Elongation factor P mediates a novel post-transcriptional regulatory pathway critical for bacterial virulence

Expression of Staphylococcus aureus translation elongation factor P is regulated by a stress-inducible promotor

Translation elongation factor P, expressed by the efp gene, is a conserved protein closely related to bacterial virulence and environmental stress regulation responses, however, little is known about the efp gene expression regulations. Here, the strain of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus NCTC 8325 was taken as the research object and cultured under different conditions, including different culture temperatures, pH, and antibiotics, to study the expression of the efp gene in S. aureus by qRT-PCR, the results showed that the expression of the efp gene is upregulated under high temperature (40 °C), acidic (pH 5.4) or alkaline (pH 9.4) culture conditions, but upregulated early and downregulated later under the conditions of 0.5 MIC antibiotics (chloramphenicol at the final concentration of 2 μg/mL and vancomycin at the final concentration of 0.25 μg/mL), indicating that the efp promoter in S. aureus is inducible. The efp promoter sequence and structure in S. aureus were predicted by bioinformatics methods, and the predicted promoter was validated by constructing a promoter-probe vector and a series of promoter mutants, the results showed that the efp promoter sequence in S. aureus, named Pro, located in 1,548,179-1,548,250 of the S. aureus genome (NC_007795.1), and the sequence of - 10 element is CCTTATAGT, - 35 element is TTTACT. The results above could lay a foundation for screening transcription factors involved in the expression of the efp gene and then exploring the transcriptional regulation mechanism of EF-P in S. aureus.

Global transcriptome analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NT06 response to potassium chloride, sodium lactate, sodium citrate, and microaerophilic conditions in a fish ecosystem

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that recently has been increasingly isolated from foods, especially from minimally processed fish-based products. Those are preserved by the addition of sodium chloride (NaCl) and packaging in a modified atmosphere. However, the current trends of minimizing NaCl content may result in an increased occurrence of P. aeruginosa. NaCl can be replaced with potassium chloride (KCl) or sodium salts of organic acids. Herein, we examined the antimicrobial effects of KCl, sodium lactate (NaL), sodium citrate (NaC), and sodium acetate (NaA) against P. aeruginosa NT06 isolated from fish. Transcriptome response of cells grown in medium imitating a fish product supplemented with KCl and KCl/NaL/NaC and maintained under microaerophilic conditions was analysed. Flow cytometry analysis showed that treatment with KCl and KCl/NaL/NaC resulted in changed metabolic activity of cells. In response to KCl and KCl/NaL/NaC treatment, genes related to cell maintenance, stress response, quorum sensing, virulence, efflux pump, and metabolism were differentially expressed. Collectively, our results provide an improved understanding of the response of P. aeruginosa to NaCl alternative compounds that can be implemented in fish-based products and encourage further exploration of the development of effective methods to protect foods against the P. aeruginosa, underestimate foodborne bacteria.

Bacterial Ribosome Rescue Systems

To maintain proteostasis, the cell employs multiple ribosome rescue systems to relieve the stalled ribosome on problematic mRNA. One example of problematic mRNA is non-stop mRNA that lacks an in-frame stop codon produced by endonucleolytic cleavage or transcription error. In Escherichia coli, there are at least three ribosome rescue systems that deal with the ribosome stalled on non-stop mRNA. According to one estimation, 2-4% of translation is the target of ribosome rescue systems even under normal growth conditions. In the present review, we discuss the recent findings of ribosome rescue systems in bacteria.

Functions and Regulation of Translation Elongation Factors

Translation elongation is a key step of protein synthesis, during which the nascent polypeptide chain extends by one amino acid residue during one elongation cycle. More and more data revealed that the elongation is a key regulatory node for translational control in health and disease. During elongation, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu, eEF1A in eukaryotes) is used to deliver aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) to the A-site of the ribosome, and elongation factor G (EF-G, EF2 in eukaryotes and archaea) is used to facilitate the translocation of the tRNA₂-mRNA complex on the ribosome. Other elongation factors, such as EF-Ts/eEF1B, EF-P/eIF5A, EF4, eEF3, SelB/EFsec, TetO/Tet(M), RelA and BipA, have been found to affect the overall rate of elongation. Here, we made a systematic review on the canonical and non-canonical functions and regulation of these elongation factors. In particular, we discussed the close link between translational factors and human diseases, and clarified how post-translational modifications control the activity of translational factors in tumors.

Morphological plasticity of hyperelongated cells caused by overexpression of translation elongation factor P in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942

Translation elongation factors (EFs) are proteins that play important roles during the elongation stage of protein synthesis. In prokaryotes, at least four EFs function in repetitive reactions (EF-Tu, EF-Ts, EF-G, and EF-P). EF-P plays a vital role in the specialized translation of consecutive proline amino acid motifs. It was also recently recognized that EF-P acts throughout translation elongation. Here, we demonstrated for the first time that cell division and morphology are intimately linked to the control of EF-P in the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942. We constructed the overexpression of a wild-type gene product for EF-P (Synpcc7942_2565) as a tool to identify EF-P functionality. The overexpression of EF-P resulted in the morphological plasticity of hyperelongated cells. During the stationary phase, EF-P overexpressors displayed cell lengths of 150 μm or longer, approximately 35 times longer than the control. Total cellular protein and amino acid content were also increased in overexpressors. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying hyperelongation, gene expression analysis was performed. The results revealed that cell division genes, including ftn6, minD, mreB, mreC, and ftsZ, were modulated in overexpressors. Strikingly, ftn6 was severely down-regulated. Little is known regarding EF-P in prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms. Our results suggest that cyanobacterial EF-P participates in the acceleration of protein synthesis and also regulates cell division processes. These findings suggest new ways to modify translation and metabolism in cyanobacteria. Phenotypic and metabolic alterations caused by overexpressing EF-P may also be beneficial for applications such as low-cost, green molecular factories. KEY POINTS: • Cell division and cell morphology in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 are closely linked with the control of translation elongation factor P (EF-P). • Overexpression of EF-P leads to morphological plasticity in hyperelongated cells. • Cyanobacterial EF-P is involved in the acceleration of protein synthesis and the regulation of cell division processes.

NMR and crystallographic structural studies of the Elongation factor P from Staphylococcus aureus

Elongation factor P (EF-P) is a translation protein factor that plays an important role in specialized translation of consecutive proline amino acid motifs. EF-P is an essential protein for cell fitness in native environmental conditions. It regulates synthesis of proteins involved in bacterial motility, environmental adaptation and bacterial virulence, thus making EF-P a potential drug target. In the present study, we determined the solution and crystal structure of EF-P from the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus at 1.48 Å resolution. The structure can serve as a platform for structure-based drug design of novel antibiotics to combat the growing antibiotic resistance of S. aureus.

Translational control of antibiotic resistance

Many antibiotics available in the clinic today directly inhibit bacterial translation. Despite the past success of such drugs, their efficacy is diminishing with the spread of antibiotic resistance. Through the use of ribosomal modifications, ribosomal protection proteins, translation elongation factors and mistranslation, many pathogens are able to establish resistance to common therapeutics. However, current efforts in drug discovery are focused on overcoming these obstacles through the modification or discovery of new treatment options. Here, we provide an overview for common mechanisms of resistance to translation-targeting drugs and summarize several important breakthroughs in recent drug development.

Complex Structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Arginine Rhamnosyltransferase EarP with Its Acceptor Elongation Factor P

A bacterial inverting glycosyltransferase EarP transfers rhamnose from dTDP-β-l-rhamnose (TDP-Rha) to Arg32 of translation elongation factor P (EF-P) to activate its function. We report here the structural and biochemical characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa EarP. In contrast to recently reported Neisseria meningitidis EarP, P. aeruginosa EarP exhibits differential conformational changes upon TDP-Rha and EF-P binding. Sugar donor binding enhances acceptor binding to EarP, as revealed by structural comparison between the apo-, TDP-Rha-, and TDP/EF-P-bound forms and isothermal titration calorimetry experiments. In vitro EF-P rhamnosylation combined with active-site geometry indicates that Asp16 corresponding to Asp20 of N. meningitidis EarP is the catalytic base, whereas Glu272 is another putative catalytic residue. Our study should provide the basis for EarP-targeted inhibitor design against infections from P. aeruginosa and other clinically relevant species.IMPORTANCE Posttranslational rhamnosylation of EF-P plays a key role in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, establishing virulence and antibiotic resistance, as well as survival. The detailed structural and biochemical characterization of the EF-P-specific rhamnosyltransferase EarP from P. aeruginosa not only demonstrates that sugar donor TDP-Rha binding enhances acceptor EF-P binding to EarP but also should provide valuable information for the structure-guided development of its inhibitors against infections from P. aeruginosa and other EarP-containing pathogens.

Homocysteine Editing, Thioester Chemistry, Coenzyme A, and the Origin of Coded Peptide Synthesis †

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) have evolved “quality control” mechanisms which prevent tRNA aminoacylation with non-protein amino acids, such as homocysteine, homoserine, and ornithine, and thus their access to the Genetic Code. Of the ten AARSs that possess editing function, five edit homocysteine: Class I MetRS, ValRS, IleRS, LeuRS, and Class II LysRS. Studies of their editing function reveal that catalytic modules of these AARSs have a thiol-binding site that confers the ability to catalyze the aminoacylation of coenzyme A, pantetheine, and other thiols. Other AARSs also catalyze aminoacyl-thioester synthesis. Amino acid selectivity of AARSs in the aminoacyl thioesters formation reaction is relaxed, characteristic of primitive amino acid activation systems that may have originated in the Thioester World. With homocysteine and cysteine as thiol substrates, AARSs support peptide bond synthesis. Evolutionary origin of these activities is revealed by genomic comparisons, which show that AARSs are structurally related to proteins involved in coenzyme A/sulfur metabolism and non-coded peptide bond synthesis. These findings suggest that the extant AARSs descended from ancestral forms that were involved in non-coded Thioester-dependent peptide synthesis, functionally similar to the present-day non-ribosomal peptide synthetases.

Elongation factor P restricts Salmonella's growth by controlling translation of a Mg2+ transporter gene during infection

When a ribosome translates mRNA sequences, the ribosome often stalls at certain codons because it is hard to translate. Consecutive proline codons are such examples that induce ribosome stalling and elongation factor P (EF-P) is required for the stalled ribosome to continue translation at those consecutive proline codons. We found that EF-P is required for translation of the mgtB gene encoding a Mg²⁺ transporter in the mgtCBR virulence operon from the intracellular pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Salmonella lacking EF-P decreases MgtB protein levels in a manner dependent on consecutive proline codons located in the mgtB coding region despite increasing transcription of the mgtCBR operon via the mgtP open reading frame in the leader RNA, resulting in an altered ratio between MgtC and MgtB proteins within the operon. Substitution of the consecutive proline codons to alanine codons eliminates EF-P-mediated control of the mgtB gene during infection and thus contributes to Salmonella's survival inside macrophages where Salmonella experiences low levels of EF-P. This suggests that this pathogen utilizes a strategy to coordinate expression of virulence genes by an evolutionarily conserved translation factor.

tRNAPro -mediated downregulation of elongation factor P is required for mgtCBR expression during Salmonella infection

Bacterial ribosome requires elongation factor P to translate fragments harbouring consecutive proline codons. Given the abundance of ORFs with potential EF-P regulated sites, EF-P was assumed to be constitutively expressed. Here, we report that the intracellular pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium decreases efp mRNA levels during course of infection. We determined that the decrease in efp mRNA is triggered by low levels of charged tRNA^Pro , a condition that Salmonella experiences when inside a macrophage phagosome. Surprisingly, downregulation of EF-P selectively promotes expression of the virulence mgtC gene and contributes to Salmonella's ability to survive inside macrophages. The decrease in EF-P levels induces ribosome stalling at the consecutive proline codons of the mgtP open reading frame in the mgtCBR leader RNA, and thus allows formation of a stem-loop structure promoting transcription of the mgtC gene. The substitution of proline codons in the mgtP gene eliminates EF-P-mediated mgtC expression and thus Salmonella's survival inside macrophages. Our findings indicate that Salmonella benefits virulence genes by decreasing EF-P levels and inducing the stringent response inside host.

Elongation factor P: Function and effects on bacterial fitness

The elongation phase of translation is promoted by three universal elongation factors, EF-Tu, EF-Ts, and EF-G in bacteria and their homologs in archaea and eukaryotes. Recent findings demonstrate that the translation of a subset of mRNAs requires a fourth elongation factor, EF-P in bacteria or the homologs factors a/eIF5A in other kingdoms of life. EF-P prevents the ribosome from stalling during the synthesis of proteins containing consecutive Pro residues, such as PPG, PPP, or longer Pro clusters. The efficient and coordinated synthesis of such proteins is required for bacterial growth, motility, virulence, and stress response. EF-P carries a unique post-translational modification, which contributes to its catalytic proficiency. The modification enzymes, which are lacking in higher eukaryotes, provide attractive new targets for the development of new, highly specific antimicrobials.

Translation Control of Swarming Proficiency in Bacillus subtilis by 5-Amino-pentanolylated Elongation Factor P

Elongation factor P (EF-P) accelerates diprolyl synthesis and requires a posttranslational modification to maintain proteostasis. Two phylogenetically distinct EF-P modification pathways have been described and are encoded in the majority of Gram-negative bacteria, but neither is present in Gram-positive bacteria. Prior work suggested that the EF-P-encoding gene (efp) primarily supports Bacillus subtilis swarming differentiation, whereas EF-P in Gram-negative bacteria has a more global housekeeping role, prompting our investigation to determine whether EF-P is modified and how it impacts gene expression in motile cells. We identified a 5-aminopentanol moiety attached to Lys(32) of B. subtilis EF-P that is required for swarming motility. A fluorescent in vivo B. subtilis reporter system identified peptide motifs whose efficient synthesis was most dependent on 5-aminopentanol EF-P. Examination of the B. subtilis genome sequence showed that these EF-P-dependent peptide motifs were represented in flagellar genes. Taken together, these data show that, in B. subtilis, a previously uncharacterized posttranslational modification of EF-P can modulate the synthesis of specific diprolyl motifs present in proteins required for swarming motility.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and the evolution of coded peptide synthesis: the Thioester World

Coded peptide synthesis must have been preceded by a prebiotic stage, in which thioesters played key roles. Fossils of the Thioester World are found in extant aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs). Indeed, studies of the editing function reveal that AARSs have a thiol-binding site in their catalytic modules. The thiol-binding site confers the ability to catalyze aminoacyl~coenzyme A thioester synthesis and peptide bond formation. Genomic comparisons show that AARSs are structurally related to proteins involved in sulfur and coenzyme A metabolisms and peptide bond synthesis. These findings point to the origin of the amino acid activation and peptide bond synthesis functions in the Thioester World and suggest that the present-day AARSs had originated from ancestral forms that were involved in noncoded thioester-dependent peptide synthesis.

Neisseria meningitidis Translation Elongation Factor P and Its Active-Site Arginine Residue Are Essential for Cell Viability

Translation elongation factor P (EF-P), a ubiquitous protein over the entire range of bacterial species, rescues ribosomal stalling at consecutive prolines in proteins. In Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, the post-translational β-lysyl modification of Lys34 of EF-P is important for the EF-P activity. The β-lysyl EF-P modification pathway is conserved among only 26–28% of bacteria. Recently, it was found that the Shewanella oneidensis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa EF-P proteins, containing an Arg residue at position 32, are modified with rhamnose, which is a novel post-translational modification. In these bacteria, EF-P and its Arg modification are both dispensable for cell viability, similar to the E. coli and S. enterica EF-P proteins and their Lys34 modification. However, in the present study, we found that EF-P and Arg32 are essential for the viability of the human pathogen, Neisseria meningitidis. We therefore analyzed the modification of Arg32 in the N. meningitidis EF-P protein, and identified the same rhamnosyl modification as in the S. oneidensis and P. aeruginosa EF-P proteins. N. meningitidis also has the orthologue of the rhamnosyl modification enzyme (EarP) from S. oneidensis and P. aeruginosa. Therefore, EarP should be a promising target for antibacterial drug development specifically against N. meningitidis. The pair of genes encoding N. meningitidis EF-P and EarP suppressed the slow-growth phenotype of the EF-P-deficient mutant of E. coli, indicating that the activity of N. meningitidis rhamnosyl–EF-P for rescuing the stalled ribosomes at proline stretches is similar to that of E. coli β-lysyl–EF-P. The possible reasons for the unique requirement of rhamnosyl–EF-P for N. meningitidis cells are that more proline stretch-containing proteins are essential and/or the basal ribosomal activity to synthesize proline stretch-containing proteins in the absence of EF-P is lower in this bacterium than in others.

Cyclic Rhamnosylated Elongation Factor P Establishes Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Elongation factor P (EF-P) is a ubiquitous bacterial protein that is required for the synthesis of poly-proline motifs during translation. In Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, the posttranslational β-lysylation of Lys34 by the PoxA protein is critical for EF-P activity. PoxA is absent from many bacterial species such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, prompting a search for alternative EF-P posttranslation modification pathways. Structural analyses of P. aeruginosa EF-P revealed the attachment of a single cyclic rhamnose moiety to an Arg residue at a position equivalent to that at which β-Lys is attached to E. coli EF-P. Analysis of the genomes of organisms that both lack poxA and encode an Arg32-containing EF-P revealed a highly conserved glycosyltransferase (EarP) encoded at a position adjacent to efp. EF-P proteins isolated from P. aeruginosa ΔearP, or from a ΔrmlC::acc1 strain deficient in dTDP-l-rhamnose biosynthesis, were unmodified. In vitro assays confirmed the ability of EarP to use dTDP-l-rhamnose as a substrate for the posttranslational glycosylation of EF-P. The role of rhamnosylated EF-P in translational control was investigated in P. aeruginosa using a Pro₄-green fluorescent protein (Pro₄GFP) in vivo reporter assay, and the fluorescence was significantly reduced in Δefp, ΔearP, and ΔrmlC::acc1 strains. ΔrmlC::acc1, ΔearP, and Δefp strains also displayed significant increases in their sensitivities to a range of antibiotics, including ertapenem, polymyxin B, cefotaxim, and piperacillin. Taken together, our findings indicate that posttranslational rhamnosylation of EF-P plays a key role in P. aeruginosa gene expression and survival.

Infections with pathogenic Salmonella, E. coli, and Pseudomonas isolates can all lead to infectious disease with potentially fatal sequelae. EF-P proteins contribute to the pathogenicity of the causative agents of these and other diseases by controlling the translation of proteins critical for modulating antibiotic resistance, motility, and other traits that play key roles in establishing virulence. In Salmonella spp. and E. coli, the attachment of β-Lys is required for EF-P activity, but the proteins required for this posttranslational modification pathway are absent from many organisms. Instead, bacteria such as P. aeruginosa activate EF-P by posttranslational modification with rhamnose, revealing a new role for protein glycosylation that may also prove useful as a target for the development of novel antibiotics.

Maintenance of protein synthesis reading frame by EF-P and m(1)G37-tRNA

Maintaining the translational reading frame poses difficulty for the ribosome. Slippery mRNA sequences such as CC[C/U]-[C/U], read by isoacceptors of tRNA(Pro), are highly prone to +1 frameshift (+1FS) errors. Here we show that +1FS errors occur by two mechanisms, a slow mechanism when tRNA(Pro) is stalled in the P-site next to an empty A-site and a fast mechanism during translocation of tRNA(Pro) into the P-site. Suppression of +1FS errors requires the m(1)G37 methylation of tRNA(Pro) on the 3' side of the anticodon and the translation factor EF-P. Importantly, both m(1)G37 and EF-P show the strongest suppression effect when CC[C/U]-[C/U] are placed at the second codon of a reading frame. This work demonstrates that maintaining the reading frame immediately after the initiation of translation by the ribosome is an essential aspect of protein synthesis.

Proteomic analysis of keratitis-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa

PURPOSE

To compare the proteomic profile of a clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) obtained from an infected cornea of a contact lens wearer and the laboratory strain P. aeruginosa ATCC 10145.

METHODS

Antibiotic sensitivity, motility, biofilm formation, and virulence tests were performed using standard methods. Whole protein lysates were analyzed with liquid chromatography/ tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in triplicate, and relative protein abundances were determined with spectral counting. The G test followed by a post hoc Holm-Sidak adjustment was used for the statistical analyses to determine significance in the differential expression of proteins between the two strains.

RESULTS

A total of 687 proteins were detected. One-hundred thirty-three (133) proteins were significantly different between the two strains. Among these, 13 were upregulated, and 16 were downregulated in the clinical strain compared to ATCC 10145, whereas 57 were detected only in the clinical strain. The upregulated proteins are associated with virulence and pathogenicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Proteins detected at higher levels in the clinical strain of P. aeruginosa were proteins known to be virulence factors. These results confirm that the keratitis-associated P. aeruginosa strain is pathogenic and expresses a higher number of virulence factors compared to the laboratory strain ATCC 10145. Identification of the protein profile of the corneal strain of P. aeruginosa in this study will aid in elucidating novel intervention strategies for reducing the burden of P. aeruginosa infection in keratitis.

Translation initiation rate determines the impact of ribosome stalling on bacterial protein synthesis

Ribosome stalling during translation can be caused by a number of characterized mechanisms. However, the impact of elongation stalls on protein levels is variable, and the reasons for this are often unclear. To investigate this relationship, we examined the bacterial translation elongation factor P (EF-P), which plays a critical role in rescuing ribosomes stalled at specific amino acid sequences including polyproline motifs. In previous proteomic analyses of both Salmonella and Escherichia coli efp mutants, it was evident that not all proteins containing a polyproline motif were dependent on EF-P for efficient expression in vivo. The α- and β-subunits of ATP synthase, AtpA and AtpD, are translated from the same mRNA transcript, and both contain a PPG motif; however, proteomic analysis revealed that AtpD levels are strongly dependent on EF-P, whereas AtpA levels are independent of EF-P. Using these model proteins, we systematically determined that EF-P dependence is strongly influenced by elements in the 5'-untranslated region of the mRNA. By mutating either the Shine-Dalgarno sequence or the start codon, we find that EF-P dependence correlates directly with the rate of translation initiation where strongly expressed proteins show the greatest dependence on EF-P. Our findings demonstrate that polyproline-induced stalls exert a net effect on protein levels only if they limit translation significantly more than initiation. This model can be generalized to explain why sequences that induce pauses in translation elongation to, for example, facilitate folding do not necessarily exact a penalty on the overall production of the protein.

eIF5A and EF-P: two unique translation factors are now traveling the same road

Translational control is extremely important in all organisms, and some of its aspects are highly conserved among all primary kingdoms, such as those related to the translation elongation step. The previously classified translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) and its bacterial homologue elongation factor P (EF-P) were discovered in the late 70's and have recently been the object of many studies. eIF5A and EF-P are the only cellular proteins that undergo hypusination and lysinylation, respectively, both of which are unique posttranslational modifications. Herein, we review all the important discoveries related to the biochemical and functional characterization of these factors, highlighting the implication of eIF5A in translation elongation instead of initiation. The findings that eIF5A and EF-P are important for specific cellular processes and play a role in the relief of ribosome stalling caused by specific amino acid sequences, such as those containing prolines reinforce the hypothesis that these factors are involved in specialized translation. Although there are some divergences between these unique factors, recent studies have clarified that they act similarly during protein synthesis. Further studies may reveal their precise mechanism of ribosome activity modulation as well as the mRNA targets that require eIF5A and EF-P for their proper translation.

Agrobacterium: nature's genetic engineer

Agrobacterium was identified as the agent causing the plant tumor, crown gall over 100 years ago. Since then, studies have resulted in many surprising observations. Armin Braun demonstrated that Agrobacterium infected cells had unusual nutritional properties, and that the bacterium was necessary to start the infection but not for continued tumor development. He developed the concept of a tumor inducing principle (TIP), the factor that actually caused the disease. Thirty years later the TIP was shown to be a piece of a tumor inducing (Ti) plasmid excised by an endonuclease. In the next 20 years, most of the key features of the disease were described. The single-strand DNA (T-DNA) with the endonuclease attached is transferred through a type IV secretion system into the host cell where it is likely coated and protected from nucleases by a bacterial secreted protein to form the T-complex. A nuclear localization signal in the endonuclease guides the transferred strand (T-strand), into the nucleus where it is integrated randomly into the host chromosome. Other secreted proteins likely aid in uncoating the T-complex. The T-DNA encodes enzymes of auxin, cytokinin, and opine synthesis, the latter a food source for Agrobacterium. The genes associated with T-strand formation and transfer (vir) map to the Ti plasmid and are only expressed when the bacteria are in close association with a plant. Plant signals are recognized by a two-component regulatory system which activates vir genes. Chromosomal genes with pleiotropic functions also play important roles in plant transformation. The data now explain Braun's old observations and also explain why Agrobacterium is nature's genetic engineer. Any DNA inserted between the border sequences which define the T-DNA will be transferred and integrated into host cells. Thus, Agrobacterium has become the major vector in plant genetic engineering.

Proteomics analysis of the regulatory role of Rpf/DSF cell-to-cell signaling system in the virulence of Xanthomonas campestris

The black rot pathogen Xanthomonas campestris utilizes molecules of the diffusible signal factor (DSF) family as signals to regulate diverse processes contributing to virulence. DSF signal synthesis and transduction requires proteins encoded by the rpf gene cluster. RpfF catalyzes DSF synthesis, whereas the RpfCG two-component system links the perception of DSF to alteration in the level of the second messenger cyclic di-GMP. As this nucleotide can exert a regulatory influence at the post-transcriptional and post-translational levels, we have used comparative proteomics to identify Rpf-regulated processes in X. campestris that may not be revealed by transcriptomics. The abundance of a number of proteins was altered in rpfF, rpfC, or rpfG mutants compared with the wild type. These proteins belonged to several functional categories, including biosynthesis and intermediary metabolism, regulation, oxidative stress or antibiotic resistance, and DNA replication. For many of these proteins, the alteration in abundance was not associated with alteration in transcript level. A directed mutational analysis allowed us to describe a number of new virulence factors among these proteins, including elongation factor P and a putative outer membrane protein, which are both widely conserved in bacteria.

The ribosome as a versatile catalyst: reactions at the peptidyl transferase center

In all contemporary organisms, the active site of the ribosome--the peptidyl transferase center--catalyzes two distinct reactions, peptide bond formation between peptidyl-tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA as well as the hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA with the help of a release factor. However, when provided with appropriate substrates, ribosomes can also catalyze a broad range of other chemical reaction, which provides the basis for orthogonal translation and synthesis of alloproteins from unnatural building blocks. Advances in understanding the mechanisms of the two ubiquitous reactions, the peptide bond formation and peptide release, provide insights into the versatility of the active site of the ribosome. Release factors 1 and 2 and elongation factor P are auxiliary factors that augment the intrinsic catalytic activity of the ribosome in special cases.

Divergent protein motifs direct elongation factor P-mediated translational regulation in Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli

Elongation factor P (EF-P) is a universally conserved bacterial translation factor homologous to eukaryotic/archaeal initiation factor 5A. In Salmonella, deletion of the efp gene results in pleiotropic phenotypes, including increased susceptibility to numerous cellular stressors. Only a limited number of proteins are affected by the loss of EF-P, and it has recently been determined that EF-P plays a critical role in rescuing ribosomes stalled at PPP and PPG peptide sequences. Here we present an unbiased in vivo investigation of the specific targets of EF-P by employing stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) to compare the proteomes of wild-type and efp mutant Salmonella. We found that metabolic and motility genes are prominent among the subset of proteins with decreased production in the Δefp mutant. Furthermore, particular tripeptide motifs are statistically overrepresented among the proteins downregulated in efp mutant strains. These include both PPP and PPG but also additional motifs, such as APP and YIRYIR, which were confirmed to induce EF-P dependence by a translational fusion assay. Notably, we found that many proteins containing polyproline motifs are not misregulated in an EF-P-deficient background, suggesting that the factors that govern EF-P-mediated regulation are complex. Finally, we analyzed the specific region of the PoxB protein that is modulated by EF-P and found that mutation of any residue within a specific GSCGPG sequence eliminates the requirement for EF-P. This work expands the known repertoire of EF-P target motifs and implicates factors beyond polyproline motifs that are required for EF-P-mediated regulation.

Bacterial cells regulate gene expression at several points during and after transcription. During protein synthesis, for example, factors can interact with the ribosome to influence the production of specific proteins. Bacterial elongation factor P (EF-P) is a protein that facilitates the synthesis of proteins that contain polyproline motifs by preventing the ribosome from stalling. Bacterial cells that lack EF-P are viable but are sensitive to a large number of stress conditions. In this study, a global analysis of protein synthesis revealed that EF-P regulates many more proteins in the cell than predicted based solely on the prevalence of polyproline motifs. Several new EF-P-regulated motifs were uncovered, thereby providing a more complete picture of how this critical factor influences the cell’s response to stress at the level of protein synthesis.

The deoxyhypusine synthase mutant dys1-1 reveals the association of eIF5A and Asc1 with cell wall integrity

The putative eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is a highly conserved protein among archaea and eukaryotes that has recently been implicated in the elongation step of translation. eIF5A undergoes an essential and conserved posttranslational modification at a specific lysine to generate the residue hypusine. The enzymes deoxyhypusine synthase (Dys1) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (Lia1) catalyze this two-step modification process. Although several Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF5A mutants have importantly contributed to the study of eIF5A function, no conditional mutant of Dys1 has been described so far. In this study, we generated and characterized the dys1-1 mutant, which showed a strong depletion of mutated Dys1 protein, resulting in more than 2-fold decrease in hypusine levels relative to the wild type. The dys1-1 mutant demonstrated a defect in total protein synthesis, a defect in polysome profile indicative of a translation elongation defect and a reduced association of eIF5A with polysomes. The growth phenotype of dys1-1 mutant is severe, growing only in the presence of 1 M sorbitol, an osmotic stabilizer. Although this phenotype is characteristic of Pkc1 cell wall integrity mutants, the sorbitol requirement from dys1-1 is not associated with cell lysis. We observed that the dys1-1 genetically interacts with the sole yeast protein kinase C (Pkc1) and Asc1, a component of the 40S ribosomal subunit. The dys1-1 mutant was synthetically lethal in combination with asc1Δ and overexpression of TIF51A (eIF5A) or DYS1 is toxic for an asc1Δ strain. Moreover, eIF5A is more associated with translating ribosomes in the absence of Asc1 in the cell. Finally, analysis of the sensitivity to cell wall-perturbing compounds revealed a more similar behavior of the dys1-1 and asc1Δ mutants in comparison with the pkc1Δ mutant. These data suggest a correlated role for eIF5A and Asc1 in coordinating the translational control of a subset of mRNAs associated with cell integrity.

(R)-β-lysine-modified elongation factor P functions in translation elongation

Post-translational modification of bacterial elongation factor P (EF-P) with (R)-β-lysine at a conserved lysine residue activates the protein in vivo and increases puromycin reactivity of the ribosome in vitro. The additional hydroxylation of EF-P at the same lysine residue by the YfcM protein has also recently been described. The roles of modified and unmodified EF-P during different steps in translation, and how this correlates to its physiological role in the cell, have recently been linked to the synthesis of polyproline stretches in proteins. Polysome analysis indicated that EF-P functions in translation elongation, rather than initiation as proposed previously. This was further supported by the inability of EF-P to enhance the rate of formation of fMet-Lys or fMet-Phe, indicating that the role of EF-P is not to specifically stimulate formation of the first peptide bond. Investigation of hydroxyl-(β)-lysyl-EF-P showed 30% increased puromycin reactivity but no differences in dipeptide synthesis rates when compared with the β-lysylated form. Unlike disruption of the other genes required for EF-P modification, deletion of yfcM had no phenotypic consequences in Salmonella. Taken together, our findings indicate that EF-P functions in translation elongation, a role critically dependent on post-translational β-lysylation but not hydroxylation.

EF-P is essential for rapid synthesis of proteins containing consecutive proline residues

Elongation factor P (EF-P) is a translation factor of unknown function that has been implicated in a great variety of cellular processes. Here, we show that EF-P prevents ribosome from stalling during synthesis of proteins containing consecutive prolines, such as PPG, PPP, or longer proline strings, in natural and engineered model proteins. EF-P promotes peptide-bond formation and stabilizes the peptidyl-transfer RNA in the catalytic center of the ribosome. EF-P is posttranslationally modified by a hydroxylated β-lysine attached to a lysine residue. The modification enhances the catalytic proficiency of the factor mainly by increasing its affinity to the ribosome. We propose that EF-P and its eukaryotic homolog, eIF5A, are essential for the synthesis of a subset of proteins containing proline stretches in all cells.

Post-translational modification by β-lysylation is required for activity of Escherichia coli elongation factor P (EF-P)

Bacterial elongation factor P (EF-P) is the ortholog of archaeal and eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). EF-P shares sequence homology and crystal structure with eIF5A, but unlike eIF5A, EF-P does not undergo hypusine modification. Recently, two bacterial genes, yjeA and yjeK, encoding truncated homologs of class II lysyl-tRNA synthetase and of lysine-2,3-aminomutase, respectively, have been implicated in the modification of EF-P to convert a specific lysine to a hypothetical β-lysyl-lysine. Here we present biochemical evidence for β-lysyl-lysine modification in Escherichia coli EF-P and for its role in EF-P activity by characterizing native and recombinant EF-P proteins for their modification status and activity in vitro. Mass spectrometric analyses confirmed the lysyl modification at lysine 34 in native and recombinant EF-P proteins. The β-lysyl-lysine isopeptide was identified in the exhaustive Pronase digests of native EF-P and recombinant EF-P isolated from E. coli coexpressing EF-P, YjeA, and YjeK but not in the digests of proteins derived from the vectors encoding EF-P alone or EF-P together with YjeA, indicating that both enzymes, YjeA and YjeK, are required for β-lysylation of EF-P. Endogenous EF-P as well as the recombinant EF-P preparation containing β-lysyl-EF-P stimulated N-formyl-methionyl-puromycin synthesis ∼4-fold over the preparations containing unmodified EF-P and/or α-lysyl-EF-P. The mutant lacking the modification site lysine (K34A) was inactive. This is the first report of biochemical evidence for the β-lysylation of EF-P in vivo and the requirement for this modification for the activity of EF-P.

Loss of elongation factor P disrupts bacterial outer membrane integrity

Elongation factor P (EF-P) is posttranslationally modified at a conserved lysyl residue by the coordinated action of two enzymes, PoxA and YjeK. We have previously established the importance of this modification in Salmonella stress resistance. Here we report that, like poxA and yjeK mutants, Salmonella strains lacking EF-P display increased susceptibility to hypoosmotic conditions, antibiotics, and detergents and enhanced resistance to the compound S-nitrosoglutathione. The susceptibility phenotypes are largely explained by the enhanced membrane permeability of the efp mutant, which exhibits increased uptake of the hydrophobic dye 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN). Analysis of the membrane proteomes of wild-type and efp mutant Salmonella strains reveals few changes, including the prominent overexpression of a single porin, KdgM, in the efp mutant outer membrane. Removal of KdgM in the efp mutant background ameliorates the detergent, antibiotic, and osmosensitivity phenotypes and restores wild-type permeability to NPN. Our data support a role for EF-P in the translational regulation of a limited number of proteins that, when perturbed, renders the cell susceptible to stress by the adventitious overexpression of an outer membrane porin.

β-Lysine discrimination by lysyl-tRNA synthetase

Elongation factor P is modified with (R)-β-lysine by the lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) paralog PoxA. PoxA specificity is orthogonal to LysRS, despite their high similarity. To investigate α- and β-lysine recognition by LysRS and PoxA, amino acid replacements were made in the LysRS active site guided by the PoxA structure. A233S LysRS behaved as wild type with α-lysine, while the G469A and A233S/G469A variants decreased stable α-lysyl-adenylate formation. A233S LysRS recognized β-lysine better than wildtype, suggesting a role for this residue in discriminating α- and β-amino acids. Both enantiomers of β-lysine were substrates for tRNA aminoacylation by LysRS, which, together with the relaxed specificity of the A233S variant, suggest a possible means to develop systems for in vivo co-translational insertion of β-amino acids.

Tissue-specific Salmonella Typhimurium gene expression during persistence in pigs

Salmonellosis caused by Salmonella Typhimurium is one of the most important bacterial zoonotic diseases. The bacterium persists in pigs resulting in asymptomatic 'carrier pigs', generating a major source for Salmonella contamination of pork. Until now, very little is known concerning the mechanisms used by Salmonella Typhimurium during persistence in pigs. Using in vivo expression technology (IVET), a promoter-trap method based on ΔpurA attenuation of the parent strain, we identified 37 Salmonella Typhimurium genes that were expressed 3 weeks post oral inoculation in the tonsils, ileum and ileocaecal lymph nodes of pigs. Several genes were expressed in all three analyzed organs, while other genes were only expressed in one or two organs. Subsequently, the identified IVET transformants were pooled and reintroduced in pigs to detect tissue-specific gene expression patterns. We found that efp and rpoZ were specifically expressed in the ileocaecal lymph nodes during Salmonella peristence in pigs. Furthermore, we compared the persistence ability of substitution mutants for the IVET-identified genes sifB and STM4067 to that of the wild type in a mixed infection model. The ΔSTM4067::kanR was significantly attenuated in the ileum contents, caecum and caecum contents and faeces of pigs 3 weeks post inoculation, while deletion of the SPI-2 effector gene sifB did not affect Salmonella Typhimurium persistence. Although our list of identified genes is not exhaustive, we found that efp and rpoZ were specifically expressed in the ileocaecal lymph nodes of pigs and we identified STM4067 as a factor involved in Salmonella persistence in pigs. To our knowledge, our study is the first to identify Salmonella Typhimurium genes expressed during persistence in pigs.