1
|
Ravi J, Anantharaman V, Chen SZ, Brenner EP, Datta P, Aravind L, Gennaro ML. The phage shock protein (PSP) envelope stress response: discovery of novel partners and evolutionary history. mSystems 2024; 9:e0084723. [PMID: 38809013 PMCID: PMC11237479 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00847-23] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial phage shock protein (PSP) systems stabilize the bacterial cell membrane and protect against envelope stress. These systems have been associated with virulence, but despite their critical roles, PSP components are not well characterized outside proteobacteria. Using comparative genomics and protein sequence-structure-function analyses, we systematically identified and analyzed PSP homologs, phyletic patterns, domain architectures, and gene neighborhoods. This approach underscored the evolutionary significance of the system, revealing that its core protein PspA (Snf7 in ESCRT outside bacteria) was present in the last universal common ancestor and that this ancestral functionality has since diversified into multiple novel, distinct PSP systems across life. Several novel partners of the PSP system were identified: (i) the Toastrack domain, likely facilitating assembly of sub-membrane stress-sensing and signaling complexes, (ii) the newly defined HTH-associated α-helical signaling domain-PadR-like transcriptional regulator pair system, and (iii) multiple independent associations with ATPase, CesT/Tir-like chaperone, and Band-7 domains in proteins thought to mediate sub-membrane dynamics. Our work also uncovered links between the PSP components and other domains, such as novel variants of SHOCT-like domains, suggesting roles in assembling membrane-associated complexes of proteins with disparate biochemical functions. Results are available at our interactive web app, https://jravilab.org/psp.IMPORTANCEPhage shock proteins (PSP) are virulence-associated, cell membrane stress-protective systems. They have mostly been characterized in Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. We now show that a minimal PSP system was present in the last universal common ancestor that evolved and diversified into newly identified functional contexts. Recognizing the conservation and evolution of PSP systems across bacterial phyla contributes to our understanding of stress response mechanisms in prokaryotes. Moreover, the newly discovered PSP modularity will likely prompt new studies of lineage-specific cell envelope structures, lifestyles, and adaptation mechanisms. Finally, our results validate the use of domain architecture and genetic context for discovery in comparative genomics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janani Ravi
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Vivek Anantharaman
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Samuel Zorn Chen
- Computer Science Engineering Undergraduate Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Evan Pierce Brenner
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Pratik Datta
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - L. Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Maria Laura Gennaro
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Milzarek TM, Stevanovic M, Milivojevic D, Vojnovic S, Iliasov D, Wolf D, Mascher T, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Gulder TAM. Antibiotic Potential of the Ambigol Cyanobacterial Natural Product Class and Simplified Synthetic Analogs. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1941-1948. [PMID: 37655776 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The ambigols are cyanobacterial natural products characterized by three polychlorinated aromatic building blocks connected by biaryl and biaryl ether bridges. All ambigols known to date possess promising biological activities. Most significantly, ambigol A was reported to have antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus megaterium and B. subtilis. We established a diverse compound library for in-depth biological evaluation building on our previous bio- and total synthetic research on this natural product family. To explore the antimicrobial potential in detail and to determine initial structure-activity relationships of this product class, a large set of dimeric and trimeric compounds were screened against selected bacterial and Candida target strains. Our results reveal exceptional antibiotic activity of the ambigols, especially against challenging clinical isolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias M Milzarek
- Chair of Technical Biochemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Bergstraße 66, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Milena Stevanovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dusan Milivojevic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sandra Vojnovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Denis Iliasov
- Chair of General Microbiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Zellescher Weg 20b, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Diana Wolf
- Chair of General Microbiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Zellescher Weg 20b, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Thorsten Mascher
- Chair of General Microbiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Zellescher Weg 20b, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tobias A M Gulder
- Chair of Technical Biochemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Bergstraße 66, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Department of Natural Product Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gazioglu O, Habtom M, Andrew PW, Yesilkaya H. The involvement of CiaR and the CiaR-regulated serine protease HtrA in thermal adaptation of Streptococcus pneumoniae. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36811449 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The in vivo temperature can vary according to the host tissue and the response to infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae has evolved mechanisms to survive these temperature differences, but neither the consequences of different temperatures for pneumococcal phenotype nor the genetic basis of thermal adaptation are known in detail. In our previous study [16], we found that CiaR, which is a part of two-component regulatory system CiaRH, as well as 17 genes known to be controlled by CiaRH, were identified to be differentially expressed with temperature. One of the CiaRH-regulated genes shown to be differentially regulated by temperature is for the high-temperature requirement protein (HtrA), coded by SPD_2068 (htrA). In this study, we hypothesized that the CiaRH system plays an important role in pneumococcal thermal adaptation through its control over htrA. This hypothesis was evaluated by testing strains mutated or overexpressing ciaR and/or htrA, in in vitro and in vivo assays. The results showed that in the absence of ciaR, the growth, haemolytic activity, amount of capsule and biofilm formation were considerably diminished at 40 °C only, while the cell size and virulence were affected at both 34 and 40 °C. The overexpression of htrA in the ∆ciaR background reconstituted the growth at all temperatures, and the haemolytic activity, biofilm formation and virulence of ∆ciaR partially at 40 °C. We also showed that overexpression of htrA in the wild-type promoted pneumococcal virulence at 40 °C, while the increase of capsule was observed at 34 °C, suggesting that the role of htrA changes at different temperatures. Our data suggest that CiaR and HtrA play an important role in pneumococcal thermal adaptation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ozcan Gazioglu
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Medhanie Habtom
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Peter W Andrew
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Hasan Yesilkaya
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Morawska LP, Kuipers OP. Transcriptome analysis and prediction of the metabolic state of stress-induced viable but non-culturable Bacillus subtilis cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18015. [PMID: 36289289 PMCID: PMC9605947 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21102-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Many bacteria adapt their physiology and enter the viable but non-culturable state to survive prolonged exposure to adverse environmental conditions. The VBNC cells maintain active metabolism, membrane integrity and gene transcription. However, they lose the ability to form colonies on a conventional culture media. Thus, standard colony counting methods cannot detect these alive but dormant cells. The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis was found to enter the VBNC state when pre-exposed to osmotic stress and treated with a lethal dose of kanamycin. These cells reduced their metabolic activity, ceased growth and division and became kanamycin-tolerant. Interestingly, despite active metabolism, the majority of the kanamycin tolerant cells could not be revived on LB agar. In this study, we use a robust RNA-Seq technique to elucidate the differences in transcriptional profiles of B. subtilis VBNC cells. A comparative analysis of differently expressed genes and operons performed in this study indicates high similarities in transcriptional responses of VBNC and kanamycin-sensitive cells to antibiotic treatment. Moreover, this work reveals that VBNC cells strongly upregulate genes involved in proline uptake and catabolism, suggesting a putative role of proline as nutrient in VBNC cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luiza P Morawska
- Molecular Genetics Group, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Molecular Genetics Group, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen Z, Li J, Wan Y, Bai R, Wang W, Gao X, Li D, Hu Q, Li Y, Ruan BH. Rapid High-Throughput Assay Identified Gemcitabine and Derivatives As Potent Inhibitors Against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2022; 20:175-182. [DOI: 10.1089/adt.2022.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtza River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinxiu Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtza River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yue Wan
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtza River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ruisong Bai
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtza River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtza River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Gao
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtza River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Di Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtza River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qingfeng Hu
- Clinical Diagnostic Lab, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Li
- Hangzhou Simbiospharma Co. Ltd., Hangzhou, China
| | - Benfang Helen Ruan
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtza River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gazioglu O, Kareem BO, Afzal M, Shafeeq S, Kuipers OP, Ulijasz AT, Andrew PW, Yesilkaya H. Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GdhA) of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Required for High Temperature Adaptation. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0040021. [PMID: 34491792 PMCID: PMC8594611 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00400-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During its progression from the nasopharynx to other sterile and nonsterile niches of its human host, Streptococcus pneumoniae must cope with changes in temperature. We hypothesized that the temperature adaptation is an important facet of pneumococcal survival in the host. Here, we evaluated the effect of temperature on pneumococcus and studied the role of glutamate dehydrogenase (GdhA) in thermal adaptation associated with virulence and survival. Microarray analysis revealed a significant transcriptional response to changes in temperature, affecting the expression of 252 genes in total at 34°C and 40°C relative to at 37°C. One of the differentially regulated genes was gdhA, which is upregulated at 40°C and downregulated at 34°C relative to 37°C. Deletion of gdhA attenuated the growth, cell size, biofilm formation, pH survival, and biosynthesis of proteins associated with virulence in a temperature-dependent manner. Moreover, deletion of gdhA stimulated formate production irrespective of temperature fluctuation. Finally, ΔgdhA grown at 40°C was less virulent than other temperatures or the wild type at the same temperature in a Galleria mellonella infection model, suggesting that GdhA is required for pneumococcal virulence at elevated temperature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ozcan Gazioglu
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Banaz O. Kareem
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicals and Applied Sciences, University of Charmo, Chamchamal, Iraq
| | - Muhammad Afzal
- Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sulman Shafeeq
- Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew T. Ulijasz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Peter W. Andrew
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Hasan Yesilkaya
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Scholz AS, Baur SSM, Wolf D, Bramkamp M. An Stomatin, Prohibitin, Flotillin, and HflK/C-Domain Protein Required to Link the Phage-Shock Protein to the Membrane in Bacillus subtilis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:754924. [PMID: 34777311 PMCID: PMC8581546 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.754924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane surveillance and repair is of utmost importance to maintain cellular integrity and allow cellular life. Several systems detect cell envelope stress caused by antimicrobial compounds and abiotic stresses such as solvents, pH-changes and temperature in bacteria. Proteins containing an Stomatin, Prohibitin, Flotillin, and HflK/C (SPFH)-domain, including bacterial flotillins have been shown to be involved in membrane protection and membrane fluidity regulation. Here, we characterize a bacterial SPFH-domain protein, YdjI that is part of a stress induced complex in Bacillus subtilis. We show that YdjI is required to localize the ESCRT-III homolog PspA to the membrane with the help of two membrane integral proteins, YdjG/H. In contrast to classical flotillins, YdjI resides in fluid membrane regions and does not enrich in detergent resistant membrane fractions. However, similarly to FloA and FloT from B. subtilis, deletion of YdjI decreases membrane fluidity. Our data reveal a hardwired connection between phage shock response and SPFH proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Savietto Scholz
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Sarah S. M. Baur
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Diana Wolf
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Bramkamp
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Serotonin Exposure Improves Stress Resistance, Aggregation, and Biofilm Formation in the Probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB10415. MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/microbiolres12030043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the microbiota–gut–brain axis in maintaining a healthy status is well recognized. In this bidirectional flux, the influence of host hormones on gut bacteria is crucial. However, data on commensal/probiotics are scarce since most reports analyzed the effects of human bioactive compounds on opportunistic strains, highlighting the risk of increased pathogenicity under stimulation. The present investigation examined the modifications induced by 5HT, a tryptophan-derived molecule abundant in the intestine, on the probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB10415. Specific phenotypic modifications concerning the probiotic potential and possible effects of treated bacteria on dendritic cells were explored together with the comparative soluble proteome evaluation. Increased resistance to bile salts and ampicillin in 5HT-stimulated conditions relate with overexpression of specific proteins (among which Zn-beta-lactamases, a Zn-transport protein and a protein involved in fatty acid incorporation into the membrane). Better auto-aggregating properties and biofilm-forming aptitude are consistent with enhanced QS peptide transport. Concerning interaction with the host, E. faecium NCIMB10415 enhanced dendritic cell maturation, but no significant differences were observed between 5HT-treated and untreated bacteria; meanwhile, after 5HT exposure, some moonlight proteins possibly involved in tissue adhesion were found in higher abundance. Finally, the finding in stimulated conditions of a higher abundance of VicR, a protein involved in two-component signal transduction system (VicK/R), suggests the existence of a possible surface receptor (VicK) for 5HT sensing in the strain studied. These overall data indicate that E. faecium NCIMB10415 modifies its physiology in response to 5HT by improving bacterial interactions and resistance to stressors.
Collapse
|
9
|
Rath H, Sappa PK, Hoffmann T, Gesell Salazar M, Reder A, Steil L, Hecker M, Bremer E, Mäder U, Völker U. Impact of high salinity and the compatible solute glycine betaine on gene expression of Bacillus subtilis. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:3266-3286. [PMID: 32419322 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis is frequently exposed to hyperosmotic conditions. In addition to the induction of genes involved in the accumulation of compatible solutes, high salinity exerts widespread effects on B. subtilis physiology, including changes in cell wall metabolism, induction of an iron limitation response, reduced motility and suppression of sporulation. We performed a combined whole-transcriptome and proteome analysis of B. subtilis 168 cells continuously cultivated at low or high (1.2 M NaCl) salinity. Our study revealed significant changes in the expression of more than one-fourth of the protein-coding genes and of numerous non-coding RNAs. New aspects in understanding the impact of high salinity on B. subtilis include a sustained low-level induction of the SigB-dependent general stress response and strong repression of biofilm formation under high-salinity conditions. The accumulation of compatible solutes such as glycine betaine aids the cells to cope with water stress by maintaining physiologically adequate levels of turgor and also affects multiple cellular processes through interactions with cellular components. Therefore, we additionally analysed the global effects of glycine betaine on the transcriptome and proteome of B. subtilis and revealed that it influences gene expression not only under high-salinity, but also under standard growth conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Rath
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Praveen K Sappa
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Tamara Hoffmann
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Manuela Gesell Salazar
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Reder
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Leif Steil
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Hecker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. (IMaB), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Erhard Bremer
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Mäder
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. (IMaB), Greifswald, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yokoyama H, Matsui I. The lipid raft markers stomatin, prohibitin, flotillin, and HflK/C (SPFH)-domain proteins form an operon with NfeD proteins and function with apolar polyisoprenoid lipids. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:38-48. [PMID: 31983249 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1716682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
SPFH-domain proteins are found in almost all organisms across three domains: archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. In eukaryotic organelles, their subfamilies exhibit overlapping distribution and functions; thus, the rationality of annotation to discriminate these subfamilies remains unclear. In this review, the binding ability of prokaryotic SPFH-domain proteins towards nonpolar polyisoprenoides such as squalene and lycopene, rather than cholesterol, is discussed. The hydrophobic region at the C-terminus of SPFH-domain proteins constitutes the main region that binds apolar polyisoprenoid lipids as well as cholesterol and substantively contributes towards lipid raft formation as these regions are self-assembled together with specific lipids. Because the scaffolding proteins caveolins show common topological properties with SPFH-domain proteins such as stomatin and flotillin, the α-helical segments of stomatin proteins can flexibly move along with the membrane surface, with such movement potentially leading to membrane bending via lipid raft clustering through the formation of high order homo-oligomeric complexes of SPFH-domain proteins. We also discuss the functional significance and ancient origin of SPFH-domain proteins and the NfeD protein (STOPP) operon, which can be traced back to the ancient living cells that diverged and evolved to archaea and bacteria. Based on the molecular mechanism whereby the STOPP-protease degrades the C-terminal hydrophobic clusters of SPFH-domain proteins, it is conceivable that STOPP-protease might control the physicochemical properties of lipid rafts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hideshi Yokoyama
- Department of Medical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ikuo Matsui
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Niu T, Lv X, Liu Z, Li J, Du G, Liu L. Synergetic engineering of central carbon and nitrogen metabolism for the production ofN‐acetylglucosamine inBacillus subtilis. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2020; 67:123-132. [DOI: 10.1002/bab.1845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Niu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
| | - Xueqin Lv
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenmin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dairy BiotechnologyShanghai Engineering Research Center of Dairy BiotechnologyDairy Research InstituteBright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd. Shanghai People's Republic of China
| | - Jianghua Li
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
| | - Guocheng Du
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
| | - Long Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationJiangnan University Wuxi People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Buss da Silva N, Mattar Carciofi BA, Ellouze M, Baranyi J. Optimization of turbidity experiments to estimate the probability of growth for individual bacterial cells. Food Microbiol 2019; 83:109-112. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
13
|
Lucena D, Mauri M, Schmidt F, Eckhardt B, Graumann PL. Microdomain formation is a general property of bacterial membrane proteins and induces heterogeneity of diffusion patterns. BMC Biol 2018; 16:97. [PMID: 30173665 PMCID: PMC6120080 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-018-0561-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Proteins within the cytoplasmic membrane display distinct localization patterns and arrangements. While multiple models exist describing the dynamics of membrane proteins, to date, there have been few systematic studies, particularly in bacteria, to evaluate how protein size, number of transmembrane domains, and temperature affect their diffusion, and if conserved localization patterns exist. Results We have used fluorescence microscopy, single-molecule tracking (SMT), and computer-aided visualization methods to obtain a better understanding of the three-dimensional organization of bacterial membrane proteins, using the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. First, we carried out a systematic study of the localization of over 200 B. subtilis membrane proteins, tagged with monomeric mVenus-YFP at their original gene locus. Their subcellular localization could be discriminated in polar, septal, patchy, and punctate patterns. Almost 20% of membrane proteins specifically localized to the cell poles, and a vast majority of all proteins localized in distinct structures, which we term microdomains. Dynamics were analyzed for selected membrane proteins, using SMT. Diffusion coefficients of the analyzed transmembrane proteins did not correlate with protein molecular weight, but correlated inversely with the number of transmembrane helices, i.e., transmembrane radius. We observed that temperature can strongly influence diffusion on the membrane, in that upon growth temperature upshift, diffusion coefficients of membrane proteins increased and still correlated inversely to the number of transmembrane domains, following the Saffman–Delbrück relation. Conclusions The vast majority of membrane proteins localized to distinct multimeric assemblies. Diffusion of membrane proteins can be suitably described by discriminating diffusion coefficients into two protein populations, one mobile and one immobile, the latter likely constituting microdomains. Our results show there is high heterogeneity and yet structural order in the cell membrane, and provide a roadmap for our understanding of membrane organization in prokaryotes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12915-018-0561-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniella Lucena
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.,Fachbereich Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marco Mauri
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.,INRIA Grenoble - Rhône-Alpes, Montbonnot, France
| | - Felix Schmidt
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.,Fachbereich Physik, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Bruno Eckhardt
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.,Fachbereich Physik, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Peter L Graumann
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany. .,Fachbereich Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhao H, Roistacher DM, Helmann JD. Aspartate deficiency limits peptidoglycan synthesis and sensitizes cells to antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Microbiol 2018; 109:826-844. [PMID: 29995990 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan synthesis is an important target for antibiotics and relies on intermediates derived from central metabolism. As a result, alterations of metabolism may affect antibiotic sensitivity. An aspB mutant is auxotrophic for aspartate (Asp) and asparagine (Asn) and lyses when grown in Difco sporulation medium (DSM), but not in LB medium. Genetic and physiological studies, supported by amino acid analysis, reveal that cell lysis in DSM results from Asp limitation due to a relatively low Asp and high glutamate (Glu) concentrations, with Glu functioning as a competitive inhibitor of Asp uptake by the major Glu/Asp transporter GltT. Lysis can be specifically suppressed by supplementation with 2,6-diaminopimelate (DAP), which is imported by two different cystine uptake systems. These studies suggest that aspartate limitation depletes the peptidoglycan precursor meso-2,6-diaminopimelate (mDAP), inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis, upregulates the cell envelope stress response mediated by σM and eventually leads to cell lysis. Aspartate limitation sensitizes cells to antibiotics targeting late steps of PG synthesis, but not steps prior to the addition of mDAP into the pentapeptide sidechain. This work highlights the ability of perturbations of central metabolism to sensitize cells to peptidoglycan synthesis inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - John D Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
The bacterial cytoplasmic membrane is composed of roughly equal proportions of lipids and proteins. The main lipid components are phospholipids, which vary in acyl chain length, saturation, and branching and carry head groups that vary in size and charge. Phospholipid variants determine membrane properties such as fluidity and charge that in turn modulate interactions with membrane-associated proteins. We summarize recent advances in understanding bacterial membrane structure and function, focusing particularly on the possible existence and significance of specialized membrane domains. We review the role of membrane curvature as a spatial cue for recruitment and regulation of proteins involved in morphogenic functions, especially elongation and division. Finally, we examine the role of the membrane, especially regulation of synthesis and fluid properties, in the life cycle of cell wall-deficient L-form bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Strahl
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX United Kingdom; ,
| | - Jeff Errington
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX United Kingdom; ,
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Dormeyer M, Lübke AL, Müller P, Lentes S, Reuß DR, Thürmer A, Stülke J, Daniel R, Brantl S, Commichau FM. Hierarchical mutational events compensate for glutamate auxotrophy of a Bacillus subtilis gltC mutant. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2017; 9:279-289. [PMID: 28294562 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate is the major donor of nitrogen for anabolic reactions. The Gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis either utilizes exogenously provided glutamate or synthesizes it using the gltAB-encoded glutamate synthase (GOGAT). In the absence of glutamate, the transcription factor GltC activates expression of the GOGAT genes for glutamate production. Consequently, a gltC mutant strain is auxotrophic for glutamate. Using a genetic selection and screening system, we could isolate and differentiate between gltC suppressor mutants in one step. All mutants had acquired the ability to synthesize glutamate, independent of GltC. We identified (i) gain-of-function mutations in the gltR gene, encoding the transcription factor GltR, (ii) mutations in the promoter of the gltAB operon and (iii) massive amplification of the genomic locus containing the gltAB operon. The mutants belonging to the first two classes constitutively expressed the gltAB genes and produced sufficient glutamate for growth. By contrast, mutants that belong to the third class appeared most frequently and solved glutamate limitation by increasing the copy number of the poorly expressed gltAB genes. Thus, glutamate auxotrophy of a B. subtilis gltC mutant can be relieved in multiple ways. Moreover, recombination-dependent amplification of the gltAB genes is the predominant mutational event indicating a hierarchy of mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Dormeyer
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Anastasia L Lübke
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Peter Müller
- Department of Genetics, Bacterial Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, Jena, 07743, Germany
| | - Sabine Lentes
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Daniel R Reuß
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Andrea Thürmer
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Sabine Brantl
- Department of Genetics, Bacterial Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, Jena, 07743, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ungphakorn W, Malmberg C, Lagerbäck P, Cars O, Nielsen EI, Tängdén T. Evaluation of automated time-lapse microscopy for assessment of in vitro activity of antibiotics. J Microbiol Methods 2016; 132:69-75. [PMID: 27836633 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a new time-lapse microscopy based method (oCelloScope) to efficiently assess the in vitro antibacterial effects of antibiotics. Two E. coli and one P. aeruginosa strain were exposed to ciprofloxacin, colistin, ertapenem and meropenem in 24-h experiments. Background corrected absorption (BCA) derived from the oCelloScope was used to detect bacterial growth. The data obtained with the oCelloScope were compared with those of the automated Bioscreen C method and standard time-kill experiments and a good agreement in results was observed during 6-24h of experiments. Viable counts obtained at 1, 4, 6 and 24h during oCelloScope and Bioscreen C experiments were well correlated with the corresponding BCA and optical density (OD) data. Initial antibacterial effects during the first 6h of experiments were difficult to detect with the automated methods due to their high detection limits (approximately 105CFU/mL for oCelloScope and 107CFU/mL for Bioscreen C), the inability to distinguish between live and dead bacteria and early morphological changes of bacteria during exposure to ciprofloxacin, ertapenem and meropenem. Regrowth was more frequently detected in time-kill experiments, possibly related to the larger working volume with an increased risk of pre-existing or emerging resistance. In comparison with Bioscreen C, the oCelloScope provided additional information on bacterial growth dynamics in the range of 105 to 107CFU/mL and morphological features. In conclusion, the oCelloScope would be suitable for detection of in vitro effects of antibiotics, especially when a large number of regimens need to be tested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wanchana Ungphakorn
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christer Malmberg
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Lagerbäck
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Otto Cars
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elisabet I Nielsen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thomas Tängdén
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Dempwolff F, Schmidt FK, Hervás AB, Stroh A, Rösch TC, Riese CN, Dersch S, Heimerl T, Lucena D, Hülsbusch N, Stuermer CAO, Takeshita N, Fischer R, Eckhardt B, Graumann PL. Super Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy and Tracking of Bacterial Flotillin (Reggie) Paralogs Provide Evidence for Defined-Sized Protein Microdomains within the Bacterial Membrane but Absence of Clusters Containing Detergent-Resistant Proteins. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006116. [PMID: 27362352 PMCID: PMC4928834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological membranes have been proposed to contain microdomains of a specific lipid composition, in which distinct groups of proteins are clustered. Flotillin-like proteins are conserved between pro—and eukaryotes, play an important function in several eukaryotic and bacterial cells, and define in vertebrates a type of so-called detergent-resistant microdomains. Using STED microscopy, we show that two bacterial flotillins, FloA and FloT, form defined assemblies with an average diameter of 85 to 110 nm in the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Interestingly, flotillin microdomains are of similar size in eukaryotic cells. The soluble domains of FloA form higher order oligomers of up to several hundred kDa in vitro, showing that like eukaryotic flotillins, bacterial assemblies are based in part on their ability to self-oligomerize. However, B. subtilis paralogs show significantly different diffusion rates, and consequently do not colocalize into a common microdomain. Dual colour time lapse experiments of flotillins together with other detergent-resistant proteins in bacteria show that proteins colocalize for no longer than a few hundred milliseconds, and do not move together. Our data reveal that the bacterial membrane contains defined-sized protein domains rather than functional microdomains dependent on flotillins. Based on their distinct dynamics, FloA and FloT confer spatially distinguishable activities, but do not serve as molecular scaffolds. Many membrane proteins are not uniformly distributed within biological membranes, and may prefer specific lipid environments to function optimally. Using super resolution fluorescence microscopy, we show that several Bacillus subtilis membrane proteins indeed cluster into structures of 60 to 110 nm, verifying the existence of defined-size protein microdomains. Biochemical co-isolation of specific membrane proteins and flotillins, a family of proteins highly conserved between eukaryotic and bacterial cells, suggested that common “functional” microdomains exist, containing so-called “detergent-resistant” membrane proteins, that are centered by flotillins. Through high speed tracking of Bacillus subtilis FloA and FloT we show that both proteins are not present in the same microdomain, but move through the membrane with different velocities. Dual colour time lapse microscopy showed that contrarily to vertebrate flotillins, bacterial flotillins do not move together with detergent-resistant proteins, ruling out the existence of coclusters. The lack of both flotillins, but not of a single one, leads to striking defects in cell shape and in cell growth, indicating important overlapping functions of flotillin paralogs. Our data show that FloA and FloT perform spatially distinct functions, possibly in the insertion of membrane proteins that require a specific lipid environment, based on a close connection between FloA and FloT with the Sec membrane insertion machinery, but do not act as scaffolds for detergent resistant proteins. Our tracking analyses provide an important basis for the understanding of interactions between membrane proteins in living cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Dempwolff
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Felix K. Schmidt
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ana B. Hervás
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Alex Stroh
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas C. Rösch
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius N. Riese
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Biology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Simon Dersch
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Heimerl
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Biology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniella Lucena
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nikola Hülsbusch
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Norio Takeshita
- University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Applied Bioscience, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Applied Bioscience, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Bruno Eckhardt
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Peter L. Graumann
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Helmann JD. Bacillus subtilis extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors and defense of the cell envelope. Curr Opin Microbiol 2016; 30:122-132. [PMID: 26901131 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis provides a model for investigation of the bacterial cell envelope, the first line of defense against environmental threats. Extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors activate genes that confer resistance to agents that threaten the integrity of the envelope. Although their individual regulons overlap, σ(W) is most closely associated with membrane-active agents, σ(X) with cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance, and σ(V) with resistance to lysozyme. Here, I highlight the role of the σ(M) regulon, which is strongly induced by conditions that impair peptidoglycan synthesis and includes the core pathways of envelope synthesis and cell division, as well as stress-inducible alternative enzymes. Studies of these cell envelope stress responses provide insights into how bacteria acclimate to the presence of antibiotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John D Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Wenzel M, Schriek P, Prochnow P, Albada HB, Metzler-Nolte N, Bandow JE. Influence of lipidation on the mode of action of a small RW-rich antimicrobial peptide. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2015; 1858:1004-11. [PMID: 26603779 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Revised: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are a potent class of antibiotics. In the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis the synthetic peptide RWRWRW-NH2 integrates into the bacterial membrane and delocalizes essential peripheral membrane proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis and respiration. A lysine residue has been added to the hexapeptide core structure, either C or N-terminally. Lipidation of the lysine residues by a C8-acyl chain significantly improved antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we report a comparative proteomic study in B. subtilis on the mechanism of action of the lipidated and non-lipidated peptides. All derivatives depolarized the bacterial membrane without forming pores and all affected cell wall integrity. Proteomic profiling of the bacterial stress responses to the small RW-rich antimicrobial peptides was reflective of non-disruptive membrane integration. Overall, our results indicate that antimicrobial peptides can be derivatized with lipid chains enhancing antibacterial activity without significantly altering the mechanism of action. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Antimicrobial peptides edited by Karl Lohner and Kai Hilpert.
Collapse
|
21
|
Schneider J, Mielich-Süss B, Böhme R, Lopez D. In vivo characterization of the scaffold activity of flotillin on the membrane kinase KinC of Bacillus subtilis. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2015; 161:1871-1887. [PMID: 26297017 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Scaffold proteins are ubiquitous chaperones that bind to proteins and facilitate the physical interaction of the components of signal transduction pathways or multi-enzymic complexes. In this study, we used a biochemical approach to dissect the molecular mechanism of a membrane-associated scaffold protein, FloT, a flotillin-homologue protein that is localized in functional membrane microdomains of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. This study provides unambiguous evidence that FloT physically binds to and interacts with the membrane-bound sensor kinase KinC. This sensor kinase activates biofilm formation in B. subtilis in response to the presence of the self-produced signal surfactin. Furthermore, we have characterized the mechanism by which the interaction of FloT with KinC benefits the activity of KinC. Two separate and synergistic effects constitute this mechanism: first, the scaffold activity of FloT promotes more efficient self-interaction of KinC and facilitates dimerization into its active form. Second, the selective binding of FloT to KinC prevents the occurrence of unspecific aggregation between KinC and other proteins that may generate dead-end intermediates that could titrate the activity of KinC. Flotillin proteins appear to play an important role in prokaryotes in promoting effective binding of signalling proteins with their correct protein partners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Schneider
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases (ZINF), University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
| | - Benjamin Mielich-Süss
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases (ZINF), University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
| | - Richard Böhme
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases (ZINF), University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
| | - Daniel Lopez
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
- National Center for Biotechnology (CNB), Spanish Research Council (CSIC), Madrid 28050, Spain
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases (ZINF), University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
The dramatic rise in the incidence of antibiotic resistance demands that new therapeutic options will have to be developed. One potentially interesting class of antimicrobials are the modified bacteriocins termed lantibiotics, which are bacterially produced, posttranslationally modified, lanthionine/methyllanthionine-containing peptides. It is interesting that low levels of resistance have been reported for lantibiotics compared with commercial antibiotics. Given that there are very few examples of naturally occurring lantibiotic resistance, attempts have been made to deliberately induce resistance phenotypes in order to investigate this phenomenon. Mechanisms that hinder the action of lantibiotics are often innate systems that react to the presence of any cationic peptides/proteins or ones which result from cell well damage, rather than being lantibiotic specific. Such resistance mechanisms often arise due to altered gene regulation following detection of antimicrobials/cell wall damage by sensory proteins at the membrane. This facilitates alterations to the cell wall or changes in the composition of the membrane. Other general forms of resistance include the formation of spores or biofilms, which are a common mechanistic response to many classes of antimicrobials. In rare cases, bacteria have been shown to possess specific antilantibiotic mechanisms. These are often species specific and include the nisin lytic protein nisinase and the phenomenon of immune mimicry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine A Draper
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Paul D Cotter
- Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - R Paul Ross
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
An interesting concept in the organization of cellular membranes is the proposed existence of lipid rafts. Membranes of eukaryotic cells organize signal transduction proteins into membrane rafts or lipid rafts that are enriched in particular lipids such as cholesterol and are important for the correct functionality of diverse cellular processes. The assembly of lipid rafts in eukaryotes has been considered a fundamental step during the evolution of cellular complexity, suggesting that bacteria and archaea were organisms too simple to require such a sophisticated organization of their cellular membranes. However, it was recently discovered that bacteria organize many signal transduction, protein secretion, and transport processes in functional membrane microdomains, which are equivalent to the lipid rafts of eukaryotic cells. This review contains the most significant advances during the last 4 years in understanding the structural and biological role of lipid rafts in bacteria. Furthermore, this review shows a detailed description of a number of molecular and genetic approaches related to the discovery of bacterial lipid rafts as well as an overview of the group of tentative lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions that give consistency to these sophisticated signaling platforms. Additional data suggesting that lipid rafts are widely distributed in bacteria are presented in this review. Therefore, we discuss the available techniques and optimized protocols for the purification and analysis of raft-associated proteins in various bacterial species to aid in the study of bacterial lipid rafts in other laboratories that could be interested in this topic. Overall, the discovery of lipid rafts in bacteria reveals a new level of sophistication in signal transduction and membrane organization that was unexpected for bacteria and shows that bacteria are more complex than previously appreciated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Bramkamp
- Department of Biology I, University of Munich (LMU), Planegg/Martinsried, Germany
| | - Daniel Lopez
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases ZINF, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Dempwolff F, Graumann PL. Genetic links between bacterial dynamin and flotillin proteins. Commun Integr Biol 2014; 7:970972. [PMID: 26842743 PMCID: PMC4594503 DOI: 10.4161/cib.29578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Revised: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamin is a membrane-associated GTPase that confers motor-like functions in membrane
dynamics, such as endocytosis, in eukaryotic cells. Flotillin (reggie) proteins are also a
widely conserved class of membrane proteins, associated with the formation of protein
assemblies within the membrane, and with endocytotic processes. Bacterial dynamin has been
shown to bind to membranes in vitro and to mediate membrane fusion. Bacillus
subtilis DynA localizes to the cell division septum, and it was recently shown
that it indeed plays a role in cell division. Interestingly, dynamin shows a genetic
interaction with flotillin proteins in this prokaryotic model organism and the absence of
both proteins results in a cell division and cell shape defect. Here, we show that in
addition to the morphological phenotypes, a dynamin/flotillin double deletion strain shows
a synthetic defect in cell motility, much stronger than that of flotillin single mutant
cells. While the contribution of altered cell shape and slower growth of the double
deletion strain on motility cannot be clearly assessed, our data emphasize the fact that
dynamin and flotillin proteins play tightly connected functions in a wide range of aspects
in membrane processes in bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Dempwolff
- SYNMIKRO; LOEWE-Centre for Synthetic Microbiology ; Marburg, Germany
| | - Peter L Graumann
- SYNMIKRO; LOEWE-Centre for Synthetic Microbiology; Department of Chemistry ; Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Reducing the Level of Undecaprenyl Pyrophosphate Synthase Has Complex Effects on Susceptibility to Cell Wall Antibiotics. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:4267-4275. [PMID: 23796923 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00794-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (UppS) catalyzes the formation of the C55 lipid carrier (UPP) that is essential for bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis. We selected here a vancomycin (VAN)-resistant derivative of Bacillus subtilis W168 that contains a single-point mutation in the ribosome-binding site of the uppS gene designated uppS1 Genetic reconstruction experiments demonstrate that the uppS1 allele is sufficient to confer low-level VAN resistance and causes reduced UppS translation. The decreased level of UppS renders B. subtilis slightly more susceptible to many late-acting cell wall antibiotics, including β-lactams, but significantly more resistant to fosfomycin and d-cycloserine, antibiotics that interfere with the very early steps of cell wall synthesis. We further show that the uppS1 allele leads to slightly elevated expression of the σM regulon, possibly helping to compensate for the stress caused by a decrease in UPP levels. Notably, the uppS1 mutation increases resistance to VAN, fosfomycin, and d-cycloserine in wild-type cells, but this effect is greatly reduced or eliminated in a sigM mutant background. Our findings suggest that, although UppS is an attractive antibacterial target, incomplete inhibition of UppS function may lead to increased resistance to some cell wall-active antibiotics.
Collapse
|
26
|
Gunka K, Stannek L, Care RA, Commichau FM. Selection-driven accumulation of suppressor mutants in bacillus subtilis: the apparent high mutation frequency of the cryptic gudB gene and the rapid clonal expansion of gudB(+) suppressors are due to growth under selection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66120. [PMID: 23785476 PMCID: PMC3681913 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil bacteria like Bacillus subtilis can cope with many growth conditions by adjusting gene expression and metabolic pathways. Alternatively, bacteria can spontaneously accumulate beneficial mutations or shape their genomes in response to stress. Recently, it has been observed that a B. subtilis mutant lacking the catabolically active glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), RocG, mutates the cryptic gudBCR gene at a high frequency. The suppressor mutants express the active GDH GudB, which can fully replace the function of RocG. Interestingly, the cryptic gudBCR allele is stably inherited as long as the bacteria synthesize the functional GDH RocG. Competition experiments revealed that the presence of the cryptic gudBCR allele provides the bacteria with a selective growth advantage when glutamate is scarce. Moreover, the lack of exogenous glutamate is the driving force for the selection of mutants that have inactivated the active gudB gene. In contrast, two functional GDHs are beneficial for the cells when glutamate was available. Thus, the amount of GDH activity strongly affects fitness of the bacteria depending on the availability of exogenous glutamate. At a first glance the high mutation frequency of the cryptic gudBCR allele might be attributed to stress-induced adaptive mutagenesis. However, other loci on the chromosome that could be potentially mutated during growth under the selective pressure that is exerted on a GDH-deficient mutant remained unaffected. Moreover, we show that a GDH-proficient B. subtilis strain has a strong selective growth advantage in a glutamate-dependent manner. Thus, the emergence and rapid clonal expansion of the active gudB allele can be in fact explained by spontaneous mutation and growth under selection without an increase of the mutation rate. Moreover, this study shows that the selective pressure that is exerted on a maladapted bacterium strongly affects the apparent mutation frequency of mutational hot spots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Gunka
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lorena Stannek
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rachel A. Care
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian M. Commichau
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Lee YH, Kim S, Helmann JD, Kim BH, Park YK. RaoN, a small RNA encoded within Salmonella pathogenicity island-11, confers resistance to macrophage-induced stress. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2013; 159:1366-1378. [PMID: 23657681 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.066688-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial small non-coding RNAs act as important regulators that control numerous cellular processes. Here we identified RaoN, a novel small RNA encoded in the cspH-envE intergenic region on Salmonella pathogenicity island-11 (SPI-11). RaoN contributes to survival under conditions of acid and oxidative stress combined with nutrient limitation, which partially mimic the intramacrophage environment. Indeed, inactivation of raoN reduces the intramacrophage replication of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis revealed that the lactate dehydrogenase gene ldhA is upregulated in the raoN knockout mutant. Notably, both inactivation and overexpression of ldhA in the WT strain render Salmonella more sensitive to oxidative stress, particularly when combined with nutrient limitation. However, ldhA is not the sole determinant of RaoN function in facilitating intramacrophage survival of Salmonella. Together, our data suggest that balanced regulation of ldhA expression by RaoN is necessary for survival under in vitro stress conditions and contributes to the intramacrophage growth of Salmonella.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Heon Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Korea
| | - Sinyeon Kim
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Korea
| | - John D Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Bae-Hoon Kim
- Section of Microbial Pathogenesis, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Yong Keun Park
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Chopra S, Ramkissoon K, Anderson DC. A systematic quantitative proteomic examination of multidrug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii. J Proteomics 2013; 84:17-39. [PMID: 23542354 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Revised: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains have been examined at the DNA sequence level, but seldom using large-scale quantitative proteomics. We have compared the proteome of the multidrug resistant strain BAA-1605, with the proteome of the drug-sensitive strain ATCC 17978, using iTRAQ labeling and online 2D LC/MS/MS for peptide/protein identification. Of 1484 proteins present in at least 2 of 4 independent experiments, 114 are 2-fold to 66-fold more abundant in BAA-1605, and 99 are 2-fold to 50-fold less abundant. Proteins with 2-fold or greater abundance in the multidrug resistant strain include drug-, antibiotic-, and heavy metal-resistance proteins, stress-related proteins, porins, membrane transporters, proteins important for acquisition of foreign DNA, biofilm-related proteins, cell-wall and exopolysaccharide-related proteins, lipoproteins, metabolic proteins, and many with no annotated function. The porin CarO, inactivated in carbapenem-resistant strains, is 2.3-fold more abundant in BAA-1605. Likewise, the porin OmpW, less abundant in carbapenem- and colistin-resistant A. baumannii strains, is 3-fold more abundant in BAA-1605. Nine proteins, all present in the drug-sensitive strain but from 2.2-fold to 16-fold more abundant in the MDR strain, can potentially account for the observed resistance of BAA-1605 to 18 antibiotics. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE Multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of the pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii are a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections, are associated with increased mortality and length of stay, and may be a major factor underlying the spread of this pathogen, which is difficult to eradicate from clinical settings. To obtain a better understanding of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in MDR A. baumannii, we report the first large scale 2D LC/MS/MS-based quantitative proteomics comparison of a drug-sensitive strain and an MDR strain of this pathogen. Ca. 20% of the expressed proteome changes 2-fold or more between the compared strains, including 42 proteins with literature or informatics annotations related to resistance mechanisms, modification of xenobiotics, or drug transport. Other categories of proteins differing 2-fold or more between strains include stress-response related proteins, porins, OMPs, transporters and secretion-related proteins, cell wall- and expolysaccharide-related proteins, lipoproteins, and DNA- and plasmid-related proteins. While the compared strains also differ in other aspects than multi-drug resistance, the observed differences, combined with protein functional annotation, suggest that complex protein expression changes may accompany the MDR phenotype. Expression changes of nine proteins in the MDR strain can potentially account for the observed resistance to 18 antibiotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sidharth Chopra
- Center for Infectious Disease and Biodefense Research, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood, Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Dempwolff F, Wischhusen HM, Specht M, Graumann PL. The deletion of bacterial dynamin and flotillin genes results in pleiotrophic effects on cell division, cell growth and in cell shape maintenance. BMC Microbiol 2012; 12:298. [PMID: 23249255 PMCID: PMC3551649 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-12-298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In eukaryotic cells, dynamin and flotillin are involved in processes such as endocytosis and lipid raft formation, respectively. Dynamin is a GTPase that exerts motor-like activity during the pinching off of vesicles, while flotillins are coiled coil rich membrane proteins with no known enzymatic activity. Bacteria also possess orthologs of both classes of proteins, but their function has been unclear. Results We show that deletion of the single dynA or floT genes lead to no phenotype or a mild defect in septum formation in the case of the dynA gene, while dynA floT double mutant cells were highly elongated and irregularly shaped, although the MreB cytoskeleton appeared to be normal. DynA colocalizes with FtsZ, and the dynA deletion strain shows aberrant FtsZ rings in a subpopulation of cells. The mild division defect of the dynA deletion is exacerbated by an additional deletion in ezrA, which affects FtsZ ring formation, and also by the deletion of a late division gene (divIB), indicating that DynA affects several steps in cell division. DynA and mreB deletions generated a synthetic defect in cell shape maintenance, showing that MreB and DynA play non-epistatic functions in cell shape maintenance. TIRF microscopy revealed that FloT forms many dynamic membrane assemblies that frequently colocalize with the division septum. The deletion of dynA did not change the pattern of localization of FloT, and vice versa, showing that the two proteins play non redundant roles in a variety of cellular processes. Expression of dynamin or flotillin T in eukaryotic S2 cells revealed that both proteins assemble at the cell membrane. While FloT formed patch structures, DynA built up tubulated structures extending away from the cells. Conclusions Bacillus subtilis dynamin ortholog DynA plays a role during cell division and in cell shape maintenance. It shows a genetic link with flotillin T, with both proteins playing non-redundant functions at the cell membrane, where they assemble even in the absence of any bacterial cofactor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Dempwolff
- Mikrobiologie, Fachbereich für Biologie, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
A mutation of the RNA polymerase β' subunit (rpoC) confers cephalosporin resistance in Bacillus subtilis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 57:56-65. [PMID: 23070162 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01449-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In bacteria, mutations affecting the major catalytic subunits of RNA polymerase (encoded by rpoB and rpoC) emerge in response to a variety of selective pressures. Here we isolated a Bacillus subtilis strain with high-level resistance to cefuroxime (CEF). Whole-genome resequencing revealed only one missense mutation affecting an invariant residue in close proximity to the C-terminal DNA-binding domain of RpoC (G1122D). Genetic reconstruction experiments demonstrate that this substitution is sufficient to confer CEF resistance. The G1122D mutation leads to elevated expression of stress-responsive regulons, including those of extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors (σ(M), σ(W), and σ(X)) and the general stress σ factor (σ(B)). The increased CEF resistance of the rpoC(G1122D) strain is lost in the sigM rpoC(G1122D) double mutant, consistent with a major role for σ(M) in CEF resistance. However, a sigM mutant is very sensitive to CEF, and this sensitivity is still reduced by the G1122D mutation, suggesting that other regulatory effects are also important. Indeed, the ability of the G1122D mutation to increase CEF resistance is further reduced in a triple mutant strain lacking three ECF σ factors (σ(M), σ(W), and σ(X)), which are known from prior studies to control overlapping sets of genes. Collectively, our findings highlight the ability of mutations in RNA polymerase to confer antibiotic resistance by affecting the activity of alternative σ factors that control cell envelope stress-responsive regulons.
Collapse
|
31
|
Yepes A, Schneider J, Mielich B, Koch G, García-Betancur JC, Ramamurthi KS, Vlamakis H, López D. The biofilm formation defect of a Bacillus subtilis flotillin-defective mutant involves the protease FtsH. Mol Microbiol 2012; 86:457-71. [PMID: 22882210 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.08205.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis requires the differentiation of a subpopulation of cells responsible for the production of the extracellular matrix that structures the biofilm. Differentiation of matrix-producing cells depends, among other factors, on the FloT and YqfA proteins. These proteins are present exclusively in functional membrane microdomains of B. subtilis and are homologous to the eukaryotic lipid raft-specific flotillin proteins. In the absence of FloT and YqfA, diverse proteins normally localized to the membrane microdomains of B. subtilis are not functional. Here we show that the absence of FloT and YqfA reduces the level of the septal-localized protease FtsH. The flotillin homologues FloT and YqfA are occasionally present at the midcell in exponentially growing cells and the absence of FloT and YqfA negatively affects FtsH concentration. Biochemical experiments indicate a direct interaction between FloT/YqfA and FtsH. Moreover, FtsH is essential for the differentiation of matrix producers and hence, biofilm formation. This molecular trigger of biofilm formation may therefore be used as a target for the design of new biofilm inhibitors. Accordingly, we show that the small protein SpoVM, known to bind to and inhibit FtsH activity, inhibits biofilm formation in B. subtilis and other distantly related bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Yepes
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases ZINF, Würzburg University, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Synthetic motility and cell shape defects associated with deletions of flotillin/reggie paralogs in Bacillus subtilis and interplay of these proteins with NfeD proteins. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:4652-61. [PMID: 22753055 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00910-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Flotillin/reggie proteins are membrane-associated proteins present in all kinds of cells and belong to the family of proteins carrying the SPFH (stomatin, prohibitin, flotillin, and HflK/HflC) domain. In addition to this domain of unknown function, flotillin proteins are characterized by the flotillin domain, which is rich in heptad repeats. Bacterial flotillin orthologs have recently been shown to be part of lipid rafts, like their eukaryotic counterparts, and to be involved in signaling events. Double deletions of floT and the gene encoding the second flotillin-like protein in Bacillus subtilis, floA, show strong synthetic defects in cell morphology, motility, and transformation efficiency. The lack of FloT resulted in a marked defect in motility. Using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, we show that both proteins localize in characteristic focal structures within the cell membrane, which move in a highly dynamic and random manner but localize independently of each other. Thus, flotillin paralogs act in a spatially distinct manner. Flotillin domains in both FloA and FloT are essential for focal assemblies and for the proper function of flotillins. Both flotillin genes are situated next to genes encoding NfeD proteins. FloT dramatically affects the localization of NfeD2: FloT apparently recruits NfeD2 into the focal assemblies, documenting a close interaction between flotillins and NfeDs in bacteria. In contrast, the localization of NfeD1b is not affected by FloA, FloT, or NfeD2. FloA does not show a spatial connection with the upstream-encoded NfeD1b (YqeZ). Our work establishes that bacterial flotillin-like proteins have overlapping functions in a variety of membrane-associated processes and that flotillin domain-mediated assembly and NfeD proteins play important roles in setting up the flotillin raft-like structures in vivo.
Collapse
|
33
|
Gunka K, Commichau FM. Control of glutamate homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis: a complex interplay between ammonium assimilation, glutamate biosynthesis and degradation. Mol Microbiol 2012; 85:213-24. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.08105.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
|
34
|
Luo Y, Helmann JD. Analysis of the role of Bacillus subtilis σ(M) in β-lactam resistance reveals an essential role for c-di-AMP in peptidoglycan homeostasis. Mol Microbiol 2012; 83:623-39. [PMID: 22211522 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07953.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factor σ(M) is inducible by, and confers resistance to, several cell envelope-acting antibiotics. Here, we demonstrate that σ(M) is responsible for intrinsic β-lactam resistance, with σ(X) playing a secondary role. Activation of σ(M) upregulates several cell wall biosynthetic enzymes including one, PBP1, shown here to be a target for the beta-lactam cefuroxime. However, σ(M) still plays a major role in cefuroxime resistance even in cells lacking PBP1. To better define the role of σ(M) in β-lactam resistance, we characterized suppressor mutations that restore cefuroxime resistance to a sigM null mutant. The most frequent suppressors inactivated gdpP (yybT) which encodes a cyclic-di-AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE). Intriguingly, σ(M) is a known activator of disA encoding one of three paralogous diadenylate cyclases (DAC). Overproduction of the GdpP PDE greatly sensitized cells to β-lactam antibiotics. Conversely, genetic studies indicate that at least one DAC is required for growth with depletion leading to cell lysis. These findings support a model in which c-di-AMP is an essential signal molecule required for cell wall homeostasis. Other suppressors highlight the roles of ECF σ factors in counteracting the deleterious effects of autolysins and reactive oxygen species in β-lactam-treated cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Luo
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-8101, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|