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Mao Q, Jiang J, Wu X, Xu R, Ma Y, Zhang Y, Shao S, Wang Q. Coordinate regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and virulence by PtsH in pathogen Edwardsiella piscicida. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022. [PMID: 35218391 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-11848-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Carbohydrate metabolism of bacterial pathogens conducts crucial roles in regulating pathogenesis but the molecular mechanisms by which metabolisms and virulence are been modulated and coordinated remain to be illuminated. Here, we investigated in this regard Edwardsiella piscicida, a notorious zoonotic pathogen previously named E. tarda that could ferment very few PTS sugars including glucose, fructose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, and N-acetylgalactosamine. We systematically characterized the roles of each of the predicted 23 components of phosphotransferase system (PTS) with the respective in-frame deletion mutants and defined medium containing specific PTS sugar. In addition, PtsH was identified as the crucial PTS component potentiating the utilization of all the tested PTS sugars. Intriguingly, we also found that PtsH while not Fpr was involved in T3SS gene expression and was essential for the pathogenesis of E. piscicida. To corroborate this, His15 and Ser46, the two established PtsH residues involved in phosphorylation cascade, showed redundant roles in regulating T3SS yields. Moreover, PtsH was shown to facilitate mannose uptake and transform it into mannose-6-phosphate, an allosteric substrate established to activate EvrA to augment bacterial virulence. Collectively, our observations provide new insights into the roles of PTS reciprocally regulating carbohydrate metabolism and virulence gene expression. KEY POINTS: • PTS components' roles for sugar uptake are systematically determined in Edwardsiella piscicida. • PtsH is involved in saccharides uptake and in the regulation of E. piscicida's T3SS expression. • PtsH phosphorylation at His15 and Ser46 is essential for the T3SS expression and virulence.
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Jeckelmann JM, Erni B. The mannose phosphotransferase system (Man-PTS) - Mannose transporter and receptor for bacteriocins and bacteriophages. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr 2020; 1862:183412. [PMID: 32710850 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mannose transporters constitute a superfamily (Man-PTS) of the Phosphoenolpyruvate Carbohydrate Phosphotransferase System (PTS). The membrane complexes are homotrimers of protomers consisting of two subunits, IIC and IID. The two subunits without recognizable sequence similarity assume the same fold, and in the protomer are structurally related by a two fold pseudosymmetry axis parallel to membrane-plane (Liu et al. (2019) Cell Research 29 680). Two reentrant loops and two transmembrane helices of each subunit together form the N-terminal transport domain. Two three-helix bundles, one of each subunit, form the scaffold domain. The protomer is stabilized by a helix swap between these bundles. The two C-terminal helices of IIC mediate the interprotomer contacts. PTS occur in bacteria and archaea but not in eukaryotes. Man-PTS are abundant in Gram-positive bacteria living on carbohydrate rich mucosal surfaces. A subgroup of IICIID complexes serve as receptors for class IIa bacteriocins and as channel for the penetration of bacteriophage lambda DNA across the inner membrane. Some Man-PTS are associated with host-pathogen and -symbiont processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marc Jeckelmann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Bernhard Erni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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Aboulwafa M, Zhang Z, Saier MH. Protein-Protein Interactions in the Cytoplasmic Membrane of Escherichia coli: Influence of the Overexpression of Diverse Transporter-Encoding Genes on the Activities of PTS Sugar Uptake Systems. Microb Physiol 2020; 30:36-49. [PMID: 32998150 DOI: 10.1159/000510257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The prokaryotic phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) concomitantly transports and phosphorylates its substrate sugars. In a recent publication, we provided evidence that protein-protein interactions of the fructose-specific integral membrane transporter (FruAB) with other PTS sugar group translocators regulate the activities of the latter systems in vivo and sometimes in vitro. In this communication, we examine the consequences of the overexpression of several different transport systems on the activities of selected PTS and non-PTS permeases. We report that high levels of these transport systems enhance the in vivo activities of several other systems in a fairly specific fashion. Thus, (1) overexpression of ptsG (glucose porter) selectively enhanced mannitol, N-acetylglucosamine, and 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake rates; (2) overexpression of mtlA (mannitol porter) promoted methyl α-glucoside (αMG) and 2DG uptake; (3) manYZ (but not manY alone) (mannose porter) overexpression enhanced αMG uptake; (4) galP (galactose porter) overexpression enhanced mannitol and αMG uptake; and (5) ansP (asparagine porter) overexpression preferentially enhanced αMG and 2DG uptake, all presumably as a result of direct protein-protein interactions. Thus, it appears that high level production of several integral membrane permeases enhances sugar uptake rates, with the PtsG and ManXYZ systems being most consistently stimulated, but the MtlA and NagE systems being more selectively stimulated and to a lesser extent. Neither enhanced expression nor in vitro PEP-dependent phosphorylation activities of the target PTS systems were appreciably affected. The results are consistent with the suggestion that integral membrane transport proteins form an interacting network in vivo with physiological consequences, dependent on specific transporters and their concentrations in the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Aboulwafa
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Zhongge Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Milton H Saier
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA,
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Jeckelmann JM, Erni B. Transporters of glucose and other carbohydrates in bacteria. Pflugers Arch 2020; 472:1129-53. [PMID: 32372286 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02379-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Glucose arguably is the most important energy carrier, carbon source for metabolites and building block for biopolymers in all kingdoms of life. The proper function of animal organs and tissues depends on the continuous supply of glucose from the bloodstream. Most animals can resorb only a small number of monosaccharides, mostly glucose, galactose and fructose, while all other sugars oligosaccharides and dietary fibers are degraded and metabolized by the microbiota of the lower intestine. Bacteria, in contrast, are omnivorous. They can import and metabolize structurally different sugars and, as a consortium of different species, utilize almost any sugar, sugar derivative and oligosaccharide occurring in nature. Bacteria have membrane transport systems for the uptake of sugars against steep concentration gradients energized by ATP, the proton motive force and the high energy glycolytic intermediate phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). Different uptake mechanisms and the broad range of overlapping substrate specificities allow bacteria to quickly adapt to and colonize changing environments. Here, we review the structures and mechanisms of bacterial representatives of (i) ATP-dependent cassette (ABC) transporters, (ii) major facilitator (MFS) superfamily proton symporters, (iii) sodium solute symporters (SSS) and (iv) enzyme II integral membrane subunits of the bacterial PEP-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS). We give a short overview on the distribution of transporter genes and their phylogenetic relationship in different bacterial species. Some sugar transporters are hijacked for import of bacteriophage DNA and antibacterial toxins (bacteriocins) and they facilitate the penetration of polar antibiotics. Finally, we describe how the expression and activity of certain sugar transporters are controlled in response to the availability of sugars and how the presence and uptake of sugars may affect pathogenicity and host-microbiota interactions.
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Cao TN, Joyet P, Aké FMD, Milohanic E, Deutscher J. Studies of the Listeria monocytogenes Cellobiose Transport Components and Their Impact on Virulence Gene Repression. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 29:10-26. [PMID: 31269503 DOI: 10.1159/000500090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many bacteria transport cellobiose via a phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS). In Listeria monocytogenes, two pairs of soluble PTS components (EIIACel1/EIIBCel1 and EIIACel2/EIIBCel2) and the permease EIICCel1 were suggested to contribute to cellobiose uptake. Interestingly, utilization of several carbohydrates, including cellobiose, strongly represses virulence gene expression by inhibiting PrfA, the virulence gene activator. RESULTS The LevR-like transcription regulator CelR activates expression of the cellobiose-induced PTS operons celB1-celC1-celA1, celB2-celA2, and the EIIC-encoding monocistronic celC2. Phosphorylation by P∼His-HPr at His550 activates CelR, whereas phosphorylation by P∼EIIBCel1 or P∼EIIBCel2 at His823 inhibits it. Replacement of His823 with Ala or deletion of both celA or celB genes caused constitutive CelR regulon expression. Mutants lacking EIICCel1, CelR or both EIIACel exhibitedslow cellobiose consumption. Deletion of celC1 or celR prevented virulence gene repression by the disaccharide, but not by glucose and fructose. Surprisingly, deletion of both celA genes caused virulence gene repression even during growth on non-repressing carbohydrates. No cellobiose-related phenotype was found for the celC2 mutant. CONCLUSION The two EIIA/BCel pairs are similarly efficient as phosphoryl donors in EIICCel1-catalyzed cellobiose transport and CelR regulation. The permanent virulence gene repression in the celA double mutant further supports a role of PTSCel components in PrfA regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Nguyen Cao
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Philippe Joyet
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Eliane Milohanic
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Josef Deutscher
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France, .,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR8261 Expression Génétique Microbienne, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France,
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Xiang SW, Shao J, He J, Wu XY, Xu XH, Zhao WH. A Membrane-Targeted Peptide Inhibiting PtxA of Phosphotransferase System Blocks Streptococcus mutans. Caries Res 2018; 53:176-193. [PMID: 30107375 DOI: 10.1159/000489607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans, the primary cause of dental caries, takes up carbohydrates through the phosphoenolpyruvate sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS). This study aimed to identify a novel membrane-targeted antimicrobial peptide (AMP) that could also target the L-ascorbate-specific PtxA component of the S. mutans PTS system. C10-KKWW was identified and selected using virtual screening of a lipopeptide library, a minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC) assay, cytotoxicity assays and a hemolysis assay. Surface plasmon resonance confirmed that C10-KKWW had a high binding affinity for PtxA. Combining with scanning electron microscopy and cell permeability assay, it was shown that the effects of C10-KKWW could be attributed to both membrane and PtxA. Wild type (WT) S. mutans, a ptxA deletion mutant (ΔptxA), and a mutant-complemented strain (CptxA), were cultured consistently in brain heart infusion (BHI) medium, tryptone-vitamin medium supplemented with 15 mM L-ascorbate (TVL), or for 5 h in BHI supplemented with 7.4 mM sodium L-ascorbate. Compared to ∆ptxA, in WT S. mutans and CptxA, C10-KKWW had a stronger MIC (3.9 μg/mL), and distinctively decreased biofilm viability. The extracellular concentrations of L-ascorbate/sodium L-ascorbate were not changed before and after WT treated with C10-KKWW. L-ascorbate-induced operon genes, or other PTS genes, were significantly suppressed by C10-KKWW. In conclusion, C10-KKWW has been developed; it acts through interaction with the bacterial membrane and interferes with L-ascorbate translocation to inhibit S. mutans growth and eradicate its biofilm. C10-KKWW may be especially effective at optimal oral ascorbate levels. A combination of C10-KKWW with sodium L-ascorbate might also be a novel strategy for dental caries treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Wen Xiang
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Shao
- Guangzhou Integrative Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin-Yu Wu
- Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Hu Xu
- Shenzhen Longhua New District Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wang-Hong Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou,
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Gao T, Li Y, Ding M, Chai Y, Wang Q. The phosphotransferase system gene ptsI in Bacillus cereus regulates expression of sodA2 and contributes to colonization of wheat roots. Res Microbiol 2017; 168:524-535. [PMID: 28478075 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2017.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 04/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria effectively enhance plant growth and root colonization by the bacteria is a prerequisite during the process. Bacillus cereus 905, a rhizosphere bacterium originally isolated from wheat roots, colonizes the wheat rhizosphere with a large population size. We previously showed that a manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD2), encoded by the sodA2 gene, plays an important role in colonization of the wheat rhizosphere by B. cereus 905. In this study, we identified a gene, ptsI, which positively regulates transcription of sodA2. ptsI encodes Enzyme I of the phosphotransferase system (PTS), a major regulator of carbohydrate uptake in bacteria. Assays of β-galactosidase activity and real-time quantitative PCR showed that loss of ptsI caused a 70% reduction in sodA2 expression. The ΔptsI mutant also showed a 1000-fold reduction in colonization of wheat roots, as well as a reduced growth rate in minimal media with either glucose or succinate as the sole carbon source. Artificial induction of sodA2 in the ΔptsI mutant partially restored root colonizing ability and utilization of succinate, but not glucose. These results suggest that the PTS plays an important role in rhizosphere colonization by both promoting nutrient utilization and regulating sodA2 expression in B. cereus 905.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tantan Gao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mingzheng Ding
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yunrong Chai
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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Wu X, Hou J, Chen X, Chen X, Zhao W. Identification and functional analysis of the L-ascorbate-specific enzyme II complex of the phosphotransferase system in Streptococcus mutans. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:51. [PMID: 27001419 PMCID: PMC4802650 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0668-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Streptococcus mutans is the primary etiological agent of human dental caries. It can metabolize a wide variety of carbohydrates and produce large amounts of organic acids that cause enamel demineralization. Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) plays an important role in carbohydrates uptake of S. mutans. The ptxA and ptxB genes in S. mutans encode putative enzyme IIA and enzyme IIB of the L-ascorbate-specific PTS. The aim of this study was to analyze the function of these proteins and understand the transcriptional regulatory mechanism. Results ptxA−, ptxB−, as well as ptxA−, ptxB− double-deletion mutants all had more extended lag phase and lower growth yield than wild-type strain UA159 when grown in the medium using L-ascorbate as the sole carbon source. Acid production and acid killing assays showed that the absence of the ptxA and ptxB genes resulted in a reduction in the capacity for acidogenesis, and all three mutant strains did not survive an acid shock. According to biofilm and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) formation analysis, all the mutant strains formed much less prolific biofilms with small amounts of EPS than wild-type UA159 when using L-ascorbate as the sole carbon source. Moreover, PCR analysis and quantitative real-time PCR revealed that sgaT, ptxA, ptxB, SMU.273, SMU.274 and SMU.275 appear to be parts of the same operon. The transcription levels of these genes were all elevated in the presence of L-ascorbate, and the expression of ptxA gene decreased significantly once ptxB gene was knockout. Conclusions The ptxA and ptxB genes are involved in the growth, aciduricity, acidogenesis, and formation of biofilms and EPS of S. mutans when L-ascorbate is the sole carbon source. In addition, the expression of ptxA is regulated by ptxB. ptxA, ptxB, and the upstream gene sgaT, the downstream genes SMU.273, SMU.274 and SMU.275 appear to be parts of the same operon, and L-ascorbate is a potential inducer of the operon. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-016-0668-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wu
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital and College of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin Hou
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital and College of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaodan Chen
- Department of Stomatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital and College of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanghong Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital and College of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Abstract
The acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation of solventogenic clostridia was operated as a successful, worldwide industrial process during the first half of the twentieth century, but went into decline for economic reasons. The recent resurgence in interest in the fermentation has been due principally to the recognised potential of butanol as a biofuel, and development of reliable molecular tools has encouraged realistic prospects of bacterial strains being engineered to optimise fermentation performance. In order to minimise costs, emphasis is being placed on waste feedstock streams containing a range of fermentable carbohydrates. It is therefore important to develop a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of carbohydrate uptake so that effective engineering strategies can be identified. This review surveys present knowledge of sugar uptake and its control in solventogenic clostridia. The major mechanism of sugar uptake is the PEP-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS), which both transports and phosphorylates its sugar substrates and plays a central role in metabolic regulation. Clostridial genome sequences have indicated the presence of numerous phosphotransferase systems for uptake of hexose sugars, hexose derivatives and disaccharides. On the other hand, uptake of sugars such as pentoses occurs via non-PTS mechanisms. Progress in characterization of clostridial sugar transporters and manipulation of control mechanisms to optimise sugar fermentation is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfrid J Mitchell
- School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.
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Godino A, Príncipe A, Fischer S. A ptsP deficiency in PGPR Pseudomonas fluorescens SF39a affects bacteriocin production and bacterial fitness in the wheat rhizosphere. Res Microbiol 2015; 167:178-89. [PMID: 26708985 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas fluorescens SF39a is a plant-growth-promoting bacterium isolated from wheat rhizosphere. In this report, we demonstrate that this native strain secretes bacteriocins that inhibit growth of phytopathogenic strains of the genera Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas. An S-type pyocin gene was detected in the genome of strain SF39a and named pys. A non-polar pys::Km mutant was constructed. The bacteriocin production was impaired in this mutant. To identify genes involved in bacteriocin regulation, random transposon mutagenesis was carried out. A miniTn5Km1 mutant, called P. fluorescens SF39a-451, showed strongly reduced bacteriocin production. This phenotype was caused by inactivation of the ptsP gene which encodes a phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase (EI(Ntr)) of the nitrogen-related phosphotransferase system (PTS(Ntr)). In addition, this mutant showed a decrease in biofilm formation and protease production, and an increase in surface motility and pyoverdine production compared with the wild-type strain. Moreover, we investigated the ability of strain SF39a-451 to colonize the wheat rhizosphere under greenhouse conditions. Interestingly, the mutant was less competitive than the wild-type strain in the rhizosphere. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of both the relevance of the ptsP gene in bacteriocin production and functional characterization of a pyocin S in P. fluorescens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Godino
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36-Km 601-5800, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Analía Príncipe
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36-Km 601-5800, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Sonia Fischer
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36-Km 601-5800, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The enzyme IIC (EIIC) component of the phosphotransferase system (PTS) is responsible for selectively transporting sugar molecules across the inner bacterial membrane. This is accomplished in parallel with phosphorylation of the sugar, which prevents efflux of the sugar back across the membrane. This process is a key part of an extensive signaling network that allows bacteria to efficiently utilize preferred carbohydrate sources. SCOPE OF REVIEW The goal of this review is to examine the current understanding of the structural features of the EIIC and how it mediates concentrative, selective sugar transport. The crystal structure of an N,N'-diacetylchitobiose transporter is used as a structural template for the glucose superfamily of PTS transporters. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Comparison of protein sequences in context with the known EIIC structure suggests that members of the glucose superfamily of PTS transporters may exhibit variations in topology. Despite these differences, a conserved histidine and glutamate appear to have roles shared across the superfamily in sugar binding and phosphorylation. In the proposed transport model, a rigid body motion between two structural domains and movement of an intracellular loop provide the substrate binding site with alternating access, and reveal a surface required for interaction with the phosphotransfer protein responsible for catalysis. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The structural and functional data discussed here give a preliminary understanding of how transport in EIIC is achieved. However, given the great sequence diversity between varying glucose-superfamily PTS transporters and lack of data on conformational changes needed for transport, additional structures of other members and conformations are still required. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Structural biochemistry and biophysics of membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason G McCoy
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Elena J Levin
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ming Zhou
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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