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Bordes P, Genevaux P. Control of Toxin-Antitoxin Systems by Proteases in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:691399. [PMID: 34079824 PMCID: PMC8165232 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.691399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are small genetic elements composed of a noxious toxin and a counteracting cognate antitoxin. Although they are widespread in bacterial chromosomes and in mobile genetic elements, their cellular functions and activation mechanisms remain largely unknown. It has been proposed that toxin activation or expression of the TA operon could rely on the degradation of generally less stable antitoxins by cellular proteases. The resulting active toxin would then target essential cellular processes and inhibit bacterial growth. Although interplay between proteases and TA systems has been observed, evidences for such activation cycle are very limited. Herein, we present an overview of the current knowledge on TA recognition by proteases with a main focus on the major human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which harbours multiple TA systems (over 80), the essential AAA + stress proteases, ClpC1P1P2 and ClpXP1P2, and the Pup-proteasome system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Bordes
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Genevaux
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
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Evaluation of specificity determinants in Mycobacterium tuberculosis σ/anti-σ factor interactions. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 521:900-906. [PMID: 31711645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.10.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Extra Cytoplasmic Function (ECF) σ factor/regulatory protein (anti-σ factor) pairs govern environment mediated changes in gene expression in bacteria. The release of the ECF σ factor from an inactive σ/anti-σ factor complex is triggered by specific environmental stimuli. The free σ factor then associates with the RNA polymerase and drives the expression of genes in its target regulon. Multiple ECF σ/anti-σ pairs ensure calibrated changes in the expression profile by correlating diverse environmental stimuli with changes in the intracellular levels of different ECF σ factors. Specificity in σ/anti-σ factor interaction is thus essential for accurate signal transduction. Here we describe experiments to evaluate interactions between different M. tuberculosis σ and anti-σ proteins in vitro. The interaction parameters suggest that cross-talk between non-cognate σ/anti-σ pairs is likely. The sequence and conformational determinants that govern interaction specificity in a σ/anti-σ complex are not immediately evident due to substantial structural conservation. Sequence-structure analysis of all σ/anti-σ pairs suggest that conserved residues are not the primary determinants of σ/anti-σ interactions-a finding that suggests a potential route to set tolerance limits in interaction specificity. Non-specific σ/anti-σ interactions are likely to be biologically significant as it can contribute to heterogeneity in cellular responses in a bacterial population under less stringent requirements. This finding is relevant for synthetic biology approaches to engineer bacteria using σ/anti-σ transcription initiation modules for diverse applications in biotechnology.
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Casas Garcia GP, Perugini MA, Lamont IL, Maher MJ. The purification of the σ FpvI/FpvR 20 and σ PvdS/FpvR 20 protein complexes is facilitated at room temperature. Protein Expr Purif 2019; 160:11-18. [PMID: 30878602 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria contain sigma (σ) factors that control gene expression in response to various environmental stimuli. The alternative sigma factors σFpvI and σPvdS bind specifically to the antisigma factor FpvR. These proteins are an essential component of the pyoverdine-based system for iron uptake in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Due to the uniqueness of this system, where the activities of both the σFpvI and σPvdS sigma factors are regulated by the same antisigma factor, the interactions between the antisigma protein FpvR20 and the σFpvI and σPvdS proteins have been widely studied in vivo. However, difficulties in obtaining soluble, recombinant preparations of the σFpvI and σPvdS proteins have limited their biochemical and structural characterizations. In this study, we describe a purification protocol that resulted in the production of soluble, recombinant His6-σFpvI/FpvR1-67, His6-σFpvI/FpvR1-89, His6-σPvdS/FpvR1-67 and His6-σPvdS/FpvR1-89 protein complexes (where FpvR1-67 and FpvR1-89 are truncated versions of FpvR20) at high purities and concentrations, appropriate for biophysical analyses by circular dichroism spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation. These results showed the proteins to be folded in solution and led to the determination of the affinities of the protein-protein interactions within the His6-σFpvI/FpvR1-67 and His6-σPvdS/FpvR1-67 complexes. A comparison of these values with those previously reported for the His6-σFpvI/FpvR1-89 and His6-σPvdS/FpvR1-89 complexes is made.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Patricia Casas Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew A Perugini
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Iain L Lamont
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Megan J Maher
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Selectivity among Anti-σ Factors by Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpX Influences Intracellular Levels of Extracytoplasmic Function σ Factors. J Bacteriol 2019; 201:JB.00748-18. [PMID: 30617240 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00748-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracytoplasmic function σ factors that are stress inducible are often sequestered in an inactive complex with a membrane-associated anti-σ factor. Mycobacterium tuberculosis membrane-associated anti-σ factors have a small, stable RNA gene A (ssrA)-like degron for targeted proteolysis. Interaction between the unfoldase, ClpX, and a substrate with an accessible degron initiates energy-dependent proteolysis. Four anti-σ factors with a mutation in the degron provided a set of natural substrates to evaluate the influence of the degron on degradation strength in ClpX-substrate processivity. We note that a point mutation in the degron (X-Ala-Ala) leads to an order-of-magnitude difference in the dwell time of the substrate on ClpX. Differences in ClpX/anti-σ interactions were correlated with changes in unfoldase activities. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimeras or polypeptides with a length identical to that of the anti-σ factor degron also demonstrate degron-dependent variation in ClpX activities. We show that degron-dependent ClpX activity leads to differences in anti-σ degradation, thereby regulating the release of free σ from the σ/anti-σ complex. M. tuberculosis ClpX activity thus influences changes in gene expression by modulating the cellular abundance of ECF σ factors.IMPORTANCE The ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to quickly adapt to changing environmental stimuli occurs by maintaining protein homeostasis. Extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors play a significant role in coordinating the transcription profile to changes in environmental conditions. Release of the σ factor from the anti-σ is governed by the ClpXP2P1 assembly. M. tuberculosis ECF anti-σ factors have an ssrA-like degron for targeted degradation. A point mutation in the degron leads to differences in ClpX-mediated proteolysis and affects the cellular abundance of ECF σ factors. ClpX activity thus synchronizes changes in gene expression with environmental stimuli affecting M. tuberculosis physiology.
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Zhou P, Wang X, Zhao Y, Yuan W, Xie J. Sigma factors mediated signaling in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Future Microbiol 2018; 13:231-240. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of signaling cascades is critical for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to adapt the macrophage lifestyle. Parallel to several signal systems, sigma factor systems, especially the extra-cytoplasmic function sigma factors, are crucial for Mtb signaling. Most sigma factors lack a signal sensory domain and often are activated by various proteins that perceive the environmental cues and relay the signals through variegated post-translational modifications via the activity of antisigma factor, protein kinase and related transcriptional regulators. Antisigma factors are further controlled by multiple mechanisms. SigK senses the environmental redox state directly. Phosphorylation and lysine acetylation added another dimension to the regulatory hierarchy. This review will provide insights into Mtb pathogenesis, and lay the foundation for the discovery of novel approaches for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peifu Zhou
- Institute of Ethnic-Minority Medicine, School of Ethnic-Minority Medicine, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Xinpeng Wang
- School of Humanities & Sciences, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Yuzhong Zhao
- Institute of Ethnic-Minority Medicine, School of Ethnic-Minority Medicine, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Wei Yuan
- Institute of Tuberculosis Control & Prevention, Guizhou Provincial Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Guiyang 550004, PR China
| | - Jianping Xie
- Institute of Modern Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, PR China
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Edgar RJ, Hampton GE, Garcia GPC, Maher MJ, Perugini MA, Ackerley DF, Lamont IL. Integrated activities of two alternative sigma factors coordinate iron acquisition and uptake by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mol Microbiol 2017; 106:891-904. [PMID: 28971540 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Alternative sigma (σ) factors govern expression of bacterial genes in response to diverse environmental signals. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa σPvdS directs expression of genes for production of a siderophore, pyoverdine, as well as a toxin and a protease. σFpvI directs expression of a receptor for ferripyoverdine import. Expression of the genes encoding σPvdS and σFpvI is iron-regulated and an antisigma protein, FpvR20 , post-translationally controls the activities of the sigma factors in response to the amount of ferripyoverdine present. Here we show that iron represses synthesis of σPvdS to a far greater extent than σFpvI . In contrast ferripyoverdine exerts similar effects on the activities of both sigma factors. Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro assays we show that σFpvI and σPvdS have comparable affinities for, and are equally inhibited by, FpvR20 . Importantly, in the absence of ferripyoverdine the amount of FpvR20 per cell is lower than the amount of σFpvI and σPvdS , allowing basal expression of target genes that is required to activate the signalling pathway when ferripyoverdine is present. This complex interplay of transcriptional and post-translational regulation enables a co-ordinated response to ferripyoverdine but distinct responses to iron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Edgar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - G Patricia Casas Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Megan J Maher
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew A Perugini
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David F Ackerley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Iain L Lamont
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Goutam K, Gupta AK, Gopal B. The fused SnoaL_2 domain in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis sigma factor σJ modulates promoter recognition. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:9760-9772. [PMID: 28934483 PMCID: PMC5766207 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Extra-cytoplasmic function (ECF) σ-factors are widespread in bacteria, linking environmental stimuli with changes in gene expression. These transcription factors span several phylogenetically distinct groups and are remarkably diverse in their activation and regulatory mechanisms. Here, we describe the structural and biochemical features of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis ECF factor σJ that suggests that the SnoaL_2 domain at the C-terminus can modulate the activity of this initiation factor in the absence of a cognate regulatory anti-σ factor. M. tuberculosis σJ can bind promoter DNA in vitro; this interaction is substantially impaired by the removal of the SnoaL_2 domain. This finding is consistent with assays to evaluate σJ-mediated gene expression. Structural similarity of the SnoaL_2 domain with epoxide hydrolases also suggests a novel functional role for this domain. The conserved sequence features between M. tuberculosis σJ and other members of the ECF41 family of σ-factors suggest that the regulatory mechanism involving the C-terminal SnoaL_2 domain is likely to be retained in this family of proteins. These studies suggest that the ECF41 family of σ-factors incorporate features of both-the σ70 family and bacterial one-component systems thereby providing a direct mechanism to implement environment-mediated transcription changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapil Goutam
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India
| | - Arvind K Gupta
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India
| | - Balasubramanian Gopal
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India
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Genome scale identification, structural analysis, and classification of periplasmic binding proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Curr Genet 2016; 63:553-576. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-016-0664-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Sigma Factors: Key Molecules in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Physiology and Virulence. Microbiol Spectr 2015; 2:MGM2-0007-2013. [PMID: 26082107 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.mgm2-0007-2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid adaptation to changing environments is one of the keys to the success of microorganisms. Since infection is a dynamic process, it is possible to predict that Mycobacterium tuberculosis adaptation involves continuous modulation of its global transcriptional profile in response to the changing environment found in the human body. In the last 18 years several studies have stressed the role of sigma (σ) factors in this process. These are small interchangeable subunits of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme that are required for transcriptional initiation and that determine promoter specificity. The M. tuberculosis genome encodes 13 of these proteins, one of which--the principal σ factor σA--is essential. Of the other 12 σ factors, at least 6 are required for virulence. In this article we review our current knowledge of mycobacterial σ factors, their regulons, the complex mechanisms determining their regulation, and their roles in M. tuberculosis physiology and virulence.
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Goutam K, Gupta AK, Gopal B. Crystallographic studies of the extracytoplasmic function σ factor σ(J) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2015; 71:946-50. [PMID: 26249679 PMCID: PMC4528921 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x15009577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis has multiple σ factors which enable the bacterium to reprogram its transcriptional machinery under diverse environmental conditions. σ(J), an extracytoplasmic function σ factor, is upregulated in late stationary phase cultures and during human macrophage infection. σ(J) governs the cellular response to hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidative stress. σ(J) differs from other canonical σ factors owing to the presence of a SnoaL_2 domain at the C-terminus. σ(J) crystals belonged to the tetragonal space group I422, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 133.85, c = 75.08 Å. Diffraction data were collected to 2.16 Å resolution on the BM14 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapil Goutam
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
| | - Arvind Kumar Gupta
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
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Structural biology of bacterial RNA polymerase. Biomolecules 2015; 5:848-64. [PMID: 25970587 PMCID: PMC4496699 DOI: 10.3390/biom5020848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery and characterization in the early 1960s (Hurwitz, J. The discovery of RNA polymerase. J. Biol. Chem. 2005, 280, 42477-42485), an enormous amount of biochemical, biophysical and genetic data has been collected on bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP). In the late 1990s, structural information pertaining to bacterial RNAP has emerged that provided unprecedented insights into the function and mechanism of RNA transcription. In this review, I list all structures related to bacterial RNAP (as determined by X-ray crystallography and NMR methods available from the Protein Data Bank), describe their contributions to bacterial transcription research and discuss the role that small molecules play in inhibiting bacterial RNA transcription.
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Edgar RJ, Xu X, Shirley M, Konings AF, Martin LW, Ackerley DF, Lamont IL. Interactions between an anti-sigma protein and two sigma factors that regulate the pyoverdine signaling pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:287. [PMID: 25433393 PMCID: PMC4256889 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-014-0287-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Synthesis and uptake of pyoverdine, the primary siderophore of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is dependent on two extra-cytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors, FpvI and PvdS. FpvI and PvdS are required for expression of the ferri-pyoverdine receptor gene fpvA and of pyoverdine synthesis genes respectively. In the absence of pyoverdine the anti-sigma factor FpvR that spans the cytoplasmic membrane inhibits the activities of both FpvI and PvdS, despite the two sigma factors having low sequence identity. Results To investigate the interactions of FpvR with FpvI and PvdS, we first used a tandem affinity purification system to demonstrate binding of PvdS by the cytoplasmic region of FpvR in P. aeruginosa at physiological levels. The cytoplasmic region of FpvR bound to and inhibited both FpvI and PvdS when the proteins were co-expressed in Escherichia coli. Each sigma factor was then subjected to error prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to identify mutations that increased sigma factor activity in the presence of FpvR. In FpvI, the amino acid changes clustered around conserved region four of the protein and are likely to disrupt interactions with FpvR. Deletion of five amino acids from the C-terminal end of FpvI also disrupted interactions with FpvR. Mutations in PvdS were present in conserved regions two and four. Most of these mutations as well as deletion of thirteen amino acids from the C-terminal end of PvdS increased sigma factor activity independent of whether FpvR was present, suggesting that they increase either the stability of PvdS or its affinity for core RNA polymerase. Conclusions These data show that FpvR binds to PvdS in both P. aeruginosa and E. coli, inhibiting its activity. FpvR also binds to and inhibits FpvI and binding of FpvI is likely to involve conserved region four of the sigma factor protein. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-014-0287-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Edgar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. .,School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Matt Shirley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Anna F Konings
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Lois W Martin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - David F Ackerley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Iain L Lamont
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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