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Leinberger FH, Cassidy L, Edelmann D, Schmid NE, Oberpaul M, Blumenkamp P, Schmidt S, Natriashvili A, Ulbrich MH, Tholey A, Koch HG, Berghoff BA. Protein aggregation is a consequence of the dormancy-inducing membrane toxin TisB in Escherichia coli. mSystems 2024:e0106024. [PMID: 39377584 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01060-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial dormancy is a valuable strategy to survive stressful conditions. Toxins from chromosomal toxin-antitoxin systems have the potential to halt cell growth, induce dormancy, and eventually promote a stress-tolerant persister state. Due to their potential toxicity when overexpressed, sophisticated expression systems are needed when studying toxin genes. Here, we present a moderate expression system for toxin genes based on an artificial 5' untranslated region. We applied the system to induce expression of the toxin gene tisB from the chromosomal type I toxin-antitoxin system tisB/istR-1 in Escherichia coli. TisB is a small hydrophobic protein that targets the inner membrane, resulting in depolarization and ATP depletion. We analyzed TisB-producing cells by RNA-sequencing and revealed several genes with a role in recovery from TisB-induced dormancy, including the chaperone genes ibpAB and spy. The importance of chaperone genes suggested that TisB-producing cells are prone to protein aggregation, which was validated by an in vivo fluorescent reporter system. We moved on to show that TisB is an essential factor for protein aggregation upon DNA damage mediated by the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin in E. coli wild-type cells. The occurrence of protein aggregates correlates with an extended dormancy duration, which underscores their importance for the life cycle of TisB-dependent persister cells. IMPORTANCE Protein aggregates occur in all living cells due to misfolding of proteins. In bacteria, protein aggregation is associated with cellular inactivity, which is related to dormancy and tolerance to stressful conditions, including exposure to antibiotics. In Escherichia coli, the membrane toxin TisB is an important factor for dormancy and antibiotic tolerance upon DNA damage mediated by the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Here, we show that TisB provokes protein aggregation, which, in turn, promotes an extended state of cellular dormancy. Our study suggests that protein aggregation is a consequence of membrane toxins with the potential to affect the duration of dormancy and the outcome of antibiotic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian H Leinberger
- Institute for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany
| | - Liam Cassidy
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniel Edelmann
- Institute for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany
| | - Nicole E Schmid
- Institute for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany
| | - Markus Oberpaul
- Branch for Bioresources of the Fraunhofer IME, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany
| | - Patrick Blumenkamp
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schmidt
- Institute for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ana Natriashvili
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian H Ulbrich
- Internal Medicine IV, Department of Medicine, University Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Tholey
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Koch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bork A Berghoff
- Institute for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany
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2
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Leinberger FH, Berghoff BA. Relevance of charged and polar amino acids for functionality of membrane toxin TisB. Sci Rep 2024; 14:22998. [PMID: 39362964 PMCID: PMC11449926 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73879-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial dormancy is marked by reduced cellular activity and the suspension of growth. It represents a valuable strategy to survive stressful conditions, as exemplified by the long-term tolerance towards antibiotics that is attributable to a fraction of dormant cells, so-called persisters. Here, we investigate the membrane toxin TisB (29 amino acids) from the chromosomal toxin-antitoxin system tisB/istR-1 in Escherichia coli. TisB depolarizes the inner membrane in response to DNA damage, which eventually promotes a stress-tolerant state of dormancy within a small fraction of the population. Using a plasmid-based system for moderate tisB expression and single amino acid substitutions, we dissect the importance of charged and polar amino acids. We observe that the central amino acids lysine 12 and glutamine 19 are of major importance for TisB functionality, which is further validated for lysine 12 in the native context upon treatment with the DNA-damaging antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Finally, we apply a library-based approach to test additional TisB variants in higher throughput, revealing that at least one positive charge at the C-terminus (either lysine 26 or 29) is mandatory for TisB-mediated dormancy. Our study provides insights into the molecular basis for TisB functionality and extends our understanding of bacterial membrane toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian H Leinberger
- Institute for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Bork A Berghoff
- Institute for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Prokaryotes, University of Ulm, 89069, Ulm, Germany.
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3
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Duverger W, Tsaka G, Khodaparast L, Khodaparast L, Louros N, Rousseau F, Schymkowitz J. An end-to-end approach for single-cell infrared absorption spectroscopy of bacterial inclusion bodies: from AFM-IR measurement to data interpretation of large sample sets. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:406. [PMID: 38987828 PMCID: PMC11234752 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02674-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inclusion bodies (IBs) are well-known subcellular structures in bacteria where protein aggregates are collected. Various methods have probed their structure, but single-cell spectroscopy remains challenging. Atomic Force Microscopy-based Infrared Spectroscopy (AFM-IR) is a novel technology with high potential for the characterisation of biomaterials such as IBs. RESULTS We present a detailed investigation using AFM-IR, revealing the substructure of IBs and their variation at the single-cell level, including a rigorous optimisation of data collection parameters and addressing issues such as laser power, pulse frequency, and sample drift. An analysis pipeline was developed tailored to AFM-IR image data, allowing high-throughput, label-free imaging of more than 3500 IBs in 12,000 bacterial cells. We examined IBs generated in Escherichia coli under different stress conditions. Dimensionality reduction analysis of the resulting spectra suggested distinct clustering of stress conditions, aligning with the nature and severity of the applied stresses. Correlation analyses revealed intricate relationships between the physical and morphological properties of IBs. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the power and limitations of AFM-IR, revealing structural heterogeneity within and between IBs. We show that it is possible to perform quantitative analyses of AFM-IR maps over a large collection of different samples and determine how to control for various technical artefacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Duverger
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Grigoria Tsaka
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Laboratory for Neuropathology, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Ladan Khodaparast
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Laleh Khodaparast
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Nikolaos Louros
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
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4
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Komera I, Chen X, Liu L, Gao C. Microbial Synthetic Epigenetic Tools Design and Applications. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1621-1632. [PMID: 38758631 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Microbial synthetic epigenetics offers significant opportunities for the design of synthetic biology tools by leveraging reversible gene control mechanisms without altering DNA sequences. However, limited understanding and a lack of technologies for thorough analysis of the mechanisms behind epigenetic modifications have hampered their utilization in biotechnological applications. In this review, we explore advancements in developing epigenetic-based synthetic gene regulatory tools at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Furthermore, we examine strategies developed to construct epigenetic-based circuits that provide controllable and stable gene regulation, aiming to boost the performance of microbial chassis cells. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and perspectives in the development of synthetic epigenetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Komera
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xiulai Chen
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Liming Liu
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Cong Gao
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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5
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Biba DA, Wolf YI, Koonin EV, Rochman ND. Balance between asymmetric allocation and repair of somatic damage in unicellular life forms as an ancient form of r/K selection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2400008121. [PMID: 38787879 PMCID: PMC11145259 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400008121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the course of multiple divisions, cells accumulate diverse nongenetic, somatic damage including misfolded and aggregated proteins and cell wall defects. If the rate of damage accumulation exceeds the rate of dilution through cell growth, a dedicated mitigation strategy is required to prevent eventual population collapse. Strategies for somatic damage control can be divided into two categories, asymmetric allocation and repair, which are not, in principle, mutually exclusive. We explore a mathematical model to identify the optimal strategy, maximizing the total cell number, over a wide range of environmental and physiological conditions. The optimal strategy is primarily determined by extrinsic, damage-independent mortality and the physiological model for damage accumulation that can be either independent (linear) or increasing (exponential) with respect to the prior accumulated damage. Under the linear regime, the optimal strategy is either exclusively repair or asymmetric allocation, whereas under the exponential regime, the optimal strategy is a combination of asymmetry and repair. Repair is preferred when extrinsic mortality is low, whereas at high extrinsic mortality, asymmetric damage allocation becomes the strategy of choice. We hypothesize that at an early stage of life evolution, optimization over repair and asymmetric allocation of somatic damage gave rise to r and K selection strategists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry A. Biba
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, MD20894
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN37830
| | - Yuri I. Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, MD20894
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, MD20894
| | - Nash D. Rochman
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, MD20894
- Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health, City University of New York, New York, NY10027
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy City, University of New York, New York, NY10027
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6
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Vedel S, Košmrlj A, Nunns H, Trusina A. Synergistic and antagonistic effects of deterministic and stochastic cell-cell variations. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:054404. [PMID: 38907460 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.054404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
By diversifying, cells in a clonal population can together overcome the limits of individuals. Diversity in single-cell growth rates allows the population to survive environmental stresses, such as antibiotics, and grow faster than the undiversified population. These functional cell-cell variations can arise stochastically, from noise in biochemical reactions, or deterministically, by asymmetrically distributing damaged components. While each of the mechanisms is well understood, the effect of the combined mechanisms is unclear. To evaluate the contribution of the deterministic component we developed a mathematical model by mapping the growing population to the Ising model. To analyze the combined effects of stochastic and deterministic contributions we introduced the analytical results of the Ising-mapping into an Euler-Lotka framework. Model results, confirmed by simulations and experimental data, show that deterministic cell-cell variations increase near-linearly with stress. As a consequence, we predict that the gain in population doubling time from cell-cell variations is primarily stochastic at low stress but may cross over to deterministic at higher stresses. Furthermore, we find that while the deterministic component minimizes population damage, stochastic variations antagonize this effect. Together our results may help identifying stress-tolerant pathogenic cells and thus inspire novel antibiotic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Vedel
- Niels Bohr International Academy, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Models of Life, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrej Košmrlj
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
- Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Harry Nunns
- Center for Models of Life, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
| | - Ala Trusina
- Center for Models of Life, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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7
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Hoang Y, Azaldegui CA, Dow RE, Ghalmi M, Biteen JS, Vecchiarelli AG. An experimental framework to assess biomolecular condensates in bacteria. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3222. [PMID: 38622124 PMCID: PMC11018776 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47330-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
High-resolution imaging of biomolecular condensates in living cells is essential for correlating their properties to those observed through in vitro assays. However, such experiments are limited in bacteria due to resolution limitations. Here we present an experimental framework that probes the formation, reversibility, and dynamics of condensate-forming proteins in Escherichia coli as a means to determine the nature of biomolecular condensates in bacteria. We demonstrate that condensates form after passing a threshold concentration, maintain a soluble fraction, dissolve upon shifts in temperature and concentration, and exhibit dynamics consistent with internal rearrangement and exchange between condensed and soluble fractions. We also discover that an established marker for insoluble protein aggregates, IbpA, has different colocalization patterns with bacterial condensates and aggregates, demonstrating its potential applicability as a reporter to differentiate the two in vivo. Overall, this framework provides a generalizable, accessible, and rigorous set of experiments to probe the nature of biomolecular condensates on the sub-micron scale in bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Hoang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | | | - Rachel E Dow
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Maria Ghalmi
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Julie S Biteen
- Doctoral Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Anthony G Vecchiarelli
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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8
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Karapetian M, Alimbarashvili E, Vishnepolsky B, Gabrielian A, Rosenthal A, Hurt DE, Tartakovsky M, Mchedlishvili M, Arsenadze D, Pirtskhalava M, Zaalishvili G. Evaluation of the synergistic potential and mechanisms of action for de novo designed cationic antimicrobial peptides. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27852. [PMID: 38560672 PMCID: PMC10979160 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising candidates in combating antimicrobial resistance - a growing issue in healthcare. However, to develop AMPs into effective therapeutics, a thorough analysis and extensive investigations are essential. In this study, we employed an in silico approach to design cationic AMPs de novo, followed by their experimental testing. The antibacterial potential of de novo designed cationic AMPs, along with their synergistic properties in combination with conventional antibiotics was examined. Furthermore, the effects of bacterial inoculum density and metabolic state on the antibacterial activity of AMPs were evaluated. Finally, the impact of several potent AMPs on E. coli cell envelope and genomic DNA integrity was determined. Collectively, this comprehensive analysis provides insights into the unique characteristics of cationic AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Karapetian
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Georgia, 240 David Aghmashenebeli Alley, 0159, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Evgenia Alimbarashvili
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Georgia, 240 David Aghmashenebeli Alley, 0159, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, 0160, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Boris Vishnepolsky
- Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, 0160, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Andrei Gabrielian
- Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Alex Rosenthal
- Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Darrell E. Hurt
- Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michael Tartakovsky
- Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Mariam Mchedlishvili
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Georgia, 240 David Aghmashenebeli Alley, 0159, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Davit Arsenadze
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Georgia, 240 David Aghmashenebeli Alley, 0159, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Malak Pirtskhalava
- Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, 0160, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Giorgi Zaalishvili
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Georgia, 240 David Aghmashenebeli Alley, 0159, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, 0160, Tbilisi, Georgia
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9
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Hernandez-Beltran JCR, Rodríguez-Beltrán J, Aguilar-Luviano OB, Velez-Santiago J, Mondragón-Palomino O, MacLean RC, Fuentes-Hernández A, San Millán A, Peña-Miller R. Plasmid-mediated phenotypic noise leads to transient antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2610. [PMID: 38521779 PMCID: PMC10960800 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45045-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic resistance is a critical public health concern, requiring an understanding of mechanisms that enable bacteria to tolerate antimicrobial agents. Bacteria use diverse strategies, including the amplification of drug-resistance genes. In this paper, we showed that multicopy plasmids, often carrying antibiotic resistance genes in clinical bacteria, can rapidly amplify genes, leading to plasmid-mediated phenotypic noise and transient antibiotic resistance. By combining stochastic simulations of a computational model with high-throughput single-cell measurements of blaTEM-1 expression in Escherichia coli MG1655, we showed that plasmid copy number variability stably maintains populations composed of cells with both low and high plasmid copy numbers. This diversity in plasmid copy number enhances the probability of bacterial survival in the presence of antibiotics, while also rapidly reducing the burden of carrying multiple plasmids in drug-free environments. Our results further support the tenet that multicopy plasmids not only act as vehicles for the horizontal transfer of genetic information between cells but also as drivers of bacterial adaptation, enabling rapid modulation of gene copy numbers. Understanding the role of multicopy plasmids in antibiotic resistance is critical, and our study provides insights into how bacteria can transiently survive lethal concentrations of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Carlos R Hernandez-Beltran
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210, Cuernavaca, México.
- Department of Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany.
| | | | | | - Jesús Velez-Santiago
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Octavio Mondragón-Palomino
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - R Craig MacLean
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ, Oxford, UK
| | - Ayari Fuentes-Hernández
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Alvaro San Millán
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología - CSIC, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Peña-Miller
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210, Cuernavaca, México.
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10
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Berdejo D, Mortier J, Cambré A, Sobota M, Van Eyken R, Kim TD, Vanoirbeek K, García Gonzalo D, Pagán R, Diard M, Aertsen A. Evolutionary trade-off between heat shock resistance, growth at high temperature, and virulence expression in Salmonella Typhimurium. mBio 2024; 15:e0310523. [PMID: 38349183 PMCID: PMC10936172 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03105-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of foodborne pathogens throughout our food production chain is of utmost importance. In this study, we reveal that Salmonella Typhimurium can readily and reproducibly acquire vastly increased heat shock resistance upon repeated exposure to heat shock. Counterintuitively, this boost in heat shock resistance was invariantly acquired through loss-of-function mutations in the dnaJ gene, encoding a heat shock protein that acts as a molecular co-chaperone of DnaK and enables its role in protein folding and disaggregation. As a trade-off, however, the acquisition of heat shock resistance inevitably led to attenuated growth at 37°C and higher temperatures. Interestingly, loss of DnaJ also downregulated the activity of the master virulence regulator HilD, thereby lowering the fraction of virulence-expressing cells within the population and attenuating virulence in mice. By connecting heat shock resistance evolution to attenuation of HilD activity, our results confirm the complex interplay between stress resistance and virulence in Salmonella Typhimurium. IMPORTANCE Bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella Typhimurium are equipped with both stress response and virulence features in order to navigate across a variety of complex inhospitable environments that range from food-processing plants up to the gastrointestinal tract of its animal host. In this context, however, it remains obscure whether and how adaptation to one environment would obstruct fitness in another. In this study, we reveal that severe heat stress counterintuitively, but invariantly, led to the selection of S. Typhimurium mutants that are compromised in the activity of the DnaJ heat shock protein. While these mutants obtained massively increased heat resistance, their virulence became greatly attenuated. Our observations, therefore, reveal a delicate balance between optimal tuning of stress response and virulence features in bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Berdejo
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Julien Mortier
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alexander Cambré
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Ronald Van Eyken
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Dongmin Kim
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristof Vanoirbeek
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diego García Gonzalo
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rafael Pagán
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Abram Aertsen
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Orlovska I, Zubova G, Shatursky O, Kukharenko O, Podolich O, Gorid'ko T, Kosyakova H, Borisova T, Kozyrovska N. Extracellular membrane vesicles derived from Komagataeibacter oboediens exposed on the International Space Station fuse with artificial eukaryotic membranes in contrast to vesicles of reference bacterium. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2024; 1866:184290. [PMID: 38281706 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2024.184290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Membranous Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) of Gram-negative bacteria are a secretion and delivery system that can disseminate bacterial products and interact with hosts and the environment. EVs of nonpathogenic bacteria deliver their contents by endocytosis into eukaryotic cells, however, no evidence exists for a fusion delivery mechanism. Here, we describe the fusion of exposed to space/Mars-like stressors simulated on the International Space Station vesicles (E-EVs) from Komagataeibacter oboediens to different types of model planar membranes in comparison with the EVs of the ground-based reference strain. The most reliable fusion was achieved with PC:PE:ergosterol or sterol-free PC:PE bilayers. The relative permeability ratio (PK+/PCl-) estimated from the shift of zero current potential according to Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation consisted of 4.17 ± 0.48, which coincides with preferential cation selectivity of the EV endogenous channels. The increase in membrane potential from 50 mV to 100 mV induced the fusion of E-EVs with all tested lipid compositions. The fusion of model exosomes with planar bilayer lipid membranes was confirmed by separate step-like increases in its conductance. In contrast, the ground-based reference K. oboediens EVs never induced the fusion event. In our study, we show membrane lipidome perturbations and increased protein aggregation occurred in the exposed samples in the harsh environment when outer membranes of K. oboediens acquired the capability of both homo- and heterotypic fusion possibly by altered membrane fluidity and the pore-forming capability.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Orlovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str, 150, Kyiv 030143, Ukraine.
| | - G Zubova
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str, 150, Kyiv 030143, Ukraine.
| | - O Shatursky
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of NASU, Leontovycha str, Kyiv 01024, Ukraine.
| | - O Kukharenko
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str, 150, Kyiv 030143, Ukraine.
| | - O Podolich
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str, 150, Kyiv 030143, Ukraine.
| | - T Gorid'ko
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of NASU, Leontovycha str, Kyiv 01024, Ukraine.
| | - H Kosyakova
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of NASU, Leontovycha str, Kyiv 01024, Ukraine.
| | - T Borisova
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of NASU, Leontovycha str, Kyiv 01024, Ukraine.
| | - N Kozyrovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str, 150, Kyiv 030143, Ukraine.
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12
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Monterroso B, Margolin W, Boersma AJ, Rivas G, Poolman B, Zorrilla S. Macromolecular Crowding, Phase Separation, and Homeostasis in the Orchestration of Bacterial Cellular Functions. Chem Rev 2024; 124:1899-1949. [PMID: 38331392 PMCID: PMC10906006 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Macromolecular crowding affects the activity of proteins and functional macromolecular complexes in all cells, including bacteria. Crowding, together with physicochemical parameters such as pH, ionic strength, and the energy status, influences the structure of the cytoplasm and thereby indirectly macromolecular function. Notably, crowding also promotes the formation of biomolecular condensates by phase separation, initially identified in eukaryotic cells but more recently discovered to play key functions in bacteria. Bacterial cells require a variety of mechanisms to maintain physicochemical homeostasis, in particular in environments with fluctuating conditions, and the formation of biomolecular condensates is emerging as one such mechanism. In this work, we connect physicochemical homeostasis and macromolecular crowding with the formation and function of biomolecular condensates in the bacterial cell and compare the supramolecular structures found in bacteria with those of eukaryotic cells. We focus on the effects of crowding and phase separation on the control of bacterial chromosome replication, segregation, and cell division, and we discuss the contribution of biomolecular condensates to bacterial cell fitness and adaptation to environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Monterroso
- Department
of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas
Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - William Margolin
- Department
of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth-Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Arnold J. Boersma
- Cellular
Protein Chemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty
of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Germán Rivas
- Department
of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas
Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bert Poolman
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Silvia Zorrilla
- Department
of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas
Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
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13
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Wang J, Du L, Han Y, Zhang D, Jing D. Advancing in situ single-cell microbiological analysis through a microwell droplet array with a gradual open sidewall. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:5165-5172. [PMID: 37960941 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00590a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The utilization of microfluidic analysis technology has resulted in the advancement of fast pathogenic bacteria detection, which can accurately provide information on biochemical reactions in a single cell and enhance detection efficiency. Nevertheless, the achievement of rapid and effective in situ detection of single-bacteria arrays remains a challenge due to the complexity of bacterial populations and low Reynolds coefficient fluid, resulting in insufficient diffusion. We develop microwell droplet array chips from the lateral hydrodynamic wetting approach to address this issue. The sidewall of the microwell gradually opens which aids in advancing the liquid-air interface and facilitates the impregnation of the solid microwells, preserving the Wenzel state and assisting in resisting the liquid force to separation from the drop. The feasibility of preparing cell arrays and identifying them inside the microwells was demonstrated through the simulated streamlined distribution of gradual and traditional microwells with different sizes. The water-based ink diffusion experiment examined the relationship between diffusion efficiency and flow velocity, as well as the position of the microwell relative to the channel. It showed that the smaller gradual microwell still has a good diffusion efficiency rate at a flow velocity of 2.1 μL min-1 and that the infiltration state is easier to adjust. With this platform, we successfully isolated a mixed population containing E. coli and S. aureus, obtained single-bacteria arrays, and performed Gram assays after in situ propagation. After 20 hours of culture, single bacteria reproduced demonstrating the capability of this platform to isolate, cultivate, and detect pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China, 200093.
| | - Lin Du
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China, 200093.
| | - Yuwei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200433
| | - Dawei Zhang
- School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China, 200093.
| | - Dalei Jing
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China, 200093.
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14
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Frumkin I, Laub MT. Selection of a de novo gene that can promote survival of Escherichia coli by modulating protein homeostasis pathways. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:2067-2079. [PMID: 37945946 PMCID: PMC10697842 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02224-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Cellular novelty can emerge when non-functional loci become functional genes in a process termed de novo gene birth. But how proteins with random amino acid sequences beneficially integrate into existing cellular pathways remains poorly understood. We screened ~108 genes, generated from random nucleotide sequences and devoid of homology to natural genes, for their ability to rescue growth arrest of Escherichia coli cells producing the ribonuclease toxin MazF. We identified ~2,000 genes that could promote growth, probably by reducing transcription from the promoter driving toxin expression. Additionally, one random protein, named Random antitoxin of MazF (RamF), modulated protein homeostasis by interacting with chaperones, leading to MazF proteolysis and a consequent loss of its toxicity. Finally, we demonstrate that random proteins can improve during evolution by identifying beneficial mutations that turned RamF into a more efficient inhibitor. Our work provides a mechanistic basis for how de novo gene birth can produce functional proteins that effectively benefit cells evolving under stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idan Frumkin
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael T Laub
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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15
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Mortier J, Govers SK, Cambré A, Van Eyken R, Verheul J, den Blaauwen T, Aertsen A. Protein aggregates act as a deterministic disruptor during bacterial cell size homeostasis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:360. [PMID: 37971522 PMCID: PMC11072981 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05002-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms underlying deviant cell size fluctuations among clonal bacterial siblings are generally considered to be cryptic and stochastic in nature. However, by scrutinizing heat-stressed populations of the model bacterium Escherichia coli, we uncovered the existence of a deterministic asymmetry in cell division that is caused by the presence of intracellular protein aggregates (PAs). While these structures typically locate at the cell pole and segregate asymmetrically among daughter cells, we now show that the presence of a polar PA consistently causes a more distal off-center positioning of the FtsZ division septum. The resulting increased length of PA-inheriting siblings persists over multiple generations and could be observed in both E. coli and Bacillus subtilis populations. Closer investigation suggests that a PA can physically perturb the nucleoid structure, which subsequently leads to asymmetric septation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Mortier
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sander K Govers
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alexander Cambré
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ronald Van Eyken
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolanda Verheul
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Bacterial Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tanneke den Blaauwen
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Bacterial Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Abram Aertsen
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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16
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Sundermeyer L, Folkerts JG, Lückel B, Mack C, Baumgart M, Bott M. Cellular localization of the hybrid pyruvate/2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex in the actinobacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0266823. [PMID: 37754766 PMCID: PMC10581250 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02668-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
For many bacterial proteins, specific localizations within the cell have been demonstrated, but enzymes involved in central metabolism are usually considered to be homogenously distributed within the cytoplasm. Here, we provide an example for a spatially defined localization of a unique enzyme complex found in actinobacteria, the hybrid pyruvate/2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (PDH-ODH). In non-actinobacterial cells, PDH and ODH form separate multienzyme complexes of megadalton size composed of three different subunits, E1, E2, and E3. The actinobacterial PDH-ODH complex is composed of four subunits, AceE (E1p), AceF (E2p), Lpd (E3), and OdhA (E1oE2o). Using fluorescence microscopy, we observed that in Corynebacterium glutamicum, all four subunits are co-localized in distinct spots at the cell poles, and in larger cells, additional spots are present at mid-cell. These results further confirm the existence of the hybrid complex. The unphosporylated OdhI protein, which binds to OdhA and inhibits ODH activity, was co-localized with OdhA at the poles, whereas phosphorylated OdhI, which does not bind OdhA, was distributed in the entire cytoplasm. Isocitrate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase, both metabolically linked to ODH, were evenly distributed in the cytoplasm. Based on the available structural data for individual PDH-ODH subunits, a novel supramolecular architecture of the hybrid complex differing from classical PDH and ODH complexes has to be postulated. Our results suggest that localization at the poles or at mid-cell is most likely caused by nucleoid exclusion and results in a spatially organized metabolism in actinobacteria, with consequences yet to be studied. IMPORTANCE Enzymes involved in the central metabolism of bacteria are usually considered to be distributed within the entire cytoplasm. Here, we provide an example for a spatially defined localization of a unique enzyme complex of actinobacteria, the hybrid pyruvate dehydrogenase/2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (PDH-ODH) complex composed of four different subunits. Using fusions with mVenus or mCherry and fluorescence microscopy, we show that all four subunits are co-localized in distinct spots at the cell poles, and in larger cells, additional spots were observed at mid-cell. These results clearly support the presence of the hybrid PDH-ODH complex and suggest a similar localization in other actinobacteria. The observation of a defined spatial localization of an enzyme complex catalyzing two key reactions of central metabolism poses questions regarding possible consequences for the availability of substrates and products within the cell and other bacterial enzyme complexes showing similar behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Sundermeyer
- IBG-1: Biotechnology, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Jan-Gerrit Folkerts
- IBG-1: Biotechnology, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Benita Lückel
- IBG-1: Biotechnology, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christina Mack
- IBG-1: Biotechnology, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Meike Baumgart
- IBG-1: Biotechnology, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Michael Bott
- IBG-1: Biotechnology, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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17
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Mortier J, Cambré A, Schack S, Christie G, Aertsen A. Impact of Protein Aggregates on Sporulation and Germination of Bacillus subtilis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2365. [PMID: 37764209 PMCID: PMC10536567 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to improve our general understanding of protein aggregate (PA) management and impact in bacteria, different model systems and processes need to be investigated. As such, we developed an inducible synthetic PA model system to investigate PA dynamics in the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. This confirmed previous observations that PA segregation in this organism seems to follow the Escherichia coli paradigm of nucleoid occlusion governing polar localization and asymmetric segregation during vegetative growth. However, our findings also revealed that PAs can readily persist throughout the entire sporulation process after encapsulation in the forespore during sporulation. Moreover, no deleterious effects of PA presence on sporulation, germination and spore survival against heat or UV stress could be observed. Our findings therefore indicate that the sporulation process is remarkably robust against perturbations by PAs and misfolded proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Mortier
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Alexander Cambré
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Sina Schack
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK; (S.S.); (G.C.)
| | - Graham Christie
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK; (S.S.); (G.C.)
| | - Abram Aertsen
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.M.); (A.C.)
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18
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Kuczyńska-Wiśnik D, Stojowska-Swędrzyńska K, Laskowska E. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation and Protective Protein Aggregates in Bacteria. Molecules 2023; 28:6582. [PMID: 37764358 PMCID: PMC10534466 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and the formation of membraneless organelles (MLOs) contribute to the spatiotemporal organization of various physiological processes in the cell. These phenomena have been studied and characterized mainly in eukaryotic cells. However, increasing evidence indicates that LLPS-driven protein condensation may also occur in prokaryotes. Recent studies indicate that aggregates formed during proteotoxic stresses may also play the role of MLOs and increase the fitness of bacteria under stress. The beneficial effect of aggregates may result from the sequestration and protection of proteins against irreversible inactivation or degradation, activation of the protein quality control system and induction of dormancy. The most common stress that bacteria encounter in the natural environment is water loss. Therefore, in this review, we focus on protein aggregates formed in E. coli upon desiccation-rehydration stress. In silico analyses suggest that various mechanisms and interactions are responsible for their formation, including LLPS, disordered sequences and aggregation-prone regions. These data support findings that intrinsically disordered proteins and LLPS may contribute to desiccation tolerance not only in eukaryotic cells but also in bacteria. LLPS-driven aggregation may be a strategy used by pathogens to survive antibiotic treatment and desiccation stress in the hospital environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ewa Laskowska
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (D.K.-W.); (K.S.-S.)
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19
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Wang Y, Chen Z, Zhao F, Yang H. Metabolome shifts triggered by chlorine sanitisation induce Escherichia coli on fresh produce into the viable but nonculturable state. Food Res Int 2023; 171:113084. [PMID: 37330837 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Facing the increasing occurrence of "big six" Escherichia coli outbreaks linked to fresh produce, chlorine-based sanitisers are widely used for fresh produce decontamination in recent years. However, latest finding that chlorine may induce E. coli cells into a viable not nonculturable (VBNC) state is bringing a new challenge to the fresh produce industry. VBNC cells are undetectable by the plate count test, and yet they retain pathogenicity and are more antibiotic-resistant than culturable cells. As a result, their eradication is critical to ensure the safety of fresh produce. Understanding VBNC cells at the metabolic level may provide a breakthrough for their eradication. Therefore, this study was carried out to collect the VBNC pathogenic E. coli (O26:H11, O121:H19, and O157:H7) cells from chlorine-treated pea sprouts and characterise them using NMR-based metabolomics. From the globally increased metabolite contents detected in the VBNC E. coli cells as compared to the culturable cells, mechanisms underlying E. coli's VBNC induction were elucidated. These include rendering the energy generation scheme to become more compatible with the lowered energy needs, disaggregating protein aggregates to release amino acids for osmoprotection and later resuscitation, as well as increasing cAMP content to downregulate RpoS. These identified metabolic characteristics can inspire future development of targeted measures for VBNC E. coli cell inhibition. Our methods can also be applied to other pathogens to help lower the risk of overall foodborne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore.
| | - Zihui Chen
- Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | - Fengnian Zhao
- Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | - Hongshun Yang
- Shaoxing Key Laboratory of Traditional Fermentation Food and Human Health, Jiangnan University (Shaoxing) Industrial Technology Research Institute, Zhejiang, 312000, China.
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20
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Zhang C, Kong Y, Xiang Q, Ma Y, Guo Q. Bacterial memory in antibiotic resistance evolution and nanotechnology in evolutionary biology. iScience 2023; 26:107433. [PMID: 37575196 PMCID: PMC10415926 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial memory refers to the phenomenon in which past experiences influence current behaviors in response to changing environments. It serves as a crucial process that enables adaptation and evolution. We first summarize the state-of-art approaches regarding history-dependent behaviors that impact growth dynamics and underlying mechanisms. Then, the phenotypic and genotypic origins of memory and how encoded memory modulates drug tolerance/resistance are reviewed. We also provide a summary of possible memory effects induced by antimicrobial nanoparticles. The regulatory networks and genetic underpinnings responsible for memory building partially overlap with nanoparticle and drug exposures, which may raise concerns about the impact of nanotechnology on adaptation. Finally, we provide a perspective on the use of nanotechnology to harness bacterial memory based on its unique mode of actions on information processing and transmission in bacteria. Exploring bacterial memory mechanisms provides valuable insights into acclimation, evolution, and the potential applications of nanotechnology in harnessing memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengdong Zhang
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yan Kong
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qingxin Xiang
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yayun Ma
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Quanyi Guo
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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21
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Endres K, Friedland K. Talk to Me-Interplay between Mitochondria and Microbiota in Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10818. [PMID: 37445995 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The existence of mitochondria in eukaryotic host cells as a remnant of former microbial organisms has been widely accepted, as has their fundamental role in several diseases and physiological aging. In recent years, it has become clear that the health, aging, and life span of multicellular hosts are also highly dependent on the still-residing microbiota, e.g., those within the intestinal system. Due to the common evolutionary origin of mitochondria and these microbial commensals, it is intriguing to investigate if there might be a crosstalk based on preserved common properties. In the light of rising knowledge on the gut-brain axis, such crosstalk might severely affect brain homeostasis in aging, as neuronal tissue has a high energy demand and low tolerance for according functional decline. In this review, we summarize what is known about the impact of both mitochondria and the microbiome on the host's aging process and what is known about the aging of both entities. For a long time, bacteria were assumed to be immortal; however, recent evidence indicates their aging and similar observations have been made for mitochondria. Finally, we present pathways by which mitochondria are affected by microbiota and give information about therapeutic anti-aging approaches that are based on current knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Endres
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kristina Friedland
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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22
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Matavacas J, Anand D, von Wachenfeldt C. New insights into the disulfide stress response by the Bacillus subtilis Spx system at a single-cell level. Mol Microbiol 2023. [PMID: 37330636 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Spx is a global transcriptional regulator that orchestrates the Bacillus subtilis response to disulfide stress. The YjbH (SpxH) protein adapts Spx for ClpXP-mediated degradation, playing a critical role in the regulation of the cellular Spx levels. Upon stress, YjbH forms aggregates by a yet unknown mechanism, resulting in increased Spx levels due to reduced proteolysis. Here, we studied how individual cells use the Spx-YjbH system to respond to disulfide stress. We show, using fluorescent reporters, a correlation between the Spx levels and the amount of YjbH, as well as a transient growth inhibition upon disulfide stress. The in vivo dynamics and inheritance of YjbH aggregates are characterized by a bipolar distribution over time and appear to be entropy-driven by nucleoid exclusion. Moreover, we reveal that the population following disulfide stress is highly heterogenous in terms of aggregate load and that the aggregate load has strong implications for cellular fitness. We propose that the observed heterogeneity could be a mechanism to ensure population survival during stress. Finally, we find that the two YjbH domains (DsbA-like domain and winged-helix domain) contribute to its aggregation function, and show that the aggregation of the DsbA-like domain is conserved among other studied orthologs, whereas important differences are observed for the winged-helix domain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deepak Anand
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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23
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Łupkowska A, Monem S, Dębski J, Stojowska-Swędrzyńska K, Kuczyńska-Wiśnik D, Laskowska E. Protein aggregation and glycation in Escherichia coli exposed to desiccation-rehydration stress. Microbiol Res 2023; 270:127335. [PMID: 36841129 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
In natural environments, bacteria often enter a state of anhydrobiosis due to water loss. Multiple studies have demonstrated that desiccation may lead to protein aggregation and glycation both in vivo and in vitro. However, the exact effects of water-loss-induced proteotoxic stress and the interplay between protein glycation and aggregation in bacteria remain elusive. Our studies revealed that protein aggregates formation in Escherichia coli started during desiccation and continued during the rehydration stage. The aggregates were enriched in proteins prone to liquid-liquid phase separation. Although it is known that glycation may induce protein aggregation in vitro, the aggregates formed in E. coli contained low levels of glycation products compared to the soluble protein fraction. Carnosine, glycine betaine and trehalose diminished the formation of protein aggregates and glycation products, resulting in increased E. coli viability. Notably, although high concentrations of glycine-betaine and trehalose significantly enhanced protein aggregation, glycation was still inhibited and E. coli cells survived desiccation better than bacteria grown without osmolytes. Taken together, our results suggest that the aggregates might play protective functions during early desiccation-rehydration stress. Moreover, it seems glycation rather than protein aggregation is the main cause of E. coli death upon desiccation-rehydration stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna Łupkowska
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Soroosh Monem
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Janusz Dębski
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Stojowska-Swędrzyńska
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dorota Kuczyńska-Wiśnik
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Ewa Laskowska
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
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24
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Vecchiarelli A, Hoang Y, Azaldegui C, Ghalmi M, Biteen J. An experimental framework to assess biomolecular condensates in bacteria. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2725220. [PMID: 37066349 PMCID: PMC10104261 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2725220/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution imaging of biomolecular condensates in living cells is essential for correlating their properties to those observed through in vitro assays. However, such experiments are limited in bacteria due to resolution limitations. Here we present an experimental framework that probes the formation, reversibility, and dynamics of condensate-forming proteins in Escherichia coli as a means to determine the nature of biomolecular condensates in bacteria. We demonstrate that condensates form after passing a threshold concentration, maintain a soluble fraction, dissolve upon shifts in temperature and concentration, and exhibit dynamics consistent with internal rearrangement and exchange between condensed and soluble fractions. We also discovered that an established marker for insoluble protein aggregates, IbpA, has different colocalization patterns with bacterial condensates and aggregates, demonstrating its applicability as a reporter to differentiate the two in vivo. Overall, this framework provides a generalizable, accessible, and rigorous set of experiments to probe the nature of biomolecular condensates on the sub-micron scale in bacterial cells.
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25
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McGuire BE, Nano FE. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of two heat-evolved Escherichia coli strains. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:154. [PMID: 36973666 PMCID: PMC10044804 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09266-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High temperatures cause a suite of problems for cells, including protein unfolding and aggregation; increased membrane fluidity; and changes in DNA supercoiling, RNA stability, transcription and translation. Consequently, enhanced thermotolerance can evolve through an unknown number of genetic mechanisms even in the simple model bacterium Escherichia coli. To date, each E. coli study exploring this question resulted in a different set of mutations. To understand the changes that can arise when an organism evolves to grow at higher temperatures, we sequenced and analyzed two previously described E. coli strains, BM28 and BM28 ΔlysU, that have been laboratory adapted to the highest E. coli growth temperature reported to date. RESULTS We found three large deletions in the BM28 and BM28 ΔlysU strains of 123, 15 and 8.5 kb in length and an expansion of IS10 elements. We found that BM28 and BM28 ΔlysU have considerably different genomes, suggesting that the BM28 culture that gave rise to BM28 and BM28 ΔlysU was a mixed population of genetically different cells. Consistent with published findings of high GroESL expression in BM28, we found that BM28 inexplicitly carries the groESL bearing plasmid pOF39 that was maintained simply by high-temperature selection pressure. We identified over 200 smaller insertions, deletions, single nucleotide polymorphisms and other mutations, including changes in master regulators such as the RNA polymerase and the transcriptional termination factor Rho. Importantly, this genome analysis demonstrates that the commonly cited findings that LysU plays a crucial role in thermotolerance and that GroESL hyper-expression is brought about by chromosomal mutations are based on a previous misinterpretation of the genotype of BM28. CONCLUSIONS This whole-genome sequencing study describes genetically distinct mechanisms of thermotolerance evolution from those found in other heat-evolved E. coli strains. Studying adaptive laboratory evolution to heat in simple model organisms is important in the context of climate change. It is important to better understand genetic mechanisms of enhancing thermotolerance in bacteria and other organisms, both in terms of optimizing laboratory evolution methods for various organisms and in terms of potential genetic engineering of organisms most at risk or most important to our societies and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey E McGuire
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C, Canada.
| | - Francis E Nano
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C, Canada
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26
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Hoang Y, Azaldegui CA, Ghalmi M, Biteen JS, Vecchiarelli AG. An experimental framework to assess biomolecular condensates in bacteria. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.22.533878. [PMID: 36993636 PMCID: PMC10055370 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.22.533878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution imaging of biomolecular condensates in living cells is essential for correlating their properties to those observed through in vitro assays. However, such experiments are limited in bacteria due to resolution limitations. Here we present an experimental framework that probes the formation, reversibility, and dynamics of condensate-forming proteins in Escherichia coli as a means to determine the nature of biomolecular condensates in bacteria. We demonstrate that condensates form after passing a threshold concentration, maintain a soluble fraction, dissolve upon shifts in temperature and concentration, and exhibit dynamics consistent with internal rearrangement and exchange between condensed and soluble fractions. We also discovered that an established marker for insoluble protein aggregates, IbpA, has different colocalization patterns with bacterial condensates and aggregates, demonstrating its applicability as a reporter to differentiate the two in vivo. Overall, this framework provides a generalizable, accessible, and rigorous set of experiments to probe the nature of biomolecular condensates on the sub-micron scale in bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Hoang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Equal contribution
| | - Christopher A. Azaldegui
- Doctoral Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Equal contribution
| | - Maria Ghalmi
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Julie S. Biteen
- Doctoral Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Anthony G. Vecchiarelli
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
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27
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Goldberger O, Szoke T, Nussbaum-Shochat A, Amster-Choder O. Heterotypic phase separation of Hfq is linked to its roles as an RNA chaperone. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111881. [PMID: 36577380 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hfq, an Sm-like protein and the major RNA chaperone in E. coli, has been shown to distribute non-uniformly along a helical path under normal growth conditions and to relocate to the cell poles under certain stress conditions. We have previously shown that Hfq relocation to the poles is accompanied by polar accumulation of most small RNAs (sRNAs). Here, we show that Hfq undergoes RNA-dependent phase separation to form cytoplasmic or polar condensates of different density under normal and stress conditions, respectively. Purified Hfq forms droplets in the presence of crowding agents or RNA, indicating that its condensation is via heterotypic interactions. Stress-induced relocation of Hfq condensates and sRNAs to the poles depends on the pole-localizer TmaR. Phase separation of Hfq correlates with its ability to perform its posttranscriptional roles as sRNA-stabilizer and sRNA-mRNA matchmaker. Our study offers a spatiotemporal mechanism for sRNA-mediated regulation in response to environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Goldberger
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Tamar Szoke
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Anat Nussbaum-Shochat
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Orna Amster-Choder
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
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28
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Mondal N, Roy C, Chatterjee S, Sarkar J, Dutta S, Bhattacharya S, Chakraborty R, Ghosh W. Thermal Endurance by a Hot-Spring-Dwelling Phylogenetic Relative of the Mesophilic Paracoccus. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0160622. [PMID: 36287077 PMCID: PMC9769624 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01606-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
High temperature growth/survival was revealed in a phylogenetic relative (SMMA_5) of the mesophilic Paracoccus isolated from the 78 to 85°C water of a Trans-Himalayan sulfur-borax spring. After 12 h at 50°C, or 45 min at 70°C, in mineral salts thiosulfate (MST) medium, SMMA_5 retained ~2% colony forming units (CFUs), whereas comparator Paracoccus had 1.5% and 0% CFU left at 50°C and 70°C, respectively. After 12 h at 50°C, the thermally conditioned sibling SMMA_5_TC exhibited an ~1.5 time increase in CFU count; after 45 min at 70°C, SMMA_5_TC had 7% of the initial CFU count. 1,000-times diluted Reasoner's 2A medium, and MST supplemented with lithium, boron, or glycine-betaine, supported higher CFU-retention/CFU-growth than MST. Furthermore, with or without lithium/boron/glycine-betaine, a higher percentage of cells always remained metabolically active, compared with what percentage formed single colonies. SMMA_5, compared with other Paracoccus, contained 335 unique genes: of these, 186 encoded hypothetical proteins, and 83 belonged to orthology groups, which again corresponded mostly to DNA replication/recombination/repair, transcription, secondary metabolism, and inorganic ion transport/metabolism. The SMMA_5 genome was relatively enriched in cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis, and amino acid metabolism. SMMA_5 and SMMA_5_TC mutually possessed 43 nucleotide polymorphisms, of which 18 were in protein-coding genes with 13 nonsynonymous and seven radical amino acid replacements. Such biochemical and biophysical mechanisms could be involved in thermal stress mitigation which streamline the cells' energy and resources toward system-maintenance and macromolecule-stabilization, thereby relinquishing cell-division for cell-viability. Thermal conditioning apparently helped inherit those potential metabolic states which are crucial for cell-system maintenance, while environmental solutes augmented the indigenous stability-conferring mechanisms. IMPORTANCE For a holistic understanding of microbial life's high-temperature adaptation, it is imperative to explore the biology of the phylogenetic relatives of mesophilic bacteria which get stochastically introduced to geographically and geologically diverse hot spring systems by local geodynamic forces. Here, in vitro endurance of high heat up to the extent of growth under special (habitat-inspired) conditions was discovered in a hot-spring-dwelling phylogenetic relative of the mesophilic Paracoccus species. Thermal conditioning, extreme oligotrophy, metabolic deceleration, presence of certain habitat-specific inorganic/organic solutes, and potential genomic specializations were found to be the major enablers of this conditional (acquired) thermophilicity. Feasibility of such phenomena across the taxonomic spectrum can well be paradigm changing for the established scopes of microbial adaptation to the physicochemical extremes. Applications of conditional thermophilicity in microbial process biotechnology may be far reaching and multifaceted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nibendu Mondal
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Chayan Roy
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | | | | | - Subhajit Dutta
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
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29
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Breckell GL, Silander OK. Growth condition-dependent differences in methylation imply transiently differentiated DNA methylation states in Escherichia coli. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 13:6858946. [PMID: 36454087 PMCID: PMC9911048 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation in bacteria frequently serves as a simple immune system, allowing recognition of DNA from foreign sources, such as phages or selfish genetic elements. However, DNA methylation also affects other cell phenotypes in a heritable manner (i.e. epigenetically). While there are several examples of methylation affecting transcription in an epigenetic manner in highly localized contexts, it is not well-established how frequently methylation serves a more general epigenetic function over larger genomic scales. To address this question, here we use Oxford Nanopore sequencing to profile DNA modification marks in three natural isolates of Escherichia coli. We first identify the DNA sequence motifs targeted by the methyltransferases in each strain. We then quantify the frequency of methylation at each of these motifs across the entire genome in different growth conditions. We find that motifs in specific regions of the genome consistently exhibit high or low levels of methylation. Furthermore, we show that there are replicable and consistent differences in methylated regions across different growth conditions. This suggests that during growth, E. coli transiently differentiate into distinct methylation states that depend on the growth state, raising the possibility that measuring DNA methylation alone can be used to infer bacterial growth states without additional information such as transcriptome or proteome data. These results show the utility of using Oxford Nanopore sequencing as an economic means to infer DNA methylation status. They also provide new insights into the dynamics of methylation during bacterial growth and provide evidence of differentiated cell states, a transient analog to what is observed in the differentiation of cell types in multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia L Breckell
- Corresponding author: School of Natural and Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand. ; Corresponding author: School of Natural and Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand. Present address: Ministry for Primary Industries, Auckland 2022, New Zealand
| | - Olin K Silander
- Corresponding author: School of Natural and Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand. ; Corresponding author: School of Natural and Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand. Present address: Ministry for Primary Industries, Auckland 2022, New Zealand
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30
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Feng S, Liang W, Li J, Chen Y, Zhou D, Liang L, Lin D, Li Y, Zhao H, Du H, Dai M, Qin LN, Bai F, Doi Y, Zhong LL, Tian GB. MCR-1-dependent lipid remodelling compromises the viability of Gram-negative bacteria. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:1236-1249. [PMID: 35437117 PMCID: PMC9067951 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2065934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The global dissemination of the mobilized colistin resistance gene, mcr-1, threatens human health. Recent studies by our group and others have shown that the withdrawal of colistin as a feed additive dramatically reduced the prevalence of mcr-1. Although it is accepted that the rapid reduction in mcr-1 prevalence may have resulted, to some extent, from the toxic effects of MCR-1, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. Here, we found that MCR-1 damaged the outer membrane (OM) permeability in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia and that this event was associated with MCR-1-mediated cell shrinkage and death during the stationary phase. Notably, the capacity of MCR-1-expressing cells for recovery from the stationary phase under improved conditions was reduced in a time-dependent manner. We also showed that mutations in the potential lipid-A-binding pocket of MCR-1, but not in the catalytic domain, restored OM permeability and cell viability. During the stationary phase, PbgA, a sensor of periplasmic lipid-A and LpxC production that performed the first step in lipid-A synthesis, was reduced after MCR-1 expression, suggesting that MCR-1 disrupted lipid homeostasis. Consistent with this, the overexpression of LpxC completely reversed the MCR-1-induced OM permeability defect. We propose that MCR-1 causes lipid remodelling that results in an OM permeability defect, thus compromising the viability of Gram-negative bacteria. These findings extended our understanding of the effect of MCR-1 on bacterial physiology and provided a potential strategy for eliminating drug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Feng
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanfei Liang
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiachen Li
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Chen
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Dianrong Zhou
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lujie Liang
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Daixi Lin
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaxin Li
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Huihui Du
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Dai
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Na Qin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Bai
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yohei Doi
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Lan-Lan Zhong
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Guo-Bao Tian
- Program in Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, People's Republic of China
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31
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Allard P, Papazotos F, Potvin-Trottier L. Microfluidics for long-term single-cell time-lapse microscopy: Advances and applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:968342. [PMID: 36312536 PMCID: PMC9597311 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.968342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells are inherently dynamic, whether they are responding to environmental conditions or simply at equilibrium, with biomolecules constantly being made and destroyed. Due to their small volumes, the chemical reactions inside cells are stochastic, such that genetically identical cells display heterogeneous behaviors and gene expression profiles. Studying these dynamic processes is challenging, but the development of microfluidic methods enabling the tracking of individual prokaryotic cells with microscopy over long time periods under controlled growth conditions has led to many discoveries. This review focuses on the recent developments of one such microfluidic device nicknamed the mother machine. We overview the original device design, experimental setup, and challenges associated with this platform. We then describe recent methods for analyzing experiments using automated image segmentation and tracking. We further discuss modifications to the experimental setup that allow for time-varying environmental control, replicating batch culture conditions, cell screening based on their dynamic behaviors, and to accommodate a variety of microbial species. Finally, this review highlights the discoveries enabled by this technology in diverse fields, such as cell-size control, genetic mutations, cellular aging, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Allard
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Fotini Papazotos
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Laurent Potvin-Trottier
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Laurent Potvin-Trottier,
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32
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Ghoshal M, Chuang S, Zhang Y, McLandsborough L. Efficacy of Acidified Oils against Salmonella in Low-Moisture Environments. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0093522. [PMID: 35938829 PMCID: PMC9397106 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00935-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
When processing low-moisture, high-fat foods such as peanut butter and nuts, water-based sanitization is unsuitable due to the immiscible nature of water and fats. Dry sanitization mainly uses flammable compounds such as isopropanol, requiring equipment cooling before application. The use of oils to deliver antimicrobials against foodborne pathogens enables the use of elevated temperatures, thus eliminating processing downtimes associated with dry sanitization. This study delivered organic acids and medium-chain fatty acids (100, 250, and 500 mM) in peanut oil against Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis desiccated at 75% relative humidity (RH). Acetic acid in peanut oil (AO) at 45°C was the most effective food-grade acid, causing a 4.4-log reduction in S. Enteritidis at 500 mM. AO caused cellular injury and was effective against a variety of S. Enteritidis strains. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that cells treated with 50 mM and 250 mM AO had significant membrane damage and reduced cellular respiration compared to untreated controls. Treatment efficacy increased with the increase in acid concentration, treatment duration, and treatment temperature from 20 to 45°C. Transmission electron microscopy after treatment with 100 and 250 mM AO revealed membrane ruffling and leakage in cell membranes, especially at 45°C. Reduction of the RH to 33% during desiccation of S. Enteritidis caused a decrease in AO efficacy compared to that at 75% RH, while at a higher RH of 90%, there was an increase in the efficacy of AO. Acidified oils can serve as robust, cost-effective replacements for dry-sanitation methods and improve safety of low moisture foods. IMPORTANCE Currently, dry sanitization products used during food processing often contain flammable compounds which require processing to stop and equipment to cool before application. This leads to processing downtimes and consequently, economic losses. This challenge is compounded by exposure to dryness which frequently renders Salmonella resistant to heat and different antimicrobials. Thus, the development of heat-tolerant oil-based antimicrobial compounds is a novel approach for sanitizing in low-moisture (dry) environments such as those found in peanut butter, tree nuts, and chocolate manufacturing. This study shows that acidified oils, especially acetic acid in peanut oil at elevated temperatures (45°C), was highly effective against desiccated Salmonella. Acidified oils have the potential to replace dry sanitizers, increasing the frequency of sanitization, leading to an improvement in food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinalini Ghoshal
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shihyu Chuang
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lynne McLandsborough
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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33
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Confinement anisotropy drives polar organization of two DNA molecules interacting in a nanoscale cavity. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4358. [PMID: 35902565 PMCID: PMC9334635 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31398-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing appreciation for the role phase transition based phenomena play in biological systems. In particular, self-avoiding polymer chains are predicted to undergo a unique confinement dependent demixing transition as the anisotropy of the confined space is increased. This phenomenon may be relevant for understanding how interactions between multiple dsDNA molecules can induce self-organized structure in prokaryotes. While recent in vivo experiments and Monte Carlo simulations have delivered essential insights into this phenomenon and its relation to bacteria, there are fundamental questions remaining concerning how segregated polymer states arise, the role of confinement anisotropy and the nature of the dynamics in the segregated states. To address these questions, we introduce an artificial nanofluidic model to quantify the interactions of multiple dsDNA molecules in cavities with controlled anisotropy. We find that two dsDNA molecules of equal size confined in an elliptical cavity will spontaneously demix and orient along the cavity poles as cavity eccentricity is increased; the two chains will then swap pole positions with a frequency that decreases with increasing cavity eccentricity. In addition, we explore a system consisting of a large dsDNA molecule and a plasmid molecule. We find that the plasmid is excluded from the larger molecule and will exhibit a preference for the ellipse poles, giving rise to a non-uniform spatial distribution in the cavity that may help explain the non-uniform plasmid distribution observed during in vivo imaging of high-copy number plasmids in bacteria.
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Santana de Carvalho D, Trovatti Uetanabaro AP, Kato RB, Aburjaile FF, Jaiswal AK, Profeta R, De Oliveira Carvalho RD, Tiwar S, Cybelle Pinto Gomide A, Almeida Costa E, Kukharenko O, Orlovska I, Podolich O, Reva O, Ramos PIP, De Carvalho Azevedo VA, Brenig B, Andrade BS, de Vera JPP, Kozyrovska NO, Barh D, Góes-Neto A. The Space-Exposed Kombucha Microbial Community Member Komagataeibacter oboediens Showed Only Minor Changes in Its Genome After Reactivation on Earth. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:782175. [PMID: 35369445 PMCID: PMC8970348 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.782175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Komagataeibacter is the dominant taxon and cellulose-producing bacteria in the Kombucha Microbial Community (KMC). This is the first study to isolate the K. oboediens genome from a reactivated space-exposed KMC sample and comprehensively characterize it. The space-exposed genome was compared with the Earth-based reference genome to understand the genome stability of K. oboediens under extraterrestrial conditions during a long time. Our results suggest that the genomes of K. oboediens IMBG180 (ground sample) and K. oboediens IMBG185 (space-exposed) are remarkably similar in topology, genomic islands, transposases, prion-like proteins, and number of plasmids and CRISPR-Cas cassettes. Nonetheless, there was a difference in the length of plasmids and the location of cas genes. A small difference was observed in the number of protein coding genes. Despite these differences, they do not affect any genetic metabolic profile of the cellulose synthesis, nitrogen-fixation, hopanoid lipids biosynthesis, and stress-related pathways. Minor changes are only observed in central carbohydrate and energy metabolism pathways gene numbers or sequence completeness. Altogether, these findings suggest that K. oboediens maintains its genome stability and functionality in KMC exposed to the space environment most probably due to the protective role of the KMC biofilm. Furthermore, due to its unaffected metabolic pathways, this bacterial species may also retain some promising potential for space applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Santana de Carvalho
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Department of Microbiology, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Trovatti Uetanabaro
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Department of Microbiology, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Bentes Kato
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Department of Microbiology, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Flávia Figueira Aburjaile
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Arun Kumar Jaiswal
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Profeta
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Dias De Oliveira Carvalho
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Sandeep Tiwar
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Anne Cybelle Pinto Gomide
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Almeida Costa
- Computational Biology and Biotechnological Information Management Center (NBCGIB), State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Olga Kukharenko
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Iryna Orlovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Olga Podolich
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oleg Reva
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Pablo Ivan P. Ramos
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Institute Gonçalo Moniz, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-Bahia), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Vasco Ariston De Carvalho Azevedo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Bertram Brenig
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Burckhardtweg, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Southwest Bahia (UESB), Jequié, Brazil
| | - Jean-Pierre P. de Vera
- German Aerospace Center (DLR) Berlin, Institute of Planetary Research, Planetary Laboratories, Astrobiological Laboratories, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Debmalya Barh
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology, Purba Medinipur, India
| | - Aristóteles Góes-Neto
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Department of Microbiology, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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The physiology and genetics of bacterial responses to antibiotic combinations. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:478-490. [PMID: 35241807 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-022-00700-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Several promising strategies based on combining or cycling different antibiotics have been proposed to increase efficacy and counteract resistance evolution, but we still lack a deep understanding of the physiological responses and genetic mechanisms that underlie antibiotic interactions and the clinical applicability of these strategies. In antibiotic-exposed bacteria, the combined effects of physiological stress responses and emerging resistance mutations (occurring at different time scales) generate complex and often unpredictable dynamics. In this Review, we present our current understanding of bacterial cell physiology and genetics of responses to antibiotics. We emphasize recently discovered mechanisms of synergistic and antagonistic drug interactions, hysteresis in temporal interactions between antibiotics that arise from microbial physiology and interactions between antibiotics and resistance mutations that can cause collateral sensitivity or cross-resistance. We discuss possible connections between the different phenomena and indicate relevant research directions. A better and more unified understanding of drug and genetic interactions is likely to advance antibiotic therapy.
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Abstract
Persisters are transiently nongrowing and antibiotic-tolerant phenotypic variants identified in major human pathogens, including intracellular Staphylococcus aureus. Due to their capacity to regrow once the environmental stress is relieved and to promote resistance, persisters possibly contribute to therapeutic failures. While persistence and its related quiescence have been mostly studied under starvation, little is known within host cell environments. Here, we examined how the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in different host cells affects dormancy depth of intracellular S. aureus. Using single-cell approaches, we found that host ROS induce variable dormant states in S. aureus persisters, displaying heterogeneous and increased lag times for resuscitation in liquid medium. Dormant persisters displayed decreased translation and energy metabolism, but remained infectious, exiting from dormancy and resuming growth when reinoculated in low-oxidative-stress cells. In high-oxidative-stress cells, ROS-induced ATP depletion was associated with the formation of visible dark foci similar to those induced by the protein aggregation inducer CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone) and with the recruitment of the DnaK-ClpB chaperone system involved in the clearance of protein aggregates. ATP depletion led to higher fractions of dormant persisters than ROS, due to a counterbalancing effect of ROS-induced translational repression, suggesting a pivotal role of translation in the dormant phenotype. Consistently, protein synthesis inhibition limited dormancy to levels similar to those observed in low-oxidative-stress cells. This study supports the hypothesis that intracellular S. aureus persisters can reach heterogeneous dormancy depths and highlights the link between ROS, ATP depletion, dark focus formation, and subsequent dormancy state. IMPORTANCE By their capacity to survive to antibiotic pressure and to regrow and give rise to a susceptible population once this pressure is relieved, intracellular persisters of S. aureus may contribute to explain therapeutic failures and recurrent infections. Here, we show that the level of dormancy and the subsequent capacity to resuscitate from this resting state are dependent on the level of oxidative stress in the host cells where bacteria survive. This observation nourishes the debate as whether the most appropriate strategy to cope with S. aureus intracellular infections would consist of trying to push persisters to a deep dormancy state from which wakening is improbable or, on the contrary, to prevent ROS-induced dormancy and force bacteria to maintain regular metabolism in order to restore their responsiveness to antibiotics. Importantly also, our data highlight the interest in single-cell analyses with conventional enumeration of CFU to quantify persisters and study host-pathogen interactions.
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In vitro virulence potential, surface attachment and transcriptional response of sublethally injured Listeria monocytogenes following exposure to peracetic acid. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 88:e0158221. [PMID: 34731051 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01582-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The disinfectant Peracetic acid (PAA) can cause high levels of sublethal injury to L. monocytogenes. This study aims to evaluate phenotypic and transcriptional characteristics concerning surface attachment and virulence potential of sublethally injured L. monocytogenes ScottA and EGDe after exposure to 0.75 ppm PAA for 90 min at 4°C and subsequent incubation in TSBY at 4°C. Results showed that injured L. monocytogenes cells (99% of total population) were able to attach (after 2 and 24h) on stainless steel coupons at 4°C and 20°C. In vitro virulence assays using human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells showed that injured L. monocytogenes could invade host cells but could not proliferate intracellularly. In vitro virulence response was strain-dependent; injured ScottA was more invasive than EGDe. Assessment of PAA-injury at the transcriptional level showed upregulation of genes (motB, flaA) involved in flagellum motility and surface attachment. The transcriptional response of L. monocytogenes EGDe and ScottA was different; only injured ScottA demonstrated upregulation of the virulence genes inlA and plcA. Downregulation of the stress-related genes fri and kat, and upregulation of lmo0669 was observed in injured ScottA. The obtained results indicate that sublethally-injured L. monocytogenes cells may retain part of their virulence properties as well as their ability to adhere on food processing surfaces. Transmission to food products and introduction of these cells in the food chain is therefore a plausible scenario that is worth taking into consideration in terms of risk assessment. Importance L. monocytogenes is the causative agent of listeriosis a serious food-borne illness. Antimicrobial practices, such as disinfectants used for the elimination of this pathogen in food industry can produce a sublethally injured population fraction. Injured cells of this pathogen, that may survive an antimicrobial treatment, may pose a food safety-risk. Nevertheless, knowledge regarding how sublethal injury may impact important cellular traits and phenotypic responses of this pathogen is limited. This work suggests that sublethally injured L. monocytogenes cells maintain the virulence and surface attachment potential and highlights the importance of the occurrence of sublethally injured cells regarding food safety.
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Jin X, Lee JE, Schaefer C, Luo X, Wollman AJM, Payne-Dwyer AL, Tian T, Zhang X, Chen X, Li Y, McLeish TCB, Leake MC, Bai F. Membraneless organelles formed by liquid-liquid phase separation increase bacterial fitness. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabh2929. [PMID: 34669478 PMCID: PMC8528417 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abh2929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation is emerging as a crucial phenomenon in several fundamental cell processes. A range of eukaryotic systems exhibit liquid condensates. However, their function in bacteria, which, in general, lack membrane-bound compartments, remains less clear. Here, we used high-resolution optical microscopy to observe single bacterial aggresomes, nanostructured intracellular assemblies of proteins, to undercover their role in cell stress. We find that proteins inside aggresomes are mobile and undergo dynamic turnover, consistent with a liquid state. Our observations are in quantitative agreement with phase-separated liquid droplet formation driven by interacting proteins under thermal equilibrium that nucleate following diffusive collisions in the cytoplasm. We have found aggresomes in multiple species of bacteria and show that these emergent, metastable liquid-structured protein assemblies increase bacterial fitness by enabling cells to tolerate environmental stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Jin
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Eun Lee
- Department of Physics, University of York, York, UK
| | | | - Xinwei Luo
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Alex L. Payne-Dwyer
- Department of Physics, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Tian Tian
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingxing Li
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Medical Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | | | - Mark C. Leake
- Department of Physics, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
- Corresponding author. (F.B.); (M.C.L.)
| | - Fan Bai
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Centre (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
- Corresponding author. (F.B.); (M.C.L.)
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Szoke T, Nussbaum-Shochat A, Amster-Choder O. Evolutionarily conserved mechanism for membrane recognition from bacteria to mitochondria. FEBS Lett 2021; 595:2805-2815. [PMID: 34644400 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms controlling membrane recognition by proteins with one hydrophobic stretch at their carboxyl terminus (tail anchor, TA) are poorly defined. The Escherichia coli TAs of ElaB and YqjD, which share sequential and structural similarity with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae TA of Fis1, were shown to localize to mitochondria. We show that YqjD and ElaB are directed by their TAs to bacterial cell poles. Fis1(TA) expressed in E. coli localizes like the endogenous TAs. The yeast and bacterial TAs are inserted in the E. coli inner membrane, and they all show affiliation to phosphatidic acid (PA), found in the membrane of the bacterial cell poles and of the yeast mitochondria. Our results suggest a mechanism for TA membrane recognition conserved from bacteria to mitochondria and raise the possibility that through their interaction with PA, and TAs play a role across prokaryotes and eukaryotes in controlling cell/organelle fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Szoke
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Anat Nussbaum-Shochat
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Orna Amster-Choder
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
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The Dynamic Transition of Persistence toward the Viable but Nonculturable State during Stationary Phase Is Driven by Protein Aggregation. mBio 2021; 12:e0070321. [PMID: 34340538 PMCID: PMC8406143 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00703-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Decades of research into bacterial persistence has been unable to fully characterize this antibiotic-tolerant phenotype, thereby hampering the development of therapies effective against chronic infections. Although some active persister mechanisms have been identified, the prevailing view is that cells become persistent because they enter a dormant state. We therefore characterized starvation-induced dormancy in Escherichia coli. Our findings indicate that dormancy develops gradually; persistence strongly increases during stationary phase and decreases again as persisters enter the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. Importantly, we show that dormancy development is tightly associated with progressive protein aggregation, which occurs concomitantly with ATP depletion during starvation. Persisters contain protein aggregates in an early developmental stage, while VBNC cells carry more mature aggregates. Finally, we show that at least one persister protein, ObgE, works by triggering aggregation, even at endogenous levels, and thereby changing the dynamics of persistence and dormancy development. These findings provide evidence for a genetically controlled, gradual development of persisters and VBNC cells through protein aggregation. IMPORTANCE While persistence and the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state are currently investigated in isolation, our results strongly indicate that these phenotypes represent different stages of the same dormancy program and that they should therefore be studied within the same conceptual framework. Moreover, we show here for the first time that the dynamics of protein aggregation perfectly match the onset and further development of bacterial dormancy and that different dormant phenotypes are linked to different stages of protein aggregation. Our results thereby strongly hint at a causal relationship between both. Because many conditions known to trigger persistence are also known to influence aggregation, it is tempting to speculate that a variety of different persister pathways converge at the level of protein aggregation. If so, aggregation could emerge as a general principle that underlies the development of persistence which could be exploited for the design of antipersister therapies.
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Llontop EE, Cenens W, Favaro DC, Sgro GG, Salinas RK, Guzzo CR, Farah CS. The PilB-PilZ-FimX regulatory complex of the Type IV pilus from Xanthomonas citri. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009808. [PMID: 34398935 PMCID: PMC8389850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Type IV pili (T4P) are thin and flexible filaments found on the surface of a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria that undergo cycles of extension and retraction and participate in a variety of important functions related to lifestyle, defense and pathogenesis. During pilus extensions, the PilB ATPase energizes the polymerization of pilin monomers from the inner membrane. In Xanthomonas citri, two cytosolic proteins, PilZ and the c-di-GMP receptor FimX, are involved in the regulation of T4P biogenesis through interactions with PilB. In vivo fluorescence microscopy studies show that PilB, PilZ and FimX all colocalize to the leading poles of X. citri cells during twitching motility and that this colocalization is dependent on the presence of all three proteins. We demonstrate that full-length PilB, PilZ and FimX can interact to form a stable complex as can PilB N-terminal, PilZ and FimX C-terminal fragments. We present the crystal structures of two binary complexes: i) that of the PilB N-terminal domain, encompassing sub-domains ND0 and ND1, bound to PilZ and ii) PilZ bound to the FimX EAL domain within a larger fragment containing both GGDEF and EAL domains. Evaluation of PilZ interactions with PilB and the FimX EAL domain in these and previously published structures, in conjunction with mutagenesis studies and functional assays, allow us to propose an internally consistent model for the PilB-PilZ-FimX complex and its interactions with the PilM-PilN complex in the context of the inner membrane platform of the X. citri Type IV pilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar E. Llontop
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - William Cenens
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denize C. Favaro
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Química Orgânica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Germán G. Sgro
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roberto K. Salinas
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristiane R. Guzzo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Chuck S. Farah
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Abstract
Despite our extensive knowledge of the genetic regulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs), the evolutionary routes that allow bacteria to adaptively tune their HSP levels and corresponding proteostatic robustness have been explored less. In this report, directed evolution experiments using the Escherichia coli model system unexpectedly revealed that seemingly random single mutations in its tnaA gene can confer significant heat resistance. Closer examination, however, indicated that these mutations create folding-deficient and aggregation-prone TnaA variants that in turn can endogenously and preemptively trigger HSP expression to cause heat resistance. These findings, importantly, demonstrate that even erosive mutations with disruptive effects on protein structure and functionality can still yield true gain-of-function alleles with a selective advantage in adaptive evolution.
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Direito I, Monteiro L, Melo T, Figueira D, Lobo J, Enes V, Moura G, Henrique R, Santos MAS, Jerónimo C, Amado F, Fardilha M, Helguero LA. Protein Aggregation Patterns Inform about Breast Cancer Response to Antiestrogens and Reveal the RNA Ligase RTCB as Mediator of Acquired Tamoxifen Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133195. [PMID: 34206811 PMCID: PMC8269126 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Acquired resistance to antiestrogenic therapy remains the major obstacle to curing luminal subtype breast cancer. While current treatment in acquired endocrine-resistant settings includes combined therapy with receptor tyrosine kinase or cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, progression to incurable disease remains possible. In recent years, the antioxidant system and the protein quality control network have been associated with the enhanced resistance of breast cancer cells to hormonal therapy. In this work, we raise the hypothesis that antiestrogen treatment induces the accumulation of protein aggregates in sensitive cells, which in turn could hinder the activation of survival pathways. We present evidence concerning a novel way to identify antiestrogen response and disclose a novel protein, RTBC, that controls acquired antiestrogen resistance. This work opens a new avenue for research towards finding breast cancer prognostic markers and therapeutic targets, where the identification of proteins prone to aggregate could help to identify antiestrogen response and understand mechanisms of disease. Abstract The protein quality control network, including autophagy, the proteasome and the unfolded protein response (UPR), is triggered by stress and is overactive in acquired antiestrogen therapy resistance. We show for the first time that the aggresome load correlates with apoptosis and is increased in antiestrogen-sensitive cells compared to endocrine-resistant variants. LC-MS/MS analysis of the aggregated proteins obtained after 4OH-tamoxifen and Fulvestrant treatment identified proteins with essential function in protein quality control in antiestrogen-sensitive cells, but not in resistant variants. These include the UPR modulators RTCB and PDIA6, as well as many proteasome proteins such as PSMC2 and PSMD11. RTCB is a tRNA and XBP1 ligase and its aggregation induced by antiestrogens correlated with impaired XBP1s expression in sensitive cells. Knock down of RTCB was sufficient to restore sensitivity to tamoxifen in endocrine-resistant cells and increased the formation of aggresomes, leading to apoptotic cell death. Analysis of primary human breast cancer samples and their metastases appearing after endocrine treatment showed that RTCB is only localized to aggresomes in the primary tumors, while total aggresomes, including aggregated RTCB, were significantly reduced in the metastases. Therefore, different protein aggregation patterns may indicate loss of function of essential proteins resulting in enhanced protein aggregation that can be used to identify antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cells and improve the response to antiestrogenic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Direito
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (I.D.); (L.M.); (D.F.); (V.E.); (G.M.); (M.A.S.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Liliana Monteiro
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (I.D.); (L.M.); (D.F.); (V.E.); (G.M.); (M.A.S.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Tânia Melo
- LaQV-REQUIMTE—Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry of the Network of Chemistry and Technology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.M.); (F.A.)
| | - Daniela Figueira
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (I.D.); (L.M.); (D.F.); (V.E.); (G.M.); (M.A.S.S.); (M.F.)
| | - João Lobo
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (J.L.); (R.H.); (C.J.)
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vera Enes
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (I.D.); (L.M.); (D.F.); (V.E.); (G.M.); (M.A.S.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Gabriela Moura
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (I.D.); (L.M.); (D.F.); (V.E.); (G.M.); (M.A.S.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Rui Henrique
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (J.L.); (R.H.); (C.J.)
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuel A. S. Santos
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (I.D.); (L.M.); (D.F.); (V.E.); (G.M.); (M.A.S.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (J.L.); (R.H.); (C.J.)
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisco Amado
- LaQV-REQUIMTE—Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry of the Network of Chemistry and Technology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.M.); (F.A.)
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (I.D.); (L.M.); (D.F.); (V.E.); (G.M.); (M.A.S.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Luisa A. Helguero
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (I.D.); (L.M.); (D.F.); (V.E.); (G.M.); (M.A.S.S.); (M.F.)
- Correspondence:
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44
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Farquhar KS, Rasouli Koohi S, Charlebois DA. Does transcriptional heterogeneity facilitate the development of genetic drug resistance? Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100043. [PMID: 34160842 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Non-genetic forms of antimicrobial (drug) resistance can result from cell-to-cell variability that is not encoded in the genetic material. Data from recent studies also suggest that non-genetic mechanisms can facilitate the development of genetic drug resistance. We speculate on how the interplay between non-genetic and genetic mechanisms may affect microbial adaptation and evolution during drug treatment. We argue that cellular heterogeneity arising from fluctuations in gene expression, epigenetic modifications, as well as genetic changes contribute to drug resistance at different timescales, and that the interplay between these mechanisms enhance pathogen resistance. Accordingly, developing a better understanding of the role of non-genetic mechanisms in drug resistance and how they interact with genetic mechanisms will enhance our ability to combat antimicrobial resistance. Also see the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/aefGpdh-bgU.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samira Rasouli Koohi
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G-2E1, Canada
| | - Daniel A Charlebois
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G-2E1, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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45
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Steiner UK. Senescence in Bacteria and Its Underlying Mechanisms. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:668915. [PMID: 34222238 PMCID: PMC8249858 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.668915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have been thought to flee senescence by dividing into two identical daughter cells, but this notion of immortality has changed over the last two decades. Asymmetry between the resulting daughter cells after binary fission is revealed in physiological function, cell growth, and survival probabilities and is expected from theoretical understanding. Since the discovery of senescence in morphologically identical but physiologically asymmetric dividing bacteria, the mechanisms of bacteria aging have been explored across levels of biological organization. Quantitative investigations are heavily biased toward Escherichia coli and on the role of inclusion bodies—clusters of misfolded proteins. Despite intensive efforts to date, it is not evident if and how inclusion bodies, a phenotype linked to the loss of proteostasis and one of the consequences of a chain of reactions triggered by reactive oxygen species, contribute to senescence in bacteria. Recent findings in bacteria question that inclusion bodies are only deleterious, illustrated by fitness advantages of cells holding inclusion bodies under varying environmental conditions. The contributions of other hallmarks of aging, identified for metazoans, remain elusive. For instance, genomic instability appears to be age independent, epigenetic alterations might be little age specific, and other hallmarks do not play a major role in bacteria systems. What is surprising is that, on the one hand, classical senescence patterns, such as an early exponential increase in mortality followed by late age mortality plateaus, are found, but, on the other hand, identifying mechanisms that link to these patterns is challenging. Senescence patterns are sensitive to environmental conditions and to genetic background, even within species, which suggests diverse evolutionary selective forces on senescence that go beyond generalized expectations of classical evolutionary theories of aging. Given the molecular tool kits available in bacteria, the high control of experimental conditions, the high-throughput data collection using microfluidic systems, and the ease of life cell imaging of fluorescently marked transcription, translation, and proteomic dynamics, in combination with the simple demographics of growth, division, and mortality of bacteria, make the challenges surprising. The diversity of mechanisms and patterns revealed and their environmental dependencies not only present challenges but also open exciting opportunities for the discovery and deeper understanding of aging and its mechanisms, maybe beyond bacteria and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Karl Steiner
- Evolutionary Demography Group, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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46
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Goode O, Smith A, Łapińska U, Bamford R, Kahveci Z, Glover G, Attrill E, Carr A, Metz J, Pagliara S. Heterologous Protein Expression Favors the Formation of Protein Aggregates in Persister and Viable but Nonculturable Bacteria. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1848-1858. [PMID: 34000805 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Environmental and intracellular stresses can perturb protein homeostasis and trigger the formation and accumulation of protein aggregates. It has been recently suggested that the level of protein aggregates accumulated in bacteria correlates with the frequency of persister and viable but nonculturable cells that transiently survive treatment with multiple antibiotics. However, these findings have often been obtained employing fluorescent reporter strains. This enforced heterologous protein expression facilitates the visualization of protein aggregates but could also trigger the formation and accumulation of protein aggregates. Using microfluidics-based single-cell microscopy and a library of green fluorescent protein reporter strains, we show that heterologous protein expression favors the formation of protein aggregates. We found that persister and viable but nonculturable bacteria surviving treatment with antibiotics are more likely to contain protein aggregates and downregulate the expression of heterologous proteins. Our data also suggest that such aggregates are more basic with respect to the rest of the cell. These findings provide evidence for a strong link between heterologous protein expression, protein aggregation, intracellular pH, and phenotypic survival to antibiotics, suggesting that antibiotic treatments against persister and viable but nonculturable cells could be developed by modulating protein aggregation and pH regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Goode
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley Smith
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary Bamford
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Zehra Kahveci
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina Glover
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Erin Attrill
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Carr
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy Metz
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
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47
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Bollen C, Dewachter L, Michiels J. Protein Aggregation as a Bacterial Strategy to Survive Antibiotic Treatment. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:669664. [PMID: 33937340 PMCID: PMC8085434 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.669664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While protein aggregation is predominantly associated with loss of function and toxicity, it is also known to increase survival of bacteria under stressful conditions. Indeed, protein aggregation not only helps bacteria to cope with proteotoxic stresses like heat shocks or oxidative stress, but a growing number of studies suggest that it also improves survival during antibiotic treatment by inducing dormancy. A well-known example of dormant cells are persisters, which are transiently refractory to the action of antibiotics. These persister cells can switch back to the susceptible state and resume growth in the absence of antibiotics, and are therefore considered an important cause of recurrence of infections. Mounting evidence now suggests that this antibiotic-tolerant persister state is tightly linked to-or perhaps even driven by-protein aggregation. Moreover, another dormant bacterial phenotype, the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state, was also shown to be associated with aggregation. These results indicate that persisters and VBNC cells may constitute different stages of the same dormancy program induced by progressive protein aggregation. In this mini review, we discuss the relation between aggregation and bacterial dormancy, focusing on both persisters and VBNC cells. Understanding the link between protein aggregation and dormancy will not only provide insight into the fundamentals of bacterial survival, but could prove highly valuable in our future battle to fight them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celien Bollen
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liselot Dewachter
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Michiels
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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48
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Jiang Y, Hao N. Memorizing environmental signals through feedback and feedforward loops. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2021; 69:96-102. [PMID: 33549848 PMCID: PMC8058236 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cells in diverse organisms can store the information of previous environmental conditions for long periods of time. This form of cellular memory adjusts the cell's responses to future challenges, providing fitness advantages in fluctuating environments. Many biological functions, including cellular memory, are mediated by specific recurring patterns of interactions among proteins and genes, known as 'network motifs.' In this review, we focus on three well-characterized network motifs - negative feedback loops, positive feedback loops, and feedforward loops, which underlie different types of cellular memories. We describe the latest studies identifying these motifs in various molecular processes and discuss how the topologies and dynamics of these motifs can enable memory encoding and storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfei Jiang
- Section of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Nan Hao
- Section of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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49
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Translation error clusters induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1830. [PMID: 33758186 PMCID: PMC7987974 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21942-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoglycoside antibiotics target the ribosome and induce mistranslation, yet which translation errors induce bacterial cell death is unclear. The analysis of cellular proteins by quantitative mass spectrometry shows that bactericidal aminoglycosides induce not only single translation errors, but also clusters of errors in full-length proteins in vivo with as many as four amino acid substitutions in a row. The downstream errors in a cluster are up to 10,000-fold more frequent than the first error and independent of the intracellular aminoglycoside concentration. The prevalence, length, and composition of error clusters depends not only on the misreading propensity of a given aminoglycoside, but also on its ability to inhibit ribosome translocation along the mRNA. Error clusters constitute a distinct class of misreading events in vivo that may provide the predominant source of proteotoxic stress at low aminoglycoside concentration, which is particularly important for the autocatalytic uptake of the drugs. Aminoglycoside antibiotics target the ribosome and induce misreading, yet which translation errors induce bacterial cell death is unclear. Here authors use quantitative mass spectrometry and show that bactericidal aminoglycosides induce clusters of errors in full-length proteins in vivo with as many as four amino acid substitutions in a row.
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50
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Samhita L, K Raval P, Stephenson G, Thutupalli S, Agashe D. The impact of mistranslation on phenotypic variability and fitness. Evolution 2021; 75:1201-1217. [PMID: 33491193 PMCID: PMC8248024 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic variation is widespread in natural populations, and can significantly alter population ecology and evolution. Phenotypic variation often reflects underlying genetic variation, but also manifests via non-heritable mechanisms. For instance, translation errors result in about 10% of cellular proteins carrying altered sequences. Thus, proteome diversification arising from translation errors can potentially generate phenotypic variability, in turn increasing variability in the fate of cells or of populations. However, the link between protein diversity and phenotypic variability remains unverified. We manipulated mistranslation levels in Escherichia coli, and measured phenotypic variability between single cells (individual-level variation), as well as replicate populations (population-level variation). Monitoring growth and survival, we find that mistranslation indeed increases variation across E. coli cells, but does not consistently increase variability in growth parameters across replicate populations. Interestingly, although any deviation from the wild-type (WT) level of mistranslation reduces fitness in an optimal environment, the increased variation is associated with a survival benefit under stress. Hence, we suggest that mistranslation-induced phenotypic variation can impact growth and survival and has the potential to alter evolutionary trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laasya Samhita
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Parth K Raval
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Godwin Stephenson
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Shashi Thutupalli
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India.,International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Deepa Agashe
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
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