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Atomic Force Microscopy Reveals Complexity Underlying General Secretory System Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010055. [PMID: 36613499 PMCID: PMC9820662 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The translocation of specific polypeptide chains across membranes is an essential activity for all life forms. The main components of the general secretory (Sec) system of E. coli include integral membrane translocon SecYEG, peripheral ATPase SecA, and SecDF, an ancillary complex that enhances polypeptide secretion by coupling translocation to proton motive force. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), a single-molecule imaging technique, is well suited to unmask complex, asynchronous molecular activities of membrane-associated proteins including those comprising the Sec apparatus. Using AFM, the dynamic structure of membrane-external protein topography of Sec system components can be directly visualized with high spatial-temporal precision. This mini-review is focused on AFM imaging of the Sec system in near-native fluid conditions where activity can be maintained and biochemically verified. Angstrom-scale conformational changes of SecYEG are reported on 100 ms timescales in fluid lipid bilayers. The association of SecA with SecYEG, forming membrane-bound SecYEG/SecA translocases, is directly visualized. Recent work showing topographical aspects of the translocation process that vary with precursor species is also discussed. The data suggests that the Sec system does not employ a single translocation mechanism. We posit that differences in the spatial frequency distribution of hydrophobic content within precursor sequences may be a determining factor in mechanism selection. Precise AFM investigations of active translocases are poised to advance our currently vague understanding of the complicated macromolecular movements underlying protein export across membranes.
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Jin J, Hsieh YH, Chaudhary AS, Cui J, Houghton JE, Sui SF, Wang B, Tai PC. SecA inhibitors as potential antimicrobial agents: differential actions on SecA-only and SecA-SecYEG protein-conducting channels. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 365:5037921. [PMID: 30007321 PMCID: PMC7190897 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sec-dependent protein translocation is an essential process in bacteria. SecA is a key component of the translocation machinery and has multiple domains that interact with various ligands. SecA acts as an ATPase motor to drive the precursor protein/peptide through the SecYEG protein translocation channels. As SecA is unique to bacteria and there is no mammalian counterpart, it is an ideal target for the development of new antimicrobials. Several reviews detail the assays for ATPase and protein translocation, as well as the search for SecA inhibitors. Recent studies have shown that, in addition to the SecA-SecYEG translocation channels, there are SecA-only channels in the lipid bilayers, which function independently from the SecYEG machinery. This mini-review focuses on recent advances on the newly developed SecA inhibitors that allow the evaluation of their potential as antimicrobial agents, as well as a fundamental understanding of mechanisms of SecA function(s). These SecA inhibitors abrogate the effects of efflux pumps in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We also discuss recent findings that SecA binds to ribosomes and nascent peptides, which suggest other roles of SecA. A model for the multiple roles of SecA is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinshan Jin
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design and Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Ying-Hsin Hsieh
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design and Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Arpana S Chaudhary
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design and Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3965, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jianmei Cui
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design and Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3965, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - John E Houghton
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design and Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Sen-fang Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Binghe Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design and Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3965, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Phang C Tai
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design and Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
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Crane JM, Randall LL. The Sec System: Protein Export in Escherichia coli. EcoSal Plus 2017; 7:10.1128/ecosalplus.ESP-0002-2017. [PMID: 29165233 PMCID: PMC5807066 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0002-2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In Escherichia coli, proteins found in the periplasm or the outer membrane are exported from the cytoplasm by the general secretory, Sec, system before they acquire stably folded structure. This dynamic process involves intricate interactions among cytoplasmic and membrane proteins, both peripheral and integral, as well as lipids. In vivo, both ATP hydrolysis and proton motive force are required. Here, we review the Sec system from the inception of the field through early 2016, including biochemical, genetic, and structural data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennine M. Crane
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Linda L. Randall
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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Hsieh YH, Huang YJ, Zhang H, Liu Q, Lu Y, Yang H, Houghton J, Jiang C, Sui SF, Tai PC. Dissecting structures and functions of SecA-only protein-conducting channels: ATPase, pore structure, ion channel activity, protein translocation, and interaction with SecYEG/SecDF•YajC. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178307. [PMID: 28575061 PMCID: PMC5456053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
SecA is an essential protein in the major bacterial Sec-dependent translocation pathways. E. coli SecA has 901 aminoacyl residues which form multi-functional domains that interact with various ligands to impart function. In this study, we constructed and purified tethered C-terminal deletion fragments of SecA to determine the requirements for N-terminal domains interacting with lipids to provide ATPase activity, pore structure, ion channel activity, protein translocation and interactions with SecYEG-SecDF•YajC. We found that the N-terminal fragment SecAN493 (SecA1-493) has low, intrinsic ATPase activity. Larger fragments have greater activity, becoming highest around N619-N632. Lipids greatly stimulated the ATPase activities of the fragments N608-N798, reaching maximal activities around N619. Three helices in amino-acyl residues SecA619-831, which includes the "Helical Scaffold" Domain (SecA619-668) are critical for pore formation, ion channel activity, and for function with SecYEG-SecDF•YajC. In the presence of liposomes, N-terminal domain fragments of SecA form pore-ring structures at fragment-size N640, ion channel activity around N798, and protein translocation capability around N831. SecA domain fragments ranging in size between N643-N669 are critical for functional interactions with SecYEG-SecDF•YajC. In the presence of liposomes, inactive C-terminal fragments complement smaller non-functional N-terminal fragments to form SecA-only pore structures with ion channel activity and protein translocation ability. Thus, SecA domain fragment interactions with liposomes defined critical structures and functional aspects of SecA-only channels. These data provide the mechanistic basis for SecA to form primitive, low-efficiency, SecA-only protein-conducting channels, as well as the minimal parameters for SecA to interact functionally with SecYEG-SecDF•YajC to form high-efficiency channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-hsin Hsieh
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Ying-ju Huang
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Yang Lu
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Hsiuchin Yang
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - John Houghton
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Chun Jiang
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Sen-Fang Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing China
| | - Phang C. Tai
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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Hsieh YH, Zhang H, Jin J, Dai C, Jiang C, Wang B, Tai PC. Biphasic actions of SecA inhibitors on Prl/Sec suppressors: Possible physiological roles of SecA-only channels. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 482:296-300. [PMID: 27856243 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.11.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
SecA is an essential component in the bacterial Sec-dependent protein translocation process. We previously showed that in addition to the ubiquitous, high-affinity SecYEG-SecDF·YajC protein translocation channel, there is a low-affinity SecA-only channel that elicits ion channel activity and promotes protein translocation. The SecA-only channels are less efficient, and like Prl suppressors, lack signal peptide specificity; they function in the absence of signal peptides. The presence of SecYEG-SecDF·YajC alters the sensitivity of ATPase inhibitor Rose Bengal. In this study, we found that the suppressor membranes are much more resistant to inhibition by Rose Bengal. Similar results have been found for a SecA-specific inhibitor. Moreover, biphasic responses of inhibition of ion current and protein translocation activities were observed for many PrlA/SecY and PrlG/SecE suppressor membranes, with a low IC50 value similar to that of the SecA-only channels and a very high IC50. However, the suppressor strains are as sensitive to the inhibitor as the parental strain, suggesting that SecA-only channels have some essential physiological function(s) in the cells that are inhibited by the specific SecA inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsin Hsieh
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jinshan Jin
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Chaofeng Dai
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Chun Jiang
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Binghe Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Phang C Tai
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
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Abstract
There is a consensus in the medical profession of the pressing need for novel antimicrobial agents due to issues related to drug resistance. In practice, solutions to this problem to a large degree lie with the identification of new and vital targets in bacteria and subsequently designing their inhibitors. We consider SecA a very promising antimicrobial target. In this review, we compile and analyze information available on SecA to show that inhibition of SecA has a multitude of consequences. Furthermore, we discuss issues critical to the design and evaluation of SecA inhibitors.
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Hsieh YH, Zou J, Jin JS, Yang H, Chen Y, Jiang C, Yang J, Tai PC. Monitoring channel activities of proteoliposomes with SecA and Cx26 gap junction in single oocytes. Anal Biochem 2015; 480:58-66. [PMID: 25862083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2015.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Establishing recordable channels in membranes of oocytes formed by expressing exogenous complementary DNA (cDNA) or messenger RNA (mRNA) has contributed greatly to understanding the molecular mechanisms of channel functions. Here, we report the extension of this semi-physiological system for monitoring the channel activity of preassembled membrane proteins in single cell oocytes by injecting reconstituted proteoliposomes along with substrates or regulatory molecules. We build on the observation that SecA from various bacteria forms active protein-conducting channels with injection of proteoliposomes, protein precursors, and ATP-Mg(2+). Such activity was enhanced by reconstituted SecYEG-SecDF•YajC liposome complexes that could be monitored easily and efficiently, providing correlation of in vitro and intact cell functionality. In addition, inserting reconstituted gap junction Cx26 liposomes into the oocytes allowed the demonstration of intracellular/extracellular Ca(2+)-regulated hemi-channel activities. The channel activities can be detected rapidly after injection, can be monitored for various effectors, and are dependent on specific exogenous lipid compositions. This simple and effective functional system with low endogenous channel activity should have broad applications for monitoring the specific channel activities of complex interactions of purified membrane proteins with their effectors and regulatory molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsin Hsieh
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Juan Zou
- Department of Chemistry, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jin-Shan Jin
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Hsiuchin Yang
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Yanyi Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Chun Jiang
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jenny Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
| | - Phang C Tai
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
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Hsieh YH, Huang YJ, Jin JS, Yu L, Yang H, Jiang C, Wang B, Tai PC. Mechanisms of Rose Bengal inhibition on SecA ATPase and ion channel activities. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 454:308-12. [PMID: 25450394 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.10.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
SecA is an essential protein possessing ATPase activity in bacterial protein translocation for which Rose Bengal (RB) is the first reported sub-micromolar inhibitor in ATPase activity and protein translocation. Here, we examined the mechanisms of inhibition on various forms of SecA ATPase by conventional enzymatic assays, and by monitoring the SecA-dependent channel activity in the semi-physiological system in cells. We build on the previous observation that SecA with liposomes form active protein-conducting channels in the oocytes. Such ion channel activity is enhanced by purified Escherichia coli SecYEG-SecDF·YajC liposome complexes. Inhibition by RB could be monitored, providing correlation of in vitro activity and intact cell functionality. In this work, we found the intrinsic SecA ATPase is inhibited by RB competitively at low ATP concentration, and non-competitively at high ATP concentrations while the translocation ATPase with precursors and SecYEG is inhibited non-competitively by RB. The Inhibition by RB on SecA channel activity in the oocytes with exogenous ATP-Mg(2+), mimicking translocation ATPase activity, is also non-competitive. The non-competitive inhibition on channel activity has also been observed with SecA from other bacteria which otherwise would be difficult to examine without the cognate precursors and membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsin Hsieh
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Ying-Ju Huang
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Jin-Shan Jin
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Liyan Yu
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Hsiuchin Yang
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Chun Jiang
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Binghe Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Phang C Tai
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States.
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Floyd JH, You Z, Hsieh YH, Ma Y, Yang H, Tai PC. The dispensability and requirement of SecA N-terminal aminoacyl residues for complementation, membrane binding, lipid-specific domains and channel activities. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 453:138-42. [PMID: 25264203 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.09.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
SecA is an essential multifunctional protein for the translocation of proteins across bacterial membranes. Though SecA is known to function in the membrane, the detailed mechanism for this process remains unclear. In this study we constructed a series of SecA N-terminal deletions and identified two specific domains crucial for initial SecA/membrane interactions. The first small helix, the linker and part of the second helix (Δ2-22) were found to be dispensable for SecA activity in complementing the growth of a SecA ts mutant. However, deletions of N-terminal aminoacyl residues 23-25 resulted in severe progressive retardation of growth. Moreover, a decrease of SecA activity caused by N-terminal deletions correlated to the loss of SecA membrane binding, formation of lipid-specific domains and channel activity. All together, the results indicate that the N-terminal aminoacyl residues 23-25 play a critical role for SecA binding to membranes and that the N-terminal limit of SecA for activity is at the 25th amino acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanetta Holley Floyd
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Zhipeng You
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Ying-Hsin Hsieh
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Yamin Ma
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Hsuichin Yang
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Phang C Tai
- Department of Biology, Center of Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States.
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Wang H, Ma Y, Hsieh YH, Yang H, Li M, Wang B, Tai PC. SecAAA trimer is fully functional as SecAA dimer in the membrane: existence of higher oligomers? Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 447:250-4. [PMID: 24704204 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.03.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
SecA is an essential ATPase in bacterial Sec-dependent protein translocation pathway, and equilibrates between monomers and dimers in solution. The question of whether SecA functions as monomers or dimers in membranes during the protein translocation is controversial. We previously constructed a tail-to-head SecAA tandem dimer, and showed it is fully functional by complementation in vivo and protein translocation in vitro, indicating that SecA can function at least as a dimer in the membrane without dissociating into monomers. In this study, we further constructed genetically a tail-to-head SecAAA trimer, which is functional in complementing a temperature-sensitive secA mutant. The purified SecAAA trimer per protomer is fully active as SecAA tandem dimers in ATPase activity, in protein translocation in vitro and in ion channel activities in the oocytes. With these functional tail-to-head trimer SecAAA and tandem SecAA, we examined their surface topology in the presence of liposomes using AFM. As expected, the soluble SecAAA without lipids are larger than SecAA. However, the ring/pore structures of SecAAA trimers were, surprisingly, almost identical to the SecA 2-monomers and SecAA dimers, raising the intriguing possibility that the SecA may exist and function as hexamer ring-structures in membranes. Cross-linking with formaldehyde showed that SecA, SecAA and SecAAA could form larger oligomers, including the hexamers. The molecular modeling simulation shows that both tail-to-head and tail-to-tail hexamers in the membranes are possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyun Wang
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Yamin Ma
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Ying-Hsin Hsieh
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Hsiuchin Yang
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Minyong Li
- Department of Chemistry, and Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Binghe Wang
- Department of Chemistry, and Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - Phang C Tai
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States.
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Rao C V S, De Waelheyns E, Economou A, Anné J. Antibiotic targeting of the bacterial secretory pathway. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2014; 1843:1762-83. [PMID: 24534745 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Finding new, effective antibiotics is a challenging research area driven by novel approaches required to tackle unconventional targets. In this review we focus on the bacterial protein secretion pathway as a target for eliminating or disarming pathogens. We discuss the latest developments in targeting the Sec-pathway for novel antibiotics focusing on two key components: SecA, the ATP-driven motor protein responsible for driving preproteins across the cytoplasmic membrane and the Type I signal peptidase that is responsible for the removal of the signal peptide allowing the release of the mature protein from the membrane. We take a bird's-eye view of other potential targets in the Sec-pathway as well as other Sec-dependent or Sec-independent protein secretion pathways as targets for the development of novel antibiotics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein trafficking and secretion in bacteria. Guest Editors: Anastassios Economou and Ross Dalbey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Rao C V
- Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, O&N1, 6th floor, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 1037, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Evelien De Waelheyns
- Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, O&N1, 6th floor, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 1037, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Anastassios Economou
- Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, O&N1, 6th floor, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 1037, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, University of Crete, P.O. Box 1385, GR-711 10 Iraklio, Crete, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Crete, P.O. Box 1385, GR-71110 Iraklio, Crete, Greece.
| | - Jozef Anné
- Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, O&N1, 6th floor, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 1037, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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