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Saunier M, Fortier LC, Soutourina O. RNA-based regulation in bacteria-phage interactions. Anaerobe 2024; 87:102851. [PMID: 38583547 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102851] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Interactions of bacteria with their viruses named bacteriophages or phages shape the bacterial genome evolution and contribute to the diversity of phages. RNAs have emerged as key components of several anti-phage defense systems in bacteria including CRISPR-Cas, toxin-antitoxin and abortive infection. Frequent association with mobile genetic elements and interplay between different anti-phage defense systems are largely discussed. Newly discovered defense systems such as retrons and CBASS include RNA components. RNAs also perform their well-recognized regulatory roles in crossroad of phage-bacteria regulatory networks. Both regulatory and defensive function can be sometimes attributed to the same RNA molecules including CRISPR RNAs. This review presents the recent advances on the role of RNAs in the bacteria-phage interactions with a particular focus on clostridial species including an important human pathogen, Clostridioides difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Saunier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Louis-Charles Fortier
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Olga Soutourina
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France.
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2
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Jin C, Kang SM, Kim DH, Lee Y, Lee BJ. Discovery of Antimicrobial Agents Based on Structural and Functional Study of the Klebsiella pneumoniae MazEF Toxin-Antitoxin System. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:398. [PMID: 38786127 PMCID: PMC11117207 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13050398] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae causes severe human diseases, but its resistance to current antibiotics is increasing. Therefore, new antibiotics to eradicate K. pneumoniae are urgently needed. Bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are strongly correlated with physiological processes in pathogenic bacteria, such as growth arrest, survival, and apoptosis. By using structural information, we could design the peptides and small-molecule compounds that can disrupt the binding between K. pneumoniae MazE and MazF, which release free MazF toxin. Because the MazEF system is closely implicated in programmed cell death, artificial activation of MazF can promote cell death of K. pneumoniae. The effectiveness of a discovered small-molecule compound in bacterial cell killing was confirmed through flow cytometry analysis. Our findings can contribute to understanding the bacterial MazEF TA system and developing antimicrobial agents for treating drug-resistant K. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Jin
- The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea;
- Mastermeditech Ltd., Gangseo-gu, Seoul 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Min Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea;
| | - Do-Hee Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yuno Lee
- Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Korea Chemical Bank Daejeon, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea;
| | - Bong-Jin Lee
- Mastermeditech Ltd., Gangseo-gu, Seoul 16499, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Ajou University, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
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3
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Fernández-García L, Gao X, Kirigo J, Song S, Battisti ME, Garcia-Contreras R, Tomas M, Guo Y, Wang X, Wood TK. Single-cell analysis reveals that cryptic prophage protease LfgB protects Escherichia coli during oxidative stress by cleaving antitoxin MqsA. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0347123. [PMID: 38206055 PMCID: PMC10846083 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03471-23] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Although toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems are ubiquitous, beyond phage inhibition and mobile element stabilization, their role in host metabolism is obscure. One of the best-characterized TA systems is MqsR/MqsA of Escherichia coli, which has been linked previously to protecting gastrointestinal species during the stress it encounters from the bile salt deoxycholate as it colonizes humans. However, some recent whole-population studies have challenged the role of toxins such as MqsR in bacterial physiology since the mqsRA locus is induced over a hundred-fold during stress, but a phenotype was not found upon its deletion. Here, we investigate further the role of MqsR/MqsA by utilizing single cells and demonstrate that upon oxidative stress, the TA system MqsR/MqsA has a heterogeneous effect on the transcriptome of single cells. Furthermore, we discovered that MqsR activation leads to induction of the poorly characterized yfjXY ypjJ yfjZF operon of cryptic prophage CP4-57. Moreover, deletion of yfjY makes the cells sensitive to H2O2, acid, and heat stress, and this phenotype was complemented. Hence, we recommend yfjY be renamed to lfgB (less fatality gene B). Critically, MqsA represses lfgB by binding the operon promoter, and LfgB is a protease that degrades MqsA to derepress rpoS and facilitate the stress response. Therefore, the MqsR/MqsA TA system facilitates the stress response through cryptic phage protease LfgB.IMPORTANCEThe roles of toxin/antitoxin systems in cell physiology are few and include phage inhibition and stabilization of genetic elements; yet, to date, there are no single-transcriptome studies for toxin/antitoxin systems and few insights for prokaryotes from this novel technique. Therefore, our results with this technique are important since we discover and characterize a cryptic prophage protease that is regulated by the MqsR/MqsA toxin/antitoxin system in order to regulate the host response to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fernández-García
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Microbiology Department, Hospital A Coruña (HUAC), A Coruña, Spain
- Microbiology Translational and Multidisciplinary (MicroTM)‐Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC) and Microbiology, University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Xinyu Gao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nansha, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nansha, Guangzhou, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, South China Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, Nansha,, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Joy Kirigo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sooyeon Song
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Animal Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-Si, Jellabuk-Do, South Korea
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-Si, Jellabuk-Do, South Korea
| | - Michael E. Battisti
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rodolfo Garcia-Contreras
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Mexico
| | - Maria Tomas
- Microbiology Department, Hospital A Coruña (HUAC), A Coruña, Spain
- Microbiology Translational and Multidisciplinary (MicroTM)‐Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC) and Microbiology, University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Yunxue Guo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nansha, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nansha, Guangzhou, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, South China Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, Nansha,, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nansha, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, China
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Brantl S, Ul Haq I. Small proteins in Gram-positive bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad064. [PMID: 38052429 PMCID: PMC10730256 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad064] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Small proteins comprising less than 100 amino acids have been often ignored in bacterial genome annotations. About 10 years ago, focused efforts started to investigate whole peptidomes, which resulted in the discovery of a multitude of small proteins, but only a number of them have been characterized in detail. Generally, small proteins can be either membrane or cytosolic proteins. The latter interact with larger proteins, RNA or even metal ions. Here, we summarize our current knowledge on small proteins from Gram-positive bacteria with a special emphasis on the model organism Bacillus subtilis. Our examples include membrane-bound toxins of type I toxin-antitoxin systems, proteins that block the assembly of higher order structures, regulate sporulation or modulate the RNA degradosome. We do not consider antimicrobial peptides. Furthermore, we present methods for the identification and investigation of small proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Brantl
- AG Bakteriengenetik, Matthias-Schleiden-Institut, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Philosophenweg 12, Jena D-07743, Germany
| | - Inam Ul Haq
- AG Bakteriengenetik, Matthias-Schleiden-Institut, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Philosophenweg 12, Jena D-07743, Germany
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5
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Rubio-Mendoza D, Martínez-Meléndez A, Maldonado-Garza HJ, Córdova-Fletes C, Garza-González E. Review of the Impact of Biofilm Formation on Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2525. [PMID: 37894183 PMCID: PMC10609348 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102525] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) may recur in approximately 10-30% of patients, and the risk of recurrence increases with each successive recurrence, reaching up to 65%. C. difficile can form biofilm with approximately 20% of the bacterial genome expressed differently between biofilm and planktonic cells. Biofilm plays several roles that may favor recurrence; for example, it may act as a reservoir of spores, protect the vegetative cells from the activity of antibiotics, and favor the formation of persistent cells. Moreover, the expression of several virulence genes, including TcdA and TcdB toxins, has been associated with recurrence. Several systems and structures associated with adhesion and biofilm formation have been studied in C. difficile, including cell-wall proteins, quorum sensing (including LuxS and Agr), Cyclic di-GMP, type IV pili, and flagella. Most antibiotics recommended for the treatment of CDI do not have activity on spores and do not eliminate biofilm. Therapeutic failure in R-CDI has been associated with the inadequate concentration of drugs in the intestinal tract and the antibiotic resistance of a biofilm. This makes it challenging to eradicate C. difficile in the intestine, complicating antibacterial therapies and allowing non-eliminated spores to remain in the biofilm, increasing the risk of recurrence. In this review, we examine the role of biofilm on recurrence and the challenges of treating CDI when the bacteria form a biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daira Rubio-Mendoza
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 64460, Mexico; (D.R.-M.); (H.J.M.-G.); (C.C.-F.)
| | - Adrián Martínez-Meléndez
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Mexico;
| | - Héctor Jesús Maldonado-Garza
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 64460, Mexico; (D.R.-M.); (H.J.M.-G.); (C.C.-F.)
| | - Carlos Córdova-Fletes
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 64460, Mexico; (D.R.-M.); (H.J.M.-G.); (C.C.-F.)
| | - Elvira Garza-González
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 64460, Mexico; (D.R.-M.); (H.J.M.-G.); (C.C.-F.)
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6
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Pizzolato-Cezar LR, Spira B, Machini MT. Bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems: Novel insights on toxin activation across populations and experimental shortcomings. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2023; 5:100204. [PMID: 38024808 PMCID: PMC10643148 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2023.100204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The alarming rise in hard-to-treat bacterial infections is of great concern to human health. Thus, the identification of molecular mechanisms that enable the survival and growth of pathogens is of utmost urgency for the development of more efficient antimicrobial therapies. In challenging environments, such as presence of antibiotics, or during host infection, metabolic adjustments are essential for microorganism survival and competitiveness. Toxin-antitoxin systems (TASs) consisting of a toxin with metabolic modulating activity and a cognate antitoxin that antagonizes that toxin are important elements in the arsenal of bacterial stress defense. However, the exact physiological function of TA systems is highly debatable and with the exception of stabilization of mobile genetic elements and phage inhibition, other proposed biological functions lack a broad consensus. This review aims at gaining new insights into the physiological effects of TASs in bacteria and exploring the experimental shortcomings that lead to discrepant results in TAS research. Distinct control mechanisms ensure that only subsets of cells within isogenic cultures transiently develop moderate levels of toxin activity. As a result, TASs cause phenotypic growth heterogeneity rather than cell stasis in the entire population. It is this feature that allows bacteria to thrive in diverse environments through the creation of subpopulations with different metabolic rates and stress tolerance programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis R. Pizzolato-Cezar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beny Spira
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M. Teresa Machini
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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7
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Fernández-García L, Wood TK. Phage-Defense Systems Are Unlikely to Cause Cell Suicide. Viruses 2023; 15:1795. [PMID: 37766202 PMCID: PMC10535081 DOI: 10.3390/v15091795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As new phage-defense systems (PDs) are discovered, the overlap between their mechanisms and those of toxin/antitoxin systems (TAs) is becoming clear in that both use similar means to reduce cellular metabolism; for example, both systems have members that deplete energetic compounds (e.g., NAD+, ATP) and deplete nucleic acids, and both have members that inflict membrane damage. Moreover, both TAs and PDs are similar in that rather than altruistically killing the host to limit phage propagation (commonly known as abortive infection), both reduce host metabolism since phages propagate less in slow-growing cells, and slow growth facilitates the interaction of multiple phage-defense systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-4400, USA;
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8
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Abstract
Looking back fondly on the first 15 years of Microbial Biotechnology, a trend is emerging that biotechnology is moving from studies that focus on whole-cell populations, where heterogeneity exists even during robust growth, to those with an emphasis on single cells. This instils optimism that insights will be made into myriad aspects of bacterial growth in communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical EngineeringPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania16802‐4400USA
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9
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Clostridioides difficile - phage relationship the RNA way. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 66:1-10. [PMID: 34922145 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile)-associated diarrhea is currently the most frequently occurring nosocomial diarrhea worldwide. During its infection cycle this pathogen needs to survive in phage-rich gut communities. Recent data strongly suggest that regulatory RNAs control gene expression in C. difficile and many of these RNAs appear to modulate C. difficile-phage interactions. Of the 200 regulatory RNAs identified by deep sequencing and targeted approaches, many function as antitoxins within type I toxin-antitoxin modules and CRISPR RNAs for anti-phage defenses. In this review, we discuss recent insights into the role of RNAs in modulating interactions between C. difficile and phages in light of intriguing data in other prokaryotes.
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10
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An RNA-centric global view of Clostridioides difficile reveals broad activity of Hfq in a clinically important gram-positive bacterium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2103579118. [PMID: 34131082 PMCID: PMC8237595 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2103579118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gram-positive human pathogen Clostridioides difficile has emerged as the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. However, little is known about the bacterium's transcriptome architecture and mechanisms of posttranscriptional control. Here, we have applied transcription start site and termination mapping to generate a single-nucleotide-resolution RNA map of C. difficile 5' and 3' untranslated regions, operon structures, and noncoding regulators, including 42 sRNAs. Our results indicate functionality of many conserved riboswitches and predict cis-regulatory RNA elements upstream of multidrug resistance (MDR)-type ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and transcriptional regulators. Despite growing evidence for a role of Hfq in RNA-based gene regulation in C. difficile, the functions of Hfq-based posttranscriptional regulatory networks in gram-positive pathogens remain controversial. Using Hfq immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing of bound RNA species (RIP-seq), we identify a large cohort of transcripts bound by Hfq and show that absence of Hfq affects transcript stabilities and steady-state levels. We demonstrate sRNA expression during intestinal colonization by C. difficile and identify infection-related signals impacting its expression. As a proof of concept, we show that the utilization of the abundant intestinal metabolite ethanolamine is regulated by the Hfq-dependent sRNA CDIF630nc_085. Overall, our study lays the foundation for understanding clostridial riboregulation with implications for the infection process and provides evidence for a global role of Hfq in posttranscriptional regulation in a gram-positive bacterium.
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11
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Sarpong DD, Murphy ER. RNA Regulated Toxin-Antitoxin Systems in Pathogenic Bacteria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:661026. [PMID: 34084755 PMCID: PMC8167048 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.661026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The dynamic host environment presents a significant hurdle that pathogenic bacteria must overcome to survive and cause diseases. Consequently, these organisms have evolved molecular mechanisms to facilitate adaptation to environmental changes within the infected host. Small RNAs (sRNAs) have been implicated as critical regulators of numerous pathways and systems in pathogenic bacteria, including that of bacterial Toxin-Antitoxin (TA) systems. TA systems are typically composed of two factors, a stable toxin, and a labile antitoxin which functions to protect against the potentially deleterious activity of the associated toxin. Of the six classes of bacterial TA systems characterized to date, the toxin component is always a protein. Type I and Type III TA systems are unique in that the antitoxin in these systems is an RNA molecule, whereas the antitoxin in all other TA systems is a protein. Though hotly debated, the involvement of TA systems in bacterial physiology is recognized by several studies, with the Type II TA system being the most extensively studied to date. This review focuses on RNA-regulated TA systems, highlighting the role of Type I and Type III TA systems in several pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- David D. Sarpong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Erin R. Murphy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, United States
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12
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Jin C, Kang SM, Kim DH, Lee BJ. Structural and functional analysis of the Klebsiella pneumoniae MazEF toxin-antitoxin system. IUCRJ 2021; 8:362-371. [PMID: 33953923 PMCID: PMC8086154 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252521000452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems correlate strongly with physiological processes in bacteria, such as growth arrest, survival and apoptosis. Here, the first crystal structure of a type II TA complex structure of Klebsiella pneumoniae at 2.3 Å resolution is presented. The K. pneumoniae MazEF complex consists of two MazEs and four MazFs in a heterohexameric assembly. It was estimated that MazEF forms a dodecamer with two heterohexameric MazEF complexes in solution, and a truncated complex exists in heterohexameric form. The MazE antitoxin interacts with the MazF toxin via two binding modes, namely, hydro-phobic and hydro-philic interactions. Compared with structural homologs, K. pneumoniae MazF shows distinct features in loops β1-β2, β3-β4 and β4-β5. It can be inferred that these three loops have the potential to represent the unique characteristics of MazF, especially various substrate recognition sites. In addition, K. pneumoniae MazF shows ribonuclease activity and the catalytic core of MazF lies in an RNA-binding pocket. Mutation experiments and cell-growth assays confirm Arg28 and Thr51 as critical residues for MazF ribonuclease activity. The findings shown here may contribute to the understanding of the bacterial MazEF TA system and the exploration of antimicrobial candidates to treat drug-resistant K. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Jin
- The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Min Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, 01369, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hee Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Advanced Convergence Technology & Science, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Jin Lee
- The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
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13
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Boudry P, Piattelli E, Drouineau E, Peltier J, Boutserin A, Lejars M, Hajnsdorf E, Monot M, Dupuy B, Martin-Verstraete I, Gautheret D, Toffano-Nioche C, Soutourina O. Identification of RNAs bound by Hfq reveals widespread RNA partners and a sporulation regulator in the human pathogen Clostridioides difficile. RNA Biol 2021; 18:1931-1952. [PMID: 33629931 PMCID: PMC8583004 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1882180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) have emerged as important components of regulatory networks governing bacterial physiology and virulence. Previous deep-sequencing analysis identified a large diversity of ncRNAs in the human enteropathogen Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile. Some of them are trans-encoded RNAs that could require the RNA chaperone protein Hfq for their action. Recent analysis suggested a pleiotropic role of Hfq in C. difficile with the most pronounced effect on sporulation, a key process during the infectious cycle of this pathogen. However, a global view of RNAs interacting with C. difficile Hfq is missing. In the present study, we performed RNA immunoprecipitation high-throughput sequencing (RIP-Seq) to identify Hfq-associated RNAs in C. difficile. Our work revealed a large set of Hfq-interacting mRNAs and ncRNAs, including mRNA leaders and coding regions, known and potential new ncRNAs. In addition to trans-encoded RNAs, new categories of Hfq ligands were found including cis-antisense RNAs, riboswitches and CRISPR RNAs. ncRNA-mRNA and ncRNA-ncRNA pairings were postulated through computational predictions. Investigation of one of the Hfq-associated ncRNAs, RCd1, suggests that this RNA contributes to the control of late stages of sporulation in C. difficile. Altogether, these data provide essential molecular basis for further studies of post-transcriptional regulatory network in this enteropathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Boudry
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France.,Laboratoire Pathogenèses des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Emma Piattelli
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Emilie Drouineau
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Johann Peltier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France.,Laboratoire Pathogenèses des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Anaïs Boutserin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Maxence Lejars
- UMR8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France
| | - Eliane Hajnsdorf
- UMR8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France
| | - Marc Monot
- Laboratoire Pathogenèses des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Biomics Platform, C2RT, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Dupuy
- Laboratoire Pathogenèses des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Martin-Verstraete
- Laboratoire Pathogenèses des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Daniel Gautheret
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Claire Toffano-Nioche
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Olga Soutourina
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France.,Laboratoire Pathogenèses des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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14
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Peltier J, Hamiot A, Garneau JR, Boudry P, Maikova A, Hajnsdorf E, Fortier LC, Dupuy B, Soutourina O. Type I toxin-antitoxin systems contribute to the maintenance of mobile genetic elements in Clostridioides difficile. Commun Biol 2020; 3:718. [PMID: 33247281 PMCID: PMC7699646 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01448-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widespread on mobile genetic elements and in bacterial chromosomes. In type I TA, synthesis of the toxin protein is prevented by the transcription of an antitoxin RNA. The first type I TA were recently identified in the human enteropathogen Clostridioides difficile. Here we report the characterization of five additional type I TA within phiCD630-1 (CD0977.1-RCd11, CD0904.1-RCd13 and CD0956.3-RCd14) and phiCD630-2 (CD2889-RCd12 and CD2907.2-RCd15) prophages of C. difficile strain 630. Toxin genes encode 34 to 47 amino acid peptides and their ectopic expression in C. difficile induces growth arrest that is neutralized by antitoxin RNA co-expression. We show that type I TA located within the phiCD630-1 prophage contribute to its stability and heritability. We have made use of a type I TA toxin gene to generate an efficient mutagenesis tool for this bacterium that allowed investigation of the role of these widespread TA in prophage maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Peltier
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, CNRS-2001, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Audrey Hamiot
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, CNRS-2001, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
- UMR UMET, INRA, CNRS, Univ. Lille 1, 59650, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Julian R Garneau
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 rue Jean Mignault, Sherbrooke, QC, J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Pierre Boudry
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, CNRS-2001, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Anna Maikova
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, CNRS-2001, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143028, Russia
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg, 195251, Russia
| | - Eliane Hajnsdorf
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, UMR8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Louis-Charles Fortier
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 rue Jean Mignault, Sherbrooke, QC, J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Bruno Dupuy
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, CNRS-2001, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Olga Soutourina
- Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, CNRS-2001, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015, Paris, France.
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France.
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15
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Song S, Wood TK. A Primary Physiological Role of Toxin/Antitoxin Systems Is Phage Inhibition. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1895. [PMID: 32903830 PMCID: PMC7438911 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems are present in most prokaryote genomes. Toxins are almost exclusively proteins that reduce metabolism (but do not cause cell death), and antitoxins are either RNA or proteins that counteract the toxin or the RNA that encodes it. Although TA systems clearly stabilize mobile genetic elements, after four decades of research, the physiological roles of chromosomal TA systems are less clear. For example, recent reports have challenged the notion of TA systems as stress-response elements, including a role in creating the dormant state known as persistence. Here, we present evidence that a primary physiological role of chromosomally encoded TA systems is phage inhibition, a role that is also played by some plasmid-based TA systems. This includes results that show some CRISPR-Cas system elements are derived from TA systems and that some CRISPR-Cas systems mimic the host growth inhibition invoked by TA systems to inhibit phage propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sooyeon Song
- Department of Animal Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, South Korea
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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