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Structure, Substrate Specificity and Role of Lon Protease in Bacterial Pathogenesis and Survival. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043422. [PMID: 36834832 PMCID: PMC9961632 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteases are the group of enzymes that carry out proteolysis in all forms of life and play an essential role in cell survival. By acting on specific functional proteins, proteases affect the transcriptional and post-translational pathways in a cell. Lon, FtsH, HslVU and the Clp family are among the ATP-dependent proteases responsible for intracellular proteolysis in bacteria. In bacteria, Lon protease acts as a global regulator, governs an array of important functions such as DNA replication and repair, virulence factors, stress response and biofilm formation, among others. Moreover, Lon is involved in the regulation of bacterial metabolism and toxin-antitoxin systems. Hence, understanding the contribution and mechanisms of Lon as a global regulator in bacterial pathogenesis is crucial. In this review, we discuss the structure and substrate specificity of the bacterial Lon protease, as well as its ability to regulate bacterial pathogenesis.
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2
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Harwood CR, Kikuchi Y. The ins and outs of Bacillus proteases: activities, functions and commercial significance. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 46:6354784. [PMID: 34410368 PMCID: PMC8767453 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Because the majority of bacterial species divide by binary fission, and do not have distinguishable somatic and germline cells, they could be considered to be immortal. However, bacteria ‘age’ due to damage to vital cell components such as DNA and proteins. DNA damage can often be repaired using efficient DNA repair mechanisms. However, many proteins have a functional ‘shelf life’; some are short lived, while others are relatively stable. Specific degradation processes are built into the life span of proteins whose activities are required to fulfil a specific function during a prescribed period of time (e.g. cell cycle, differentiation process, stress response). In addition, proteins that are irreparably damaged or that have come to the end of their functional life span need to be removed by quality control proteases. Other proteases are involved in performing a variety of specific functions that can be broadly divided into three categories: processing, regulation and feeding. This review presents a systematic account of the proteases of Bacillus subtilis and their activities. It reviews the proteases found in, or associated with, the cytoplasm, the cell membrane, the cell wall and the external milieu. Where known, the impacts of the deletion of particular proteases are discussed, particularly in relation to industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin R Harwood
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University NE2 4AX, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Yoshimi Kikuchi
- Research Institute for Bioscience Products & Fine Chemicals, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Kawasaki 210-8681, JAPAN
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3
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Barkad MA, Bayraktar A, Doruk T, Tunca S. Effect of lon Protease Overexpression on Endotoxin Production and Stress Resistance in Bacillus thuringiensis. Curr Microbiol 2021; 78:3483-3493. [PMID: 34272975 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02610-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Lon protease, an intracellular protease, plays a key role in cell homeostasis in bacteria and is involved in numerous physiological processes. In this work, we aimed to study the impact of Lon on the production of endotoxins and stress response in Bacillus thuringiensis, which is an important bioinsecticide alternative for toxic chemicals. For this purpose, lon gene was cloned into a multi-copy vector with its original promoter and transcriptional terminator and expressed in B. thuringiensis serovar israelensis ATCC 35,646. Our results showed that the recombinant lon gene transcribed and translated efficiently and the resulting protein was active. Although the sporulation efficiency of the recombinant strain was found to be reduced and its mobility impaired, overexpression of the lon gene triggered the production of endotoxin. Together with increased biofilm formation, recombinant strain exhibited significantly better adaptation to osmotic and heat shock stresses and UV exposure compared to wild type and the control strain with empty plasmid. This study suggested a possible link between Lon protease and the production of insecticide and stress response in B. thuringiensis and provides a platform for future studies focusing on enhancing bio-insecticidal production using this bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mouktar Abdi Barkad
- Faculty of Science, Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, 41400, Izmit, Turkey
| | - Aslı Bayraktar
- Faculty of Science, Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, 41400, Izmit, Turkey
| | - Tugrul Doruk
- Faculty of Art and Science, Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Atakum, 55200, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Sedef Tunca
- Faculty of Science, Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, 41400, Izmit, Turkey.
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4
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Mearls EB, Jackter J, Colquhoun JM, Farmer V, Matthews AJ, Murphy LS, Fenton C, Camp AH. Transcription and translation of the sigG gene is tuned for proper execution of the switch from early to late gene expression in the developing Bacillus subtilis spore. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007350. [PMID: 29702640 PMCID: PMC5942855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
A cascade of alternative sigma factors directs developmental gene expression during spore formation by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. As the spore develops, a tightly regulated switch occurs in which the early-acting sigma factor σF is replaced by the late-acting sigma factor σG. The gene encoding σG (sigG) is transcribed by σF and by σG itself in an autoregulatory loop; yet σG activity is not detected until σF-dependent gene expression is complete. This separation in σF and σG activities has been suggested to be due at least in part to a poorly understood intercellular checkpoint pathway that delays sigG expression by σF. Here we report the results of a careful examination of sigG expression during sporulation. Unexpectedly, our findings argue against the existence of a regulatory mechanism to delay sigG transcription by σF and instead support a model in which sigG is transcribed by σF with normal timing, but at levels that are very low. This low-level expression of sigG is the consequence of several intrinsic features of the sigG regulatory and coding sequence—promoter spacing, secondary structure potential of the mRNA, and start codon identity—that dampen its transcription and translation. Especially notable is the presence of a conserved hairpin in the 5’ leader sequence of the sigG mRNA that occludes the ribosome-binding site, reducing translation by up to 4-fold. Finally, we demonstrate that misexpression of sigG from regulatory and coding sequences lacking these features triggers premature σG activity in the forespore during sporulation, as well as inappropriate σG activity during vegetative growth. Altogether, these data indicate that transcription and translation of the sigG gene is tuned to prevent vegetative expression of σG and to ensure the precise timing of the switch from σF to σG in the developing spore. Global changes in gene expression occur during normal cellular growth and development, as well as during cancer cell transformation and bacterial pathogenesis. In this study we have investigated the molecular mechanisms that drive the switch from early to late developmental gene expression during spore formation by the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. At early times, gene expression in the developing spore is directed by the transcription factor σF; at later times σF is replaced by σG. An important, yet poorly understood aspect of this σF-to-σG transition is how σG activation is delayed until the early, σF-directed phase of gene expression is complete. Here we have carefully examined expression of the gene encoding σG, sigG, and found that its transcription and translation are ordinarily dampened by several features of its regulatory and coding sequences. Moreover, we have found that this “tuning” of sigG expression is required for proper timing of the switch to σG. These results reframe our understanding of how sigG is regulated during B. subtilis sporulation and, more broadly, advance our understanding of how global changes in gene expression can be precisely executed at the molecular/genetic level.
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MESH Headings
- Bacillus subtilis/genetics
- Bacillus subtilis/physiology
- Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis
- Bacterial Proteins/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
- Genes, Bacterial
- Inverted Repeat Sequences
- Models, Genetic
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Protein Biosynthesis
- RNA, Bacterial/chemistry
- RNA, Bacterial/genetics
- RNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/chemistry
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Sigma Factor/biosynthesis
- Sigma Factor/genetics
- Signal Transduction
- Spores, Bacterial/genetics
- Spores, Bacterial/physiology
- Transcription, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B. Mearls
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | - Jacquelin Jackter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | | | - Veronica Farmer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | - Allison J. Matthews
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | - Laura S. Murphy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | - Colleen Fenton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | - Amy H. Camp
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
- * E-mail:
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5
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Elsholz AKW, Birk MS, Charpentier E, Turgay K. Functional Diversity of AAA+ Protease Complexes in Bacillus subtilis. Front Mol Biosci 2017; 4:44. [PMID: 28748186 PMCID: PMC5506225 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2017.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we review the diverse roles and functions of AAA+ protease complexes in protein homeostasis, control of stress response and cellular development pathways by regulatory and general proteolysis in the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. We discuss in detail the intricate involvement of AAA+ protein complexes in controlling sporulation, the heat shock response and the role of adaptor proteins in these processes. The investigation of these protein complexes and their adaptor proteins has revealed their relevance for Gram-positive pathogens and their potential as targets for new antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K W Elsholz
- Department of Regulation in Infection Biology, Max Planck Institute for Infection BiologyBerlin, Germany
| | - Marlene S Birk
- Department of Regulation in Infection Biology, Max Planck Institute for Infection BiologyBerlin, Germany
| | - Emmanuelle Charpentier
- Department of Regulation in Infection Biology, Max Planck Institute for Infection BiologyBerlin, Germany.,The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Sweden, Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå UniversityUmeå, Sweden.,Humboldt UniversityBerlin, Germany
| | - Kürşad Turgay
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz UniversitätHannover, Germany
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6
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Abstract
ATP-dependent Lon protease of mitochondrial matrix is encoded by nuclear DNA and highly evolutionarily conserved throughout all organisms, which is involved in the quality control of proteins by selective degradation of misfolded, oxidized, and short-lived regulatory proteins within mitochondrial matrix, maintenance of mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), and folding of mitochondria proteins. Various stimuli such as hypoxia and oxidative and ER stress lead to upregulation of Lon expression. Inhibition of protease activity or downregulation of Lon promotes cancer cell death and enhances sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer drugs through metabolic reprogramming, thus reducing the viability of cancer cell in tumor microenvironment and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, mitochondrial ATP-dependent Lon protease may serve as a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and novel target for the development of anticancer drugs and for predicting of the efficiency and effectiveness of chemotherapy of a variety of cancers.
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7
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Abstract
Protein degradation is essential for all living things. Bacteria use energy-dependent proteases to control protein destruction in a highly specific manner. Recognition of substrates is determined by the inherent specificity of the proteases and through adaptor proteins that alter the spectrum of substrates. In the α-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus, regulated protein degradation is required for stress responses, developmental transitions, and cell cycle progression. In this review, we describe recent progress in our understanding of the regulated and stress-responsive protein degradation pathways in Caulobacter. We discuss how organization of highly specific adaptors into functional hierarchies drives destruction of proteins during the bacterial cell cycle. Because all cells must balance the need for degradation of many true substrates with the toxic consequences of nonspecific protein destruction, principles found in one system likely generalize to others.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Chien
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003;
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8
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Pinti M, Gibellini L, Liu Y, Xu S, Lu B, Cossarizza A. Mitochondrial Lon protease at the crossroads of oxidative stress, ageing and cancer. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:4807-24. [PMID: 26363553 PMCID: PMC11113732 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2039-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Lon protease is a nuclear DNA-encoded mitochondrial enzyme highly conserved throughout evolution, involved in the degradation of damaged and oxidized proteins of the mitochondrial matrix, in the correct folding of proteins imported in mitochondria, and in the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA. Lon expression is induced by various stimuli, including hypoxia and reactive oxygen species, and provides protection against cell stress. Lon down-regulation is associated with ageing and with cell senescence, while up-regulation is observed in tumour cells, and is correlated with a more aggressive phenotype of cancer. Lon up-regulation contributes to metabolic reprogramming observed in cancer, favours the switch from a respiratory to a glycolytic metabolism, helping cancer cell survival in the tumour microenvironment, and contributes to epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Silencing of Lon, or pharmacological inhibition of its activity, causes cell death in various cancer cells. Thus, Lon can be included in the growing class of proteins that are not responsible for oncogenic transformation, but that are essential for survival and proliferation of cancer cells, and that can be considered as a new target for development of anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Pinti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Lara Gibellini
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Yongzhang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Attardi Institute of Mitochondrial Biomedicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shan Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Attardi Institute of Mitochondrial Biomedicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bin Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Attardi Institute of Mitochondrial Biomedicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Andrea Cossarizza
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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9
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Dual-specificity anti-sigma factor reinforces control of cell-type specific gene expression in Bacillus subtilis. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005104. [PMID: 25835496 PMCID: PMC4383634 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression during spore development in Bacillus subtilis is controlled by cell type-specific RNA polymerase sigma factors. σFand σE control early stages of development in the forespore and the mother cell, respectively. When, at an intermediate stage in development, the mother cell engulfs the forespore, σF is replaced by σG and σE is replaced by σK. The anti-sigma factor CsfB is produced under the control of σF and binds to and inhibits the auto-regulatory σG, but not σF. A position in region 2.1, occupied by an asparagine in σG and by a glutamate in οF, is sufficient for CsfB discrimination of the two sigmas, and allows it to delay the early to late switch in forespore gene expression. We now show that following engulfment completion, csfB is switched on in the mother cell under the control of σK and that CsfB binds to and inhibits σE but not σK, possibly to facilitate the switch from early to late gene expression. We show that a position in region 2.3 occupied by a conserved asparagine in σE and by a conserved glutamate in σK suffices for discrimination by CsfB. We also show that CsfB prevents activation of σG in the mother cell and the premature σG-dependent activation of σK. Thus, CsfB establishes negative feedback loops that curtail the activity of σE and prevent the ectopic activation of σG in the mother cell. The capacity of CsfB to directly block σE activity may also explain how CsfB plays a role as one of the several mechanisms that prevent σE activation in the forespore. Thus the capacity of CsfB to differentiate between the highly similar σF/σG and σE/σK pairs allows it to rinforce the cell-type specificity of these sigma factors and the transition from early to late development in B. subtilis, and possibly in all sporeformers that encode a CsfB orthologue. Precise temporal and cell-type specific regulation of gene expression is required for development of differentiated cells even in simple organisms. Endospore development by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis involves only two types of differentiated cells, a forespore that develops into the endospore, and a mother cell that nurtures the developing endospore. During development temporal and cell-type specific regulation of gene expression is controlled by transcription factors called sigma factors (σ). An anti-sigma factor known as CsfB binds to σG to prevent its premature activity in the forespore. We found that CsfB is also expressed in the mother cell where it blocks ectopic activity of σG, and blocks the activity σE to allow σK to take over control of gene expression during the final stages of development. Our finding that CsfB directly blocks σE activity also explains how CsfB plays a role in preventing ectopic activity of σE in the forespore. Remarkably, each of the major roles of CsfB, (i.e., control of ectopic σG and σE activities, and the temporal limitation of σE activity) is also accomplished by redundant regulatory processes. This redundancy reinforces control of key regulatory steps to insure reliability and stability of the developmental process.
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10
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Chen YD, Wu SH, Hsu CH. Backbone resonance assignments of the α sub-domain of Brevibacillus thermoruber Lon protease. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2014; 8:233-6. [PMID: 23771856 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-013-9490-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Lon is an ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities protease and belongs to a unique group that binds DNA. The α sub-domain of Lon protease is responsible for DNA-binding, but the structural information for its DNA-recognition mode is still limited. Here, we report (1)H, (15)N and (13)C backbone assignment for the α sub-domain from Brevibacillus thermoruber Lon protease as the basis for the elucidation of its structure and interactions with DNA, necessary for understanding the allosteric regulatory mechanism of the enzymatic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Da Chen
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
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11
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Lee AYL, Chen YD, Chang YY, Lin YC, Chang CF, Huang SJ, Wu SH, Hsu CH. Structural basis for DNA-mediated allosteric regulation facilitated by the AAA+module of Lon protease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 70:218-30. [DOI: 10.1107/s139900471302631x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Lon belongs to a unique group of AAA+proteases that bind DNA. However, the DNA-mediated regulation of Lon remains elusive. Here, the crystal structure of the α subdomain of the Lon protease fromBrevibacillus thermoruber(Bt-Lon) is presented, together with biochemical data, and the DNA-binding mode is delineated, showing that Arg518, Arg557 and Arg566 play a crucial role in DNA binding. Electrostatic interactions contributed by arginine residues in the AAA+module are suggested to be important to DNA binding and allosteric regulation of enzymatic activities. Intriguingly, Arg557, which directly binds DNA in the α subdomain, has a dual role in the negative regulation of ATPase stimulation by DNA and in the domain–domain communication in allosteric regulation of Bt-Lon by substrate. In conclusion, structural and biochemical evidence is provided to show that electrostatic interaction in the AAA+module is important for DNA binding by Lon and allosteric regulation of its enzymatic activities by DNA and substrate.
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12
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Diethmaier C, Newman JA, Kovács ÁT, Kaever V, Herzberg C, Rodrigues C, Boonstra M, Kuipers OP, Lewis RJ, Stülke J. The YmdB phosphodiesterase is a global regulator of late adaptive responses in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:265-75. [PMID: 24163345 PMCID: PMC3911264 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00826-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis mutants lacking ymdB are unable to form biofilms, exhibit a strong overexpression of the flagellin gene hag, and are deficient in SlrR, a SinR antagonist. Here, we report the functional and structural characterization of YmdB, and we find that YmdB is a phosphodiesterase with activity against 2',3'- and 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide monophosphates. The structure of YmdB reveals that the enzyme adopts a conserved phosphodiesterase fold with a binuclear metal center. Mutagenesis of a catalytically crucial residue demonstrates that the enzymatic activity of YmdB is essential for biofilm formation. The deletion of ymdB affects the expression of more than 800 genes; the levels of the σ(D)-dependent motility regulon and several sporulation genes are increased, and the levels of the SinR-repressed biofilm genes are decreased, confirming the role of YmdB in regulating late adaptive responses of B. subtilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Diethmaier
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joseph A. Newman
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ákos T. Kovács
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Volkhard Kaever
- Research Core Unit for Mass Spectrometry-Metabolomics and Institute of Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Herzberg
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cecilia Rodrigues
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Mirjam Boonstra
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Richard J. Lewis
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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13
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Global analysis of the sporulation pathway of Clostridium difficile. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003660. [PMID: 23950727 PMCID: PMC3738446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive, spore-forming pathogen Clostridium difficile is the leading definable cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea worldwide. C. difficile infections are difficult to treat because of their frequent recurrence, which can cause life-threatening complications such as pseudomembranous colitis. The spores of C. difficile are responsible for these high rates of recurrence, since they are the major transmissive form of the organism and resistant to antibiotics and many disinfectants. Despite the importance of spores to the pathogenesis of C. difficile, little is known about their composition or formation. Based on studies in Bacillus subtilis and other Clostridium spp., the sigma factors σ(F), σ(E), σ(G), and σ(K) are predicted to control the transcription of genes required for sporulation, although their specific functions vary depending on the organism. In order to determine the roles of σ(F), σ(E), σ(G), and σ(K) in regulating C. difficile sporulation, we generated loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding these sporulation sigma factors and performed RNA-Sequencing to identify specific sigma factor-dependent genes. This analysis identified 224 genes whose expression was collectively activated by sporulation sigma factors: 183 were σ(F)-dependent, 169 were σ(E)-dependent, 34 were σ(G)-dependent, and 31 were σ(K)-dependent. In contrast with B. subtilis, C. difficile σ(E) was dispensable for σ(G) activation, σ(G) was dispensable for σ(K) activation, and σ(F) was required for post-translationally activating σ(G). Collectively, these results provide the first genome-wide transcriptional analysis of genes induced by specific sporulation sigma factors in the Clostridia and highlight that diverse mechanisms regulate sporulation sigma factor activity in the Firmicutes.
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14
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Chen YD, Chang YY, Wu SH, Hsu CH. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the α subdomain of Lon protease from Brevibacillus thermoruber. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:899-901. [PMID: 23908038 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309113017958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
DNA-binding ability has previously been reported as a novel function for the thermostable Lon protease from Brevibacillus thermoruber WR-249 (Bt-Lon), and the α subdomain (amino acids 491-605) of Bt-Lon has been identified as being responsible for DNA binding. However, the physiological role and DNA-recognition mode of Bt-Lon still remain unclear. In this study, the crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the Bt-Lon α subdomain are presented. Native diffraction data to 2.88 Å resolution were obtained from a vitrified crystal at 100 K on the BL13C1 beamline at the NSRRC (National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center), Taiwan. The crystals belonged to space group P23, with unit-cell parameters a = b = c = 94.28 Å. Solvent-content calculations and molecular-replacement results suggest that there are two molecules of Bt-Lon α subdomain per asymmetric unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Da Chen
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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15
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Abstract
The soil-dwelling bacterium Bacillus subtilis is widely used as a model organism to study the Gram-positive branch of Bacteria. A variety of different developmental pathways, such as endospore formation, genetic competence, motility, swarming and biofilm formation, have been studied in this organism. These processes are intricately connected and regulated by networks containing e.g. alternative sigma factors, two-component systems and other regulators. Importantly, in some of these regulatory networks the activity of important regulatory factors is controlled by proteases. Furthermore, together with chaperones, the same proteases constitute the cellular protein quality control (PQC) network, which plays a crucial role in protein homeostasis and stress tolerance of this organism. In this review, we will present the current knowledge on regulatory and general proteolysis in B. subtilis and discuss its involvement in developmental pathways and cellular stress management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noël Molière
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Schneiderberg 50, 30167, Hannover, Germany,
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16
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Nandre RM, Matsuda K, Chaudhari AA, Kim B, Lee JH. A genetically engineered derivative of Salmonella Enteritidis as a novel live vaccine candidate for salmonellosis in chickens. Res Vet Sci 2012; 93:596-603. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2011] [Revised: 10/16/2011] [Accepted: 11/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Coupling of σG activation to completion of engulfment during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis survives large perturbations to DNA translocation and replication. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:6264-71. [PMID: 22984259 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01470-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spore formation in Bacillus subtilis is characterized by activation of RNA polymerase sigma factors, including the late-expressed σ(G). During spore formation an asymmetric division occurs, yielding the smaller prespore and the larger mother cell. At division, only 30% of the chromosome is in the prespore, and the rest is then translocated into the prespore. Following completion of engulfment of the prespore by the mother cell, σ(G) is activated in the prespore. Here we tested the link between engulfment and σ(G) activation by perturbing DNA translocation and replication, which are completed before engulfment. One approach was to have large DNA insertions in the chromosome; the second was to have an impaired DNA translocase; the third was to use a strain in which the site of termination of chromosome replication was relocated. Insertion of 2.3 Mb of Synechocystis DNA into the B. subtilis genome had the largest effect, delaying engulfment by at least 90 min. Chromosome translocation was also delayed and was completed shortly before the completion of engulfment. Despite the delay, σ(G) became active only after the completion of engulfment. All results are consistent with a strong link between completion of engulfment and σ(G) activation. They support a link between completion of chromosome translocation and completion of engulfment.
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The influence of ATP-dependent proteases on a variety of nucleoid-associated processes. J Struct Biol 2012; 179:181-92. [PMID: 22683345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2012.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2012] [Revised: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 05/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
ATP-dependent proteases are crucial components of all living cells and are involved in a variety of responses to physiological and environmental changes. Nucleoids are dynamic nucleoprotein complexes present in bacteria and eukaryotic organelles (mitochondria and plastids) and are the place where the majority of cellular responses to stress begin. These structures are actively remodeled in reaction to changing environmental and physiological conditions. The levels of nucleoid protein components (e.g. DNA-stabilizing proteins, transcription factors, replication proteins) therefore have to be continually regulated. ATP-dependent proteases have all the characteristics needed to fulfill this requirement. Some of them bind nucleic acids, but above all, they control and maintain the level of many DNA-binding proteins. In this review we will discuss the roles of the Lon, ClpAP, ClpXP, HslUV and FtsH proteases in the maintenance, stability, transcription and repair of DNA in eubacterial and mitochondrial nucleoids.
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The universally conserved prokaryotic GTPases. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2012; 75:507-42, second and third pages of table of contents. [PMID: 21885683 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00009-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the large superclass of P-loop GTPases share a core domain with a conserved three-dimensional structure. In eukaryotes, these proteins are implicated in various crucial cellular processes, including translation, membrane trafficking, cell cycle progression, and membrane signaling. As targets of mutation and toxins, GTPases are involved in the pathogenesis of cancer and infectious diseases. In prokaryotes also, it is hard to overestimate the importance of GTPases in cell physiology. Numerous papers have shed new light on the role of bacterial GTPases in cell cycle regulation, ribosome assembly, the stress response, and other cellular processes. Moreover, bacterial GTPases have been identified as high-potential drug targets. A key paper published over 2 decades ago stated that, "It may never again be possible to capture [GTPases] in a family portrait" (H. R. Bourne, D. A. Sanders, and F. McCormick, Nature 348:125-132, 1990) and indeed, the last 20 years have seen a tremendous increase in publications on the subject. Sequence analysis identified 13 bacterial GTPases that are conserved in at least 75% of all bacterial species. We here provide an overview of these 13 protein subfamilies, covering their cellular functions as well as cellular localization and expression levels, three-dimensional structures, biochemical properties, and gene organization. Conserved roles in eukaryotic homologs will be discussed as well. A comprehensive overview summarizing current knowledge on prokaryotic GTPases will aid in further elucidating the function of these important proteins.
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Serrano M, Real G, Santos J, Carneiro J, Moran CP, Henriques AO. A negative feedback loop that limits the ectopic activation of a cell type-specific sporulation sigma factor of Bacillus subtilis. PLoS Genet 2011; 7:e1002220. [PMID: 21935351 PMCID: PMC3174212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2010] [Accepted: 06/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Two highly similar RNA polymerase sigma subunits, σF and σG, govern the early and late phases of forespore-specific gene expression during spore differentiation in Bacillus subtilis. σF drives synthesis of σG but the latter only becomes active once engulfment of the forespore by the mother cell is completed, its levels rising quickly due to a positive feedback loop. The mechanisms that prevent premature or ectopic activation of σG while discriminating between σF and σG in the forespore are not fully comprehended. Here, we report that the substitution of an asparagine by a glutamic acid at position 45 of σG (N45E) strongly reduced binding by a previously characterized anti-sigma factor, CsfB (also known as Gin), in vitro, and increased the activity of σG in vivo. The N45E mutation caused the appearance of a sub-population of pre-divisional cells with strong activity of σG. CsfB is normally produced in the forespore, under σF control, but sigGN45E mutant cells also expressed csfB and did so in a σG-dependent manner, autonomously from σF. Thus, a negative feedback loop involving CsfB counteracts the positive feedback loop resulting from ectopic σG activity. N45 is invariant in the homologous position of σG orthologues, whereas its functional equivalent in σF proteins, E39, is highly conserved. While CsfB does not bind to wild-type σF, a E39N substitution in σF resulted in efficient binding of CsfB to σF. Moreover, under certain conditions, the E39N alteration strongly restrains the activity of σF in vivo, in a csfB-dependent manner, and the efficiency of sporulation. Therefore, a single amino residue, N45/E39, is sufficient for the ability of CsfB to discriminate between the two forespore-specific sigma factors in B. subtilis. Positive auto-regulation of a transcriptional activator during cell differentiation or development often allows the rapid and robust deployment of cell- and stage-specific genes and the routing of the differentiating cell down a specific path. Positive auto-regulation however, raises the potential for inappropriate activity of the transcription factor. Here we unravel the role of a previously characterized anti-sigma factor, CsfB, in a negative feedback loop that prevents ectopic expression of the sporulation-specific sigma factor σG of Bacillus subtilis. σG is activated in the forespore, one of the two chambers of the developing cell, at an intermediate stage in spore development. Once active, a positive feedback loop allows the rapid accumulation of σG. Synthesis of both σG and CsfB is under the control of the early forespore regulator σF, and CsfB may help prevent the premature activity of σG in the forespore. However, CsfB is also produced under σG control in non-sporulating cells, setting a negative feedback loop that we show limits its ectopic activation. We further show that an asparagine residue conserved among σG orthologues is critical for binding and inhibition by CsfB, whereas the exclusion of asparagine from the homologous position in σF confers immunity to CsfB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Serrano
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Real
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Joana Santos
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | | | - Charles P. Moran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Adriano O. Henriques
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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Nandre RM, Chaudhari AA, Matsuda K, Lee JH. Immunogenicity of a Salmonella Enteritidis mutant as vaccine candidate and its protective efficacy against salmonellosis in chickens. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011; 144:299-311. [PMID: 21908057 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2011] [Revised: 08/19/2011] [Accepted: 08/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A novel Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine candidate strain, JOL919 was constructed by deleting the lon and cpxR genes from a wild-type SE using an allelic exchange method. The study was carried out to evaluate the strain as a vaccine candidate against salmonellosis. The strain showed the enhanced macrophage invasion, early bacterial clearance and higher immune responses as compared to the other mutants, JOL917 (Δlon) and JOL918 (ΔcpxR), and the wild type. In further analysis, the chickens immunized with JOL919 showed a significant increase in plasma IgG and intestinal secretory IgA levels, which was an indication of robust humoral and mucosal immune responses induced by the candidate. The lymphocyte proliferation response and CD45(+)CD3(+) T cells, associated with an activation of T helper and cytotoxic cells, were also significantly increased in the immunized group, which indicated that the candidate also induced cellular immune responses. The immune cell influx into caecal tissues analyzed by immunohistochemistry showed that CD8(+) T cells were predominated in the immunized group, suggesting that the candidate can clear the invaded pathogen in the intestines by a more direct way involving cytotoxic activity. By the examination of the protection efficacy measured by observations of gross lesions in the organs and bacterial recovery, the candidate can provide an efficient protection upon virulent challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul M Nandre
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, South Korea
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Liao JH, Lin YC, Hsu J, Lee AYL, Chen TA, Hsu CH, Chir JL, Hua KF, Wu TH, Hong LJ, Yen PW, Chiou A, Wu SH. Binding and cleavage of E. coli HUbeta by the E. coli Lon protease. Biophys J 2010; 98:129-37. [PMID: 20085725 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2009.09.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2009] [Revised: 09/22/2009] [Accepted: 09/24/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Escherichia coli Lon protease degrades the E. coli DNA-binding protein HUbeta, but not the related protein HUalpha. Here we show that the Lon protease binds to both HUbeta and HUalpha, but selectively degrades only HUbeta in the presence of ATP. Mass spectrometry of HUbeta peptide fragments revealed that region K18-G22 is the preferred cleavage site, followed in preference by L36-K37. The preferred cleavage site was further refined to A20-A21 by constructing and testing mutant proteins; Lon degraded HUbeta-A20Q and HUbeta-A20D more slowly than HUbeta. We used optical tweezers to measure the rupture force between HU proteins and Lon; HUalpha, HUbeta, and HUbeta-A20D can bind to Lon, and in the presence of ATP, the rupture force between each of these proteins and Lon became weaker. Our results support a mechanism of Lon protease cleavage of HU proteins in at least three stages: binding of Lon with the HU protein (HUbeta, HUalpha, or HUbeta-A20D); hydrolysis of ATP by Lon to provide energy to loosen the binding to the HU protein and to allow an induced-fit conformational change; and specific cleavage of only HUbeta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahn-Haur Liao
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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Ogura M, Tsukahara K. Autoregulation of the Bacillus subtilis response regulator gene degU is coupled with the proteolysis of DegU-P by ClpCP. Mol Microbiol 2010; 75:1244-59. [PMID: 20070525 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07047.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The response regulator DegU and its cognate kinase DegS constitute a two-component system in Bacillus subtilis that regulates many cellular processes, including exoprotease production and competence development. Using DNA footprint assay, gel shift assay and mutational analyses of P3degU-lacZ fusions, we showed that phosphorylated DegU (DegU-P) binds to two direct repeats (DR1 and DR2) of the consensus DegU-binding sequence in the P3degU promoter. The alteration of chromosomal DR2 severely decreased degU expression, demonstrating its importance in positive autoregulation of degU. Observation of DegU protein levels suggested that DegU is degraded. Western blot analysis of DegU in disruption mutants of genes encoding various ATP-dependent proteases strongly suggested that ClpCP degrades DegU. Moreover, when de novo protein synthesis was blocked, DegU was rapidly degraded in the wild-type but not in the clpC and clpP strains, and DegU with a mutated phosphorylation site was much stable. These results suggested preferential degradation of DegU-P by ClpCP, but not of unphosphorylated DegU. We confirmed that DegU-P was degraded preferentially using an in vitro ClpCP degradation system. Furthermore, a mutational analysis showed that the N-terminal region of DegU is important for proteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuo Ogura
- Institute of Oceanic Research and Development, Tokai University, 3-20-1 Orido, Shizuoka 424-8610, Japan.
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Abstract
Members of the AAA+ protein superfamily contribute to many diverse aspects of protein homeostasis in prokaryotic cells. As a fundamental component of numerous proteolytic machines in bacteria, AAA+ proteins play a crucial part not only in general protein quality control but also in the regulation of developmental programmes, through the controlled turnover of key proteins such as transcription factors. To manage these many, varied tasks, Hsp100/Clp and AAA+ proteases use specific adaptor proteins to enhance or expand the substrate recognition abilities of their cognate protease. Here, we review our current knowledge of the modulation of bacterial AAA+ proteases by these cellular arbitrators.
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Clp and Lon proteases occupy distinct subcellular positions in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2008; 190:6758-68. [PMID: 18689473 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00590-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Among other functions, ATP-dependent proteases degrade misfolded proteins and remove several key regulatory proteins necessary to activate stress responses. In Bacillus subtilis, ClpX, ClpE, and ClpC form homohexameric ATPases that couple to the ClpP peptidase. To understand where these peptidases and ATPases localize in living cells, each protein was fused to a fluorescent moiety. We found that ClpX-GFP (green fluorescent protein) and ClpP-GFP localized as focal assemblies in areas that were not occupied by the nucleoid. We found that the percentage of cells with ClpP-GFP foci increased following heat shock independently of protein synthesis. We determined that ClpE-YFP (yellow fluorescent protein) and ClpC-YFP formed foci coincident with nucleoid edges, usually near cell poles. Furthermore, we found that ClpQ-YFP (HslV) localized as small foci, usually positioned near the cell membrane. We found that ClpQ-YFP foci were dependent on the presence of the cognate hexameric ATPase ClpY (HslU). Moreover, we found that LonA-GFP is coincident with the nucleoid during normal growth and that LonA-GFP also localized to the forespore during development. We also investigated LonB-GFP and found that this protein localized to the forespore membrane early in development, followed by localization throughout the forespore later in development. Our comprehensive study has shown that in B. subtilis several ATP-fueled proteases occupy distinct subcellular locations. With these data, we suggest that substrate specificity could be determined, in part, by the spatial and temporal organization of proteases in vivo.
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Karmazyn-Campelli C, Rhayat L, Carballido-López R, Duperrier S, Frandsen N, Stragier P. How the early sporulation sigma factor sigmaF delays the switch to late development in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Microbiol 2008; 67:1169-80. [PMID: 18208527 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06121.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is a primitive differentiation process involving two cell types, the forespore and the mother cell. Each cell implements two successive transcription programmes controlled by specific sigma factors. We report that activity of sigma(G), the late forespore sigma factor, is kept in check by Gin, the product of csfB, a gene controlled by sigma(F), the early forespore sigma factor. Gin abolishes sigma(G) transcriptional activity when sigma(G) is artificially synthesized during growth, but has no effect on sigma(F). Gin interacts strongly with sigma(G) but not with sigma(F) in a yeast two-hybrid experiment. The absence of Gin allows sigma(G) to be active during sporulation independently of the mother-cell development to which it is normally coupled. Premature sigma(G) activity leads to the formation of slow-germinating spores, and complete deregulation of sigma(G) synthesis is lethal when combined with gin inactivation. Gin allows sigma(F) to delay the switch to the late forespore transcription programme by preventing sigma(G) to take over before the cell has reached a critical stage of development. A similar strategy, following a completely unrelated route, is used by the mother cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Karmazyn-Campelli
- Université Paris-Diderot, CNRS-UPR9073, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 75005 Paris, France
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27
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Transcriptional activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa fhp promoter is dependent on two regulators in addition to FhpR. Arch Microbiol 2007; 189:385-96. [PMID: 18043907 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-007-0329-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2007] [Accepted: 11/09/2007] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of flavohemoglobin expression is complex and depending on its host organism requires a wide variety of different transcriptional regulators. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the flavohemoglobin (Fhp) and its cognate regulator FhpR form an NO-sensing and detoxifying system regulated by their common bidirectional promoter Pfhp/PfhpR. The intergenic fhp-fhpR region of P. aeruginosa PAO1 was used as a bait to isolate proteins affecting the transcription of fhp and fhpR. In addition to the FhpR, we identified two previously uncharacterized P. aeruginosa proteins, PA0779 and PA3697. Both PA0779 and PA3697 were found to be essential for NO3(-) and NO2(-) induced Pfhp activity under aerobic and low-oxygen conditions, and needed for the full function of Pfhp/PfhpR as NO responsive regulatory circuit under aerobic conditions. In addition, we show that the transcriptional activity of PfhpR is highly inducible upon addition of SNP under aerobic conditions, but not by NO3(-), NO2(-) or under low-oxygen conditions, supporting the findings that FhpR is not the only factor affecting flavohemoglobin expression in P. aeruginosa.
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28
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Clp-dependent proteolysis down-regulates central metabolic pathways in glucose-starved Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2007; 190:321-31. [PMID: 17981983 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01233-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Entry into stationary phase in Bacillus subtilis is linked not only to a redirection of the gene expression program but also to posttranslational events such as protein degradation. Using 35S-labeled methionine pulse-chase labeling and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis we monitored the intracellular proteolysis pattern during glucose starvation. Approximately 200 protein spots diminished in the wild-type cells during an 8-h time course. The degradation rate of at least 80 proteins was significantly reduced in clpP, clpC, and clpX mutant strains. Enzymes of amino acid and nucleotide metabolism were overrepresented among these Clp substrate candidates. Notably, several first-committed-step enzymes for biosynthesis of aromatic and branched-chain amino acids, cell wall precursors, purines, and pyrimidines appeared as putative Clp substrates. Radioimmunoprecipitation demonstrated GlmS, IlvB, PurF, and PyrB to be novel ClpCP targets. Our data imply that Clp proteases down-regulate central metabolic pathways upon entry into a nongrowing state and thus contribute to the adaptation to nutrient starvation. Proteins that are obviously nonfunctional, unprotected, or even "unemployed" seem to be recognized and proteolyzed by Clp proteases when the resources for growth become limited.
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Expression of the sigmaF-directed csfB locus prevents premature appearance of sigmaG activity during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2007; 189:8754-7. [PMID: 17921305 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01265-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During sporulation, sigma(G) becomes active in the prespore upon the completion of engulfment. We show that the inactivation of the sigma(F)-directed csfB locus resulted in premature activation of sigma(G). CsfB exerted control distinct from but overlapping with that exerted by LonA to prevent inappropriate sigma(G) activation. The artificial induction of csfB severely compromised spore formation.
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Chary VK, Xenopoulos P, Piggot PJ. Blocking chromosome translocation during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis can result in prespore-specific activation of sigmaG that is independent of sigmaE and of engulfment. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:7267-73. [PMID: 17015665 PMCID: PMC1636243 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00744-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of spores by Bacillus subtilis is characterized by cell compartment-specific gene expression directed by four RNA polymerase sigma factors, which are activated in the order sigma(F)-sigma(E)-sigma(G)-sigma(K). Of these, sigma(G) becomes active in the prespore upon completion of engulfment of the prespore by the mother cell. Transcription of the gene encoding sigma(G), spoIIIG, is directed in the prespore by RNA polymerase containing sigma(F) but also requires the activity of sigma(E) in the mother cell. When first formed, sigma(G) is not active. Its activation requires expression of additional sigma(E)-directed genes, including the genes required for completion of engulfment. Here we report conditions in which sigma(G) becomes active in the prespore in the absence of sigma(E) activity and of completion of engulfment. The conditions are (i) having an spoIIIE mutation, so that only the origin-proximal 30% of the chromosome is translocated into the prespore, and (ii) placing spoIIIG in an origin-proximal location on the chromosome. The main function of the sigma(E)-directed regulation appears to be to coordinate sigma(G) activation with the completion of engulfment, not to control the level of sigma(G) activity. It seems plausible that the role of sigma(E) in sigma(G) activation is to reverse some inhibitory signal (or signals) in the engulfed prespore, a signal that is not present in the spoIIIE mutant background. It is not clear what the direct activator of sigma(G) in the prespore is. Competition for core RNA polymerase between sigma(F) and sigma(G) is unlikely to be of major importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasant K Chary
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 3400 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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Tsilibaris V, Maenhaut-Michel G, Van Melderen L. Biological roles of the Lon ATP-dependent protease. Res Microbiol 2006; 157:701-13. [PMID: 16854568 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2006.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2006] [Revised: 05/22/2006] [Accepted: 05/23/2006] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Lon ATP-dependent protease plays a major role in protein quality control. An increasing number of regulatory proteins, however, are being identified as Lon substrates, thus indicating that in addition to its housekeeping function, Lon plays an important role in regulating many biological processes in bacteria. This review presents and discusses the involvement of Lon in different aspects of bacterial physiology, including cell differentiation, sporulation, pathogenicity and survival under starvation conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Tsilibaris
- Laboratoire de Génétique des Procaryotes, IBMM, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 12 rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
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32
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Chary VK, Meloni M, Hilbert DW, Piggot PJ. Control of the expression and compartmentalization of (sigma)G activity during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis by regulators of (sigma)F and (sigma)E. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:6832-40. [PMID: 16166546 PMCID: PMC1251595 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.19.6832-6840.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During formation of spores by Bacillus subtilis the RNA polymerase factor sigma(G) ordinarily becomes active during spore formation exclusively in the prespore upon completion of engulfment of the prespore by the mother cell. Formation and activation of sigma(G) ordinarily requires prior activity of sigma(F) in the prespore and sigma(E) in the mother cell. Here we report that in spoIIA mutants lacking both sigma(F) and the anti-sigma factor SpoIIAB and in which sigma(E) is not active, sigma(G) nevertheless becomes active. Further, its activity is largely confined to the mother cell. Thus, there is a switch in the location of sigma(G) activity from prespore to mother cell. Factors contributing to the mother cell location are inferred to be read-through of spoIIIG, the structural gene for sigma(G), from the upstream spoIIG locus and the absence of SpoIIAB, which can act in the mother cell as an anti-sigma factor to sigma(G). When the spoIIIG locus was moved away from spoIIG to the distal amyE locus, sigma(G) became active earlier in sporulation in spoIIA deletion mutants, and the sporulation septum was not formed, suggesting that premature sigma(G) activation can block septum formation. We report a previously unrecognized control in which SpoIIGA can prevent the appearance of sigma(G) activity, and pro-sigma(E) (but not sigma(E)) can counteract this effect of SpoIIGA. We find that in strains lacking sigma(F) and SpoIIAB and engineered to produce active sigma(E) in the mother cell without the need for SpoIIGA, sigma(G) also becomes active in the mother cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasant K Chary
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 3400 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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Abstract
The cellular stress response is a universal mechanism of extraordinary physiological/pathophysiological significance. It represents a defense reaction of cells to damage that environmental forces inflict on macromolecules. Many aspects of the cellular stress response are not stressor specific because cells monitor stress based on macromolecular damage without regard to the type of stress that causes such damage. Cellular mechanisms activated by DNA damage and protein damage are interconnected and share common elements. Other cellular responses directed at re-establishing homeostasis are stressor specific and often activated in parallel to the cellular stress response. All organisms have stress proteins, and universally conserved stress proteins can be regarded as the minimal stress proteome. Functional analysis of the minimal stress proteome yields information about key aspects of the cellular stress response, including physiological mechanisms of sensing membrane lipid, protein, and DNA damage; redox sensing and regulation; cell cycle control; macromolecular stabilization/repair; and control of energy metabolism. In addition, cells can quantify stress and activate a death program (apoptosis) when tolerance limits are exceeded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dietmar Kültz
- Physiological Genomics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
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Takaya A, Kubota Y, Isogai E, Yamamoto T. Degradation of the HilC and HilD regulator proteins by ATP-dependent Lon protease leads to downregulation of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 gene expression. Mol Microbiol 2004; 55:839-52. [PMID: 15661008 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04425.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1) enables infecting Salmonella to cross the small intestinal barrier and to escape phagocytosis by inducing apoptosis. Several environmental signals and transcriptional regulators modulate the expression of hilA, which encodes a protein playing a central role in the regulatory hierarchy of SPI1 gene expression. We have previously shown that Lon, a stress-induced ATP-dependent protease, is a negative regulator of hilA, suggesting that it targets factors required for activating hilA expression. To elucidate the mechanisms by which Lon protease negatively regulates SPI1 transcription, we looked for its substrate proteins. We found that HilC and HilD, which are positive regulators of hilA expression, accumulate in Lon-depleted cells, and that the enhancement of SPI1 expression that occurs in a lon-disrupted mutant is not observed in the lon hilC hilD triple null mutant. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the half-lives of HilC and HilD are, respectively, about 12 times and three times longer in the Lon-depleted mutant, than in the Lon+ cells, suggesting that Lon targets both of HilC and HilD. In view of these findings, we suggest that the regulation of SPI1 expression is negatively controlled through degradation of the HilC and HilD transcriptional regulators by Lon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Takaya
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan.
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Hilbert DW, Piggot PJ. Compartmentalization of gene expression during Bacillus subtilis spore formation. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2004; 68:234-62. [PMID: 15187183 PMCID: PMC419919 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.68.2.234-262.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression in members of the family Bacillaceae becomes compartmentalized after the distinctive, asymmetrically located sporulation division. It involves complete compartmentalization of the activities of sporulation-specific sigma factors, sigma(F) in the prespore and then sigma(E) in the mother cell, and then later, following engulfment, sigma(G) in the prespore and then sigma(K) in the mother cell. The coupling of the activation of sigma(F) to septation and sigma(G) to engulfment is clear; the mechanisms are not. The sigma factors provide the bare framework of compartment-specific gene expression. Within each sigma regulon are several temporal classes of genes, and for key regulators, timing is critical. There are also complex intercompartmental regulatory signals. The determinants for sigma(F) regulation are assembled before septation, but activation follows septation. Reversal of the anti-sigma(F) activity of SpoIIAB is critical. Only the origin-proximal 30% of a chromosome is present in the prespore when first formed; it takes approximately 15 min for the rest to be transferred. This transient genetic asymmetry is important for prespore-specific sigma(F) activation. Activation of sigma(E) requires sigma(F) activity and occurs by cleavage of a prosequence. It must occur rapidly to prevent the formation of a second septum. sigma(G) is formed only in the prespore. SpoIIAB can block sigma(G) activity, but SpoIIAB control does not explain why sigma(G) is activated only after engulfment. There is mother cell-specific excision of an insertion element in sigK and sigma(E)-directed transcription of sigK, which encodes pro-sigma(K). Activation requires removal of the prosequence following a sigma(G)-directed signal from the prespore.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Hilbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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Lee AYL, Hsu CH, Wu SH. Functional domains of Brevibacillus thermoruber lon protease for oligomerization and DNA binding: role of N-terminal and sensor and substrate discrimination domains. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:34903-12. [PMID: 15181012 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m403562200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Lon protease is a multifunctional enzyme, and its functions include the degradation of damaged proteins and naturally short lived proteins, ATPase and chaperone-like activities, as well as DNA binding. A thermostable Lon protease from Brevibacillus thermoruber WR-249 (Bt-Lon) has been cloned and characterized with an N-terminal domain, a central ATPase domain that includes a sensor and substrate discrimination (SSD) domain, and a C-terminal protease domain. Here we present a detailed structure-function characterization of Bt-Lon, not only dissecting the individual roles of Bt-Lon domains in oligomerization, catalytic activities, chaperone-like activity, and DNA binding activity but also describing the nature of oligomerization. Seven truncated mutants of Bt-Lon were designed, expressed, and purified. Our results show that the N-terminal domain is essential for oligomerization. The truncation of the N-terminal domain resulted in the failure of oligomerization and led to the inactivation of proteolytic, ATPase, and chaperone-like activities but retained the DNA binding activity, suggesting that oligomerization of Bt-Lon is a prerequisite for its catalytic and chaperone-like activities. We further found that the SSD is involved in DNA binding based on gel mobility shift assays. On the other hand, the oligomerization of Bt-Lon proceeds through a dimer <--> tetramer <--> hexamer assembly model revealed by chemical cross-linking experiments. The results also showed that hydrophobic interactions may play important roles in the dimerization of Bt-Lon, and ionic interactions are mainly responsible for the assembly of hexamers.
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37
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Serrano M, Neves A, Soares CM, Moran CP, Henriques AO. Role of the anti-sigma factor SpoIIAB in regulation of sigmaG during Bacillus subtilis sporulation. J Bacteriol 2004; 186:4000-13. [PMID: 15175314 PMCID: PMC419951 DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.12.4000-4013.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2003] [Accepted: 02/16/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase sigma factor sigma(F) initiates the prespore-specific program of gene expression during Bacillus subtilis sporulation. sigma(F) governs transcription of spoIIIG, encoding the late prespore-specific regulator sigma(G). However, transcription of spoIIIG is delayed relative to other genes under the control of sigma(F), and after synthesis, sigma(G) is initially kept in an inactive form. Activation of sigma(G) requires the complete engulfment of the prespore by the mother cell and expression of the spoIIIA and spoIIIJ loci. We screened for random mutations in spoIIIG that bypassed the requirement for spoIIIA for the activation of sigma(G). We found a mutation (spoIIIGE156K) that resulted in an amino acid substitution at position 156, which is adjacent to the position of a mutation (E155K) previously shown to prevent interaction of SpoIIAB with sigma(G). Comparative modelling techniques and in vivo studies suggested that the spoIIIGE156K mutation interferes with the interaction of SpoIIAB with sigma(G). The sigma(GE156K) isoform restored sigma(G)-directed gene expression to spoIIIA mutant cells. However, expression of sspE-lacZ in the spoIIIA spoIIIGE156K double mutant was delayed relative to completion of the engulfment process and was not confined to the prespore. Rather, beta-galactosidase accumulated throughout the entire cell at late times in development. This suggests that the activity of sigma(GE156K) is still regulated in the prespore of a spoIIIA mutant, but not by SpoIIAB. In agreement with this suggestion, we also found that expression of spoIIIGE156K from the promoter for the early prespore-specific gene spoIIQ still resulted in sspE-lacZ induction at the normal time during sporulation, coincidently with completion of the engulfment process. In contrast, transcription of spoIIIGE156K, but not of the wild-type spoIIIG gene, from the mother cell-specific spoIID promoter permitted the rapid induction of sspE-lacZ expression. Together, the results suggest that SpoIIAB is either redundant or has no role in the regulation of sigma(G) in the prespore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Serrano
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, Apartado 127, 2781-901 Oeiras Codex, Portugal
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38
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Lee AYL, Tsay SS, Chen MY, Wu SH. Identification of a gene encoding Lon protease from Brevibacillus thermoruber WR-249 and biochemical characterization of its thermostable recombinant enzyme. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 271:834-44. [PMID: 14764100 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.03988.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A gene encoding thermostable Lon protease from Brevibacillus thermoruber WR-249 was cloned and characterized. The Br. thermoruber Lon gene (Bt-lon) encodes an 88 kDa protein characterized by an N-terminal domain, a central ATPase domain which includes an SSD (sensor- and substrate-discrimination) domain, and a C-terminal protease domain. The Bt-lon is a heat-inducible gene and may be controlled under a putative Bacillus subtilis sigmaA-dependent promoter, but in the absence of CIRCE (controlling inverted repeat of chaperone expression). Bt-lon was expressed in Escherichia coli, and its protein product was purified. The native recombinant Br. thermoruber Lon protease (Bt-Lon) displayed a hexameric structure. The optimal temperature of ATPase activity for Bt-Lon was 70 degrees C, and the optimal temperature of peptidase and DNA-binding activities was 50 degrees C. This implies that the functions of Lon protease in thermophilic bacteria may be switched, depending on temperature, to regulate their physiological needs. The peptidase activity of Bt-Lon increases substantially in the presence of ATP. Furthermore, the substrate specificity of Bt-Lon is different from that of E. coli Lon in using fluorogenic peptides as substrates. Notably, the Bt-Lon protein shows chaperone-like activity by preventing aggregation of denatured insulin B-chain in a dose-dependent and ATP-independent manner. In thermal denaturation experiments, Bt-Lon was found to display an indicator of thermostability value, Tm of 71.5 degrees C. Sequence comparison with mesophilic Lon proteases shows differences in the rigidity, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding of Bt-Lon relevant to thermostability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Y-L Lee
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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Abstract
Proteolysis by cytoplasmic, energy-dependent proteases plays a critical role in many regulatory circuits, keeping basal levels of regulatory proteins low and rapidly removing proteins when they are no longer needed. In bacteria, four families of energy-dependent proteases carry out degradation. In all of them, substrates are first recognized and bound by ATPase domains and then unfolded and translocated to a sequestered proteolytic chamber. Substrate selection depends not on ubiquitin but on intrinsic recognition signals within the proteins and, in some cases, on adaptor or effector proteins that participate in delivering the substrate to the protease. For some, the activity of these adaptors can be regulated, which results in regulated proteolysis. Recognition motifs for proteolysis are frequently found at the N and C termini of substrates. Proteolytic switches appear to be critical for cell cycle development in Caulobacter crescentus, for proper sporulation in Bacillus subtilis, and for the transition in and out of stationary phase in Escherichia coli. In eukaryotes, the same proteases are found in organelles, where they also play important roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Gottesman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4264, USA.
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40
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Lu B, Liu T, Crosby JA, Thomas-Wohlever J, Lee I, Suzuki CK. The ATP-dependent Lon protease of Mus musculus is a DNA-binding protein that is functionally conserved between yeast and mammals. Gene 2003; 306:45-55. [PMID: 12657466 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(03)00403-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The ATP-dependent Lon protease is a multi-functional enzyme that is conserved from archae to mammalian mitochondria, which not only degrades protein substrates but also binds DNA. As a starting point toward understanding Lon function in development, the mouse Lon cDNA was cloned and the encoded protein was characterized in cultured mammalian cells, in yeast and in vitro. Mouse Lon shows 87, 40 and 33% amino acid similarity with the human, yeast and bacterial homologs, respectively. Expression of a single mouse Lon transcript is detected in liver>heart>kidney>testis and is present during early embryonic development. Endogenous as well as transiently overexpressed mouse Lon co-localize with mitochondrial markers and have half-lives greater than 24 h as determined by pulse-chase studies. Enzymatically active mouse Lon that hydrolyses ATP and degrades protein and peptide substrates in an ATP-dependent manner also specifically binds to single-stranded but not to double-stranded DNA oligonucleotides. We propose that binding to TG-rich DNA sequences has been conserved between the mouse and human proteins. In addition, the evolutionary conservation of mitochondrial Lon function is demonstrated by the ability of mouse Lon to substitute for the yeast protein in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
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41
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Abstract
Cytoplasmic proteolysis is an indispensable process for proper function of a cell. Degradation of many intracellular proteins is initiated by ATP-dependent proteinases, which are involved in the regulation of the level of proteins with short half-lives. In addition, they remove many damaged and abnormal proteins and thus play also an important role during stress. ATP-dependent proteinases are large multi-subunit assemblies composed of proteolytic core domains and ATPase-containing regulatory domains on a single polypeptide chain or on distinct subunits, which can act as molecular chaperones. This review briefly summarizes the data about four main groups of these proteinases in bacteria (i.e. Lon, Clp family, HslUV and FtsH) and characterizes their structure, mechanism of action and properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Hlavácek
- Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 142 20 Prague, Czechia
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42
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Takaya A, Tomoyasu T, Tokumitsu A, Morioka M, Yamamoto T. The ATP-dependent lon protease of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium regulates invasion and expression of genes carried on Salmonella pathogenicity island 1. J Bacteriol 2002; 184:224-32. [PMID: 11741864 PMCID: PMC134781 DOI: 10.1128/jb.184.1.224-232.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
An early step in the pathogenesis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection is bacterial penetration of the intestinal epithelium. Penetration requires the expression of invasion genes found in Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1). These genes are controlled in a complex manner by regulators in SPI1, including HilA and InvF, and those outside SPI1, such as two-component regulatory systems and small DNA-binding proteins. We report here that the expression of invasion genes and the invasive phenotype of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium are negatively regulated by the ATP-dependent Lon protease, which is known to be a major contributor to proteolysis in Escherichia coli. A disrupted mutant of lon was able to efficiently invade cultured epithelial cells and showed increased production and secretion of three identified SPI1 proteins, SipA, SipC, and SipD. The lon mutant also showed a dramatic enhancement in transcription of the SPI1 genes hilA, invF, sipA, and sipC. The increases ranged from 10-fold to almost 40-fold. It is well known that the expression of SPI1 genes is also regulated in response to several environmental conditions. We found that the disruption of lon does not abolish the repression of hilA and sipC expression by high-oxygen or low-osmolarity conditions, suggesting that Lon represses SPI1 gene expression by a regulatory pathway independent of these environmental signals. Since HilA is thought to function as a central regulator of SPI1 gene expression, it is speculated that Lon may regulate SPI1 gene expression by proteolysis of putative factors required for activation of hilA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Takaya
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
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43
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Li Z, Piggot PJ. Development of a two-part transcription probe to determine the completeness of temporal and spatial compartmentalization of gene expression during bacterial development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98:12538-43. [PMID: 11606741 PMCID: PMC60089 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.221454798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2001] [Accepted: 08/28/2001] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a two-part test, using the Bacillus subtilis sacB/SacY transcription antitermination system, to evaluate the completeness of temporal and spatial compartmentalization of gene expression during bacterial cell development. Transcription of sacY(1-55) (encoding a constitutively active form of the antiterminator, SacY) is directed by one promoter, whereas transcription of sacB'-'lacZ (the target of SacY action) is directed by the same or another promoter. To obtain beta-galactosidase activity, SacY(1-55) needs to be present when sacB'-'lacZ is being transcribed. We tested the system by analyzing the spatial compartmentalization of the activities of RNA polymerase final sigma factors, which are tightly regulated during sporulation of B. subtilis: final sigma(F) and then final sigma(G) in the prespore, final sigma(E) and then final sigma(K) in the mother cell. We have confirmed that the activities of final sigma(F) and final sigma(E) are spatially compartmentalized. We have demonstrated that there is also sharp temporal compartmentalization, with little or no overlap in the activities of final sigma(F) and final sigma(G) or of final sigma(E) and final sigma(K). In contrast, we found no compartmentalization of the activity of the main vegetative factor, final sigma(A), which continued to be active alongside all of the sporulation-specific final sigma factors. We also found no temporal compartmentalization of expression of loci that are activated during the development of competent cells of B. subtilis, a developmental program distinct from spore formation. A possible mechanism to explain the temporal compartmentalization of final sigma(F) and final sigma(G) activities is that the anti-sigma factor SpoIIAB transfers from final sigma(G) to final sigma(F).
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3400 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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44
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Serrano M, Hövel S, Moran CP, Henriques AO, Völker U. Forespore-specific transcription of the lonB gene during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2001; 183:2995-3003. [PMID: 11325926 PMCID: PMC95198 DOI: 10.1128/jb.183.10.2995-3003.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis genome encodes two members of the Lon family of prokaryotic ATP-dependent proteases. One, LonA, is produced in response to temperature, osmotic, and oxidative stress and has also been implicated in preventing sigma(G) activity under nonsporulation conditions. The second is encoded by the lonB gene, which resides immediately upstream from lonA. Here we report that transcription of lonB occurs during sporulation under sigma(F) control and thus is restricted to the prespore compartment of sporulating cells. First, expression of a lonB-lacZ transcriptional fusion was abolished in strains unable to produce sigma(F) but remained unaffected upon disruption of the genes encoding the early and late mother cell regulators sigma(E) and sigma(K) or the late forespore regulator sigma(G). Second, the fluorescence of strains harboring a lonB-gfp fusion was confined to the prespore compartment and depended on sigma(F) production. Last, primer extension analysis of the lonB transcript revealed -10 and -35 sequences resembling the consensus sequence recognized by sigma(F)-containing RNA polymerase. We further show that the lonB message accumulated as a single monocistronic transcript during sporulation, synthesis of which required sigma(F) activity. Disruption of the lonB gene did not confer any discernible sporulation phenotype to otherwise wild-type cells, nor did expression of lonB from a multicopy plasmid. In contrast, expression of a fusion of the lonB promoter to the lonA gene severely reduced expression of the sigma(G)-dependent sspE gene and the frequency of sporulation. In confirmation of earlier observations, we found elevated levels of sigma(F)-dependent activity in a spoIIIE47 mutant, in which the lonB region of the chromosome is not translocated into the prespore. Expression of either lonB or the P(lonB)-lonA fusion from a plasmid in the spoIIIE47 mutant reduced sigma(F) -dependent activity to wild-type levels. The results suggest that both LonA and LonB can prevent abnormally high sigma(F) activity but that only LonA can negatively regulate sigma(G).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Serrano
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2781-901 Oeiras Codex, Portugal
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45
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Melly E, Setlow P. Heat shock proteins do not influence wet heat resistance of Bacillus subtilis spores. J Bacteriol 2001; 183:779-84. [PMID: 11133976 PMCID: PMC94938 DOI: 10.1128/jb.183.2.779-784.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spores of Bacillus subtilis are significantly more resistant to wet heat than are their vegetative cell counterparts. Analysis of the effects of mutations in and the expression of fusions of a coding gene for a thermostable beta-galactosidase to a number of heat shock genes has shown that heat shock proteins play no significant role in the wet heat resistance of B. subtilis spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Melly
- University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06032, USA
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46
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Prágai Z, Harwood CR. YsxC, a putative GTP-binding protein essential for growth of Bacillus subtilis 168. J Bacteriol 2000; 182:6819-23. [PMID: 11073929 PMCID: PMC111427 DOI: 10.1128/jb.182.23.6819-6823.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
YsxC is a member of a family of GTP-binding proteins carried by a diverse range of organisms from bacteria to yeasts, plants, and humans. To resolve the issue of whether ysxC of Bacillus subtilis is essential for growth, we attempted to construct mutants in which ysxC was either inactivated or placed under the control of an inducible promoter. Viable mutants were obtained only in the latter case, and these were inducer dependent, demonstrating unambiguously that ysxC is an essential gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Prágai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
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47
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Beloin C, Exley R, Mahé AL, Zouine M, Cubasch S, Le Hégarat F. Characterization of LrpC DNA-binding properties and regulation of Bacillus subtilis lrpC gene expression. J Bacteriol 2000; 182:4414-24. [PMID: 10913073 PMCID: PMC94611 DOI: 10.1128/jb.182.16.4414-4424.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The lrpC gene was identified during the Bacillus subtilis genome sequencing project. Previous experiments suggested that LrpC has a role in sporulation and in the regulation of amino acid metabolism and that it shares features with Escherichia coli Lrp, a transcription regulator (C. Beloin, S. Ayora, R. Exley, L. Hirschbein, N. Ogasawara, Y. Kasahara, J. C. Alonso, and F. Le Hégarat, Mol. Gen. Genet. 256:63-71, 1997). To characterize the interactions of LrpC with DNA, the protein was overproduced and purified. We show that LrpC binds to multiple sites in the upstream region of its own gene with a stronger affinity for a region encompassing P1, one of the putative promoters identified (P1 and P2). By analyzing lrpC-lacZ transcriptional fusions, we demonstrated that P1 is the major in vivo promoter and that, unlike many members of the lrp/asnC family, lrpC is not negatively autoregulated but rather slightly positively autoregulated. Production of LrpC in vivo is low in both rich and minimal media (50 to 300 LrpC molecules per cell). In rich medium, the cellular LrpC content is six- to sevenfold lower during the exponentional phase than during the stationary growth phase. Possible determinants and the biological significance of the regulation of lrpC expression are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Beloin
- Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie, Université Paris XI, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France
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48
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Wakeley P, Hoa NT, Cutting S. BofC negatively regulates SpoIVB-mediated signalling in the Bacillus subtilis sigmaK-checkpoint. Mol Microbiol 2000; 36:1415-24. [PMID: 10931291 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2000.01962.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The BofC protein acts negatively on intercompartmental signalling of pro-sigma(K) processing in the sigma(K)-checkpoint of Bacillus subtilis. Signalling is brought about by the SpoIVB protein, which is synthesized in the forespore and initiates proteolytic processing of pro-sigmaK to its mature and active form in the opposed mother cell chamber of the developing cell. We have shown here that BofC, like SpoIVB, is secreted across the inner forespore membrane and, from the analysis of a bofC deletion and insertion mutant, is likely to interact with SpoIVB. In the absence of BofC, the amount of SpoIVB found in sporulating cells is substantially reduced, although SpoIVB is still able to activate proteolysis of pro-sigma(K). Conversely, in the absence of SpoIVB, the levels of BofC accumulate suggesting that the fate of each molecule is dependent upon their mutual interaction. Our results suggest that BofC could maintain SpoIVB in a stable but inactive form. Supporting this, we have shown that overproduction of BofC inhibits SpoIVB autoproteolysis and leads to a delay in proteolytic cleavage of pro-sigma(K). Based on our work here, we have proposed a model for BofC's functional role in intercompartmental signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Wakeley
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
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49
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Summers ML, Botero LM, Busse SC, McDermott TR. The ++Sinorhizobium meliloti lon protease is involved in regulating exopolysaccharide synthesis and is required for nodulation of alfalfa. J Bacteriol 2000; 182:2551-8. [PMID: 10762258 PMCID: PMC111320 DOI: 10.1128/jb.182.9.2551-2558.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
While screening for Sinorhizobium meliloti Pho regulatory mutants, a transposon mutant was isolated that constitutively expressed higher levels of acid and alkaline phosphatase enzymes. This mutant was also found to form pseudonodules on alfalfa that were delayed in appearance relative to those formed by the wild-type strain, it contained few bacteroids, and it did not fix nitrogen. Sequence analysis of the transposon insertion site revealed the affected gene to have high homology to Lon proteases from a number of organisms. In minimal succinate medium, the mutant strain was found to grow more slowly, reach lower maximal optical density, and produce more extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) than the wild-type strain. The mutant fluoresced brightly on minimal succinate agar containing calcofluor (which binds to EPSI, a constitutively expressed succinoglycan), and gas chromotographic analysis of purified total EPS showed that the glucose-to-galactose ratio in the lon mutant total EPS was 5.0 +/- 0.2 (mean +/- standard error), whereas the glucose-to-galactose ratio in the wild-type strain was 7.1 +/- 0.5. These data suggested that in addition to EPSI, the lon mutant also constitutively synthesized EPSII, a galactoglucan which is the second major EPS known to be produced by S. meliloti, but typically is expressed only under conditions of phosphate limitation. (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed no major differences between EPS purified from the mutant and wild-type strains. Normal growth, EPS production, and the symbiotic phenotype were restored in the mutant strain when the wild-type lon gene was present in trans. The results of this study suggest that the S. meliloti Lon protease is important for controlling turnover of a constitutively expressed protein(s) that, when unregulated, disrupts normal nodule formation and normal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Summers
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA
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Robertson GT, Kovach ME, Allen CA, Ficht TA, Roop RM. The Brucella abortus Lon functions as a generalized stress response protease and is required for wild-type virulence in BALB/c mice. Mol Microbiol 2000; 35:577-88. [PMID: 10672180 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2000.01726.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The gene encoding a Lon protease homologue has been cloned from Brucella abortus. The putative Brucella abortus Lon shares > 60% amino acid identity with its Escherichia coli counterpart and the recombinant form of this protein restores the capacity of an Escherichia coli lon mutant to resist killing by ultraviolet irradiation and regulate the expression of a cpsB:lacZ fusion to wild-type levels. A sigma32 type promoter was identified upstream of the predicted lon coding region and Northern analysis revealed that transcription of the native Brucella abortus lon increases in response to heat shock and other environmental stresses. ATP-dependent proteolytic activity was also demonstrated for purified recombinant Lon. To evaluate the capacity of the Brucella abortus Lon homologue to function as a stress response protease, the majority of the lon coding region was removed from virulent strain Brucella abortus 2308 via allelic exchange. In contrast to the parent strain, the Brucella abortus lon mutant, designated GR106, was impaired in its capacity to form isolated colonies on solid medium at 41 degrees C and displayed an increased sensitivity to killing by puromycin and H2O2. GR106 also displayed reduced survival in cultured murine macrophages and significant attenuation in BALB/c mice at 1 week post infection compared with the virulent parental strain. Beginning at 2 weeks and continuing for 6 weeks post infection, however, GR106 and 2308 displayed equivalent spleen and liver colonization levels in mice. These findings suggest that the Brucella abortus Lon homologue functions as a stress response protease that is required for wild-type virulence during the initial stages of infection in the mouse model, but is not essential for the establishment and maintenance of chronic infection in this host.
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Affiliation(s)
- G T Robertson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130-3932, USA
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