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Observations on the Calcium Dependence and Reversibility of Cobalamin Transport across the Outer Membrane of Escherichia coli

The calcium dependence of cobalamin (Cbl) binding to the BtuB protein of Escherichia coli and the reversibility of its function in the transport of Cbl across the outer membrane have been examined. The results show that the two calcium-binding sites in BtuB that were identified previously by others are responsible for the calcium dependence of high affinity Cbl binding. The affinity of the pure BtuB protein for Cbl was approximately 1000-fold higher in the presence of saturating levels of calcium than in its absence. The affinities of BtuB for both Cbl and calcium were decreased by insertion of alanine residues at position 51 of the mature protein and were increased by several mutations and deletions in the TonB box. Experiments on the uptake of Cbl into the periplasmic space showed that this process is reversible and that the exit of Cbl back into the medium does not require the protonmotive force. Our interpretation of these results is that the role of the TonB-ExbB-ExbD complex, potentiated by the protonmotive force, is to reduce the affinity of the Cbl-binding site, thus increasing the rate of Cbl release into the periplasmic space. The evidence also indicates that access of the Cbl-binding site of BtuB to the periplasmic space does not require removal of the hatch domain from the barrel.

Comparative structural analysis of TonB-dependent outer membrane transporters: Implications for the transport cycle

TonB-dependent outer membrane transporters (TBDTs) transport organometallic substrates across the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. Currently, structures of four different TBDTs have been determined by X-ray crystallography. TBDT structures consist of a 22-stranded beta-barrel enclosing a hatch domain. Structure-based sequence alignment of these four TBDTs indicates the presence of highly conserved motifs in both the hatch and barrel domains. The conserved motifs of the two domains are always in close proximity to each other and interact. We analyzed the very large interfaces between the barrel and hatch domains of TBDTs and compared their properties to those of other protein-protein interfaces. These interfaces are extensively hydrated. Most of the interfacial waters form hydrogen bonds to either the barrel or the hatch domain, with the remainder functioning as bridging waters in the interface. The hatch/barrel interfacial properties most resemble those of obligate transient protein complexes, suggesting that the interface is conducive to conformational change and/or movement of the hatch within the barrel. These results indicate that TBDTs can readily accommodate substantial conformational change and movement of their hatch domains during the active transport cycle. Also, these structural changes may require only modest forces exerted by the energy-coupling TonB protein upon the transporter.

Metal import through microbial membranes

Transport systems of Gram-negative bacteria coordinate the passage of metabolites through the outer membrane, periplasm, and the cytoplasmic membrane without compromising the protective properties of the cell envelope. Active transporters orchestrate the import of metals against concentration gradients. These thermodynamically unfavorable processes are coupled to both an electrochemical proton gradient and the hydrolysis of ATP. Crystallographic structures of transport proteins now define in molecular detail most components of an active metal import pathway from Escherichia coli.

Genes and proteins involved in bacterial magnetic particle formation

Magnetic bacteria synthesize intracellular magnetosomes that impart a cellular swimming behaviour referred to as magnetotaxis. The magnetic structures aligned in chains are postulated to function as biological compass needles allowing the bacterium to migrate along redox gradients through the Earth's geomagnetic field lines. Despite the discovery of this unique group of microorganisms 28 years ago, the mechanisms of magnetic crystal biomineralization have yet to be fully elucidated. This review describes the current knowledge of the genes and proteins involved in magnetite formation in magnetic bacteria and the biotechnological applications of biomagnetites in the interdisciplinary fields of nanobiotechnology, medicine and environmental management.

Acquisition of siderophores in gram-negative bacteria

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria constitutes a permeability barrier that protects the cell from exterior hazards, but also complicates the uptake of nutrients. In the case of iron, the challenge is even greater, because of the scarcity of this indispensable element in the cell's surroundings. To solve this dilemma, bacteria have evolved sophisticated mechanisms whereby the concerted actions of receptor, transporter and energy-transducing proteins ensure that there is a sufficient supply of iron-containing compounds, such as siderophores.

Siderophore production by the magnetic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1

Siderophore production by the magnetic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 is elicited by sufficient iron rather than by iron starvation. In order to clarify this unusual pattern, siderophore production was monitored in parallel to iron assimilation using the chrome azurol sulfonate assay and the ferrozine method respectively. Iron concentration lowered approximately five times less than its initial concentration only within 4 h post-inoculation, rendering the medium iron deficient. A concentration of at least 6 microM Fe(3+) is required to initiate siderophore production. The propensity of M. magneticum AMB-1 for the assimilation of large amounts of iron accounts for the rapid depletion of iron in the medium, thereby triggering siderophore excretion. M. magneticum AMB-1 produces both hydroxamate and catechol siderophores.

Demonstration and characterization of a specific interaction between gonococcal transferrin binding protein A and TonB

Iron scavenging by Neisseria gonorrhoeae is accomplished by the expression of receptors that are specific for host iron-binding proteins, such as transferrin and lactoferrin. Efficient transferrin-iron acquisition is dependent on the combined action of two proteins, designated TbpA and TbpB. TbpA is a TonB-dependent outer membrane receptor, whereas TbpB is lipid modified and serves to increase the efficiency of transferrin-iron uptake. Both proteins, together or separately, can be isolated from the gonococcal outer membrane by using affinity chromatography techniques. In the present study, we identified an additional protein in transferrin-affinity preparations, which had an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa. The ability to copurify this protein by transferrin affinity was dependent upon the presence of TbpA and not TbpB. The amino-terminal sequence of the 45-kDa protein was identical to the amino terminus of gonococcal TonB, indicating that TbpA stably interacted with TonB, without the addition of chemical cross-linkers. Using immunoprecipitation, we could recover TbpA-TonB complexes without the addition of transferrin, suggesting that ligand binding was not a necessary prerequisite for TonB interaction. In contrast, a characterized TonB box mutant of TbpA did not facilitate interaction between these two proteins such that complexes could be isolated. We generated an in-frame deletion of gonococcal TonB, which removed 35 amino acids, including a Neisseria-specific, glycine-rich domain. This mutant protein, like the parental TonB, energized TbpA to enable growth on transferrin. Consistent with the functionality of this deletion derivative, TbpA-TonB complexes could be recovered from this strain. The results of the present study thus begin to define the requirements for a functional interaction between gonococcal TbpA and TonB.