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Chatterjee A, Acharjee A, Das S, Datta PP. Deletion analyses reveal insights into the domain specific activities of an essential GTPase CgtA in Vibrio cholerae. Arch Biochem Biophys 2019; 665:143-151. [PMID: 30894284 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
CgtA is an essential bacterial GTPase protein involved in multiple cellular activities. In the presence of 50S ribosome, its GTPase activity increases significantly. Through sequential deletions of CgtA protein of Vibrio cholerae (CgtAvc) we found that its N terminal Obg domain is essential for ribosome binding and augmenting the ribosome mediated GTPase activity. Strategic deletions of the three glycine rich loops of Obg domain revealed that loop 1 of Obg domain is involved in anchoring the protein into the 50S, whereas, loop 2 & loop 3 are involved in conveying the effect of interaction of the Obg domain with the 50S to the GTPase domain through an interdomain linker, followed by GTP hydrolysis. On the other hand, the non-conserved C-terminal domain (CTD) is not directly involved in ribosome binding but shows negative impact on GTPase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Chatterjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia, 741246, West Bengal, India; Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, P-33, C.I.T. Road, Scheme XM, Beliaghata, P.O. Box-177, Kolkata, 700 010, West Bengal, India
| | - Arita Acharjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia, 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Sagarika Das
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia, 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Partha P Datta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia, 741246, West Bengal, India.
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2
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Jerry R, Sullivan-Brown J, Yoder MD. GTP binding protein 10 is a member of the OBG family of proteins and is differentially expressed in the early Xenopus embryo. Gene Expr Patterns 2019; 32:12-17. [PMID: 30831265 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Razhan Jerry
- Sciences Division, Brandywine Campus, The Pennsylvania State University, Media, PA, 19063, USA
| | | | - Michael D Yoder
- Sciences Division, Brandywine Campus, The Pennsylvania State University, Media, PA, 19063, USA.
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3
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Shao W, Zhang Y, Wang J, Lv C, Chen C. BcMtg2 is required for multiple stress tolerance, vegetative development and virulence in Botrytis cinerea. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28673. [PMID: 27346661 PMCID: PMC4921815 DOI: 10.1038/srep28673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Mtg2 gene encodes the Obg protein, which has an important function in assembling ribosomal subunits. However, little is known about the role of the Obg GTPase in filamentous fungi. In this study, we identified an Mtg2 ortholog, BcMtg2, in B. cinerea. The BcMtg2 deletion mutant showed a defect in spore production, conidial germination and sclerotial formation. Additionally, the mutant increased sensitivity to various environmental stresses. The BcMtg2 mutant exhibited dramatically decreased virulence on host plant tissues. BcMtg2 mutant showed increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses, and to Congo red (cell wall stress agent). In the yeast complement assay, growth defects of yeast BY4741ΔMTG2 mutant were partly restored by genetic complementation of BcMtg2 under these environmental stresses. Additionally, compared with the parental strain and complement strain, the BcMtg2 deletion mutant displayed a minor glycerol response to osmosis stress. These defective phenotypes were recovered in the complement strain ΔBcMtg2C, which was created by adding the wild-type BcMtg2 gene to the ΔBcMtg2 mutant. The results of this study indicate that BcMtg2 has a necessary role in asexual development, environmental stress response and pathogenicity in B. cinerea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyong Shao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jin Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Chiyuan Lv
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Changjun Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
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4
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Ghosh A, Dutta D, Bandyopadhyay K, Parrack P. Characterization of the autophosphorylation property of HflX, a ribosome-binding GTPase from Escherichia coli. FEBS Open Bio 2016; 6:651-9. [PMID: 27398305 PMCID: PMC4932445 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli HflX belongs to the widely distributed but poorly characterized HflX family of translation factor‐related GTPases that is conserved from bacteria to humans. A 426‐residue polypeptide that binds 50S ribosomes and has both GTPase and ATPase activities, HflX also exhibits autophosphorylation activity. We show that HflX(C), a C‐terminal fragment of HflX, has an enhanced autophosphorylation activity compared to the full‐length protein. Using a chemical stability assay and thin layer chromatography, we have determined that phosphorylation occurs at a serine residue. Each of the nine serine residues of HflX(C) was mutated to alanine. It was found that all but S211A retained autophosphorylation activity, suggesting that S211, located in the P‐loop, was the likely site for autophosphorylation. While the S211A mutant lacked the autophosphorylation site, it possessed strong GTP binding and GTPase activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Ghosh
- Department of Biochemistry Bose Institute Kolkata India
| | - Dipak Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry Bose Institute KolkataIndia; Present address: CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology Sector 39A Chandigarh 160036 India
| | - Kaustav Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry Bose Institute KolkataIndia; Present address: Department of Plant Biology The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Ardmore OK USA
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5
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Bonventre JA, Zielke RA, Korotkov KV, Sikora AE. Targeting an Essential GTPase Obg for the Development of Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148222. [PMID: 26848972 PMCID: PMC4743925 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A promising new drug target for the development of novel broad-spectrum antibiotics is the highly conserved small GTPase Obg (YhbZ, CgtA), a protein essential for the survival of all bacteria including Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC). GC is the agent of gonorrhea, a prevalent sexually transmitted disease resulting in serious consequences on reproductive and neonatal health. A preventive anti-gonorrhea vaccine does not exist, and options for effective antibiotic treatments are increasingly limited. To address the dire need for alternative antimicrobial strategies, we have designed and optimized a 384-well GTPase assay to identify inhibitors of Obg using as a model Obg protein from GC, ObgGC. The assay was validated with a pilot screen of 40,000 compounds and achieved an average Z’ value of 0.58 ± 0.02, which suggests a robust assay amenable to high-throughput screening. We developed secondary assessments for identified lead compounds that utilize the interaction between ObgGC and fluorescent guanine nucleotide analogs, mant-GTP and mant-GDP, and an ObgGC variant with multiple alterations in the G-domains that prevent nucleotide binding. To evaluate the broad-spectrum potential of ObgGC inhibitors, Obg proteins of Klebsiella pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were assessed using the colorimetric and fluorescence-based activity assays. These approaches can be useful in identifying broad-spectrum Obg inhibitors and advancing the therapeutic battle against multidrug resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine A. Bonventre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97330, United States of America
| | - Ryszard A. Zielke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97330, United States of America
| | - Konstantin V. Korotkov
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, and Center for Structural Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, United States of America
| | - Aleksandra E. Sikora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97330, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zielke RA, Wierzbicki IH, Baarda BI, Sikora AE. The Neisseria gonorrhoeae Obg protein is an essential ribosome-associated GTPase and a potential drug target. BMC Microbiol 2015; 15:129. [PMID: 26122105 PMCID: PMC4487204 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-015-0453-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) is a Gram-negative pathogen that most commonly infects mucosal surfaces, causing sexually transmitted urethritis in men and endocervicitis in women. Serious complications associated with these infections are frequent and include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. The incidence of gonorrhea cases remains high globally while antibiotic treatment options, the sole counter measures against gonorrhea, are declining due to the remarkable ability of GC to acquire resistance. Evaluating of potential drug targets is essential to provide opportunities for developing antimicrobials with new mechanisms of action. We propose the GC Obg protein, belonging to the Obg/CgtA GTPase subfamily, as a potential target for the development of therapeutic interventions against gonorrhea, and in this study perform its initial functional and biochemical characterization. Results We report that NGO1990 encodes Obg protein, which is an essential factor for GC viability, associates predominantly with the large 50S ribosomal subunit, and is stably expressed under conditions relevant to infection of the human host. The anti-Obg antisera cross-reacts with a panel of contemporary GC clinical isolates, demonstrating the ubiquitous nature of Obg. The cellular levels of Obg reach a maximum in the early logarithmic phase and remain constant throughout bacterial growth. The in vitro binding and hydrolysis of the fluorescent guanine nucleotide analogs mant-GTP and mant-GDP by recombinant wild type and T192AT193A mutated variants of Obg are also assessed. Conclusions Characterization of the GC Obg at the molecular and functional levels presented herein may facilitate the future targeting of this protein with small molecule inhibitors and the evaluation of identified lead compounds for bactericidal activity against GC and other drug-resistant bacteria. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-015-0453-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryszard A Zielke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 433 Weniger Hall, 103 SW Memorial Pl, Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA.
| | - Igor H Wierzbicki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 433 Weniger Hall, 103 SW Memorial Pl, Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA.
| | - Benjamin I Baarda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 433 Weniger Hall, 103 SW Memorial Pl, Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA.
| | - Aleksandra E Sikora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 433 Weniger Hall, 103 SW Memorial Pl, Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA.
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Guilfoyle AP, Deshpande CN, Vincent K, Pedroso MM, Schenk G, Maher MJ, Jormakka M. Structural and functional analysis of a FeoB A143S G5 loop mutant explains the accelerated GDP release rate. FEBS J 2014; 281:2254-65. [PMID: 24649829 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
GTPases (G proteins) hydrolyze the conversion of GTP to GDP and free phosphate, comprising an integral part of prokaryotic and eukaryotic signaling, protein biosynthesis and cell division, as well as membrane transport processes. The G protein cycle is brought to a halt after GTP hydrolysis, and requires the release of GDP before a new cycle can be initiated. For eukaryotic heterotrimeric Gαβγ proteins, the interaction with a membrane-bound G protein-coupled receptor catalyzes the release of GDP from the Gα subunit. Structural and functional studies have implicated one of the nucleotide binding sequence motifs, the G5 motif, as playing an integral part in this release mechanism. Indeed, a Gαs G5 mutant (A366S) was shown to have an accelerated GDP release rate, mimicking a G protein-coupled receptor catalyzed release state. In the present study, we investigate the role of the equivalent residue in the G5 motif (residue A143) in the prokaryotic membrane protein FeoB from Streptococcus thermophilus, which includes an N-terminal soluble G protein domain. The structure of this domain has previously been determined in the apo and GDP-bound states and in the presence of a transition state analogue, revealing conformational changes in the G5 motif. The A143 residue was mutated to a serine and analyzed with respect to changes in GTPase activity, nucleotide release rate, GDP affinity and structural alterations. We conclude that the identity of the residue at this position in the G5 loop plays a key role in the nucleotide release rate by allowing the correct positioning and hydrogen bonding of the nucleotide base.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy P Guilfoyle
- Structural Biology Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Pérez-Arellano I, Spínola-Amilibia M, Bravo J. Human Drg1 is a potassium-dependent GTPase enhanced by Lerepo4. FEBS J 2013; 280:3647-57. [PMID: 23711155 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Human Drg1, a guanine nucleotide binding protein conserved in archaea and eukaryotes, is regulated by Lerepo4. Together they form a complex which interacts with translating ribosomes. Here we have purified and characterized the GTPase activity of Drg1 and three variants, a shortened mutant depleted of the TGS domain, a phosphomimicking mutant and a construct with the two combined mutations. Our data reveal that potassium strongly stimulates the GTPase activity, without changing the monomeric status of Drg1 and that this activity is notably reduced in the mutants. The nature of Lerepo4 association has also been investigated. Dissecting the role of the different domains revealed that Dfrp domain is the sole responsible for the Drg1 increase in thermal stability and the four fold stimulation over its catalytic activity. Lerepo4 action leaves Drg1 affinity for nucleotides unaffected, feasibly favoring a switch I reorientation, mainly via the TGS domain. Drg1 displayed a high temperature optimum of activity at 42°C, suggesting the ability of being active under possible heat stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Pérez-Arellano
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain
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9
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Kint C, Verstraeten N, Hofkens J, Fauvart M, Michiels J. Bacterial Obg proteins: GTPases at the nexus of protein and DNA synthesis. Crit Rev Microbiol 2013; 40:207-24. [PMID: 23537324 DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2013.776510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Obg proteins (also known as ObgE, YhbZ and CgtA) are conserved P-loop GTPases, essential for growth in bacteria. Like other GTPases, Obg proteins cycle between a GTP-bound ON and a GDP-bound OFF state, thereby controlling cellular processes. Interestingly, the in vitro biochemical properties of Obg proteins suggest that they act as sensors for the cellular GDP/GTP pools and adjust their activity according to the cellular energy status. Obg proteins have been attributed a host of cellular functions, including roles in essential cellular processes (DNA replication, ribosome maturation) and roles in different stress adaptation pathways (stringent response, sporulation, general stress response). This review summarizes the current knowledge on Obg activity and function. Furthermore, we present a model that integrates the different functions of Obg by assigning it a fundamental role in cellular physiology, at the hub of protein and DNA synthesis. In particular, we believe that Obg proteins might provide a connection between different global pathways in order to fine-tune cellular processes in response to a given energy status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrielle Kint
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven - University of Leuven , Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee , Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee and
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10
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Francis SM, Gas ME, Daugeron MC, Bravo J, Séraphin B. Rbg1-Tma46 dimer structure reveals new functional domains and their role in polysome recruitment. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:11100-14. [PMID: 23002146 PMCID: PMC3510508 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmentally Regulated GTP-binding (DRG) proteins are highly conserved GTPases that associate with DRG Family Regulatory Proteins (DFRP). The resulting complexes have recently been shown to participate in eukaryotic translation. The structure of the Rbg1 GTPase, a yeast DRG protein, in complex with the C-terminal region of its DFRP partner, Tma46, was solved by X-ray diffraction. These data reveal that DRG proteins are multimodular factors with three additional domains, helix–turn–helix (HTH), S5D2L and TGS, packing against the GTPase platform. Surprisingly, the S5D2L domain is inserted in the middle of the GTPase sequence. In contrast, the region of Tma46 interacting with Rbg1 adopts an extended conformation typical of intrinsically unstructured proteins and contacts the GTPase and TGS domains. Functional analyses demonstrate that the various domains of Rbg1, as well as Tma46, modulate the GTPase activity of Rbg1 and contribute to the function of these proteins in vivo. Dissecting the role of the different domains revealed that the Rbg1 TGS domain is essential for the recruitment of this factor in polysomes, supporting further the implication of these conserved factors in translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrea M Francis
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Calle Jaime Roig, 11, Valencia E-46010, Spain
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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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Sasindran SJ, Saikolappan S, Scofield VL, Dhandayuthapani S. Biochemical and physiological characterization of the GTP-binding protein Obg of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. BMC Microbiol 2011; 11:43. [PMID: 21352546 PMCID: PMC3056739 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-11-43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2010] [Accepted: 02/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obg is a highly conserved GTP-binding protein that has homologues in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. In bacteria, Obg proteins are essential for growth, and they participate in spore formation, stress adaptation, ribosome assembly and chromosomal partitioning. This study was undertaken to investigate the biochemical and physiological characteristics of Obg in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis in humans. RESULTS We overexpressed M. tuberculosis Obg in Escherichia coli and then purified the protein. This protein binds to, hydrolyzes and is phosphorylated with GTP. An anti-Obg antiserum, raised against the purified Obg, detects a 55 kDa protein in immunoblots of M. tuberculosis extracts. Immunoblotting also discloses that cultured M. tuberculosis cells contain increased amounts of Obg in the late log phase and in the stationary phase. Obg is also associated with ribosomes in M. tuberculosis, and it is distributed to all three ribosomal fractions (30 S, 50 S and 70 S). Finally, yeast two-hybrid analysis reveals that Obg interacts with the stress protein UsfX, indicating that M. tuberculosis Obg, like other bacterial Obgs, is a stress related protein. CONCLUSIONS Although its GTP-hydrolyzing and phosphorylating activities resemble those of other bacterial Obg homologues, M. tuberculosis Obg differs from them in these respects: (a) preferential association with the bacterial membrane; (b) association with all three ribosomal subunits, and (c) binding to the stress protein UsfX, rather than to RelA. Generation of mutant alleles of Obg of M. tuberculosis, and their characterization in vivo, may provide additional insights regarding its role in this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha J Sasindran
- Regional Academic Health Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Edinburg, Texas 78541, USA
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Meena LS, Rajni. Cloning and characterization of engA, a GTP-binding protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv. Biologicals 2011; 39:94-9. [PMID: 21330151 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2011.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2010] [Revised: 01/17/2011] [Accepted: 01/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanine nucleotides are key signaling molecules and many members of the G-protein family bind and hydrolyze nucleotides, particularly GTP, and regulate intracellular level of GTP and GDP. EngA is one of the members of these universally conserved GTPases. Amino acid sequence alignment of EngA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv with other homologous bacterial proteins have shown that EngA of M. tuberculosis H(37)Rv has significant homology with EngA of other bacteria. EngA protein has shown GTP-binding and GTP hydrolysis activities as intrinsic biochemical properties of protein and this serves as a base to further investigate the physiological significance of this protein in the pathogenesis mechanism of M. tuberculosis H(37)Rv. In this paper for the first time EngA GTP-binding protein of M. tuberculosis H(37)Rv was functionally characterized for its GTPase and GTP-hydrolyzing activity. GTPases such as era, obg, lepA, and FtsZ are vital for growth and development and specifically cellular functions of bacteria, in view of these observations it can be concluded that EngA GTPase can be further utilized for the study of its functional role in the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis H(37)Rv.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laxman S Meena
- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India.
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14
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Hung KW, Chang YW, Eng ET, Chen JH, Chen YC, Sun YJ, Hsiao CD, Dong G, Spasov KA, Unger VM, Huang TH. Structural fold, conservation and Fe(II) binding of the intracellular domain of prokaryote FeoB. J Struct Biol 2010; 170:501-12. [PMID: 20123128 PMCID: PMC2946837 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2010.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2009] [Revised: 01/26/2010] [Accepted: 01/27/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
FeoB is a G-protein coupled membrane protein essential for Fe(II) uptake in prokaryotes. Here, we report the crystal structures of the intracellular domain of FeoB (NFeoB) from Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpNFeoB) and Pyrococcus furiosus (PfNFeoB) with and without bound ligands. In the structures, a canonical G-protein domain (G domain) is followed by a helical bundle domain (S-domain), which despite its lack of sequence similarity between species is structurally conserved. In the nucleotide-free state, the G-domain's two switch regions point away from the binding site. This gives rise to an open binding pocket whose shallowness is likely to be responsible for the low nucleotide-binding affinity. Nucleotide binding induced significant conformational changes in the G5 motif which in the case of GMPPNP binding was accompanied by destabilization of the switch I region. In addition to the structural data, we demonstrate that Fe(II)-induced foot printing cleaves the protein close to a putative Fe(II)-binding site at the tip of switch I, and we identify functionally important regions within the S-domain. Moreover, we show that NFeoB exists as a monomer in solution, and that its two constituent domains can undergo large conformational changes. The data show that the S-domain plays important roles in FeoB function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Wei Hung
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Edward T. Eng
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jai-Hui Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Chung Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yuh-Ju Sun
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chwan-Deng Hsiao
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Gang Dong
- Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
| | - Krasimir A. Spasov
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Vinzenz M. Unger
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Tai-huang Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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16
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Chigri F, Sippel C, Kolb M, Vothknecht UC. Arabidopsis OBG-like GTPase (AtOBGL) is localized in chloroplasts and has an essential function in embryo development. MOLECULAR PLANT 2009; 2:1373-83. [PMID: 19995735 DOI: 10.1093/mp/ssp073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
OBG-like GTPases, a subfamily of P-loop GTPases, have divers and important functions in bacteria, including initiation of sporulation, DNA replication, and protein translation. Homologs of the Bacillus subtilis spo0B GTP-binding protein (OBG) can be found in plants and algae but their specific function in these organisms has not yet been elucidated. Here, it is shown that AT5G18570 encodes an Arabidopsis thaliana OBG-like protein (AtOBGL) that is localized in chloroplasts. In contrast to the bacterial members of this protein family, AtOBGL and other OBG-like proteins from green algae and plants possess an additional N-terminal domain, indicating functional adaptation. Disruption of the gene locus of ATOBGL by TDNA insertion resulted in an embryo-lethal phenotype and light microscopy using Normarski optics revealed that embryo maturation in the atobgl mutant is arrested at the late globular stage before development of a green embryo. Expression of 35S::ATOBGL within the atobgl mutant background could rescue the mutant phenotype, confirming that embryo-lethality is caused by the loss of AtOBGL. Together, the data show that the bacterial-derived OBG-like GTPases have retained an essential role in chloroplasts of plants and algae. They furthermore corroborate the significance of chloroplast functions for embryo development - an important stage within the Arabidopsis lifecycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Chigri
- Center for Integrated Protein Science (Munich), Department of Biology, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
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17
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Persky NS, Ferullo DJ, Cooper DL, Moore HR, Lovett ST. The ObgE/CgtA GTPase influences the stringent response to amino acid starvation in Escherichia coli. Mol Microbiol 2009; 73:253-66. [PMID: 19555460 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06767.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The stringent response is important for bacterial survival under stressful conditions, such as amino acid starvation, and is characterized by the accumulation of ppGpp and pppGpp. ObgE (CgtA, YhbZ) is an essential conserved GTPase in Escherichia coli and several observations have implicated the protein in the control of the stringent response. However, consequences of the protein on specific responses to amino acid starvation have not been noted. We show that ObgE binds to ppGpp with biologically relevant affinity in vitro, implicating ppGpp as an in vivo ligand of ObgE. ObgE mutants increase the ratio of pppGpp to ppGpp within the cell during the stringent response. These changes are correlated with a delayed inhibition of DNA replication by the stringent response, delayed resumption of DNA replication after release, as well as a decreased survival after amino acid deprivation. With these data, we place ObgE as an active effector of the response to amino acid starvation in vivo. Our data correlate the pppGpp/ppGpp ratio with DNA replication control under bacterial starvation conditions, suggesting a possible role for the relative balance of these two nucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S Persky
- Department of Biology and Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
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18
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O'Connell A, Robin G, Kobe B, Botella JR. Biochemical characterization of Arabidopsis developmentally regulated G-proteins (DRGs). Protein Expr Purif 2009; 67:88-95. [PMID: 19460440 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2009.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2009] [Revised: 05/07/2009] [Accepted: 05/12/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Developmentally regulated G-proteins (DRGs) are a highly conserved family of GTP-binding proteins found in archaea, plants, fungi and animals, indicating important roles in fundamental pathways. Their function is poorly understood, but they have been implicated in cell division, proliferation, and growth, as well as several medical conditions. Individual subfamilies within the G-protein superfamily possess unique nucleotide binding and hydrolysis rates that are intrinsic to their cellular function, and so characterization of these rates for a particular G-protein may provide insight into its cellular activity. We have produced recombinant active DRG protein using a bacterial expression system and refolding, and performed biochemical characterization of their GTP binding and hydrolysis. We show that recombinant Arabidopsis thaliana atDRG1 and atDRG2a are able to bind GDP and GTP. We also show that DRGs can hydrolyze GTP in vitro without the assistance of GTPase-activating proteins and guanine exchange factors. The atDRG proteins hydrolyze GTP at a relatively slow rate (0.94x10(-3)min(-1) for DRG1 and 1.36x10(-3)min(-1) for DRG2) that is consistent with their nearest characterized relatives, the Obg subfamily. The ability of DRGs to bind nucleotide substrates without assistance, their slow rate of GTP hydrolysis, heat stress activation and domain conservation suggest a possible role as a chaperone in ribosome assembly in response to stress as it has been suggested for the Obg proteins, a different but related G-protein subfamily.
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19
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Polkinghorne A, Ziegler U, González-Hernández Y, Pospischil A, Timms P, Vaughan L. Chlamydophila pneumoniae HflX belongs to an uncharacterized family of conserved GTPases and associates with the Escherichia coli 50S large ribosomal subunit. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2008; 154:3537-3546. [PMID: 18957606 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.2008/022137-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Predicted members of the HflX subfamily of phosphate-binding-loop guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) are widely distributed in the bacterial kingdom but remain virtually uncharacterized. In an attempt to understand mechanisms used for regulation of growth and development in the chlamydiae, obligate intracellular and developmentally complex bacteria, we have begun investigations into chlamydial GTPases; we report here what appears to be the first analysis of a HflX family GTPase using a predicted homologue from Chlamydophila pneumoniae. In agreement with phylogenetic predictions for members of this GTPase family, purified recombinant Cp. pneumoniae HflX was specific for guanine nucleotides and exhibited a slow intrinsic GTPase activity when incubated with [gamma-(32)P]GTP. Using HflX-specific monoclonal antibodies, HflX could be detected by Western blotting and high-resolution confocal microscopy throughout the vegetative growth cycle of Cp. pneumoniae and, at early time points, appeared to partly localize to the membrane. Ectopic expression of Cp. pneumoniae HflX in Escherichia coli revealed co-sedimentation of HflX with the E. coli 50S large ribosomal subunit. The results of this work open up some intriguing possibilities for the role of GTPases belonging to this previously uncharacterized family of bacterial GTPases. Ribosome association is a feature shared by other important conserved GTPase families and more detailed investigations will be required to delineate the role of HflX in bacterial ribosome function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Polkinghorne
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Urs Ziegler
- Institute of Anatomy and Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Andreas Pospischil
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Peter Timms
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lloyd Vaughan
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
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20
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The growth-promoting and stress response activities of the Bacillus subtilis GTP binding protein Obg are separable by mutation. J Bacteriol 2008; 190:6625-35. [PMID: 18689482 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00799-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis Obg is a ribosome-associating GTP binding protein that is needed for growth, sporulation, and induction of the bacterium's general stress regulon (GSR). It is unclear whether the roles of Obg in sporulation and stress responsiveness are direct or a secondary effect of its growth-promoting functions. The present work addresses this question by an analysis of two obg alleles whose phenotypes argue for direct roles for Obg in each process. The first allele [obg(G92D)] encodes a missense change in the protein's highly conserved "obg fold" region. This mutation impairs cell growth and the ability of Obg to associate with ribosomes but fails to block sporulation or the induction of the GSR. The second obg mutation [obg(Delta22)] replaces the 22-amino-acid carboxy-terminal sequence of Obg with an alternative 26-amino-acid sequence. This Obg variant cofractionates with ribosomes and allows normal growth but blocks sporulation and impairs the induction of the GSR. Additional experiments revealed that the block on sporulation occurs early, preventing the activation of the essential sporulation transcription factor Spo0A, while inhibition of the GSR appears to involve a failure of the protein cascade that normally activates the GSR to effectively catalyze the reactions needed to activate the GSR transcription factor (sigma(B)).
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21
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Gradia DF, Rau K, Umaki ACS, de Souza FSP, Probst CM, Correa A, Holetz FB, Avila AR, Krieger MA, Goldenberg S, Fragoso SP. Characterization of a novel Obg-like ATPase in the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Parasitol 2008; 39:49-58. [PMID: 18713637 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2008] [Revised: 05/12/2008] [Accepted: 05/29/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We characterized a gene encoding an YchF-related protein, TcYchF, potentially associated with the protein translation machinery of Trypanosoma cruzi. YchF belongs to the translation factor-related (TRAFAC) class of P-loop NTPases. The coding region of the gene is 1185bp long and encodes a 44.3kDa protein. BlastX searches showed TcYchF to be very similar (45-86%) to putative GTP-binding proteins from eukaryotes, including some species of trypanosomatids (Leishmania major and Trypanosoma brucei). A lower but significant level of similarity (38-43%) was also found between the predicted sequences of TcYchF and bacterial YyaF/YchF GTPases of the Spo0B-associated GTP-binding protein (Obg) family. Some of the most important features of the G domain of this family of GTPases are conserved in TcYchF. However, we found that TcYchF preferentially hydrolyzed ATP rather than GTP. The function of YyaF/YchF is unknown, but other members of the Obg family are known to be associated with ribosomal subunits. Immunoblots of the polysome fraction from sucrose gradients showed that TcYchF was associated with ribosomal subunits and polysomes. Immunoprecipitation assays showed that TcYchF was also associated with the proteasome of T. cruzi. Furthermore, inactivation of the T. brucei homolog of TcYchF by RNA interference inhibited the growth of procyclic forms of the parasite. These data suggest that this protein plays an important role in the translation machinery of trypanosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela F Gradia
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Paraná, Brasil
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22
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Loh PC, Morimoto T, Matsuo Y, Oshima T, Ogasawara N. The GTP-binding protein YqeH participates in biogenesis of the 30S ribosome subunit in Bacillus subtilis. Genes Genet Syst 2008; 82:281-9. [PMID: 17895579 DOI: 10.1266/ggs.82.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial genome sequencing has revealed a novel family of P-loop GTPases that are often essential for growth. Accumulating evidence suggests that these proteins are involved in biogenesis of the 30S or 50S ribosomal subunits. YqeH is a member of this Obg/Era GTPase family, with its function remains to be uncovered. Here, we present results showing that YqeH is involved in the 30S subunit biogenesis in Bacillus subtilis. We observed a reduction in the 70S ribosome and accumulation of the free 50S subunit in YqeH-depleted cells. Interestingly, no free 30S subunit accumulation was evident. Consistent with the theory that YqeH is involved in 30S subunit biogenesis, a precursor of 16S rRNA and its degradation products were detected. Additionally, the reduction of free 30S subunit was not observed in Era-depleted cells. YqeH overexpression did not compensate for growth defects in mutants devoid of Era and vice versa. Moreover, in vitro GTPase analyses showed that YqeH possessed high intrinsic GTPase activity. In contrast, Era showed slow GTPase activity, which was enhanced by the 30S ribosomal subunit. Our findings strongly suggest that YqeH and Era function at distinct checkpoints during 30S subunit assembly. B. subtilis yqeH is classified as an essential gene due to the inability of the IPTG-dependent P(spac)-yqeH mutant to grow on LB or PAB agar plates in the absence of IPTG. However, in our experiments, the P(spac)-yqeH mutant grew in PAB liquid medium without IPTG supplementation, albeit at an impaired rate. This finding raises the interesting possibility that YqeH participates in assembly of the 30S ribosomal subunit as well as other cellular functions essential for growth on solid media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pek Chin Loh
- Graduate School of Information Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
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23
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Mattoo AR, Saif Zaman M, Dubey GP, Arora A, Narayan A, Jailkhani N, Rathore K, Maiti S, Singh Y. Spo0B of Bacillus anthracis - a protein with pleiotropic functions. FEBS J 2008; 275:739-52. [PMID: 18190531 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2007.06240.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Spo0B is an important component of the phosphorelay signal transduction pathway, the pathway involved in the initiation of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Bioinformatic, phylogenetic and biochemical studies showed that Spo0B of Bacillus anthracis has evolved from citrate/malate kinases. During the course of evolution, Spo0B has retained the characteristic histidine kinase boxes H, N, F, G(1) and G(2), and has acquired nucleotide-binding domains, Walker A and Walker B, of ATPases. Owing to the presence of these domains, autophosphorylation and ATPase activity was observed in Spo0B of B. anthracis. Mutational studies showed that among the six histidine residues, His13 of the H-box is involved in the autophosphorylation activity of Spo0B, whereas Lys33 of the Walker A domain is associated with the ATPase activity of the protein. Thermodynamic and binding studies of the binding of Mg-ATP to Spo0B using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) suggested that the binding is driven by favorable entropy changes and that the reaction is exothermic, with an apparent dissociation constant (K(d)) equal to 0.02 mm. The value of the dissociation constant (K(d) = 0.05 mm) determined by the intrinsic fluorescence of trytophan of Spo0B was similar to that obtained by ITC studies. The purified Spo0B of B. anthracis also showed nucleoside diphosphate kinase-like activity of phosphate transfer from nucleoside triphosphate to nucleoside diphosphate. This is the first evidence for Spo0B of B. anthracis as an enzyme with histidine kinase and ATPase activities, which may have important roles to play in sporulation and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid R Mattoo
- Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India
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24
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Cloning and characterization of GTP-binding proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Enzyme Microb Technol 2008; 42:138-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2007.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2007] [Revised: 08/20/2007] [Accepted: 08/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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25
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Carbon catabolite repression of type IV pilus-dependent gliding motility in the anaerobic pathogen Clostridium perfringens. J Bacteriol 2007; 190:48-60. [PMID: 17981974 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01407-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium responsible for the production of severe histotoxic and gastrointestinal diseases in humans and animals. In silico analysis of the three available genome-sequenced C. perfringens strains (13, SM101, and ATCC13124) revealed that genes that encode flagellar proteins and genes involved in chemotaxis are absent. However, those strains exhibit type IV pilus (TFP)-dependent gliding motility. Since carbon catabolite regulation has been implicated in the control of different bacterial behaviors, we investigated the effects of glucose and other readily metabolized carbohydrates on C. perfringens gliding motility. Our results demonstrate that carbon catabolite regulation constitutes an important physiological regulatory mechanism that reduces the proficiencies of the gliding motilities of a large number of unrelated human- and animal-derived pathogenic C. perfringens strains. Glucose produces a strong dose-dependent inhibition of gliding development without affecting vegetative growth. Maximum gliding inhibition was observed at a glucose concentration (1%) previously reported to also inhibit other important behaviors in C. perfringens, such as spore development. The inhibition of gliding development in the presence of glucose was due, at least in part, to the repression of the genes pilT and pilD, whose products are essential for TFP-dependent gliding proficiency. The inhibitory effects of glucose on pilT and pilD expression were under the control of the key regulatory protein CcpA (catabolite control protein A). The deficiency in CcpA activity of a ccpA knockout C. perfringens mutant strain restored the expressions of pilT and pilD and gliding proficiency in the presence of 1% glucose. The carbon catabolite repression of the gliding motility of the ccpA mutant strain was restored after the introduction of a complementing plasmid harboring a wild-type copy of ccpA. These results point to a central role for CcpA in orchestrating the negative effect of carbon catabolite regulation on C. perfringens gliding motility. Furthermore, we discovered a novel positive role for CcpA in pilT and pilD expression and gliding proficiency in the absence of catabolite regulation. Carbon catabolite repression of gliding motility and the dual role of CcpA, either as repressor or as activator of gliding, are analyzed in the context of the different social behaviors and diseases produced by C. perfringens.
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26
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Lamb HK, Thompson P, Elliott C, Charles IG, Richards J, Lockyer M, Watkins N, Nichols C, Stammers DK, Bagshaw CR, Cooper A, Hawkins AR. Functional analysis of the GTPases EngA and YhbZ encoded by Salmonella typhimurium. Protein Sci 2007; 16:2391-402. [PMID: 17905831 PMCID: PMC2211706 DOI: 10.1110/ps.072900907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The S. typhimurium genome encodes proteins, designated EngA and YhbZ, which have a high sequence identity with the GTPases EngA/Der and ObgE/CgtAE of Escherichia coli. The wild-type activity of the E. coli proteins is essential for normal ribosome maturation and cell viability. In order to characterize the potential involvement of the Salmonella typhimurium EngA and YhbZ proteins in ribosome biology, we used high stringency affinity chromatography experiments to identify strongly binding ribosomal partner proteins. A combination of biochemical and microcalorimetric analysis was then used to characterize these protein:protein interactions and quantify nucleotide binding affinities. These experiments show that YhbZ specifically interacts with the pseudouridine synthase RluD (KD=2 microM and 1:1 stoichiometry), and we show for the first time that EngA can interact with the ribosomal structural protein S7. Thermodynamic analysis shows both EngA and YhbZ bind GDP with a higher affinity than GTP (20-fold difference for EngA and 3.8-fold for YhbZ), and that the two nucleotide binding sites in EngA show a 5.3-fold difference in affinity for GDP. We report a fluorescence assay for nucleotide binding to EngA and YhbZ, which is suitable for identifying inhibitors specific for this ligand-binding site, which would potentially inhibit their biological functions. The interactions of YhbZ with ribosome structural proteins that we identify may demonstrate a previously unreported additional function for this class of GTPase: that of ensuring delivery of rRNA modifying enzymes to the appropriate region of the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather K Lamb
- Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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27
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Lapik YR, Misra JM, Lau LF, Pestov DG. Restricting conformational flexibility of the switch II region creates a dominant-inhibitory phenotype in Obg GTPase Nog1. Mol Cell Biol 2007; 27:7735-44. [PMID: 17785438 PMCID: PMC2169037 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01161-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [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
Nog1 is a conserved eukaryotic GTPase of the Obg family involved in the biogenesis of 60S ribosomal subunits. Here we report the unique dominant-inhibitory properties of a point mutation in the switch II region of mouse Nog1; this mutation is predicted to restrict conformational mobility of the GTP-binding domain. We show that although the mutation does not significantly affect GTP binding, ectopic expression of the mutant in mouse cells disrupts productive assembly of pre-60S subunits and arrests cell proliferation. The mutant impairs processing of multiple pre-rRNA intermediates, resulting in the degradation of the newly synthesized 5.8S/28S rRNA precursors. Sedimentation analysis of nucleolar preribosomes indicates that defective Nog1 function inhibits the conversion of 32S pre-rRNA-containing complexes to a smaller form, resulting in a drastic accumulation of enlarged pre-60S particles in the nucleolus. These results suggest that conformational changes in the switch II element of Nog1 have a critical importance for the dissociation of preribosome-bound factors during intranucleolar maturation and thereby strongly influence the overall efficiency of the assembly process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevgeniya R Lapik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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28
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Komatsu M, Takano H, Hiratsuka T, Ishigaki Y, Shimada K, Beppu T, Ueda K. Proteins encoded by the conservon of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) comprise a membrane-associated heterocomplex that resembles eukaryotic G protein-coupled regulatory system. Mol Microbiol 2007; 62:1534-46. [PMID: 17083469 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05461.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) retains unique conserved operons termed conservons. Here, one of the conservons (cvn9), which encodes five proteins (A9-E9), was characterized. Mutants for cvnA9 and cvnAlO conditionally overproduced actinorhodin and performed precocious aerial growth, while a cvnE9 mutant showed the parental phenotype. Transcription of bidG, adpA and bldN was upregulated in the cvnA9 mutant. A9-D9 were detected in the insoluble fraction of cell-free extract of S. coelicolor by Western analysis. Biochemical analyses revealed that A9 has ATP-hydrolysing and adenine nucleotide-binding activities; D9 has GTP-hydrolysing and guanine nucleotide-binding activities; and E9 shows a typical spectrum similar to cytochrome P450. The comprehensive interaction assays demonstrated the occurrence of specific interactions between A9 and B9, A9 and C9, B9 and B9, B9 and D9, and C9 and D9. A9 associated with and dissociated from B9 (and C9) when ATP and ATP-gamma-S were supplied in the reaction respectively. Similarly, D9 associated with and dissociated from B9 (and C9) when GTP and GTP-gamma-S were supplied respectively. A9 and B9 were also shown for the occurrence as homocomplexes. Probably, Cvn9 proteins comprise a membrane-associated heterocomplex resembling the eukaryotic G-protein-coupled receptor system, which may serve as a signal transducer that connects to the bld cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoru Komatsu
- Life Science Research Center, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa 252-8510, Japan
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29
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Fuentes JL, Datta K, Sullivan SM, Walker A, Maddock JR. In vivo functional characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae 60S biogenesis GTPase Nog1. Mol Genet Genomics 2007; 278:105-23. [PMID: 17443350 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-007-0233-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2007] [Accepted: 03/16/2007] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nog1 GTPase is critical for assembly of the large ribosomal subunit. Mutations in conserved residues in the GTP-binding pocket cause defects in cell growth and 60S ribosome assembly but mutant proteins retain their ability to associate with the pre-60S. Association of Nog1 with the pre-60S is independent of guanine nucleotide added to cell extracts. Thus, it appears that nucleotide occupancy does not substantially affect Nog1 association with pre-60S particles. Somewhat surprisingly, neither of the conserved threonines in the G2 motif of the GTPase domain is essential for Nog1 function. Neither the steady-state rRNA levels nor the protein composition (as determined by isobaric labeling and identification by mass spectrometry of peptides) of the pre-60S particles in the nog1P176V mutant are grossly perturbed, although levels of four proteins (Nog1, Nop2, Nop15, and Tif6) are modestly reduced in pre-60S particles isolated from the mutant. Deletion analysis revealed that the C-terminal 168 amino acids are not required for function; however, the N-terminal 126 amino acids are required. Optimal association with pre-60S particles requires sequences between amino acids 347-456. Several conserved charge-to-alanine substitutions outside the GTPase domain display modest growth phenotypes indicating that these residues are not critical for function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Fuentes
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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30
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Koller-Eichhorn R, Marquardt T, Gail R, Wittinghofer A, Kostrewa D, Kutay U, Kambach C. Human OLA1 defines an ATPase subfamily in the Obg family of GTP-binding proteins. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:19928-37. [PMID: 17430889 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m700541200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Purine nucleotide-binding proteins build the large family of P-loop GTPases and related ATPases, which perform essential functions in all kingdoms of life. The Obg family comprises a group of ancient GTPases belonging to the TRAFAC (for translation factors) class and can be subdivided into several distinct protein subfamilies. The founding member of one of these subfamilies is the bacterial P-loop NTPase YchF, which had so far been assumed to act as GTPase. We have biochemically characterized the human homologue of YchF and found that it binds and hydrolyzes ATP more efficiently than GTP. For this reason, we have termed the protein hOLA1, for human Obg-like ATPase 1. Further biochemical characterization of YchF proteins from different species revealed that ATPase activity is a general but previously missed feature of the YchF subfamily of Obg-like GTPases. To explain ATP specificity of hOLA1, we have solved the x-ray structure of hOLA1 bound to the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue AMPPCP. Our structural data help to explain the altered nucleotide specificity of YchF homologues and identify the Ola1/YchF subfamily of the Obg-related NTPases as an exceptional example of a single protein subfamily, which has evolved altered nucleotide specificity within a distinct protein family of GTPases.
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31
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Raskin DM, Judson N, Mekalanos JJ. Regulation of the stringent response is the essential function of the conserved bacterial G protein CgtA in Vibrio cholerae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104:4636-41. [PMID: 17360576 PMCID: PMC1838653 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0611650104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene encoding the conserved bacterial G protein CgtA (Obg) is essential for viability in every organism in which it has been studied. CgtA has been reported to be involved in several diverse bacterial functions, including ribosome assembly, DNA repair, sporulation, and morphological development. However, none of these functions have been identified as essential. Here we show that depletion of CgtA in Vibrio cholerae causes global changes in gene expression that are consistent with induction of a classical low nutrient stress response or "stringent" response. We show that depletion of CgtA leads to increased ppGpp levels that correlate with induction of the global stress response and cessation of growth. The enzyme RelA is responsible for synthesis of the alarmone ppGpp during the stringent response. We show that CgtA is no longer essential in a relA deletion mutant and thus conclude that the essentiality of CgtA is directly linked to its ability to affect ppGpp levels. The enzyme SpoT degrades ppGpp, and here we show that SpoT is essential in a RelA+ CgtA+ background but not in a relA deletion mutant. We also confirmed that CgtA interacts with SpoT in a two-hybrid assay. We suggest that the essential function of CgtA is as a repressor of the stringent response that acts by regulating SpoT activity to maintain low ppGpp levels when bacteria are growing in a nutrient-rich environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M. Raskin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Nicholas Judson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - John J. Mekalanos
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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32
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Hirano Y, Ohniwa RL, Wada C, Yoshimura SH, Takeyasu K. Human small G proteins, ObgH1, and ObgH2, participate in the maintenance of mitochondria and nucleolar architectures. Genes Cells 2006; 11:1295-304. [PMID: 17054726 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2006.01017.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The Obg subfamily protein is one of the P-loop small G proteins and is highly conserved in many organisms from bacteria to human. Two obg genes, obgH1 and obgH2, exist in the human genome. Both ObgH1 and ObgH2 showed similar GTPase activities (0.014 +/- 0.005 and 0.010 +/- 0.002/min for ObgH1 and ObgH2, respectively) to those of the bacterial Obg proteins and complemented the Obg function in Escherichia coli ribosome maturation, suggesting that the functions of Obg proteins are well conserved through evolution. Immunofluorescence microscopy of HeLa cells revealed that ObgH1 localizes in mitochondria, and ObgH2 in the dense fibrillar compartment region of the nucleolus. Knock-down of ObgH1 by RNAi induced mitochondria elongation, whereas knock-down of ObgH2 resulted in the disorganization of the nucleolar architecture. In conclusion, the two human Obg proteins have similar enzymatic activities that can complement bacterial Obg function, but show different cellular function(s) with different intracellular localizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Hirano
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502 Japan.
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33
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Jiang M, Datta K, Walker A, Strahler J, Bagamasbad P, Andrews PC, Maddock JR. The Escherichia coli GTPase CgtAE is involved in late steps of large ribosome assembly. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:6757-70. [PMID: 16980477 PMCID: PMC1595513 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00444-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial ribosome is an extremely complicated macromolecular complex the in vivo biogenesis of which is poorly understood. Although several bona fide assembly factors have been identified, their precise functions and temporal relationships are not clearly defined. Here we describe the involvement of an Escherichia coli GTPase, CgtA(E), in late steps of large ribosomal subunit biogenesis. CgtA(E) belongs to the Obg/CgtA GTPase subfamily, whose highly conserved members are predominantly involved in ribosome function. Mutations in CgtA(E) cause both polysome and rRNA processing defects; small- and large-subunit precursor rRNAs accumulate in a cgtA(E) mutant. In this study we apply a new semiquantitative proteomic approach to show that CgtA(E) is required for optimal incorporation of certain late-assembly ribosomal proteins into the large ribosomal subunit. Moreover, we demonstrate the interaction with the 50S ribosomal subunits of specific nonribosomal proteins (including heretofore uncharacterized proteins) and define possible temporal relationships between these proteins and CgtA(E). We also show that purified CgtA(E) associates with purified ribosomal particles in the GTP-bound form. Finally, CgtA(E) cofractionates with the mature 50S but not with intermediate particles accumulated in other large ribosome assembly mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxi Jiang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, USA
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34
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Brown ED. Conserved P-loop GTPases of unknown function in bacteria: an emerging and vital ensemble in bacterial physiology. Biochem Cell Biol 2006; 83:738-46. [PMID: 16333325 DOI: 10.1139/o05-162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishing the roles of conserved gene products in bacteria is of fundamental importance to our understanding of the core protein complement necessary to sustain cellular life. P-loop GTPases and related ATPases represent an abundant and remarkable group of proteins in bacteria that, in many cases, have evaded characterization. Here, efforts aimed at understanding the cellular function of a group of 8 conserved, poorly characterized genes encoding P-loop GTPases, era, obg, trmE, yjeQ, engA, yihA, hflX, ychF, and a related ATPase, yjeE, are reviewed in considerable detail. While concrete cellular roles remain elusive for all of these genes and considerable pleiotropy has plagued their study, experiments to date have frequently implicated the ribosome. In the case of era, obg, yjeQ, and engA, the evidence is most consistent with roles in ribosome biogenesis, though the prediction is necessarily putative. While the protein encoded in trmE clearly has a catalytic function in tRNA modification, the participation of its GTPase domain remains obscure, as do the functions of the remaining proteins. A full understanding of the cellular functions of all of these important proteins remains the goal of ongoing studies of cellular phenotype and protein biochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Brown
- Antimicrobial Research Centre and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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35
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Sikora AE, Datta K, Maddock JR. Biochemical properties of the Vibrio harveyi CgtAV GTPase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 339:1165-70. [PMID: 16343434 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.11.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2005] [Accepted: 11/26/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria encode a number of relatively poorly characterized GTPases, including the essential, ribosome-associated Obg/CgtA proteins. In contrast to Ras-like proteins, it appears that the Obg/CgtA proteins bind guanine nucleotides with modest affinity and hydrolyze GTP relatively slowly. We show here that the Vibrio harveyi CgtA(V) exchanges guanine nucleotides rapidly and has a modest affinity for nucleotides, suggesting that these features are a universal property of the Obg/CgtA family. Interestingly, CgtA(V) possesses a significantly more rapid GTP hydrolysis rate than is typical of other family members, perhaps reflecting the diversity and specificity of bacterial ecological niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Sikora
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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36
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Datta K, Skidmore JM, Pu K, Maddock JR. The Caulobacter crescentus GTPase CgtAC is required for progression through the cell cycle and for maintaining 50S ribosomal subunit levels. Mol Microbiol 2005; 54:1379-92. [PMID: 15554976 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04354.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The Obg subfamily of bacterial GTP-binding proteins are biochemically distinct from Ras-like proteins raising the possibility that they are not controlled by conventional guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and/or guanine nucleotide activating proteins (GAPs). To test this hypothesis, we generated mutations in the Caulobacter crescentus obg gene (cgtAC) which, in Ras-like proteins, would result in either activating or dominant negative phenotypes. In C. crescentus, a P168V mutant is not activating in vivo, although in vitro, the P168V protein showed a modest reduction in the affinity for GDP. Neither the S173N nor N280Y mutations resulted in a dominant negative phenotype. Furthermore, the S173N was significantly impaired for GTP binding, consistent with a critical role of this residue in GTP binding. In general, conserved amino acids in the GTP-binding pocket were, however, important for function. To examine the in vivo consequences of depleting CgtAC, we generated a temperature-sensitive mutant, G80E. At the permissive temperature, G80E cells grow slowly and have reduced levels of 50S ribosomal subunits, indicating that CgtAC is important for 50S assembly and/or stability. Surprisingly, at the non-permissive temperature, G80E cells rapidly lose viability and yet do not display an additional ribosome defect. Thus, the essential nature of the cgtAC gene does not appear to result from its ribosome function. G80E cells arrest as predivisional cells and stalkless cells. Flow cytometry on synchronized cells reveals a G1-S arrest. Therefore, CgtAC is necessary for DNA replication and progression through the cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaustuv Datta
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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37
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Sato A, Kobayashi G, Hayashi H, Yoshida H, Wada A, Maeda M, Hiraga S, Takeyasu K, Wada C. The GTP binding protein Obg homolog ObgE is involved in ribosome maturation. Genes Cells 2005; 10:393-408. [PMID: 15836769 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2005.00851.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Obg proteins belong to a subfamily of GTP binding proteins, which are highly conserved from bacteria to human. Mutations of obgE genes cause pleiotropic defects in various species but the function remained unclear. Here we examine the function of ObgE, the Obg homolog in Escherichia coli. The growth rate correlates with the amount of ObgE in cells. Co-fractionation experiments further suggest that ObgE binds to 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits, but not to 70S ribosome. Pull-down assays suggest that ObgE associates with several specific ribosomal proteins of 30S and 50S subunits, as well as RNA helicase CsdA. Purified ObgE cosediments with 16S and 23S ribosomal RNAs in vitro in the presence of GTP. Finally, mutation of ObgE affects pre-16Sr-RNA processing, ribosomal protein levels, and ribosomal protein modification, thereby significantly reducing 70S ribosome levels. This evidence implicates that ObgE functions in ribosomal biogenesis, presumably through the binding to rRNAs and/or rRNA-ribosomal protein complexes, perhaps as an rRNA/ribosomal protein folding chaperone or scaffold protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Sato
- Laboratory of Plasma Membrane and Nuclear Signaling, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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38
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Zhang S, Haldenwang WG. Guanine nucleotides stabilize the binding of Bacillus subtilis Obg to ribosomes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004; 322:565-9. [PMID: 15325267 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.07.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Obg is a GTP-binding protein of Bacillus subtilis with essential, but undefined roles in the bacterium's growth, sporulation, and stress responses. Obg orthologs are widely conserved among both bacteria and eukaryotes. Gel filtration and affinity blot assays have suggested that Obg may be ribosome-associated. In the current work, we continue an examination of the putative Obg:ribosome interaction. Velocity centrifugation analyses of crude B. subtilis extracts or purified Obg:ribosome mixtures suggest that Obg is initially ribosome-bound, but can separate from ribosomes during sedimentation in the absence of added nucleotides. Addition of either GTP, GDP or ATP to the gradient prolonged the Obg:ribosome association, while inclusion of a nonhydrolyzable GTP analog (5-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate) preserved it. The data strengthen the notion that Obg is a ribosome-associated protein, demonstrate that Obg's association with ribosomes is stabilized by GTP, and indicate that the ribosome-bound Obg can likely hydrolyze GTP and be released as a consequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
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39
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Wout P, Pu K, Sullivan SM, Reese V, Zhou S, Lin B, Maddock JR. The Escherichia coli GTPase CgtAE cofractionates with the 50S ribosomal subunit and interacts with SpoT, a ppGpp synthetase/hydrolase. J Bacteriol 2004; 186:5249-57. [PMID: 15292126 PMCID: PMC490892 DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.16.5249-5257.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
CgtA(E)/Obg(E)/YhbZ is an Escherichia coli guanine nucleotide binding protein of the Obg/GTP1 subfamily whose members have been implicated in a number of cellular functions including GTP-GDP sensing, sporulation initiation, and translation. Here we describe a kinetic analysis of CgtA(E) with guanine nucleotides and show that its properties are similar to those of the Caulobacter crescentus homolog CgtA(C). CgtA(E) binds both GTP and GDP with moderate affinity, shows high guanine nucleotide exchange rate constants for both nucleotides, and has a relatively low GTP hydrolysis rate. We show that CgtA(E) is associated predominantly with the 50S ribosomal subunit. Interestingly, CgtA(E) copurifies with SpoT, a ribosome-associated ppGpp hydrolase/synthetase involved in the stress response. The interaction between CgtA(E) and SpoT was confirmed by reciprocal coprecipitation experiments and by two-hybrid assays. These studies raise the possibility that the ribosome-associated CgtA(E) is involved in the SpoT-mediated stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Wout
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA
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40
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Kukimoto-Niino M, Murayama K, Inoue M, Terada T, Tame JRH, Kuramitsu S, Shirouzu M, Yokoyama S. Crystal structure of the GTP-binding protein Obg from Thermus thermophilus HB8. J Mol Biol 2004; 337:761-70. [PMID: 15019792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2003] [Revised: 01/21/2004] [Accepted: 01/26/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Obg comprises a unique family of high-molecular mass GTPases conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes. Bacterial Obg is essential for cellular growth, sporulation, and differentiation. Here, we report the crystal structure of the full-length form of Obg from Thermus thermophilus HB8 at 2.07 A resolution, in the nucleotide-free state. It reveals a three-domain arrangement, composed of the N-terminal domain, the guanine nucleotide-binding domain (G domain), and the C-terminal domain. The N-terminal and G domains have the Obg fold and the Ras-like fold, respectively. These global folds are similar to those of the recently published structure of the C-terminal domain-truncated form of Obg from Bacillus subtilis. On the other hand, the C-terminal domain of Obg was found to have a novel fold (the OCT fold). A comparison of the T.thermophilus and B.subtilis nucleotide-free Obg structures revealed significant conformational changes in the switch-I and switch-II regions of the G domain. Notably, the N-terminal domain is rotated drastically, by almost 180 degrees, around the G domain axis. In the T.thermophilus Obg crystal, the nucleotide-binding site of the G domain interacts with the C-terminal domain of the adjacent molecule. These data suggest a possible domain rearrangement of Obg, and a potential role of the C-terminal domain in the regulation of the nucleotide-binding state.
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41
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Lin B, Thayer DA, Maddock JR. The Caulobacter crescentus CgtAC protein cosediments with the free 50S ribosomal subunit. J Bacteriol 2004; 186:481-9. [PMID: 14702318 PMCID: PMC305748 DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.2.481-489.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Obg family of GTPases is widely conserved and predicted to play an as-yet-unknown role in translation. Recent reports provide circumstantial evidence that both eukaryotic and prokaryotic Obg proteins are associated with the large ribosomal subunit. Here we provide direct evidence that the Caulobacter crescentus CgtA(C) protein is associated with the free large (50S) ribosomal subunit but not with 70S monosomes or with translating ribosomes. In contrast to the Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli proteins, CgtA(C) does not fractionate in a large complex by gel filtration, indicating a moderately weak association with the 50S subunit. Moreover, binding of CgtA(C) to the 50S particle is sensitive to salt concentration and buffer composition but not guanine nucleotide occupancy of CgtA(C). Assays of epitope-tagged wild-type and mutant variants of CgtA(C) indicate that the C terminus of CgtA(C) is critical for 50S association. Interestingly, the addition of a C-terminal epitope tag also affected the ability of various cgtA(C) alleles to function in vivo. Depletion of CgtA(C) led to perturbations in the polysome profile, raising the possibility that CgtA(C) is involved in ribosome assembly or stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lin
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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42
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Pandit SB, Srinivasan N. Survey for g-proteins in the prokaryotic genomes: prediction of functional roles based on classification. Proteins 2003; 52:585-97. [PMID: 12910458 DOI: 10.1002/prot.10420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The members of the family of G-proteins are characterized by their ability to bind and hydrolyze guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to guanosine diphosphate (GDP). Despite a common biochemical function of GTP hydrolysis shared among the members of the family of G-proteins, they are associated with diverse biological roles. The current work describes the identification and detailed analysis of the putative G-proteins encoded in the completely sequenced prokaryotic genomes. Inferences on the biological roles of these G-proteins have been obtained by their classification into known functional subfamilies. We have identified 497 G-proteins in 42 genomes. Seven small GTP-binding protein homologues have been identified in prokaryotes with at least two of the diagnostic sequence motifs of G-proteins conserved. The translation factors have the largest representation (234 sequences) and are found to be ubiquitous, which is consistent with their critical role in protein synthesis. The GTP_OBG subfamily comprises of 79 sequences in our dataset. A total of 177 sequences belong to the subfamily of GTPase of unknown function and 154 of these could be associated with domains of known functions such as cell cycle regulation and t-RNA modification. The large GTP-binding proteins and the alpha-subunit of heterotrimeric G-proteins are not detected in the genomes of the prokaryotes surveyed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi B Pandit
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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43
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Lehoux IE, Mazzulla MJ, Baker A, Petit CM. Purification and characterization of YihA, an essential GTP-binding protein from Escherichia coli. Protein Expr Purif 2003; 30:203-9. [PMID: 12880769 DOI: 10.1016/s1046-5928(03)00107-4] [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: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
YihA has previously been characterized as an essential gene of unknown function in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. It is conserved in bacteria and represents an attractive target for the discovery of new antibiotics. YihA encodes a putative GTP-binding protein. We have cloned and overexpressed the gene encoding E. coli YihA and initiated biochemical studies as a first step towards understanding its biological function. We showed by circular dichroism that the purified protein has a secondary structure typical of most GTP-binding proteins. It binds guanine nucleotides specifically, as demonstrated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer between 2'-(or-3')-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl) nucleotides (mant-nucleotides) and the tryptophans of YihA. The K(d) values for GDP and GTP were determined by competition with 2'-(or-3')-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl) GDP to be 3 and 27 microM, respectively. Using mutants of YihA we show that nucleotide binding occurs at the putative GTP-binding domain predicted from the primary sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle E Lehoux
- GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, 1250 South Collegeville Road, UP4430, P.O. Box 5089, PA 19426-0989, Collegeville, USA
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44
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Abstract
The Obg nucleotide binding protein family has been implicated in stress response, chromosome partitioning, replication initiation, mycelium development, and sporulation. Obg proteins are among a large group of GTP binding proteins conserved from bacteria to man. Members of the family contain two equally and highly conserved domains, a C-terminal GTP binding domain and an N-terminal glycine-rich domain. Structural analysis of Bacillus subtilis Obg revealed respective domain architectures and how they are coupled through the putative switch elements of the C-terminal GTPase domain in apo and nucleotide-bound configurations. Biochemical analysis of bacterial and human Obg proteins combined with the structural observation of the ppGpp nucleotide within the Obg active sight suggest a potential role for ppGpp modulation of Obg function in B. subtilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Buglino
- Biochemistry Department, Structural Biology Program, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
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45
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Morimoto T, Loh PC, Hirai T, Asai K, Kobayashi K, Moriya S, Ogasawara N. Six GTP-binding proteins of the Era/Obg family are essential for cell growth in Bacillus subtilis. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2002; 148:3539-3552. [PMID: 12427945 DOI: 10.1099/00221287-148-11-3539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
GTP-binding proteins are found in all domains of life and are involved in various essential cellular processes. With the recent explosion of available genome sequence data, a widely distributed bacterial subfamily of GTP-binding proteins was discovered, represented by the Escherichia coli Era and the Bacillus subtilis Obg proteins. Although only a limited number of the GTP-binding proteins belonging to the subfamily have been experimentally characterized, and their function remains unknown, the available data suggests that many of them are essential to bacterial growth. When the complete genomic sequence of B. subtilis was surveyed for genes encoding GTP-binding proteins of the Era/Obg family, nine such genes were identified. As a first step in elucidating the functional networks of those nine GTP-binding proteins, data presented here indicates that six of them are essential for B. subtilis viability. Additionally, it is shown that the six essential proteins are able to specifically bind GTP and GDP in vitro. Experimental depletion of the essential GTP-binding proteins was examined in the context of cell morphology and chromosome replication, and it was found that two proteins, Bex and YqeH, appeared to participate in the regulation of initiation of chromosome replication. Collectively, these results suggest that members of the GTP-binding Era/Obg family are important proteins with precise, yet still not fully understood, roles in bacterial growth and viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Morimoto
- Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Graduate school of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan1
| | - Pek Chin Loh
- Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Graduate school of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan1
| | - Tomohiro Hirai
- Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Graduate school of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan1
| | - Kei Asai
- Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Graduate school of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan1
| | - Kazuo Kobayashi
- Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Graduate school of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan1
| | - Shigeki Moriya
- Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Graduate school of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan1
| | - Naotake Ogasawara
- Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Graduate school of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan1
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46
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Rankin S, Li Z, Isberg RR. Macrophage-induced genes of Legionella pneumophila: protection from reactive intermediates and solute imbalance during intracellular growth. Infect Immun 2002; 70:3637-48. [PMID: 12065505 PMCID: PMC128052 DOI: 10.1128/iai.70.7.3637-3648.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A promoter-probe strategy was devised to identify genes specifically expressed by Legionella pneumophila during growth within the macrophage. Random fragments from the L. pneumophila chromosome were inserted upstream of a promoterless phage T4 td gene, and fragments that led to complementation of thymine auxotrophy during intracellular growth of the bacterium were identified. Two different selection strategies were employed to eliminate promoters that were also active during extracellular growth of the bacterium. Some of these genes were identified independently by using both of the selection strategies. The factors identified include orthologs of efflux-mediated resistance determinants and transporters, a transporter involved in protection from osmotic stress, a stress response GTP-binding protein, a response regulator, a sensor kinase, and two systems that increase the reducing potential of the bacterium, one of which encodes the L. pneumophila ortholog of ahpC. Five of the clones analyzed here were fusions to promoters that were closely linked to genes encoding three-component chemiosmotic efflux pumps that export heavy metals or toxic organic compounds. Analysis of ahpC gene expression indicates that levels increased at least sevenfold during intracellular growth of the bacterium. Inactivation of several of the genes at their chromosomal loci had no effect on the intracellular growth rate of L. pneumophila in cultured macrophages. This suggests that a number of genes with increased expression during intracellular growth may be part of redundant systems that allow survival and growth under the conditions encountered within host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah Rankin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA
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47
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Tan J, Jakob U, Bardwell JCA. Overexpression of two different GTPases rescues a null mutation in a heat-induced rRNA methyltransferase. J Bacteriol 2002; 184:2692-8. [PMID: 11976298 PMCID: PMC135011 DOI: 10.1128/jb.184.10.2692-2698.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Escherichia coli RrmJ (FtsJ) heat shock protein functions as an rRNA methyltransferase that modifies position U2552 of 23S rRNA in intact 50S ribosomal subunits. An in-frame deletion of the rrmJ (ftsJ) gene leads to severe growth disadvantages under all temperatures tested and causes significant accumulation of ribosomal subunits at the expense of functional 70S ribosomes. To investigate whether overexpression of other E. coli genes can restore the severe growth defect observed in rrmJ null mutants, we constructed an overexpression library from the rrmJ deletion strain and cloned and identified the E. coli genes that were capable of rescuing the rrmJ mutant phenotype. Our intention was to identify other methylases whose specificities overlapped enough with that of RrmJ to allow complementation when overexpressed. To our great surprise, no methylases were found by this method; rather, two small GTPases, Obg (YhbZ) and EngA, when overexpressed in the rrmJ deletion strains, were found to restore the otherwise severely impaired ribosome assembly process and/or stability of 70S ribosomes. 50S ribosomal subunits prepared from these overexpressing strains were shown to still serve as in vitro substrates for purified RrmJ, indicating that the 23S rRNA likely was still lacking the highly conserved Um2552 modification. The apparent lack of this modification, however, no longer caused ribosome defects or a growth disadvantage. Massive overexpression of another related small GTPase, Era, failed to rescue the growth defects of an rrmJ strain. These findings suggest a hitherto unexpected connection between rRNA methylation and GTPase function, specifically that of the two small GTPases Obg and EngA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Tan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, USA
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48
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Palma M, Cheung AL. sigma(B) activity in Staphylococcus aureus is controlled by RsbU and an additional factor(s) during bacterial growth. Infect Immun 2001; 69:7858-65. [PMID: 11705968 PMCID: PMC98882 DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.12.7858-7865.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2001] [Accepted: 09/05/2001] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Two genes of the sigB operon, rsbU and rsbV, were deleted in an rsbU(+) strain (FDA486) to evaluate the contribution of these two genes to sigma(B) activity in Staphylococcus aureus. The sigma(B) protein level and the transcription of two sigma(B)-dependent promoters (sigB and sarA P3 transcripts) were analyzed in the constructed mutants. A deletion of the first gene (rsbU) within the sigB operon led only to a partial reduction in sigma(beta) activity. A deletion of the second gene (rsbV) resulted in a more dramatic reduction in the sigma(B) protein level and its activity than did the deletion of rsbU, thus indicating that RsbV can be activated independent of RsbU. In the parental strain, the sigma(B)-dependent transcript initiated upstream of rsbV was 28-fold higher than the sigma(A)-dependent transcript originating from the rsbU promoter. The level of the sigma(B)-dependent transcript decreased up to 50% in the rsbU mutant and up to 90% in the rsbV mutant compared with the transcript in the wild type. The yellow pigment of S. aureus colonies, a sigma(B)-dependent phenotype, was partially reduced in the rsbU and rsbV mutants, whereas alpha-hemolysin was increased. Additionally, the sarA P3 promoter activity of the parental strain was induced to a higher level in response to pH 5.5 than was that of the rsbU or rsbV mutant, indicating that RsbU is the major activator of the sigma(B) response to acid stress. Using a tetracycline-inducible system to modulate the expression of RsbW, we progressively repressed pigment production, presumably by reducing the free sigma(B) level. Collectively, our data indicated that RsbU and RsbV in S. aureus contributed to different levels of sigma(B) protein expression and varying sigma(B) activities. Although RsbV can activate sigma(B) independent of RsbU, RsbU remains the major activator of sigma(B) during acid stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Palma
- Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
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49
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Kobayashi G, Moriya S, Wada C. Deficiency of essential GTP-binding protein ObgE in Escherichia coli inhibits chromosome partition. Mol Microbiol 2001; 41:1037-51. [PMID: 11555285 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02574.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
GTP-binding proteins are involved in cell proliferation, development, signal transduction, protein elongation, etc. and construct the GTPase superfamily, whose structures and sequence motifs (G-1 to G-5) are highly conserved from prokaryote to eukaryote. Obg of Bacillus subtilis and Obg homologues of other bacteria belong to the GTPase superfamily and have been suggested as being essential for cell growth, development and monitoring of intracellular levels of GTP. We identified the Obg homologue in Escherichia coli, a protein previously known as YhbZ, which we have renamed ObgE. Double cross-over experiments showed that the obgE gene is essential for growth in E. coli. From characterization of the obgE temperature-sensitive mutant, we found that DNA replication was not inhibited, that the nucleoids did not partition and instead remained in the middle of cell, and that the cells elongated. Overproduction of ObgE also resulted in aberrant chromosome segregation. These data suggested that ObgE is involved directly or indirectly in E. coli chromosome partitioning. Characterization studies showed that ObgE is abundant in normal cells, partially associated with the membrane and does not associate with ribosomes such as in Obg of B. subtilis. We purified ObgE protein from a cell extract of E. coli, and the purified ObgE had GTPase activity and DNA-binding ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Kobayashi
- The Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Shogoin-Kawaracho, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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50
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Caldon CE, Yoong P, March PE. Evolution of a molecular switch: universal bacterial GTPases regulate ribosome function. Mol Microbiol 2001; 41:289-97. [PMID: 11489118 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02536.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The GTPases comprise a protein superfamily of highly conserved molecular switches adapted to many diverse functions. These proteins are found in all domains of life and often perform essential roles in fundamental cellular processes. Analysis of data from genome sequencing projects demonstrates that bacteria possess a core of 11 universally conserved GTPases (elongation factor G and Tu, initiation factor 2, LepA, Era, Obg, ThdF/TrmE, Ffh, FtsY, EngA and YchF). Investigations aimed at understanding the function of GTPases indicate that a second conserved feature of these proteins is that they elicit their function through interaction with RNA and/or ribosomes. An emerging concept suggests that the 11 universal GTPases are either necessary for ribosome function or transmitting information from the ribosome to downstream targets for the purpose of generating specific cellular responses. Furthermore, it is suggested that progenitor GTPases were early regulators of RNA function and may have existed in precursors of cellular systems driven by catalytic RNA. If this is the case, then a corollary of this hypothesis is that GTPases that do not bind RNA arose at a later time from an RNA-binding progenitor that lost the capability to bind RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Caldon
- School of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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