Selectivity among Anti-σ Factors by Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpX Influences Intracellular Levels of Extracytoplasmic Function σ Factors

The conserved σD envelope stress response monitors multiple aspects of envelope integrity in corynebacteria

The cell envelope fortifies bacterial cells against antibiotics and other insults. Species in the Mycobacteriales order have a complex envelope that includes an outer layer of mycolic acids called the mycomembrane (MM) and a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan and arabinogalactan. This envelope architecture is unique among bacteria and contributes significantly to the virulence of pathogenic Mycobacteriales like Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Characterization of pathways that govern envelope biogenesis in these organisms is therefore critical in understanding their biology and for identifying new antibiotic targets. To better understand MM biogenesis, we developed a cell sorting-based screen for mutants defective in the surface exposure of a porin normally embedded in the MM of the model organism Corynebacterium glutamicum. The results revealed a requirement for the conserved σD envelope stress response in porin export and identified MarP as the site-1 protease, respectively, that activate the response by cleaving the membrane-embedded anti-sigma factor. A reporter system revealed that the σD pathway responds to defects in mycolic acid and arabinogalactan biosynthesis, suggesting that the stress response has the unusual property of being induced by activating signals that arise from defects in the assembly of two distinct envelope layers. Our results thus provide new insights into how C. glutamicum and related bacteria monitor envelope integrity and suggest a potential role for members of the σD regulon in protein export to the MM.

Control of Toxin-Antitoxin Systems by Proteases in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are small genetic elements composed of a noxious toxin and a counteracting cognate antitoxin. Although they are widespread in bacterial chromosomes and in mobile genetic elements, their cellular functions and activation mechanisms remain largely unknown. It has been proposed that toxin activation or expression of the TA operon could rely on the degradation of generally less stable antitoxins by cellular proteases. The resulting active toxin would then target essential cellular processes and inhibit bacterial growth. Although interplay between proteases and TA systems has been observed, evidences for such activation cycle are very limited. Herein, we present an overview of the current knowledge on TA recognition by proteases with a main focus on the major human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which harbours multiple TA systems (over 80), the essential AAA + stress proteases, ClpC1P1P2 and ClpXP1P2, and the Pup-proteasome system.