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Saïdi F, Jolivet NY, Lemon DJ, Nakamura A, Belgrave AM, Garza AG, Veyrier FJ, Islam ST. Bacterial glycocalyx integrity drives multicellular swarm biofilm dynamism. Mol Microbiol 2021; 116:1151-1172. [PMID: 34455651 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Exopolysaccharide (EPS) layers on the bacterial cell surface are key determinants of biofilm establishment and maintenance, leading to the formation of higher-order 3D structures that confer numerous survival benefits to a cell community. In addition to a specific cell-associated EPS glycocalyx, we recently revealed that the social δ-proteobacterium Myxococcus xanthus secretes a novel biosurfactant polysaccharide (BPS) to the extracellular milieu. Together, secretion of the two polymers (EPS and BPS) is required for type IV pilus (T4P)-dependent swarm expansion via spatio-specific biofilm expression profiles. Thus the synergy between EPS and BPS secretion somehow modulates the multicellular lifecycle of M. xanthus. Herein, we demonstrate that BPS secretion functionally alters the EPS glycocalyx via destabilization of the latter, fundamentally changing the characteristics of the cell surface. This impacts motility behaviors at the single-cell level and the aggregative capacity of cells in groups via cell-surface EPS fibril formation as well as T4P production, stability, and positioning. These changes modulate the structure of swarm biofilms via cell layering, likely contributing to the formation of internal swarm polysaccharide architecture. Together, these data reveal the manner by which the combined secretion of two distinct polymers induces single-cell changes that modulate swarm biofilm communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fares Saïdi
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Université du Québec, Institut Pasteur International Network, Laval, Quebec, Canada.,PROTEO, The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering, and Applications, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Y Jolivet
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Université du Québec, Institut Pasteur International Network, Laval, Quebec, Canada.,PROTEO, The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering, and Applications, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - David J Lemon
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Arnaldo Nakamura
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Université du Québec, Institut Pasteur International Network, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Akeisha M Belgrave
- Integrated Sciences Program, Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anthony G Garza
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Frédéric J Veyrier
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Université du Québec, Institut Pasteur International Network, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Salim T Islam
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Université du Québec, Institut Pasteur International Network, Laval, Quebec, Canada.,PROTEO, The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering, and Applications, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
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Pérez-Burgos M, Søgaard-Andersen L. Biosynthesis and function of cell-surface polysaccharides in the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus. Biol Chem 2021; 401:1375-1387. [PMID: 32769218 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2020-0217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In bacteria, cell-surface polysaccharides fulfill important physiological functions, including interactions with the environment and other cells as well as protection from diverse stresses. The Gram-negative delta-proteobacterium Myxococcus xanthus is a model to study social behaviors in bacteria. M. xanthus synthesizes four cell-surface polysaccharides, i.e., exopolysaccharide (EPS), biosurfactant polysaccharide (BPS), spore coat polysaccharide, and O-antigen. Here, we describe recent progress in elucidating the three Wzx/Wzy-dependent pathways for EPS, BPS and spore coat polysaccharide biosynthesis and the ABC transporter-dependent pathway for O-antigen biosynthesis. Moreover, we describe the functions of these four cell-surface polysaccharides in the social life cycle of M. xanthus.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pérez-Burgos
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lotte Søgaard-Andersen
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
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Troselj V, Pathak DT, Wall D. Conditional requirement of SglT for type IV pili function and S-motility in Myxococcus xanthus. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2020; 166:349-358. [PMID: 32039748 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Myxobacteria exhibit complex social behaviors such as predation, outer membrane exchange and fruiting body formation. These behaviors depend on coordinated movements of cells on solid surfaces that involve social (S) motility. S-motility is powered by extension-retraction cycles of type 4 pili (Tfp) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) that provide a matrix for group cellular movement. Here, we characterized a new class of S-motility mutants in Myxococcus xanthus. These mutants have a distinctive phenotype: they lack S-motility even though they produce pili and EPS and the phenotype is temperature-sensitive. The point mutations were mapped to a single locus, MXAN_3284, named sglT. Similar to pilT mutants, sglT mutants are hyperpiliated and, strikingly, the temperature-sensitive phenotype is caused by null mutations. Our results indicate that SglT plays a critical role in Tfp function associated with pilus retraction and that the block in pili retraction is caused by a Tfp assembly defect in the absence of SglT at high-temperature growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Troselj
- Present address: The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, CA 94720, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Avenue, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Darshankumar T Pathak
- Present address: Crop Science Division, Microbiology & Biologics, Bayer, 890 Embarcadero Drive, Sacramento, CA 95605, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Avenue, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Daniel Wall
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Avenue, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
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Cyclic Di-GMP Regulates Type IV Pilus-Dependent Motility in Myxococcus xanthus. J Bacteriol 2015; 198:77-90. [PMID: 26124238 PMCID: PMC4686200 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00281-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleotide-based second messenger bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) is involved in regulating a plethora of processes in bacteria that are typically associated with lifestyle changes. Myxococcus xanthus undergoes major lifestyle changes in response to nutrient availability, with the formation of spreading colonies in the presence of nutrients and spore-filled fruiting bodies in the absence of nutrients. Here, we investigated the function of c-di-GMP in M. xanthus and show that this bacterium synthesizes c-di-GMP during growth. Manipulation of the c-di-GMP level by expression of either an active, heterologous diguanylate cyclase or an active, heterologous phosphodiesterase correlated with defects in type IV pilus (T4P)-dependent motility, whereas gliding motility was unaffected. An increased level of c-di-GMP correlated with reduced transcription of the pilA gene (which encodes the major pilin of T4P), reduced the assembly of T4P, and altered cell agglutination, whereas a decreased c-di-GMP level correlated with altered cell agglutination. The systematic inactivation of the 24 genes in M. xanthus encoding proteins containing GGDEF, EAL, or HD-GYP domains, which are associated with c-di-GMP synthesis, degradation, or binding, identified three genes encoding proteins important for T4P-dependent motility, whereas all mutants had normal gliding motility. Purified DmxA had diguanylate cyclase activity, whereas the hybrid histidine protein kinases TmoK and SgmT, each of which contains a GGDEF domain, did not have diguanylate cyclase activity. These results demonstrate that c-di-GMP is important for T4P-dependent motility in M. xanthus. IMPORTANCE We provide the first direct evidence that M. xanthus synthesizes c-di-GMP and demonstrate that c-di-GMP is important for T4P-dependent motility, whereas we did not obtain evidence that c-di-GMP regulates gliding motility. The data presented uncovered a novel mechanism for regulation of T4P-dependent motility, in which increased levels of c-di-GMP inhibit transcription of the pilA gene (which encodes the major pilin of T4P), ultimately resulting in the reduced assembly of T4P. Moreover, we identified an enzymatically active diguanylate cyclase that is important for T4P-dependent motility.
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Abstract
A new class of protein phosphatases has emerged in the study of bacterial/archaeal chemotaxis, the CheC-type phosphatases. These proteins are distinct and unrelated to the well-known CheY-P phosphatase CheZ, though they have convergently evolved to dephosphorylate the same target. The family contains a common consensus sequence D/S-X(3)-E-X(2)-N-X(22)-P that defines the phosphatase active site, of which there are often two per protein. Three distinct subgroups make up the family: CheC, FliY and CheX. Further, the CheC subgroup can be divided into three classes. Bacillus subtilis CheC typifies the first class and might function as a regulator of CheD. Class II CheCs likely function as phosphatases in systems other than chemotaxis. Class III CheCs are found in the archaeal class Halobacteria and might function as class I CheCs. FliY is the main phosphatase in the B. subtilis chemotaxis system. CheX is quite divergent from the rest of the family, forms a dimer and some may function outside chemotaxis. A model for the evolution of the family is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis J Muff
- Department of Biochemistry, Colleges of Medicine and Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Abstract
Myxococcus xanthus is a surface-motile bacterium that has adapted at least one chemosensory system to allow directed movement towards the slowly diffusible lipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The Dif chemosensory pathway is remarkable because it has at least three inputs coupled to outputs that control extracellular matrix (ECM) production and lipid chemotaxis. The methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein, DifA, has two different sensor inputs that have been localized by mutagenesis. The Dif chemosensory pathway employs a novel protein that slows adaptation. Lipid chemotaxis may play important roles in the M. xanthus life cycle where prey-specific and development-specific attractants have been identified. Lipid chemotaxis may also be an important mechanism for locating nutrients by lung pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J Bonner
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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