Revisiting the Gram-negative lipoprotein paradigm

Identification and characterization of the lipoprotein N-acyltransferase in Bacteroides

Members of the Bacteroidota compose a large portion of the human gut microbiota, contributing to overall gut health via the degradation of various polysaccharides. This process is facilitated by lipoproteins, globular proteins anchored to the cell surface by a lipidated N-terminal cysteine. Despite their importance, lipoprotein synthesis by these bacteria is understudied. In Escherichia coli, the α-amino-linked lipid of lipoproteins is added by the lipoprotein N-acyltransferase Lnt. Herein, we have identified a protein distinct from Lnt responsible for the same process in Bacteroides, named lipoprotein N-acyltransferase in Bacteroides (Lnb). Deletion of Lnb yields cells that synthesize diacylated lipoproteins, with impacts on cell viability and morphology, growth on polysaccharides, and protein composition of membranes and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Our results not only challenge the accepted paradigms of lipoprotein biosynthesis in gram-negative bacteria but also suggest the existence of a new family of lipoprotein N-acyltransferases.

Identification and Characterization of the Lipoprotein N-acyltransferase in Bacteroides

Members of the Bacteroidota compose a large portion of the human gut microbiota, contributing to overall gut health via the degradation of various polysaccharides. This process is facilitated by lipoproteins, globular proteins anchored to the cell surface by a lipidated N-terminal cysteine. Despite their importance, lipoprotein synthesis by these bacteria is understudied. In E. coli, the α-amino linked lipid of lipoproteins is added by the lipoprotein N-acyltransferase Lnt. Herein, we have identified a protein distinct from Lnt responsible for the same process in Bacteroides, named lipoprotein N-acyltransferase in Bacteroides (Lnb). Deletion of Lnb yields cells that synthesize diacylated lipoproteins, with impacts on cell viability and morphology, growth on polysaccharides, and protein composition of membranes and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Our results not only challenge the accepted paradigms of lipoprotein biosynthesis in Gram-negative bacteria, but also support the establishment of a new family of lipoprotein N-acyltransferases.

Genetic analysis reveals a robust and hierarchical recruitment of the LolA chaperone to the LolCDE lipoprotein transporter

The outer membrane (OM) is an essential organelle of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipoproteins are key to building the OM, performing essential functions in several OM assembly machines. Lipoproteins mature in the inner membrane (IM) and are then trafficked to the OM. In Escherichia coli, the LolCDE transporter is needed to extract lipoproteins from the IM to begin trafficking. Lipoproteins are then transferred from LolCDE to the periplasmic chaperone LolA which ferries them to the OM for insertion by LolB. LolA recruitment by LolC is an essential trafficking step. Structural and biochemical studies suggested that two regions (termed Hook and Pad) within a periplasmic loop of LolC worked in tandem to recruit LolA, leading to a bipartite model for recruitment. Here, we genetically examine the LolC periplasmic loop in vivo using E. coli. Our findings challenge the bipartite interaction model. We show that while the Hook is essential for lipoprotein trafficking in vivo, lipoproteins are still efficiently trafficked when the Pad residues are inactivated. We show with AlphaFold2 multimer modeling that Hook:LolA interactions are likely universal among diverse Gram-negative bacteria. Conversely, Pad:LolA interactions vary across phyla. Our in vivo data redefine LolC:LolA recruitment into a hierarchical interaction model. We propose that the Hook is the major player in LolA recruitment, while the Pad plays an ancillary role that is important for efficiency but is ultimately dispensable. Our findings expand the understanding of a fundamental step in essential lipoprotein trafficking and have implications for efforts to develop new antibacterials that target LolCDE.IMPORTANCEResistance to current antibiotics is increasingly common. New antibiotics that target essential processes are needed to expand clinical options. For Gram-negative bacteria, their cell surface-the outer membrane (OM)-is an essential organelle and antibiotic barrier that is an attractive target for new antibacterials. Lipoproteins are key to building the OM. The LolCDE transporter is needed to supply the OM with lipoproteins and has been a focus of recent antibiotic discovery. In vitro evidence recently proposed a two-part interaction of LolC with LolA lipoprotein chaperone (which traffics lipoproteins to the OM) via "Hook" and "Pad" regions. We show that this model does not reflect lipoprotein trafficking in vivo. Only the Hook is essential for lipoprotein trafficking and is remarkably robust to mutational changes. The Pad is non-essential for lipoprotein trafficking but plays an ancillary role, contributing to trafficking efficiency. These insights inform ongoing efforts to drug LolCDE.

Essential role of Helicobacter pylori apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase (Lnt) in stomach colonization

Bacterial lipoproteins are post-translationally modified with acyl chains, anchoring these proteins to bacterial membranes. In Gram-negative bacteria, three enzymes complete the modifications. Lgt (which adds two acyl chains) and LspA (which removes the signal peptide) are essential. Lnt (which adds a third acyl chain) is not essential in certain bacteria including Francisella tularensis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Deleting lnt results in mild to severe physiologic changes. We previously showed lnt is not essential for Helicobacter pylori growth in vitro. Here, the physiologic consequences of deleting lnt in H. pylori and the role of Lnt in the host response to H. pylori were examined using in vitro and in vivo models. Comparing wild-type, Δlnt, and complemented mutant H. pylori, no changes in growth rates or sensitivity to acid or antibiotics were observed. Since deleting lnt changes the number of acyl chains on lipoproteins and the number of acyl chains on lipoproteins impacts the innate immune response through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling, primary human gastric epithelial cells were treated with a purified lipoprotein from wild-type or lnt mutant H. pylori. Differential gene expression analysis indicated that lipoprotein from the lnt mutant induced a more robust TLR2 response. In a complementary approach, we infected wild-type and Tlr2-/- mice and found that both the wild-type and complemented mutant strains successfully colonized the animals. However, the lnt mutant strain was unable to colonize either mouse strain. These results show that lnt is essential for H. pylori colonization and identifies lipoprotein synthesis as a target for therapeutic intervention.

Genetic analysis reveals a robust and hierarchical recruitment of the LolA chaperone to the LolCDE lipoprotein transporter

The outer membrane (OM) is an essential organelle of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipoproteins are key to building the OM, performing essential functions in several OM assembly machines. Lipoproteins mature in the inner membrane (IM) and are then trafficked to the OM. In Escherichia coli, the LolCDE transporter is needed to extract lipoproteins from the IM to begin trafficking. Lipoproteins are then transferred from LolCDE to the periplasmic chaperone LolA which ferries them to the OM for insertion by LolB. LolA recruitment by LolC is an essential trafficking step. Structural and biochemical studies suggested that two regions (termed Hook and Pad) within a periplasmic loop of LolC worked in tandem to recruit LolA, leading to a bipartite model for recruitment. Here, we genetically examine the LolC periplasmic loop in vivo using E. coli. Our findings challenge the bipartite interaction model. We show that while the Hook is essential for lipoprotein trafficking in vivo, lipoproteins are still efficiently trafficked when the Pad residues are inactivated. We show with AlphaFold2 multimer modeling that Hook:LolA interactions are likely universal among diverse Gram-negative bacteria. Conversely, Pad:LolA interactions vary across phyla. Our in vivo data redefine LolC:LolA recruitment into a hierarchical interaction model. We propose that the Hook is the major player in LolA recruitment, while the Pad plays an ancillary role that is important for efficiency but is ultimately dispensable. Our findings expand the understanding of a fundamental step in essential lipoprotein trafficking and have implications for efforts to develop new antibacterials that target LolCDE.

LolA and LolB from the plant-pathogen Xanthomonas campestris forms a stable heterodimeric complex in the absence of lipoprotein

The Gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas campestris is one of the most problematic phytopathogens, and especially the pathovar campestris (Xcc) that causes a devastating plant disease known as black rot and it is of considerable interest to understand the molecular mechanisms that enable virulence and pathogenicity. Gram-negative bacteria depend on lipoproteins (LPs) that serve many important functions including control of cell shape and integrity, biogenesis of the outer membrane (OM) and establishment of transport pathways across the periplasm. The LPs are localized to the OM where they are attached via a lipid anchor by a process known as the localization of lipoprotein (Lol) pathway. Once a lipid anchor has been synthesized on the nascent LP, the Lol pathway is initiated by a membrane-bound ABC transporter that extracts the lipid anchor of the LP from the IM. The ABC extractor presents the extracted LP to the transport protein LolA, which binds the anchor and thereby shields it from the hydrophilic periplasmic milieu. It is assumed that LolA then carries the LP across the periplasm to the OM. At the periplasmic face of the OM, the LP cargo is delivered to LolB, which completes the Lol pathway by inserting the LP anchor in the inner leaflet of the outer membrane. Earlier studies have shown that loss of Xcc LolA or LolB leads to decreased virulence and pathogenicity during plant infection, which motivates studies to better understand the Lol system in Xcc. In this study, we report the first experimental structure of a complex between LolA and LolB. The crystal structure reveals a stable LolA-LolB complex in the absence of LP. The structural integrity of the LP-free complex is safeguarded by specific protein-protein interactions that do not coincide with interactions predicted to participate in lipid binding. The results allow us to identify structural determinants that enable Xcc LolA to dock with LolB and initiate LP transfer.

Identification of an Essential LolD-Like Protein in Helicobacter pylori

The localization of lipoprotein (Lol) system is used by Gram-negative bacteria to export lipoproteins to the outer membrane. Lol proteins and models of how Lol transfers lipoproteins from the inner to the outer membrane have been extensively characterized in the model organism Escherichia coli, but in numerous bacterial species, lipoprotein synthesis and export pathways deviate from the E. coli paradigm. For example, in the human gastric bacterium Helicobacter pylori, a homolog of the E. coli outer membrane component LolB is not found, E. coli LolC and LolE correspond to a single inner membrane component (LolF), and a homolog of the E. coli cytoplasmic ATPase LolD has not been identified. In the present study, we sought to identify a LolD-like protein in H. pylori. We used affinity-purification mass spectrometry to identify interaction partners of the H. pylori ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family permease LolF and identified the ABC family ATP-binding protein HP0179 as its interaction partner. We engineered H. pylori to conditionally express HP0179 and showed that HP0179 and its conserved ATP binding and ATP hydrolysis motifs are essential for H. pylori growth. We then performed affinity purification-mass spectrometry using HP0179 as the bait and identified LolF as its interaction partner. These results indicate that H. pylori HP0179 is a LolD-like protein and provide a more complete understanding of lipoprotein localization processes in H. pylori, a bacterium in which the Lol system deviates from the E. coli paradigm. IMPORTANCE Lipoproteins are critical in Gram-negative-bacteria for cell surface assembly of LPS, insertion of outer membrane proteins, and sensing envelope stress. Lipoproteins also contribute to bacterial pathogenesis. For many of these functions, lipoproteins must localize to the Gram-negative outer membrane. Transporting lipoproteins to the outer membrane involves the Lol sorting pathway. Detailed analyses of the Lol pathway have been performed in the model organism Escherichia coli, but many bacteria utilize altered components or are missing essential components of the E. coli Lol pathway. Identifying a LolD-like protein in Helicobacter pylori is important to better understand the Lol pathway in diverse bacterial classes. This becomes particularly relevant as lipoprotein localization is targeted for antimicrobial development.

Teasing apart the evolution of lipoprotein trafficking in gram-negative bacteria reveals a bifunctional LolA

The outer membrane (OM) is the defining feature of gram-negative bacteria and is an essential organelle. Accordingly, OM assembly pathways and their essential protein components are conserved throughout all gram-negative species. Lipoprotein trafficking lies at the heart of OM assembly since it supplies several different biogenesis machines with essential lipoproteins. The Escherichia coli Lol trafficking pathway relies on an inner membrane LolCDE transporter that transfers newly made lipoproteins to the chaperone LolA, which rapidly traffics lipoproteins across the periplasm to LolB for insertion into the OM. Strikingly, many gram-negative species (like Caulobacter vibrioides) do not produce LolB, yet essential lipoproteins are still trafficked to the OM. How the final step of trafficking occurs in these organisms has remained a long-standing mystery. We demonstrate that LolA from C. vibrioides can complement the deletion of both LolA and LolB in E. coli, revealing that this protein possesses both chaperone and insertion activities. Moreover, we define the region of C. vibrioides LolA that is responsible for its bifunctionality. This knowledge enabled us to convert E. coli LolA into a similarly bifunctional protein, capable of chaperone and insertion activities. We propose that a bifunctional LolA eliminates the need for LolB. Our findings provide an explanation for why some gram-negative species have retained an essential LolA yet completely lack a dedicated LolB protein.

Essential Paralogous Proteins as Potential Antibiotic Multitargets in Escherichia coli

Antimicrobial resistance threatens our current standards of care for the treatment and prevention of infectious disease. Antibiotics that have multiple targets have a lower propensity for the development of antibiotic resistance than those that have single targets and therefore represent an important tool in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. In this work, groups of essential paralogous proteins were identified in the important Gram-negative pathogen Escherichia coli that could represent novel targets for multitargeting antibiotics. These groups include targets from a broad range of essential macromolecular and biosynthetic pathways, including cell wall synthesis, membrane biogenesis, transcription, translation, DNA replication, fatty acid biosynthesis, and riboflavin and isoprenoid biosynthesis. Importantly, three groups of clinically validated antibiotic multitargets were identified using this method: the two subunits of the essential topoisomerases, DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, and one pair of penicillin-binding proteins. An additional eighteen protein groups represent potentially novel multitargets that could be explored in drug discovery efforts aimed at developing compounds having multiple targets in E. coli and other bacterial pathogens. IMPORTANCE Many types of bacteria have gained resistance to existing antibiotics used in medicine today. Therefore, new antibiotics with novel mechanisms must continue to be developed. One tool to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance is for a single drug to target multiple processes in a bacterium so that more than one change must arise for resistance to develop. The work described here provides a comprehensive search for proteins in the bacterium Escherichia coli that could be targets for such multitargeting antibiotics. Several groups of proteins that are already targets of clinically used antibiotics were identified, indicating that this approach can uncover clinically relevant antibiotic targets. In addition, eighteen currently unexploited groups of proteins were identified, representing new multitargets that could be explored in antibiotic research and development.

Deletion of a previously uncharacterized lipoprotein lirL confers resistance to an inhibitor of type II signal peptidase in Acinetobacter baumannii

Inhibiting bacterial lipoprotein biosynthesis in Enterobacteriaceae is an attractive antibacterial strategy to target multidrug resistance, and mechanisms of resistance to prolipoprotein signal peptidase (LspA) inhibitors in Escherichia coli are relatively well understood. In contrast, it has been challenging to understand the mechanisms of resistance to LspA inhibitors in Acinetobacter baumannii due to the substantially lower inhibitor potencies and the lack of a homologous lpp gene. By increasing the antibacterial potency of the LspA inhibitor, globomycin, against wild-type A. baumannii, we were able to examine resistance to LspA inhibitors, resulting in the identification of a previously uncharacterized highly abundant lipoprotein, LspA inhibitor resistance lipoprotein. This study reveals insights into resistance mechanisms of A. baumannii against inhibitors of bacterial lipoprotein biosynthesis.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a clinically important, predominantly health care–associated gram-negative bacterium with high rates of emerging resistance worldwide. Given the urgent need for novel antibacterial therapies against A. baumannii, we focused on inhibiting lipoprotein biosynthesis, a pathway that is essential for envelope biogenesis in gram-negative bacteria. The natural product globomycin, which inhibits the essential type II signal peptidase prolipoprotein signal peptidase (LspA), is ineffective against wild-type A. baumannii clinical isolates due to its poor penetration through the outer membrane. Here, we describe a globomycin analog, G5132, that is more potent against wild-type and clinical A. baumannii isolates. Mutations leading to G5132 resistance in A. baumannii map to the signal peptide of a single hypothetical gene, which we confirm encodes an alanine-rich lipoprotein and have renamed lirL (prolipoprotein signal peptidase inhibitor resistance lipoprotein). LirL is a highly abundant lipoprotein primarily localized to the inner membrane. Deletion of lirL leads to G5132 resistance, inefficient cell division, increased sensitivity to serum, and attenuated virulence. Signal peptide mutations that confer resistance to G5132 lead to the accumulation of diacylglyceryl-modified LirL prolipoprotein in untreated cells without significant loss in cell viability, suggesting that these mutations overcome a block in lipoprotein biosynthetic flux by decreasing LirL prolipoprotein substrate sensitivity to processing by LspA. This study characterizes a lipoprotein that plays a critical role in resistance to LspA inhibitors and validates lipoprotein biosynthesis as a antibacterial target in A. baumannii.

Structural basis of lipoprotein recognition by the bacterial Lol trafficking chaperone LolA

Lipoproteins in gram-negative bacteria underpin the formation and maintenance of the outer membrane that constitutes a vital protective barrier against antibiotics and other noxious molecules. An essential transport system comprising the LolABCDE proteins is required to traffic lipoproteins to the outer membrane. Following maturation on the inner membrane and extraction by the LolCDE transporter, lipoproteins are passed to the chaperone LolA that carries them across the periplasm prior to insertion into the outer membrane by the LolB receptor. Here, we report the molecular details of lipoprotein interaction with the chaperone LolA, a key intermediate located at the heart of the Lol pathway. The structure provides valuable insights into this important system and could be exploited to develop new antimicrobials.

In gram-negative bacteria, lipoproteins are vital structural components of the outer membrane (OM) and crucial elements of machineries central to the physiology of the cell envelope. A dedicated apparatus, the Lol system, is required for the correct localization of OM lipoproteins and is essential for viability. The periplasmic chaperone LolA is central to this trafficking pathway, accepting triacylated lipoproteins from the inner membrane transporter LolCDE, before carrying them across the periplasm to the OM receptor LolB. Here, we report a crystal structure of liganded LolA, generated in vivo, revealing the molecular details of lipoprotein association. The structure highlights how LolA, initially primed to receive lipoprotein by interaction with LolC, further opens to accommodate the three ligand acyl chains in a precise conformation within its cavity. LolA forms extensive interactions with the acyl chains but not with any residue of the cargo, explaining the chaperone’s ability to transport structurally diverse lipoproteins. Structural characterization of a ligandedLolA variant incapable of lipoprotein release reveals aberrant association, demonstrating the importance of the LolCDE-coordinated, sequential opening of LolA for inserting lipoprotein in a manner productive for subsequent trafficking. Comparison with existing structures of LolA in complex with LolC or LolCDE reveals substantial overlap of the lipoprotein and LolC binding sites within the LolA cavity, demonstrating that insertion of lipoprotein acyl chains physically disengages the chaperone protein from the transporter by perturbing interaction with LolC. Taken together, our data provide a key step toward a complete understanding of a fundamentally important trafficking pathway.

A Biological Signature for the Inhibition of Outer Membrane Lipoprotein Biogenesis

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is an essential organelle that acts as a formidable barrier to antibiotics. Increasingly prevalent resistance to existing drugs has exacerbated the need for antibiotic discovery efforts targeting the OM. Acylated proteins, known as lipoproteins, are essential in every pathway needed to build the OM. The central role of OM lipoproteins makes their biogenesis a uniquely attractive therapeutic target, but it also complicates in vivo identification of on-pathway inhibitors, as inhibition of OM lipoprotein biogenesis broadly disrupts OM assembly. Here, we use genetics to probe the eight essential proteins involved in OM lipoprotein maturation and trafficking. We define a biological signature consisting of three simple assays that can characteristically identify OM lipoprotein biogenesis defects in vivo. We find that several known chemical inhibitors of OM lipoprotein biogenesis conform to the biological signature. We also examine MAC13243, a proposed inhibitor of OM lipoprotein biogenesis, and find that it fails to conform to the biological signature. Indeed, we demonstrate that MAC13243 activity relies entirely on a target outside of the OM lipoprotein biogenesis pathway. Hence, our signature offers simple tools to easily assess whether antibiotic lead compounds target an essential pathway that is the hub of OM assembly.

The lolB gene in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is required for bacterial attachment, stress tolerance, and virulence

BACKGROUND

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a Gram-negative bacterium that can cause black rot disease in crucifers. The lipoprotein outer membrane localization (Lol) system is involved in the lipoprotein sorting to the outer membrane. Although Xcc has a set of annotated lol genes, there is still little known about the physiological role in this phytopathogen. In this study, we aimed to characterize the role of LolB of Xcc in bacterial attachment, stress tolerance, and virulence.

RESULTS

To characterize the role of LolB, lolB mutant was constructed and phenotypic evaluation was performed. The lolB mutant revealed reductions in bacterial attachment, extracellular enzyme production, and virulence. Mutation of lolB also resulted in reduced tolerance to a myriad of stresses, including heat and a range of membrane-perturbing agents. Trans-complementation of lolB mutant with intact lolB gene reverted these altered phenotypes to the wild-type levels. From subsequent reporter assay and reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis, the expression of genes that encode the major extracellular enzymes and the stress-related proteins was reduced after lolB mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results in this work contribute to the functional understanding of lolB in Xanthomonas for the first time, and provide new insights into the function of lolB in bacteria.

Bacterial Lipoprotein Posttranslational Modifications. New Insights and Opportunities for Antibiotic and Vaccine Development

Lipoproteins are some of the most abundant proteins in bacteria. With a lipid anchor to the cell membrane, they function as enzymes, inhibitors, transporters, structural proteins, and as virulence factors. Lipoproteins activate the innate immune system and have biotechnological applications. The first lipoprotein was described by Braun and Rehn in 1969. Up until recently, however, work on lipoproteins has been sluggish, in part due to the challenges of handling proteins that are anchored to membranes by covalently linked lipids or are membrane integral. Activity in the area has quickened of late. In the past 5 years, high-resolution structures of the membrane enzymes of the canonical lipoprotein synthesis pathway have been determined, new lipoprotein types have been discovered and the enzymes responsible for their synthesis have been characterized biochemically. This has led to a flurry of activity aimed at developing novel antibiotics targeting these enzymes. In addition, surface exposed bacterial lipoproteins have been utilized as candidate vaccine antigens, and their potential to act as self-adjuvanting antigens is increasingly recognized. A summary of the latest developments in lipoproteins and their synthesis, as well as how this information is being exploited for therapeutic purposes is presented here.

Bacterial lipoproteins in sepsis

Bacterial lipoproteins are membrane proteins derived from both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. They seem to have diverse functions not only on bacterial growth, but also play an important role in host's virulence. Bacterial lipoproteins exert their action on host immune cells via TLR2/1 or TLR2/6. Therefore, bacterial lipoproteins also need to be considered while addressing bacterial pathogenicity besides classical bacterial endotoxin like LPS and other microbial associated molecular patterns such as LTA, and peptidoglycans. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of general bacterial lipoprotein biosynthesis and the need to understand the lipoprotein-mediated pathogenicity in diseases like sepsis.

Metallo-β-lactamases in the Age of Multidrug Resistance: From Structure and Mechanism to Evolution, Dissemination, and Inhibitor Design

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major problems in current practical medicine. The spread of genes coding for resistance determinants among bacteria challenges the use of approved antibiotics, narrowing the options for treatment. Resistance to carbapenems, last resort antibiotics, is a major concern. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) hydrolyze carbapenems, penicillins, and cephalosporins, becoming central to this problem. These enzymes diverge with respect to serine-β-lactamases by exhibiting a different fold, active site, and catalytic features. Elucidating their catalytic mechanism has been a big challenge in the field that has limited the development of useful inhibitors. This review covers exhaustively the details of the active-site chemistries, the diversity of MBL alleles, the catalytic mechanism against different substrates, and how this information has helped developing inhibitors. We also discuss here different aspects critical to understand the success of MBLs in conferring resistance: the molecular determinants of their dissemination, their cell physiology, from the biogenesis to the processing involved in the transit to the periplasm, and the uptake of the Zn(II) ions upon metal starvation conditions, such as those encountered during an infection. In this regard, the chemical, biochemical and microbiological aspects provide an integrative view of the current knowledge of MBLs.

Structure, Assembly, and Function of Tripartite Efflux and Type 1 Secretion Systems in Gram-Negative Bacteria

Tripartite efflux pumps and the related type 1 secretion systems (T1SSs) in Gram-negative organisms are diverse in function, energization, and structural organization. They form continuous conduits spanning both the inner and the outer membrane and are composed of three principal components-the energized inner membrane transporters (belonging to ABC, RND, and MFS families), the outer membrane factor channel-like proteins, and linking the two, the periplasmic adaptor proteins (PAPs), also known as the membrane fusion proteins (MFPs). In this review we summarize the recent advances in understanding of structural biology, function, and regulation of these systems, highlighting the previously undescribed role of PAPs in providing a common architectural scaffold across diverse families of transporters. Despite being built from a limited number of basic structural domains, these complexes present a staggering variety of architectures. While key insights have been derived from the RND transporter systems, a closer inspection of the operation and structural organization of different tripartite systems reveals unexpected analogies between them, including those formed around MFS- and ATP-driven transporters, suggesting that they operate around basic common principles. Based on that we are proposing a new integrated model of PAP-mediated communication within the conformational cycling of tripartite systems, which could be expanded to other types of assemblies.

Lipoproteins in Gram-negative bacteria: new insights into their biogenesis, subcellular targeting and functional roles

Bacterial lipoproteins are globular proteins anchored to a membrane by a lipid moiety. By discovering new functions carried out by lipoproteins, recent research has highlighted the crucial roles played by these proteins in the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. Here, after discussing the wide range of activities carried out by lipoproteins in the model bacterium Escherichia coli, we review new insights into the essential mechanisms involved in lipoprotein maturation, sorting and targeting to their final destination. A special attention will also be given to the recent identification of lipoproteins on the surface of E. coli and of other bacteria. The renewed interest in lipoproteins is driven by the need to identify novel targets for antibiotic development.

Mode of action of lipoprotein modification enzymes-Novel antibacterial targets

Lipoproteins are characterized by a fatty acid moiety at their amino-terminus through which they are anchored into membranes. They fulfill a variety of essential functions in bacterial cells, such as cell wall maintenance, virulence, efflux of toxic elements including antibiotics, and uptake of nutrients. The posttranslational modification process of lipoproteins involves the sequential action of integral membrane enzymes and phospholipids as acyl donors. In recent years, the structures of the lipoprotein modification enzymes have been solved by X-ray crystallography leading to a greater insight into their function and the molecular mechanism of the reactions. The catalytic domains of the enzymes are exposed to the periplasm or external milieu and are readily accessible to small molecules. Since the lipoprotein modification pathway is essential in proteobacteria, it is a potential target for the development of novel antibiotics. In this review, we discuss recent literature on the structural characterization of the enzymes, and the in vitro activity assays compatible with high-throughput screening for inhibitors, with perspectives on the development of new antimicrobial agents.

Structural and functional analysis of the Francisella lysine decarboxylase as a key actor in oxidative stress resistance

Francisella tularensis is one of the most virulent pathogenic bacteria causing the acute human respiratory disease tularemia. While the mechanisms underlying F. tularensis pathogenesis are largely unknown, previous studies have shown that a F. novicida transposon mutant with insertions in a gene coding for a putative lysine decarboxylase was attenuated in mouse spleen, suggesting a possible role of its protein product as a virulence factor. Therefore, we set out to structurally and functionally characterize the F. novicida lysine decarboxylase, which we termed LdcF. Here, we investigate the genetic environment of ldcF as well as its evolutionary relationships with other basic AAT-fold amino acid decarboxylase superfamily members, known as key actors in bacterial adaptative stress response and polyamine biosynthesis. We determine the crystal structure of LdcF and compare it with the most thoroughly studied lysine decarboxylase, E. coli LdcI. We analyze the influence of ldcF deletion on bacterial growth under different stress conditions in dedicated growth media, as well as in infected macrophages, and demonstrate its involvement in oxidative stress resistance. Finally, our mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomic analysis enables identification of 80 proteins with expression levels significantly affected by ldcF deletion, including several DNA repair proteins potentially involved in the diminished capacity of the F. novicida mutant to deal with oxidative stress. Taken together, we uncover an important role of LdcF in F. novicida survival in host cells through participation in oxidative stress response, thereby singling out this previously uncharacterized protein as a potential drug target.

The surface lipoproteins of gram-negative bacteria: Protectors and foragers in harsh environments

Gram-negative pathogens are enveloped by an outer membrane that serves as a double-edged sword: On the one hand, it provides a layer of protection for the bacterium from environmental insults, including other bacteria and the host immune system. On the other hand, it restricts movement of vital nutrients into the cell and provides a plethora of antigens that can be detected by host immune systems. One strategy used to overcome these limitations is the decoration of the outer surface of gram-negative bacteria with proteins tethered to the outer membrane through a lipid anchor. These surface lipoproteins (SLPs) fulfill critical roles in immune evasion and nutrient acquisition, but as more bacterial genomes are sequenced, we are beginning to discover their prevalence and their different roles and mechanisms and importantly how we can exploit them as antimicrobial targets. This review will focus on representative SLPs that gram-negative bacteria use to overcome host innate immunity, specifically the areas of nutritional immunity and complement system evasion. We elaborate on the structures of some notable SLPs required for binding target molecules in hosts and how this information can be used alongside bioinformatics to understand mechanisms of binding and in the discovery of new SLPs. This information provides a foundation for the development of therapeutics and the design of vaccine antigens.

Arming the troops: Post-translational modification of extracellular bacterial proteins

Protein secretion is almost universally employed by bacteria. Some proteins are retained on the cell surface, whereas others are released into the extracellular milieu, often playing a key role in virulence. In this review, we discuss the diverse types and potential functions of post-translational modifications (PTMs) occurring to extracellular bacterial proteins.

Role of the unique, non-essential phosphatidylglycerol::prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt) in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Bacterial lipoproteins are secreted proteins that are post-translationally lipidated. Following synthesis, preprolipoproteins are transported through the cytoplasmic membrane via the Sec or Tat translocon. As they exit the transport machinery, they are recognized by a phosphatidylglycerol::prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt), which converts them to prolipoproteins by adding a diacylglyceryl group to the sulfhydryl side chain of the invariant Cys₊₁ residue. Lipoprotein signal peptidase (LspA or signal peptidase II) subsequently cleaves the signal peptide, liberating the α-amino group of Cys₊₁, which can eventually be further modified. Here, we identified the lgt and lspA genes from Corynebacterium glutamicum and found that they are unique but not essential. We found that Lgt is necessary for the acylation and membrane anchoring of two model lipoproteins expressed in this species: MusE, a C. glutamicum maltose-binding lipoprotein, and LppX, a Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoprotein. However, Lgt is not required for these proteins' signal peptide cleavage, or for LppX glycosylation. Taken together, these data show that in C. glutamicum the association of some lipoproteins with membranes through the covalent attachment of a lipid moiety is not essential for further post-translational modification.

Lipoprotein Processing and Sorting in Helicobacter pylori

Our current understanding of lipoprotein synthesis and localization in Gram-negative bacteria is based primarily on studies of Escherichia coli Newly synthesized E. coli prolipoproteins undergo posttranslational modifications catalyzed by three essential enzymes (Lgt, LspA, and Lnt). The mature lipoproteins are then sorted to the inner or outer membrane via the Lol system (LolABCDE). Recent studies suggested that this paradigm may not be universally applicable among different classes of proteobacteria. In this study, we conducted a systematic analysis of lipoprotein processing and sorting in Helicobacter pylori, a member of the Epsilonproteobacteria that colonizes the human stomach. We show that H. pylorilgt, lspA, and lnt homologs can complement conditionally lethal E. coli mutant strains in which expression of these genes is conditionally regulated. Mutagenesis studies and analyses of conditionally lethal H. pylori mutant strains indicate that lgt and lspA are essential for H. pylori growth but lnt is dispensable. H. pylorilolA and the single lolC (or lolE) homolog are also essential genes. We then explored the role of lipoproteins in H. pylori Cag type IV secretion system (Cag T4SS) activity. Comparative analysis of the putative VirB7 homolog CagT in wild-type and lnt mutant H. pylori strains indicates that CagT undergoes amino-terminal modifications consistent with lipidation, and we show that CagT lipidation is essential for CagT stability and Cag T4SS function. This work demonstrates that lipoprotein synthesis and localization in H. pylori diverge from the canonical pathways and that lipidation of a T4SS component is necessary for H. pylori Cag T4SS activity.IMPORTANCE Bacterial lipoproteins have diverse roles in multiple aspects of bacterial physiology, antimicrobial resistance, and pathogenesis. Dedicated pathways direct the posttranslational lipidation and localization of lipoproteins, but there is considerable variation in these pathways among the proteobacteria. In this study, we characterized the proteins responsible for lipoprotein synthesis and localization in Helicobacter pylori, a member of the Epsilonproteobacteria that contributes to stomach cancer pathogenesis. We also provide evidence suggesting that lipidation of CagT, a component of the H. pylori Cag T4SS, is required for delivery of the H. pylori CagA oncoprotein into human gastric cells. Overall, these results constitute the first systematic analysis of H. pylori lipoprotein production and localization pathways and reveal how these processes in H. pylori differ from corresponding pathways in model proteobacteria.

Lipoproteins and Their Trafficking to the Outer Membrane

Lipoproteins are produced by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Once secreted, lipoproteins are quickly acylated, anchoring them into the plasma membrane. Recent work has shown that Gram-positive bacteria are able to generate considerable diversity in the acylation of their lipoproteins, though the mechanisms involved are only just beginning to emerge. In Gram-negative organisms, most lipoproteins are subsequently trafficked to the outer membrane (OM). Lipoprotein trafficking is an essential pathway in these bacteria. At least one OM lipoprotein component is required by each of the essential machines that assemble the OM (such as the Bam and Lpt machines) and build the peptidoglycan cell wall (Lpo-penicillin-binding protein complexes). The Lol pathway has been the paradigm for OM lipoprotein trafficking: a complex of LolCDE extracts lipoproteins from the plasma membrane, LolA shuttles them through the periplasmic space, and LolB anchors them into the OM. The peptide signals responsible for OM-targeting via LolCDE have long been known for Escherichia coli. Remarkably, production of novel lipoprotein acyl forms in E. coli has reinforced the idea that lipid signals also contribute to OM targeting via LolCDE. Moreover, recent work has shown that lipoprotein trafficking can occur in E. coli without either LolA or LolB. Therefore, current evidence suggests that at least one additional, LolAB-independent route for OM lipoprotein trafficking exists. This chapter reviews the posttranslocation modifications of all lipoproteins, with a focus on the trafficking of lipoproteins to the OM of Gram-negative bacteria.

Cell intrinsic functions of neutrophils and their manipulation by pathogens

Neutrophils are a crucial first line of defense against infection, migrating rapidly into tissues where they deploy granule components and toxic oxidants for efficient phagocytosis and microbe killing. Subsequent apoptosis and clearance of dying neutrophils are essential for control of infection and resolution of the inflammatory response. A subset of microbial pathogens survive exposure to neutrophils by manipulating phagocytosis, phagosome-granule fusion, oxidant production, and lifespan. Elucidating how they accomplish this unusual feat provides new insights into normal neutrophil function. In this review, we highlight recent discoveries about the ways in which neutrophils use cell-intrinsic mechanisms to control infection, and how these defenses are subverted by pathogens.

Brucella Periplasmic Protein EipB Is a Molecular Determinant of Cell Envelope Integrity and Virulence

The Gram-negative cell envelope is a remarkable structure with core components that include an inner membrane, an outer membrane, and a peptidoglycan layer in the periplasmic space between. Multiple molecular systems function to maintain integrity of this essential barrier between the interior of the cell and its surrounding environment. We show that a conserved DUF1849 family protein, EipB, is secreted to the periplasmic space of Brucella species, a monophyletic group of intracellular pathogens. In the periplasm, EipB folds into an unusual 14-stranded β-spiral structure that resembles the LolA and LolB lipoprotein delivery system, though the overall fold of EipB is distinct from LolA/LolB. Deletion of eipB results in defects in Brucella cell envelope integrity in vitro and in maintenance of spleen colonization in a mouse model of Brucella abortus infection. Transposon disruption of ttpA, which encodes a periplasmic protein containing tetratricopeptide repeats, is synthetically lethal with eipB deletion. ttpA is a reported virulence determinant in Brucella, and our studies of ttpA deletion and overexpression strains provide evidence that this gene also contributes to cell envelope function. We conclude that eipB and ttpA function in the Brucella periplasmic space to maintain cell envelope integrity, which facilitates survival in a mammalian host.IMPORTANCE Brucella species cause brucellosis, a global zoonosis. A gene encoding a conserved DUF1849-family protein, which we have named EipB, is present in all sequenced Brucella and several other genera in the class Alphaproteobacteria The manuscript provides the first functional and structural characterization of a DUF1849 protein. We show that EipB is secreted to the periplasm where it forms a spiral-shaped antiparallel β protein that is a determinant of cell envelope integrity in vitro and virulence in an animal model of disease. eipB genetically interacts with ttpA, which also encodes a periplasmic protein. We propose that EipB and TtpA function as part of a system required for cell envelope homeostasis in select Alphaproteobacteria.

Targeting Lipoprotein Biogenesis: Considerations towards Antimicrobials

Decades have passed without approval of a new antibiotic class. Several companies have recently halted related discovery efforts because of multiple obstacles. One promising route under research is to target the lipoprotein maturation pathway in light of major recent findings and the virulence roles of lipoproteins. To support the future design of selective drugs, considerations and priority-setting are established for the main lipoprotein processing enzymes (Lgt, LspA, and Lnt) based on microbiology, biochemistry, structural biology, chemical design, and pharmacology. Although not all bacterial species will be similarly impacted by drug candidates, several advantages make LspA a top target to pursue in the development of novel antibiotics effective against bacteria that are resistant to existing drugs.

Global Analysis of Genes Essential for Francisella tularensis Schu S4 Growth In Vitro and for Fitness during Competitive Infection of Fischer 344 Rats

The highly virulent intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative bacterium that has a wide host range, including humans, and is the causative agent of tularemia. To identify new therapeutic drug targets and vaccine candidates and investigate the genetic basis of Francisella virulence in the Fischer 344 rat, we have constructed an F. tularensis Schu S4 transposon library. This library consists of more than 300,000 unique transposon mutants and represents a transposon insertion for every 6 bp of the genome. A transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS) approach was used to identify 453 genes essential for growth in vitro Many of these essential genes were mapped to key metabolic pathways, including glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, peptidoglycan synthesis, fatty acid biosynthesis, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Additionally, 163 genes were identified as required for fitness during colonization of the Fischer 344 rat spleen. This in vivo selection screen was validated through the generation of marked deletion mutants that were individually assessed within a competitive index study against the wild-type F. tularensis Schu S4 strain.IMPORTANCE The intracellular bacterial pathogen Francisella tularensis causes a disease in humans characterized by the rapid onset of nonspecific symptoms such as swollen lymph glands, fever, and headaches. F. tularensis is one of the most infectious bacteria known and following pulmonary exposure can have a mortality rate exceeding 50% if left untreated. The low infectious dose of this organism and concerns surrounding its potential as a biological weapon have heightened the need for effective and safe therapies. To expand the repertoire of targets for therapeutic development, we initiated a genome-wide analysis. This study has identified genes that are important for F. tularensis under in vitro and in vivo conditions, providing candidates that can be evaluated for vaccine or antibacterial development.

Functional characterization and proteomic analysis of lolA in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

Background

The gram-negative Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is the pathogenic bacterium that causes black rot disease in crucifers. The virulence determinants of this bacterium include extracellular enzymes, exopolysaccharides, and biofilm formation. Here, one transposon mutant of X. campestris pv. campestris strain 17 that affects biofilm formation was isolated, and subsequent analyses led to the identification of the lolA gene, which encodes an outer membrane lipoprotein chaperone.

Results

The lolA mutant exhibited significant reductions in bacterial attachment, extracellular enzyme production, virulence, and tolerance in the presence of myriad membrane-perturbing agents. These phenotypic changes of the mutant could be complemented to the wild-type level through the intact lolA gene. Proteomic analysis revealed that 109 proteins were differentially expressed after lolA mutation. These differentially expressed proteins were categorized in various functional groups and were mainly associated with the membrane component, were involved in transport, and contained receptor activity. Through reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis, deletion of lolA was determined to have caused significantly reduced expression of genes that encode the major extracellular enzymes, the biofilm-related proteins, and the virulence-related proteins. The RT-qPCR analysis also indicated that the expression of several genes that encode putative outer membrane lipoproteins and TonB-dependent receptors was reduced after lolA mutation.

Conclusions

This is the first report to define the lolA gene as a virulence factor and to contribute to the functional understanding of, and provide new information concerning, the role of lolA in Xanthomonas. Furthermore, the results of this study provide and extend new insights into the function of lolA in bacteria.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-019-1387-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Bacterial Signal Peptidases

Signal peptidases are the membrane bound enzymes that cleave off the amino-terminal signal peptide from secretory preproteins . There are two types of bacterial signal peptidases . Type I signal peptidase utilizes a serine/lysine catalytic dyad mechanism and is the major signal peptidase in most bacteria. Type II signal peptidase is an aspartic protease specific for prolipoproteins. This chapter will review what is known about the structure, function and mechanism of these unique enzymes.

The apolipoprotein N-acyl transferase Lnt is dispensable for growth in Acinetobacter species

Directing the flow of protein traffic is a critical task faced by all cellular organisms. In Gram-negative bacteria, this traffic includes lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are synthesized as precursors in the cytoplasm and receive their acyl modifications upon export across the inner membrane. The third and final acyl chain is added by Lnt, which until recently was thought to be essential in all Gram-negatives. In this report, we show that Acinetobacter species can also tolerate a complete loss-of-function mutation in lnt. Absence of a fully functional Lnt impairs modification of lipoproteins, increases outer membrane permeability and susceptibility to antibiotics, and alters normal cellular morphology. In addition, we show that loss of lnt triggers a global transcriptional response to this added cellular stress. Taken together, our findings provide new insights on and support the growing revisions to the Gram-negative lipoprotein biogenesis paradigm.

Transposon Sequencing of Brucella abortus Uncovers Essential Genes for Growth In Vitro and Inside Macrophages

Brucella abortus is a class III zoonotic bacterial pathogen able to survive and replicate inside host cells, including macrophages. Here we report a multidimensional transposon sequencing analysis to identify genes essential for Brucella abortus growth in rich medium and replication in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The construction of a dense transposon mutant library and mapping of 929,769 unique mini-Tn5 insertion sites in the genome allowed identification of 491 essential coding sequences and essential segments in the B. abortus genome. Chromosome II carries a lower proportion (5%) of essential genes than chromosome I (19%), supporting the hypothesis of a recent acquisition of a megaplasmid as the origin of chromosome II. Temporally resolved transposon sequencing analysis as a function of macrophage infection stages identified 79 genes with a specific attenuation phenotype in macrophages, at either 2, 5, or 24 h postinfection, and 86 genes for which the attenuated mutant phenotype correlated with a growth defect on plates. We identified 48 genes required for intracellular growth, including the virB operon, encoding the type IV secretion system, which supports the validity of the screen. The remaining genes encode amino acid and pyrimidine biosynthesis, electron transfer systems, transcriptional regulators, and transporters. In particular, we report the need of an intact pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis pathway in order for B. abortus to proliferate inside RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Insights into bacterial lipoprotein trafficking from a structure of LolA bound to the LolC periplasmic domain

In Gram-negative bacteria, outer-membrane lipoproteins are essential for maintaining cellular integrity, transporting nutrients, establishing infections, and promoting the formation of biofilms. The LolCDE ABC transporter, LolA chaperone, and LolB outer-membrane receptor form an essential system for transporting newly matured lipoproteins from the outer leaflet of the cytoplasmic membrane to the innermost leaflet of the outer membrane. Here, we present a crystal structure of LolA in complex with the periplasmic domain of LolC. The structure reveals how a solvent-exposed β-hairpin loop (termed the "Hook") and trio of surface residues (the "Pad") of LolC are essential for recruiting LolA from the periplasm and priming it to receive lipoproteins. Experiments with purified LolCDE complex demonstrate that association with LolA is independent of nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, and homology models based on the MacB ABC transporter predict that LolA recruitment takes place at a periplasmic site located at least 50 Å from the inner membrane. Implications for the mechanism of lipoprotein extraction and transfer are discussed. The LolA-LolC structure provides atomic details on a key protein interaction within the Lol pathway and constitutes a vital step toward the complete molecular understanding of this important system.

The N-acyltransferase Lnt: Structure-function insights from recent simultaneous studies

Bacterial lipoproteins have been researched for decades due to their roles in a large number of biological functions. There were no structures of their main three membrane processing enzymes, until 2016 for Lgt and LspA, and then 2017 for Lnt with not one but three simultaneous, independent publications. We have analyzed the recent findings for this apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase Lnt, with comparisons between the novel structures, and with soluble nitrilases, to determine the significance of unique features in terms of substrate's recognition and binding mechanism influenced by exclusive residues, two transmembrane helices, and a flexible loop.

Bacterial lipoproteins and other factors released by Francisella tularensis modulate human neutrophil lifespan: Effects of a TLR1 SNP on apoptosis inhibition

Francisella tularensis infects several cell types including neutrophils, and aberrant neutrophil accumulation contributes to tissue destruction during tularaemia. We demonstrated previously that F. tularensis strains Schu S4 and live vaccine strain markedly delay human neutrophil apoptosis and thereby prolong cell lifespan, but the bacterial factors that mediate this aspect of virulence are undefined. Herein, we demonstrate that bacterial conditioned medium (CM) can delay apoptosis in the absence of direct infection. Biochemical analyses show that CM contained F. tularensis surface factors as well as outer membrane components. Our previous studies excluded roles for lipopolysaccharide and capsule in apoptosis inhibition, and current studies of [¹⁴C] acetate‐labelled bacteria argue against a role for other bacterial lipids in this process. At the same time, studies of isogenic mutants indicate that TolC and virulence factors whose expression requires FevR or MglA were also dispensable, demonstrating that apoptosis inhibition does not require Type I or Type VI secretion. Instead, we identified bacterial lipoproteins (BLPs) as active factors in CM. Additional studies of isolated BLPs demonstrated dose‐dependent neutrophil apoptosis inhibition via a TLR2‐dependent mechanism that is significantly influenced by a common polymorphism, rs5743618, in human TLR1. These data provide fundamental new insight into pathogen manipulation of neutrophil lifespan and BLP function.

Biological Functions of the Secretome of Neisseria meningitidis

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that normally resides as a commensal in the human nasopharynx but occasionally causes disease with high mortality and morbidity. To interact with its environment, it transports many proteins across the outer membrane to the bacterial cell surface and into the extracellular medium for which it deploys the common and well-characterized autotransporter, two-partner and type I secretion mechanisms, as well as a recently discovered pathway for the surface exposure of lipoproteins. The surface-exposed and secreted proteins serve roles in host-pathogen interactions, including adhesion to host cells and extracellular matrix proteins, evasion of nutritional immunity imposed by iron-binding proteins of the host, prevention of complement activation, neutralization of antimicrobial peptides, degradation of immunoglobulins, and permeabilization of epithelial layers. Furthermore, they have roles in interbacterial interactions, including the formation and dispersal of biofilms and the suppression of the growth of bacteria competing for the same niche. Here, we will review the protein secretion systems of N. meningitidis and focus on the functions of the secreted proteins.

Neisserial surface lipoproteins: structure, function and biogenesis

The surface of many Gram-negative bacteria contains lipidated protein molecules referred to as surface lipoproteins or SLPs. SLPs play critical roles in host immune evasion, nutrient acquisition and regulation of the bacterial stress response. The focus of this review is on the SLPs present in Neisseria, a genus of bacteria that colonise the mucosal surfaces of animals. Neisseria contains two pathogens of medical interest, namely Neisseria meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae. Several SLPs have been identified in Neisseria and their study has elucidated key strategies used by these pathogens to survive inside the human body. Herein, we focus on the identification, structure and function of SLPs that have been identified in Neisseria. We also survey the translocation pathways used by these SLPs to reach the cell surface. Specifically, we elaborate on the strategies used by neisserial SLPs to translocate across the outer membrane with an emphasis on Slam, a novel outer membrane protein that has been implicated in SLP biogenesis. Taken together, the study of SLPs in Neisseria illustrates the widespread roles played by this family of proteins in Gram-negative bacteria.

Redefining the essential trafficking pathway for outer membrane lipoproteins

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is a permeability barrier and an intrinsic antibiotic resistance factor. Lipoproteins are OM components that function in cell wall synthesis, diverse secretion systems, and antibiotic efflux pumps. Moreover, each of the essential OM machines that assemble the barrier requires one or more lipoproteins. This dependence is thought to explain the essentiality of the periplasmic chaperone LolA and its OM receptor LolB that traffic lipoproteins to the OM. However, we show that in strains lacking substrates that are toxic when mislocalized, both LolA and LolB can be completely bypassed by activating an envelope stress response without compromising trafficking of essential lipoproteins. We identify the Cpx stress response as a monitor of lipoprotein trafficking tasked with protecting the cell from mislocalized lipoproteins. Moreover, our findings reveal that an alternate trafficking pathway exists that can, under certain conditions, bypass the functions of LolA and LolB, implying that these proteins do not perform any truly essential mechanistic steps in lipoprotein trafficking. Instead, these proteins' key function is to prevent lethal accumulation of mislocalized lipoproteins.

The role of apolipoprotein N-acyl transferase, Lnt, in the lipidation of factor H binding protein of Neisseria meningitidis strain MC58 and its potential as a drug target

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The level of cell surface expression of the meningococcal vaccine antigen, Factor H binding protein (FHbp) varies between and within strains and this limits the breadth of strains that can be targeted by FHbp-based vaccines. The molecular pathway controlling expression of FHbp at the cell surface, including its lipidation, sorting to the outer membrane and export, and the potential regulation of this pathway have not been investigated until now. This knowledge will aid our evaluation of FHbp vaccines.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A meningococcal transposon library was screened by whole cell immuno-dot blotting using an anti-FHbp antibody to identify a mutant with reduced binding and the disrupted gene was determined.

KEY RESULTS

In a mutant with markedly reduced binding, the transposon was located in the lnt gene which encodes apolipoprotein N-acyl transferase, Lnt, responsible for the addition of the third fatty acid to apolipoproteins prior to their sorting to the outer membrane. We provide data indicating that in the Lnt mutant, FHbp is diacylated and its expression within the cell is reduced 10 fold, partly due to inhibition of transcription. Furthermore the Lnt mutant showed 64 fold and 16 fold increase in susceptibility to rifampicin and ciprofloxacin respectively.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

We speculate that the inefficient sorting of diacylated FHbp in the meningococcus results in its accumulation in the periplasm inducing an envelope stress response to down-regulate its expression. We propose Lnt as a potential novel drug target for combination therapy with antibiotics.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed section on Drug Metabolism and Antibiotic Resistance in Micro-organisms. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.14/issuetoc.

Structural basis for catalysis at the membrane-water interface

The membrane-water interface forms a uniquely heterogeneous and geometrically constrained environment for enzymatic catalysis. Integral membrane enzymes sample three environments - the uniformly hydrophobic interior of the membrane, the aqueous extramembrane region, and the fuzzy, amphipathic interfacial region formed by the tightly packed headgroups of the components of the lipid bilayer. Depending on the nature of the substrates and the location of the site of chemical modification, catalysis may occur in each of these environments. The availability of structural information for alpha-helical enzyme families from each of these classes, as well as several beta-barrel enzymes from the bacterial outer membrane, has allowed us to review here the different ways in which each enzyme fold has adapted to the nature of the substrates, products, and the unique environment of the membrane. Our focus here is on enzymes that process lipidic substrates. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Bacterial Lipids edited by Russell E. Bishop.

The role of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Introduction

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are caused by different types of microbial agents such as uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and Candida albicans. The presence of strong physical barriers may prevent the breach of pathogens into the urinary tract. However, sometimes the pathogenic microorganisms may pass through the barriers and stimulate the innate and adaptive responses. Among a variety of innate immune responses, Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) are one of the most unique and interesting molecules regarding UTIs. Thus, the authors have focused their attention on the role of TLRs in urinary tract defense against pathogenic microbial agents such as UPEC and C.albicans through this literature review.

Material and methods

Several papers regarding UTIs and TLRs including original and review articles were searched by PubMed and Google Scholar. They were studied and the most important aspects in association with the role of TLRs in UTIs were extracted. Additionally, this paper was prepared using the experience of the authors.

Results

The TLRs 2, 4 and 5 are the most functional molecules that contribute to urinary tract defense system and UTIs. It is incredible that TLRs are able to detect and recognize different parts of microbial components relating to the same pathogen. Besides, the flexibility of the TLR molecules may lead to identification of different types of microorganisms with different signaling pathways.

Conclusions

Our knowledge associated with TLRs and their activities against microbial causative agents of UTIs may help us to prevent, control and treat UTIs at a higher quality level.

Bacterial lipoproteins; biogenesis, sorting and quality control

Bacterial lipoproteins are a subset of membrane proteins localized on either leaflet of the lipid bilayer. These proteins are anchored to membranes through their N-terminal lipid moiety attached to a conserved Cys. Since the protein moiety of most lipoproteins is hydrophilic, they are expected to play various roles in a hydrophilic environment outside the cytoplasmic membrane. Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli possess an outer membrane, to which most lipoproteins are sorted. The Lol pathway plays a central role in the sorting of lipoproteins to the outer membrane after lipoprotein precursors are processed to mature forms in the cytoplasmic membrane. Most lipoproteins are anchored to the inner leaflet of the outer membrane with their protein moiety in the periplasm. However, recent studies indicated that some lipoproteins further undergo topology change in the outer membrane, and play critical roles in the biogenesis and quality control of the outer membrane. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Bacterial Lipids edited by Russell E. Bishop.

Identification of inhibitors for single-stranded DNA-binding proteins in eubacteria

OBJECTIVES

The increasing threat of drug-resistant bacteria establishes a continuing need for the development of new strategies to fight infection. We examine the inhibition of the essential single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) SSBA and SSBB as a potential antimicrobial therapy due to their importance in DNA replication, activating the SOS response and promoting competence-based mechanisms of resistance by incorporating new DNA.

METHODS

Purified recombinant SSBs from Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Francisella tularensis) bacteria were assessed in a high-throughput screen for inhibition of duplex DNA unwinding by small molecule inhibitors. Secondary electrophoretic mobility shift assays further validated the top hits that were then tested for MICs using in vitro assays.

RESULTS

We have identified compounds that show cross-reactivity in vitro, as well as inhibition of both F. tularensis and B. anthracis SSBA. Five compounds were moderately toxic to at least two of the four bacterial strains in vivo, including two compounds that were selectively non-toxic to human cells, 9-hydroxyphenylfluoron and purpurogallin. Three of the SSBA inhibitors also inhibited S. aureus SSBB in Gram-positive bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from our study support the potential for SSB inhibitors as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, with dual targeting capabilities against Gram-positive bacteria.

The Journey of Lipoproteins Through the Cell: One Birthplace, Multiple Destinations

Bacterial lipoproteins are a very diverse group of proteins characterized by the presence of an N-terminal lipid moiety that serves as a membrane anchor. Lipoproteins have a wide variety of crucial functions, ranging from envelope biogenesis to stress response. In Gram-negative bacteria, lipoproteins can be targeted to various destinations in the cell, including the periplasmic side of the cytoplasmic or outer membrane, the cell surface or the external milieu. The sorting mechanisms have been studied in detail in Escherichia coli, but exceptions to the rules established in this model bacterium exist in other bacteria. In this chapter, we will present the current knowledge on lipoprotein sorting in the cell. Our particular focus will be on the surface-exposed lipoproteins that appear to be much more common than previously assumed. We will discuss the different targeting strategies, provide numerous examples of surface-exposed lipoproteins and discuss the techniques used to assess their surface exposure.

Antibacterial activity of resazurin-based compounds against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vitro and in vivo

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the cause of the second most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection, with ca. 80 million new cases of gonorrhoea reported annually. The recent emergence of clinical isolates resistant to the last monotherapy against this bacterium, the cephalosporins, illustrates the need for new antigonococcal agents. Here we have characterised a new group of antimicrobials based on the compound resazurin that exhibits robust activity against N. gonorrhoeae in vitro. Resazurin inhibits the growth of a broad range of N. gonorrhoeae isolates, including those resistant to multiple antibiotics. Furthermore, treatment of human endometrial cells infected with N. gonorrhoeae with resazurin significantly reduces the number of intracellular bacteria. Whilst resazurin exhibited potent in vitro antimicrobial activity, in vivo resazurin did not limit the colonisation of mice with N. gonorrhoeae following vaginal infection. The ineffectiveness of resazurin in vivo is likely due to its interaction with serum albumin, which completely diminishes its antimicrobial activity. However, treatment of mice with a resazurin analogue (resorufin pentyl ether) that maintains its antimicrobial activity in the presence of serum albumin approached a significant decrease in the percentage of mice vaginally colonised. This treatment also decreased vaginal colonisation by N. gonorrhoeae over time. Together, these data suggest that resazurin derivatives have potential for the treatment of gonorrhoea.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoproteins in virulence and immunity - fighting with a double-edged sword

Bacterial lipoproteins are secreted membrane-anchored proteins characterized by a lipobox motif. This lipobox motif directs post-translational modifications at the conserved cysteine through the consecutive action of three enzymes: Lgt, LspA and Lnt, which results in di- or triacylated forms. Lipoproteins are abundant in all bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and often involved in virulence and immunoregulatory processes. On the one hand, disruption of the biosynthesis pathway of lipoproteins leads to attenuation of M. tuberculosis in vivo, and mycobacteria deficient for certain lipoproteins have been assessed as attenuated live vaccine candidates. On the other hand, several mycobacterial lipoproteins form immunodominant antigens which promote an immune response. Some of these have been explored in DNA or subunit vaccination approaches against tuberculosis. The immune recognition of specific lipoproteins, however, might also benefit long-term survival of M. tuberculosis through immune modulation, while others induce protective responses. Exploiting lipoproteins as vaccines is thus a complex matter which requires deliberative investigation. The dual role of lipoproteins in the immunity to and pathogenicity of mycobacteria is discussed here.

Outer membrane lipoprotein biogenesis: Lol is not the end

Bacterial lipoproteins are lipid-anchored proteins that contain acyl groups covalently attached to the N-terminal cysteine residue of the mature protein. Lipoproteins are synthesized in precursor form with an N-terminal signal sequence (SS) that targets translocation across the cytoplasmic or inner membrane (IM). Lipid modification and SS processing take place at the periplasmic face of the IM. Outer membrane (OM) lipoproteins take the localization of lipoproteins (Lol) export pathway, which ends with the insertion of the N-terminal lipid moiety into the inner leaflet of the OM. For many lipoproteins, the biogenesis pathway ends here. We provide examples of lipoproteins that adopt complex topologies in the OM that include transmembrane and surface-exposed domains. Biogenesis of such lipoproteins requires additional steps beyond the Lol pathway. In at least one case, lipoprotein sequences reach the cell surface by being threaded through the lumen of a beta-barrel protein in an assembly reaction that requires the heteropentomeric Bam complex. The inability to predict surface exposure reinforces the importance of experimental verification of lipoprotein topology and we will discuss some of the methods used to study OM protein topology.