could be related to the adaptation of A. sendaiensis PA2 to hostile conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Yaret Ortiz-Cortés
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana Km 1080, Col. Terán, 29050, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
| | | | | | - Victor Manuel Ruíz-Valdiviezo
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana Km 1080, Col. Terán, 29050, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
| | - Federico Antonio Gutiérrez-Miceli
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana Km 1080, Col. Terán, 29050, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
| | - Peggy Elizabeth Alvarez-Gutiérrez
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana Km 1080, Col. Terán, 29050, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México.
- CONAHCYT/IT de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana Km 1080, Col. Terán, 29050, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Huang Y, Wipat A, Bacardit J. Transcriptional biomarker discovery toward building a load stress reporting system for engineered Escherichia coli strains. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:355-365. [PMID: 37807718 PMCID: PMC10953381 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28567] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Foreign proteins are produced by introducing synthetic constructs into host bacteria for biotechnology applications. This process can cause resource competition between synthetic circuits and host cells, placing a metabolic burden on the host cells which may result in load stress and detrimental physiological changes. Consequently, the host bacteria can experience slow growth, and the synthetic system may suffer from suboptimal function. To help in the detection of bacterial load stress, we developed machine-learning strategies to select a minimal number of genes that could serve as biomarkers for the design of load stress reporters. We identified pairs of biomarkers that showed discriminative capacity to detect the load stress states induced in 41 engineered Escherichia coli strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Huang
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems GroupNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Anil Wipat
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems GroupNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Jaume Bacardit
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems GroupNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Jeong GJ, Khan F, Tabassum N, Kim YM. Cellular and physiological roles of sigma factors in Vibrio spp.: A comprehensive review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127833. [PMID: 37918595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127833] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio species are motile gram-negative bacteria commonly found in aquatic environments. Vibrio species include pathogenic as well as non-pathogenic strains. Pathogenic Vibrio species have been reported in invertebrates and humans, whereas non-pathogenic strains are involved in symbiotic relationships with their eukaryotic hosts. These bacteria are also able to adapt to fluctuations in temperature, salinity, and pH, in addition to oxidative stress, and osmotic pressure in aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, they have also developed protective mechanisms against the immune systems of their hosts. Vibrio species accomplish adaptation to changing environments outside or inside the host by altering their gene expression profiles. To this end, several sigma factors specifically regulate gene expression, particularly under stressful environmental conditions. Moreover, other sigma factors are associated with biofilm formation and virulence as well. This review discusses different types of sigma and anti-sigma factors of Vibrio species involved in virulence and regulation of gene expression upon changes in environmental conditions. The evolutionary relationships between sigma factors with various physiological roles in Vibrio species are also discussed extensively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geum-Jae Jeong
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Fazlurrahman Khan
- Institute of Fisheries Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Marine Integrated Biomedical Technology Center, The National Key Research Institutes in Universities, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea.
| | - Nazia Tabassum
- Marine Integrated Biomedical Technology Center, The National Key Research Institutes in Universities, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Mog Kim
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Marine Integrated Biomedical Technology Center, The National Key Research Institutes in Universities, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Zhang Y, Chung WK, Moon SH, Lee JG, Om AS. Comparison of Antibacterial Activities of Korean Pine ( Pinus densiflora) Needle Steam Distillation Extract on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus Focusing on Membrane Fluidity and Genes Involved in Membrane Lipids and Stress. Molecules 2023; 29:165. [PMID: 38202748 PMCID: PMC10779765 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010165] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The antibacterial activity and mechanism of Pinus densiflora extracts against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. The growth inhibition tests of paper diffusion and optical density exhibited that the extracts have potent antibacterial potentials against foodborne pathogens. The measurement of membrane fluidity by fluorescence polarization has indicated that one of the antibacterial mechanisms involves the disruption of membrane integrity resulting in an increase in the membrane fluidity in both of E. coli and S. aureus. The alteration of fatty acid composition was accompanied by the disturbance of membranes thus shifting the proportion of saturated verses unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids from 1.27:1 to 1.35:1 in E. coli and 1.47:1 to 2.31:1 in S. aureus, most likely to compensate for the increased membrane fluidity by means of a higher proportion of saturated fatty acids which is known to render rigidity in membranes. Realtime q-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis of fatty acid synthetic genes and bacterial stress genes revealed that there was minimal influence of P. densiflora extracts on fatty acid genes except for fab I and the stress rpos in E. coli, and relatively greater impact on fatty acid genes and the stress sigB in S. aureus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ae-Son Om
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, Seoul 04736, Republic of Korea; (Y.Z.); (W.-K.C.); (S.-H.M.); (J.-G.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Schumacher K, Gelhausen R, Kion-Crosby W, Barquist L, Backofen R, Jung K. Ribosome profiling reveals the fine-tuned response of Escherichia coli to mild and severe acid stress. mSystems 2023; 8:e0103723. [PMID: 37909716 PMCID: PMC10746267 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01037-23] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Bacteria react very differently to survive in acidic environments, such as the human gastrointestinal tract. Escherichia coli is one of the extremely acid-resistant bacteria and has a variety of acid-defense mechanisms. Here, we provide the first genome-wide overview of the adaptations of E. coli K-12 to mild and severe acid stress at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Using ribosome profiling and RNA sequencing, we uncover novel adaptations to different degrees of acidity, including previously hidden stress-induced small proteins and novel key transcription factors for acid defense, and report mRNAs with pH-dependent differential translation efficiency. In addition, we distinguish between acid-specific adaptations and general stress response mechanisms using denoising autoencoders. This workflow represents a powerful approach that takes advantage of next-generation sequencing techniques and machine learning to systematically analyze bacterial stress responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Schumacher
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Rick Gelhausen
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Willow Kion-Crosby
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI)/Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
- University of Würzburg, Faculty of Medicine, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI)/Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
- University of Würzburg, Faculty of Medicine, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rolf Backofen
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Banerjee B, Yuan X, Yang CH. Dissecting the molecular dance: c-di-GMP, cAMP-CRP, and VfmH collaboration in pectate lyase regulation for Dickeya dadantii-unveiling the soft rot pathogen's strategy. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0153723. [PMID: 37811940 PMCID: PMC10714721 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01537-23] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Bacteria respond to environmental changes and adapt to host systems. The response regulator VfmH of the Vfm quorum sensing system regulates a crucial virulence factor, pectate lyase (Pel), in Dickeya dadantii. At high c-di-GMP concentrations, VfmH binds c-di-GMP, resulting in the loss of its activation property in the Pel and virulence regulation in D. dadantii. VfmH binds to c-di-GMP via three conserved arginine residues, and mutations of these residues eliminate the c-di-GMP-related phenotypes of VfmH in Pel synthesis. Our data also show that VfmH interacts with CRP to regulate pelD transcription, thus integrating cyclic AMP and c-di-GMP signaling pathways to control virulence in D. dadantii. We propose that VfmH is an important intermediate factor incorporating quorum sensing and nucleotide signaling pathways for the collective regulation of D. dadantii pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Biswarup Banerjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Xiaochen Yuan
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Ching-Hong Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Brugger C, Schwartz J, Novick S, Tong S, Hoskins JR, Majdalani N, Kim R, Filipovski M, Wickner S, Gottesman S, Griffin PR, Deaconescu AM. Structure of phosphorylated-like RssB, the adaptor delivering σ s to the ClpXP proteolytic machinery, reveals an interface switch for activation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105440. [PMID: 37949227 PMCID: PMC10755785 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105440] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In enterobacteria such as Escherichia coli, the general stress response is mediated by σs, the stationary phase dissociable promoter specificity subunit of RNA polymerase. σs is degraded by ClpXP during active growth in a process dependent on the RssB adaptor, which is thought to be stimulated by the phosphorylation of a conserved aspartate in its N-terminal receiver domain. Here we present the crystal structure of full-length RssB bound to a beryllofluoride phosphomimic. Compared to the structure of RssB bound to the IraD anti-adaptor, our new RssB structure with bound beryllofluoride reveals conformational differences and coil-to-helix transitions in the C-terminal region of the RssB receiver domain and in the interdomain segmented helical linker. These are accompanied by masking of the α4-β5-α5 (4-5-5) "signaling" face of the RssB receiver domain by its C-terminal domain. Critically, using hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we identify σs-binding determinants on the 4-5-5 face, implying that this surface needs to be unmasked to effect an interdomain interface switch and enable full σs engagement and hand-off to ClpXP. In activated receiver domains, the 4-5-5 face is often the locus of intermolecular interactions, but its masking by intramolecular contacts upon phosphorylation is unusual, emphasizing that RssB is a response regulator that undergoes atypical regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Brugger
- Laboratories of Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jacob Schwartz
- Laboratories of Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Scott Novick
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Song Tong
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joel R Hoskins
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nadim Majdalani
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebecca Kim
- Laboratories of Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Martin Filipovski
- Laboratories of Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Sue Wickner
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan Gottesman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Patrick R Griffin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Alexandra M Deaconescu
- Laboratories of Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Zamakhaev M, Bespyatykh J, Goncharenko A, Shumkov M. The Benefits of Toxicity: M. smegmatis VapBC TA Module Is Induced by Tetracycline Exposure and Promotes Survival. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2863. [PMID: 38138007 PMCID: PMC10745673 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122863] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widely present in bacterial genomes. Mycolicibacterium smegmatis, a common model organism for studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis physiology, has eight TA loci, including mazEF and vapBC. This study aims to investigate the physiological significance of these TA systems. Proteomic profiling was conducted on a culture overexpressing the VapC toxin, and the involvement of VapC in M. smegmatis stress responses to heat shock and antibiotic treatment was examined. While deciphering the underlying mechanisms of the altered stress resistance, we assessed the antibiotic susceptibility of vapBC, mazEF, and double vapBC-mazEF deletion mutants. Additionally, the mRNA levels of vapC and mazF were measured following tetracycline supplementation. The results reveal changes in the abundance of metabolic enzymes and stress response proteins associated with VapC overexpression. This activation of the general stress response leads to reduced thermosensitivity in M. smegmatis, but does not affect susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and isoniazid. Under tetracycline treatment, both vapC and mazF expression levels are increased, and the fate of the cell depends on the interaction between the corresponding TA systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Zamakhaev
- Federal Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 33, bld. 2 Leninsky Ave., 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.); (M.S.)
| | - Julia Bespyatykh
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, 1A Malaya Pirogovskaya St., 119435 Moscow, Russia;
- Expertise Department in Anti-Doping and Drug Control, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, 9, Miusskaya Sq., 125047 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Goncharenko
- Federal Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 33, bld. 2 Leninsky Ave., 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.); (M.S.)
| | - Mikhail Shumkov
- Federal Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 33, bld. 2 Leninsky Ave., 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.); (M.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Spiteri D, Griffin S, Karatzas KA, Scerri C, Valdramidis VP. Escherichia coli K-12 Transcriptomics for Assessing the Mechanism of Action of High-Power Ultrasound. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2768. [PMID: 38004779 PMCID: PMC10673019 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
An investigation into the mechanisms of action on bacteria involving exposure to stress factors was conducted in this study. The effects of ultrasound on Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 and its isogenic mutant, ∆gadW, under high power ultrasound treatments (26 kHz) were screened and identified by analysing their transcriptome differences between primary and secondary sequential treatments using RNA-Seq. This also helped to assess any developed protection for cells between different generations. According to our results, 1825 genes of all tested conditions were expressed, playing different roles in the cell. The expression of these genes is associated with DNA damage, cell membrane integrity, and also metabolic effects. The studied strains also showed different differential expressed genes (DEGs), with some genes being directly responsible for defence mechanisms, while others play an indirect effect due to cell damage. A gradual decrease in the expression of the genes, as we moved from just one cycle of ultrasound treatment to sequential treatment, was evident from a heat map analysis of the results. Overall, E. coli K-12 builds a self-protection mechanism by increasing the expression of genes involved in the respiration for increased growth, and production of flagellum and pili. It can be concluded that high power ultrasound is a technology that triggers several different defence mechanisms which directly link to E. coli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Spiteri
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta; (D.S.); (S.G.)
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta;
| | - Sholeem Griffin
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta; (D.S.); (S.G.)
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta;
| | | | - Christian Scerri
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta;
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
| | - Vasilis P. Valdramidis
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta; (D.S.); (S.G.)
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 34400 Psachna, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Bouillet S, Hamdallah I, Majdalani N, Tripathi A, Gottesman S. A negative feedback loop is critical for recovery of RpoS after stress in Escherichia coli.. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.09.566509. [PMID: 38077006 PMCID: PMC10705548 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.09.566509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
RpoS is an alternative sigma factor needed for the induction of the general stress response in many gammaproteobacteria. Tight regulation of RpoS levels and activity is required for bacterial growth and survival under stress. In Escherichia coli, various stresses lead to higher levels of RpoS due to increased translation and decreased degradation. During non-stress conditions, RpoS is unstable, because the adaptor protein RssB delivers RpoS to the ClpXP protease. RpoS degradation is prevented during stress by the sequestration of RssB by anti-adaptors, each of which is induced in response to specific stresses. Here, we examined how the stabilization of RpoS is reversed during recovery of the cell from stress. We found that RpoS degradation quickly resumes after recovery from phosphate starvation, carbon starvation, and when transitioning from stationary phase back to exponential phase. This process is in part mediated by the anti-adaptor IraP, known to promote RpoS stabilization during phosphate starvation via the sequestration of adaptor RssB. The rapid recovery from phosphate starvation is dependent upon a feedback loop in which RpoS transcription of rssB, encoding the adaptor protein, plays a critical role. Crl, an activator of RpoS that specifically binds to and stabilizes the complex between the RNA polymerase and RpoS, is also required for the feedback loop to function efficiently, highlighting a critical role for Crl in restoring RpoS basal levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Bouillet
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Issam Hamdallah
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nadim Majdalani
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Arti Tripathi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Susan Gottesman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Adams J, Hoang J, Petroni E, Ashby E, Hardin J, Stoebel DM. The timing of transcription of RpoS-dependent genes varies across multiple stresses in Escherichia coli K-12. mSystems 2023; 8:e0066323. [PMID: 37623321 PMCID: PMC10654073 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00663-23] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Bacteria adapt to changing environments by altering the transcription of their genes. Specific proteins can regulate these changes. This study explored how a single protein called RpoS controls how many genes change expression during adaptation to three stresses. We found that: (i) RpoS is responsible for activating different genes in different stresses; (ii) that during a stress, the timing of gene activation depends on the what stress it is; and (iii) that how much RpoS a gene needs in order to be activated can predict when that gene will be activated during the stress of stationary phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Adams
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, USA
| | - Johnson Hoang
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, USA
| | - Emily Petroni
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, USA
| | - Ethan Ashby
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Pomona College, Claremont, California, USA
| | - Johanna Hardin
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Pomona College, Claremont, California, USA
| | - Daniel M. Stoebel
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Evans CR, Smiley MK, Asahara Thio S, Wei M, Florek LC, Dayton H, Price-Whelan A, Min W, Dietrich LEP. Spatial heterogeneity in biofilm metabolism elicited by local control of phenazine methylation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2313208120. [PMID: 37847735 PMCID: PMC10614215 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313208120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Within biofilms, gradients of electron acceptors such as oxygen stimulate the formation of physiological subpopulations. This heterogeneity can enable cross-feeding and promote drug resilience, features of the multicellular lifestyle that make biofilm-based infections difficult to treat. The pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces pigments called phenazines that can support metabolic activity in hypoxic/anoxic biofilm subzones, but these compounds also include methylated derivatives that are toxic to their producer under some conditions. In this study, we uncover roles for the global regulators RpoS and Hfq/Crc in controlling the beneficial and detrimental effects of methylated phenazines in biofilms. Our results indicate that RpoS controls phenazine methylation by modulating activity of the carbon catabolite repression pathway, in which the Hfq/Crc complex inhibits translation of the phenazine methyltransferase PhzM. We find that RpoS indirectly inhibits expression of CrcZ, a small RNA that binds to and sequesters Hfq/Crc, specifically in the oxic subzone of P. aeruginosa biofilms. Deletion of rpoS or crc therefore leads to overproduction of methylated phenazines, which we show leads to increased metabolic activity-an apparent beneficial effect-in hypoxic/anoxic subpopulations within biofilms. However, we also find that under specific conditions, biofilms lacking RpoS and/or Crc show increased sensitivity to phenazines indicating that the increased metabolic activity in these mutants comes at a cost. Together, these results suggest that complex regulation of PhzM allows P. aeruginosa to simultaneously exploit the benefits and limit the toxic effects of methylated phenazines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina K. Smiley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Sean Asahara Thio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Mian Wei
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Lindsey C. Florek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Hannah Dayton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Alexa Price-Whelan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Wei Min
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Berbon M, Martinez D, Morvan E, Grélard A, Kauffmann B, Waeytens J, Wien F, Arluison V, Habenstein B. Hfq C-terminal region forms a β-rich amyloid-like motif without perturbing the N-terminal Sm-like structure. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1075. [PMID: 37865695 PMCID: PMC10590398 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05462-1] [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: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hfq is a pleitropic actor that serves as stress response and virulence factor in the bacterial cell. To execute its multiple functions, Hfq assembles into symmetric torus-shaped hexamers. Extending outward from the hexameric core, Hfq presents a C-terminal region, described as intrinsically disordered in solution. Many aspects of the role and the structure of this region remain unclear. For instance, in its truncated form it can promote amyloid-like filament assembly. Here, we show that a minimal 11-residue motif at the C-terminal end of Hfq assembles into filaments with amyloid characteristics. Our data suggest that the full-length Hfq in its filamentous state contains a similar molecular fingerprint than that of the short β-strand peptide, and that the Sm-core structure is not affected by filament formation. Hfq proteins might thus co-exist in two forms in vivo, either as isolated, soluble hexamers or as self-assembled hexamers through amyloid-reminiscent interactions, modulating Hfq cellular functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Berbon
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France
| | - Denis Martinez
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France
| | - Estelle Morvan
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, IECB, UAR 3033, Pessac, France
| | - Axelle Grélard
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France
| | - Brice Kauffmann
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, IECB, UAR 3033, Pessac, France
| | - Jehan Waeytens
- Structure et Fonction des Membranes Biologiques, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgique
| | - Frank Wien
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin BP48, 91192, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Véronique Arluison
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, UMR12 CEA CNRS, CEA Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
- Université de Paris Cité, UFR SDV, 75013, Paris, France.
| | - Birgit Habenstein
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Castro-López C, Romero-Luna HE, García HS, Vallejo-Cordoba B, González-Córdova AF, Hernández-Mendoza A. Key Stress Response Mechanisms of Probiotics During Their Journey Through the Digestive System: A Review. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023; 15:1250-1270. [PMID: 36001271 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-022-09981-x] [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] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The survival of probiotic microorganisms during their exposure to harsh environments plays a critical role in the fulfillment of their functional properties. In particular, transit through the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is considered one of the most challenging habitats that probiotics must endure, because of the particularly stressful conditions (e.g., oxygen level, pH variations, nutrient limitations, high osmolarity, oxidation, peristalsis) prevailing in the different sections of the GIT, which in turn can affect the growth, viability, physiological status, and functionality of microbial cells. Consequently, probiotics have developed a series of strategies, called "mechanisms of stress response," to protect themselves from these adverse conditions. Such mechanisms may include but are not limited to the induction of new metabolic pathways, formation/production of particular metabolites, and changes of transcription rates. It should be highlighted that some of such mechanisms can be conserved across several different strains or can be unique for specific genera. Hence, this review attempts to review the state-of-the-art knowledge of mechanisms of stress response displayed by potential probiotic strains during their transit through the GIT. In addition, evidence whether stress responses can compromise the biosafety of such strains is also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Castro-López
- Laboratorio de Química y Biotecnología de Productos Lácteos, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C. (CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas 46, Hermosillo, Sonora, 83304, México
| | - Haydee E Romero-Luna
- Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Xalapa/Tecnológico Nacional de México, Reserva Territorial s/n Sección 5, Santa Bárbara, Xalapa-Enríquez, Veracruz, 91096, México
| | - Hugo S García
- Unidad de Investigación Y Desarrollo de Alimentos, Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz/Tecnológico Nacional de México, Miguel Ángel de Quevedo 2779, Veracruz, Veracruz, 91897, México
| | - Belinda Vallejo-Cordoba
- Laboratorio de Química y Biotecnología de Productos Lácteos, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C. (CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas 46, Hermosillo, Sonora, 83304, México
| | - Aarón F González-Córdova
- Laboratorio de Química y Biotecnología de Productos Lácteos, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C. (CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas 46, Hermosillo, Sonora, 83304, México
| | - Adrián Hernández-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Química y Biotecnología de Productos Lácteos, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C. (CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas 46, Hermosillo, Sonora, 83304, México.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Groisman EA, Choi J. Advancing evolution: Bacteria break down gene silencer to express horizontally acquired genes. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2300062. [PMID: 37533411 PMCID: PMC10530229 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300062] [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: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer advances bacterial evolution. To benefit from horizontally acquired genes, enteric bacteria must overcome silencing caused when the widespread heat-stable nucleoid structuring (H-NS) protein binds to AT-rich horizontally acquired genes. This ability had previously been ascribed to both anti-silencing proteins outcompeting H-NS for binding to AT-rich DNA and RNA polymerase initiating transcription from alternative promoters. However, we now know that pathogenic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and commensal Escherichia coli break down H-NS when this silencer is not bound to DNA. Curiously, both species use the same protease - Lon - to destroy H-NS in distinct environments. Anti-silencing proteins promote the expression of horizontally acquired genes without binding to them by displacing H-NS from AT-rich DNA, thus leaving H-NS susceptible to proteolysis and decreasing H-NS amounts overall. Conserved amino acid sequences in the Lon protease and H-NS cleavage site suggest that diverse bacteria degrade H-NS to exploit horizontally acquired genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo A. Groisman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06536, USA
- Yale Microbial Sciences Institute, P.O. Box 27389, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Jeongjoon Choi
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06536, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Rychel K, Tan J, Patel A, Lamoureux C, Hefner Y, Szubin R, Johnsen J, Mohamed ETT, Phaneuf PV, Anand A, Olson CA, Park JH, Sastry AV, Yang L, Feist AM, Palsson BO. Laboratory evolution, transcriptomics, and modeling reveal mechanisms of paraquat tolerance. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113105. [PMID: 37713311 PMCID: PMC10591938 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113105] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Relationships between the genome, transcriptome, and metabolome underlie all evolved phenotypes. However, it has proved difficult to elucidate these relationships because of the high number of variables measured. A recently developed data analytic method for characterizing the transcriptome can simplify interpretation by grouping genes into independently modulated sets (iModulons). Here, we demonstrate how iModulons reveal deep understanding of the effects of causal mutations and metabolic rewiring. We use adaptive laboratory evolution to generate E. coli strains that tolerate high levels of the redox cycling compound paraquat, which produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). We combine resequencing, iModulons, and metabolic models to elucidate six interacting stress-tolerance mechanisms: (1) modification of transport, (2) activation of ROS stress responses, (3) use of ROS-sensitive iron regulation, (4) motility, (5) broad transcriptional reallocation toward growth, and (6) metabolic rewiring to decrease NADH production. This work thus demonstrates the power of iModulon knowledge mapping for evolution analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Rychel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Justin Tan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Arjun Patel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Cameron Lamoureux
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ying Hefner
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Richard Szubin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Josefin Johnsen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Elsayed Tharwat Tolba Mohamed
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Patrick V Phaneuf
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Amitesh Anand
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Connor A Olson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joon Ho Park
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Building 76, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anand V Sastry
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Laurence Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Adam M Feist
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
Small regulatory RNA (sRNAs) are key mediators of posttranscriptional gene control in bacteria. Assisted by RNA-binding proteins, a single sRNA often modulates the expression of dozens of genes, and thus sRNAs frequently adopt central roles in regulatory networks. Posttranscriptional regulation by sRNAs comes with several unique features that cannot be achieved by transcriptional regulators. However, for optimal network performance, transcriptional and posttranscriptional control mechanisms typically go hand-in-hand. This view is reflected by the ever-growing class of mixed network motifs involving sRNAs and transcription factors, which are ubiquitous in biology and whose regulatory properties we are beginning to understand. In addition, sRNA activity can be antagonized by base-pairing with sponge RNAs, adding yet another layer of complexity to these networks. In this article, we summarize the regulatory concepts underlying sRNA-mediated gene control in bacteria and discuss how sRNAs shape the output of a network, focusing on several key examples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Papenfort
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany;
- Microverse Cluster, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Sahar Melamed
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel;
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Njenga R, Boele J, Öztürk Y, Koch HG. Coping with stress: How bacteria fine-tune protein synthesis and protein transport. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105163. [PMID: 37586589 PMCID: PMC10502375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining a functional proteome under different environmental conditions is challenging for every organism, in particular for unicellular organisms, such as bacteria. In order to cope with changing environments and stress conditions, bacteria depend on strictly coordinated proteostasis networks that control protein production, folding, trafficking, and degradation. Regulation of ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis are cornerstones of this cellular adaptation in all domains of life, which is rationalized by the high energy demand of both processes and the increased resistance of translationally silent cells against internal or external poisons. Reduced protein synthesis ultimately also reduces the substrate load for protein transport systems, which are required for maintaining the periplasmic, inner, and outer membrane subproteomes. Consequences of impaired protein transport have been analyzed in several studies and generally induce a multifaceted response that includes the upregulation of chaperones and proteases and the simultaneous downregulation of protein synthesis. In contrast, generally less is known on how bacteria adjust the protein targeting and transport machineries to reduced protein synthesis, e.g., when cells encounter stress conditions or face nutrient deprivation. In the current review, which is mainly focused on studies using Escherichia coli as a model organism, we summarize basic concepts on how ribosome biogenesis and activity are regulated under stress conditions. In addition, we highlight some recent developments on how stress conditions directly impair protein targeting to the bacterial membrane. Finally, we describe mechanisms that allow bacteria to maintain the transport of stress-responsive proteins under conditions when the canonical protein targeting pathways are impaired.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Njenga
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julian Boele
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yavuz Öztürk
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Koch
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Majdalani N, Chattopadhyay M, Keller C, Gottesman S. Lack of polyamines leads to cotranslational degradation of the general stress factor RpoS in Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104943. [PMID: 37343699 PMCID: PMC10372455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104943] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The specialized sigma factor RpoS mediates a general stress response in Escherichia coli and related bacteria, activating promoters that allow cells to survive stationary phase and many stresses. RpoS synthesis and stability are regulated at multiple levels. Translation of RpoS is positively regulated by multiple small RNAs in response to stress. Degradation of RpoS, dependent upon the adaptor protein RssB, is rapid during exponential growth and ceases upon starvation or other stresses, increasing accumulation of RpoS. E. coli carrying mutations that block the synthesis of polyamines were previously found to have low levels of RpoS, while levels increased rapidly when polyamines were added. We have used a series of reporters to examine the basis for the lack of RpoS in polyamine-deficient cells. The polyamine requirement was independent of small RNA-mediated positive regulation of RpoS translation. Mutations in rssB stabilize RpoS and significantly bypassed the polyamine deficit, suggesting that lack of polyamines might lead to rapid RpoS degradation. However, rates of degradation of mature RpoS were unaffected by polyamine availability. Codon optimization in rpoS partially relieved the polyamine dependence, suggesting a defect in RpoS translation in the absence of polyamines. Consistent with this, a hyperproofreading allele of ribosomal protein S12, encoded by rpsL, showed a decrease in RpoS levels, and this decrease was also suppressed by either codon optimization or blocking RpoS degradation. We suggest that rpoS codon usage leads it to be particularly sensitive to slowed translation, due to either lack of polyamines or hyperproofreading, leading to cotranslational degradation. We dedicate this study to Herb Tabor and his foundational work on polyamines, including the basis for this study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadim Majdalani
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Manas Chattopadhyay
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher Keller
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan Gottesman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Nagpal S, Mande SS. Environmental insults and compensative responses: when microbiome meets cancer. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:130. [PMID: 37453005 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00745-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment has recently been ascribed a new hallmark-the polymorphic microbiome. Accumulating evidence regarding the tissue specific territories of tumor-microbiome have opened new and interesting avenues. A pertinent question is regarding the functional consequence of the interface between host-microbiome and cancer. Given microbial communities have predominantly been explored through an ecological perspective, it is important that the foundational aspects of ecological stress and the fight to 'survive and thrive' are accounted for tumor-micro(b)environment as well. Building on existing evidence and classical microbial ecology, here we attempt to characterize the ecological stresses and the compensative responses of the microorganisms inside the tumor microenvironment. What insults would microbes experience inside the cancer jungle? How would they respond to these insults? How the interplay of stress and microbial quest for survival would influence the fate of tumor? This work asks these questions and tries to describe this underdiscussed ecological interface of the tumor and its microbiota. It is hoped that a larger scientific thought on the importance of microbial competition sensing vis-à-vis tumor-microenvironment would be stimulated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Nagpal
- TCS Research, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Pune, 411013, India.
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), New Delhi, 110025, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
| | - Sharmila S Mande
- TCS Research, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Pune, 411013, India.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Jia Z, Zhou J, Han J, Liu D, Lv R. Proteomics-based analysis of the stress response of Bacillus cereus spores under ultrasound and electrolyzed water treatment. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 98:106523. [PMID: 37453258 PMCID: PMC10368921 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound is a green nonthermal technology with promising applications in microbial inactivation. Electrolyzed water has been investigated and found to have a synergistic inactivation effect of ultrasound on spores. This study used a data-independent-acquisition method to analyze the stress response of Bacillus cereus spores following ultrasound combined with electrolyzed water treatment. We identified 197 differentially expressed proteins under ultrasound combined with an electrolyzed water treatment for which the ratio in the metabolic pathway was the highest. Spores downregulated key proteins in energy metabolic and transportation pathways, in particular in phosphotransferase systems and ATP synthase under ultrasound, electrolyzed water, and combined stress. The results of this study revealed that the key proteins in intracellular metabolism decreased after ultrasound treatment, and the expression of small acid-soluble spore protein and cell wall biosynthesis protein increased. Meanwhile, DNA integration, recombination, and inversion protein and small acid-soluble spore protein were upregulated after electrolyzed water treatment. In general, the spores exhibited stress resistance under external stress. The inactivation of spores by further stress was reduced, which we called "cross-protection."
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Jia
- Ningbo Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315100, China; College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | | | - Jingzeng Han
- Ningbo Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315100, China; College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Donghong Liu
- Ningbo Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315100, China; College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ruiling Lv
- Ningbo Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315100, China; College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Riffaud CM, Rucks EA, Ouellette SP. Persistence of obligate intracellular pathogens: alternative strategies to overcome host-specific stresses. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1185571. [PMID: 37284502 PMCID: PMC10239878 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1185571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In adapting to the intracellular niche, obligate intracellular bacteria usually undergo a reduction of genome size by eliminating genes not needed for intracellular survival. These losses can include, for example, genes involved in nutrient anabolic pathways or in stress response. Living inside a host cell offers a stable environment where intracellular bacteria can limit their exposure to extracellular effectors of the immune system and modulate or outright inhibit intracellular defense mechanisms. However, highlighting an area of vulnerability, these pathogens are dependent on the host cell for nutrients and are very sensitive to conditions that limit nutrient availability. Persistence is a common response shared by evolutionarily divergent bacteria to survive adverse conditions like nutrient deprivation. Development of persistence usually compromises successful antibiotic therapy of bacterial infections and is associated with chronic infections and long-term sequelae for the patients. During persistence, obligate intracellular pathogens are viable but not growing inside their host cell. They can survive for a long period of time such that, when the inducing stress is removed, reactivation of their growth cycles resumes. Given their reduced coding capacity, intracellular bacteria have adapted different response mechanisms. This review gives an overview of the strategies used by the obligate intracellular bacteria, where known, which, unlike model organisms such as E. coli, often lack toxin-antitoxin systems and the stringent response that have been linked to a persister phenotype and amino acid starvation states, respectively.
Collapse
|
50
|
Rodgers ML, O'Brien B, Woodson SA. Small RNAs and Hfq capture unfolded RNA target sites during transcription. Mol Cell 2023; 83:1489-1501.e5. [PMID: 37116495 PMCID: PMC10176597 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Small ribonucleoproteins (sRNPs) target nascent precursor RNAs to guide folding, modification, and splicing during transcription. Yet, rapid co-transcriptional folding of the RNA can mask sRNP sites, impeding target recognition and regulation. To examine how sRNPs target nascent RNAs, we monitored binding of bacterial Hfq⋅DsrA sRNPs to rpoS transcripts using single-molecule co-localization co-transcriptional assembly (smCoCoA). We show that Hfq⋅DsrA recursively samples the mRNA before transcription of the target site to poise it for base pairing with DsrA. We adapted smCoCoA to precisely measure when the target site is synthesized and revealed that Hfq⋅DsrA often binds the mRNA during target site synthesis close to RNA polymerase (RNAP). We suggest that targeting transcripts near RNAP allows an sRNP to capture a site before the transcript folds, providing a kinetic advantage over post-transcriptional targeting. We propose that other sRNPs may also use RNAP-proximal targeting to hasten recognition and regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Rodgers
- T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Brett O'Brien
- Chemical Biology Interface Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sarah A Woodson
- T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| |
Collapse
|