Effect of metabolic inhibitors on entry of exogenous deoxyribonucleic acid into Ca2+-treated Escherichia coli cells

A FRET-based DNA biosensor tracks OmpR-dependent acidification of Salmonella during macrophage infection

In bacteria, one paradigm for signal transduction is the two-component regulatory system, consisting of a sensor kinase (usually a membrane protein) and a response regulator (usually a DNA binding protein). The EnvZ/OmpR two-component system responds to osmotic stress and regulates expression of outer membrane proteins. In Salmonella, EnvZ/OmpR also controls expression of another two-component system SsrA/B, which is located on Salmonella Pathogenicity Island (SPI) 2. SPI-2 encodes a type III secretion system, which functions as a nanomachine to inject bacterial effector proteins into eukaryotic cells. During the intracellular phase of infection, Salmonella switches from assembling type III secretion system structural components to secreting effectors into the macrophage cytoplasm, enabling Salmonella to replicate in the phagocytic vacuole. Major questions remain regarding how bacteria survive the acidified vacuole and how acidification affects bacterial secretion. We previously reported that EnvZ sensed cytoplasmic signals rather than extracellular ones, as intracellular osmolytes altered the dynamics of a 17-amino-acid region flanking the phosphorylated histidine. We reasoned that the Salmonella cytoplasm might acidify in the macrophage vacuole to activate OmpR-dependent transcription of SPI-2 genes. To address these questions, we employed a DNA-based FRET biosensor ("I-switch") to measure bacterial cytoplasmic pH and immunofluorescence to monitor effector secretion during infection. Surprisingly, we observed a rapid drop in bacterial cytoplasmic pH upon phagocytosis that was not predicted by current models. Cytoplasmic acidification was completely dependent on the OmpR response regulator, but did not require known OmpR-regulated genes such as ompC, ompF, or ssaC (SPI-2). Microarray analysis highlighted the cadC/BA operon, and additional experiments confirmed that it was repressed by OmpR. Acidification was blocked in the ompR null background in a Cad-dependent manner. Acid-dependent activation of OmpR stimulated type III secretion; blocking acidification resulted in a neutralized cytoplasm that was defective for SPI-2 secretion. Based upon these findings, we propose that Salmonella infection involves an acid-dependent secretion process in which the translocon SseB moves away from the bacterial cell surface as it associates with the vacuolar membrane, driving the secretion of SPI-2 effectors such as SseJ. New steps in the SPI-2 secretion process are proposed.

Calcium chloride made E. coli competent for uptake of extraneous DNA through overproduction of OmpC protein

In the standard method of transformation of Escherichia coli with extraneous DNA, cells are made competent for DNA uptake by incubating in ice-cold 100 mM CaCl(2). Analysis of the whole protein profile of CaCl(2)-treated E. coli cells by the techniques of one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, MALDI-MS and immunoprecipitation revealed overproduction of outer membrane proteins OmpC, OmpA and heat-shock protein GroEL. In parity, transformation efficiency of E. coli ompC mutant by plasmid pUC19 DNA was found to be about 40 % lower than that of the wild type strain. Moreover, in E. coli cells containing groEL-bearing plasmid, induction of GroEL caused simultaneous overproduction of OmpC. On the other hand, less OmpC was synthesized in E. coli groEL mutant compared to its wild type counterpart, by CaCl(2)-shock. From these results it can be suggested that in the process of CaCl(2)-mediated generation of competence, the heat-shock chaperone GroEL has specific role in DNA entry into the cell, possibly through the overproduced OmpC and OmpA porins.

Involvement of host cell energy in the transfection of Lactobacillus casei protoplasts with phage PL-1 DNA

Transfection of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 27092 protoplasts with phage PL-1 DNA was studied under various conditions. The process of transfection was dependent on the incubation temperature, and the apparent activation energy was calculated to be about 11 kcal/mol. Transfection was inhibited by treating the cells before protoplasting either with monoiodoacetate, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), or NaN3, without affecting both the viability of uninfected cells and protoplasting. The addition of DCCD after mixing protoplasts and DNA had no influence on transfection efficiencies. The transfection of L. casei protoplasts with phage PL-1 DNA was considered to require cell energy such as proton-motive force, probably in the initial stages, although the direct involvement of cell energy in the transfer of DNA across the cell membrane is still unclear.

Transformation system for Amycolatopsis (Nocardia) mediterranei: direct transformation of mycelium with plasmid DNA

A new procedure for transformation of Amycolatopsis (Nocardia) mediterranei LBG A3136 was developed. The method makes use of polyethylene glycol and alkaline cations and enables direct transformation of the A. mediterranei mycelium with high efficiency: more than 10(6) transformants per microgram of DNA were obtained. Transformation of A. mediterranei is stimulated by the ionophore antibiotic valinomycin and abolished by arsenate and p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate. pMEA123, a vector based on the indigenous plasmid pMEA100 and containing the erythromycin resistance gene, was constructed.

Ca2+-induced permeabilization of the Escherichia coli outer membrane: comparison of transformation and reconstitution of binding-protein-dependent transport

Ca2+ treatment renders the outer membrane of Escherichia coli reversibly permeable for macromolecules. We investigated whether Ca2+-induced uptake of exogenous protein into the periplasm occurs by mechanisms similar to Ca2+-induced uptake of DNA into the cytoplasm during transformation. Protein import through the outer membrane was monitored by measuring reconstitution of maltose transport after the addition of shock fluid containing maltose-binding protein. DNA import through the outer and inner membrane was measured by determining the efficiency of transformation with plasmid DNA. Both processes were stimulated by increasing Ca2+ concentrations up to 400 mM. Plasmolysis was essential for a high efficiency; reconstitution and transformation could be stimulated 5- and 40-fold, respectively, by a high concentration of sucrose (400 mM) in cells incubated with a suboptimal Ca2+ concentration (50 mM). The same divalent cations that promote import of DNA (Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+, Mg2+, and Ni2+) also induced import of protein. Ca2+ alone was found to be inefficient in promoting reconstitution; successive treatment with phosphate and Ca2+ ions was essential. Transformation also was observed in the absence of phosphate, but could be stimulated by pretreatment with phosphate. The optimal phosphate concentrations were 100 mM and 1 to 10 mM for reconstitution and transformation, respectively. Heat shock, in which the cells are rapidly transferred from 0 to 42 degrees C, affected the two processes differently. Incubation of cells at 0 degrees C in Ca2+ alone allows rapid entry of protein, but not of DNA. Transformation was observed only when exogenous DNA was still present during the heat shock. Shock fluid containing maltose-binding protein inhibited transformation (with 6 microgram of DNA per ml, half-maximal inhibition occurred at around 300 microgram of shock fluid per ml). DNA inhibited reconstitution (with 5 microgram of shock fluid per ml, half-maximal inhibition occurred at around 3 mg of DNA per ml).

The in vivo formation of nonbilayer lipid phase in E. coli membranes during the development of Ca2-dependent competence

31P-NMR studies on E. coli cells reveal the in vivo formation of nonbilayer lipid structures, presumably of H11 phase, during Ca2-dependent competence induction. The data suggest the involvement of these structures in the exogenous DNA transfer into the cells during genetic transformation and transfection. The suggestion is supported by in vitro experiments in which the liposomes composed of different phospholipid species bind 14C-DNA in DNase and wash resistant form in conditions promoting the hexagonal phase formation.

Permeability changes in the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli K-12 early after infection with bacteriophage T1

The nature of the bacteriophage T1-induced changes in the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli K-12 was investigated. At 20 degrees C and with glucose as a substrate, the addition of one bacteriophage per cell induced a complete and irreversible loss of K+ ions (single-hit phenomenon). K+ loss was compensated by an uptake of Na+, Li+, or choline by the cell, depending on which of these ions was the major cation in the medium. T1 depolarized the cells and inhibited 86Rb+-K+ exchange across the cytoplasmic membrane. The loss of K+ occurred independently of the Mg2+ concentration in the medium. By contrast, at low but not at high Mg2+ concentrations, T1 caused efflux of Mg2+ which in turn caused inhibition of respiration and a decrease of delta pH.

Increased permeability and subsequent resealing of the host cell membrane early after infection of Escherichia coli with bacteriophage T1

The addition of T1 to cells growing at 37 degrees C in a minimal medium at 0.4 mM Mg2+ rapidly induced an irreversible loss of K+ and Mg2+ and uptake of Na+ by the cells. Both the ATP pool of the cells and the transmembrane proton motive force were reduced. These cells did not lyse from within, since viral DNA replication and the maturation of the 36,000-molecular-weight phage head protein were inhibited. By contrast, cells lysed when infected at 5.4 mM Mg2+. In these cells, T1 initially induced K+ efflux and Na+ influx and lowered the cytoplasmic ATP concentration. After a few minutes, the cation gradients and ATP pool were restored to levels close to that of control cells. At 5.4 mM Mg2+, the shutoff of host protein synthesis was delayed and coincided with the restoration of the ATP pool. In an ATP synthase-negative mutant, infection with T1 did not affect the cytoplasmic ATP concentration but inhibited host protein synthesis with the same rate as it did in wild-type cells.

Role of the electrochemical proton gradient in genetic transformation of Haemophilus influenzae

The uptake of homologous DNA by Haemophilus influenzae was studied as a function of the proton motive force in completely competent cultures in the pH range of 6 to 8. The composition and magnitude of the proton motive force were varied by using the ionophores valinomycin and nigericin (in the presence of various potassium ion concentrations) and by using protonophores. No interaction of the ionophores with the DNA transformation system itself was observed. Either component of the proton motive force, the electrical potential or the pH gradient, can drive the uptake of DNA, and the extent of the uptake of DNA is ultimately determined by the total proton motive force. The transformation frequency increases with the proton motive force, which reaches a maximum value at around -130 mV. These results are consistent with an electrogenic proton-DNA symport mechanism, but direct evidence for such a system is not available. The proton motive force was followed during competence development of H. influenzae at pH 8. In the initial phase (up to 50 min), the proton motive force remained constant at about -90 mV, whereas the transformation frequency rose steeply. In the second phase, the proton motive force increased. The transformation frequency in this phase increased with the proton motive force, as in completely competent cultures. These observations and the observed inhibition by NAD of both the proton motive force and the transformation frequency indicate that structural components of the competent state are formed in the initial phase of competence development, whereas the second phase is characterized by an increase of the proton motive force.

Can Ca2+-dependent competence be repeatedly induced in the same Escherichia coli cells?

With the help of devised multicycle consecutive transformation (MCT) it is shown that Ca2+-dependent competence can be repeatedly induced in the same population of Escherichia coli cells. The same fraction of cells is induced to competence and transformed during MCT. In contrast to the results on classical transformation with mixed DNA preparations, no double transformants are observed in MCT. The competent cells and transformants are found to be more fragile than nontransformed cells. The latter are represented presumably by the cells that have not absorbed exogenous plasmid DNA. The results suggest that there is strong interference between plasmid DNAs during MCT, and that the presence of exogenous DNA makes the cells more sensitive to the apparently harmful procedure of repeated competence induction.

Reconstitution of maltose transport in Escherichia coli: conditions affecting import of maltose-binding protein into the periplasm of calcium-treated cells

The reconstitution of active transport by the Ca2+ -induced import of exogenous binding protein was studied in detail in whole cells of a malE deletion mutant lacking the periplasmic maltose-binding protein. A linear increase in reconstitution efficiency was observed by increasing the Ca2+ - concentration in the reconstitution mixture up to 400 mM. A sharp pH optimum around pH 7.5 was measured for reconstitution. Reconstitution efficiency was highest at 0 degree C and decreased sharply with increasing temperature. The time necessary for optimal reconstitution at 0 degree C and 250 mM Ca2+ was about 1 min. The competence for reconstitution was highest in exponentially growing cultures with cell densities up to 1 X 10(9)/ml and declined when the cells entered the stationary-growth phase. The apparent Km for maltose uptake was the same as that of wild-type cells (1 to 2 microM). Vmax at saturating maltose-binding protein concentration was 125 pmol per min per 7.5 X 10(7) cells (30% of the wild-type activity). The concentration of maltose-binding protein required for half-maximal reconstitution was about 1 mM. The reconstitution procedure appears to be generally applicable. Thus, galactose transport in Escherichia coli could also be reconstituted by its respective binding protein. Maltose transport in E. coli was restored by maltose-binding protein isolated from Salmonella typhimurium. Finally, in S. typhimurium, histidine transport was reconstituted by the addition of shock fluid containing histidine-binding protein to a hisJ deletion mutant lacking histidine-binding protein. The method is fast and general enough to be used as a screening procedure to distinguish between transport mutants in which only the binding protein is affected and those in which additional transport components are affected.

Host cell metabolic energy is not required for injection of bacteriophage T5 DNA

The addition of various metabolic inhibitors (uncouplers, cyanide, arsenate, ionophores) separately or together (for example, arsenate and an uncoupler) or even harsher methods of energy depletion did not prevent bacteriophage T5 from injecting its first-step-transfer DNA (a DNA segment 3 micron long) into the cytoplasm of host cells. The same indifference to metabolic energy was observed if first-step-transfer DNA was decapsidated and uncoiled before injection, thus precluding any energetic help from the phage capsid or from some tension stored in DNA tightly packed in the head. Penetration of the second-step-transfer DNA across the cytoplasmic membrane was studied by determining injection of superinfecting T5 A2- amber phages into Sup- bacteria containing proteins A1 and A2 previously encoded by the first-step-transfer DNA of a primary wild-type phage. The addition of various metabolic inhibitors after synthesis of proteins A1 and A2 but before superinfection did not prevent this penetration of second-step-transfer DNA. Thus, we conclude that traversal of the cytoplasmic membrane by the entire T5 DNA (a molecule 34 micron long) must occur by diffusion through protein channels.

Transfer of the phosphatidyl moiety of phosphatidylglycerol to phosphatidylethanolamine in Escherichia coli

Phosphatidylglycerol was pulse-labeled with radioactive lipid precursors in a serine auxotroph of Escherichia coli. Most of the radioactivity of phosphatidylglycerol labeled in a serine-depleted medium was transferred to phosphatidylethanolamine during a chase in the presence of L-serine, but not in its absence. Metabolism of fatty acyl moieties labeled with [1-14C]acetate, acylated glycerol moieties labeled with [2-3H]glycerol, and phosphate moieties labeled with 32Pi, followed by a chase in the presence of cerulenin, showed that the intact phosphatidyl moiety of phosphatidylglycerol was transferred to phosphatidylethanolamine. The composition of phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species was unaltered and not perturbed by the transfer of the phosphatidyl moiety of phosphatidylglycerol. The increase of phosphatidylethanolamine with a concomitant decrease of phosphatidylglycerol was not coupled with the postulated turnover of phosphatidylglycerol to membrane-derived oligosaccharides and lipoprotein. It is suggested that phosphatidylglycerol is capable of providing its phosphatidyl moiety for the production of phosphatidylethanolamine in response to the relief of serine limitation by addition of L-serine.

Role of proton motive force in genetic transformation of Bacillus subtilis

This study explored the role of the proton motive force in the processes of DNA binding and DNA transport of genetic transformation of Bacillus subtilis 168 strain 8G-5 (trpC2). Transformation was severely inhibited by the ionophores valinomycin, nigericin, and 3,5-di-tert-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrite (SF-6847) and by tetraphenylphosphonium. The ionophores valinomycin and nigericin also severely inhibited binding of transforming DNA to the cell envelope, whereas SF-6847 and carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone hardly affected binding. The proton motive force, therefore, does not contribute to the process of DNA binding, and valinomycin and nigericin interact directly with the DNA binding sites at the cell envelope. The effects of ionophores, weak acids, and tetraphenylphosphonium on the components of the proton motive force and on the entry of transforming DNA after binding to the cell envelope was investigated. DNA entry, as measured by the amount of DNase I-resistant cell-associated [3H]DNA and by the formation of DNA breakdown products, was severely inhibited under conditions of a small proton motive force and also under conditions of a small delta pH and a high electrical potential. These results suggest that the proton motive force and especially the delta pH component functions as a driving force for DNA uptake in transformation.