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Bobonis J, Mitosch K, Mateus A, Karcher N, Kritikos G, Selkrig J, Zietek M, Monzon V, Pfalz B, Garcia-Santamarina S, Galardini M, Sueki A, Kobayashi C, Stein F, Bateman A, Zeller G, Savitski MM, Elfenbein JR, Andrews-Polymenis HL, Typas A. Bacterial retrons encode phage-defending tripartite toxin-antitoxin systems. Nature 2022; 609:144-150. [PMID: 35850148 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05091-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Retrons are prokaryotic genetic retroelements encoding a reverse transcriptase that produces multi-copy single-stranded DNA1 (msDNA). Despite decades of research on the biosynthesis of msDNA2, the function and physiological roles of retrons have remained unknown. Here we show that Retron-Sen2 of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium encodes an accessory toxin protein, STM14_4640, which we renamed as RcaT. RcaT is neutralized by the reverse transcriptase-msDNA antitoxin complex, and becomes active upon perturbation of msDNA biosynthesis. The reverse transcriptase is required for binding to RcaT, and the msDNA is required for the antitoxin activity. The highly prevalent RcaT-containing retron family constitutes a new type of tripartite DNA-containing toxin-antitoxin system. To understand the physiological roles of such toxin-antitoxin systems, we developed toxin activation-inhibition conjugation (TAC-TIC), a high-throughput reverse genetics approach that identifies the molecular triggers and blockers of toxin-antitoxin systems. By applying TAC-TIC to Retron-Sen2, we identified multiple trigger and blocker proteins of phage origin. We demonstrate that phage-related triggers directly modify the msDNA, thereby activating RcaT and inhibiting bacterial growth. By contrast, prophage proteins circumvent retrons by directly blocking RcaT. Consistently, retron toxin-antitoxin systems act as abortive infection anti-phage defence systems, in line with recent reports3,4. Thus, RcaT retrons are tripartite DNA-regulated toxin-antitoxin systems, which use the reverse transcriptase-msDNA complex both as an antitoxin and as a sensor of phage protein activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Bobonis
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Collaboration for joint PhD degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karin Mitosch
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - André Mateus
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nicolai Karcher
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - George Kritikos
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joel Selkrig
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matylda Zietek
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vivian Monzon
- European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hinxton, UK
| | - Birgit Pfalz
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sarela Garcia-Santamarina
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology António Xavier, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Marco Galardini
- Institute for Molecular Bacteriology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Sueki
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Callie Kobayashi
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Frank Stein
- Proteomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alex Bateman
- European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hinxton, UK
| | - Georg Zeller
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mikhail M Savitski
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Proteomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johanna R Elfenbein
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | | | - Athanasios Typas
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
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2
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Hall RJ, Whelan FJ, Cummins EA, Connor C, McNally A, McInerney JO. Gene-gene relationships in an Escherichia coli accessory genome are linked to function and mobility. Microb Genom 2021; 7. [PMID: 34499026 PMCID: PMC8715431 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The pangenome contains all genes encoded by a species, with the core genome present in all strains and the accessory genome in only a subset. Coincident gene relationships are expected within the accessory genome, where the presence or absence of one gene is influenced by the presence or absence of another. Here, we analysed the accessory genome of an Escherichia coli pangenome consisting of 400 genomes from 20 sequence types to identify genes that display significant co-occurrence or avoidance patterns with one another. We present a complex network of genes that are either found together or that avoid one another more often than would be expected by chance, and show that these relationships vary by lineage. We demonstrate that genes co-occur by function, and that several highly connected gene relationships are linked to mobile genetic elements. We find that genes are more likely to co-occur with, rather than avoid, another gene in the accessory genome. This work furthers our understanding of the dynamic nature of prokaryote pangenomes and implicates both function and mobility as drivers of gene relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Hall
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.,School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Fiona J Whelan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Elizabeth A Cummins
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.,School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Christopher Connor
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Alan McNally
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - James O McInerney
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
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3
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Sodagari HR, Sahibzada S, Robertson I, Habib I, Wang P. Whole-Genome Comparative Analysis Reveals Association Between Salmonella Genomic Variation and Egg Production Systems. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:666767. [PMID: 34322531 PMCID: PMC8311177 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.666767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-typhoidal Salmonella, particularly Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), is the predominant endemic serovar in the Australian egg production industry and is one of the most frequently reported serovars in foodborne infections in Australia. This study was conducted to investigate the genomic characteristics of Salmonella isolated from retail table eggs in Western Australia and to identify the impact of production systems on genomic characteristics of Salmonella such as virulence and antimicrobial resistance. A total of 40 non-typhoidal Salmonella isolates [S. Typhimurium isolates (n = 28) and Salmonella Infantis isolates (n = 12)] sourced from retail eggs produced by different production systems (barn-laid, cage, and free-range) in Western Australia were sequenced by whole-genome sequencing. The isolates were de novo assembled, annotated, and analyzed. The results indicated an association between Salmonella genomic variation and the system used to raise poultry for egg production (p-value < 0.05). All but one of the S. Infantis isolates were recovered from eggs collected from poultry raised under barn and cage production systems. A higher proportion (83.3%) of S. Typhimurium isolates were recovered from the eggs produced by free-range production system as compared with those produced under barn (76.9%) and cage production systems (53.3%). Our analysis indicated that Salmonella isolated from the eggs produced by barn and cage production systems had more virulence genes than the isolates of the free-range produced eggs. A low carriage of antimicrobial-resistant gene was detected in the isolates of this study. We have built a Salmonella genomics database and characteristics-linked gene pools to facilitate future study, characterization, and tracing of Salmonella outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Reza Sodagari
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Shafi Sahibzada
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Ian Robertson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Ihab Habib
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Penghao Wang
- Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
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4
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Gurung D, Blumenthal RM. Distribution of RecBCD and AddAB recombination-associated genes among bacteria in 33 phyla. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2020; 166:1047-1064. [PMID: 33085588 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Homologous recombination plays key roles in fundamental processes such as recovery from DNA damage and in bacterial horizontal gene transfer, yet there are still open questions about the distribution of recognized components of recombination machinery among bacteria and archaea. RecBCD helicase-nuclease plays a central role in recombination among Gammaproteobacteria like Escherichia coli; while bacteria in other phyla, like the Firmicute Bacillus subtilis, use the related AddAB complex. The activity of at least some of these complexes is controlled by short DNA sequences called crossover hotspot instigator (Chi) sites. When RecBCD or AddAB complexes encounter an autologous Chi site during unwinding, they introduce a nick such that ssDNA with a free end is available to invade another duplex. If homologous DNA is present, RecA-dependent homologous recombination is promoted; if not (or if no autologous Chi site is present) the RecBCD/AddAB complex eventually degrades the DNA. We examined the distribution of recBCD and addAB genes among bacteria, and sought ways to distinguish them unambiguously. We examined bacterial species among 33 phyla, finding some unexpected distribution patterns. RecBCD and addAB are less conserved than recA, with the orthologous recB and addA genes more conserved than the recC or addB genes. We were able to classify RecB vs. AddA and RecC vs. AddB in some bacteria where this had not previously been done. We used logo analysis to identify sequence segments that are conserved, but differ between the RecBC and AddAB proteins, to help future differentiation between members of these two families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Gurung
- Present address: Department of Cancer Biology, College of Medicine & Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo OH 43614-1021, USA.,Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, and Program in Bioinformatics, College of Medicine & Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo OH 43614-1021, USA
| | - Robert M Blumenthal
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, and Program in Bioinformatics, College of Medicine & Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo OH 43614-1021, USA
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5
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Zhang Y, Matsuzaka T, Yano H, Furuta Y, Nakano T, Ishikawa K, Fukuyo M, Takahashi N, Suzuki Y, Sugano S, Ide H, Kobayashi I. Restriction glycosylases: involvement of endonuclease activities in the restriction process. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:1392-1403. [PMID: 28180312 PMCID: PMC5388411 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
All restriction enzymes examined are phosphodiesterases generating 3΄-OH and 5΄-P ends, but one restriction enzyme (restriction glycosylase) excises unmethylated bases from its recognition sequence. Whether its restriction activity involves endonucleolytic cleavage remains unclear. One report on this enzyme, R.PabI from a hyperthermophile, ascribed the breakage to high temperature while another showed its weak AP lyase activity generates atypical ends. Here, we addressed this issue in mesophiles. We purified R.PabI homologs from Campylobacter coli (R.CcoLI) and Helicobacter pylori (R.HpyAXII) and demonstrated their DNA cleavage, DNA glycosylase and AP lyase activities in vitro at 37°C. The AP lyase activity is more coupled with glycosylase activity in R.CcoLI than in R.PabI. R.CcoLI/R.PabI expression caused restriction of incoming bacteriophage/plasmid DNA and endogenous chromosomal DNA within Escherichia coli at 37°C. The R.PabI-mediated restriction was promoted by AP endonuclease action in vivo or in vitro. These results reveal the role of endonucleolytic DNA cleavage in restriction and yet point to diversity among the endonucleases. The cleaved ends are difficult to repair in vivo, which may indicate their biological significance. These results support generalization of the concept of restriction–modification system to the concept of self-recognizing epigenetic system, which combines any epigenetic labeling and any DNA damaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingbiao Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences (formerly Department of Medical Genome Sciences), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Matsuzaka
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Yano
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences (formerly Department of Medical Genome Sciences), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Furuta
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences (formerly Department of Medical Genome Sciences), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Nakano
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Ken Ishikawa
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Masaki Fukuyo
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Noriko Takahashi
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences (formerly Department of Medical Genome Sciences), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences (formerly Department of Medical Genome Sciences), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Sumio Sugano
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences (formerly Department of Medical Genome Sciences), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ide
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Ichizo Kobayashi
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences (formerly Department of Medical Genome Sciences), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
- Institut for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru 560 064, India
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81 90 2487 7510; ; ;
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6
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Liu X, Li Y, Guo Y, Zeng Z, Li B, Wood TK, Cai X, Wang X. Physiological Function of Rac Prophage During Biofilm Formation and Regulation of Rac Excision in Escherichia coli K-12. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16074. [PMID: 26530864 PMCID: PMC4632033 DOI: 10.1038/srep16074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rac or rac-like prophage harbors many genes with important physiological functions, while it remains excision-proficient in several bacterial strains including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. Here, we found that rac excision is induced during biofilm formation, and the isogenic stain without rac is more motile and forms more biofilms in nutrient-rich medium at early stages in E. coli K-12. Additionally, the presence of rac genes increases cell lysis during biofilm development. In most E. coli strains, rac is integrated into the ttcA gene which encodes a tRNA-thioltransferase. Rac excision in E. coli K-12 leads to a functional change of TtcA, which results in reduced fitness in the presence of carbenicillin. Additionally, we demonstrate that YdaQ (renamed as XisR) is the excisionase of rac in E. coli K-12, and that rac excision is induced by the stationary sigma factor RpoS through inducing xisR expression. Taken together, our results reveal that upon rac integration, not only are new genes introduced into the host, but also there is a functional change in a host enzyme. Hence, rac excision is tightly regulated by host factors to control its stability in the host genome under different stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, PR China
| | - Yangmei Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, PR China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunxue Guo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, PR China
| | - Zhenshun Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, PR China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Baiyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, PR China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-4400.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-4400
| | - Xingsheng Cai
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, PR China
| | - Xiaoxue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, PR China
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7
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Wittmann J, Dreiseikelmann B, Rohde M, Meier-Kolthoff JP, Bunk B, Rohde C. First genome sequences of Achromobacter phages reveal new members of the N4 family. Virol J 2014; 11:14. [PMID: 24468270 PMCID: PMC3915230 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-11-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multi-resistant Achromobacter xylosoxidans has been recognized as an emerging pathogen causing nosocomially acquired infections during the last years. Phages as natural opponents could be an alternative to fight such infections. Bacteriophages against this opportunistic pathogen were isolated in a recent study. This study shows a molecular analysis of two podoviruses and reveals first insights into the genomic structure of Achromobacter phages so far. METHODS Growth curve experiments and adsorption kinetics were performed for both phages. Adsorption and propagation in cells were visualized by electron microscopy. Both phage genomes were sequenced with the PacBio RS II system based on single molecule, real-time (SMRT) technology and annotated with several bioinformatic tools. To further elucidate the evolutionary relationships between the phage genomes, a phylogenomic analysis was conducted using the genome Blast Distance Phylogeny approach (GBDP). RESULTS In this study, we present the first detailed analysis of genome sequences of two Achromobacter phages so far. Phages JWAlpha and JWDelta were isolated from two different waste water treatment plants in Germany. Both phages belong to the Podoviridae and contain linear, double-stranded DNA with a length of 72329 bp and 73659 bp, respectively. 92 and 89 putative open reading frames were identified for JWAlpha and JWDelta, respectively, by bioinformatic analysis with several tools. The genomes have nearly the same organization and could be divided into different clusters for transcription, replication, host interaction, head and tail structure and lysis. Detailed annotation via protein comparisons with BLASTP revealed strong similarities to N4-like phages. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of the genomes of Achromobacter phages JWAlpha and JWDelta and comparisons of different gene clusters with other phages revealed that they might be strongly related to other N4-like phages, especially of the Escherichia group. Although all these phages show a highly conserved genomic structure and partially strong similarities at the amino acid level, some differences could be identified. Those differences, e.g. the existence of specific genes for replication or host interaction in some N4-like phages, seem to be interesting targets for further examination of function and specific mechanisms, which might enlighten the mechanism of phage establishment in the host cell after infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Wittmann
- Department of Microorganisms, Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Brigitte Dreiseikelmann
- Department of Microbiology/Genetechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of Medical Microbiology, Central Facility for Microscopy, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jan P Meier-Kolthoff
- Department of Microorganisms, Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Boyke Bunk
- Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Christine Rohde
- Department of Microorganisms, Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
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8
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Mruk I, Kobayashi I. To be or not to be: regulation of restriction-modification systems and other toxin-antitoxin systems. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:70-86. [PMID: 23945938 PMCID: PMC3874152 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the simplest classes of genes involved in programmed death is that containing the toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems of prokaryotes. These systems are composed of an intracellular toxin and an antitoxin that neutralizes its effect. These systems, now classified into five types, were initially discovered because some of them allow the stable maintenance of mobile genetic elements in a microbial population through postsegregational killing or the death of cells that have lost these systems. Here, we demonstrate parallels between some TA systems and restriction–modification systems (RM systems). RM systems are composed of a restriction enzyme (toxin) and a modification enzyme (antitoxin) and limit the genetic flux between lineages with different epigenetic identities, as defined by sequence-specific DNA methylation. The similarities between these systems include their postsegregational killing and their effects on global gene expression. Both require the finely regulated expression of a toxin and antitoxin. The antitoxin (modification enzyme) or linked protein may act as a transcriptional regulator. A regulatory antisense RNA recently identified in an RM system can be compared with those RNAs in TA systems. This review is intended to generalize the concept of TA systems in studies of stress responses, programmed death, genetic conflict and epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Mruk
- Department of Microbiology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdansk, 80-308, Poland, Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan and Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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9
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How RecBCD enzyme and Chi promote DNA break repair and recombination: a molecular biologist's view. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2012; 76:217-28. [PMID: 22688812 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.05026-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is essential for cell viability and important for homologous genetic recombination. In enteric bacteria such as Escherichia coli, the major pathway of DSB repair requires the RecBCD enzyme, a complex helicase-nuclease regulated by a simple unique DNA sequence called Chi. How Chi regulates RecBCD has been extensively studied by both genetics and biochemistry, and two contrasting mechanisms to generate a recombinogenic single-stranded DNA tail have been proposed: the nicking of one DNA strand at Chi versus the switching of degradation from one strand to the other at Chi. Which of these reactions occurs in cells has remained unproven because of the inability to detect intracellular DNA intermediates in bacterial recombination and DNA break repair. Here, I discuss evidence from a combination of genetics and biochemistry indicating that nicking at Chi is the intracellular (in vivo) reaction. This example illustrates the need for both types of analysis (i.e., molecular biology) to uncover the mechanism and control of complex processes in living cells.
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10
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The rcbA gene product reduces spontaneous and induced chromosome breaks in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:2152-64. [PMID: 22343303 DOI: 10.1128/jb.06390-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated levels of DnaA cause excessive initiation, which leads to an increased level of double-strand breaks that are proposed to arise when newly formed replication forks collide from behind with stalled or collapsed forks. These double-strand breaks are toxic in mutants that are unable to repair them. Using a multicopy suppressor assay to identify genes that suppress this toxicity, we isolated a plasmid carrying a gene whose function had been unknown. This gene, carried by the cryptic rac prophage, has been named rcbA for its ability to reduce the frequency of chromosome breaks. Our study shows that the colony formation of strains bearing mutations in rep, recG, and rcbA, like recA and recB mutants, is inhibited by an oversupply of DnaA and that a multicopy plasmid carrying rcbA neutralizes this inhibition. These and other results suggest that rcbA helps to maintain the integrity of the bacterial chromosome by lowering the steady-state level of double-strand breaks.
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11
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Ishikawa K, Handa N, Sears L, Raleigh EA, Kobayashi I. Cleavage of a model DNA replication fork by a methyl-specific endonuclease. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:5489-98. [PMID: 21441537 PMCID: PMC3141261 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic DNA methylation is involved in many biological processes. An epigenetic status can be altered by gain or loss of a DNA methyltransferase gene or its activity. Repair of DNA damage can also remove DNA methylation. In response to such alterations, DNA endonucleases that sense DNA methylation can act and may cause cell death. Here, we explored the possibility that McrBC, a methylation-dependent DNase of Escherichia coli, cleaves DNA at a replication fork. First, we found that in vivo restriction by McrBC of bacteriophage carrying a foreign DNA methyltransferase gene is increased in the absence of homologous recombination. This suggests that some cleavage events are repaired by recombination and must take place during or after replication. Next, we demonstrated that the enzyme can cleave a model DNA replication fork in vitro. Cleavage of a fork required methylation on both arms and removed one, the other or both of the arms. Most cleavage events removed the methylated sites from the fork. This result suggests that acquisition of even rarely occurring modification patterns will be recognized and rejected efficiently by modification-dependent restriction systems that recognize two sites. This process might serve to maintain an epigenetic status along the genome through programmed cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Ishikawa
- Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Shirokanedai, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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12
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Ishikawa K, Fukuda E, Kobayashi I. Conflicts targeting epigenetic systems and their resolution by cell death: novel concepts for methyl-specific and other restriction systems. DNA Res 2010; 17:325-42. [PMID: 21059708 PMCID: PMC2993543 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsq027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modification of genomic DNA by methylation is important for defining the epigenome and the transcriptome in eukaryotes as well as in prokaryotes. In prokaryotes, the DNA methyltransferase genes often vary, are mobile, and are paired with the gene for a restriction enzyme. Decrease in a certain epigenetic methylation may lead to chromosome cleavage by the partner restriction enzyme, leading to eventual cell death. Thus, the pairing of a DNA methyltransferase and a restriction enzyme forces an epigenetic state to be maintained within the genome. Although restriction enzymes were originally discovered for their ability to attack invading DNAs, it may be understood because such DNAs show deviation from this epigenetic status. DNAs with epigenetic methylation, by a methyltransferase linked or unlinked with a restriction enzyme, can also be the target of DNases, such as McrBC of Escherichia coli, which was discovered because of its methyl-specific restriction. McrBC responds to specific genome methylation systems by killing the host bacterial cell through chromosome cleavage. Evolutionary and genomic analysis of McrBC homologues revealed their mobility and wide distribution in prokaryotes similar to restriction–modification systems. These findings support the hypothesis that this family of methyl-specific DNases evolved as mobile elements competing with specific genome methylation systems through host killing. These restriction systems clearly demonstrate the presence of conflicts between epigenetic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Ishikawa
- Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Handa N, Ichige A, Kobayashi I. Contribution of RecFOR machinery of homologous recombination to cell survival after loss of a restriction-modification gene complex. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2009; 155:2320-2332. [PMID: 19389761 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.026401-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Loss of a type II restriction-modification (RM) gene complex, such as EcoRI, from a bacterial cell leads to death of its descendent cells through attack by residual restriction enzymes on undermethylated target sites of newly synthesized chromosomes. Through such post-segregational host killing, these gene complexes impose their maintenance on their host cells. This finding led to the rediscovery of type II RM systems as selfish mobile elements. The host prokaryote cells were found to cope with such attacks through a variety of means. The RecBCD pathway of homologous recombination in Escherichia coli repairs the lethal lesions on the chromosome, whilst it destroys restricted non-self DNA. recBCD homologues, however, appear very limited in distribution among bacterial genomes, whereas homologues of the RecFOR proteins, responsible for another pathway, are widespread in eubacteria, just like the RM systems. In the present work, therefore, we examined the possible contribution of the RecFOR pathway to cell survival after loss of an RM gene complex. A recF mutation reduced survival in an otherwise rec-positive background and, more severely, in a recBC sbcBC background. We also found that its effect is prominent in the presence of specific non-null mutant forms of the RecBCD enzyme: the resistance to killing seen with recC1002, recC1004, recC2145 and recB2154 is severely reduced to the level of a null recBC allele when combined with a recF, recO or recR mutant allele. Such resistance was also dependent on RecJ and RecQ functions. UV resistance of these non-null recBCD mutants is also reduced by recF, recJ or recQ mutation. These results demonstrate that the RecFOR pathway of recombination can contribute greatly to resistance to RM-mediated host killing, depending on the genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naofumi Handa
- Laboratory of Social Genome Sciences, Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Asao Ichige
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Shirokanedai, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.,Laboratory of Social Genome Sciences, Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Ichizo Kobayashi
- Graduate Program in Biophysics and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Japan.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Shirokanedai, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.,Laboratory of Social Genome Sciences, Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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14
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Ishikawa K, Handa N, Kobayashi I. Cleavage of a model DNA replication fork by a Type I restriction endonuclease. Nucleic Acids Res 2009; 37:3531-44. [PMID: 19357093 PMCID: PMC2699502 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cleavage of a DNA replication fork leads to fork restoration by recombination repair. In prokaryote cells carrying restriction-modification systems, fork passage reduces genome methylation by the modification enzyme and exposes the chromosome to attack by the restriction enzyme. Various observations have suggested a relationship between the fork and Type I restriction enzymes, which cleave DNA at a distance from a recognition sequence. Here, we demonstrate that a Type I restriction enzyme preparation cleaves a model replication fork at its branch. The enzyme probably tracks along the DNA from an unmethylated recognition site on the daughter DNA and cuts the fork upon encountering the branch point. Our finding suggests that these restriction-modification systems contribute to genome maintenance through cell death and indicates that DNA replication fork cleavage represents a critical point in genome maintenance to choose between the restoration pathway and the destruction pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Ishikawa
- Graduate Program in Biophysics and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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15
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Hoskisson PA, Smith MCM. Hypervariation and phase variation in the bacteriophage 'resistome'. Curr Opin Microbiol 2007; 10:396-400. [PMID: 17719266 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2007.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2007] [Accepted: 04/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Most bacteria encode proteins for defence against infection by bacteriophages. The mechanisms that bring about phage defence are extremely diverse, suggesting frequent independent evolution of novel processes. Phage defence determinants are often plasmid or phage-encoded and many that are chromosomal show evidence of lateral transfer. Recent studies on restriction-modification (R-M) systems show that these genes are amongst the most rapidly evolving. Some bacteria have contingency genes that encode alternative target specificity determinants for Type I or Type III R-M systems, thus expanding the range of phages against which the host population is immune. The most counter-intuitive observation, however, is the prevalence of phase variation in many restriction systems, but recent arguments suggest that switching off expression of R-M systems can aid phage defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Hoskisson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biological Science, University of Strathclyde, Royal College Building, George Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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16
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Yahara K, Horie R, Kobayashi I, Sasaki A. Evolution of DNA double-strand break repair by gene conversion: coevolution between a phage and a restriction-modification system. Genetics 2007; 176:513-26. [PMID: 17409094 PMCID: PMC1893019 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.106.056150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The necessity to repair genome damage has been considered to be an immediate factor responsible for the origin of sex. Indeed, attack by a cellular restriction enzyme of invading DNA from several bacteriophages initiates recombinational repair by gene conversion if there is homologous DNA. In this work, we modeled the interaction between a bacteriophage and a bacterium carrying a restriction enzyme as antagonistic coevolution. We assume a locus on the bacteriophage genome has either a restriction-sensitive or a restriction-resistant allele, and another locus determines whether it is recombination/repair proficient or defective. A restriction break can be repaired by a co-infecting phage genome if one of them is recombination/repair proficient. We define the fitness of phage (resistant/sensitive and repair-positive/-negative) genotypes and bacterial (restriction-positive/-negative) genotypes by assuming random encounter of the genotypes, with given probabilities of single and double infections, and the costs of resistance, repair, and restriction. Our results show the evolution of the repair allele depends on b(1)/b(0), the ratio of the burst size b(1) under damage to host cell physiology induced by an unrepaired double-strand break to the default burst size b(0). It was not until this effect was taken into account that the evolutionary advantage of DNA repair became apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Yahara
- Laboratory of Social Genome Sciences, Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Science and Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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17
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Fonseca MM, Alarcon FJ, Vasconcelos ATD, Agnez-Lima LF. A model for the RecA protein of Mycoplasma synoviae. Genet Mol Biol 2007. [DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572007000200018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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18
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Ivancić-Bacće I, Vlasić I, Cogelja-Cajo G, Brcić-Kostić K, Salaj-Smic E. Roles of PriA protein and double-strand DNA break repair functions in UV-induced restriction alleviation in Escherichia coli. Genetics 2006; 174:2137-49. [PMID: 17028321 PMCID: PMC1698619 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.106.063750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been widely considered that DNA modification protects the chromosome of bacteria E. coli K-12 against their own restriction-modification systems. Chromosomal DNA is protected from degradation by methylation of target sequences. However, when unmethylated target sequences are generated in the host chromosome, the endonuclease activity of the EcoKI restriction-modification enzyme is inactivated by the ClpXP protease and DNA is protected. This process is known as restriction alleviation (RA) and it can be induced by UV irradiation (UV-induced RA). It has been proposed that chromosomal unmethylated target sequences, a signal for the cell to protect its own DNA, can be generated by homologous recombination during the repair of damaged DNA. In this study, we wanted to further investigate the genetic requirements for recombination proteins involved in the generation of unmethylated target sequences. For this purpose, we monitored the alleviation of EcoKI restriction by measuring the survival of unmodified lambda in UV-irradiated cells. Our genetic analysis showed that UV-induced RA is dependent on the excision repair protein UvrA, the RecA-loading activity of the RecBCD enzyme, and the primosome assembly activity of the PriA helicase and is partially dependent on RecFOR proteins. On the basis of our results, we propose that unmethylated target sequences are generated at the D-loop by the strand exchange of two hemi-methylated duplex DNAs and subsequent initiation of DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Ivancić-Bacće
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
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19
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Blakely GW, Murray NE. Control of the endonuclease activity of type I restriction-modification systems is required to maintain chromosome integrity following homologous recombination. Mol Microbiol 2006; 60:883-93. [PMID: 16677300 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05144.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A type I restriction-modification enzyme will bind to an unmethylated target sequence in DNA and, while still bound to the target, translocate DNA through the protein complex in both directions. DNA breakage occurs when two translocating complexes collide. However, if type I restriction-modification systems bind to unmodified target sequences within the resident bacterial chromosome, as opposed to incoming 'foreign' DNA, their activity is curtailed; a process known as restriction alleviation (RA). We have identified two genes in Escherichia coli, rnhA and recG, mutations in which lead to the alleviation of restriction. Induction of RA in response to these mutations is consistent with the production of unmodified target sequences following DNA synthesis associated with both homologous recombination and R-loop formation. This implies that a normal function of RA is to protect the bacterial chromosome when recombination generates unmodified products. For EcoKI, our experiments demonstrate the contribution of two pathways that serve to protect unmodified DNA in the bacterial chromosome: the primary pathway in which ClpXP degrades the restriction endonuclease and a mechanism dependent on the lar gene within Rac, a resident, defective prophage of E. coli K-12. Previously, the potential of the second pathway has only been demonstrated when expression of lar has been elevated. Our data identify the effect of lar from the repressed prophage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry W Blakely
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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