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Guilvout I, Samsudin F, Huber RG, Bond PJ, Bardiaux B, Francetic O. Membrane platform protein PulF of the Klebsiella type II secretion system forms a trimeric ion channel essential for endopilus assembly and protein secretion. mBio 2024; 15:e0142323. [PMID: 38063437 PMCID: PMC10790770 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01423-23] [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] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Type IV pili and type II secretion systems are members of the widespread type IV filament (T4F) superfamily of nanomachines that assemble dynamic and versatile surface fibers in archaea and bacteria. The assembly and retraction of T4 filaments with diverse surface properties and functions require the plasma membrane platform proteins of the GspF/PilC superfamily. Generally considered dimeric, platform proteins are thought to function as passive transmitters of the mechanical energy generated by the ATPase motor, to somehow promote insertion of pilin subunits into the nascent pilus fibers. Here, we generate and experimentally validate structural predictions that support the trimeric state of a platform protein PulF from a type II secretion system. The PulF trimers form selective proton or sodium channels which might energize pilus assembly using the membrane potential. The conservation of the channel sequence and structural features implies a common mechanism for all T4F assembly systems. We propose a model of the oligomeric PulF-PulE ATPase complex that provides an essential framework to investigate and understand the pilus assembly mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Guilvout
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Biochemistry of Macromolecular Interactions Unit, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Peter J. Bond
- Bioinformatics Institute (A-STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin Bardiaux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Bacterial Transmembrane Systems Unit, Paris, France
| | - Olivera Francetic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Biochemistry of Macromolecular Interactions Unit, Paris, France
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2
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Kang YJ, Kim JH, Lee GH, Ha HJ, Park YH, Hong E, Park HH. The structure of AcrIC9 revealing the putative inhibitory mechanism of AcrIC9 against the type IC CRISPR-Cas system. IUCRJ 2023; 10:624-634. [PMID: 37668219 PMCID: PMC10478522 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252523007236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems are known to be part of the bacterial adaptive immune system that provides resistance against intruders such as viruses, phages and other mobile genetic elements. To combat this bacterial defense mechanism, phages encode inhibitors called Acrs (anti-CRISPR proteins) that can suppress them. AcrIC9 is the most recently identified member of the AcrIC family that inhibits the type IC CRISPR-Cas system. Here, the crystal structure of AcrIC9 from Rhodobacter capsulatus is reported, which comprises a novel fold made of three central antiparallel β-strands surrounded by three α-helixes, a structure that has not been detected before. It is also shown that AcrIC9 can form a dimer via disulfide bonds generated by the Cys69 residue. Finally, it is revealed that AcrIC9 directly binds to the type IC cascade. Analysis and comparison of its structure with structural homologs indicate that AcrIC9 belongs to DNA-mimic Acrs that directly bind to the cascade complex and hinder the target DNA from binding to the cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Jun Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
- Department of Global Innovative Drugs, Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hyeong Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
- Department of Global Innovative Drugs, Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwan Hee Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
- Department of Global Innovative Drugs, Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ji Ha
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hoon Park
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunmi Hong
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ho Park
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
- Department of Global Innovative Drugs, Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
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3
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QSAR, Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies of Sigmacidins as Antimicrobials against Streptococci. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084085. [PMID: 35456906 PMCID: PMC9025105 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococci are a family of bacterial species significantly affecting human health. In addition, environmental Streptococci represent one of the major causes of diverse livestock diseases. Due to antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial agent discovery against Streptococci. We discovered a class of benzoic acid derivatives named sigmacidins inhibiting the bacterial RNA polymerase-σ factor interaction and demonstrating excellent antimicrobial activity against Streptococci. In this work, a combinational computer approach was applied to gain insight into the structural basis and mechanism of action of sigmacidins as antimicrobials against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Both two- and three-dimensional quantitative structure-active relationships (2D and 3D QSAR) of sigmacidins displayed good predictive ability. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies disclosed possible contacts between the inhibitors and the protein. The results obtained in this study provided understanding and new directions to the further optimizations of sigmacidins as novel antimicrobials.
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4
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Larsen JS, Miller M, Oakley AJ, Dixon NE, Lewis PJ. Multiple classes and isoforms of the RNA polymerase recycling motor protein HelD. Microbiologyopen 2021; 10:e1251. [PMID: 34964291 PMCID: PMC8655204 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient control of transcription is essential in all organisms. In bacteria, where DNA replication and transcription occur simultaneously, the replication machinery is at risk of colliding with highly abundant transcription complexes. This can be exacerbated by the fact that transcription complexes pause frequently. When pauses are long-lasting, the stalled complexes must be removed to prevent collisions with either another transcription complex or the replication machinery. HelD is a protein that represents a new class of ATP-dependent motor proteins distantly related to helicases. It was first identified in the model Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis and is involved in removing and recycling stalled transcription complexes. To date, two classes of HelD have been identified: one in the low G+C and the other in the high G+C Gram-positive bacteria. In this work, we have undertaken the first comprehensive investigation of the phylogenetic diversity of HelD proteins. We show that genes in certain bacterial classes have been inherited by horizontal gene transfer, many organisms contain multiple expressed isoforms of HelD, some of which are associated with antibiotic resistance, and that there is a third class of HelD protein found in Gram-negative bacteria. In summary, HelD proteins represent an important new class of transcription factors associated with genome maintenance and antibiotic resistance that are conserved across the Eubacterial kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim S Larsen
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Miller
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Aaron J Oakley
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicholas E Dixon
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter J Lewis
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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5
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Donaldson LW. Molecular Modeling the Proteins from the exo-xis Region of Lambda and Shigatoxigenic Bacteriophages. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1282. [PMID: 34827220 PMCID: PMC8614690 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10111282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of intensive research on bacteriophage lambda, a relatively uncharacterized region remains between the exo and xis genes. Collectively, exo-xis region genes are expressed during the earliest stages of the lytic developmental cycle and are capable of affecting the molecular events associated with the lysogenic-lytic developmental decision. In Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and enterohemorragic E. coli (EHEC) that are responsible for food- and water-borne outbreaks throughout the world, there are distinct differences of exo-xis region genes from their counterparts in lambda phage. Together, these differences may help EHEC-specific phage and their bacterial hosts adapt to the complex environment within the human intestine. Only one exo-xis region protein, Ea8.5, has been solved to date. Here, I have used the AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold machine learning algorithms to predict the structures of six exo-xis region proteins from lambda and STEC/EHEC phages. Together, the models suggest possible roles for exo-xis region proteins in transcription and the regulation of RNA polymerase.
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6
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Shi J, Li F, Wen A, Yu L, Wang L, Wang F, Jin Y, Jin S, Feng Y, Lin W. Structural basis of transcription activation by the global regulator Spx. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10756-10769. [PMID: 34530448 PMCID: PMC8501982 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spx is a global transcriptional regulator in Gram-positive bacteria and has been inferred to efficiently activate transcription upon oxidative stress by engaging RNA polymerase (RNAP) and promoter DNA. However, the precise mechanism by which it interacts with RNAP and promoter DNA to initiate transcription remains obscure. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of an intact Spx-dependent transcription activation complex (Spx-TAC) from Bacillus subtilis at 4.2 Å resolution. The structure traps Spx in an active conformation and defines key interactions accounting for Spx-dependent transcription activation. Strikingly, an oxidized Spx monomer engages RNAP by simultaneously interacting with the C-terminal domain of RNAP alpha subunit (αCTD) and σA. The interface between Spx and αCTD is distinct from those previously reported activators, indicating αCTD as a multiple target for the interaction between RNAP and various transcription activators. Notably, Spx specifically wraps the conserved -44 element of promoter DNA, thereby stabilizing Spx-TAC. Besides, Spx interacts extensively with σA through three different interfaces and promotes Spx-dependent transcription activation. Together, our structural and biochemical results provide a novel mechanistic framework for the regulation of bacterial transcription activation and shed new light on the physiological roles of the global Spx-family transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shi
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Aijia Wen
- Department of Biophysics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Libing Yu
- Institute of Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Fulin Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanling Jin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Sha Jin
- Department of Biophysics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Feng
- Department of Biophysics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing 210023, China
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7
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De Smet J, Wagemans J, Boon M, Ceyssens PJ, Voet M, Noben JP, Andreeva J, Ghilarov D, Severinov K, Lavigne R. The bacteriophage LUZ24 "Igy" peptide inhibits the Pseudomonas DNA gyrase. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109567. [PMID: 34433028 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial DNA gyrase complex (GyrA/GyrB) plays a crucial role during DNA replication and serves as a target for multiple antibiotics, including the fluoroquinolones. Despite it being a valuable antibiotics target, resistance emergence by pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa are proving problematic. Here, we describe Igy, a peptide inhibitor of gyrase, encoded by Pseudomonas bacteriophage LUZ24 and other members of the Bruynoghevirus genus. Igy (5.6 kDa) inhibits in vitro gyrase activity and interacts with the P. aeruginosa GyrB subunit, possibly by DNA mimicry, as indicated by a de novo model of the peptide and mutagenesis. In vivo, overproduction of Igy blocks DNA replication and leads to cell death also in fluoroquinolone-resistant bacterial isolates. These data highlight the potential of discovering phage-inspired leads for antibiotics development, supported by co-evolution, as Igy may serve as a scaffold for small molecule mimicry to target the DNA gyrase complex, without cross-resistance to existing molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen De Smet
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Wagemans
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Boon
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter-Jan Ceyssens
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marleen Voet
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Paul Noben
- Biomedical Research Institute and Transnational University Limburg, School of Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Julia Andreeva
- Centre for Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143026 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Ghilarov
- Centre for Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143026 Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin Severinov
- Centre for Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143026 Moscow, Russia; Waksman Institute for Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
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8
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Abstract
The low G + C Gram-positive bacteria represent some of the most medically and industrially important microorganisms. They are relied on for the production of food and dietary supplements, enzymes and antibiotics, as well as being responsible for the majority of nosocomial infections and serving as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance. Control of gene expression in this group is more highly studied than in any bacteria other than the Gram-negative model Escherichia coli, yet until recently no structural information on RNA polymerase (RNAP) from this group was available. This review will summarize recent reports on the high-resolution structure of RNAP from the model low G + C representative Bacillus subtilis, including the role of auxiliary subunits δ and ε, and outline approaches for the development of antimicrobials to target RNAP from this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Miller
- School Of Environmental And Life Sciences, University Of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Aaron J Oakley
- School Of Environmental And Life Sciences, University Of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter J Lewis
- School Of Environmental And Life Sciences, University Of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,School Of Chemistry And Molecular Bioscience, University Of Wollongong And Illawarra Health And Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Nsw, Australia
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9
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Kurkela J, Fredman J, Salminen TA, Tyystjärvi T. Revealing secrets of the enigmatic omega subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:1-11. [PMID: 32920946 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The conserved omega (ω) subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the only nonessential subunit of bacterial RNAP core. The small ω subunit (7 kDa-11.5 kDa) contains three conserved α helices, and helices α2 and α3 contain five fully conserved amino acids of ω. Four conserved amino acids stabilize the correct folding of the ω subunit and one is located in the vicinity of the β' subunit of RNAP. Otherwise ω shows high variation between bacterial taxa, and although the main interaction partner of ω is always β', many interactions are taxon-specific. ω-less strains show pleiotropic phenotypes, and based on in vivo and in vitro results, a few roles for the ω subunits have been described. Interactions of the ω subunit with the β' subunit are important for the RNAP core assembly and integrity. In addition, the ω subunit plays a role in promoter selection, as ω-less RNAP cores recruit fewer primary σ factors and more alternative σ factors than intact RNAP cores in many species. Furthermore, the promoter selection of an ω-less RNAP holoenzyme bearing the primary σ factor seems to differ from that of an intact RNAP holoenzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Kurkela
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Julia Fredman
- Faculty of Science and Engineering/Biochemistry/Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Tiina A Salminen
- Faculty of Science and Engineering/Biochemistry/Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Taina Tyystjärvi
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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10
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Pei HH, Hilal T, Chen ZA, Huang YH, Gao Y, Said N, Loll B, Rappsilber J, Belogurov GA, Artsimovitch I, Wahl MC. The δ subunit and NTPase HelD institute a two-pronged mechanism for RNA polymerase recycling. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6418. [PMID: 33339827 PMCID: PMC7749165 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20159-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular RNA polymerases (RNAPs) can become trapped on DNA or RNA, threatening genome stability and limiting free enzyme pools, but how RNAP recycling into active states is achieved remains elusive. In Bacillus subtilis, the RNAP δ subunit and NTPase HelD have been implicated in RNAP recycling. We structurally analyzed Bacillus subtilis RNAP-δ-HelD complexes. HelD has two long arms: a Gre cleavage factor-like coiled-coil inserts deep into the RNAP secondary channel, dismantling the active site and displacing RNA, while a unique helical protrusion inserts into the main channel, prying the β and β' subunits apart and, aided by δ, dislodging DNA. RNAP is recycled when, after releasing trapped nucleic acids, HelD dissociates from the enzyme in an ATP-dependent manner. HelD abundance during slow growth and a dimeric (RNAP-δ-HelD)2 structure that resembles hibernating eukaryotic RNAP I suggest that HelD might also modulate active enzyme pools in response to cellular cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Hong Pei
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraβe 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tarek Hilal
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Research Center of Electron Microscopy and Core Facility BioSupraMol, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstr. 36a, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zhuo A Chen
- Bioanalytics, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yong-Heng Huang
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraβe 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuan Gao
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraβe 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nelly Said
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraβe 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernhard Loll
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraβe 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juri Rappsilber
- Bioanalytics, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, Germany
- University of Edinburgh, Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
| | | | - Irina Artsimovitch
- Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Markus C Wahl
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraβe 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Macromolecular Crystallography, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
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11
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Newing TP, Oakley AJ, Miller M, Dawson CJ, Brown SHJ, Bouwer JC, Tolun G, Lewis PJ. Molecular basis for RNA polymerase-dependent transcription complex recycling by the helicase-like motor protein HelD. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6420. [PMID: 33339820 PMCID: PMC7749167 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20157-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In bacteria, transcription complexes stalled on DNA represent a major source of roadblocks for the DNA replication machinery that must be removed in order to prevent damaging collisions. Gram-positive bacteria contain a transcription factor HelD that is able to remove and recycle stalled complexes, but it was not known how it performed this function. Here, using single particle cryo-electron microscopy, we have determined the structures of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase (RNAP) elongation and HelD complexes, enabling analysis of the conformational changes that occur in RNAP driven by HelD interaction. HelD has a 2-armed structure which penetrates deep into the primary and secondary channels of RNA polymerase. One arm removes nucleic acids from the active site, and the other induces a large conformational change in the primary channel leading to removal and recycling of the stalled polymerase, representing a novel mechanism for recycling transcription complexes in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P Newing
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Aaron J Oakley
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Michael Miller
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Catherine J Dawson
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Simon H J Brown
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - James C Bouwer
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Gökhan Tolun
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
| | - Peter J Lewis
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
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12
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Mycobacterial HelD is a nucleic acids-clearing factor for RNA polymerase. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6419. [PMID: 33339823 PMCID: PMC7749160 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20158-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA synthesis is central to life, and RNA polymerase (RNAP) depends on accessory factors for recovery from stalled states and adaptation to environmental changes. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which a helicase-like factor HelD recycles RNAP. We report a cryo-EM structure of a complex between the Mycobacterium smegmatis RNAP and HelD. The crescent-shaped HelD simultaneously penetrates deep into two RNAP channels that are responsible for nucleic acids binding and substrate delivery to the active site, thereby locking RNAP in an inactive state. We show that HelD prevents non-specific interactions between RNAP and DNA and dissociates stalled transcription elongation complexes. The liberated RNAP can either stay dormant, sequestered by HelD, or upon HelD release, restart transcription. Our results provide insights into the architecture and regulation of the highly medically-relevant mycobacterial transcription machinery and define HelD as a clearing factor that releases RNAP from nonfunctional complexes with nucleic acids.
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13
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Fang C, Li L, Zhao Y, Wu X, Philips SJ, You L, Zhong M, Shi X, O'Halloran TV, Li Q, Zhang Y. The bacterial multidrug resistance regulator BmrR distorts promoter DNA to activate transcription. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6284. [PMID: 33293519 PMCID: PMC7722741 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20134-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The MerR-family proteins represent a unique family of bacteria transcription factors (TFs), which activate transcription in a manner distinct from canonical ones. Here, we report a cryo-EM structure of a B. subtilis transcription activation complex comprising B. subtilis six-subunit (2αββ'ωε) RNA Polymerase (RNAP) core enzyme, σA, a promoter DNA, and the ligand-bound B. subtilis BmrR, a prototype of MerR-family TFs. The structure reveals that RNAP and BmrR recognize the upstream promoter DNA from opposite faces and induce four significant kinks from the -35 element to the -10 element of the promoter DNA in a cooperative manner, which restores otherwise inactive promoter activity by shortening the length of promoter non-optimal -35/-10 spacer. Our structure supports a DNA-distortion and RNAP-non-contact paradigm of transcriptional activation by MerR TFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengli Fang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200032, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Linyu Li
- Clinical Pharmacy Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 475004, Kaifeng, China
| | - Xiaoxian Wu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200032, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Steven J Philips
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Linlin You
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200032, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Mingkang Zhong
- Clinical Pharmacy Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojin Shi
- Clinical Pharmacy Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
| | - Thomas V O'Halloran
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- The Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Qunyi Li
- Clinical Pharmacy Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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14
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Validation of Omega Subunit of RNA Polymerase as a Functional Entity. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10111588. [PMID: 33238579 PMCID: PMC7700224 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) is a multi-subunit protein complex (α2ββ’ω σ) containing the smallest subunit, ω. Although identified early in RNAP research, its function remained ambiguous and shrouded with controversy for a considerable period. It was shown before that the protein has a structural role in maintaining the conformation of the largest subunit, β’, and its recruitment in the enzyme assembly. Despite evolutionary conservation of ω and its role in the assembly of RNAP, E. coli mutants lacking rpoZ (codes for ω) are viable due to the association of the global chaperone protein GroEL with RNAP. To get a better insight into the structure and functional role of ω during transcription, several dominant lethal mutants of ω were isolated. The mutants showed higher binding affinity compared to that of native ω to the α2ββ’ subassembly. We observed that the interaction between α2ββ’ and these lethal mutants is driven by mostly favorable enthalpy and a small but unfavorable negative entropy term. However, during the isolation of these mutants we isolated a silent mutant serendipitously, which showed a lethal phenotype. Silent mutant of a given protein is defined as a protein having the same sequence of amino acids as that of wild type but having mutation in the gene with alteration in base sequence from more frequent code to less frequent one due to codon degeneracy. Eventually, many silent mutants were generated to understand the role of rare codons at various positions in rpoZ. We observed that the dominant lethal mutants of ω having either point mutation or silent in nature are more structured in comparison to the native ω. However, the silent code’s position in the reading frame of rpoZ plays a role in the structural alteration of the translated protein. This structural alteration in ω makes it more rigid, which affects the plasticity of the interacting domain formed by ω and α2ββ’. Here, we attempted to describe how the conformational flexibility of the ω helps in maintaining the plasticity of the active site of RNA polymerase. The dominant lethal mutant of ω has a suppressor mapped near the catalytic center of the β’ subunit, and it is the same for both types of mutants.
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15
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Šiková M, Wiedermannová J, Převorovský M, Barvík I, Sudzinová P, Kofroňová O, Benada O, Šanderová H, Condon C, Krásný L. The torpedo effect in Bacillus subtilis: RNase J1 resolves stalled transcription complexes. EMBO J 2020; 39:e102500. [PMID: 31840842 PMCID: PMC6996504 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
RNase J1 is the major 5'-to-3' bacterial exoribonuclease. We demonstrate that in its absence, RNA polymerases (RNAPs) are redistributed on DNA, with increased RNAP occupancy on some genes without a parallel increase in transcriptional output. This suggests that some of these RNAPs represent stalled, non-transcribing complexes. We show that RNase J1 is able to resolve these stalled RNAP complexes by a "torpedo" mechanism, whereby RNase J1 degrades the nascent RNA and causes the transcription complex to disassemble upon collision with RNAP. A heterologous enzyme, yeast Xrn1 (5'-to-3' exonuclease), is less efficient than RNase J1 in resolving stalled Bacillus subtilis RNAP, suggesting that the effect is RNase-specific. Our results thus reveal a novel general principle, whereby an RNase can participate in genome-wide surveillance of stalled RNAP complexes, preventing potentially deleterious transcription-replication collisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Šiková
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrague 4Czech Republic
| | - Jana Wiedermannová
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrague 4Czech Republic
| | - Martin Převorovský
- Department of Cell BiologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Ivan Barvík
- Division of Biomolecular PhysicsInstitute of PhysicsCharles UniversityPrague 2Czech Republic
| | - Petra Sudzinová
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrague 4Czech Republic
| | - Olga Kofroňová
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrague 4Czech Republic
| | - Oldřich Benada
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrague 4Czech Republic
| | - Hana Šanderová
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrague 4Czech Republic
| | - Ciarán Condon
- UMR8261CNRSUniversité de ParisInstitut de Biologie Physico‐ChimiqueParisFrance
| | - Libor Krásný
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrague 4Czech Republic
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16
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Nusbiarylins, a new class of antimicrobial agents: Rational design of bacterial transcription inhibitors targeting the interaction between the NusB and NusE proteins. Bioorg Chem 2019; 92:103203. [PMID: 31446238 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.103203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Discovery of antibiotics of a novel mode of action is highly required in the fierce battlefield with multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. Previously we have validated the protein-protein interaction between bacterial NusB and NusE proteins as an unprecedented antimicrobial target and reported the identification of a first-in-class inhibitor of bacterial ribosomal RNA synthesis with antimicrobial activities. In this paper, derivatives of the hit compound were rationally designed based on the pharmacophore model for chemical synthesis, followed by biological evaluations. Some of the derivatives demonstrated the improved antimicrobial activity with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 1-2 μg/mL against clinically significant bacterial pathogens. Time-kill kinetics, confocal microscope, ATP production, cytotoxicity, hemolytic property and cell permeability using Caco-2 cells of a representative compound were also measured. This series of compounds were named "nusbiarylins" based on their target protein NusB and the biaryl structure and were expected to be further developed towards novel antimicrobial drug candidates in the near future.
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17
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Redder P. Molecular and genetic interactions of the RNA degradation machineries in Firmicute bacteria. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2018; 9. [PMID: 29314657 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Correct balance between bacterial RNA degradation and synthesis is essential for controlling expression level of all RNAs. The RNA polymerase, which performs the RNA synthesis, is highly conserved across the bacterial domain. However, this is surprisingly not the case for the RNA degradation machinery, which is composed of different subunits and performs different enzymatic reactions, depending on the organism. In Escherichia coli, the RNA decay is performed by the degradosome complex, which forms around the membrane-associated endoribonuclease RNase E, and is stable enough to be purified without falling apart. In contrast, many Firmicutes, for example, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, do not encode an RNase E homolog, but instead have the endoribonuclease RNase Y and the exo- and endo-ribonuclease RNase J complex. A wide range of experiments have been performed, mainly with B. subtilis and S. aureus, to determine which interactions exist between the various RNA decay enzymes in the Firmicutes, with the goal of understanding how RNA degradation (and thus gene expression homeostasis and regulation) is organized in these organisms. The in vivo and in vitro data is diverse, and does not always concur. This overview gathers the data on interactions between Firmicute RNA degradation factors, to highlight the similarities and differences between experimental data from different experiments and from different organisms. WIREs RNA 2018, 9:e1460. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1460 This article is categorized under: RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Redder
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Moléculaires, UMR5100, Centre de Biologie Integrative, Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France
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18
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Barvík I, Rejman D, Panova N, Šanderová H, Krásný L. Non-canonical transcription initiation: the expanding universe of transcription initiating substrates. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2017; 41:131-138. [PMID: 27799279 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the central enzyme of transcription of the genetic information from DNA into RNA. RNAP recognizes four main substrates: ATP, CTP, GTP and UTP. Experimental evidence from the past several years suggests that, besides these four NTPs, other molecules can be used to initiate transcription: (i) ribooligonucleotides (nanoRNAs) and (ii) coenzymes such as NAD+, NADH, dephospho-CoA and FAD. The presence of these molecules at the 5΄ ends of RNAs affects the properties of the RNA. Here, we discuss the expanding portfolio of molecules that can initiate transcription, their mechanism of incorporation, effects on RNA and cellular processes, and we present an outlook toward other possible initiation substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Barvík
- Division of Biomolecular Physics, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 121 16 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Dominik Rejman
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences v. v. i., Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Natalya Panova
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences v. v. i., Vídenská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Šanderová
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences v. v. i., Vídenská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Libor Krásný
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences v. v. i., Vídenská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
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19
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Raymond-Bouchard I, Chourey K, Altshuler I, Iyer R, Hettich RL, Whyte LG. Mechanisms of subzero growth in the cryophile Planococcus halocryophilus determined through proteomic analysis. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:4460-4479. [PMID: 28834033 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The eurypsychrophilic bacterium Planococcus halocryophilus is capable of growth down to -15°C, making it ideal for studying adaptations to subzero growth. To increase our understanding of the mechanisms and pathways important for subzero growth, we performed proteomics on P. halocryophilus grown at 23°C, 23°C with 12% w/v NaCl and -10°C with 12% w/v NaCl. Many proteins with increased abundances at -10°C versus 23°C also increased at 23C-salt versus 23°C, indicating a closely tied relationship between salt and cold stress adaptation. Processes which displayed the largest changes in protein abundance were peptidoglycan and fatty acid (FA) synthesis, translation processes, methylglyoxal metabolism, DNA repair and recombination, and protein and nucleotide turnover. We identified intriguing targets for further research at -10°C, including PlsX and KASII (FA metabolism), DD-transpeptidase and MurB (peptidoglycan synthesis), glyoxalase family proteins (reactive electrophile response) and ribosome modifying enzymes (translation turnover). PemK/MazF may have a crucial role in translational reprogramming under cold conditions. At -10°C P. halocryophilus induces stress responses, uses resources efficiently, and carefully controls its growth and metabolism to maximize subzero survival. The present study identifies several mechanisms involved in subzero growth and enhances our understanding of cold adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Raymond-Bouchard
- Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Rd, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Karuna Chourey
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Ianina Altshuler
- Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Rd, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Ramsunder Iyer
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.,Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Robert L Hettich
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Lyle G Whyte
- Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Rd, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada
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20
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Zachrdla M, Padrta P, Rabatinová A, Šanderová H, Barvík I, Krásný L, Žídek L. Solution structure of domain 1.1 of the σ A factor from Bacillus subtilis is preformed for binding to the RNA polymerase core. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:11610-11617. [PMID: 28539362 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.784074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) requires σ factors to recognize promoter sequences. Domain 1.1 of primary σ factors (σ1.1) prevents their binding to promoter DNA in the absence of RNAP, and when in complex with RNAP, it occupies the DNA-binding channel of RNAP. Currently, two 3D structures of σ1.1 are available: from Escherichia coli in complex with RNAP and from T. maritima solved free in solution. However, these two structures significantly differ, and it is unclear whether this difference is due to an altered conformation upon RNAP binding or to differences in intrinsic properties between the proteins from these two distantly related species. Here, we report the solution structure of σ1.1 from the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis We found that B. subtilis σ1.1 is highly compact because of additional stabilization not present in σ1.1 from the other two species and that it is more similar to E. coli σ1.1. Moreover, modeling studies suggested that B. subtilis σ1.1 requires minimal conformational changes for accommodating RNAP in the DNA channel, whereas T. maritima σ1.1 must be rearranged to fit therein. Thus, the mesophilic species B. subtilis and E. coli share the same σ1.1 fold, whereas the fold of σ1.1 from the thermophile T. maritima is distinctly different. Finally, we describe an intriguing similarity between σ1.1 and δ, an RNAP-associated protein in B. subtilis, bearing implications for the so-far unknown binding site of δ on RNAP. In conclusion, our results shed light on the conformational changes of σ1.1 required for its accommodation within bacterial RNAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Zachrdla
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic; National Centre for Biomolecular Research (NCBR), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Padrta
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic; National Centre for Biomolecular Research (NCBR), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alžbeta Rabatinová
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Šanderová
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Barvík
- Division of Biomolecular Physics, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, CZ-12116 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Libor Krásný
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic.
| | - Lukáš Žídek
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic; National Centre for Biomolecular Research (NCBR), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
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21
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The ω Subunit Governs RNA Polymerase Stability and Transcriptional Specificity in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol 2016; 199:JB.00459-16. [PMID: 27799328 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00459-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that causes infection in a wide variety of sites within the human body. Its ability to adapt to the human host and to produce a successful infection requires precise orchestration of gene expression. While DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) is generally well characterized, the roles of several small accessory subunits within the complex have yet to be fully explored. This is particularly true for the omega (ω or RpoZ) subunit, which has been extensively studied in Gram-negative bacteria but largely neglected in Gram-positive counterparts. In Escherichia coli, it has been shown that ppGpp binding, and thus control of the stringent response, is facilitated by ω. Interestingly, key residues that facilitate ppGpp binding by ω are not conserved in S. aureus, and consequently, survival under starvation conditions is unaffected by rpoZ deletion. Further to this, ω-lacking strains of S. aureus display structural changes in the RNAP complex, which result from increased degradation and misfolding of the β' subunit, alterations in δ and σ factor abundance, and a general dissociation of RNAP in the absence of ω. Through RNA sequencing analysis we detected a variety of transcriptional changes in the rpoZ-deficient strain, presumably as a response to the negative effects of ω depletion on the transcription machinery. These transcriptional changes translated to an impaired ability of the rpoZ mutant to resist stress and to fully form a biofilm. Collectively, our data underline, for the first time, the importance of ω for RNAP stability, function, and cellular physiology in S. aureus IMPORTANCE: In order for bacteria to adjust to changing environments, such as within the host, the transcriptional process must be tightly controlled. Transcription is carried out by DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP). In addition to its major subunits (α2ββ') a fifth, smaller subunit, ω, is present in all forms of life. Although this small subunit is well studied in eukaryotes and Gram-negative bacteria, only limited information is available for Gram-positive and pathogenic species. In this study, we investigated the structural and functional importance of ω, revealing key roles in subunit folding/stability, complex assembly, and maintenance of transcriptional integrity. Collectively, our data underline, for the first time, the importance of ω for RNAP function and cellular harmony in S. aureus.
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Thach O, Mielczarek M, Ma C, Kutty SK, Yang X, Black DS, Griffith R, Lewis PJ, Kumar N. From indole to pyrrole, furan, thiophene and pyridine: Search for novel small molecule inhibitors of bacterial transcription initiation complex formation. Bioorg Med Chem 2016; 24:1171-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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23
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Bacterial Transcription as a Target for Antibacterial Drug Development. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2016; 80:139-60. [PMID: 26764017 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00055-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription, the first step of gene expression, is carried out by the enzyme RNA polymerase (RNAP) and is regulated through interaction with a series of protein transcription factors. RNAP and its associated transcription factors are highly conserved across the bacterial domain and represent excellent targets for broad-spectrum antibacterial agent discovery. Despite the numerous antibiotics on the market, there are only two series currently approved that target transcription. The determination of the three-dimensional structures of RNAP and transcription complexes at high resolution over the last 15 years has led to renewed interest in targeting this essential process for antibiotic development by utilizing rational structure-based approaches. In this review, we describe the inhibition of the bacterial transcription process with respect to structural studies of RNAP, highlight recent progress toward the discovery of novel transcription inhibitors, and suggest additional potential antibacterial targets for rational drug design.
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24
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Ma C, Yang X, Lewis PJ. Bacterial Transcription Inhibitor of RNA Polymerase Holoenzyme Formation by Structure-Based Drug Design: From in Silico Screening to Validation. ACS Infect Dis 2016; 2:39-46. [PMID: 27622946 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.5b00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial transcription is a proven target for antibacterial research. However, most of the known inhibitors targeting transcription are from natural extracts or are hits from screens where the binding site remains unidentified. Using an RNA polymerase holoenzyme homology structure from the model Gram-positive organism Bacillus subtilis, we created a pharmacophore model and used it for in silico screening of a publicly available library for compounds able to inhibit holoenzyme formation. The hits demonstrated specific affinity to bacterial RNA polymerase and excellent activity using in vitro assays and showed no binding to the equivalent structure from human RNA polymerase II. The target specificity in live cells and antibacterial activity was demonstrated in microscopy and growth inhibition experiments. This is the first example of targeted inhibitor development for a bacterial RNA polymerase, outlining a complete discovery process from virtual screening to biochemical validation. This approach could serve as an appropriate platform for the future identification of inhibitors of bacterial transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Ma
- School of Environmental and Life
Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Xiao Yang
- School of Environmental and Life
Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Peter J. Lewis
- School of Environmental and Life
Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
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25
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Structural biology of bacterial RNA polymerase. Biomolecules 2015; 5:848-64. [PMID: 25970587 PMCID: PMC4496699 DOI: 10.3390/biom5020848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery and characterization in the early 1960s (Hurwitz, J. The discovery of RNA polymerase. J. Biol. Chem. 2005, 280, 42477-42485), an enormous amount of biochemical, biophysical and genetic data has been collected on bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP). In the late 1990s, structural information pertaining to bacterial RNAP has emerged that provided unprecedented insights into the function and mechanism of RNA transcription. In this review, I list all structures related to bacterial RNAP (as determined by X-ray crystallography and NMR methods available from the Protein Data Bank), describe their contributions to bacterial transcription research and discuss the role that small molecules play in inhibiting bacterial RNA transcription.
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26
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Weiss A, Shaw LN. Small things considered: the small accessory subunits of RNA polymerase in Gram-positive bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2015; 39:541-54. [PMID: 25878038 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The DNA-dependent RNA polymerase core enzyme in Gram-positive bacteria consists of seven subunits. Whilst four of them (α2ββ(')) are essential, three smaller subunits, δ, ε and ω (∼9-21.5 kDa), are considered accessory. Both δ and ω have been viewed as integral components of RNAP for several decades; however, ε has only recently been described. Functionally these three small subunits carry out a variety of tasks, imparting important, supportive effects on the transcriptional process of Gram-positive bacteria. While ω is thought to have a wide range of roles, reaching from maintaining structural integrity of RNAP to σ factor recruitment, the only suggested function for ε thus far is in protecting cells from phage infection. The third subunit, δ, has been shown to have distinct influences in maintaining transcriptional specificity, and thus has a key role in cellular fitness. Collectively, all three accessory subunits, although dispensable under laboratory conditions, are often thought to be crucial for proper RNAP function. Herein we provide an overview of the available literature on each subunit, summarizing landmark findings that have deepened our understanding of these proteins and their function, and outline future challenges in understanding the role of these small subunits in the transcriptional process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Weiss
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Lindsey N Shaw
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
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27
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Galperin MY, Makarova KS, Wolf YI, Koonin EV. Expanded microbial genome coverage and improved protein family annotation in the COG database. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 43:D261-9. [PMID: 25428365 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1010] [Impact Index Per Article: 101.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial genome sequencing projects produce numerous sequences of deduced proteins, only a small fraction of which have been or will ever be studied experimentally. This leaves sequence analysis as the only feasible way to annotate these proteins and assign to them tentative functions. The Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COGs) database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/COG/), first created in 1997, has been a popular tool for functional annotation. Its success was largely based on (i) its reliance on complete microbial genomes, which allowed reliable assignment of orthologs and paralogs for most genes; (ii) orthology-based approach, which used the function(s) of the characterized member(s) of the protein family (COG) to assign function(s) to the entire set of carefully identified orthologs and describe the range of potential functions when there were more than one; and (iii) careful manual curation of the annotation of the COGs, aimed at detailed prediction of the biological function(s) for each COG while avoiding annotation errors and overprediction. Here we present an update of the COGs, the first since 2003, and a comprehensive revision of the COG annotations and expansion of the genome coverage to include representative complete genomes from all bacterial and archaeal lineages down to the genus level. This re-analysis of the COGs shows that the original COG assignments had an error rate below 0.5% and allows an assessment of the progress in functional genomics in the past 12 years. During this time, functions of many previously uncharacterized COGs have been elucidated and tentative functional assignments of many COGs have been validated, either by targeted experiments or through the use of high-throughput methods. A particularly important development is the assignment of functions to several widespread, conserved proteins many of which turned out to participate in translation, in particular rRNA maturation and tRNA modification. The new version of the COGs is expected to become an important tool for microbial genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Y Galperin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 2094, USA
| | - Kira S Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 2094, USA
| | - Yuri I Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 2094, USA
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 2094, USA
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