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Peng F, Zou Y, Liu X, Yang Y, Chen J, Nie J, Huang D, Bai Z. The murein endopeptidase MepA regulated by MtrAB and MprAB participate in cell wall homeostasis. Res Microbiol 2024; 175:104188. [PMID: 38286394 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2024.104188] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The complete genome of Corynebacterium glutamicum contain a gene encoding murein endopeptidase MepA which maintain cell wall homeostasis by regulating peptidoglycan biosynthesis. In this study, we investigate the physiological function, localization and regulator of MepA. The result shows that mepA overexpression lead to peptidoglycan degradation and the defects in cell division. MepA-EGFP was shown to localizes exclusively at the cell cell septum. In addition, mepA overexpression increased cell permeability and reduced the resistance of cells to isoniazid, an antibiotic used to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Furthermore, transcription analysis showed that mepA affected cell division and membrane transport pathways, and was coordinately regulated by the two-component systems MtrAB and MprAB(CgtS/R2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yu Zou
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xiuxia Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Yankun Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jing Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jianqi Nie
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Danni Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhonghu Bai
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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2
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Rajguru V, Chatterjee S, Garde S, Reddy M. Crosslink cleaving enzymes: the smart autolysins that remodel the bacterial cell wall. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:494-506. [PMID: 38072724 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.004] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PG) is a protective mesh-like polymer in bacterial cell walls that enables their survival in almost every ecological niche. PG is formed by crosslinking of several glycan strands through short peptides, conferring a characteristic structure and elasticity, distinguishing it from other polymeric exoskeletons. The significance of PG crosslink formation has been known for decades, as some of the most widely used antibiotics, namely β-lactams, target the enzymes that catalyze this step. However, the importance of crosslink hydrolysis in PG biology remained largely underappreciated. Recent advances demonstrate the functions of crosslink cleavage in diverse physiological processes, including an indispensable role in PG expansion during the cell cycle, thereby making crosslink cleaving enzymes an untapped target for novel drugs. Here, we elaborate on the fundamental roles of crosslink-specific endopeptidases and their regulation across the bacterial kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaidehi Rajguru
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Stuti Chatterjee
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Shambhavi Garde
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, 500007, India
| | - Manjula Reddy
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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3
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Anderson SE, Vadia SE, McKelvy J, Levin PA. The transcription factor DksA exerts opposing effects on cell division depending on the presence of ppGpp. mBio 2023; 14:e0242523. [PMID: 37882534 PMCID: PMC10746185 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02425-23] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Cell division is a key step in the bacterial lifecycle that must be appropriately regulated to ensure survival. This work identifies the alarmone (p)ppGpp (ppGpp) as a general regulator of cell division, extending our understanding of the role of ppGpp beyond a signal for starvation and other stress. Even in nutrient-replete conditions, basal levels of ppGpp are essential for division to occur appropriately and for cell size to be maintained. This study establishes ppGpp as a "switch" that controls whether the transcription factor DksA behaves as a division activator or inhibitor. This unexpected finding enhances our understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms employed by bacteria to coordinate division with diverse aspects of cell growth and stress response. Because division is an essential process, a better understanding of the mechanisms governing the assembly and activation of the division machinery could contribute to the development of novel therapeutics to treat bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Anderson
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Stephen E. Vadia
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jane McKelvy
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Petra Anne Levin
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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4
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Gupta R, Singh M, Pathania R. Chemical genetic approaches for the discovery of bacterial cell wall inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:2125-2154. [PMID: 37974958 PMCID: PMC10650376 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00143a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens is a worldwide health issue. The innovation gap in discovering new antibiotics has remained a significant hurdle in combating the AMR problem. Currently, antibiotics target various vital components of the bacterial cell envelope, nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis machinery and metabolic pathways essential for bacterial survival. The critical role of the bacterial cell envelope in cell morphogenesis and integrity makes it an attractive drug target. While a significant number of in-clinic antibiotics target peptidoglycan biosynthesis, several components of the bacterial cell envelope have been overlooked. This review focuses on various antibacterial targets in the bacterial cell wall and the strategies employed to find their novel inhibitors. This review will further elaborate on combining forward and reverse chemical genetic approaches to discover antibacterials that target the bacterial cell envelope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinki Gupta
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee - 247 667 Uttarakhand India
| | - Mangal Singh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee - 247 667 Uttarakhand India
| | - Ranjana Pathania
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee - 247 667 Uttarakhand India
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5
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Zhang H, Venkatesan S, Ng E, Nan B. Coordinated peptidoglycan synthases and hydrolases stabilize the bacterial cell wall. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5357. [PMID: 37660104 PMCID: PMC10475089 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41082-3] [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: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PG) defines cell shape and protects bacteria against osmotic stress. The growth and integrity of PG require coordinated actions between synthases that insert new PG strands and hydrolases that generate openings to allow the insertion. However, the mechanisms of their coordination remain elusive. Moenomycin that inhibits a family of PG synthases known as Class-A penicillin-binding proteins (aPBPs), collapses rod shape despite aPBPs being non-essential for rod-like morphology in the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus. Here, we demonstrate that inhibited PBP1a2, an aPBP, accelerates the degradation of cell poles by DacB, a hydrolytic PG peptidase. Moenomycin promotes the binding between DacB and PG and thus reduces the mobility of DacB through PBP1a2. Conversely, DacB also regulates the distribution and dynamics of aPBPs. Our findings clarify the action of moenomycin and suggest that disrupting the coordination between PG synthases and hydrolases could be more lethal than eliminating individual enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Srutha Venkatesan
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Emily Ng
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Beiyan Nan
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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6
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Alberge F, Lakey BD, Schaub RE, Dohnalkova AC, Lemmer KC, Dillard JP, Noguera DR, Donohue TJ. A previously uncharacterized divisome-associated lipoprotein, DalA, is needed for normal cell division in Rhodobacterales. mBio 2023; 14:e0120323. [PMID: 37389444 PMCID: PMC10470522 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01203-23] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell envelope is a key subcellular compartment with important roles in antibiotic resistance, nutrient acquisition, and cell morphology. We seek to gain a better understanding of proteins that contribute to the function of the cell envelope in Alphaproteobacteria. Using Rhodobacter sphaeroides, we show that a previously uncharacterized protein, RSP_1200, is an outer membrane (OM) lipoprotein that non-covalently binds peptidoglycan (PG). Using a fluorescently tagged version of this protein, we find that RSP_1200 undergoes a dynamic repositioning during the cell cycle and is enriched at the septum during cell division. We show that the position of RSP_1200 mirrors the location of FtsZ rings, leading us to propose that RSP_1200 is a newly identified component of the R. sphaeroides' divisome. Additional support for this hypothesis includes the co-precipitation of RSP_1200 with FtsZ, the Pal protein, and several predicted PG L,D-transpeptidases. We also find that a ∆RSP_1200 mutation leads to defects in cell division, sensitivity to PG-active antibiotics, and results in the formation of OM protrusions at the septum during cell division. Based on these results, we propose to name RSP_1200 DalA (for division-associated lipoprotein A) and postulate that DalA serves as a scaffold to position or modulate the activity of PG transpeptidases that are needed to form envelope invaginations during cell division. We find that DalA homologs are present in members of the Rhodobacterales order within Alphaproteobacteria. Therefore, we propose that further analysis of this and related proteins will increase our understanding of the macromolecular machinery and proteins that participate in cell division in Gram-negative bacteria. IMPORTANCE Multi-protein complexes of the bacterial cell envelope orchestrate key processes like growth, division, biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and production of valuable compounds. The subunits of these protein complexes are well studied in some bacteria, and differences in their composition and function are linked to variations in cell envelope composition, shape, and proliferation. However, some envelope protein complex subunits have no known homologs across the bacterial phylogeny. We find that Rhodobacter sphaeroides RSP_1200 is a newly identified lipoprotein (DalA) and that loss of this protein causes defects in cell division and changes the sensitivity to compounds, affecting cell envelope synthesis and function. We find that DalA forms a complex with proteins needed for cell division, binds the cell envelope polymer peptidoglycan, and colocalizes with enzymes involved in the assembly of this macromolecule. The analysis of DalA provides new information on the cell division machinery in this and possibly other Alphaproteobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Alberge
- />Wisconsin Energy Institute, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Bryan D. Lakey
- />Wisconsin Energy Institute, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ryan E. Schaub
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Alice C. Dohnalkova
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | | | - Joseph P. Dillard
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel R. Noguera
- />Wisconsin Energy Institute, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy J. Donohue
- />Wisconsin Energy Institute, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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7
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Tsunemoto H, Sugie J, Enustun E, Pogliano K, Pogliano J. Bacterial cytological profiling reveals interactions between jumbo phage φKZ infection and cell wall active antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280070. [PMID: 37418366 PMCID: PMC10328376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280070] [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: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria has led to the investigation of alternative treatments, such as phage therapy. In this study, we examined the interactions between the nucleus-forming jumbo phage ФKZ and antibiotic treatment against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using the fluorescence microscopy technique of bacterial cytological profiling, we identified mechanism-of-action-specific interactions between antibiotics that target different biosynthetic pathways and ФKZ infection. We found that certain classes of antibiotics strongly inhibited phage replication, while others had no effect or only mildly affected progression through the lytic cycle. Antibiotics that caused an increase in host cell length, such as the cell wall active antibiotic ceftazidime, prevented proper centering of the ФKZ nucleus via the PhuZ spindle at midcell, leading us to hypothesize that the kinetic parameters of the PhuZ spindle evolved to match the average length of the host cell. To test this, we developed a computational model explaining how the dynamic properties of the PhuZ spindle contribute to phage nucleus centering and why some antibiotics affect nucleus positioning while others do not. These findings provide an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between antibiotics and jumbo phage replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Tsunemoto
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Joseph Sugie
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Eray Enustun
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Kit Pogliano
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Joe Pogliano
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America
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8
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Kadeřábková N, Mahmood AJS, Furniss RCD, Mavridou DAI. Making a chink in their armor: Current and next-generation antimicrobial strategies against the bacterial cell envelope. Adv Microb Physiol 2023; 83:221-307. [PMID: 37507160 PMCID: PMC10517717 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.05.003] [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] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria are uniquely equipped to defeat antibiotics. Their outermost layer, the cell envelope, is a natural permeability barrier that contains an array of resistance proteins capable of neutralizing most existing antimicrobials. As a result, its presence creates a major obstacle for the treatment of resistant infections and for the development of new antibiotics. Despite this seemingly impenetrable armor, in-depth understanding of the cell envelope, including structural, functional and systems biology insights, has promoted efforts to target it that can ultimately lead to the generation of new antibacterial therapies. In this article, we broadly overview the biology of the cell envelope and highlight attempts and successes in generating inhibitors that impair its function or biogenesis. We argue that the very structure that has hampered antibiotic discovery for decades has untapped potential for the design of novel next-generation therapeutics against bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikol Kadeřábková
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Ayesha J S Mahmood
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - R Christopher D Furniss
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Despoina A I Mavridou
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States; John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.
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9
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Choi U, Park SH, Lee HB, Son JE, Lee CR. Coordinated and Distinct Roles of Peptidoglycan Carboxypeptidases DacC and DacA in Cell Growth and Shape Maintenance under Stress Conditions. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0001423. [PMID: 37098975 PMCID: PMC10269652 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00014-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PG) is an essential bacterial architecture pivotal for shape maintenance and adaptation to osmotic stress. Although PG synthesis and modification are tightly regulated under harsh environmental stresses, few related mechanisms have been investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the coordinated and distinct roles of the PG dd-carboxypeptidases (DD-CPases) DacC and DacA in cell growth under alkaline and salt stresses and shape maintenance in Escherichia coli. We found that DacC is an alkaline DD-CPase, the enzyme activity and protein stability of which are significantly enhanced under alkaline stress. Both DacC and DacA were required for bacterial growth under alkaline stress, whereas only DacA was required for growth under salt stress. Under normal growth conditions, only DacA was necessary for cell shape maintenance, while under alkaline stress conditions, both DacA and DacC were necessary for cell shape maintenance, but their roles were distinct. Notably, all of these roles of DacC and DacA were independent of ld-transpeptidases, which are necessary for the formation of PG 3-3 cross-links and covalent bonds between PG and the outer membrane lipoprotein Lpp. Instead, DacC and DacA interacted with penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)-dd-transpeptidases-mostly in a C-terminal domain-dependent manner, and these interactions were necessary for most of their roles. Collectively, our results demonstrate the coordinated and distinct novel roles of DD-CPases in bacterial growth and shape maintenance under stress conditions and provide novel insights into the cellular functions of DD-CPases associated with PBPs. IMPORTANCE Most bacteria have a peptidoglycan architecture for cell shape maintenance and protection against osmotic challenges. Peptidoglycan dd-carboxypeptidases control the amount of pentapeptide substrates, which are used in the formation of 4-3 cross-links by the peptidoglycan synthetic dd-transpeptidases, penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Seven dd-carboxypeptidases exist in Escherichia coli, but the physiological significance of their redundancy and their roles in peptidoglycan synthesis are poorly understood. Here, we showed that DacC is an alkaline dd-carboxypeptidase for which both protein stability and enzyme activity are significantly enhanced at high pH. Strikingly, dd-carboxypeptidases DacC and DacA physically interacted with PBPs, and these interactions were necessary for cell shape maintenance as well as growth under alkaline and salt stresses. Thus, cooperation between dd-carboxypeptidases and PBPs may allow E. coli to overcome various stresses and to maintain cell shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umji Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea
| | - Si Hyoung Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Byeol Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Eun Son
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Ro Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea
- The Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea
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10
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Som N, Reddy M. Cross-talk between phospholipid synthesis and peptidoglycan expansion by a cell wall hydrolase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300784120. [PMID: 37276399 PMCID: PMC10268279 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300784120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterial cell envelope is a complex multilayered structure comprising a bilayered phospholipid (PL) membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm (inner membrane or IM) and an asymmetric outer membrane (OM) with PLs in the inner leaflet and lipopolysaccharides in the outer leaflet. Between these two layers is the periplasmic space, which contains a highly cross-linked mesh-like glycan polymer, peptidoglycan (PG). During cell expansion, coordinated synthesis of each of these components is required to maintain the integrity of the cell envelope; however, it is currently not clear how such coordination is achieved. In this study, we show that a cross-link-specific PG hydrolase couples the expansion of PG sacculus with that of PL synthesis in the Gram-negative model bacterium, Escherichia coli. We find that unregulated activity of a PG hydrolytic enzyme, MepS is detrimental for growth of E. coli during fatty acid (FA)-limiting conditions. Further genetic and biochemical analyses revealed that cellular availability of FA or PL alters the post-translational stability of MepS by modulating the proteolytic activity of a periplasmic adaptor-protease complex, NlpI-Prc toward MepS. Our results indicate that loss of OM lipid asymmetry caused by alterations in PL abundance leads to the generation of a signal to the NlpI-Prc complex for the stabilization of MepS, which subsequently cleaves the cross-links to facilitate expansion of PG. In summary, our study shows the existence of a molecular cross-talk that enables coordinated expansion of the PG sacculus with that of membrane synthesis for balanced cell-envelope biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilanjan Som
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, 500007Telangana, India
| | - Manjula Reddy
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, 500007Telangana, India
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11
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Griffin ME, Klupt S, Espinosa J, Hang HC. Peptidoglycan NlpC/P60 peptidases in bacterial physiology and host interactions. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:436-456. [PMID: 36417916 PMCID: PMC10192474 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2022.11.001] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The bacterial cell wall is composed of a highly crosslinked matrix of glycopeptide polymers known as peptidoglycan that dictates bacterial cell morphology and protects against environmental stresses. Regulation of peptidoglycan turnover is therefore crucial for bacterial survival and growth and is mediated by key protein complexes and enzyme families. Here, we review the prevalence, structure, and activity of NlpC/P60 peptidases, a family of peptidoglycan hydrolases that are crucial for cell wall turnover and division as well as interactions with antibiotics and different hosts. Understanding the molecular functions of NlpC/P60 peptidases should provide important insight into bacterial physiology, their interactions with different kingdoms of life, and the development of new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Griffin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Steven Klupt
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Juliel Espinosa
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Howard C Hang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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12
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Keller MR, Dörr T. Bacterial metabolism and susceptibility to cell wall-active antibiotics. Adv Microb Physiol 2023; 83:181-219. [PMID: 37507159 PMCID: PMC11024984 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.04.002] [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] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial infections are increasingly resistant to antimicrobial therapy. Intense research focus has thus been placed on identifying the mechanisms that bacteria use to resist killing or growth inhibition by antibiotics and the ways in which bacteria share these traits with one another. This work has led to the advancement of new drugs, combination therapy regimens, and a deeper appreciation for the adaptability seen in microorganisms. However, while the primary mechanisms of action of most antibiotics are well understood, the more subtle contributions of bacterial metabolic state to repairing or preventing damage caused by antimicrobials (thereby promoting survival) are still understudied. Here, we review a modern viewpoint on a classical system: examining bacterial metabolism's connection to antibiotic susceptibility. We dive into the relationship between metabolism and antibiotic efficacy through the lens of growth rate, energy state, resource allocation, and the infection environment, focusing on cell wall-active antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Renee Keller
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Tobias Dörr
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
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13
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Anderson SE, Vadia SE, McKelvy J, Levin PA. The transcription factor DksA exerts opposing effects on cell division depending on the presence of ppGpp. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.15.540843. [PMID: 37293059 PMCID: PMC10245573 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.15.540843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial cell size is a multifactorial trait that is influenced by variables including nutritional availability and the timing of cell division. Prior work revealed a negative correlation between the alarmone (p)ppGpp (ppGpp) and cell length in Escherichia coli , suggesting that ppGpp may promote assembly of the division machinery (divisome) and cytokinesis in this organism. To clarify this counterintuitive connection between a starvation induced stress response effector and cell proliferation, we undertook a systematic analysis of growth and division in E. coli cells defective in ppGpp synthesis and/or engineered to overproduce the alarmone. Our data indicate that ppGpp acts indirectly on divisome assembly through its role as a global mediator of transcription. Loss of either ppGpp (ppGpp 0 ) or the ppGpp-associated transcription factor DksA led to increased average length, with ppGpp 0 mutants also exhibiting a high frequency of extremely long filamentous cells. Using heat-sensitive division mutants and fluorescently labeled division proteins, we confirmed that ppGpp and DksA are cell division activators. We found that ppGpp and DksA regulate division through their effects on transcription, although the lack of known division genes or regulators in available transcriptomics data strongly suggests that this regulation is indirect. Surprisingly, we also found that DksA inhibits division in ppGpp 0 cells, contrary to its role in a wild-type background. We propose that the ability of ppGpp to switch DksA from a division inhibitor to a division activator helps tune cell length across different concentrations of ppGpp. Importance Cell division is a key step in the bacterial lifecycle that must be appropriately regulated to ensure survival. This work identifies the alarmone ppGpp as a general regulator of cell division, extending our understanding of the role of ppGpp beyond a signal for starvation and other stress. Even in nutrient replete conditions, basal levels of ppGpp are essential for division to occur appropriately and for cell size to be maintained. This study establishes ppGpp as a "switch" that controls whether the transcription factor DksA behaves as a division activator or inhibitor. This unexpected finding enhances our understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms employed by bacteria to coordinate division with diverse aspects of cell growth and stress response. Because division is an essential process, a better understanding the mechanisms governing assembly and activation of the division machinery could contribute to the development of novel therapeutics to treat bacterial infections.
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14
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Frimodt-Møller N, Simonsen GS, Larsen AR, Kahlmeter G. Pivmecillinam, the paradigm of an antibiotic with low resistance rates in Escherichia coli urine isolates despite high consumption. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 78:289-295. [PMID: 36441168 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pivmecillinam, the oral version of mecillinam, represents one of the major recommended and used antibiotics for empiric and targeted treatment of urinary tract infections in primary care in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Mecillinam resistant mutants in Escherichia coli develop easily in vitro, but their fitness cost has been shown to be high. METHODS We revisited the resistance and consumption data from the monitoring programmes in the three countries and compared pivmecillinam with ciprofloxacin from 2010 to 2020. RESULTS Mecillinam resistance rates in Escherichia coli remained around 6% in Denmark and Norway relative to a constant consumption in Norway of 1.6-1.8 DID (defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day), and even increasing in Denmark from 1.6 to 2.3 DID. In Sweden resistance was significantly lower at 4% related to the lower consumption of 0.5 DID. For ciprofloxacin, resistance rates fluctuated around 6%-12%, highest in Sweden with the highest consumption (0.8-0.6 DID) and lowest in Denmark (0.55-0.35 DID) and Norway (0.7-0.3 DID), although consumption declined significantly in all three countries. CONCLUSIONS Pivmecillinam is an example of an antibiotic, which easily develops resistance in vitro, but apparently can be used broadly in primary care without increase in resistance rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Frimodt-Møller
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, DK2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gunnar Skov Simonsen
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, and Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anders Rhod Larsen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gunnar Kahlmeter
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Central Hospital, Växjö, Sweden
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15
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Schulz LM, Rothe P, Halbedel S, Gründling A, Rismondo J. Imbalance of peptidoglycan biosynthesis alters the cell surface charge of Listeria monocytogenes. Cell Surf 2022; 8:100085. [PMID: 36304571 PMCID: PMC9593813 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2022.100085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell wall is composed of a thick layer of peptidoglycan and cell wall polymers, which are either embedded in the membrane or linked to the peptidoglycan backbone and referred to as lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and wall teichoic acid (WTA), respectively. Modifications of the peptidoglycan or WTA backbone can alter the susceptibility of the bacterial cell towards cationic antimicrobials and lysozyme. The human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is intrinsically resistant towards lysozyme, mainly due to deacetylation and O-acetylation of the peptidoglycan backbone via PgdA and OatA. Recent studies identified additional factors, which contribute to the lysozyme resistance of this pathogen. One of these is the predicted ABC transporter, EslABC. An eslB mutant is hyper-sensitive towards lysozyme, likely due to the production of thinner and less O-acetylated peptidoglycan. Using a suppressor screen, we show here that suppression of eslB phenotypes could be achieved by enhancing peptidoglycan biosynthesis, reducing peptidoglycan hydrolysis or alterations in WTA biosynthesis and modification. The lack of EslB also leads to a higher negative surface charge, which likely stimulates the activity of peptidoglycan hydrolases and lysozyme. Based on our results, we hypothesize that the portion of cell surface exposed WTA is increased in the eslB mutant due to the thinner peptidoglycan layer and that latter one could be caused by an impairment in UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) production or distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Maria Schulz
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patricia Rothe
- FG11, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Burgstraße 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Sven Halbedel
- FG11, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Burgstraße 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Gründling
- Section of Molecular Microbiology and Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jeanine Rismondo
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Section of Molecular Microbiology and Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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16
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Lou J, Cai J, Hu X, Liang Y, Sun Y, Zhu Y, Meng Q, Zhu T, Gao H, Yu Z, Yin J. The stringent starvation protein SspA modulates peptidoglycan synthesis by regulating the expression of peptidoglycan synthases. Mol Microbiol 2022; 118:716-730. [PMID: 36308522 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14996] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The peptidoglycan (PG) layer of bacterial cells is essential for maintaining the cell shape and survival of cells; therefore, the synthesis of PG needs to be spatiotemporally controlled. While it is well established that PG synthesis is mediated posttranslationally through interactions between PG synthases and their cognate partners, much less is known about the transcriptional regulation of genes encoding these synthases. Based on a previous finding that the Gram-negative bacterium Shewanella oneidensis lacking the prominent PG synthase exhibits impaired cell wall integrity, we performed genetic selections to isolate the suppressors. We discovered that disrupting the sspA gene encoding stringent starvation protein A (SspA) is sufficient to suppress compromised PG. SspA serves as a transcriptional repressor that regulates the expression of the two types of PG synthases, class A penicillin-binding proteins and SEDS/bPBP protein complexes. SspA is an RNA polymerase-associated protein, and its regulation involves interactions with the σ70 -RNAP complex and an antagonistic effect of H-NS, a global nucleoid-associated protein. We also present evidence that the regulation of PG synthases by SspA is conserved in Escherichia coli, adding a new dimension to the current understanding of PG synthesis and its regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Lou
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingxiao Cai
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanqun Liang
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yijuan Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiling Zhu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiu Meng
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingheng Zhu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haichun Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiliang Yu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianhua Yin
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
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17
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Intrinsic Antibacterial Activity of Xeruborbactam
In Vitro
: Assessing Spectrum and Mode of Action. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0087922. [PMID: 36102663 PMCID: PMC9578396 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00879-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Xeruborbactam (formerly QPX7728) is a cyclic boronate inhibitor of numerous serine and metallo-beta-lactamases. At concentrations generally higher than those required for beta-lactamase inhibition, xeruborbactam has direct antibacterial activity against some Gram-negative bacteria, with MIC50/MIC90 values of 16/32 μg/mL and 16/64 μg/mL against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, respectively (the MIC50/MIC90 values against Pseudomonas aeruginosa are >64 μg/mL). In Klebsiella pneumoniae, inactivation of OmpK36 alone or in combination with OmpK35 resulted in 2- to 4-fold increases in the xeruborbactam MIC. In A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa, AdeIJK and MexAB-OprM, respectively, affected xeruborbactam’s antibacterial potency (the MICs were 4- to 16-fold higher in efflux-proficient strains). In Escherichia coli and K. pneumoniae, the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of xeruborbactam’s binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) PBP1a/PBP1b, PBP2, and PBP3 were in the 40 to 70 μM range; in A. baumannii, xeruborbactam bound to PBP1a, PBP2, and PBP3 with IC50s of 1.4 μM, 23 μM, and 140 μM, respectively. Treating K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa with xeruborbactam at 1× and 2× MIC resulted in changes of cellular morphology similar to those observed with meropenem; the morphological changes observed after treatment of A. baumannii were consistent with inhibition of multiple PBPs but were unique to xeruborbactam compared to the results for control beta-lactams. No single-step xeruborbactam resistance mutants were obtained after selection at 4× MIC of xeruborbactam using wild-type strains of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and A. baumannii; mutations selected at 2× MIC in K. pneumoniae did not affect antibiotic potentiation by xeruborbactam through beta-lactamase inhibition. Consistent with inhibition of PBPs, xeruborbactam enhanced the potencies of beta-lactam antibiotics even against strains that lacked beta-lactamase. In a large panel of KPC-producing clinical isolates, the MIC90 values of meropenem tested with xeruborbactam (8 μg/mL) were at least 4-fold lower than those in combination with vaborbactam at 64 μg/mL, the concentration of vaborbactam that is associated with complete inhibition of KPC. The additional enhancement of the potency of beta-lactam antibiotics beyond beta-lactamase inhibition may contribute to the potentiation of beta-lactam antibiotics by xeruborbactam.
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18
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Brunet YR, Habib C, Brogan AP, Artzi L, Rudner DZ. Intrinsically disordered protein regions are required for cell wall homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis. Genes Dev 2022; 36:970-984. [PMID: 36265902 PMCID: PMC9732909 DOI: 10.1101/gad.349895.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) have been implicated in diverse nuclear and cytoplasmic functions in eukaryotes, but their roles in bacteria are less clear. Here, we report that extracytoplasmic IDRs in Bacillus subtilis are required for cell wall homeostasis. The B. subtilis σI transcription factor is activated in response to envelope stress through regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) of its membrane-anchored anti-σ factor, RsgI. Unlike canonical RIP pathways, we show that ectodomain (site-1) cleavage of RsgI is constitutive, but the two cleavage products remain stably associated, preventing intramembrane (site-2) proteolysis. The regulated step in this pathway is their dissociation, which is triggered by impaired cell wall synthesis and requires RsgI's extracytoplasmic IDR. Intriguingly, the major peptidoglycan polymerase PBP1 also contains an extracytoplasmic IDR, and we show that this region is important for its function. Disparate IDRs can replace the native IDRs on both RsgI and PBP1, arguing that these unstructured regions function similarly. Our data support a model in which the RsgI-σI signaling system and PBP1 represent complementary pathways to repair gaps in the PG meshwork. The IDR on RsgI senses these gaps and activates σI, while the IDR on PBP1 directs the synthase to these sites to fortify them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick R. Brunet
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Cameron Habib
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Anna P. Brogan
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Lior Artzi
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - David Z. Rudner
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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19
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Park S, Cho H. The Tol-Pal System Plays an Important Role in Maintaining Cell Integrity During Elongation in Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:891926. [PMID: 35592005 PMCID: PMC9111525 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.891926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tol-Pal system is a transenvelope complex widely conserved among Gram-negative bacteria. It is recruited to the septal ring during cytokinesis, and its inactivation causes pleiotropic phenotypes mainly associated with the division process. From our genetic screen to identify factors required for delaying lysis upon treatment of beta lactams, we discovered that the tol-pal mutant shares similar defects with mutants of the major class A PBP system (PBP1b-LpoB) in terms of lysis prevention. Further phenotypic analyses revealed that the Tol-Pal system plays an important role in maintaining cell integrity not only during septation, but also during cell elongation. Simultaneous inactivation of the Tol-Pal system and the PBP1b-LpoB system leads to lysis during cell elongation as well as during division. Moreover, production of the Lpo activator-bypass PBP1b, but not wild-type PBP1b, partially suppressed the Tol-Pal defect in maintaining cell integrity upon treatment of mecillinam specific for the Rod system, suggesting that the Tol-Pal system is likely to be involved in the activation of aPBP by Lpo factors. Overall, our results indicate that the Tol-Pal system plays an important role in maintaining cell wall integrity during elongation in addition to its multifaceted roles during cytokinesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohee Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Hongbaek Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
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20
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Haubrich BA, Nayyab S, Gallati M, Hernandez J, Williams C, Whitman A, Zimmerman T, Li Q, Chen Y, Zhou CZ, Basu A, Reid CW. Inhibition of Streptococcus pneumoniae growth by masarimycin. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168. [PMID: 35467499 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite renewed interest, development of chemical biology methods to study peptidoglycan metabolism has lagged in comparison to the glycobiology field in general. To address this, a panel of diamides were screened against the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae to identify inhibitors of bacterial growth. The screen identified the diamide masarimycin as a bacteriostatic inhibitor of S. pneumoniae growth with an MIC of 8 µM. The diamide inhibited detergent-induced autolysis in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating perturbation of peptidoglycan degradation as the mode-of-action. Cell based screening of masarimycin against a panel of autolysin mutants, identified a higher MIC against a ΔlytB strain lacking an endo-N-acetylglucosaminidase involved in cell division. Subsequent biochemical and phenotypic analyses suggested that the higher MIC was due to an indirect interaction with LytB. Further analysis of changes to the cell surface in masarimycin treated cells identified the overexpression of several moonlighting proteins, including elongation factor Tu which is implicated in regulating cell shape. Checkerboard assays using masarimycin in concert with additional antibiotics identified an antagonistic relationship with the cell wall targeting antibiotic fosfomycin, which further supports a cell wall mode-of-action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad A Haubrich
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, Bryant University, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, USA.,Department of Basic Sciences, Touro University Nevada, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Henderson, NV 89014, USA
| | - Saman Nayyab
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, Bryant University, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, USA.,Amherst Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts, 230 Stockbridge Rd Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Mika Gallati
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, Bryant University, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, USA
| | - Jazmeen Hernandez
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, Bryant University, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, USA
| | - Caroline Williams
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, Bryant University, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, USA
| | - Andrew Whitman
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, Bryant University, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, USA
| | - Tahl Zimmerman
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Qiong Li
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, PR China
| | - Yuxing Chen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, PR China
| | - Cong-Zhao Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, PR China
| | - Amit Basu
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Christopher W Reid
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, Bryant University, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, USA
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21
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Lobritz MA, Andrews IW, Braff D, Porter CBM, Gutierrez A, Furuta Y, Cortes LBG, Ferrante T, Bening SC, Wong F, Gruber C, Bakerlee C, Lambert G, Walker GC, Dwyer DJ, Collins JJ. Increased energy demand from anabolic-catabolic processes drives β-lactam antibiotic lethality. Cell Chem Biol 2022; 29:276-286.e4. [PMID: 34990601 PMCID: PMC8857051 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
β-Lactam antibiotics disrupt the assembly of peptidoglycan (PG) within the bacterial cell wall by inhibiting the enzymatic activity of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). It was recently shown that β-lactam treatment initializes a futile cycle of PG synthesis and degradation, highlighting major gaps in our understanding of the lethal effects of PBP inhibition by β-lactam antibiotics. Here, we assess the downstream metabolic consequences of treatment of Escherichia coli with the β-lactam mecillinam and show that lethality from PBP2 inhibition is a specific consequence of toxic metabolic shifts induced by energy demand from multiple catabolic and anabolic processes, including accelerated protein synthesis downstream of PG futile cycling. Resource allocation into these processes is coincident with alterations in ATP synthesis and utilization, as well as a broadly dysregulated cellular redox environment. These results indicate that the disruption of normal anabolic-catabolic homeostasis by PBP inhibition is an essential factor for β-lactam antibiotic lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Lobritz
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA,Present address: Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland,These authors contributed equally
| | - Ian W. Andrews
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Dana Braff
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Present address: GRO Biosciences, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Caroline B. M. Porter
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Arnaud Gutierrez
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Present address: Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016 – CNRS UMR8104 – Université Paris Descartes, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Yoshikazu Furuta
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Present address: Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
| | - Louis B. G. Cortes
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Thomas Ferrante
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sarah C. Bening
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Felix Wong
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Charley Gruber
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Chris Bakerlee
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guillaume Lambert
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Graham C. Walker
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Daniel J. Dwyer
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Physical Science and Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA,Corresponding authors: ,
| | - James J. Collins
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Lead contact,Corresponding authors: ,
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22
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Magnesium rescues the morphology of Bacillus subtilis mreB mutants through its inhibitory effect on peptidoglycan hydrolases. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1137. [PMID: 35064120 PMCID: PMC8782873 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04294-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell wall homeostasis in bacteria is tightly regulated by balanced synthesis and degradation of peptidoglycan (PG), allowing cells to expand their sacculus during growth while maintaining physical integrity. In rod-shaped bacteria, actin-like MreB proteins are key players of the PG elongation machinery known as the Rod complex. In the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis depletion of the essential MreB leads to loss of rod shape and cell lysis. However, millimolar concentrations of magnesium in the growth medium rescue the viability and morphological defects of mreB mutants by an unknown mechanism. Here, we used a combination of cytological, biochemical and biophysical approaches to investigate the cell surface properties of mreB null mutant cells and the interactions of Mg2+ with the cell wall of B. subtilis. We show that ∆mreB cells have rougher and softer surfaces, and changes in PG composition indicative of increased DL- and DD-endopeptidase activities as well as increased deacetylation of the sugar moieties. Increase in DL-endopeptidase activity is mitigated by excess Mg2+ while DD-endopeptidase activity remains high. Visualization of PG degradation in pulse-chase experiments showed anisotropic PG hydrolase activity along the sidewalls of ∆mreB cells, in particular at the sites of increased cell width and bulging, while PG synthesis remained isotropic. Overall, our data support a model in which divalent cations maintain rod shape in ∆mreB cells by inhibiting PG hydrolases, possibly through the formation of crosslinks with carboxyl groups of the PG meshwork that affect the capacity of PG hydrolases to act on their substrate.
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23
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Liu X, Liu G, Wu Y, Pang X, Wu Y, Qinshu, Niu J, Chen Q, Zhang X. Transposon sequencing: A powerful tool for the functional genomic study of food-borne pathogens. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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24
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Silvis MR, Rajendram M, Shi H, Osadnik H, Gray AN, Cesar S, Peters JM, Hearne CC, Kumar P, Todor H, Huang KC, Gross CA. Morphological and Transcriptional Responses to CRISPRi Knockdown of Essential Genes in Escherichia coli. mBio 2021; 12:e0256121. [PMID: 34634934 PMCID: PMC8510551 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02561-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) has facilitated the study of essential genes in diverse organisms using both high-throughput and targeted approaches. Despite the promise of this technique, no comprehensive arrayed CRISPRi library targeting essential genes exists for the model bacterium Escherichia coli, or for any Gram-negative species. Here, we built and characterized such a library. Each of the ∼500 strains in our E. coli library contains an inducible, chromosomally integrated single guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting an essential (or selected nonessential) gene and can be mated with a pseudo-Hfr donor strain carrying a dcas9 cassette to create a CRISPRi knockdown strain. Using this system, we built an arrayed library of CRISPRi strains and performed population and single-cell growth and morphology measurements as well as targeted follow-up experiments. These studies found that inhibiting translation causes an extended lag phase, identified new modulators of cell morphology, and revealed that the morphogene mreB is subject to transcriptional feedback regulation, which is critical for the maintenance of morphology. Our findings highlight canonical and noncanonical roles for essential genes in numerous aspects of cellular homeostasis. IMPORTANCE Essential genes make up only ∼5 to 10% of the genetic complement in most organisms but occupy much of their protein synthesis and account for almost all antibiotic targets. Despite the importance of essential genes, their intractability has, until recently, hampered efforts to study them. CRISPRi has facilitated the study of essential genes by allowing inducible and titratable depletion. However, all large-scale CRISPRi studies in Gram-negative bacteria thus far have used plasmids to express CRISPRi components and have been constructed in pools, limiting their utility for targeted assays and complicating the determination of antibiotic effects. Here, we use a modular method to construct an arrayed library of chromosomally integrated CRISPRi strains targeting the essential genes of the model bacterium Escherichia coli. This library enables targeted studies of essential gene depletions and high-throughput determination of antibiotic targets and facilitates studies targeting the outer membrane, an essential component that serves as the major barrier to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R. Silvis
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Manohary Rajendram
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Handuo Shi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Hendrik Osadnik
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Andrew N. Gray
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Spencer Cesar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jason M. Peters
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Cameron C. Hearne
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Parth Kumar
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Horia Todor
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kerwyn Casey Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Carol A. Gross
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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25
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Voedts H, Dorchêne D, Lodge A, Vollmer W, Arthur M, Hugonnet JE. Role of endopeptidases in peptidoglycan synthesis mediated by alternative cross-linking enzymes in Escherichia coli. EMBO J 2021; 40:e108126. [PMID: 34382698 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria resist to the turgor pressure of the cytoplasm through a net-like macromolecule, the peptidoglycan, made of glycan strands connected via peptides cross-linked by penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). We recently reported the emergence of β-lactam resistance resulting from a bypass of PBPs by the YcbB L,D-transpeptidase (LdtD), which form chemically distinct 3→3 cross-links compared to 4→3 formed by PBPs. Here we show that peptidoglycan expansion requires controlled hydrolysis of cross-links and identify among eight endopeptidase paralogues the minimum enzyme complements essential for bacterial growth with 4→3 (MepM) and 3→3 (MepM and MepK) cross-links. Purified Mep endopeptidases unexpectedly displayed a 4→3 and 3→3 dual specificity implying recognition of a common motif in the two cross-link types. Uncoupling of the polymerization of glycan chains from the 4→3 cross-linking reaction was found to facilitate the bypass of PBPs by YcbB. These results illustrate the plasticity of the peptidoglycan polymerization machinery in response to the selective pressure of β-lactams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri Voedts
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Dorchêne
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Adam Lodge
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Waldemar Vollmer
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Michel Arthur
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Emmanuel Hugonnet
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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26
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Abstract
Most bacteria are surrounded by a peptidoglycan cell wall that defines their shape and protects them from osmotic lysis. The expansion and division of this structure therefore plays an integral role in bacterial growth and division. Additionally, the biogenesis of the peptidoglycan layer is the target of many of our most effective antibiotics. Thus, a better understanding of how the cell wall is built will enable the development of new therapies to combat the rise of drug-resistant bacterial infections. This review covers recent advances in defining the mechanisms involved in assembling the peptidoglycan layer with an emphasis on discoveries related to the function and regulation of the cell elongation and division machineries in the model organisms Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 75 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia D A Rohs
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Current affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Thomas G Bernhardt
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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27
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Dörr T. Understanding tolerance to cell wall-active antibiotics. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1496:35-58. [PMID: 33274447 PMCID: PMC8359209 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic tolerance-the ability of bacteria to survive for an extended time in the presence of bactericidal antibiotics-is an understudied contributor to antibiotic treatment failure. Herein, I review the manifestations, mechanisms, and clinical relevance of tolerance to cell wall-active (CWA) antibiotics, one of the most important groups of antibiotics at the forefront of clinical use. I discuss definitions of tolerance and assays for tolerance detection, comprehensively discuss the mechanism of action of β-lactams and other CWA antibiotics, and then provide an overview of how cells mitigate the potentially lethal effects of CWA antibiotic-induced cell damage to become tolerant. Lastly, I discuss evidence for a role of CWA antibiotic tolerance in clinical antibiotic treatment failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Dörr
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Microbiology, and Cornell Institute of Host–Pathogen Interactions and DiseaseCornell UniversityIthacaNew York
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28
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Kim YJ, Choi BJ, Park SH, Lee HB, Son JE, Choi U, Chi WJ, Lee CR. Distinct Amino Acid Availability-Dependent Regulatory Mechanisms of MepS and MepM Levels in Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:677739. [PMID: 34276609 PMCID: PMC8278236 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.677739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PG) hydrolases play important roles in various aspects of bacterial physiology, including cytokinesis, PG synthesis, quality control of PG, PG recycling, and antibiotic resistance. However, the regulatory mechanisms of their expression are poorly understood. In this study, we have uncovered novel regulatory mechanisms of the protein levels of the synthetically lethal PG endopeptidases MepS and MepM, which are involved in PG synthesis. A mutant defective for both MepS and MepM was lethal in an amino acid-rich medium, whereas it exhibited almost normal growth in a minimal medium, suggesting the expendability of MepS and MepM in a minimal medium. Protein levels of MepS and MepM dramatically decreased in the minimal medium. Although MepM was revealed as a substrate of Prc, a periplasmic protease involved in the proteolysis of MepS, only the decrease in the MepS level in the minimal medium was affected by the prc depletion. Phenotypic and biochemical analyses showed that the presence of aromatic amino acids in the medium induced the accumulation of MepS, but not MepM, while the presence of glutamate increased the level of MepM, but not MepS. Together, these results demonstrate that the protein levels of the two major PG endopeptidases are regulated in an amino acid availability-dependent manner, but their molecular mechanisms and signaling are significantly distinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung Jae Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Byoung Jun Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Si Hyoung Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Han Byeol Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Ji Eun Son
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Umji Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Won-Jae Chi
- Biological and Genetic Resource Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resource, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Chang-Ro Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
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29
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Garner EC. Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Bacterial Rod Shape Formation and Regulation. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2021; 37:1-21. [PMID: 34186006 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-010521-010834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
One of the most common bacterial shapes is a rod, yet we have a limited understanding of how this simple shape is constructed. While only six proteins are required for rod shape, we are just beginning to understand how they self-organize to build the micron-sized enveloping structures that define bacterial shape out of nanometer-sized glycan strains. Here, we detail and summarize the insights gained over the last 20 years into this complex problem that have been achieved with a wide variety of different approaches. We also explain and compare both current and past models of rod shape formation and maintenance and then highlight recent insights into how the Rod complex might be regulated. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, Volume 37 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan C Garner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA;
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30
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Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria have a unique cell envelope with a lipopolysaccharide-containing outer membrane that is tightly connected to a thin layer of peptidoglycan. The tight connection between the outer membrane and peptidoglycan is needed to maintain the outer membrane as an impermeable barrier for many toxic molecules and antibiotics. Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli covalently attach the abundant outer membrane-anchored lipoprotein Lpp (Braun’s lipoprotein) to tripeptides in peptidoglycan, mediated by the transpeptidases LdtA, LdtB, and LdtC. LdtD and LdtE are members of the same family of ld-transpeptidases but they catalyze a different reaction, the formation of 3-3 cross-links in the peptidoglycan. The function of the sixth homologue in E. coli, LdtF, remains unclear, although it has been shown to become essential in cells with inhibited lipopolysaccharide export to the outer membrane. We now show that LdtF hydrolyzes the Lpp-peptidoglycan linkage, detaching Lpp from peptidoglycan, and have renamed LdtF to peptidoglycan meso-diaminopimelic acid protein amidase A (DpaA). We show that the detachment of Lpp from peptidoglycan is beneficial for the cell under certain stress conditions and that the deletion of dpaA allows frequent transposon inactivation in the lapB (yciM) gene, whose product downregulates lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. DpaA-like proteins have characteristic sequence motifs and are present in many Gram-negative bacteria, of which some have no Lpp, raising the possibility that DpaA has other substrates in these species. Overall, our data show that the Lpp-peptidoglycan linkage in E. coli is more dynamic than previously appreciated.
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31
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Saha S, Lach SR, Konovalova A. Homeostasis of the Gram-negative cell envelope. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 61:99-106. [PMID: 33901778 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterial cell envelope is a complex structure and its homeostasis is essential for bacterial survival. Envelope stress responses (ESRs) are signal transduction pathways that monitor the fidelity of envelope assembly during normal growth and also detect and repair envelope damage caused by external assaults, including immune factors, protein toxins, and antibiotics. In this review, we focus on three best-studied ESRs and discuss the mechanisms by which ESRs detect various perturbations of envelope assembly and integrity and regulate envelope remodeling to promote bacterial survival. We will highlight the complex relationship of ESRs with envelope biogenesis pathways and discuss some of the challenges in this field on the road to mapping the global regulatory network of envelope homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Saha
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sarah R Lach
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 6767 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Anna Konovalova
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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32
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Identification of potential regulatory domains within the MreC and MreD components of the cell elongation machinery. J Bacteriol 2021; 203:JB.00493-20. [PMID: 33558391 PMCID: PMC8092158 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00493-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall maintains cell shape and prevents osmotic lysis. During growth of rod-shaped cells, PG is incorporated along the cell cylinder by the RodA-PBP2 synthase of the multi-protein Rod system (elongasome). Filaments of the actin-like MreB protein orient synthesis of the new PG material. They are connected to the RodA-PBP2 synthase in part through the RodZ component. MreC and MreD are other conserved components of the system, but their function is not well understood. Amino acid changes in RodA-PBP2 were recently identified that bypass a requirement for MreC and MreD function, suggesting the Mre proteins act as activators of the synthase. To further investigate their function, we developed a genetic strategy to identify dominant-negative alleles of mreC and mreD in Escherichia coli Residues essential for Rod system function were identified at the junction of two subdomains within MreC and in a predicted ligand-binding pocket of MreD. Additionally, we found that although the proline-rich C-terminal domain of MreC is non-essential, substitutions within this region disrupt its function. Based on these results, we propose that the C-terminus of MreC and the putative ligand-binding domain of MreD play regulatory roles in controlling Rod system activity.IMPORTANCE: Cell shape in bacteria is largely determined by the cell wall structure that surrounds them. The multi-protein machine called the Rod system (elongasome) has long been implicated in rod-shape determination in bacilli. However, the functions of many of its conserved components remain unclear. Here, we describe a new genetic system to dissect the function of these proteins and how we used it to identify potential regulatory domains within them that may modulate the function of the shape-determining machinery.
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33
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Class A Penicillin-Binding Protein-Mediated Cell Wall Synthesis Promotes Structural Integrity during Peptidoglycan Endopeptidase Insufficiency in Vibrio cholerae. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.03596-20. [PMID: 33824203 PMCID: PMC8092314 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03596-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell wall is composed primarily of peptidoglycan (PG), a poly-aminosugar that is essential to sustain cell shape, growth, and structural integrity. PG is synthesized by class A/B penicillin-binding proteins (a/bPBPs) and shape, elongation, division, and sporulation (SEDS) proteins like RodA (as part of the Rod system cell elongation machinery) and degraded by "autolytic" enzymes to accommodate growth processes. It is thought that autolysins (particularly endopeptidases [EPs]) are required for PG synthesis and incorporation by creating gaps that are patched and paved by PG synthases, but the exact relationship between autolysins and PG synthesis remains incompletely understood. Here, we have probed the consequences of EP depletion for PG synthesis in the diarrheal pathogen Vibrio cholerae We found that EP depletion resulted in severe morphological and division defects, but these cells continued to increase in mass and aberrantly incorporated new cell wall material. Mass increase proceeded in the presence of Rod system inhibitors, but cells lysed upon inhibition of aPBPs, suggesting that aPBPs are required for structural integrity under these conditions. The Rod system, although not essential for the observed mass increase, remained functional even after prolonged EP depletion. Last, heterologous expression of an EP from Neisseria gonorrhoeae fully complemented growth and morphology of an EP-insufficient V. cholerae, highlighting the possibility that the PG synthases may not necessarily function via direct interaction with EPs. Overall, our findings suggest that during EP insufficiency in V. cholerae, aPBPs become essential for structural integrity while the Rod system is unable to promote proper cell expansion.IMPORTANCE Synthesis and turnover of the bacterial cell wall must be tightly coordinated to avoid structural integrity failure and cell death. Details of this coordination are poorly understood, particularly if and how cell wall turnover enzymes are required for the activity of the different cell wall synthesis machines, the aPBPs and the Rod system. Our results suggest that in Vibrio cholerae, one class of turnover enzymes, the endopeptidases, are necessary for proper cell elongation and division. aPBPs become essential for maintaining structural integrity during EP insufficiency, while the Rod system remains active but contributes little to cell expansion under these conditions. Our results suggest that aPBPs are more versatile than the Rod system in their ability to recognize cell wall gaps formed by autolysins other than the major endopeptidases, adding to our understanding of the coordination between autolysins and cell wall synthases. A detailed understanding of autolysin biology may promote the development of antibiotics that target these essential turnover processes.
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34
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Straume D, Piechowiak KW, Kjos M, Håvarstein LS. Class A PBPs: It is time to rethink traditional paradigms. Mol Microbiol 2021; 116:41-52. [PMID: 33709487 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Until recently, class A penicillin-binding proteins (aPBPs) were the only enzymes known to catalyze glycan chain polymerization from lipid II in bacteria. Hence, the discovery of two novel lipid II polymerases, FtsW and RodA, raises new questions and has consequently received a lot of attention from the research community. FtsW and RodA are essential and highly conserved members of the divisome and elongasome, respectively, and work in conjunction with their cognate class B PBPs (bPBPs) to synthesize the division septum and insert new peptidoglycan into the lateral cell wall. The identification of FtsW and RodA as peptidoglycan glycosyltransferases has raised questions regarding the role of aPBPs in peptidoglycan synthesis and fundamentally changed our understanding of the process. Despite their dethronement, aPBPs are essential in most bacteria. So, what is their function? In this review, we discuss recent progress in answering this question and present our own views on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Straume
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | | | - Morten Kjos
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Leiv Sigve Håvarstein
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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35
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Zheng D, Xu Y, Yuan G, Wu X, Li Q. Bacterial ClpP Protease Is a Potential Target for Methyl Gallate. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:598692. [PMID: 33613462 PMCID: PMC7890073 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.598692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Methyl gallate (MG) is an effective microbicide with great potential application in the integrated management of plant diseases and an important potential drug for clinical application. However, its target remains unknown. This study conducted a transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) under MG treatment in plant pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. Tn-seq identified that the mutation of caseinolytic protease proteolytic subunit gene clpP significantly increased the resistance of R. solanacearum to MG, which was validated by the in-frame gene deletion. iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation) proteomics analysis revealed that chemotaxis and flagella associated proteins were the major substrates degraded by ClpP under the tested condition. Moreover, sulfur metabolism-associated proteins were potential substrates of ClpP and were upregulated by MG treatment in wild-type R. solanacearum but not in clpP mutant. Furthermore, molecular docking confirmed the possible interaction between MG and ClpP. Collectively, this study revealed that MG might target bacterial ClpP, inhibit the activity of ClpP, and consequently disturb bacterial proteostasis, providing a theoretical basis for the application of MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Gaoqing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaogang Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Qiqin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
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36
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Pazos M, Vollmer W. Regulation and function of class A Penicillin-binding proteins. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 60:80-87. [PMID: 33611146 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Most bacteria surround their cell membrane with a peptidoglycan sacculus that counteracts the turgor and maintains the shape of the cell. Class A PBPs are bi-functional glycosyltransferase-transpeptidases that polymerize glycan chains and cross-link peptides. They have a major contribution to the total peptidoglycan synthesized during cell growth and cell division. In recent years it became apparent that class A PBPs participate in multiple protein? protein interactions and that some of these regulate their activities. In this opinion article, we review and discuss the role of class A PBPs in peptidoglycan growth and repair. We hypothesize that class A PBP function is essential in walled bacteria unless they have (a) SEDS protein(s) capable of replacing their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Pazos
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, NE2 4AX, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Waldemar Vollmer
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, NE2 4AX, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
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37
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Yin J, Zhang T, Cai J, Lou J, Cheng D, Zhou W, Xu C, Liu Y, Gao H, Yu Z. PBP1a glycosyltransferase and transpeptidase activities are both required for maintaining cell morphology and envelope integrity in Shewanella oneidensis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2021; 367:5731804. [PMID: 32037461 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In rod-shaped Gram-negative bacteria, penicillin binding protein 1a (PBP1a) and 1b (PBP1b) form peptidoglycan-synthesizing complexes with the outer membrane lipoprotein LpoA and LpoB, respectively. Escherichia coli mutants lacking PBP1b/LpoB are sicker than those lacking PBP1a/LpoA. However, we previously found that mutants lacking PBP1a/LpoA but not PBP1b/LpoB are deleterious in Shewanella oneidensis. Here, we show that S. oneidensis PBP1a (SoPBP1a) contains conserved signature motifs with its E. coli counterpart, EcPBP1a. Although EcPBP1a play a less prominent role in E. coli, it is capable of substituting for the SoPBP1a in a manner dependent on SoLpoA. In S. oneidensis, expression of PBP1b is lower than PBP1a, and therefore the additional expression of SoPBP1b at low levels can functionally compensate for the absence of SoPBP1a. Importantly, S. oneidensis PBP1a variants lacking either glycosyltransferase (GTase) or transpeptidase (TPase) activity fail to maintain normal morphology and cell envelope integrity. Similarly, SoPBP1b variants also fail to compensate for the loss of SoPBP1a. Furthermore, overproduction of variants of SoPBP1a, but not SoPBP1b, has detrimental effects on cell morphology in S. oneidensis wild type cells. Overall, our results indicate that the combined enzymatic activities of SoPBP1a are essential for cell wall homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Yin
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jingxiao Cai
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jie Lou
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Dan Cheng
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Weifeng Zhou
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chaoyi Xu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yanqiu Liu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Haichun Gao
- College of Life sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhiliang Yu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
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Garde S, Chodisetti PK, Reddy M. Peptidoglycan: Structure, Synthesis, and Regulation. EcoSal Plus 2021; 9:eESP-0010-2020. [PMID: 33470191 PMCID: PMC11168573 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0010-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan is a defining feature of the bacterial cell wall. Initially identified as a target of the revolutionary beta-lactam antibiotics, peptidoglycan has become a subject of much interest for its biology, its potential for the discovery of novel antibiotic targets, and its role in infection. Peptidoglycan is a large polymer that forms a mesh-like scaffold around the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. Peptidoglycan synthesis is vital at several stages of the bacterial cell cycle: for expansion of the scaffold during cell elongation and for formation of a septum during cell division. It is a complex multifactorial process that includes formation of monomeric precursors in the cytoplasm, their transport to the periplasm, and polymerization to form a functional peptidoglycan sacculus. These processes require spatio-temporal regulation for successful assembly of a robust sacculus to protect the cell from turgor and determine cell shape. A century of research has uncovered the fundamentals of peptidoglycan biology, and recent studies employing advanced technologies have shed new light on the molecular interactions that govern peptidoglycan synthesis. Here, we describe the peptidoglycan structure, synthesis, and regulation in rod-shaped bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli, with a few examples from Salmonella and other diverse organisms. We focus on the pathway of peptidoglycan sacculus elongation, with special emphasis on discoveries of the past decade that have shaped our understanding of peptidoglycan biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shambhavi Garde
- These authors contributed equally
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India 500007
| | - Pavan Kumar Chodisetti
- These authors contributed equally
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India 500007
| | - Manjula Reddy
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India 500007
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39
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Abstract
Single-celled organisms must adapt their physiology to persist and propagate across a wide range of environmental conditions. The growth and division of bacterial cells depend on continuous synthesis of an essential extracellular barrier: the peptidoglycan cell wall, a polysaccharide matrix that counteracts turgor pressure and confers cell shape. Unlike many other essential processes and structures within the bacterial cell, the peptidoglycan cell wall and its synthesis machinery reside at the cell surface and are thus uniquely vulnerable to the physicochemical environment and exogenous threats. In addition to the diversity of stressors endangering cell wall integrity, defects in peptidoglycan metabolism require rapid repair in order to prevent osmotic lysis, which can occur within minutes. Here, we review recent work that illuminates mechanisms that ensure robust peptidoglycan metabolism in response to persistent and acute environmental stress. Advances in our understanding of bacterial cell wall quality control promise to inform the development and use of antimicrobial agents that target the synthesis and remodeling of this essential macromolecule.IMPORTANCE Nearly all bacteria are encased in a peptidoglycan cell wall, an essential polysaccharide structure that protects the cell from osmotic rupture and reinforces cell shape. The integrity of this protective barrier must be maintained across the diversity of environmental conditions wherein bacteria replicate. However, at the cell surface, the cell wall and its synthesis machinery face unique challenges that threaten their integrity. Directly exposed to the extracellular environment, the peptidoglycan synthesis machinery encounters dynamic and extreme physicochemical conditions, which may impair enzymatic activity and critical protein-protein interactions. Biotic and abiotic stressors-including host defenses, cell wall active antibiotics, and predatory bacteria and phage-also jeopardize peptidoglycan integrity by introducing lesions, which must be rapidly repaired to prevent cell lysis. Here, we review recently discovered mechanisms that promote robust peptidoglycan synthesis during environmental and acute stress and highlight the opportunities and challenges for the development of cell wall active therapeutics.
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40
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Park SH, Kim YJ, Lee HB, Seok YJ, Lee CR. Genetic Evidence for Distinct Functions of Peptidoglycan Endopeptidases in Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:565767. [PMID: 33013796 PMCID: PMC7516022 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.565767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PG) is an essential component of the bacterial exoskeleton that plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of cell shape and resistance to cell lysis under high turgor pressures. The synthesis and degradation of PG must be tightly regulated during bacterial cell elongation and division. Unlike enzymes involved in PG synthesis, PG hydrolases show high redundancy in many bacteria including Escherichia coli. In this study, we showed that PG endopeptidases have distinct roles in cell growth and division. Phenotypic analysis of mutants lacking one of seven PG endopeptidases identified a MepM-specific phenotype, salt sensitivity, and a MepS-specific phenotype, EDTA sensitivity. Complementation test in each phenotype showed that the phenotype of the mepM mutant was restored only by MepM, whereas the phenotype of the mepS mutant was restored by MepS or by overexpression of MepH, PbpG, or MepM. These distinct phenotypes depend on both the specific localizations and specific domains of MepM and MepS. Finally, using the identified phenotypes, we revealed that MepM and MepH were genetically associated with both penicillin-binding protein 1a (PBP1a) and PBP1b, whereas MepS and PbpG were genetically associated with only PBP1b. Notably, a defect in PBP1a or PBP1b phenocopied the mepM mutant, suggesting the importance of MepM on PG synthesis. Therefore, our results indicate that each PG endopeptidase plays a distinct role in cell growth and division, depending on its distinct domains and cellular localizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Hyoung Park
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioinformatics, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Yung Jae Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioinformatics, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Han Byeol Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioinformatics, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Yeong-Jae Seok
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute of Microbiology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chang-Ro Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioinformatics, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea
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41
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Lee C, Betschinger P, Wu K, Żyła DS, Glockshuber R, Bardwell JC. A metabolite binding protein moonlights as a bile-responsive chaperone. EMBO J 2020; 39:e104231. [PMID: 32882062 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019104231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bile salts are secreted into the gastrointestinal tract to aid in the absorption of lipids. In addition, bile salts show potent antimicrobial activity in part by mediating bacterial protein unfolding and aggregation. Here, using a protein folding sensor, we made the surprising discovery that the Escherichia coli periplasmic glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P)-binding protein UgpB can serve, in the absence of its substrate, as a potent molecular chaperone that exhibits anti-aggregation activity against bile salt-induced protein aggregation. The substrate G3P, which is known to accumulate in the later compartments of the digestive system, triggers a functional switch between UgpB's activity as a molecular chaperone and its activity as a G3P transporter. A UgpB mutant unable to bind G3P is constitutively active as a chaperone, and its crystal structure shows that it contains a deep surface groove absent in the G3P-bound wild-type UgpB. Our work illustrates how evolution may be able to convert threats into signals that first activate and then inactivate a chaperone at the protein level in a manner that bypasses the need for ATP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhan Lee
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Patrick Betschinger
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kevin Wu
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dawid S Żyła
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rudi Glockshuber
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - James Ca Bardwell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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42
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Truong TT, Vettiger A, Bernhardt TG. Cell division is antagonized by the activity of peptidoglycan endopeptidases that promote cell elongation. Mol Microbiol 2020; 114:966-978. [PMID: 32866331 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall composed of glycans crosslinked by short peptides surrounds most bacteria and protects them against osmotic rupture. In Escherichia coli, cell elongation requires crosslink cleavage by PG endopeptidases to make space for the incorporation of new PG material throughout the cell cylinder. Cell division, on the contrary, requires the localized synthesis and remodeling of new PG at midcell by the divisome. Little is known about the factors that modulate transitions between these two modes of PG biogenesis. In a transposon-insertion sequencing screen to identify mutants synthetically lethal with a defect in the division protein FtsP, we discovered that mutants impaired for cell division are sensitive to elevated activity of the endopeptidases. Increased endopeptidase activity in these cells was shown to interfere with the assembly of mature divisomes, and conversely, inactivation of MepS was found to suppress the lethality of mutations in essential division genes. Overall, our results are consistent with a model in which the cell elongation and division systems are in competition with one another and that control of PG endopeptidase activity represents an important point of regulation influencing the transition from elongation to the division mode of PG biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao T Truong
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea Vettiger
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas G Bernhardt
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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43
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Shin JH, Sulpizio AG, Kelley A, Alvarez L, Murphy SG, Fan L, Cava F, Mao Y, Saper MA, Dörr T. Structural basis of peptidoglycan endopeptidase regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:11692-11702. [PMID: 32393643 PMCID: PMC7261138 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2001661117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Most bacteria surround themselves with a cell wall, a strong meshwork consisting primarily of the polymerized aminosugar peptidoglycan (PG). PG is essential for structural maintenance of bacterial cells, and thus for viability. PG is also constantly synthesized and turned over; the latter process is mediated by PG cleavage enzymes, for example, the endopeptidases (EPs). EPs themselves are essential for growth but also promote lethal cell wall degradation after exposure to antibiotics that inhibit PG synthases (e.g., β-lactams). Thus, EPs are attractive targets for novel antibiotics and their adjuvants. However, we have a poor understanding of how these enzymes are regulated in vivo, depriving us of novel pathways for the development of such antibiotics. Here, we have solved crystal structures of the LysM/M23 family peptidase ShyA, the primary EP of the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae Our data suggest that ShyA assumes two drastically different conformations: a more open form that allows for substrate binding and a closed form, which we predicted to be catalytically inactive. Mutations expected to promote the open conformation caused enhanced activity in vitro and in vivo, and these results were recapitulated in EPs from the divergent pathogens Neisseria gonorrheae and Escherichia coli Our results suggest that LysM/M23 EPs are regulated via release of the inhibitory Domain 1 from the M23 active site, likely through conformational rearrangement in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Ho Shin
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Alan G Sulpizio
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Aaron Kelley
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5606
| | - Laura Alvarez
- The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Shannon G Murphy
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Lixin Fan
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, SAXS Core Facility of the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Felipe Cava
- The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Yuxin Mao
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Mark A Saper
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5606
| | - Tobias Dörr
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853;
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
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44
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Complex Response of the CpxAR Two-Component System to β-Lactams on Antibiotic Resistance and Envelope Homeostasis in Enterobacteriaceae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00291-20. [PMID: 32229490 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00291-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cpx stress response is widespread among Enterobacteriaceae We previously reported a mutation in cpxA in a multidrug-resistant strain of Klebsiella aerogenes isolated from a patient treated with imipenem. This mutation yields a single-amino-acid substitution (Y144N) located in the periplasmic sensor domain of CpxA. In this work, we sought to characterize this mutation in Escherichia coli by using genetic and biochemical approaches. Here, we show that cpxAY144N is an activated allele that confers resistance to β-lactams and aminoglycosides in a CpxR-dependent manner, by regulating the expression of the OmpF porin and the AcrD efflux pump, respectively. We also demonstrate the effect of the intimate interconnection between the Cpx system and peptidoglycan integrity on the expression of an exogenous AmpC β-lactamase by using imipenem as a cell wall-active antibiotic or by inactivating penicillin-binding proteins. Moreover, our data indicate that the Y144N substitution abrogates the interaction between CpxA and CpxP and increases phosphotransfer activity on CpxR. Because the addition of a strong AmpC inducer such as imipenem is known to cause abnormal accumulation of muropeptides (disaccharide-pentapeptide and N-acetylglucosamyl-1,6-anhydro-N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanyl-d-glutamy-meso-diaminopimelic-acid-d-alanyl-d-alanine) in the periplasmic space, we propose these molecules activate the Cpx system by displacing CpxP from the sensor domain of CpxA. Altogether, these data could explain why large perturbations to peptidoglycans caused by imipenem lead to mutational activation of the Cpx system and bacterial adaptation through multidrug resistance. These results also validate the Cpx system, in particular, the interaction between CpxA and CpxP, as a promising therapeutic target.
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45
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The role of bacterial cell envelope structures in acid stress resistance in E. coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:2911-2921. [PMID: 32067056 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10453-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acid resistance (AR) is an indispensable mechanism for the survival of neutralophilic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains that survive in the gastrointestinal tract. E. coli acid tolerance has been extensively studied during past decades, with most studies focused on gene regulation and mechanisms. However, the role of cell membrane structure in the context of acid stress resistance has not been discussed in depth. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the roles and mechanisms of the E. coli cell envelope from different membrane components, such as membrane proteins, fatty acids, chaperones, and proton-consuming systems, and particularly focus on the innovative effects revealed by recent studies. We hope that the information guides us to understand the bacterial survival strategies under acid stress and to further explore the AR regulatory mechanisms to prevent or treat E. coli and other related Gram-negative bacteria infection, or to enhance the AR of engineering E. coli.
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46
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Banzhaf M, Yau HC, Verheul J, Lodge A, Kritikos G, Mateus A, Cordier B, Hov AK, Stein F, Wartel M, Pazos M, Solovyova AS, Breukink E, van Teeffelen S, Savitski MM, den Blaauwen T, Typas A, Vollmer W. Outer membrane lipoprotein NlpI scaffolds peptidoglycan hydrolases within multi-enzyme complexes in Escherichia coli. EMBO J 2020; 39:e102246. [PMID: 32009249 PMCID: PMC7049810 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The peptidoglycan (PG) sacculus provides bacteria with the mechanical strength to maintain cell shape and resist osmotic stress. Enlargement of the mesh‐like sacculus requires the combined activity of peptidoglycan synthases and hydrolases. In Escherichia coli, the activity of two PG synthases is driven by lipoproteins anchored in the outer membrane (OM). However, the regulation of PG hydrolases is less well understood, with only regulators for PG amidases having been described. Here, we identify the OM lipoprotein NlpI as a general adaptor protein for PG hydrolases. NlpI binds to different classes of hydrolases and can specifically form complexes with various PG endopeptidases. In addition, NlpI seems to contribute both to PG elongation and division biosynthetic complexes based on its localization and genetic interactions. Consistent with such a role, we reconstitute PG multi‐enzyme complexes containing NlpI, the PG synthesis regulator LpoA, its cognate bifunctional synthase, PBP1A, and different endopeptidases. Our results indicate that peptidoglycan regulators and adaptors are part of PG biosynthetic multi‐enzyme complexes, regulating and potentially coordinating the spatiotemporal action of PG synthases and hydrolases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Banzhaf
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hamish Cl Yau
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jolanda Verheul
- Bacterial Cell Biology & Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adam Lodge
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - George Kritikos
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - André Mateus
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Baptiste Cordier
- Microbial Morphogenesis and Growth Lab, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Ann Kristin Hov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Stein
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Morgane Wartel
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuel Pazos
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Eefjan Breukink
- Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mikhail M Savitski
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural & Computational Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanneke den Blaauwen
- Bacterial Cell Biology & Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Athanasios Typas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural & Computational Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Waldemar Vollmer
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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47
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Vigouroux A, Cordier B, Aristov A, Alvarez L, Özbaykal G, Chaze T, Oldewurtel ER, Matondo M, Cava F, Bikard D, van Teeffelen S. Class-A penicillin binding proteins do not contribute to cell shape but repair cell-wall defects. eLife 2020; 9:e51998. [PMID: 31904338 PMCID: PMC7002073 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell shape and cell-envelope integrity of bacteria are determined by the peptidoglycan cell wall. In rod-shaped Escherichia coli, two conserved sets of machinery are essential for cell-wall insertion in the cylindrical part of the cell: the Rod complex and the class-A penicillin-binding proteins (aPBPs). While the Rod complex governs rod-like cell shape, aPBP function is less well understood. aPBPs were previously hypothesized to either work in concert with the Rod complex or to independently repair cell-wall defects. First, we demonstrate through modulation of enzyme levels that aPBPs do not contribute to rod-like cell shape but are required for mechanical stability, supporting their independent activity. By combining measurements of cell-wall stiffness, cell-wall insertion, and PBP1b motion at the single-molecule level, we then present evidence that PBP1b, the major aPBP, contributes to cell-wall integrity by repairing cell wall defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Vigouroux
- Microbial Morphogenesis and Growth LaboratoryInstitut PasteurParisFrance
- Synthetic Biology LaboratoryInstitut PasteurParisFrance
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne-Paris-CitéParisFrance
| | - Baptiste Cordier
- Microbial Morphogenesis and Growth LaboratoryInstitut PasteurParisFrance
| | - Andrey Aristov
- Microbial Morphogenesis and Growth LaboratoryInstitut PasteurParisFrance
| | - Laura Alvarez
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Department of Molecular BiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Gizem Özbaykal
- Microbial Morphogenesis and Growth LaboratoryInstitut PasteurParisFrance
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne-Paris-CitéParisFrance
| | | | | | | | - Felipe Cava
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Department of Molecular BiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - David Bikard
- Synthetic Biology LaboratoryInstitut PasteurParisFrance
| | - Sven van Teeffelen
- Microbial Morphogenesis and Growth LaboratoryInstitut PasteurParisFrance
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48
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Construction of a multicopy genomic DNA library and its application for suppression analysis. J Microbiol 2019; 57:1041-1047. [PMID: 31758393 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-019-9417-8] [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: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Suppression analysis is used for the identification of new genes and genetic interactions when there is a notable phenotype available for genetic selection or screening. A random genomic DNA library constructed on a multi-copy plasmid is a useful tool for suppression analysis when one expects that an overdose of a few genes will suppress the phenotype. These libraries have been successfully used to determine the function of a gene by revealing genes whose functions are related to the gene of interest. They have also been used to identify the targets of chemical or biological agents by increasing the number of unaffected target gene products in a cell. In this article, I will discuss important considerations for constructing multicopy genomic DNA libraries. The protocol provided in this paper should be a useful guide for constructing genomic DNA libraries in many bacterial species for which multi-copy plasmids are available.
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49
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Hill IT, Tallo T, Dorman MJ, Dove SL. Loss of RNA Chaperone Hfq Unveils a Toxic Pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol 2019; 201:e00232-19. [PMID: 31358608 PMCID: PMC6755729 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00232-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hfq is an RNA chaperone that serves as a master regulator of bacterial physiology. Here we show that in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the loss of Hfq can result in a dramatic reduction in growth in a manner that is dependent upon MexT, a transcription regulator that governs antibiotic resistance in this organism. Using a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing and transposon insertion sequencing, we identify the MexT-activated genes responsible for mediating the growth defect of hfq mutant cells. These include a newly identified MexT-controlled gene that we call hilR We demonstrate that hilR encodes a small protein that is acutely toxic to wild-type cells when produced ectopically. Furthermore, we show that hilR expression is negatively regulated by Hfq, offering a possible explanation for the growth defect of hfq mutant cells. Finally, we present evidence that the expression of MexT-activated genes is dependent upon GshA, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of glutathione. Our findings suggest that Hfq can influence the growth of P. aeruginosa by limiting the toxic effects of specific MexT-regulated genes. Moreover, our results identify glutathione to be a factor important for the in vivo activity of MexT.IMPORTANCE Here we show that the conserved RNA chaperone Hfq is important for the growth of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa We found that the growth defect of hfq mutant cells is dependent upon the expression of genes that are under the control of the transcription regulator MexT. These include a gene that we refer to as hilR, which we show is negatively regulated by Hfq and encodes a small protein that can be toxic when ectopically produced in wild-type cells. Thus, Hfq can influence the growth of P. aeruginosa by limiting the toxic effects of MexT-regulated genes, including one encoding a previously unrecognized small protein. We also show that MexT activity depends on an enzyme that synthesizes glutathione.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian T Hill
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas Tallo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew J Dorman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Simon L Dove
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Upregulation of PBP1B and LpoB in cysB Mutants Confers Mecillinam (Amdinocillin) Resistance in Escherichia coli. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.00612-19. [PMID: 31332059 PMCID: PMC6761508 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00612-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mecillinam (amdinocillin) is a β-lactam antibiotic that inhibits the essential penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2). In clinical isolates of Escherichia coli from urinary tract infections, inactivation of the cysB gene (which encodes the main regulator of cysteine biosynthesis, CysB) is the major cause of resistance. How a nonfunctional CysB protein confers resistance is unknown, however, and in this study we wanted to examine the mechanism of resistance. Mecillinam (amdinocillin) is a β-lactam antibiotic that inhibits the essential penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2). In clinical isolates of Escherichia coli from urinary tract infections, inactivation of the cysB gene (which encodes the main regulator of cysteine biosynthesis, CysB) is the major cause of resistance. How a nonfunctional CysB protein confers resistance is unknown, however, and in this study we wanted to examine the mechanism of resistance. Results show that cysB mutations cause a gene regulatory response that changes the expression of ∼450 genes. Among the proteins that show increased levels are the PBP1B, LpoB, and FtsZ proteins, which are known to be involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Artificial overexpression of either PBP1B or LpoB in a wild-type E. coli strain conferred mecillinam resistance; conversely, inactivation of either the mrcB gene (which encodes PBP1B) or the lpoB gene (which encodes the PBP1B activator LpoB) made cysB mutants susceptible. These results show that expression of the proteins PBP1B and LpoB is both necessary and sufficient to confer mecillinam resistance. The addition of reducing agents to a cysB mutant converted it to full susceptibility, with associated downregulation of PBP1B, LpoB, and FtsZ. We propose a model in which cysB mutants confer mecillinam resistance by inducing a response that causes upregulation of the PBP1B and LpoB proteins. The higher levels of these two proteins can then rescue cells with mecillinam-inhibited PBP2. Our results also show how resistance can be modulated by external conditions such as reducing agents.
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