Outer membrane protein e of Escherichia coli K-12 is co-regulated with alkaline phosphatase

The Whole Is Bigger than the Sum of Its Parts: Drug Transport in the Context of Two Membranes with Active Efflux

Cell envelope plays a dual role in the life of bacteria by simultaneously protecting it from a hostile environment and facilitating access to beneficial molecules. At the heart of this ability lie the restrictive properties of the cellular membrane augmented by efflux transporters, which preclude intracellular penetration of most molecules except with the help of specialized uptake mediators. Recently, kinetic properties of the cell envelope came into focus driven on one hand by the urgent need in new antibiotics and, on the other hand, by experimental and theoretical advances in studies of transmembrane transport. A notable result from these studies is the development of a kinetic formalism that integrates the Michaelis-Menten behavior of individual transporters with transmembrane diffusion and offers a quantitative basis for the analysis of intracellular penetration of bioactive compounds. This review surveys key experimental and computational approaches to the investigation of transport by individual translocators and in whole cells, summarizes key findings from these studies and outlines implications for antibiotic discovery. Special emphasis is placed on Gram-negative bacteria, whose envelope contains two separate membranes. This feature sets these organisms apart from Gram-positive bacteria and eukaryotic cells by providing them with full benefits of the synergy between slow transmembrane diffusion and active efflux.

Prescience of endogenous regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana by Pseudomonas putida MTCC 5279 under phosphate starved salinity stress condition

Phosphorus (P) availability and salinity stress are two major constraints for agriculture productivity. A combination of salinity and P starvation is known to be more deleterious to plant health. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are known to ameliorate abiotic stress in plants by increasing the availability of different nutrients. However, interaction mechanisms of plant grown under salinity and P stress condition and effect of beneficial microbe for stress alleviation is still obscure. Earlier we reported the molecular insight of auxin producing, phosphate solubilising Pseudomonas putida MTCC 5279 (RAR) mediated plant growth promotion in Arabidopsis thaliana. In present study new trait of proline and phosphatase production of RAR and its impact on modulation of physiological phenomenon under phosphate starved-salinity stress condition in A. thaliana has been investigated. Different physiological and molecular determinants under RAR- A. thaliana interaction showed that auxin producing RAR shows tryptophan dependence for growth and proline production in ATP dependant manner under salinity stress. However, under P deprived conditions growth and proline production are independent of tryptophan. RAR mediated lateral root branching and root hair density through modulation of abscisic acid signalling was observed. Acidic phosphatase activity under P starved and salinity stress condition was majorly modulated along with ROS metabolism and expression of stress responsive/phosphate transporter genes. A strong correlation of different morpho-physiological factor with RAR + salt conditions, showed We concluded that enhanced adverse effect of salinity with unavailability of P was dampened in presence of P. putida MTCC 5279 (RAR) in A. thaliana, though more efficiently salinity stress conditions. Therefore, alleviation of combined stress of salinity induced phosphate nutrient deficiency by inoculation of beneficial microbe, P. putida MTCC 5279 offer good opportunities for enhancing the agricultural productivity.

Control of the phoBR Regulon in Escherichia coli

Phosphorus is required for many biological molecules and essential functions, including DNA replication, transcription of RNA, protein translation, posttranslational modifications, and numerous facets of metabolism. In order to maintain the proper level of phosphate for these processes, many bacteria adapt to changes in environmental phosphate levels. The mechanisms for sensing phosphate levels and adapting to changes have been extensively studied for multiple organisms. The phosphate response of Escherichia coli alters the expression of numerous genes, many of which are involved in the acquisition and scavenging of phosphate more efficiently. This review shares findings on the mechanisms by which E. coli cells sense and respond to changes in environmental inorganic phosphate concentrations by reviewing the genes and proteins that regulate this response. The PhoR/PhoB two-component signal transduction system is central to this process and works in association with the high-affinity phosphate transporter encoded by the pstSCAB genes and the PhoU protein. Multiple models to explain how this process is regulated are discussed.

VCA1008: An Anion-Selective Porin of Vibrio Cholerae

A putative porin function has been assigned to VCA1008 of Vibrio cholerae. Its coding gene, vca1008, is expressed upon colonization of the small intestine in infant mice and human volunteers, and is essential for infection. In vitro, vca1008 is expressed under inorganic phosphate limitation and, in this condition, VCA1008 is the major outer membrane protein of the bacterium. Here, we provide the first functional characterization of VCA1008 reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. Our main findings were: 1) VCA1008 forms an ion channel that, at high voltage (~±100 mV), presents a voltage-dependent activity and displays closures typical of trimeric porins, with a conductance of 4.28±0.04 nS (n=164) in 1M KCl; 2) It has a preferred selectivity for anions over cations; 3) Its conductance saturates with increasing inorganic phosphate concentration, suggesting VCA1008 contains binding site(s) for this anion; 4) Its ion selectivity is controlled by both fixed charged residues within the channel and diffusion along the pore; 5) Partitioning of poly (ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) of different molecular mass suggests that VCA1008 channel has a pore exclusion limit of 0.9 nm.

Antibiotic trapping by plasmid-encoded CMY-2 β-lactamase combined with reduced outer membrane permeability as a mechanism of carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli

A liver transplant patient was admitted with cholangitis, for which meropenem therapy was started. Initial cultures showed a carbapenem-susceptible (CS) Escherichia coli strain, but during admission, a carbapenem-resistant (CR) E. coli strain was isolated. Analysis of the outer membrane protein profiles showed that both CS and CR E. coli lacked the porins OmpF and OmpC. Furthermore, PCR and sequence analysis revealed that both CS and CR E. coli possessed bla(CTX-M-15) and bla(OXA-1). The CR E. coli strain additionally harbored bla(CMY-2) and demonstrated a >15-fold increase in β-lactamase activity against nitrocefin, but no hydrolysis of meropenem was detected. However, nitrocefin hydrolysis appeared strongly inhibited by meropenem. Furthermore, the CMY-2 enzyme demonstrated lower electrophoretic mobility after its incubation either in vitro or in vivo with meropenem, indicative of its covalent modification with meropenem. The presence of the acyl-enzyme complex was confirmed by mass spectrometry. By transformation of the CMY-2-encoding plasmid into various E. coli strains, it was established that both porin deficiency and high-level expression of the enzyme were needed to confer meropenem resistance. In conclusion, carbapenem resistance emerged by a combination of elevated β-lactamase production and lack of porin expression. Due to the reduced outer membrane permeability, only small amounts of meropenem can enter the periplasm, where they are trapped but not degraded by the large amount of the β-lactamase. This study, therefore, provides evidence that the mechanism of "trapping" by CMY-2 β-lactamase plays a role in carbapenem resistance.

Characterizing the dynamic nature of the Yersinia pestis periplasmic proteome in response to nutrient exhaustion and temperature change

The periplasmic proteome of Yersinia pestis strain KIM6+ was characterized using differential 2-DE display of proteins isolated from several subcellular fractions. Circa 160 proteins were designated as periplasmic, including 62 (putative) solute-binding proteins of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters (SBPs) and 46 (putative) metabolic enzymes. More than 30 SBPs were significantly increased in abundance during stationary phase cell growth, compared to the exponential phase. The data suggest that nutrient exhaustion in the stationary phase triggers cellular responses resulting in the induced expression of numerous ABC transporters, which are responsible for the import of solutes/nutrients. Limited availability of inorganic phosphate (P(i)) also caused dramatic proteomic changes. Nine proteins were functionally linked to the mobilization and import of three small molecules (P(i), phosphonate and glycerol-3-phosphate) and accounted for nearly half of the total protein mass in the periplasm of P(i)-starved cells. When cells were grown at 26 degrees C versus 37 degrees C, corresponding to ambient temperatures in the flea vector and mammalian hosts, respectively, several periplasmic proteins with no known roles in the Y. pestis life cycle were strongly altered in abundance. This included a putative nitrate/sulfonate/bicarbonate-specific SBP (Y1004), encoded by the virulence-associated plasmid pMT1 and increased in abundance at 37 degrees C.

Proteomic Analysis of the Carbonate Insoluble Outer Membrane Fraction of the Soft-Rot Pathogen Dickeya dadantii (syn. Erwinia chrysanthemi) Strain 3937

We present results of the first comprehensive proteomic analysis of the outer membrane of the bacterial phytopathogen Dickeya dadantii strain 3937 and its response to virulence-contributing factors such as host plant extract, acidic stress, and iron starvation. We analyzed the carbonate-insoluble membrane fractions, which are highly enriched for outer membrane proteins, using two-dimensional electrophoresis and identified the proteins by MALDI-TOF MS. Forty unique proteins were identified, some of which were differentially expressed under the above conditions.

Isoforms of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV from Pseudomonas sp. WO24: role of the signal sequence and overexpression in Escherichia coli

The complete nucleotide sequence of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DAP IV) from Pseudomonas sp. WO24 was determined. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 2238bp, which was assigned to dap4 by N-terminal and internal amino acid sequences previously reported. The predicted amino acid sequence of DAP IV contains a serine protease Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly-Gly consensus motif and displays extensive homology to DAP IVs and the homologous proteins from eukaryotes and bacteria, belonging to the prolyl oligopeptidase family S9. In Pseudomonas sp. WO24, DAP IV is expressed as 82 and 84-kDa isoforms, having two Met, Met-1 and Met-12, in its N-terminal sequence. Met-1 of DAP IV was mutated to Gly and Met-12 was mutated to Ile, and we overexpressed the two mutated genes in Escherichia coli and obtained the recombinant 82 and 84-kDa proteins from the periplasm and the cytoplasm, respectively, suggesting that the 82 and 84-kDa isoforms are derived from the same gene and localize to different compartments in the cell. We developed purification steps for activting a large amount of 84-kDa isoform protein that will be useful for producing protein for crystallographic studies.

Site-directed Mutagenesis of the Greasy Slide Aromatic Residues Within the LamB (Maltoporin) Channel of Escherichia coli: Effect on Ion and Maltopentaose Transport

The 3D-structure of the maltooligosaccharide-specific LamB-channel of Escherichia coli (also called maltoporin) is known from X-ray crystallography. The 3D structure suggests that a number of aromatic residues (Y6, Y41, W74, F229, W358 and W420) within the channel lumen are involved in carbohydrate and ion transport. All aromatic residues were replaced by alanine-scanning mutagenesis. Furthermore, LamB mutants were created in which two, three, four, five and all six aromatic residues were replaced to study their effects on ion and maltopentaose transport through LamB. The purified mutant proteins were reconstituted into lipid bilayer membranes and the single-channel conductance of the mutants was studied in conductance experiments. The results suggest that all aromatic residues provide some steric hindrance for ion transport through LamB. Highest impact is provided by Y6 and Y41 that are localized opposite Y118, which form the central constriction of the LamB channel. Stability constants for binding of maltopentaose to the mutant channels were measured using titration experiments with the carbohydrate. The mutation of one or several aromatic residue(s) led to a substantial decrease of the stability constant of binding. The highest effect was observed when all aromatic residues were replaced by alanine because no binding of maltopentaose could be detected in such a case. However, binding was again possible when Y118 was replaced by tryptophan. The carbohydrate-induced block of the channel function could be used also for the study of current noise through the different mutant LamB-channels. The analysis of the power density spectra of some of the mutants allowed the evaluation of the on-rate and off-rate constants (k1 and k(-1)) of carbohydrate binding to the binding site inside the channels. The results suggest that both on-rate and off-rate constants were affected by the mutations. For most mutants, k1 decreased and k(-1) increased. The possible influence of the aromatic residues of the greasy slide on carbohydrate and ion transport through LamB is discussed.

Interactions between phage-shock proteins in Escherichia coli

Expression of the pspABCDE operon of Escherichia coli is induced upon infection by filamentous phage and by many other stress conditions, including defects in protein export. Expression of the operon requires the alternative sigma factor sigma54 and the transcriptional activator PspF. In addition, PspA plays a negative regulatory role, and the integral-membrane proteins PspB and PspC play a positive one. In this study, we investigated whether the suggested protein-protein interactions implicated in this complex regulatory network can indeed be demonstrated. Antisera were raised against PspB, PspC, and PspD, which revealed, in Western blotting experiments, that PspC forms stable sodium dodecyl sulfate-resistant dimers and that the hypothetical pspD gene is indeed expressed in vivo. Fractionation experiments showed that PspD localizes as a peripherally bound inner membrane protein. Cross-linking studies with intact cells revealed specific interactions of PspA with PspB and PspC, but not with PspD. Furthermore, affinity-chromatography suggested that PspB could bind PspA only in the presence of PspC. These data indicate that regulation of the psp operon is mediated via protein-protein interactions.

Analysis of the kefA2 mutation suggests that KefA is a cation-specific channel involved in osmotic adaptation in Escherichia coli

Mechanosensitive channels play an essential role in the regulation of turgor pressure in bacteria. In Escherichia coli, there are multiple mechanosensitive channels that have been characterized genetically: MscL, YggB and KefA. In this report, we describe the cloning of the kefA gene, the organization of the KefA protein and the phenotype of a missense mutation, kefA, which affects the KefA mechanosensitive channel. The altered function of the channel is manifest through increased sensitivity to K+ during growth at low osmolarity and complete inhibition of growth in media containing high K+ concentrations (0.6 M) in the presence of betaine or proline. Growth in high Na+ medium (0.6 M NaCl plus 20 mM K+) is normal. Analysis of the cytoplasmic pools shows that the mutant cannot regulate the K+ content of the cytoplasm when grown in high K+ medium. However, regulation of pools of amino acids is essentially normal and the mutant can accumulate high pools of proline during growth inhibition. The mutant shows increased sensitivity to acid hypo-osmotic shock (transition from neutral to acid pH combined with a reduction in osmolarity). The data are consistent with abnormal regulation of KefA in the presence of high K+ concentrations and either betaine or proline.

The phosphate-binding protein of Escherichia coli is not essential for P(i)-regulated expression of the pho regulon

Disruption of pstS encoding the P(i)-binding protein in Escherichia coli generally leads to the constitutive expression of the pho regulon. We demonstrate that P(i)-controlled expression is restored when the activity of the P(i) transporter PitA or PitB is increased. Apparently, PstS is not an essential component of the signal transduction pathway.

Activation by gene amplification of pitB, encoding a third phosphate transporter of Escherichia coli K-12

Two systems for the uptake of inorganic phosphate (P(i)) in Escherichia coli, PitA and Pst, have been described. A revertant of a pitA pstS double mutant that could grow on P(i) was isolated. We demonstrate that the expression of a new P(i) transporter, PitB, is activated in this strain by a gene amplification event.

Autoamplification of a two-component regulatory system results in "learning" behavior

We have tested the hypothesis that the autoamplification of two-component regulatory systems results in "learning" behavior, i.e., that bacteria respond faster or more extensively to a signal when a similar signal has been perceived in the past. Indeed, the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity upon phosphate limitation was faster if the cultures had been limited for phosphate previously, and this faster response correlated with the autoamplification of the cognate two-component system.

A role for the PhoBR regulatory system homologue in the Vibrio cholerae phosphate-limitation response and intestinal colonization

To survive and multiply in different environments, Vibrio cholerae has to coordinately regulate the expression of genes involved in adaptive responses. In many pathogens, adaptive responses, including pathogenic responses, are regulated by two-component regulator (TCR) systems. It is likely that members of a TCR family play a role in the regulation of processes involved in intestinal colonization, and therefore pathogenesis, in V. cholerae. We have identified and characterized a TCR system of V. cholerae: this system is a homologue of Escherichia coli PhoBR. The presence of a putative Pho box suggests that the V. cholerae phoBR operon is regulated by inorganic phosphate levels. The phoR and phoB genes are organized the same way as in E. coli. Mutation of the V. cholerae phoB gene affected the expression of the putative Pho regulon, including PhoA, but did not affect the production of cholera toxin. V. cholerae phoB mutants are less able to colonize rabbit intestine than wild-type V. cholerae. The addition of inorganic phosphate at a high concentration to the inoculum only partially restored the ability of the mutants to colonize the intestine, suggesting that the V. cholerae Pho regulon in vivo may not be regulated by inorganic phosphate levels alone.

Bacteriocin release protein triggers dimerization of outer membrane phospholipase A in vivo

Bacteriocin release protein is known to activate outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA), which results in the release of colicin from Escherichia coli. In vivo chemical cross-linking experiments revealed that the activation coincides with dimerization of OMPLA. Permeabilization of the cell envelope and dimerization were characterized by a lag time of 2 h.

Linkage map of Escherichia coli K-12, edition 10: the traditional map

This map is an update of the edition 9 map by Berlyn et al. (M. K. B. Berlyn, K. B. Low, and K. E. Rudd, p. 1715-1902, in F. C. Neidhardt et al., ed., Escherichia coli and Salmonella: cellular and molecular biology, 2nd ed., vol. 2, 1996). It uses coordinates established by the completed sequence, expressed as 100 minutes for the entire circular map, and adds new genes discovered and established since 1996 and eliminates those shown to correspond to other known genes. The latter are included as synonyms. An alphabetical list of genes showing map location, synonyms, the protein or RNA product of the gene, phenotypes of mutants, and reference citations is provided. In addition to genes known to correspond to gene sequences, other genes, often older, that are described by phenotype and older mapping techniques and that have not been correlated with sequences are included.

From famine to feast: the role of methylglyoxal production in Escherichia coli

The enzyme methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) was partially purified from Escherichia coli extracts, and the amino-terminal sequence of candidate proteins was determined, based on the native protein being a tetramer of about 69 kDa. Database analysis identified an open reading frame in the E. coli genome, YccG, corresponding to a protein of 16.9 kDa. When amplified and expressed from a controlled promoter, it yielded extracts that contained high levels of MGS activity. MGS expressed from the trc promoter accumulated to approximately 20% of total cell protein, representing approximately 900-fold enhanced expression. This caused no detriment during growth on glucose, and the level of methylglyoxal (MG) in the medium rose to only 0.08 mM. High-level expression of MGS severely compromised growth on xylose, arabinose and glycerol. A mutant lacking MGS was constructed, and it grew normally on a range of carbon sources and on low-phosphate medium. However, the mutant failed to produce MG during growth on xylose in the presence of cAMP, and growth was inhibited.

Folding of a bacterial outer membrane protein during passage through the periplasm

The transport of bacterial outer membrane proteins to their destination might be either a one-step process via the contact zones between the inner and outer membrane or a two-step process, implicating a periplasmic intermediate that inserts into the membrane. Furthermore, folding might precede insertion or vice versa. To address these questions, we have made use of the known 3D-structure of the trimeric porin PhoE of Escherichia coli to engineer intramolecular disulfide bridges into this protein at positions that are not exposed to the periplasm once the protein is correctly assembled. The mutations did not interfere with the biogenesis of the protein, and disulfide bond formation appeared to be dependent on the periplasmic enzyme DsbA, which catalyzes disulfide bond formation in the periplasm. This proves that the protein passes through the periplasm on its way to the outer membrane. Furthermore, since the disulfide bonds create elements of tertiary structure within the mutant proteins, it appears that these proteins are at least partially folded before they insert into the outer membrane.

Role of the carboxy-terminal phenylalanine in the biogenesis of outer membrane protein PhoE of Escherichia coli K-12

Most bacterial outer membrane proteins contain a phenylalanine at their C terminus. It has been shown that this residue has an important role in the efficient and correct assembly of PhoE protein into the Escherichia coli outer membrane, since its substitution or deletion resulted in the accumulation of trypsin-sensitive monomers of this normally trimeric protein. Here, the role of the C-terminal Phe in the assembly of PhoE was studied in further detail. Immunocytochemical labelling on ultrathin cryosections revealed that a mutant PhoE protein that lacks the C-terminal Phe accumulates in the periplasm. However, when the expression levels of the altered species were reduced, the efficiency of outer membrane incorporation was increased and the lethal effects were alleviated. The role of the C-terminal Phe in protein folding, trimerization and outer membrane incorporation was further studied in vitro. Deletion of this residue interfered with the efficiency of the formation of an assembly-competent folded monomer, and the stability of this PhoE form was affected. The in vitro trimerization and insertion into outer membranes were not affected by the mutation.

Demonstration of a folded monomeric form of porin PhoE of Escherichia coli in vivo

The porins in the outer membranes of gram-negative bacteria are trimeric proteins. A folded monomeric form of the Escherichia coli porin PhoE, with a higher electrophoretic mobility than that of the denatured protein, has recently been detected in in vitro folding studies. To investigate the possible biological significance of the folded monomer, we attempted to detect this form in vivo. After pulse-labeling, folded monomers could be detected by immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, folded monomers were detected in a preparation of mutant PhoE porins, in which the subunit interactions were weakened by a E-66-->R substitution. Together, these results show that the folded monomer is not an in vitro folding artifact but an integral part of the native trimer.

Identification and characterization of phoN-Sf, a gene on the large plasmid of Shigella flexneri 2a encoding a nonspecific phosphatase

A gene encoding a nonspecific phosphatase, named PhoN-Sf, was identified on the large virulence plasmid (pMYSH6000) of Shigella flexneri 2a YSH6000. The phosphatase activity in YSH6000 was observed under high-phosphate conditions. However, it was found that low-phosphate conditions induced a slightly higher level of activity. The nucleotide sequence of the phoN-Sf region cloned from pMYSH6000 possessing the phoN-Sf gene encoded 249 amino acids with a typical signal sequence at the N terminus. The deduced amino acid sequence of the PhoN-Sf protein revealed significant homology to sequences of nonspecific acid phosphatases of other bacteria, such as Providencia stuartii (PhoN, 83.2%), Morganella morganii (PhoC, 80.6%), Salmonella typhimurium (PhoN, 47.8%), and Zymomonas mobilis (PhoC, 34.8%). The PhoN-Sf protein was purified, and its biochemical properties were characterized. The apparent molecular mass of the protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was calculated to be 27 kDa. The 20 amino acids at the N terminus corresponded to the 20 amino acid residues following the putative signal sequence of PhoN-Sf protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence. The PhoN-Sf activity had a pH optimum of 6.6, and the optimum temperature was 37 degrees C. The enzymatic activity was inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate, N-bromosuccinimide, or dithiothreitol but not by EDTA. The subcellular localization of the PhoN-Sf protein in YSH6000 revealed that the protein was found predominantly in the periplasm. Examination of Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli strains for PhoN-Sf production by immunoblotting with the PhoN-specific antibody and for the presence of phoN-Sf DNA by using a phoN-Sf probe indicated that approximately one-half of the strains possessed the phoN-Sf gene on the large plasmid and expressed the PhoN-Sf protein. The Tn5 insertion mutants of YSH6000 possessing phoN-Sf::Tn5 still retained wild-type levels of invasiveness, as well as the subsequent spreading capacity in MK2 epithelial cell monolayers, thus suggesting that the PhoN-Sf activity is not involved in expression of the virulence phenotypes of Shigella strains under in vitro conditions.

prlA suppressors in Escherichia coli relieve the proton electrochemical gradient dependency of translocation of wild-type precursors

The SecY protein of Escherichia coli is an integral membrane component of the protein export apparatus. Suppressor mutations in the secY gene (prlA alleles) have been isolated that restore the secretion of precursor proteins with defective signal sequences. These mutations have never been shown to affect the translocation of wild-type precursor proteins. Here, we report that prlA suppressor mutations relieve the proton-motive force (pmf) dependency of the translocation of wild-type precursors, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the proton-motive force dependency of the translocation of a precursor with a stably folded domain in the mature region was suppressed by prlA mutations in vitro. These data show that prlA mutations cause a general relaxation of the export apparatus rather than a specific change that results in bypassing of the recognition of the signal sequence. In addition, these results are indicative for a mechanism in which the proton-motive force stimulates translocation by altering the conformation of the translocon.

Involvement of stress protein PspA (phage shock protein A) of Escherichia coli in maintenance of the protonmotive force under stress conditions

The expression of specific PhoE mutant proteins leads to induction of the expression of the psp operon of Escherichia coli and the export of various plasmid-encoded precursors is retarded in a pspA mutant strain. Here, we have investigated the specific role of various Psp proteins in the export process. PspB and PspC are both inner membrane proteins that are involved in the regulation of the transcription of the psp operon. Precursor PhoE translocation was retarded in a pspB mutant strain to a similar extent as in a pspA mutant strain. The reduced translocation efficiencies in the various psp mutants could be complemented by expression of PspA from a plasmid, indicating that only PspA is required for efficient translocation. Mutant prePhoE proteins that can be translocated independently of the deltamu H+ appeared to translocate equally efficiently in a wild-type and in a pspA mutant strain. Furthermore, quantitative in vivo determination of the deltamu H+ showed that it specifically decreased in a pspA mutant strain upon expression of plasmid-encoded (mutant) prePhoE protein. Apparently, the translocation defects observed in a psp mutant strain are caused by a decrease of the delta mu H+ and PspA functions by maintaining the delta mu H+ under these conditions.

Induction of the phoE promoter upon invasion of Salmonella typhimurium into eukaryotic cells

Live attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strains expressing foreign antigens can be used for vaccination purposes. Due to deleterious effects of constitutive, high-level expression of the heterologous antigens, there is often strong selection pressure against plasmids encoding these antigens, resulting in rapid segregation in vivo. In vivo-inducible promoters may be a good alternative for constitutive promoters. The outer membrane protein PhoE of Escherichia coli is being used as a carrier for foreign antigenic determinants. Here we studied whether its expression from a plasmid is induced in S. typhimurium upon invasion of eukaryotic cells. This appeared to be the case. Furthermore, a S. typhimurium phoE mutant was constructed and the effects of the mutation on invasion, intracellular survival and virulence were studied. Survival in HEp-2 cells or in the macrophage-like cell line J744 was not, or only slightly, affected. Furthermore, the mutant appeared to be as virulent for mice as the wild-type strain.

Evaluation of the rate constants of sugar transport through maltoporin (LamB) of Escherichia coli from the sugar-induced current noise

LamB (maltoporin) of Escherichia coli outer membrane was reconstituted into artificial lipid bilayer membranes. The channel contains a binding site for sugars and is blocked for ions when the site is occupied by a sugar. The on and off reactions of sugar binding cause an increase of the noise of the current through the channel. The sugar-induced current noise of maltoporin was used for the evaluation of the sugar-binding kinetics for different sugars of the maltooligosaccharide series and for sucrose. The on rate constant for sugar binding was between 10(6) and 10(7) M-1.s-1 for the maltooligosaccharides and corresponds to the movement of the sugars from the aqueous phase to the central binding site. The off rate (corresponding to the release of the sugars from the channel) decreased with increasing number of glucose residues in the maltooligosaccharides from approximately 2,000 s-1 for maltotriose to 180 s-1 for maltoheptaose. The kinetics for sucrose movement was considerably slower. The activation energies of the stability constant and of the rate constants for sugar binding were evaluated from noise experiments at different temperatures. The role of LamB in the transport of maltooligosaccharides across the outer membrane is discussed.

Effect of mutations in the -10 region of the phoE promoter in Escherichia coli on regulation of gene expression

The phoE promoter region in Escherichia coli contains a -10 region, typical of sigma 70-dependent promoters and, instead of a normal -35 region, a so-called pho box, to which the transcriptional activator phospho-PhoB binds under low phosphate conditions. A second pho box is present upstream of the first one and is required for full expression of phoE during phosphate starvation. To determine whether the lack of expression under high phosphate conditions is due solely to the absence of a genuine -35 box, the -10 region was further optimized towards the consensus -10 sequence and promoter activity was measured using alkaline phosphatase as a reporter. The mutations resulted in a drastic increment in the basal level of expression under high phosphate conditions, indicating that the deviations from consensus in the -10 region also play a role in determining the poor expression of the wild-type promoter under these conditions. The expression under high phosphate conditions was partly dependent on the presence of the phoB gene, showing that a small amount of active PhoB must be present under these circumstances. During phosphate starvation, the activity of the mutant promoters was further induced. The upstream pho box was not required for full expression from the mutant promoters under these conditions. Apparently, the wild-type phoE promoter is carefully balanced by deviations from the optimal Pribnow box sequence that reduce expression under high phosphate conditions and by the presence of several copies of the pho box, which enhance expression under phosphate starvation.

Lactoferrin binds to porins OmpF and OmpC in Escherichia coli

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding antimicrobial protein present in milk and on mucosal surfaces, with a suggested role in preimmune host defense. Certain strains of Escherichia coli (bacterial whole cells) demonstrate specific interaction with 125I-labeled Lf. A band with a mass of approximately 37 kDa, which was reactive with horseradish peroxidase-labeled Lf, was identified in the boiled cell envelope and outer membrane preparations of an Lf-binding E. coli strain, E34663, and a non-Lf-binding strain, HH45, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting (immunoblotting). Such a band was not detected in the unboiled native cell envelope and outer membrane preparations. The molecular mass and the property of heat modifiability suggested that the Lf-binding proteins were porins. The native trimeric form of porin OmpF isolated from strain B6 and its dissociated monomeric form both reacted with horseradish peroxidase-labeled Lf and with monoclonal antibodies specific for OmpF. Furthermore, by using E. coli constructs with defined porin phenotypes, OmpF and OmpC were identified as the Lf-binding proteins by urea-SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and by 125I-Lf binding studies with intact bacteria. These data establish that Lf binds to porins, a class of well-conserved molecules common in E. coli and many other gram-negative bacteria. However, in certain strains of E. coli these pore-forming proteins are shielded from Lf interaction.

PhoE protein as a carrier for foreign epitopes

Outer membrane protein PhoE of E. coli appears to be a suitable carrier for the expression of foreign antigenic determinants at the bacterial cell-surface. Insertion of stretches of amino acids in the cell-surface exposed regions of PhoE does not interfere with the biogenesis of the protein. Dependent on the cell-surface exposed loop used for insertion and the character of the inserted amino acids up to 50 amino acids could be inserted. Both B-cell epitopes and T-cell epitopes remain antigenic and immunogenic in the PhoE-associated conformation. However, flanking amino acids can interfere with the antigenicity and immunogenicity of T-cell epitopes inserted in PhoE. Because E. coli PhoE can be expressed in attenuated Salmonella and Shigella strains, it seems to be a suitable vaccine carrier candidate.

Functional exchangeability of the ABC proteins of the periplasmic binding protein-dependent transport systems Ugp and Mal of Escherichia coli

The periplasmic binding protein-dependent transport systems Ugp and Mal of Escherichia coli transport sn-glycerol-3-phosphate and maltose, respectively. The UgpC and MalK proteins of these transport systems, which couple energy to the transport process by ATP-hydrolysis, are highly homologous, suggesting that they might be functionally exchangeable. Complementation experiments showed that UgpC expression could restore growth of a malK mutant on maltose as a carbon source, provided that it was expressed at a sufficiently high level in the absence of the integral inner membrane components UgpA and/or UgpE of the Ugp system. Conversely, MalK expression could complement ugpC mutants and restore the utilization of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate as a phosphate source. The hybrid transporters appeared to be less efficient than the wild-type systems. The complementation of ugpC mutations by MalK was strongly inhibited by the presence of glucose or alpha-methylglucoside, which are substrates of the phosphotransferase system. This inhibition is probably due to hypersensitivity of the hybrid UgpBAE-MalK transporter to inducer exclusion. UgpC expression did not complement the regulatory function of MalK in mal gene expression. The exchangeability of UgpC and MalK indicates that these proteins do not contribute to a substrate-binding site conferring substrate specificity to the transporter. These are the first examples of functional, hybrid periplasmic permeases in which the energy-coupling components could be functionally exchanged.

An accessory gene, lipB, required for the production of active Pseudomonas glumae lipase

Pseudomonas glumae PG1 is able to secrete lipase into the extracellular medium. The lipase is produced as a precursor protein, with an N-terminal signal sequence. A second open reading frame (ORF) was found immediately downstream of the lipase structural gene, lipA, a situation found for the lipases of some other Pseudomonas species. Inactivation of this ORF resulted in a lipase-negative phenotype, indicating its importance in the production of active extracellular lipase. The ORF, lipB, potentially encodes a protein of 353-amino-acid residues, having a hydrophobic N-terminal (amino acids 1 to 90) and a hydrophilic C-terminal part. As a first step in determining the role of LipB, its subcellular location was determined. The protein was found to fractionate with the inner membranes. The expression of fusions of lipB fragments with phoA revealed an N(in)-C(out) topology for the LipB protein, which was confirmed by protease accessibility studies on EDTA-permeabilized cells and on inverted inner membrane vesicles. These and other results indicate that most of the LipB polypeptide is located in the periplasm and anchored to the inner membrane by an N-terminal transmembrane helix, located between amino acids 19 and 40.

The loss of culturability by Escherichia coli cells in seawater depends on availability of phosphate ions and phosphate transport systems

Using strains with or without the PhoE porin or different components of the phosphate regulon, we determined that maintenance of the culturability of Escherichia coli in seawater depended significantly on the presence of structures allowing access of phosphate ions to the periplasm, then to the cytoplasm of cells. Cells totally deprived of the two main phosphate transport systems (Pit, Pst) exhibited the highest loss of culturability. Most of this effect resulted from the loss of the high-affinity Pst system, and more specifically that of the periplasmic phosphate-binding protein PhoS. Survival was enhanced in seawater supplemented with phosphate (0.5 mM), whether or not these structures were present. From an ecological point of view, it is assumed that the presence of phosphate ions, even at low concentrations, can influence the behavior of E. coli cells in seawater.

Effect of different positively charged amino acids, C-terminally of the signal peptidase cleavage site, on the translocation kinetics of a precursor protein in Escherichia coli K-12

Introduction of positively charged amino acids immediately downstream of the signal sequence in prokaryotic precursor proteins is known to affect the export process. However, it is not clear whether different positively charged amino acids affect the export process similarly. To investigate this, the glutamate at position +2 of outer membrane protein PhoE was substituted by arginine, lysine or histidine. Pulse-chase experiments revealed that the Lys and Arg residues at position +2 caused a reduced processing rate, and that the effect was markedly more severe in the case of the Arg residue. Trypsin accessibility experiments revealed that the accumulated precursors were present in the cytoplasm. Since the degree of the inhibitory effect corresponded to the pKa of the different positively charged amino acids, this suggests that the positively charged residues must be deprotonated during the secretory process.

Mutations in phoB, the positive gene activator of the pho regulon in Escherichia coli, affect the carbohydrate phenotype on MacConkey indicator plates

Mutants defective in phoB, the positive gene activator of the Escherichia coli pho regulon, exhibit aberrant behaviour on MacConkey indicator plates. They appear pale in the presence of a fermentable carbon source such as trehalose, maltose or glucose. The addition of at least 5 mM phosphate corrects this defect. Colonies of phoB+ strains turn red on MacConkey indicator plates and derepress the pho regulon when the cells are able to ferment the carbon source. In contrast, the inability to ferment the carbon source maintains the pho regulon in the repressed state.

Use of the enterobacterial outer membrane protein PhoE in the development of new vaccines and DNA probes

PhoE protein is a major outer membrane protein of Escherichia coli. The polypeptide spans the membrane 16 times, thereby exposing 8 regions at the cell surface. Insertions in these regions did not affect the biogenesis of the protein. Therefore, we considered the possibility of using PhoE as a vector for the exposure of foreign antigenic determinants at the cell surface, with the ultimate goal of constructing new (live oral) vaccines. Via recombinant DNA techniques, B-cell epitopes of VP1 protein of foot-and-mouth-disease virus were inserted in the exposed regions of PhoE. The inserted epitopes were antigenic and immunogenic in the PhoE-associated conformation. Guinea pigs, immunized with such a hybrid protein were protected against viral challenge. Similarly, a T-cell epitope of the 65 kDa heat-shock protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis remained antigenic and immunogenic in the PhoE-associated conformation, although recognition by the cells of the immune system was dependent on the amino acids, flanking the epitope. When the amino acid sequences of the PhoE proteins of different members of the family of Enterobacteriaceae are compared, the cell surface-exposed regions are hypervariable. Therefore, we considered the possibility that the DNA segments encoding these regions are species-specific. By using synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to such DNA segments, primer couples for the specific detection and identification of different enterobacterial species, including Salmonella, by polymerase chain reactions have been developed.

Topology of the PhoR protein of Escherichia coli and functional analysis of internal deletion mutants

The PhoR protein of Escherichia coli K-12 belongs to a family of structurally related sensor-kinases that regulate responses to environmental stimuli. These proteins are often located in the inner membrane with two membrane-spanning segments that are separated by a periplasmic domain, which is supposed to sense the environmental stimuli. However, the hydrophobicity plot of PhoR suggests a somewhat different topology in which a large periplasmic domain is lacking and an extended cytoplasmic domain is present besides the kinase domain. In protease-accessibility experiments and by using phoR-phoA gene fusions, the topology of PhoR was investigated and the absence of a large periplasmic domain was confirmed. Furthermore, the function of the extended cytoplasmic domain was studied by creating internal deletions. The mutations in this domain resulted in a constitutive expression of the pho regulon, indicating that the mutant PhoR proteins are locked in their kinase function. We propose that this extended cytoplasmic domain functions by sensing an internal signal that represses the kinase function of the PhoR protein.

Expression of the pspA gene stimulates efficient protein export in Escherichia coli

Expression of several mutant forms of outer membrane protein PhoE of Escherichia coli, which are disturbed in normal biogenesis, resulted in high expression of a 26 kDa protein. This 26 kDa protein fractionated as a peripherally bound inner membrane protein. It appeared to be identical to a previously identified protein (PspA = phage shock protein A) of unknown function that is induced upon infection of E. coli with filamentous phages. PspA was not expressed upon synthesis of mutant PhoE proteins in a secB mutant, nor upon expression of a PhoE mutant that lacks the signal sequence, suggesting that entrance into the export pathway of prePhoE is essential for induction. PspA synthesis was also induced under other conditions that are known to block the export apparatus, i.e. in secA, secD and secF mutants when grown at their non-permissive temperature or upon induction of the synthesis of MalE-LacZ or LamB-LacZ hybrid proteins. The inducing conditions for PspA synthesis suggested a role for this protein in export. In vivo pulse-chase experiments showed that the translocation of (mutant) prePhoE and of the precursors of other exported proteins was retarded in a pspA mutant strain. Also, in in vitro translocation assays, a role for PspA in protein transport could be demonstrated.

Biogenesis of outer membrane protein PhoE of Escherichia coli. Evidence for multiple SecB-binding sites in the mature portion of the PhoE protein

Efficient in vivo translocation of the precursor of Escherichia coli outer membrane protein PhoE across the inner membrane is shown to depend on SecB protein. A set of mutants, carrying internal deletions in the phoE gene, was used to locate a possible SecB-binding site and/or a site that makes the protein dependent on SecB for export. Except for two small mutant PhoE proteins, the in vivo and in vitro translocation of all mutant proteins was more efficient in the presence of SecB. The interaction of SecB protein with wild-type and mutant PhoE proteins, synthesized in vitro, was further studied in co-immunoprecipitation experiments with anti-SecB protein serum. The efficiencies of co-immunoprecipitation of precursor and mature PhoE were very similar, indicating the absence of a SecB-binding site in the signal sequence. Moreover, all mutant proteins with deletions in the mature moiety of the PhoE protein were co-immunoprecipitated in these assays, albeit mostly with reduced efficiency. Taken together, these results indicate the existence of multiple SecB-binding sites in the mature portion of the PhoE protein.

Increased resistance to multiple drugs by introduction of the Enterobacter cloacae romA gene into OmpF porin-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli K-12

Introduction of the romA gene cloned from Enterobacter cloacae into Escherichia coli K-12 resulted in almost complete inhibition of OmpF expression and a concomitant increase in resistance to quinolones, beta-lactams, chloramphenicol, and tetracyclines. In addition, the romA gene reduced the susceptibility to these multiple drugs even in the OmpF porin-deficient mutants of E. coli K-12. Results indicate the presence of romA-sensitive penetration pathway(s) for these multiple drugs other than the OmpF porin in E. coli.

Conservation of xcp genes, involved in the two-step protein secretion process, in different Pseudomonas species and other gram-negative bacteria

The two-step protein secretion pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is dependent on the xcp genes. We investigated whether a similar secretion mechanism is present in non-pathogenic Pseudomonas spp. and in other gram-negative bacteria. The plant growth stimulating Pseudomonas strains P. putida WCS358, P. fluorescens WCS374 and Pseudomonas B10 appeared to secrete proteins into the extracellular medium. Southern hybridization experiments showed the presence of xcp genes in these strains and also in other gram-negative bacteria, including Xanthomonas campestris. Complementation experiments showed that the xcp gene cluster of P. aeruginosa restored protein secretion in an X. campestris secretion mutant. The secretion gene cluster of X. campestris however, restored secretion capacity in P. aeruginosa mutants only to a low degree. Two heterologous proteins were not secreted by P. fluorescens and P. aeruginosa. The results suggest the presence of a similar two-step protein secretion mechanism in different gram-negative bacteria, which however, is not always functional for heterologous proteins.

The sugar-specific outer membrane channel ScrY contains functional characteristics of general diffusion pores and substrate-specific porins

Escherichia coli K-12 strain PS1-28-37 carries the multicopy plasmid pPSO28-37 containing a DNA fragment coding for two of the proteins that enable bacteria to utilize sucrose as sole carbon source. One of the different gene products of the plasmid is the outer membrane protein, ScrY. This protein was isolated and purified by chromatography across a gel filtration column. Reconstitution experiments with lipid bilayer membrane demonstrated that ScrY formed ion-permeable channels with properties very similar to those of general diffusion pores of enteric bacteria. The presence of sugars in the aqueous phase led to a dose-dependent block of ion transport through the channel, like the situation found with LamB (maltoporin) of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The binding constants of a variety of different sugars were determined. The stability constant for malto-oligosaccharide binding increased with increasing numbers of glucose residues. Disaccharides generally had a larger binding constant than monosaccharides. The binding of different sugars to ScrY and LamB of E. coli is discussed with respect to the kinetics of sugar movement through the channel.

In vitro synthesis and O acetylation of peptidoglycan by permeabilized cells of Proteus mirabilis

The synthesis and O acetylation in vitro of peptidoglycan by Proteus mirabilis was studied in microorganisms made permeable to specifically radiolabelled nucleotide precursors by treatment with either diethyl ether or toluene. Optimum synthesis occurred with cells permeabilized by 1% (vol/vol) toluene in 30 mM MgCl2 in in vitro experiments with 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 6.80). Acetate recovered by mild base hydrolysis from sodium dodecyl sulfate-insoluble peptidoglycan synthesized in the presence of UDP-[acetyl-1-14C]N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was found to be radioactive. Radioactivity was not retained by peptidoglycan synthesized when UDP-[acetyl-1-14C]N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was replaced with both unlabelled nucleotide and either [acetyl-3H]N-acetyl-D-glucosamine or [glucosamine-1,6-3H]N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. In addition, no radioactive acetate was detected in the mild base hydrolysates of peptidoglycan synthesized in vitro with UDP-[glucosamine-6-3H]N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as the radiolabel. Chasing UDP-[acetyl-1-14C]N-acetyl-D-glucosamine with unlabelled material served to increase the yield of O-linked [14C]acetate, whereas penicillin G blocked both peptidoglycan synthesis and [14C]acetate transfer. These results support the hypothesis that the base-labile O-linked acetate is derived directly from N-acetylglucosamine incorporated into insoluble peptidoglycan via N----O transacetylation and not from the catabolism of the supplemented peptidoglycan precursors followed by subsequent reactivation of acetate.

Carboxy-terminal phenylalanine is essential for the correct assembly of a bacterial outer membrane protein

Bacterial outer membrane proteins are supposed to span the membrane repeatedly, mostly in the form of amphipathic beta-sheets. The last ten C-terminal amino acid residues of PhoE protein are supposed to form such a membrane-spanning segment. Deletion of this segment completely prevents incorporation into the outer membrane. Comparison of the last ten amino acid residues of other outer membrane proteins from different Gram-negative bacteria revealed the presence of a potential amphipathic beta-sheet with hydrophobic residues at positions 1 (Phe), 3 (preferentially Tyr), 5, 7 and 9 from the C terminus, in the vast majority of these proteins. Since such sequences were not detected at the C termini of periplasmic proteins, it appears to be possible to discriminate between the majority of outer membrane proteins and periplasmic proteins on the basis of sequence data. The highly conserved phenylalanine at the C termini of outer membrane proteins suggests an important function for this amino acid in assembly into the outer membrane. Site-directed mutagenesis was applied to study the role of the C-terminal Phe in PhoE protein assembly. All mutant proteins were correctly incorporated into the outer membrane to some extent, but the efficiency of the process was severely affected. It appears that both the hydrophobicity and the aromatic nature of Phe are of importance.