ROS-Mediated Signalling in Bacteria: Zinc-Containing Cys-X-X-Cys Redox Centres and Iron-Based Oxidative Stress

Characterization of thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase system in Filifactor alocis

INTRODUCTION

Filifactor alocis is a newly appreciated member of the periodontal community with a strong periodontal disease correlation. Little is known about the survival mechanisms by which F. alocis copes with oxidative stress and establishes the infection within the local inflammatory microenvironment of the periodontal pocket. The aim of this study is to investigate if F. alocis putative peroxiredoxin/AhpC protein FA768 may constitute an alkyl hydroperoxide reductase system utilizing putative thioredoxin reductase protein FA608, and putative thioredoxin/glutaredoxin homolog FA1411/FA455.

METHODS

FA768, FA608, FA1411 and FA455 proteins from F. alocis were expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. Insulin and 5,5-dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) reduction assays were performed to determine if purified FA1411 and FA455 proteins could be a substrate for FA608. The peroxidase activity of FA768 was examined by measuring its ability to reduce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with FA608 and FA1411/FA455 provided as the reducing systems. Further, the hydroperoxide substrate specificity of FA768 was analyzed by monitoring the NADPH oxidation in the presence of different peroxides, including H2O2, cumyl hydroperoxide (CHP), and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP).

RESULTS

In this study, we have demonstrated the existence of a functioning thioredoxin-dependent alkyl hydroperoxide system in F. alocis. This system is comprised of a thioredoxin reductase (FA608), a thioredoxin/glutaredoxin homolog (FA1411/FA455), and a typical 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin/AhpC (FA768). FA608, together with FA1411/FA455, can function as a thioredoxin reductase system to reduce insulin, DTNB, and FA768. FA455 is a glutaredoxin-like protein with thioredoxin functions in F. alocis. Both the FA768/FA608/FA1411 and FA768/FA608/FA455 reductase systems were NADPH-dependent and exhibited specificity for broad hydroperoxide substrates H2O2, CHP, and t-BHP.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study of a thioredoxin dependent alkyl hydroperoxide system from a periodontal pathogen. This system is proposed to protect F. alocis against oxidative stress due to the likely absence of a catalase or an additional peroxiredoxin homolog.

Characterization of FA1654: A putative DPS protein in Filifactor alocis

The survival/adaptation of Filifactor alocis, a fastidious Gram-positive asaccharolytic anaerobe, to the inflammatory environment of the periodontal pocket requires an ability to overcome oxidative stress. Moreover, its pathogenic characteristics are highlighted by its capacity to survive in the oxidative-stress microenvironment of the periodontal pocket and a likely ability to modulate the microbial community dynamics. There is still a significant gap in our understanding of its mechanism of oxidative stress resistance and its impact on the virulence and pathogenicity of the microbial biofilm. Coinfection of epithelial cells with F. alocis and Porphyromonas gingivalis resulted in the upregulation of several genes, including HMPREF0389_01654 (FA1654). Bioinformatics analysis indicates that FA1654 has a "di-iron binding domain" and could function as a DNA starvation and stationary phase protection (DPS) protein. We have further characterized the FA1654 protein to determine its role in oxidative stress resistance in F. alocis. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress, there was an ∼1.3 fold upregulation of the FA1654 gene in F. alocis. Incubation of the purified FA1654 protein with DNA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and iron resulted in the protection of the DNA from Fenton-mediated degradation. Circular dichroism and differential scanning fluorimetry studies have documented the intrinsic ability of rFA1654 protein to bind iron; however, the rFA1654 protein is missing the intrinsic ability to reduce hydrogen peroxide. Collectively, the data may suggest that FA1654 in F. alocis is involved in oxidative stress resistance via an ability to protect against Fenton-mediated oxidative stress-induced damage.

Manganese Utilization in Salmonella Pathogenesis: Beyond the Canonical Antioxidant Response

The metal ion manganese (Mn²⁺) is equally coveted by hosts and bacterial pathogens. The host restricts Mn²⁺ in the gastrointestinal tract and Salmonella-containing vacuoles, as part of a process generally known as nutritional immunity. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium counteract Mn²⁺ limitation using a plethora of metal importers, whose expression is under elaborate transcriptional and posttranscriptional control. Mn²⁺ serves as cofactor for a variety of enzymes involved in antioxidant defense or central metabolism. Because of its thermodynamic stability and low reactivity, bacterial pathogens may favor Mn²⁺-cofactored metalloenzymes during periods of oxidative stress. This divalent metal catalyzes metabolic flow through lower glycolysis, reductive tricarboxylic acid and the pentose phosphate pathway, thereby providing energetic, redox and biosynthetic outputs associated with the resistance of Salmonella to reactive oxygen species generated in the respiratory burst of professional phagocytic cells. Combined, the oxyradical-detoxifying properties of Mn²⁺ together with the ability of this divalent metal cation to support central metabolism help Salmonella colonize the mammalian gut and establish systemic infections.

Role of the Filifactor alocis Hypothetical Protein FA519 in Oxidative Stress Resistance

In the periodontal pocket, there is a direct correlation between environmental conditions, the dynamic oral microbial flora, and disease. The relative abundance of several newly recognized microbial species in the oral microenvironment has raised questions on their impact on disease development. One such organism, Filifactor alocis, is significant to the pathogenic biofilm structure. Moreover, its pathogenic characteristics are highlighted by its ability to survive in the oxidative-stress microenvironment of the periodontal pocket and alter the microbial community dynamics. There is a gap in our understanding of its mechanism(s) of oxidative stress resistance and impact on pathogenicity. Several proteins, including HMPRFF0389-00519 (FA519), were observed in high abundance in F. alocis during coinfection of epithelial cells with Porphyromonas gingivalis W83. Bioinformatics analysis shows that FA519 contains a "Cys-X-X-Cys zinc ribbon domain" which could be involved in DNA binding and oxidative stress resistance. We have characterized FA519 to elucidate its roles in the oxidative stress resistance and virulence of F. alocis. Compared to the wild-type strain, the F. alocis isogenic gene deletion mutant, FLL1013 (ΔFA519::ermF), showed significantly reduced sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide-induced stress. The ability to form biofilm and adhere to and invade gingival epithelial cells was also reduced in the isogenic mutant. The recombinant FA519 protein was shown to protect DNA from Fenton-mediated damage with an intrinsic ability to reduce hydrogen peroxide and disulfide bonds. Collectively, these results suggest that FA519 is involved in oxidative stress resistance and can modulate important virulence attributes in F. alocis. IMPORTANCE Filifactor alocis is an emerging member of the periodontal community and is now proposed to be a diagnostic indicator of periodontal disease. However, due to the lack of genetic tools available to study this organism, not much is known about its virulence attributes. The mechanism(s) of oxidative stress resistance in F. alocis is unknown. Therefore, identifying the adaptive mechanisms utilized by F. alocis to survive in the oxidative stress environment of the periodontal pocket would lead to understanding its virulence regulation, which could help develop novel therapeutic treatments to combat the effects of periodontal disease. This study is focused on the characterization of FA519, a hypothetical protein in F. alocis, as a multifunctional protein that plays an important role in the reactive oxygen species-detoxification pathway. Collectively, our results suggest that FA519 is involved in oxidative stress resistance and can modulate important virulence attributes in F. alocis.

Analysis of Porcine Model of Fecal-Induced Peritonitis Reveals the Tropism of Blood Microbiome

Recent studies have suggested the existence of a blood microbiome in the healthy host. However, changes in the blood microbiome upon bloodstream infection are not known. Here, we analyzed the dynamics of the blood microbiome in a porcine model of polymicrobial bacteremia induced by fecal peritonitis. Surprisingly, we detected bacterial populations in the bloodstream even before the infection, and these populations were maintained over time. The native blood microbiome was notably taxonomically different from the fecal microbiome that was used to induce peritonitis, reflecting microbial tropism for the blood. Although the population composition after the infection was similar to that of the native blood microbiome, new bacterial strains entered the bloodstream upon peritonitis induction as clinical symptoms relevant to sepsis developed. This indicates that the bacteria detected in the blood before peritonitis induction were derived from the blood rather than a contamination. Comparison of the functional pathways enriched in the blood and fecal microbiomes revealed that communication and stress management pathways are essential for the survival of the blood microbiome.

Protein Carbonylation: Emerging Roles in Plant Redox Biology and Future Prospects

Plants are sessile in nature and they perceive and react to environmental stresses such as abiotic and biotic factors. These induce a change in the cellular homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are known to react with cellular components, including DNA, lipids, and proteins, and to interfere with hormone signaling via several post-translational modifications (PTMs). Protein carbonylation (PC) is a non-enzymatic and irreversible PTM induced by ROS. The non-enzymatic feature of the carbonylation reaction has slowed the efforts to identify functions regulated by PC in plants. Yet, in prokaryotic and animal cells, studies have shown the relevance of protein carbonylation as a signal transduction mechanism in physiological processes including hydrogen peroxide sensing, cell proliferation and survival, ferroptosis, and antioxidant response. In this review, we provide a detailed update on the most recent findings pertaining to the role of PC and its implications in various physiological processes in plants. By leveraging the progress made in bacteria and animals, we highlight the main challenges in studying the impacts of carbonylation on protein functions in vivo and the knowledge gap in plants. Inspired by the success stories in animal sciences, we then suggest a few approaches that could be undertaken to overcome these challenges in plant research. Overall, this review describes the state of protein carbonylation research in plants and proposes new research avenues on the link between protein carbonylation and plant redox biology.

Methylobacterium radiodurans sp. nov., a novel radiation-resistant Methylobacterium

A Gram-negative, aerobic, flagellated, rod-shaped, and pink-pigmented bacterium, strain 17Sr1-43 ^T, was isolated from a soil sample collected in Nowongu, Seoul, Korea. The isolate could grow at 18-37 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-1.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0%) with aeration. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c) and summed feature 2 (iso-C_16:1 I and/or C_14:0 3-OH). The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipid, and diphosphatidylglycerol. The G + C content of genomic DNA was 69.1 mol%. Strain 17Sr1-43 ^T was closely related to Methylobacterium gregans KACC 14808 ^T (98.4% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Methylobacterium hispanicum KACC 11432 ^T (97.9%), and Methylobacterium phyllosphaerae CBMB27^T (96.1%). The complete genome of strain 17Sr1-43 ^T contains essential genes related to DNA repair processes including bacterial RecBCD dependent pathway and UmuCD system. Based on the phenotypic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain 17Sr1-43 ^T represents a novel species in the genus Methylobacterium, for which the name Methylobacterium radiodurans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain 17Sr1-43 ^T (= KCTC 52906 ^T = NBRC 112875 ^T).

Coexistence of SOS-Dependent and SOS-Independent Regulation of DNA Repair Genes in Radiation-Resistant Deinococcus Bacteria

Deinococcus bacteria are extremely resistant to radiation and able to repair a shattered genome in an essentially error-free manner after exposure to high doses of radiation or prolonged desiccation. An efficient, SOS-independent response mechanism to induce various DNA repair genes such as recA is essential for radiation resistance. This pathway, called radiation/desiccation response, is controlled by metallopeptidase IrrE and repressor DdrO that are highly conserved in Deinococcus. Among various Deinococcus species, Deinococcus radiodurans has been studied most extensively. Its genome encodes classical DNA repair proteins for error-free repair but no error-prone translesion DNA polymerases, which may suggest that absence of mutagenic lesion bypass is crucial for error-free repair of massive DNA damage. However, many other radiation-resistant Deinococcus species do possess translesion polymerases, and radiation-induced mutagenesis has been demonstrated. At least dozens of Deinococcus species contain a mutagenesis cassette, and some even two cassettes, encoding error-prone translesion polymerase DnaE2 and two other proteins, ImuY and ImuB-C, that are probable accessory factors required for DnaE2 activity. Expression of this mutagenesis cassette is under control of the SOS regulators RecA and LexA. In this paper, we review both the RecA/LexA-controlled mutagenesis and the IrrE/DdrO-controlled radiation/desiccation response in Deinococcus.

Redox signaling through zinc activates the radiation response in Deinococcus bacteria

Deinococcus bacteria are extremely resistant to radiation and other DNA damage- and oxidative stress-generating conditions. An efficient SOS-independent response mechanism inducing expression of several DNA repair genes is essential for this resistance, and is controlled by metalloprotease IrrE that cleaves and inactivates transcriptional repressor DdrO. Here, we identify the molecular signaling mechanism that triggers DdrO cleavage. We show that reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulate the zinc-dependent metalloprotease activity of IrrE in Deinococcus. Sudden exposure of Deinococcus to zinc excess also rapidly induces DdrO cleavage, but is not accompanied by ROS production and DNA damage. Further, oxidative treatment leads to an increase of intracellular free zinc, indicating that IrrE activity is very likely stimulated directly by elevated levels of available zinc ions. We conclude that radiation and oxidative stress induce changes in redox homeostasis that result in IrrE activation by zinc in Deinococcus. We propose that a part of the zinc pool coordinated with cysteine thiolates is released due to their oxidation. Predicted regulation systems involving IrrE- and DdrO-like proteins are present in many bacteria, including pathogens, suggesting that such a redox signaling pathway including zinc as a second messenger is widespread and participates in various stress responses.

A novel stress-inducible CmtR-ESX3-Zn2+ regulatory pathway essential for survival of Mycobacterium bovis under oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an unavoidable host environmental cue for intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis; however, the signaling pathway in mycobacteria for sensing and responding to environmental stress remains largely unclear. Here, we characterize a novel CmtR-Zur-ESX3-Zn2+ regulatory pathway in M. bovis that aids mycobacterial survival under oxidative stress. We demonstrate that CmtR functions as a novel redox sensor and that its expression can be significantly induced under H2O2 stress. CmtR can physically interact with the negative regulator Zur and de-represses the expression of the esx-3 operon, which leads to Zn2+ accumulation and promotion of reactive oxygen species detoxication in mycobacterial cells. Zn2+ can also act as an effector molecule of the CmtR regulator, using which the latter can de-repress its own expression for further inducing bacterial antioxidant adaptation. Consistently, CmtR can induce the expression of EsxH, a component of esx-3 operon involved in Zn2+ transportation that has been reported earlier, and inhibit phagosome maturation in macrophages. Lastly, CmtR significantly contributes to bacterial survival in macrophages and in the lungs of infected mice. Our findings reveal the existence of an antioxidant regulatory pathway in mycobacteria and provide novel information on stress-triggered gene regulation and its association with host-pathogen interaction.

Networking and Specificity-Changing DNA Methyltransferases in Helicobacter pylori

Epigenetic DNA base methylation plays important roles in gene expression regulation. We here describe a gene expression regulation network consisting of many DNA methyltransferases each frequently changing its target sequence-specificity. Our object Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium responsible for most incidence of stomach cancer, carries a large and variable repertoire of sequence-specific DNA methyltransferases. By creating a dozen of single-gene knockout strains for the methyltransferases, we revealed that they form a network controlling methylome, transcriptome and adaptive phenotype sets. The methyltransferases interact with each other in a hierarchical way, sometimes regulated positively by one methyltransferase but negatively with another. Motility, oxidative stress tolerance and DNA damage repair are likewise regulated by multiple methyltransferases. Their regulation sometimes involves translation start and stop codons suggesting coupling of methylation, transcription and translation. The methyltransferases frequently change their sequence-specificity through gene conversion of their target recognition domain and switch their target sets to remodel the network. The emerging picture of a metamorphosing gene regulation network, or firework, consisting of epigenetic systems ever-changing their specificity in search for adaptation, provides a new paradigm in understanding global gene regulation and adaptive evolution.

NFκB/Orai1 Facilitates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) promote de novo lipogenesis, which caused abnormal hepatic lipid accumulation, by the NFκB-Orai1 pathway. Oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress have been recognized as key mechanisms in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis. Whether Orai1 facilitates ER stress by oxidative stress remains unknown. The rat model of NAFLD was constructed by feeding high-fat diet (HFD). BRL-3A cells were treated with NEFAs, Orai1inhibtor BTP2, NFκB inhibitor wogonin, or small interfering Orai (siOrai) 1, respectively. The content of intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), indicating oxidative stress, was measured by a spectrophotometer. ER stress major proteins PERK, IRE1, ATF6, CHOP, and GRP78 were quantified using Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses. For the intracellular location of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Orai1 were measured by Western blot and immunofluorescence, and cytosolic Ca²⁺ was measured by flow cytometry. As we expected, the liver of rats with NAFLD showed lipid droplets in HE and Oil Red O. The decreased GSH and increased MDA were found in rats fed with HFD. ER stress major proteins PERK, IRE1, ATF6, GRP78, and CHOP were significantly increased in the HFD group. In BRL-3A cells, GSH content dramatically decreased from 1 h, MDA content dramatically increased from 3 h, and expression levels of ER stress significantly increased from 3 h by NEFA treatment. Furthermore, cytosolic Ca²⁺ increased from 0.5 h by NEFAs treated in BRL-3A cells. It indicated that NEFAs increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ to induce oxidative stress, thus ER stress. The content of oxidative stress and ER stress proteins showed the same trends by NEFAs treated in BRL-3A cells. These effects were reversed by the Orai1 inhibitor BTP2 and the NFκB inhibitor wogonin. Moreover, siOrai1 abrogated NEFAs' influence in BRL-3A cells. Last, ROS was found by NEFAs treated in BRL-3A cells, and NEFA treatment enhanced the nuclear localization of NF-κB p65 and ORAI1. It was considered that high NEFAs increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ and enhanced NFκB-dependent SOCE and its moiety protein Orai1 to decrease GSH and thus induced oxidative stress at earlier stages and furthermore tempted ER stress in the pathologic progress of NAFLD.

Zinc binding proteome of a phytopathogen Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa

Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) is a proteobacteria which causes bacterial leaf streak (BLS) or bacterial chaff disease in wheat and barley. The constant competition for zinc (Zn) metal nutrients contributes significantly in plant-pathogen interactions. In this study, we have employed a systematic in silico approach to study the Zn-binding proteins of Xtu. From the whole proteome of Xtu, we have identified approximately 7.9% of proteins having Zn-binding sequence and structural motifs. Further, 115 proteins were found homologous to plant-pathogen interaction database. Among these 115 proteins, 11 were predicted as putative secretory proteins. The functional diversity in Zn-binding proteins was revealed by functional domain, gene ontology and subcellular localization analysis. The roles of Zn-binding proteins were found to be varied in the range from metabolism, proteolysis, protein biosynthesis, transport, cell signalling, protein folding, transcription regulation, DNA repair, response to oxidative stress, RNA processing, antimicrobial resistance, DNA replication and DNA integration. This study provides preliminary information on putative Zn-binding proteins of Xtu which may further help in designing new metal-based antimicrobial agents for controlling BLS and bacterial chaff infections on staple crops.

Bacteriostatic Potency of Fe2O3 Against Enterococcus faecalis in Synergy with Antibiotics by DDST Method

BACKGROUND

In this study, bacteriostatic potency of the Iron oxide nanoparticles against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) (a clinical sample and the ATCC11700 strain) was investigated.

METHODS

Nanoparticles' bacteriostatic concentration was determined and used to appraise the characteristics of the Iron Oxide (Fe₂O₃) against the isolates. Antimicrobial examinations with 10⁸ cfu.ml ^-1 were performed at the baseline. Due to evaluation level of potency, after performing Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), the assessment of death kinetic and susceptibility constant of nanoparticles was done by suspension at two MICs in 0 to 360 min treatment time.

RESULTS

Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in size range of 10-50 nm demonstrated the most effective susceptibility reaction against E. faecalis and ATCC11700 strain in Z=78.125 ml/μg ^-1 and 39.0625 ml/μg ^-1, respectively. The kinetic reaction of E. faecalis against Fe₂O₃ suspension was supposed to be decreased through the elapse of treatment time, whereas increased concentration was along with bacteria growth after a certain time. So, the efficient concentration of nanoparticles was applied with semi-sensitive and antibiotic resistant for both strains. However, synergism of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles with Ceftazidime and Clindamycin revealed a higher susceptibility compared with Fe₂O₃nanoparticles alone against E. faecalis.

CONCLUSION

The experimental results reveal that Fe₂O₃ has a strong antimicrobial effect at a certain concentration over the time so could potentially be used for bacterial inhibition and this feature will be strengthened in combination with antibiotics.

Regulatory mechanisms of thiol-based redox sensors: lessons learned from structural studies on prokaryotic redox sensors

Oxidative stresses, such as reactive oxygen species, reactive electrophilic species, reactive nitrogen species, and reactive chlorine species, can damage cellular components, leading to cellular malfunction and death. In response to oxidative stress, bacteria have evolved redox-responsive sensors that enable them to simultaneously monitor and eradicate potential oxidative stress. Specifically, redox-sensing transcription regulators react to oxidative stress by means of modifying the thiol groups of cysteine residues, functioning as part of an efficient survival mechanism for many bacteria. In general, oxidative molecules can induce changes in the three-dimensional structures of redox sensors, which, in turn, affects the transcription of specific genes in detoxification pathways and defense mechanisms. Moreover, pathogenic bacteria utilize these redox sensors for adaptation and to evade subsequent oxidative attacks from host immune defense. For this reason, the redox sensors of pathogenic bacteria are potential antibiotic targets. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of thiol-based redox sensors in bacteria will provide insight and knowledge into the discovery of new antibiotics.

Deciphering the Transcriptional Response Mediated by the Redox-Sensing System HbpS-SenS-SenR from Streptomycetes

The secreted protein HbpS, the membrane-embedded sensor kinase SenS and the cytoplasmic response regulator SenR from streptomycetes have been shown to form a novel type of signaling pathway. Based on structural biology as well as different biochemical and biophysical approaches, redox stress-based post-translational modifications in the three proteins were shown to modulate the activity of this signaling pathway. In this study, we show that the homologous system, named here HbpSc-SenSc-SenRc, from the model species Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) provides this bacterium with an efficient defense mechanism under conditions of oxidative stress. Comparative analyses of the transcriptomes of the Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) wild-type and the generated hbpSc-senSc-senRc mutant under native and oxidative-stressing conditions allowed to identify differentially expressed genes, whose products may enhance the anti-oxidative defense of the bacterium. Amongst others, the results show an up-regulated transcription of genes for biosynthesis of cysteine and vitamin B₁₂, transport of methionine and vitamin B₁₂, and DNA synthesis and repair. Simultaneously, transcription of genes for degradation of an anti-oxidant compound is down-regulated in a HbpSc-SenSc-SenRc-dependent manner. It appears that HbpSc-SenSc-SenRc controls the non-enzymatic response of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) to counteract the hazardous effects of oxidative stress. Binding of the response regulator SenRc to regulatory regions of some of the studied genes indicates that the regulation is direct. The results additionally suggest that HbpSc-SenSc-SenRc may act in concert with other regulatory modules such as a transcriptional regulator, a two-component system and the Streptomyces B₁₂ riboswitch. The transcriptomics data, together with our previous in vitro results, enable a profound characterization of the HbpS-SenS-SenR system from streptomycetes. Since homologues to HbpS-SenS-SenR are widespread in different actinobacteria with ecological and medical relevance, the data presented here will serve as a basis to elucidate the biological role of these homologues.

Two distinct mechanisms of transcriptional regulation by the redox sensor YodB

For bacteria, cysteine thiol groups in proteins are commonly used as thiol-based switches for redox sensing to activate specific detoxification pathways and restore the redox balance. Among the known thiol-based regulatory systems, the MarR/DUF24 family regulators have been reported to sense and respond to reactive electrophilic species, including diamide, quinones, and aldehydes, with high specificity. Here, we report that the prototypical regulator YodB of the MarR/DUF24 family from Bacillus subtilis uses two distinct pathways to regulate transcription in response to two reactive electrophilic species (diamide or methyl-p-benzoquinone), as revealed by X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and biochemical experiments. Diamide induces structural changes in the YodB dimer by promoting the formation of disulfide bonds, whereas methyl-p-benzoquinone allows the YodB dimer to be dissociated from DNA, with little effect on the YodB dimer. The results indicate that B. subtilis may discriminate toxic quinones, such as methyl-p-benzoquinone, from diamide to efficiently manage multiple oxidative signals. These results also provide evidence that different thiol-reactive compounds induce dissimilar conformational changes in the regulator to trigger the separate regulation of target DNA. This specific control of YodB is dependent upon the type of thiol-reactive compound present, is linked to its direct transcriptional activity, and is important for the survival of B. subtilis This study of B. subtilis YodB also provides a structural basis for the relationship that exists between the ligand-induced conformational changes adopted by the protein and its functional switch.

Mini-review: Biofilm responses to oxidative stress

Biofilms constitute the predominant microbial style of life in natural and engineered ecosystems. Facing harsh environmental conditions, microorganisms accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS), potentially encountering a dangerous condition called oxidative stress. While high levels of oxidative stress are toxic, low levels act as a cue, triggering bacteria to activate effective scavenging mechanisms or to shift metabolic pathways. Although a complex and fragmentary picture results from current knowledge of the pathways activated in response to oxidative stress, three main responses are shown to be central: the existence of common regulators, the production of extracellular polymeric substances, and biofilm heterogeneity. An investigation into the mechanisms activated by biofilms in response to different oxidative stress levels could have important consequences from ecological and economic points of view, and could be exploited to propose alternative strategies to control microbial virulence and deterioration.

Structural characterization of the late competence protein ComFB from Bacillus subtilis

Many bacteria take up DNA from their environment as part of the process of natural transformation. DNA uptake allows microorganisms to gain genetic diversity and can lead to the spread of antibiotic resistance or virulence genes within a microbial population. Development of genetic competence (Com) in Bacillus subtilis is a highly regulated process that culminates in expression of several late competence genes and formation of the DNA uptake apparatus. The late competence operon comF encodes a small protein of unknown function, ComFB. To gain insight into the function of ComFB, we determined its 3D structure via X-ray crystallography. ComFB is a dimer and each subunit consists of four α-helices connected by short loops and one extended β-strand-like stretch. Each subunit contains one zinc-binding site formed by four cysteines, which are unusually spaced in the primary sequence. Using structure- and bioinformatics-guided substitutions we analyzed the inter-subunit interface of the ComFB dimer. Based on these analyses, we conclude that ComFB is an obligate dimer. We also characterized ComFB in vivo and found that this protein is produced in competent cells and is localized to the cytosol. Consistent with previous reports, we showed that deletion of ComFB does not affect DNA uptake function. Combining our results, we conclude that ComFB is unlikely to be a part of the DNA uptake machinery under tested conditions and instead may have a regulatory function.

Coregulation of host-adapted metabolism and virulence by pathogenic yersiniae

Deciphering the principles how pathogenic bacteria adapt their metabolism to a specific host microenvironment is critical for understanding bacterial pathogenesis. The enteric pathogenic Yersinia species Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica and the causative agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, are able to survive in a large variety of environmental reservoirs (e.g., soil, plants, insects) as well as warm-blooded animals (e.g., rodents, pigs, humans) with a particular preference for lymphatic tissues. In order to manage rapidly changing environmental conditions and interbacterial competition, Yersinia senses the nutritional composition during the course of an infection by special molecular devices, integrates this information and adapts its metabolism accordingly. In addition, nutrient availability has an impact on expression of virulence genes in response to C-sources, demonstrating a tight link between the pathogenicity of yersiniae and utilization of nutrients. Recent studies revealed that global regulatory factors such as the cAMP receptor protein (Crp) and the carbon storage regulator (Csr) system are part of a large network of transcriptional and posttranscriptional control strategies adjusting metabolic changes and virulence in response to temperature, ion and nutrient availability. Gained knowledge about the specific metabolic requirements and the correlation between metabolic and virulence gene expression that enable efficient host colonization led to the identification of new potential antimicrobial targets.

Radiation response in Deinococcus deserti: IrrE is a metalloprotease that cleaves repressor protein DdrO

Deinococcus bacteria are famous for their extreme radiation tolerance. The IrrE protein was shown to be essential for radiation tolerance and, in an unelucidated manner, for induction of a number of genes in response to radiation, including recA and other DNA repair genes. Earlier studies indicated that IrrE could be a zinc peptidase, but proteolytic activity was not demonstrated. Here, using several in vivo and in vitro experiments, IrrE from Deinococcus deserti was found to interact with DdrO, a predicted regulator encoded by a radiation-induced gene that is, like irrE, highly conserved in Deinococcus. Moreover, IrrE was found to cleave DdrO in vitro and when the proteins were coexpressed in Escherichia coli. This cleavage was not observed in the presence of metal chelator EDTA or when IrrE contains a mutation in the conserved active-site motif of metallopeptidases. In D. deserti, IrrE-dependent cleavage of DdrO was observed after exposure to radiation. Furthermore, DdrO-dependent repression of the promoter of a radiation-induced gene was shown. These results demonstrate that IrrE is a metalloprotease and we propose that IrrE-mediated cleavage inactivates repressor protein DdrO, leading to transcriptional induction of various genes required for repair and survival after exposure of Deinococcus to radiation.

Involvement of PG2212 zinc finger protein in the regulation of oxidative stress resistance in Porphyromonas gingivalis W83

The adaptation of Porphyromonas gingivalis to H2O2-induced stress while inducible is modulated by an unknown OxyR-independent mechanism. Previously, we reported that the PG_2212 gene was highly upregulated in P. gingivalis under conditions of prolonged oxidative stress. Because this gene may have regulatory properties, its function in response to H2O2 was further characterized. PG2212, annotated as a hypothetical protein of unknown function, is a 10.3-kDa protein with a cysteine 2-histidine 2 (Cys2His2) zinc finger domain. The isogenic mutant P. gingivalis FLL366 (ΔPG_2212) showed increased sensitivity to H2O2 and decreased gingipain activity compared to the parent strain. Transcriptome analysis of P. gingivalis FLL366 revealed that approximately 11% of the genome displayed altered expression (130 downregulated genes and 120 upregulated genes) in response to prolonged H2O2-induced stress. The majority of the modulated genes were hypothetical or of unknown function, although some are known to participate in oxidative stress resistance. The promoter region of several of the most highly modulated genes contained conserved motifs. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, the purified rPG2212 protein did not bind its own promoter region but bound a similar region in several of the genes modulated in the PG_2212-deficient mutant. A metabolome analysis revealed that PG2212 can regulate a number of genes coding for proteins involved in metabolic pathways critical for its survival under the conditions of oxidative stress. Collectively, our data suggest that PG2212 is a transcriptional regulator that plays an important role in oxidative stress resistance and virulence regulation in P. gingivalis.

Cross-talk between cognate and noncognate RpoE sigma factors and Zn(2+)-binding anti-sigma factors regulates photooxidative stress response in Azospirillum brasilense

AIMS

Azospirillum brasilense harbors two redox-sensitive Zinc-binding anti-sigma (ZAS) factors (ChrR1 and ChrR2), which negatively regulate the activity of their cognate extra-cytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors (RpoE1 and RpoE2) by occluding their binding to the core enzyme. Both pairs of RpoE-ChrR control responses to photooxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the two RpoE-ChrR pairs cross-talk while responding to the stress.

RESULTS

In silico analysis showed a high sequence similarity between ChrR1 and ChrR2 proteins, but differences in redox sensitivity. Using in silico and in vitro methods of protein-protein interaction, we have shown that both ChrR1 and ChrR2 proteins physically bind to their noncognate RpoE proteins. Restoration of the phenotypes of chrR1::Tn5 and chrR2::Km mutants related to carotenoid biosynthesis and photooxidative stress tolerance by expressing chrR1 or chrR2 provided in vivo evidence for the cross-talk. In addition, up- or down-regulation of several identical proteins by expressing chrR1 or chrR2 in the chrR1::Tn5 mutant provided another in vivo evidence for the cross-talk.

INNOVATION

Although multiple redox-sensitive ZAS anti-σ factors occur in some Gram-positive bacteria, no cross-talk is reported among them. We report here, for the first time, that the two ZAS anti-σ factors of A. brasilense also interact with their noncognate σ factors and affect gene expression.

CONCLUSION

The two redox-sensitive ZAS anti-σ factors in A. brasilense may interact with their cognate as well as noncognate ECF σ factors to play an important role in redox homeostasis by facilitating recovery from the oxidative stress.

Competition for zinc binding in the host-pathogen interaction

Due to its favorable chemical properties, zinc is used as a structural or catalytic cofactor in a very large number of proteins. Despite the apparent abundance of this metal in all cell types, the intracellular pool of loosely bound zinc ions available for biological exchanges is in the picomolar range and nearly all zinc is tightly bound to proteins. In addition, to limit bacterial growth, some zinc-sequestering proteins are produced by eukaryotic hosts in response to infections. Therefore, to grow and multiply in the infected host, bacterial pathogens must produce high affinity zinc importers, such as the ZnuABC transporter which is present in most Gram-negative bacteria. Studies carried in different bacterial species have established that disruption of ZnuABC is usually associated with a remarkable loss of pathogenicity. The critical involvement of zinc in a plethora of metabolic and virulence pathways and the presence of very low number of zinc importers in most bacterial species mark zinc homeostasis as a very promising target for the development of novel antimicrobial strategies.

Iron binding at specific sites within the octameric HbpS protects streptomycetes from iron-mediated oxidative stress

The soil bacterium Streptomyces reticuli secretes the octameric protein HbpS that acts as a sensory component of the redox-signalling pathway HbpS-SenS-SenR. This system modulates a genetic response on iron- and haem-mediated oxidative stress. Moreover, HbpS alone provides this bacterium with a defence mechanism to the presence of high concentrations of iron ions and haem. While the protection against haem has been related to its haem-binding and haem-degrading activity, the interaction with iron has not been studied in detail. In this work, we biochemically analyzed the iron-binding activity of a set of generated HbpS mutant proteins and present evidence showing the involvement of one internal and two exposed D/EXXE motifs in binding of high quantities of ferrous iron, with the internal E₇₈XXE₈₁ displaying the tightest binding. We additionally show that HbpS is able to oxidize ferrous to ferric iron ions. Based on the crystal structure of both the wild-type and the mutant HbpS-D₇₈XXD₈₁, we conclude that the local arrangement of the side chains from the glutamates in E₇₈XXE₈₁ within the octameric assembly is a pre-requisite for interaction with iron. The data obtained led us to propose that the exposed and the internal motif build a highly specific route that is involved in the transport of high quantities of iron ions into the core of the HbpS octamer. Furthermore, physiological studies using Streptomyces transformants secreting either wild-type or HbpS mutant proteins and different redox-cycling compounds led us to conclude that the iron-sequestering activity of HbpS protects these soil bacteria from the hazardous side effects of peroxide- and iron-based oxidative stress.