Association of iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of Neisseria meningitidis with the RmpM (class 4) protein

The Role of the Moraxella catarrhalis CopB Protein in Facilitating Iron Acquisition From Human Transferrin and Lactoferrin

Moraxella catarrhalis is a Gram-negative bacterium that is responsible for a substantial proportion of upper respiratory infections in children and lower respiratory infections in the elderly. Moraxella catarrhalis resides exclusively on the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract of humans and is capable of directly acquiring iron for growth from the host glycoproteins human transferrin (hTf) and human lactoferrin (hLf). The iron-bound form of these glycoproteins is initially captured by the surface lipoproteins Tf or Lf binding protein B (TbpB or LbpB) and delivered to the integral outer membrane TonB-dependent transport (TBDT) proteins, Tf binding protein A (TbpA) or Lf binding protein A (LbpA). The extraction of iron involves conformational changes in Lf and Tf to facilitate iron removal followed by its transport across the outer membrane by a well characterized process for TBDTs. Surprisingly the disruption of the gene encoding another TBDT, CopB, results in a reduction in the ability to grow on human Tf or Lf. The possibility that this could have been due to an artifact of mutant construction that resulted in the inhibition of TonB-mediated process was eliminated by a complete deletion of the CopB gene. A systematic evaluation of the impact on growth under various conditions by deletions of the genes encoding TbpA, LbpA, and CopB as well as mutations of the iron liganding residues and TonB box region of CopB was implemented. The results indicate that although CopB is capable of effectively acquiring iron from the growth medium, it does not directly acquire iron from Tf or Lf. We propose that the indirect effect on iron transport from Tf and Lf by CopB could possibly be explained by the association of TBDTs at gaps in the peptidoglycan layer that may enhance the efficiency of the process. This concept is supported by previous studies demonstrating an indirect effect on growth of Tf and Lf by deletion of the peptidoglycan binding outer membrane lipoprotein RmpM in Neisseria that also reduced the formation of larger complexes of TBDTs.

Neisseria meningitidis Lacking the Major Porins PorA and PorB Is Viable and Modulates Apoptosis and the Oxidative Burst of Neutrophils

The bacterial pathogen Neisseria meningitidis expresses two major outer-membrane porins. PorA expression is subject to phase-variation (high frequency, random, on-off switching), and both PorA and PorB are antigenically variable between strains. PorA expression is variable and not correlated with meningococcal colonisation or invasive disease, whereas all naturally-occurring strains express PorB suggesting strong selection for expression. We have generated N. meningitidis strains lacking expression of both major porins, demonstrating that they are dispensable for bacterial growth in vitro. The porAB mutant strain has an exponential growth rate similar to the parental strain, as do the single porA or porB mutants, but the porAB mutant strain does not reach the same cell density in stationary phase. Proteomic analysis suggests that the double mutant strain exhibits compensatory expression changes in proteins associated with cellular redox state, energy/nutrient metabolism, and membrane stability. On solid media, there is obvious growth impairment that is rescued by addition of blood or serum from mammalian species, particularly heme. These porin mutants are not impaired in their capacity to inhibit both staurosporine-induced apoptosis and a phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced oxidative burst in human neutrophils suggesting that the porins are not the only bacterial factors that can modulate these processes in host cells.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae PIII has a role on NG1873 outer membrane localization and is involved in bacterial adhesion to human cervical and urethral epithelial cells

Background

Protein PIII is one of the major outer membrane proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 95% identical to RmpM (reduction modifiable protein M) or class 4 protein of Neisseria meningitidis. RmpM is known to be a membrane protein associated by non-covalent bonds to the peptidoglycan layer and interacting with PorA/PorB porin complexes resulting in the stabilization of the bacterial membrane. The C-terminal domain of PIII (and RmpM) is highly homologous to members of the OmpA family, known to have a role in adhesion/invasion in many bacterial species. The contribution of PIII in the membrane architecture and its role in the interaction with epithelial cells has never been investigated.

Results

We generated a ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain and evaluated the effects of the loss of PIII expression on bacterial morphology and on outer membrane composition. Deletion of the pIII gene does not cause any alteration in bacterial morphology or sensitivity to detergents. Moreover, the expression profile of the main membrane proteins remains the same for the wild-type and knock-out strains, with the exception of the NG1873 which is not exported to the outer membrane and accumulates in the inner membrane in the ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain.

We also show that purified PIII protein is able to bind human cervical and urethral cells and that the ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain has a lower ability to adhere to human cervical and urethral cells.

Conclusion

Here we demonstrated that the PIII protein does not play a key structural role in the membrane organization of gonococcus and does not induce major effects on the expression of the main outer membrane proteins. However, in the PIII knock-out strain, the NG1873 protein is not localized in the outer membrane as it is in the wild-type strain suggesting a possible interaction of PIII with NG1873. The evidence that PIII binds to human epithelial cells derived from the female and male genital tract highlights a possible role of PIII in the virulence of gonococcus and suggests that the structural homology to OmpA is conserved also at functional level.

High resolution clear native electrophoresis (hrCNE) allows a detailed analysis of the heterotrimeric structure of recombinant Neisseria meningitidis porins inserted into liposomes

Three recombinant proteins of Neisseria meningitidis, rPorB, rPorA, and rRmpM, were purified and incorporated into liposomes prepared by dialysis-extrusion. The protein complexes formed using different combinations of recombinant proteins were studied by high resolution clear native electrophoresis (hrCNE) and 2-D hrCNE/SDS-PAGE, analyzing the influence of the stoichiometry of the two porins in the formation of complexes and comparing them with native porin complexes present in OMVs from five different N. meningitidis strains. Insertion of the recombinant proteins into liposomes allowed a complete refolding of porin complexes, and the electrophoretic analyses showed that, when the three recombinant proteins are present, the pattern of porin complexes obtained is similar to that observed in native OMVs. We could show homocomplexes of each individual porin and PorA/PorB, RmpM/PorB, and PorA/PorB/RmpM heterocomplexes. Our results suggest that RmpM binds only to PorB, confirm the trimeric structure of N. meningitidis pores, and demonstrate that insertion into liposomes restores the native structure of porin complexes.

Acinetobacter baumannii outer membrane protein A modulates the biogenesis of outer membrane vesicles

Acinetobacter baumannii secretes outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) during both in vitro and in vivo growth, but the biogenesis mechanism by which A. baumannii produces OMVs remains undefined. Outer membrane protein A of A. baumannii (AbOmpA) is a major protein in the outer membrane and the C-terminus of AbOmpA interacts with diaminopimelate of peptidoglycan. This study investigated the role of AbOmpA in the biogenesis of A. baumannii OMVs. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to analyze OMV biogenesis in A. baumannii ATCC 19606T and an isogenic ΔAbOmpA mutant. OMV production was significantly increased in the ΔAbOmpA mutant compared to wild-type bacteria as demonstrated by quantitation of proteins and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) packaged in OMVs. LPS profiles prepared from OMVs from wild-type bacteria and the ΔAbOmpA mutant had identical patterns, but proteomic analysis showed different protein constituents in OMVs from wild-type bacteria compared to the ΔAbOmpA mutant. In conclusion, AbOmpA influences OMV biogenesis by controlling OMV production and protein composition.

The BAM complex subunit BamE (SmpA) is required for membrane integrity, stalk growth and normal levels of outer membrane {beta}-barrel proteins in Caulobacter crescentus

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is an essential compartment containing a specific complement of lipids and proteins that constitute a protective, selective permeability barrier. Outer membrane beta-barrel proteins are assembled into the membrane by the essential hetero-oligomeric BAM complex, which contains the lipoprotein BamE. We have identified a homologue of BamE, encoded by CC1365, which is located in the outer membrane of the stalked alpha-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus. BamE associates with proteins whose homologues in other bacteria are known to participate in outer membrane protein assembly: BamA (CC1915), BamB (CC1653) and BamD (CC1984). Caulobacter cells lacking BamE grow slowly in rich medium and are hypersensitive to anionic detergents, some antibiotics and heat exposure, which suggest that the membrane integrity of the mutant is compromised. Membranes of the DeltabamE mutant have normal amounts of the outer membrane protein RsaF, a TolC homologue, but are deficient in CpaC*, an aggregated form of the outer membrane secretin for type IV pili. Delta bamE membranes also contain greatly reduced amounts of three TonB-dependent receptors that are abundant in wild-type cells. Cells lacking BamE have short stalks and are delayed in stalk outgrowth during the cell cycle. Based on these findings, we propose that Caulobacter BamE participates in the assembly of outer membrane beta-barrel proteins, including one or more substrates required for the initiation of stalk biogenesis.

The beta-barrel outer membrane protein assembly complex of Neisseria meningitidis

The evolutionarily conserved protein Omp85 is required for outer membrane protein (OMP) assembly in gram-negative bacteria and in mitochondria. Its Escherichia coli homolog, designated BamA, functions with four accessory lipoproteins, BamB, BamC, BamD, and BamE, together forming the beta-barrel assembly machinery (Bam). Here, we addressed the composition of this machinery and the function of its components in Neisseria meningitidis, a model organism for outer membrane biogenesis studies. Analysis of genome sequences revealed homologs of BamC, BamD (previously described as ComL), and BamE and a second BamE homolog, Mlp. No homolog of BamB was found. As in E. coli, ComL/BamD appeared essential for viability and for OMP assembly, and it could not be replaced by its E. coli homolog. BamE was not essential but was found to contribute to the efficiency of OMP assembly and to the maintenance of OM integrity. A bamC mutant showed only marginal OMP assembly defects, but the impossibility of creating a bamC bamE double mutant further indicated the function of BamC in OMP assembly. An mlp mutant was unaffected in OMP assembly. The results of copurification assays demonstrated the association of BamC, ComL, and BamE with Omp85. Semi-native gel electrophoresis identified the RmpM protein as an additional component of the Omp85 complex, which was confirmed in copurification assays. RmpM was not required for OMP folding but stabilized OMP complexes. Thus, the Bam complex in N. meningitidis consists of Omp85/BamA plus RmpM, BamC, ComL/BamD, and BamE, of which ComL/BamD and BamE appear to be the most important accessory components for OMP assembly.

Biogenesis of the gram-negative bacterial outer membrane

The cell envelope of gram-negative bacteria consists of two membranes, the inner and the outer membrane, that are separated by the periplasm. The outer membrane consists of phospholipids, lipopolysaccharides, integral membrane proteins, and lipoproteins. These components are synthesized in the cytoplasm or at the inner leaflet of the inner membrane and have to be transported across the inner membrane and through the periplasm to assemble eventually in the correct membrane. Recent studies in Neisseria meningitidis and Escherichia coli have led to the identification of several machineries implicated in these transport and assembly processes.

Proteomic analysis of a meningococcal outer membrane vesicle vaccine prepared from the group B strain NZ98/254

In the absence of a suitable carbohydrate-based vaccine, outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines have been used to disrupt outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease for more than 20 years. Proteomic technology provides physical methods with the potential to assess the composition and consistency of these complex vaccines. 2-DE, combined with MS, were used to generate a proteome map of an OMV vaccine, developed to disrupt a long-running outbreak of group B disease in New Zealand. Seventy four spots from the protein map were identified including the outer membrane protein (OMP) antigens: PorA, PorB, RmpM and OpcA. Protein identification indicates that, in addition to OMPs, OMV vaccines contain periplasmic, membrane-associated and cytoplasmic proteins. 2-D-DIGE technology highlighted differences between preclinical development batches of vaccines from two different manufacturers.

Immunogenicity and structural characterisation of an in vitro folded meningococcal siderophore receptor (FrpB, FetA)

The iron-limitation-inducible protein FrpB of Neisseria meningitidis is an outer-membrane-localized siderophore receptor. Because of its abundance and its capacity to elicit bactericidal antibodies, it is considered a vaccine candidate. Bactericidal antibodies against FrpB are, however, type-specific. Hence, an FrpB-based vaccine should comprise several FrpB variants to be capable of providing broad protection. To facilitate the development of a meningococcal subunit vaccine, we have established a procedure to obtain large quantities of the protein in a native-like conformation. The protein was expressed without its signal sequence in Escherichia coli, where it accumulated in inclusion bodies. After in vitro folding, the protein was biochemically, biophysically and biologically characterised. Our results show that in vitro folded FrpB assembles into oligomers, presumably dimers, and that it induces high levels of bactericidal antibodies in laboratory animals.

High resolution crystal structures and molecular dynamics studies reveal substrate binding in the porin Omp32

The porin Omp32 is the major outer membrane protein of the bacterium Delftia acidovorans. The crystal structures of the strongly anion-selective porin alone and in complex with the substrate malate were solved at 1.5 and 1.45 A resolution, respectively, and revealed a malate-binding motif adjacent to the channel constriction zone. Binding is mediated by interaction with a cluster of two arginine residues and two threonines. This binding site is specific for Omp32 and reflects the physiological adaptation of the organism to organic acids. Structural studies are combined with a 7-ns unbiased molecular dynamics simulation of the trimeric channel in a model membrane. Molecular dynamics trajectories show how malate ions are efficiently captured from the surrounding bulk solution by the electrostatic potential of the channel, translocated to the binding site region, and immobilized in the constriction zone. In accordance with these results, conductance measurements with Omp32 inserted in planar lipid membranes revealed binding of malate. The anion-selective channel Omp32 is the first reported example of a porin with a 16-stranded beta-barrel and proven substrate specificity. This finding suggests a new view on the correlation of porin structure with substrate binding in specific channels.

Structure of the OmpA-like domain of RmpM from Neisseria meningitidis

RmpM is a putative peptidoglycan binding protein from Neisseria meningitidis that has been shown to interact with integral outer membrane proteins such as porins and TonB-dependent transporters. Here we report the 1.9 A crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of RmpM. The 150-residue domain adopts a betaalphabetaalphabetabeta fold, as first identified in Bacillus subtilis chorismate mutase. The C-terminal RmpM domain is homologous to the periplasmic, C-terminal domain of Escherichia coli OmpA; these domains are thought to be responsible for non-covalent interactions with peptidoglycan. From the structure of the OmpA-like domain of RmpM, we suggest a putative peptidoglycan binding site and identify residues that may be essential for binding. Both the crystal structure and solution experiments indicate that RmpM may exist as a dimer. This would promote more efficient peptidoglycan binding, by allowing RmpM to interact simultaneously with two glycan chains through its C-terminal, OmpA-like binding domain, while its (structurally uncharacterized) N-terminal domain could stabilize oligomers of porins and TonB-dependent transporters in the outer membrane.

Antigenic diversity of meningococcal enterobactin receptor FetA, a vaccine component

Meningococcal FetA (FrpB), an iron-regulated outer-membrane protein and vaccine component, was shown to be highly diverse: a total of 60 fetA alleles, encoding 56 protein sequences, were identified from 107 representative Neisseria meningitidis isolates. Phylogenetic analysis established that the allelic variants had been generated by both point mutation and horizontal genetic exchange. Nucleotide substitution was unevenly distributed in the gene, which contained both conserved and variable sequence regions. The most conserved region of the translated peptide sequence corresponded to an amino-terminal domain of the protein and the most diverse region to a previously identified variable region (VR). A nomenclature system for the peptides encoded by the VR was devised which classified 24 variants into 5 FetA variant families. On the basis of these data, murine polyclonal sera specific for four FetA variants were generated. The reactivities of these sera in whole-cell ELISA experiments were consistent with the hypothesis that the VR encoded an immunodominant epitope and indicated that the sera reacted mainly with variants against which they were raised. The diversity of this protein is likely to limit its effectiveness as a vaccine component.

Role of a highly conserved bacterial protein in outer membrane protein assembly

After transport across the cytoplasmic membrane, bacterial outer membrane proteins are assembled into the outer membrane. Meningococcal Omp85 is a highly conserved protein in Gram-negative bacteria, and its homolog Toc75 is a component of the chloroplast protein-import machinery. Omp85 appeared to be essential for viability, and unassembled forms of various outer membrane proteins accumulated upon Omp85 depletion. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed decreased surface exposure of outer membrane proteins, which was particularly apparent at the cell-division planes. Thus, Omp85 is likely to play a role in outer membrane protein assembly.

Outer membrane composition of a lipopolysaccharide-deficient Neisseria meningitidis mutant

In the pathogen Neisseria meningitidis, a completely lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-deficient but viable mutant can be obtained by insertional inactivation of the lpxA gene, encoding UDP-GlcNAc acyltransferase required for the first step of lipid A biosynthesis. To study how outer membrane structure and biogenesis are affected by the absence of this normally major component, inner and outer membranes were separated and their composition analysed. The expression and assembly of integral outer membrane proteins appeared largely unaffected. However, the expression of iron limitation-inducible, cell surface-exposed lipoproteins was greatly reduced. Major changes were seen in the phospholipid composition, with a shift towards phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol species containing mostly shorter chain, saturated fatty acids, one of which was unique to the LPS-deficient outer membrane. The presence of the capsular polysaccharide turned out to be essential for viability without LPS, as demonstrated by using a strain in which LPS biosynthesis could be switched on or off through a tac promoter-controlled lpxA gene. Taken together, these results can help to explain why meningococci have the unique ability to survive without LPS.

Analysis of the expression of the putatively virulence-associated neisserial protein RmpM (class 4) in commensal Neisseria and Moraxella catarrhalis strains

The RmpM protein has been reported to be present only in pathogenic Neisseria species. In the present study we demonstrate that this protein is also present at least in N. lactamica and N. sicca strains. The N. lactamica protein reacts with a RmpM-specific monoclonal antibody (185,H-8), having a molecular mass ( approximately 31 kDa) slightly lower than that of the meningococcal RmpM, and mouse antibodies from sera against outer membrane vesicles from both N. lactamica and N. sicca strains cross-react with the meningococcal RmpM. PCR and hybridization experiments with a complete rmpM probe agree with the immunodetection experiments. Our results strongly suggest that the meningococcal RmpM should not be considered a virulence marker, and the presence of this protein in the commensal species agrees with its role as a structural protein, proposed for the RmpM, which should be considerably conserved in the Neisseria species.