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Hantus CE, Moppel IJ, Frizzell JK, Francis AE, Nagashima K, Ryno LM. L-Rhamnose Globally Changes the Transcriptome of Planktonic and Biofilm Escherichia coli Cells and Modulates Biofilm Growth. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1911. [PMID: 39338585 PMCID: PMC11434101 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12091911] [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: 08/22/2024] [Revised: 09/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
L-rhamnose, a naturally abundant sugar, plays diverse biological roles in bacteria, influencing biofilm formation and pathogenesis. This study investigates the global impact of L-rhamnose on the transcriptome and biofilm formation of PHL628 E. coli under various experimental conditions. We compared growth in planktonic and biofilm states in rich (LB) and minimal (M9) media at 28 °C and 37 °C, with varying concentrations of L-rhamnose or D-glucose as a control. Our results reveal that L-rhamnose significantly affects growth kinetics and biofilm formation, particularly reducing biofilm growth in rich media at 37 °C. Transcriptomic analysis through RNA-seq showed that L-rhamnose modulates gene expression differently depending on the temperature and media conditions, promoting a planktonic state by upregulating genes involved in rhamnose transport and metabolism and downregulating genes related to adhesion and biofilm formation. These findings highlight the nuanced role of L-rhamnose in bacterial adaptation and survival, providing insight into potential applications in controlling biofilm-associated infections and industrial biofilm management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Lisa M. Ryno
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA
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Taboada-Castro H, Hernández-Álvarez AJ, Castro-Mondragón JA, Encarnación-Guevara S. RhizoBindingSites v2.0 Is a Bioinformatic Database of DNA Motifs Potentially Involved in Transcriptional Regulation Deduced From Their Genomic Sites. Bioinform Biol Insights 2024; 18:11779322241272395. [PMID: 39246685 PMCID: PMC11380129 DOI: 10.1177/11779322241272395] [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: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
RhizoBindingSites is a de novo depurified database of conserved DNA motifs potentially involved in the transcriptional regulation of the Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Azorhizobium, and Mesorhizobium genera covering 9 representative symbiotic species, deduced from the upstream regulatory sequences of orthologous genes (O-matrices) from the Rhizobiales taxon. The sites collected with O-matrices per gene per genome from RhizoBindingSites were used to deduce matrices using the dyad-Regulatory Sequence Analysis Tool (RSAT) method, giving rise to novel S-matrices for the construction of the RizoBindingSites v2.0 database. A comparison of the S-matrix logos showed a greater frequency and/or re-definition of specific-position nucleotides found in the O-matrices. Moreover, S-matrices were better at detecting genes in the genome, and there was a more significant number of transcription factors (TFs) in the vicinity than O-matrices, corresponding to a more significant genomic coverage for S-matrices. O-matrices of 3187 TFs and S-matrices of 2754 TFs from 9 species were deposited in RhizoBindingSites and RhizoBindingSites v2.0, respectively. The homology between the matrices of TFs from a genome showed inter-regulation between the clustered TFs. In addition, matrices of AraC, ArsR, GntR, and LysR ortholog TFs showed different motifs, suggesting distinct regulation. Benchmarking showed 72%, 68%, and 81% of common genes per regulon for O-matrices and approximately 14% less common genes with S-matrices of Rhizobium etli CFN42, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841, and Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021. These data were deposited in RhizoBindingSites and the RhizoBindingSites v2.0 database (http://rhizobindingsites.ccg.unam.mx/).
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Warneke R, Herzberg C, Daniel R, Hormes B, Stülke J. Control of three-carbon amino acid homeostasis by promiscuous importers and exporters in Bacillus subtilis: role of the "sleeping beauty" amino acid exporters. mBio 2024; 15:e0345623. [PMID: 38470260 PMCID: PMC11005379 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03456-23] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis can acquire amino acids by import, de novo biosynthesis, or degradation of proteins and peptides. The accumulation of several amino acids inhibits the growth of B. subtilis, probably due to misincorporation into cellular macromolecules such as proteins or peptidoglycan or due to interference with other amino acid biosynthetic pathways. Here, we studied the adaptation of B. subtilis to toxic concentrations of the three-carbon amino acids L-alanine, β-alanine, and 2,3-diaminopropionic acid, as well as the two-carbon amino acid glycine. Resistance to the non-proteinogenic amino acid β-alanine, which is a precursor for coenzyme A biosynthesis, is achieved by mutations that either activate a cryptic amino acid exporter, AexA (previously YdeD), or inactivate the amino acid importers AimA, AimB (previously YbxG), and BcaP. The aexA gene is very poorly expressed under most conditions studied. However, mutations affecting the transcription factor AerA (previously YdeC) can result in strong constitutive aexA expression. AexA is the first characterized member of a group of amino acid exporters in B. subtilis, which are all very poorly expressed. Therefore, we suggest to call this group "sleeping beauty amino acid exporters." 2,3-Diaminopropionic acid can also be exported by AexA, and this amino acid also seems to be a natural substrate of AerA/AexA, as it can cause a slight but significant induction of aexA expression, and AexA also provides some natural resistance toward 2,3-diaminopropionic acid. Moreover, our work shows how low-specificity amino acid transporters contribute to amino acid homeostasis in B. subtilis.IMPORTANCEEven though Bacillus subtilis is one of the most-studied bacteria, amino acid homeostasis in this organism is not fully understood. We have identified import and export systems for the C2 and C3 amino acids. Our work demonstrates that the responsible amino acid permeases contribute in a rather promiscuitive way to amino acid uptake. In addition, we have discovered AexA, the first member of a group of very poorly expressed amino acid exporters in B. subtilis that we call "sleeping beauty amino acid exporters." The expression of these transporters is typically triggered by mutations in corresponding regulator genes that are acquired upon exposure to toxic amino acids. These exporters are ubiquitous in all domains of life. It is tempting to speculate that many of them are not expressed until the cells experience selective pressure by toxic compounds, and they protect the cells from rare but potentially dangerous encounters with such compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Warneke
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina Herzberg
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Richard Daniel
- Center for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Medical Faculty, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Björn Hormes
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
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Suzuki-Minakuchi C, Yamamoto N, Takahira S, Yamaguchi M, Takeda Y, Okada K, Shigeto S, Nojiri H. Transcriptional heterogeneity of catabolic genes on the plasmid pCAR1 causes host-specific carbazole degradation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0124723. [PMID: 38289097 PMCID: PMC10880608 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01247-23] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
To elucidate why plasmid-borne catabolic ability differs among host bacteria, we assessed the expression dynamics of the Pant promoter on the carbazole-degradative conjugative plasmid pCAR1 in Pseudomonas putida KT2440(pCAR1) (hereafter, KTPC) and Pseudomonas resinovorans CA10. The Pant promoter regulates the transcription of both the car and ant operons, which are responsible for converting carbazole into anthranilate and anthranilate into catechol, respectively. In the presence of anthranilate, transcription of the Pant promoter is induced by the AraC/XylS family regulator AntR, encoded on pCAR1. A reporter cassette containing the Pant promoter followed by gfp was inserted into the chromosomes of KTPC and CA10. After adding anthranilate, GFP expression in the population of CA10 showed an unimodal distribution, whereas a small population with low GFP fluorescence intensity appeared for KTPC. CA10 has a gene, antRCA, that encodes an iso-functional homolog of AntR on its chromosome. When antRCA was disrupted, a small population with low GFP fluorescence intensity appeared. In contrast, overexpression of pCAR1-encoded AntR in KTPC resulted in unimodal expression under the Pant promoter. These results suggest that the expression of pCAR1-encoded AntR is insufficient to ameliorate the stochastic expression of the Pant promoter. Raman spectra of single cells collected using deuterium-labeled carbazole showed that the C-D Raman signal exhibited greater variability for KTPC than CA10. These results indicate that heterogeneity at the transcriptional level of the Pant promoter due to insufficient AntR availability causes fluctuations in the pCAR1-borne carbazole-degrading capacity of host bacterial cells.IMPORTANCEHorizontally acquired genes increase the competitiveness of host bacteria under selective conditions, although unregulated expression of foreign genes may impose fitness costs. The "appropriate" host for a plasmid is empirically known to maximize the expression of plasmid-borne traits. In the case of pCAR1-harboring Pseudomonas strains, P. resinovorans CA10 exhibits strong carbazole-degrading capacity, whereas P. putida KT2440 harboring pCAR1 exhibits low degradation capacity. Our results suggest that a chromosomally encoded transcription factor affects transcriptional and metabolic fluctuations in host cells, resulting in different carbazole-degrading capacities as a population. This study may provide a clue for determining appropriate hosts for a plasmid and for regulating the expression of plasmid-borne traits, such as the degradation of xenobiotics and antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiho Suzuki-Minakuchi
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Natsumi Yamamoto
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saki Takahira
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masataka Yamaguchi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yutaro Takeda
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Okada
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shigeto
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Nojiri
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Cortés-Avalos D, Borges Farias A, Romero-González LE, Lara-Ochoa C, Villa-Tanaca L, García-Del Portillo F, López-Guerrero V, Bustamante VH, Pérez-Rueda E, Ibarra JA. Interactions between the AraC/XylS-like transcriptional activator InvF of Salmonella Typhimurium, the RNA polymerase alpha subunit and the chaperone SicA. Sci Rep 2024; 14:156. [PMID: 38167847 PMCID: PMC10761746 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50636-w] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium causes gastroenteritis and systemic infections in humans. For this bacterium the expression of a type III secretion system (T3SS) and effector proteins encoded in the Salmonella pathogenicity island-1 (SPI-1), is keystone for the virulence of this bacterium. Expression of these is controlled by a regulatory cascade starting with the transcriptional regulators HilD, HilC and RtsA that induce the expression of HilA, which then activates expression of the regulator InvF, a transcriptional regulator of the AraC/XylS family. InvF needs to interact with the chaperone SicA to activate transcription of SPI-1 genes including sicA, sopB, sptP, sopE, sopE2, and STM1239. InvF very likely acts as a classical activator; however, whether InvF interacts with the RNA polymerase alpha subunit RpoA has not been determined. Results from this study confirm the interaction between InvF with SicA and reveal that both proteins interact with the RNAP alpha subunit. Thus, our study further supports that the InvF/SicA complex acts as a classical activator. Additionally, we showed for the first time an interaction between a chaperone of T3SS effectors (SicA) and the RNAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Cortés-Avalos
- Laboratorio de Genética Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N, Col. Santo Tomás 11340, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - André Borges Farias
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica del Estado de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Luis E Romero-González
- Laboratorio de Genética Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N, Col. Santo Tomás 11340, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Cristina Lara-Ochoa
- Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Villa-Tanaca
- Laboratorio de Genética Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N, Col. Santo Tomás 11340, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Francisco García-Del Portillo
- Laboratory of Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens, National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB)-CSIC, Darwin, 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vanessa López-Guerrero
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Víctor H Bustamante
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ernesto Pérez-Rueda
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica del Estado de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - J Antonio Ibarra
- Laboratorio de Genética Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N, Col. Santo Tomás 11340, Mexico City, Mexico.
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6
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Kinch LN, Schaeffer RD, Zhang J, Cong Q, Orth K, Grishin N. Insights into virulence: structure classification of the Vibrio parahaemolyticus RIMD mobilome. mSystems 2023; 8:e0079623. [PMID: 38014954 PMCID: PMC10734457 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00796-23] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The pandemic Vpar strain RIMD causes seafood-borne illness worldwide. Previous comparative genomic studies have revealed pathogenicity islands in RIMD that contribute to the success of the strain in infection. However, not all virulence determinants have been identified, and many of the proteins encoded in known pathogenicity islands are of unknown function. Based on the EOCD database, we used evolution-based classification of structure models for the RIMD proteome to improve our functional understanding of virulence determinants acquired by the pandemic strain. We further identify and classify previously unknown mobile protein domains as well as fast evolving residue positions in structure models that contribute to virulence and adaptation with respect to a pre-pandemic strain. Our work highlights key contributions of phage in mediating seafood born illness, suggesting this strain balances its avoidance of phage predators with its successful colonization of human hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa N. Kinch
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - R. Dustin Schaeffer
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Qian Cong
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kim Orth
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Nick Grishin
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Berni M, Bolzoni L, Menozzi I, Dodi A, Bracchi C, Morganti M, Scaltriti E, Pongolini S, Tambassi M. Salmonella Derby adaptation to swine and simultaneous attenuation for humans go through decay of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island I. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0189923. [PMID: 37800927 PMCID: PMC10715017 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01899-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE This study integrated population data with in vitro assessment of virulence phenotypes to unveil that a considerable part of the global population of Salmonella Derby is evolving to enhance its host adaptation to the swine host and that this evolution is simultaneously increasing its attenuation for humans. The study shows that the fixation of deleterious mutations in SPI-1 has a role in this process. This evidence indicates that SPI-1 has a key role for S. Derby virulence in humans but not for its circulation in swine. The results show that genes generally considered essential for Salmonella pathogenesis do not play the same key role for all Salmonella serovars or lineages and/or all hosts. The study helps in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the ecology and host adaptation of Salmonella showing that the adaptation process can vary for different types of Salmonella and hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Berni
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Luca Bolzoni
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Menozzi
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandra Dodi
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Bracchi
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Marina Morganti
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Erika Scaltriti
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Pongolini
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Martina Tambassi
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
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8
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Joiner JD, Steinchen W, Mozer N, Kronenberger T, Bange G, Poso A, Wagner S, Hartmann MD. HilE represses the activity of the Salmonella virulence regulator HilD via a mechanism distinct from that of intestinal long-chain fatty acids. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105387. [PMID: 37890783 PMCID: PMC10696396 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105387] [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: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The expression of virulence factors essential for the invasion of host cells by Salmonella enterica is tightly controlled by a network of transcription regulators. The AraC/XylS transcription factor HilD is the main integration point of environmental signals into this regulatory network, with many factors affecting HilD activity. Long-chain fatty acids, which are highly abundant throughout the host intestine, directly bind to and repress HilD, acting as environmental cues to coordinate virulence gene expression. The regulatory protein HilE also negatively regulates HilD activity, through a protein-protein interaction. Both of these regulators inhibit HilD dimerization, preventing HilD from binding to target DNA. We investigated the structural basis of these mechanisms of HilD repression. Long-chain fatty acids bind to a conserved pocket in HilD, in a comparable manner to that reported for other AraC/XylS regulators, whereas HilE forms a stable heterodimer with HilD by binding to the HilD dimerization interface. Our results highlight two distinct, mutually exclusive mechanisms by which HilD activity is repressed, which could be exploited for the development of new antivirulence leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe D Joiner
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wieland Steinchen
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nick Mozer
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery & Development (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Excellence Cluster "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" (CMFI), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gert Bange
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Antti Poso
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery & Development (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Samuel Wagner
- Excellence Cluster "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" (CMFI), Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine (IMIT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Partner-site Tübingen, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marcus D Hartmann
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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9
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He H, Yang M, Li S, Zhang G, Ding Z, Zhang L, Shi G, Li Y. Mechanisms and biotechnological applications of transcription factors. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2023; 8:565-577. [PMID: 37691767 PMCID: PMC10482752 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors play an indispensable role in maintaining cellular viability and finely regulating complex internal metabolic networks. These crucial bioactive functions rely on their ability to respond to effectors and concurrently interact with binding sites. Recent advancements have brought innovative insights into the understanding of transcription factors. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the mechanisms by which transcription factors carry out their functions, along with calculation and experimental-based methods employed in their identification. Additionally, we highlight recent achievements in the application of transcription factors in various biotechnological fields, including cell engineering, human health, and biomanufacturing. Finally, the current limitations of research and provide prospects for future investigations are discussed. This review will provide enlightening theoretical guidance for transcription factors engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hehe He
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
| | - Mingfei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
| | - Siyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
| | - Gaoyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
| | - Zhongyang Ding
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
| | - Guiyang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
| | - Youran Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214122, PR China
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10
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Trirocco R, Pasqua M, Tramonti A, Colonna B, Paiardini A, Prosseda G. Diffusible signal factors (DSFs) bind and repress VirF, the leading virulence activator of Shigella flexneri. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13170. [PMID: 37580399 PMCID: PMC10425336 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40023-w] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Shigella, the aetiological agent of human bacillary dysentery, controls the expression of its virulence determinants through an environmentally stimulated cascade of transcriptional activators. VirF is the leading activator and is essential for proper virulence expression. In this work, we report on in vitro and in vivo experiments showing that two autoinducers of the DSF family, XcDSF and BDSF interact with the jelly roll module of VirF causing its inhibition and affecting the expression of the entire virulence system of Shigella, including its ability to invade epithelial cells. We propose a molecular model explaining how the binding of XcDSF and BDSF causes inhibition of VirF by preventing its dimerization. Overall, our experimental results suggest that XcDSF and BDSF may contribute to "colonisation resistance" in the human gut or, alternatively, may be exploited for the fine-tuning of Shigella virulence expression as the bacterium migrates from the lumen to approach the intestinal mucosa. Our findings also stress how a detailed understanding of the interaction of DSF ligands with VirF may contribute to the rational development of innovative antivirulence drugs to treat shigellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Trirocco
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Pasqua
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Tramonti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Bianca Colonna
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Paiardini
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianni Prosseda
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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11
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Trirocco R, Pasqua M, Tramonti A, Grossi M, Colonna B, Paiardini A, Prosseda G. Fatty Acids Abolish Shigella Virulence by Inhibiting Its Master Regulator, VirF. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0077823. [PMID: 37140433 PMCID: PMC10269687 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00778-23] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenicity of Shigella, the intracellular pathogen responsible for human bacillary dysentery, depends on a coordinated and tightly regulated expression of its virulence determinants. This is the result of a cascade organization of its positive regulators, with VirF, a transcriptional activator belonging to the AraC-XylS family, in a pivotal position. VirF itself is submitted to several well-known regulations at the transcriptional level. In this work, we present evidence for a novel posttranslational regulatory mechanism of VirF mediated by the inhibitory interaction with specific fatty acids. By homology modeling and molecular docking analyses, we identify a jelly roll motif in the structure of ViF capable of interacting with medium-chain saturated and long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. In vitro and in vivo assays show that capric, lauric, myristoleic, palmitoleic, and sapienic acids interact effectively with the VirF protein, abolishing its transcription-promoting activity. This silences the virulence system of Shigella, leading to a drastic reduction in its ability to invade epithelial cells and proliferate in their cytoplasm. IMPORTANCE In the absence of a valid vaccine, the main therapeutic approach currently used to treat shigellosis is based on the use of antibiotics. The emergence of antibiotic resistance jeopardizes the future effectiveness of this approach. The importance of the present work resides both in the identification of a new level of posttranslational regulation of the Shigella virulence system and in the characterization of a mechanism offering new opportunities for the design of antivirulence compounds, which may change the treatment paradigm of Shigella infections by limiting the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Trirocco
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Pasqua
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Tramonti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Milena Grossi
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Bianca Colonna
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Gianni Prosseda
- Institute Pasteur Italia, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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12
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Zhao D, Li H, Cui Y, Tang S, Wang C, Du B, Ding Y. MsmR1, a global transcription factor, regulates polymyxin synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in Paenibacillus polymyxa SC2. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1039806. [PMID: 36483206 PMCID: PMC9722767 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1039806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The multiple-sugar metabolism regulator (MsmR), a transcription factor belonging to the AraC/XylS family, participates in polysaccharide metabolism and virulence. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of MsmR1 in Paenibacillus polymyxa remain unclear. In this study, knocking out msmR1 was found to reduce polymyxin synthesis by the SC2-M1 strain. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay with sequencing (ChIP-seq) revealed that most enriched pathway was that of carbohydrate metabolism. Additionally, electromobility shift assays (EMSA) confirmed the direct interaction between MsmR1 and the promoter regions of oppC3, sucA, sdr3, pepF, yycN, PPSC2_23180, pppL, and ydfp. MsmR1 stimulates polymyxin biosynthesis by directly binding to the promoter regions of oppC3 and sdr3, while also directly regulating sucA and influencing the citrate cycle (TCA cycle). In addition, MsmR1 directly activates pepF and was beneficial for spore and biofilm formation. These results indicated that MsmR1 could regulate carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, and indirectly affect biological processes such as polymyxin synthesis, biofilm formation, and motility. Moreover, MsmR1 could be autoregulated. Hence, this study expand the current knowledge of MsmR1 and will be beneficial for the application of P. polymyxa SC2 in the biological control against the certain pathogens in pepper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Binghai Du
- College of Life Sciences and Shandong Engineering Research Center of Plant-Microbia Restoration for Saline-alkali Land and Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Yanqin Ding
- College of Life Sciences and Shandong Engineering Research Center of Plant-Microbia Restoration for Saline-alkali Land and Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
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13
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Shi J, Wang L, Wen A, Wang F, Zhang Y, Yu L, Li F, Jin Y, Feng Z, Li J, Yang Y, Gao F, Zhang Y, Feng Y, Wang S, Zhao W, Lin W. Structural basis of three different transcription activation strategies adopted by a single regulator SoxS. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:11359-11373. [PMID: 36243985 PMCID: PMC9638938 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription activation is established through extensive protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions that allow an activator to engage and remodel RNA polymerase. SoxS, a global transcription activator, diversely regulates subsets of stress response genes with different promoters, but the detailed SoxS-dependent transcription initiation mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of three SoxS-dependent transcription activation complexes (SoxS-TACI, SoxS-TACII and SoxS-TACIII) comprising of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP), SoxS protein and three representative classes of SoxS-regulated promoters. The structures reveal that SoxS monomer orchestrates transcription initiation through specific interactions with the promoter DNA and different conserved domains of RNAP. In particular, SoxS is positioned in the opposite orientation in SoxS-TACIII to that in SoxS-TACI and SoxS-TACII, unveiling a novel mode of transcription activation. Strikingly, two universally conserved C-terminal domains of alpha subunit (αCTD) of RNAP associate with each other, bridging SoxS and region 4 of σ70. We show that SoxS interacts with RNAP directly and independently from DNA, remodeling the enzyme to activate transcription from cognate SoxS promoters while repressing transcription from UP-element containing promoters. Our data provide a comprehensive summary of SoxS-dependent promoter architectures and offer new insights into the αCTD contribution to transcription control in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shi
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Aijia Wen
- Department of Biophysics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Fulin Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuqiong Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, 510631 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, 510631 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808, Guangdong, China
| | - Libing Yu
- Institute of Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuanling Jin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhenzhen Feng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiacong Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yujiao Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yu Feng
- Department of Biophysics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808, Guangdong, China.,Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing 210023, China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210023, China.,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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14
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Saldaña-Ahuactzi Z, Knodler LA. FoxR is an AraC-like transcriptional regulator of ferrioxamine uptake in Salmonella enterica. Mol Microbiol 2022; 118:369-386. [PMID: 35970762 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14970] [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: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella enterica spp. produce siderophores to bind iron with high affinity and can also use three xenosiderophores secreted by other microorganisms, ferrichrome, coprogen, and ferrioxamine. Here we focused on FoxA, a TonB-dependent transporter of ferrioxamines. Adjacent to foxA is a gene annotated as a helix-turn-helix (HTH) domain-containing protein, SL0358 (foxR), in the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1344 genome. FoxR shares homology with transcriptional regulators belonging to the AraC/XylS family. foxR is syntenic with foxA in the Enterobacteriaceae family, suggesting their functional relatedness. Both foxA and foxR are repressed by the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) under iron-rich growth conditions. When iron is scarce, FoxR acts as a transcriptional activator of foxA by directly binding to its upstream regulatory region. A point mutation in the HTH domain of FoxR abolished this binding, as did mutation of a direct repeat motif in the foxA upstream regulatory region. Desferrioxamine (DFOE) enhanced FoxR protein stability and foxA transcription but did not affect the affinity of FoxR binding to the foxA regulatory region. In summary, we have identified FoxR as a new member of the AraC/XylS family that regulates xenosiderophore-mediated iron uptake by S. Typhimurium and likely other Enterobacteriaceae members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeus Saldaña-Ahuactzi
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Leigh A Knodler
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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15
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Skovajsová E, Colonna B, Prosseda G, Sellin ME, Di Martino ML. The VirF21:VirF30 protein ratio is affected by temperature and impacts Shigella flexneri host cell invasion. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2022; 369:fnac043. [PMID: 35521699 PMCID: PMC9217107 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnac043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Shigella spp, the etiological agents of bacillary dysentery in humans, have evolved an intricate regulatory strategy to ensure fine-tuned expression of virulence genes in response to environmental stimuli. A key component in this regulation is VirF, an AraC-like transcription factor, which at the host temperature (37°C) triggers, directly or indirectly, the expression of > 30 virulence genes important for invasion of the intestinal epithelium. Previous work identified two different forms of VirF with distinct functions: VirF30 activates virulence gene expression, while VirF21 appears to negatively regulate virF itself. Moreover, VirF21 originates from either differential translation of the virF mRNA or from a shorter leaderless mRNA (llmRNA). Here we report that both expression of the virF21 llmRNA and the VirF21:VirF30 protein ratio are higher at 30°C than at 37°C, suggesting a possible involvement of VirF21 in minimizing virulence gene expression outside the host (30°C). Ectopic elevation of VirF21 levels at 37°C indeed suppresses Shigella´s ability to infect epithelial cells. Finally, we find that the VirF21 C-terminal portion, predicted to contain a Helix-Turn-Helix motif (HTH2), is required for the functionality of this negative virulence regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Skovajsová
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75123, Sweden
| | - Bianca Colonna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Gianni Prosseda
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Mikael E Sellin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75123, Sweden
| | - Maria Letizia Di Martino
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75123, Sweden
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16
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Shi J, Wang F, Li F, Wang L, Xiong Y, Wen A, Jin Y, Jin S, Gao F, Feng Z, Li J, Zhang Y, Shang Z, Wang S, Feng Y, Lin W. Structural basis of transcription activation by Rob, a pleiotropic AraC/XylS family regulator. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5974-5987. [PMID: 35641097 PMCID: PMC9178005 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rob, which serves as a paradigm of the large AraC/XylS family transcription activators, regulates diverse subsets of genes involved in multidrug resistance and stress response. However, the underlying mechanism of how it engages bacterial RNA polymerase and promoter DNA to finely respond to environmental stimuli is still elusive. Here, we present two cryo-EM structures of Rob-dependent transcription activation complex (Rob-TAC) comprising of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP), Rob-regulated promoter and Rob in alternative conformations. The structures show that a single Rob engages RNAP by interacting with RNAP αCTD and σ70R4, revealing their generally important regulatory roles. Notably, by occluding σ70R4 from binding to -35 element, Rob specifically binds to the conserved Rob binding box through its consensus HTH motifs, and retains DNA bending by aid of the accessory acidic loop. More strikingly, our ligand docking and biochemical analysis demonstrate that the large Rob C-terminal domain (Rob CTD) shares great structural similarity with the global Gyrl-like domains in effector binding and allosteric regulation, and coordinately promotes formation of competent Rob-TAC. Altogether, our structural and biochemical data highlight the detailed molecular mechanism of Rob-dependent transcription activation, and provide favorable evidences for understanding the physiological roles of the other AraC/XylS-family transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shi
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Fulin Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ying Xiong
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.,School of Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808, Guangdong, China
| | - Aijia Wen
- Department of Biophysics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuanling Jin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Sha Jin
- Department of Biophysics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhenzhen Feng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiacong Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhuo Shang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.,School of Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Feng
- Department of Biophysics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210023, China.,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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17
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Sunkavalli A, McClure R, Genco C. Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms Drive Emergent Pathogenetic Properties of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Microorganisms 2022; 10:922. [PMID: 35630366 PMCID: PMC9147433 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhea, with an estimated 87 million annual cases worldwide. N. gonorrhoeae predominantly colonizes the male and female genital tract (FGT). In the FGT, N. gonorrhoeae confronts fluctuating levels of nutrients and oxidative and non-oxidative antimicrobial defenses of the immune system, as well as the resident microbiome. One mechanism utilized by N. gonorrhoeae to adapt to this dynamic FGT niche is to modulate gene expression primarily through DNA-binding transcriptional regulators. Here, we describe the major N. gonorrhoeae transcriptional regulators, genes under their control, and how these regulatory processes lead to pathogenic properties of N. gonorrhoeae during natural infection. We also discuss the current knowledge of the structure, function, and diversity of the FGT microbiome and its influence on gonococcal survival and transcriptional responses orchestrated by its DNA-binding regulators. We conclude with recent multi-omics data and modeling tools and their application to FGT microbiome dynamics. Understanding the strategies utilized by N. gonorrhoeae to regulate gene expression and their impact on the emergent characteristics of this pathogen during infection has the potential to identify new effective strategies to both treat and prevent gonorrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Sunkavalli
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
| | - Ryan McClure
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA;
| | - Caroline Genco
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
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18
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Ledesma L, Hernandez-Guerrero R, Perez-Rueda E. Prediction of DNA-Binding Transcription Factors in Bacteria and Archaea Genomes. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2516:103-112. [PMID: 35922624 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2413-5_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) play a central role in the gene expression of all organisms, from viruses to humans, including bacteria and archaea. The role of these proteins is the fate of gene expression in the context of environmental challenges. Because thousands of genomes have been sequenced to date, predictions of the encoded proteins are validated through the use of bioinformatics tools to obtain the necessary experimental, posterior knowledge. In this chapter, we describe three approaches to identify TFs in protein sequences. The first approach integrates the results of sequence comparisons and PFAM assignments, using as reference a manually curated collection of TFs. The second approach considers the prediction of DNA-binding structures, such as the classical helix-turn-helix (HTH); and the third approach considers a deep learning model. We suggest that all approaches must be considered together to increase the possibility of identifying new TFs in bacterial and archaeal genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Ledesma
- Posgrado en Ciencia e Ingeniería de la Computación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rafael Hernandez-Guerrero
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Ernesto Perez-Rueda
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
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19
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Chowdhury R, Pavinski Bitar PD, Adams MC, Chappie JS, Altier C. AraC-type regulators HilC and RtsA are directly controlled by an intestinal fatty acid to regulate Salmonella invasion. Mol Microbiol 2021; 116:1464-1475. [PMID: 34687258 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Invasion of the intestinal epithelium is an essential but energetically expensive survival strategy and is, therefore, tightly regulated by using specific cues from the environment. The enteric pathogen Salmonella controls its invasion machinery through the elegant coordination of three AraC-type transcription activators, HilD, HilC, and RtsA. Most environmental signals target HilD to control invasion, whereas HilC and RtsA are known only to augment these effects on HilD. Here we show that a fatty acid found in the murine colon, cis-2-hexadecenoic acid (c2-HDA), represses Salmonella invasion by directly targeting HilC and RtsA, in addition to HilD. c2-HDA directly binds each of these regulators and inhibits their attachment to DNA targets, repressing invasion even in the absence of HilD. Fatty acid binding, however, does not affect HilC and RtsA protein stability, unlike HilD. Importantly, we show that HilC and RtsA are highly effective in restoring HilD production and invasion gene expression after elimination of the repressive fatty acid c2-HDA. Together, these results illuminate a precise mechanism by which HilC and RtsA may modulate invasion as Salmonella navigates through different regions of the intestine, contributing to our understanding of how this enteric pathogen senses and adapts to a diverse intestinal environment while maintaining its virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimi Chowdhury
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Paulina D Pavinski Bitar
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Myfanwy C Adams
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Joshua S Chappie
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Craig Altier
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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Abstract
Covering: up to the end of July, 2021Anthraquinone-fused enediynes (AFEs) are a subfamily of enediyne natural products. Dynemicin A (DYN A), the first member of the AFE family, was discovered more than thirty years ago. Subsequently, extensive studies have been reported on the mode of action and the interactions of AFEs with DNA using DYN A as a model. However, progress in the discovery, biosynthesis and clinical development of AFEs has been limited for a long time. In the past five years, four new AFEs have been discovered and significant progress has been made in the biosynthesis of AFEs, especially on the biogenesis of the anthraquinone moiety and their tailoring steps. Moreover, the streamlined total synthesis of AFEs and their analogues boosts the preparation of AFE-based linker-drugs, thus enabling the development of AFE-based antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This review summarizes the discovery, mechanism of action, biosynthesis, total synthesis and preclinical studies of AFEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, China.
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21
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Optimised Heterologous Expression and Functional Analysis of the Yersinia pestis F1-Capsular Antigen Regulator Caf1R. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189805. [PMID: 34575967 PMCID: PMC8470410 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial pathogen, Yersinia pestis, has caused three historic pandemics and continues to cause small outbreaks worldwide. During infection, Y. pestis assembles a capsule-like protective coat of thin fibres of Caf1 subunits. This F1 capsular antigen has attracted much attention due to its clinical value in plague diagnostics and anti-plague vaccine development. Expression of F1 is tightly regulated by a transcriptional activator, Caf1R, of the AraC/XylS family, proteins notoriously prone to aggregation. Here, we have optimised the recombinant expression of soluble Caf1R. Expression from the native and synthetic codon-optimised caf1R cloned in three different expression plasmids was examined in a library of E. coli host strains. The functionality of His-tagged Caf1R was demonstrated in vivo, but insolubility was a problem with overproduction. High levels of soluble MBP-Caf1R were produced from codon optimised caf1R. Transcriptional-lacZ reporter fusions defined the PM promoter and Caf1R binding site responsible for transcription of the cafMA1 operon. Use of the identified Caf1R binding caf DNA sequence in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) confirmed correct folding and functionality of the Caf1R DNA-binding domain in recombinant MBP-Caf1R. Availability of functional recombinant Caf1R will be a valuable tool to elucidate control of expression of F1 and Caf1R-regulated pathophysiology of Y. pestis.
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