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Pöhl S, Osorio-Valeriano M, Cserti E, Harberding J, Hernandez-Tamayo R, Biboy J, Sobetzko P, Vollmer W, Graumann PL, Thanbichler M. A dynamic bactofilin cytoskeleton cooperates with an M23 endopeptidase to control bacterial morphogenesis. eLife 2024; 12:RP86577. [PMID: 38294932 PMCID: PMC10945521 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86577] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Bactofilins have emerged as a widespread family of cytoskeletal proteins with important roles in bacterial morphogenesis, but their precise mode of action is still incompletely understood. In this study, we identify the bactofilin cytoskeleton as a key regulator of cell growth in the stalked budding alphaproteobacterium Hyphomonas neptunium. We show that, in this species, bactofilin polymers localize dynamically to the stalk base and the bud neck, with their absence leading to unconstrained growth of the stalk and bud compartments, indicating a central role in the spatial regulation of cell wall biosynthesis. Database searches reveal that bactofilin genes are often clustered with genes for cell wall hydrolases of the M23 peptidase family, suggesting a functional connection between these two types of proteins. In support of this notion, we find that the H. neptunium M23 peptidase homolog LmdC interacts directly with bactofilin in vitro and is required for proper cell shape in vivo. Complementary studies in the spiral-shaped alphaproteobacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum again reveal a close association of its bactofilin and LmdC homologs, which co-localize at the inner curve of the cell, modulating the degree of cell curvature. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that bactofilins and M23 peptidases form a conserved functional module that promotes local changes in the mode of cell wall biosynthesis, thereby driving cell shape determination in morphologically complex bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Pöhl
- Department of Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, GermanyMarburgGermany
| | - Manuel Osorio-Valeriano
- Department of Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, GermanyMarburgGermany
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial MicrobiologyMarburgGermany
| | - Emöke Cserti
- Department of Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, GermanyMarburgGermany
| | - Jannik Harberding
- Department of Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, GermanyMarburgGermany
| | - Rogelio Hernandez-Tamayo
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial MicrobiologyMarburgGermany
- Department of Chemistry, University of MarburgMarburgGermany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO)MarburgGermany
| | - Jacob Biboy
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Waldemar Vollmer
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Peter L Graumann
- Department of Chemistry, University of MarburgMarburgGermany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO)MarburgGermany
| | - Martin Thanbichler
- Department of Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, GermanyMarburgGermany
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial MicrobiologyMarburgGermany
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2
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Tuzlak L, Alves-Ferreira EVC, Schwartz CL, Kennard A, Leung JM, Shehata C, Grigg ME. Fine structure and molecular characterization of two new parabasalid species that naturally colonize laboratory mice, Tritrichomonas musculus and Tritrichomonas casperi. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2023; 70:e12989. [PMID: 37300520 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Tritrichomonas muris is a common flagellated protist isolated from the cecum of wild rodents. This commensal protist has been shown previously to alter immune phenotypes in laboratory mice. Other trichomonads, referred to as Tritrichomonas musculis and Tritrichomonas rainier, also naturally colonize laboratory mice and cause immune alterations. This report formally describes two new trichomonads, Tritrichomonas musculus n. sp., and Tritrichomonas casperi n. sp., at the ultrastructural and molecular level. These two protists were isolated from laboratory mice and were differentiated by their size and the structure of their undulating membrane and posterior flagellum. Analysis at the 18S rRNA and trans-ITS genetic loci supported their designation as distinct species, related to T. muris. To assess the true extent of parabasalid diversity infecting laboratory mice, 135 mice bred at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were screened using pan-parabasalid primers that amplify the trans-ITS region. Forty-four percent of mice were positive for parabasalids, encompassing a total of eight distinct sequence types. Tritrichomonas casperi and Trichomitus-like protists were dominant. T. musculus and T. rainier were also detected, but T. muris was not. Our work establishes a previously underappreciated diversity of commensal trichomonad flagellates that naturally colonize the enteric cavity of laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Tuzlak
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eliza V C Alves-Ferreira
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cindi L Schwartz
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Research Technologies Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Andrea Kennard
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Leung
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Research Technologies Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Christina Shehata
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael E Grigg
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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3
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Richter P, Melzer B, Müller FD. Interacting bactofilins impact cell shape of the MreB-less multicellular Rhodomicrobium vannielii. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010788. [PMID: 37256900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Most non-spherical bacteria rely on the actin-like MreB cytoskeleton to control synthesis of a cell-shaping and primarily rod-like cell wall. Diverging from simple rod shape generally requires accessory cytoskeletal elements, which locally interfere with the MreB-guided cell wall synthesis. Conserved and widespread representatives of this accessory cytoskeleton are bactofilins that polymerize into static, non-polar bundles of filaments. Intriguingly, many species of the Actinobacteria and Rhizobiales manage to grow rod-like without MreB by tip extension, yet some of them still possess bactofilin genes, whose function in cell morphogenesis is unknown. An intricate representative of these tip-growing bacteria is Rhodomicrobium vannielii; a member of the hitherto genetically not tractable and poorly studied Hyphomicrobiaceae within the MreB-less Rhizobiales order. R. vannielii displays complex asymmetric cell shapes and differentiation patterns including filamentous hyphae to produce offspring and to build dendritic multicellular arrays. Here, we introduce techniques to genetically access R. vannielii, and we elucidate the role of bactofilins in its sophisticated morphogenesis. By targeted mutagenesis and fluorescence microscopy, protein interaction studies and peptidoglycan incorporation analysis we show that the R. vannielii bactofilins are associated with the hyphal growth zones and that one of them is essential to form proper hyphae. Another paralog is suggested to represent a novel hybrid and co-polymerizing bactofilin. Notably, we present R. vannielii as a powerful new model to understand prokaryotic cell development and control of multipolar cell growth in the absence of the conserved cytoskeletal element, MreB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Richter
- Department of Microbiology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Brigitte Melzer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- Max Rubner-Institute, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Kulmbach, Germany
| | - Frank D Müller
- Department of Microbiology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
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4
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Qi P, Wang N, Zhang T, Feng Y, Zhou X, Zeng D, Meng J, Liu L, Jin L, Yang S. Anti-Virulence Strategy of Novel Dehydroabietic Acid Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, and Antibacterial Evaluation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2897. [PMID: 36769220 PMCID: PMC9917773 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-virulence strategies are attractive and interesting strategies for controlling bacterial diseases because virulence factors are fundamental to the infection process of numerous serious phytopathogenics. To extend the novel anti-virulence agents, a series of dehydroabietic acid (DAA) derivatives decorated with amino alcohol unit were semi-synthesized based on structural modification of the renewable natural DAA and evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa). Compound 2b showed the most promising antibacterial activity against Xoo with an EC50 of 2.7 μg mL-1. Furthermore, compound 2b demonstrated remarkable control effectiveness against bacterial leaf blight (BLB) in rice, with values of 48.6% and 61.4% for curative and protective activities. In addition, antibacterial behavior suggested that compound 2b could suppress various virulence factors, including EPS, biofilm, swimming motility, and flagella. Therefore, the current study provided promising lead compounds for novel bactericides discovery by inhibiting bacterial virulence factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xiang Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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5
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Tuzlak L, Alves-Ferreira EV, Kennard A, Shehata C, Schwartz CL, Grigg ME. Ultrastructural identification and molecular characterization of two new parabasalid species that naturally colonize laboratory mice, Tritrichomonas musculus and Tritrichomonas casperi. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.20.524969. [PMID: 36789430 PMCID: PMC9928039 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.524969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Tritrichomonas muris is a flagellated protist isolated from the cecum of wild mice in the Czech Republic. This commensal protist has been shown previously to alter immune phenotypes in laboratory mice. Other trichomonads, previously referred to as Tritrichomonas musculis and Tritrichomonas rainier , also naturally colonize laboratory mice and cause immune alterations. This report formally describes two new trichomonads, Tritrichomonas musculus n. sp., and Tritrichomonas casperi n. sp., at the ultrastructural and molecular level. These two protists were isolated from laboratory mice, and were differentiated by their size and the structure of their undulating membrane and posterior flagellum. Analysis at the 18S rRNA and trans- ITS genetic loci supported their designation as distinct species, related to T. muris . To further assess the true extent of parabasalid diversity infecting laboratory mice, 135 mice were screened at the NIH using pan-parabasalid primers that amplify the trans- ITS region. Forty-four percent of mice were positive for parabasalids, encompassing a total of 8 distinct sequence types. Tritrichomonas casperi and Trichomitus- like protists were dominant. T. musculus and T. rainier were also detected, but T. muris was not. Our work establishes a previously underappreciated diversity of commensal trichomonad protists that naturally colonize the enteric cavity of laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Tuzlak
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Eliza V.C. Alves-Ferreira
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Andrea Kennard
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Christina Shehata
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Cindi L. Schwartz
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Research Technologies Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, 59840, USA
| | - Michael E. Grigg
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
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6
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Sichel SR, Bratton BP, Salama NR. Distinct regions of H. pylori's bactofilin CcmA regulate protein-protein interactions to control helical cell shape. eLife 2022; 11:e80111. [PMID: 36073778 PMCID: PMC9507126 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80111] [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: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The helical shape of Helicobacter pylori cells promotes robust stomach colonization; however, how the helical shape of H. pylori cells is determined is unresolved. Previous work identified helical-cell-shape-promoting protein complexes containing a peptidoglycan-hydrolase (Csd1), a peptidoglycan precursor synthesis enzyme (MurF), a non-enzymatic homolog of Csd1 (Csd2), non-enzymatic transmembrane proteins (Csd5 and Csd7), and a bactofilin (CcmA). Bactofilins are highly conserved, spontaneously polymerizing cytoskeletal bacterial proteins. We sought to understand CcmA's function in generating the helical shape of H. pylori cells. Using CcmA deletion analysis, in vitro polymerization, and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation experiments, we identified that the bactofilin domain and N-terminal region of CcmA are required for helical cell shape and the bactofilin domain of CcmA is sufficient for polymerization and interactions with Csd5 and Csd7. We also found that CcmA's N-terminal region inhibits interaction with Csd7. Deleting the N-terminal region of CcmA increases CcmA-Csd7 interactions and destabilizes the peptidoglycan-hydrolase Csd1. Using super-resolution microscopy, we found that Csd5 recruits CcmA to the cell envelope and promotes CcmA enrichment at the major helical axis. Thus, CcmA helps organize cell-shape-determining proteins and peptidoglycan synthesis machinery to coordinate cell wall modification and synthesis, promoting the curvature required to build a helical cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie R Sichel
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer CenterSeattleUnited States
- Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease Graduate Program, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Benjamin P Bratton
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleUnited States
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and InflammationNashvilleUnited States
| | - Nina R Salama
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer CenterSeattleUnited States
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7
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Samrot AV, Sean TC, Bhavya KS, Sahithya CS, Chan-drasekaran S, Palanisamy R, Robinson ER, Subbiah SK, Mok PL. Leptospiral Infection, Pathogenesis and Its Diagnosis-A Review. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020145. [PMID: 33535649 PMCID: PMC7912936 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a perplexing conundrum for many. In the existing literature, the pathophysiological mechanisms pertaining to leptospirosis is still not understood in full. Considered as a neglected tropical zoonotic disease, leptospirosis is culminating as a serious problem worldwide, seemingly existing as co-infections with various other unrelated diseases, including dengue and malaria. Misdiagnosis is also common as non-specific symptoms are documented extensively in the literature. This can easily lead to death, as the severe form of leptospirosis (Weil's disease) manifests as a complex of systemic complications, especially renal failure. The virulence of Leptospira sp. is usually attributed to the outer membrane proteins, including LipL32. With an armament of virulence factors at their disposal, their ability to easily adhere, invade and replicate within cells calls for a swift refinement in research progress to establish their exact pathophysiological framework. As an effort to reconstitute the current knowledge on leptospirosis, the basis of leptospiral infection, including its risk factors, classification, morphology, transmission, pathogenesis, co-infections and clinical manifestations are highlighted in this review. The various diagnostic techniques are also outlined with emphasis on their respective pros and cons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony V. Samrot
- School of Bioscience, Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, Jenjarom, Selangor 42610, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: (A.V.S.); (P.L.M.)
| | - Tan Chuan Sean
- School of Bioscience, Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, Jenjarom, Selangor 42610, Malaysia;
| | - Karanam Sai Bhavya
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio and Chemical Engineering, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Jeppiaar Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 627 011, India; (K.S.B.); (C.S.S.); (S.C.); (R.P.)
| | - Chamarthy Sai Sahithya
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio and Chemical Engineering, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Jeppiaar Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 627 011, India; (K.S.B.); (C.S.S.); (S.C.); (R.P.)
| | - SaiPriya Chan-drasekaran
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio and Chemical Engineering, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Jeppiaar Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 627 011, India; (K.S.B.); (C.S.S.); (S.C.); (R.P.)
| | - Raji Palanisamy
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio and Chemical Engineering, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Jeppiaar Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 627 011, India; (K.S.B.); (C.S.S.); (S.C.); (R.P.)
| | - Emilin Renitta Robinson
- Department of Food Processing Technology, Karunya Institute of Technology and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 114, India;
| | - Suresh Kumar Subbiah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia;
- Department of Biotechnology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Selaiyur, Tamil Nadu 600 073, India
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Pooi Ling Mok
- Department of Biotechnology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Selaiyur, Tamil Nadu 600 073, India
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka P.O. Box 2014, Aljouf Province, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (A.V.S.); (P.L.M.)
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8
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A bacterial cytolinker couples positioning of magnetic organelles to cell shape control. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:32086-32097. [PMID: 33257551 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014659117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetotactic bacteria maneuver within the geomagnetic field by means of intracellular magnetic organelles, magnetosomes, which are aligned into a chain and positioned at midcell by a dedicated magnetosome-specific cytoskeleton, the "magnetoskeleton." However, how magnetosome chain organization and resulting magnetotaxis is linked to cell shape has remained elusive. Here, we describe the cytoskeletal determinant CcfM (curvature-inducing coiled-coil filament interacting with the magnetoskeleton), which links the magnetoskeleton to cell morphology regulation in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense Membrane-anchored CcfM localizes in a filamentous pattern along regions of inner positive-cell curvature by its coiled-coil motifs, and independent of the magnetoskeleton. CcfM overexpression causes additional circumferential localization patterns, associated with a dramatic increase in cell curvature, and magnetosome chain mislocalization or complete chain disruption. In contrast, deletion of ccfM results in decreased cell curvature, impaired cell division, and predominant formation of shorter, doubled chains of magnetosomes. Pleiotropic effects of CcfM on magnetosome chain organization and cell morphology are supported by the finding that CcfM interacts with the magnetoskeleton-related MamY and the actin-like MamK via distinct motifs, and with the cell shape-related cytoskeleton via MreB. We further demonstrate that CcfM promotes motility and magnetic alignment in structured environments, and thus likely confers a selective advantage in natural habitats of magnetotactic bacteria, such as aquatic sediments. Overall, we unravel the function of a prokaryotic cytoskeletal constituent that is widespread in magnetic and nonmagnetic spirilla-shaped Alphaproteobacteria.
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9
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Abstract
Work identifying how stalk morphogenesis in a species of Alphaproteobacteria is controlled unveils an interesting mechanism that other bacteria may utilize to generate the variety of bacterial cell morphologies found across the bacterial domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie R Sichel
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Human Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nina R Salama
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Human Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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10
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Caccamo PD, Jacq M, VanNieuwenhze MS, Brun YV. A Division of Labor in the Recruitment and Topological Organization of a Bacterial Morphogenic Complex. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3908-3922.e4. [PMID: 32795444 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria come in an array of shapes and sizes, but the mechanisms underlying diverse morphologies are poorly understood. The peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall is the primary determinant of cell shape. At the molecular level, morphological variation often results from the regulation of enzymes involved in cell elongation and division. These enzymes are spatially controlled by cytoskeletal scaffolding proteins, which both recruit and organize the PG synthesis complex. How then do cells define alternative morphogenic processes that are distinct from cell elongation and division? To address this, we have turned to the specific morphotype of Alphaproteobacterial stalks. Stalk synthesis is a specialized form of zonal growth, which requires PG synthesis in a spatially constrained zone to extend a thin cylindrical projection of the cell envelope. The morphogen SpmX defines the site of stalk PG synthesis, but SpmX is a PG hydrolase. How then does a non-cytoskeletal protein, SpmX, define and constrain PG synthesis to form stalks? Here, we report that SpmX and the bactofilin BacA act in concert to regulate stalk synthesis in Asticcacaulis biprosthecum. We show that SpmX recruits BacA to the site of stalk synthesis. BacA then serves as a stalk-specific topological organizer for PG synthesis activity, including its recruiter SpmX, at the base of the stalk. In the absence of BacA, cells produce "pseudostalks" that are the result of unconstrained PG synthesis. Therefore, the protein responsible for recruitment of a morphogenic PG remodeling complex, SpmX, is distinct from the protein that topologically organizes the complex, BacA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Caccamo
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; School of Life Sciences, Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Maxime Jacq
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centreville, Montréal, Canada
| | - Michael S VanNieuwenhze
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 212 S. Hawthorne Drive, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Yves V Brun
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centreville, Montréal, Canada.
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11
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Salama NR. Cell morphology as a virulence determinant: lessons from Helicobacter pylori. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 54:11-17. [PMID: 32014717 PMCID: PMC7247928 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A genetic screen for colonization factors of the human stomach pathogen Helicobacter pylori took a surprising turn with the discovery that some colonization mutants had lost helical cell morphology. Further pursuit of direct morphology screens revealed a large H. pylori 'shapesome' complex consisting of peptidoglycan modification and precursor synthesis enzymes, a cytoskeletal element and putative scaffold or regulatory proteins that promote enhanced asymmetric cell wall growth. Functional characterization of H. pylori shape mutants indicates multiple roles for cell shape during colonization of mucosal surfaces. Conservation of both the molecular constituents of the H. pylori cell shape program and a newly appreciated enrichment of this morphotype at mucosal surface suggests that helical organisms may be particularly well poised to exploit host perturbations to become pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina R Salama
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, United States.
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12
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Taylor JA, Bratton BP, Sichel SR, Blair KM, Jacobs HM, DeMeester KE, Kuru E, Gray J, Biboy J, VanNieuwenhze MS, Vollmer W, Grimes CL, Shaevitz JW, Salama NR. Distinct cytoskeletal proteins define zones of enhanced cell wall synthesis in Helicobacter pylori. eLife 2020; 9:52482. [PMID: 31916938 PMCID: PMC7012605 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Helical cell shape is necessary for efficient stomach colonization by Helicobacter pylori, but the molecular mechanisms for generating helical shape remain unclear. The helical centerline pitch and radius of wild-type H. pylori cells dictate surface curvatures of considerably higher positive and negative Gaussian curvatures than those present in straight- or curved-rod H. pylori. Quantitative 3D microscopy analysis of short pulses with either N-acetylmuramic acid or D-alanine metabolic probes showed that cell wall growth is enhanced at both sidewall curvature extremes. Immunofluorescence revealed MreB is most abundant at negative Gaussian curvature, while the bactofilin CcmA is most abundant at positive Gaussian curvature. Strains expressing CcmA variants with altered polymerization properties lose helical shape and associated positive Gaussian curvatures. We thus propose a model where CcmA and MreB promote PG synthesis at positive and negative Gaussian curvatures, respectively, and that this patterning is one mechanism necessary for maintaining helical shape. Round spheres, straight rods, and twisting corkscrews, bacteria come in many different shapes. The shape of bacteria is dictated by their cell wall, the strong outer barrier of the cell. As bacteria grow and multiply, they must add to their cell wall while keeping the same basic shape. The cells walls are made from long chain-like molecules via processes that are guided by protein scaffolds within the cell. Many common antibiotics, including penicillin, stop bacterial infections by interrupting the growth of cell walls. Helicobacter pylori is a common bacterium that lives in the gut and, after many years, can cause stomach ulcers and stomach cancer. H. pylori are shaped in a twisting helix, much like a corkscrew. This shape helps H. pylori to take hold and colonize the stomach. It remains unclear how H. pylori creates and maintains its helical shape. The helix is much more curved than other bacteria, and H. pylori does not have the same helpful proteins that other curved bacteria do. If H. pylori grows asymmetrically, adding more material to the cell wall on its long outer side to create a twisting helix, what controls the process? To find out, Taylor et al. grew H. pylori cells and watched how the cell walls took shape. First, a fluorescent dye was attached to the building blocks of the cell wall or to underlying proteins that were thought to help direct its growth. The cells were then imaged in 3D, and images from hundreds of cells were reconstructed to analyze the growth patterns of the bacteria’s cell wall. A protein called CcmA was found most often on the long side of the twisting H. pylori. When the CcmA protein was isolated in a dish, it spontaneously formed sheets and helical bundles, confirming its role as a structural scaffold for the cell wall. When CcmA was absent from the cell of H. pylori, Taylor et al. observed that the pattern of cell growth changed substantially. This work identifies a key component directing the growth of the cell wall of H. pylori and therefore, a new target for antibiotics. Its helical shape is essential for H. pylori to infect the gut, so blocking the action of the CcmA protein may interrupt cell wall growth and prevent stomach infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Taylor
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States.,Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States
| | - Benjamin P Bratton
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Sophie R Sichel
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States.,Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Kris M Blair
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Holly M Jacobs
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Kristen E DeMeester
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, United States
| | - Erkin Kuru
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Joe Gray
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob Biboy
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Waldemar Vollmer
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine L Grimes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, United States
| | - Joshua W Shaevitz
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, United States.,Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Nina R Salama
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States.,Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States.,Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, United States.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
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13
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Deng X, Gonzalez Llamazares A, Wagstaff JM, Hale VL, Cannone G, McLaughlin SH, Kureisaite-Ciziene D, Löwe J. The structure of bactofilin filaments reveals their mode of membrane binding and lack of polarity. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:2357-2368. [PMID: 31501539 PMCID: PMC6881188 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0544-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bactofilins are small β-helical proteins that form cytoskeletal filaments in a range of bacteria. Bactofilins have diverse functions, from cell stalk formation in Caulobacter crescentus to chromosome segregation and motility in Myxococcus xanthus. However, the precise molecular architecture of bactofilin filaments has remained unclear. Here, sequence analysis and electron microscopy results reveal that, in addition to being widely distributed across bacteria and archaea, bactofilins are also present in a few eukaryotic lineages such as the Oomycetes. Electron cryomicroscopy analysis demonstrated that the sole bactofilin from Thermus thermophilus (TtBac) forms constitutive filaments that polymerize through end-to-end association of the β-helical domains. Using a nanobody, we determined the near-atomic filament structure, showing that the filaments are non-polar. A polymerization-impairing mutation enabled crystallization and structure determination, while reaffirming the lack of polarity and the strength of the β-stacking interface. To confirm the generality of the lack of polarity, we performed coevolutionary analysis on a large set of sequences. Finally, we determined that the widely conserved N-terminal disordered tail of TtBac is responsible for direct binding to lipid membranes, both on liposomes and in Escherichia coli cells. Membrane binding is probably a common feature of these widespread but only recently discovered filaments of the prokaryotic cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Deng
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jan Löwe
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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14
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Holtrup S, Heimerl T, Linne U, Altegoer F, Noll F, Waidner B. Biochemical characterization of the Helicobacter pylori bactofilin-homolog HP1542. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218474. [PMID: 31233532 PMCID: PMC6590870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The human pathogen Helicobacter pylori is known for its colonization of the upper digestive system, where it escapes the harsh acidic environment by hiding in the mucus layer. One factor promoting this colonization is the helical cell shape of H. pylori. Among shape determining proteins are cytoskeletal elements like the recently discovered bactofilins. Bactofilins constitute a widespread family of polymer-forming bacterial proteins whose biology is still poorly investigated. Here we describe the first biochemical analysis of the bactofilin HP1542 of H. pylori reference strain 26695. Purified HP1542 forms sheet-like 2D crystalline assemblies, which clearly depend on a natively structured C-terminus. Polymerization properties and protein stability were investigated. Additionally, we also could demarcate HP1542 from amyloid proteins that share similarities with the bactofilin DUF domain. By using zonal centrifugation of total H. pylori cell lysates and immunfluorescence analysis we revealed peripheral membrane association of HP1542 mostly pronounced near mid-cell. Interestingly our results indicate that H. pylori bactofilin does not contribute to cell wall stability. This study might act as a starting point for biophysical studies of the H. pylori bactofilin biology as well as for the investigation of bactofilin cell physiology in this organism. Importantly, this study is the first biochemical analysis of a bactofilin in a human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Holtrup
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Heimerl
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Linne
- Faculty of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - Florian Altegoer
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - Frank Noll
- Faculty of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Waidner
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
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15
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Taylor JA, Sichel SR, Salama NR. Bent Bacteria: A Comparison of Cell Shape Mechanisms in Proteobacteria. Annu Rev Microbiol 2019; 73:457-480. [PMID: 31206344 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-020518-115919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Helical cell shape appears throughout the bacterial phylogenetic tree. Recent exciting work characterizing cell shape mutants in a number of curved and helical Proteobacteria is beginning to suggest possible mechanisms and provide tools to assess functional significance. We focus here on Caulobacter crescentus, Vibrio cholerae, Helicobacter pylori, and Campylobacter jejuni, organisms from three classes of Proteobacteria that live in diverse environments, from freshwater and saltwater to distinct compartments within the gastrointestinal tract of humans and birds. Comparisons among these bacteria reveal common themes as well as unique solutions to the task of maintaining cell curvature. While motility appears to be influenced in all these bacteria when cell shape is perturbed, consequences on niche colonization are diverse, suggesting the need to consider additional selective pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Taylor
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA; .,Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Sophie R Sichel
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.,Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Nina R Salama
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA; .,Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
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16
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A specialized MreB-dependent cell wall biosynthetic complex mediates the formation of stalk-specific peptidoglycan in Caulobacter crescentus. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1007897. [PMID: 30707707 PMCID: PMC6373972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacteria have complex cell shapes, but the mechanisms producing their distinctive morphologies are still poorly understood. Caulobacter crescentus, for instance, exhibits a stalk-like extension that carries an adhesive holdfast mediating surface attachment. This structure forms through zonal peptidoglycan biosynthesis at the old cell pole and elongates extensively under phosphate-limiting conditions. We analyzed the composition of cell body and stalk peptidoglycan and identified significant differences in the nature and proportion of peptide crosslinks, indicating that the stalk represents a distinct subcellular domain with specific mechanical properties. To identify factors that participate in stalk formation, we systematically inactivated and localized predicted components of the cell wall biosynthetic machinery of C. crescentus. Our results show that the biosynthesis of stalk peptidoglycan involves a dedicated peptidoglycan biosynthetic complex that combines specific components of the divisome and elongasome, suggesting that the repurposing of preexisting machinery provides a straightforward means to evolve new morphological traits.
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17
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Blair KM, Mears KS, Taylor JA, Fero J, Jones LA, Gafken PR, Whitney JC, Salama NR. The Helicobacter pylori cell shape promoting protein Csd5 interacts with the cell wall, MurF, and the bacterial cytoskeleton. Mol Microbiol 2018; 110:114-127. [PMID: 30039535 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori can lead to the development of gastric ulcers and stomach cancers. The helical cell shape of H. pylori promotes stomach colonization. Screens for loss of helical shape have identified several periplasmic peptidoglycan (PG) hydrolases and non-enzymatic putative scaffolding proteins, including Csd5. Both over and under expression of the PG hydrolases perturb helical shape, but the mechanism used to coordinate and localize their enzymatic activities is not known. Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry we identified Csd5 interactions with cytosolic proteins CcmA, a bactofilin required for helical shape, and MurF, a PG precursor synthase, as well as the inner membrane spanning ATP synthase. A combination of Csd5 domain deletions, point mutations, and transmembrane domain chimeras revealed that the N-terminal transmembrane domain promotes MurF, CcmA, and ATP synthase interactions, while the C-terminal SH3 domain mediates PG binding. We conclude that Csd5 promotes helical shape as part of a membrane associated, multi-protein shape complex that includes interactions with the periplasmic cell wall, a PG precursor synthesis enzyme, the bacterial cytoskeleton, and ATP synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris M Blair
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Ph.D. Program, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, HSB T-466, Box 357275, Seattle, WA, 98195-7275, USA
| | - Kevin S Mears
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Jennifer A Taylor
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, 1705 NE Pacific St., HSB K-343, Box 357735, Seattle, WA, 98195-7735, USA
| | - Jutta Fero
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Lisa A Jones
- Proteomics Facility, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., DE-352, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA
| | - Philip R Gafken
- Proteomics Facility, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., DE-352, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA
| | - John C Whitney
- Michael DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Nina R Salama
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
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