1
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Yang Y, Wang P, Qaidi SE, Hardwidge PR, Huang J, Zhu G. Loss to gain: pseudogenes in microorganisms, focusing on eubacteria, and their biological significance. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:328. [PMID: 38717672 PMCID: PMC11078800 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12971-w] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Pseudogenes are defined as "non-functional" copies of corresponding parent genes. The cognition of pseudogenes continues to be refreshed through accumulating and updating research findings. Previous studies have predominantly focused on mammals, but pseudogenes have received relatively less attention in the field of microbiology. Given the increasing recognition on the importance of pseudogenes, in this review, we focus on several aspects of microorganism pseudogenes, including their classification and characteristics, their generation and fate, their identification, their abundance and distribution, their impact on virulence, their ability to recombine with functional genes, the extent to which some pseudogenes are transcribed and translated, and the relationship between pseudogenes and viruses. By summarizing and organizing the latest research progress, this review will provide a comprehensive perspective and improved understanding on pseudogenes in microorganisms. KEY POINTS: • Concept, classification and characteristics, identification and databases, content, and distribution of microbial pseudogenes are presented. • How pseudogenization contribute to pathogen virulence is highlighted. • Pseudogenes with potential functions in microorganisms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Pengzhi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jinlin Huang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
| | - Guoqiang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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2
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Weeramange C, Menjivar C, O'Neil PT, El Qaidi S, Harrison KS, Meinhardt S, Bird CL, Sreenivasan S, Hardwidge PR, Fenton AW, Hefty PS, Bose JL, Swint-Kruse L. Fructose-1-kinase Has Pleiotropic Roles in Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem 2024:107352. [PMID: 38723750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107352] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In Escherichia coli, the master transcription regulator Catabolite Repressor Activator (Cra) regulates >100 genes in central metabolism. Cra binding to DNA is allosterically regulated by binding to fructose-1-phosphate (F-1-P), but the only documented source of F-1-P is from the concurrent import and phosphorylation of exogenous fructose. Thus, many have proposed that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-BP) is also a physiological regulatory ligand. However, the role of F-1,6-BP has been widely debated. Here, we report that the E. coli enzyme fructose-1-kinase (FruK) can carry out its "reverse" reaction under physiological substrate concentrations to generate F-1-P from F-1,6-BP. We further show that FruK directly binds Cra with nanomolar affinity and forms higher order, heterocomplexes. Growth assays with a ΔfruK strain and fruK complementation show that FruK has a broader role in metabolism than fructose catabolism. Since fruK itself is repressed by Cra, these newly-reported events add layers to the dynamic regulation of E. coli central metabolism that occur in response to changing nutrients. These findings might have wide-spread relevance to other γ-proteobacteria, which conserve both Cra and FruK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chamitha Weeramange
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Cindy Menjivar
- The Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3029, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Pierce T O'Neil
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Denison Ave, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA 66506
| | - Kelly S Harrison
- The Department of Molecular Biosciences, 2034 Haworth Hall, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, The University of Kansas - Lawrence, Lawrence, Kansas, USA 66045
| | - Sarah Meinhardt
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Cole L Bird
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Shwetha Sreenivasan
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Denison Ave, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA 66506
| | - Aron W Fenton
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - P Scott Hefty
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Denison Ave, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA 66506
| | - Jeffrey L Bose
- The Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3029, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Liskin Swint-Kruse
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160.
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3
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Weeramange C, Menjivar C, O’Neil PT, El Qaidi S, Harrison KS, Meinhardt S, Bird CL, Sreenivasan S, Hardwidge PR, Fenton AW, Hefty PS, Bose JL, Swint-Kruse L. Fructose-1-kinase has pleiotropic roles in Escherichia coli. bioRxiv 2023:2023.12.14.571569. [PMID: 38168282 PMCID: PMC10760178 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.14.571569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
In Escherichia coli, the master transcription regulator Catabolite Repressor Activator (Cra) regulates >100 genes in central metabolism. Cra binding to DNA is allosterically regulated by binding to fructose-1-phosphate (F-1-P), but the only documented source of F-1-P is from the concurrent import and phosphorylation of exogenous fructose. Thus, many have proposed that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-BP) is also a physiological regulatory ligand. However, the role of F-1,6-BP has been widely debated. Here, we report that the E. coli enzyme fructose-1-kinase (FruK) can carry out its "reverse" reaction under physiological substrate concentrations to generate F-1-P from F-1,6-BP. We further show that FruK directly binds Cra with nanomolar affinity and forms higher order, heterocomplexes. Growth assays with a ΔfruK strain and fruK complementation show that FruK has a broader role in metabolism than fructose catabolism. The ΔfruK strain also alters biofilm formation. Since fruK itself is repressed by Cra, these newly-reported events add layers to the dynamic regulation of E. coli central metabolism that occur in response to changing nutrients. These findings might have wide-spread relevance to other γ-proteobacteria, which conserve both Cra and FruK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chamitha Weeramange
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Cindy Menjivar
- The Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3029, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Pierce T. O’Neil
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Denison Ave, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA 66506
| | - Kelly S. Harrison
- The Department of Molecular Biosciences, 2034 Haworth Hall, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, The University of Kansas – Lawrence, Lawrence, Kansas, USA 66045
| | - Sarah Meinhardt
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Cole L. Bird
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Shwetha Sreenivasan
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Philip R. Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Denison Ave, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA 66506
| | - Aron W. Fenton
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - P. Scott Hefty
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Denison Ave, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA 66506
| | - Jeffrey L. Bose
- The Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3029, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
| | - Liskin Swint-Kruse
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MSN 3030, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 66160
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4
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Hasan MK, Scott NE, Hays MP, Hardwidge PR, El Qaidi S. Salmonella T3SS effector SseK1 arginine-glycosylates the two-component response regulator OmpR to alter bile salt resistance. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9018. [PMID: 37270573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36057-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Type III secretion system (T3SS) effector proteins are primarily recognized for binding host proteins to subvert host immune response during infection. Besides their known host target proteins, several T3SS effectors also interact with endogenous bacterial proteins. Here we demonstrate that the Salmonella T3SS effector glycosyltransferase SseK1 glycosylates the bacterial two-component response regulator OmpR on two arginine residues, R15 and R122. Arg-glycosylation of OmpR results in reduced expression of ompF, a major outer membrane porin gene. Glycosylated OmpR has reduced affinity to the ompF promoter region, as compared to the unglycosylated form of OmpR. Additionally, the Salmonella ΔsseK1 mutant strain had higher bile salt resistance and increased capacity to form biofilms, as compared to WT Salmonella, thus linking OmpR glycosylation to several important aspects of bacterial physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Kamrul Hasan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Nichollas E Scott
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne Within the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
| | - Michael P Hays
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | | | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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5
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El Qaidi S, Scott NE, Hays MP, Hardwidge PR. Arginine glycosylation regulates UDP-GlcNAc biosynthesis in Salmonella enterica. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5293. [PMID: 35351940 PMCID: PMC8964723 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09276-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Salmonella enterica SseK1 protein is a type three secretion system effector that glycosylates host proteins during infection on specific arginine residues with N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc). SseK1 also Arg-glycosylates endogenous bacterial proteins and we thus hypothesized that SseK1 activities might be integrated with regulating the intrabacterial abundance of UPD-GlcNAc, the sugar-nucleotide donor used by this effector. After searching for new SseK1 substrates, we found that SseK1 glycosylates arginine residues in the dual repressor-activator protein NagC, leading to increased DNA-binding affinity and enhanced expression of the NagC-regulated genes glmU and glmS. SseK1 also glycosylates arginine residues in GlmR, a protein that enhances GlmS activity. This Arg-glycosylation improves the ability of GlmR to enhance GlmS activity. We also discovered that NagC is a direct activator of glmR expression. Salmonella lacking SseK1 produce significantly reduced amounts of UDP-GlcNAc as compared with Salmonella expressing SseK1. Overall, we conclude that SseK1 up-regulates UDP-GlcNAc synthesis both by enhancing the DNA-binding activity of NagC and by increasing GlmS activity through GlmR glycosylation. Such regulatory activities may have evolved to maintain sufficient levels of UDP-GlcNAc for both bacterial cell wall precursors and for SseK1 to modify other bacterial and host targets in response to environmental changes and during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Nichollas E Scott
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne Within the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
| | - Michael P Hays
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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6
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Hasan MK, El Qaidi S, McDonald P, Roy A, Hardwidge PR. Repurposing Avasimibe to Inhibit Bacterial Glycosyltransferases. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030370. [PMID: 35335693 PMCID: PMC8953086 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030370] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We are interested in identifying and characterizing small molecule inhibitors of bacterial virulence factors for their potential use as anti-virulence inhibitors. We identified from high-throughput screening assays a potential activity for avasimibe, a previously characterized acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor, in inhibiting the NleB and SseK arginine glycosyltransferases from Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, respectively. Avasimibe inhibited the activity of the Citrobacter rodentium NleB, E. coli NleB1, and S. enterica SseK1 enzymes, without affecting the activity of the human serine/threonine N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase. Avasimibe was not toxic to mammalian cells at up to 200 µM and was neither bacteriostatic nor bactericidal at concentrations of up to 125 µM. Doses of 10 µM avasimibe were sufficient to reduce S. enterica abundance in RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells, and intraperitoneal injection of avasimibe significantly reduced C. rodentium survival in mice, regardless of whether the avasimibe was administered pre- or post-infection. We propose that avasimibe or related derivates created using synthetic chemistry may have utility in preventing or treating bacterial infections by inhibiting arginine glycosyltransferases that are important to virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Kamrul Hasan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (M.K.H.); (S.E.Q.)
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (M.K.H.); (S.E.Q.)
| | - Peter McDonald
- Infectious Diseases Assay Development/HTS Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (P.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Anuradha Roy
- Infectious Diseases Assay Development/HTS Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (P.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Philip R. Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (M.K.H.); (S.E.Q.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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García-García A, Hicks T, El Qaidi S, Zhu C, Hardwidge PR, Angulo J, Hurtado-Guerrero R. NleB/SseK-catalyzed arginine-glycosylation and enteropathogen virulence are finely tuned by a single variable position contiguous to the catalytic machinery. Chem Sci 2021; 12:12181-12191. [PMID: 34667584 PMCID: PMC8457375 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc04065k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
NleB/SseK effectors are arginine-GlcNAc-transferases expressed by enteric bacterial pathogens that modify host cell proteins to disrupt signaling pathways. While the conserved Citrobacter rodentium NleB and E. coli NleB1 proteins display a broad selectivity towards host proteins, Salmonella enterica SseK1, SseK2, and SseK3 have a narrowed protein substrate selectivity. Here, by combining computational and biophysical experiments, we demonstrate that the broad protein substrate selectivity of NleB relies on Tyr284NleB/NleB1, a second-shell residue contiguous to the catalytic machinery. Tyr284NleB/NleB1 is important in coupling protein substrate binding to catalysis. This is exemplified by S286YSseK1 and N302YSseK2 mutants, which become active towards FADD and DR3 death domains, respectively, and whose kinetic properties match those of enterohemorrhagic E. coli NleB1. The integration of these mutants into S. enterica increases S. enterica survival in macrophages, suggesting that better enzymatic kinetic parameters lead to enhanced virulence. Our findings provide insights into how these enzymes finely tune arginine-glycosylation and, in turn, bacterial virulence. In addition, our data show how promiscuous glycosyltransferases preferentially glycosylate specific protein substrates. The NleB and SseK glycosyltransferases glycosylate arginine residues of mammalian proteins with different substrate specificities. We uncover that these differences rely on a particular second-shell residue contiguous to the catalytic machinery.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana García-García
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D Zaragoza Spain
| | - Thomas Hicks
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Congrui Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Jesús Angulo
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK.,Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Sevilla Sevilla 41012 Spain .,Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (CSIC-US) Sevilla 41092 Spain
| | - Ramon Hurtado-Guerrero
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D Zaragoza Spain .,Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark.,Fundación ARAID Zaragoza Spain
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8
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Hasan MK, El Qaidi S, Hardwidge PR. The T3SS Effector Protease NleC Is Active within Citrobacter rodentium. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10050589. [PMID: 34065796 PMCID: PMC8151275 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10050589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether type III secretion system (T3SS) effector proteins encoded by Gram-negative bacterial pathogens have intra-bacterial activities is an important and emerging area of investigation. Gram-negative bacteria interact with their mammalian hosts by using secretion systems to inject virulence proteins directly into infected host cells. Many of these injected protein effectors are enzymes that modify the structure and inhibit the function of mammalian proteins. The underlying dogma is that T3SS effectors are inactive until they are injected into host cells, where they then fold into their active conformations. We previously observed that the T3SS effectors NleB and SseK1 glycosylate Citrobacter rodentium and Salmonella enterica proteins, respectively, leading to enhanced resistance to environmental stress. Here, we sought to extend these studies to determine whether the T3SS effector protease NleC is also active within C. rodentium. To do this, we expressed the best-characterized mammalian substrate of NleC, the NF-κB p65 subunit in C. rodentium and monitored its proteolytic cleavage as a function of NleC activity. Intra-bacterial p65 cleavage was strictly dependent upon NleC. A p65 mutant lacking the known CE cleavage motif was resistant to NleC. Thus, we conclude that, in addition to NleB, NleC is also enzymatically active within C. rodentium.
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Zhu C, El Qaidi S, McDonald P, Roy A, Hardwidge PR. YM155 Inhibits NleB and SseK Arginine Glycosyltransferase Activity. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020253. [PMID: 33672424 PMCID: PMC7926936 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The type III secretion system effector proteins NleB and SseK are glycosyltransferases that glycosylate protein substrates on arginine residues. We conducted high-throughput screening assays on 42,498 compounds to identify NleB/SseK inhibitors. Such small molecules may be useful as mechanistic probes and may have utility in the eventual development of anti-virulence therapies against enteric bacterial pathogens. We observed that YM155 (sepantronium bromide) inhibits the activity of Escherichia coli NleB1, Citrobacter rodentium NleB, and both Salmonella enterica SseK1 and SseK2. YM155 was not toxic to mammalian cells, nor did it show cross-reactivity with the mammalian O-linked N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (OGT). YM155 reduced Salmonella survival in mouse macrophage-like cells but had no direct impact on bacterial growth rates, suggesting YM155 may have utility as a potential anti-virulence inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congrui Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (C.Z.); (S.E.Q.)
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (C.Z.); (S.E.Q.)
| | - Peter McDonald
- HTS Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (P.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Anuradha Roy
- HTS Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (P.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Philip R. Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (C.Z.); (S.E.Q.)
- Correspondence:
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10
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Abstract
DNA cloning remains the primary step before the further investigation of gene function. Restriction enzyme-based cloning methods are still widely used and numerous restriction-free cloning techniques are available as alternatives. Here we describe a PCR-based cloning method named ABC cloning. This method uses PCR to combine three overlapping DNA fragments into a recombinant vector that can be immediately transformed into competent cells. This technique uses only a thermostable DNA polymerase and is more rapid and efficient than previously described methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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11
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El Qaidi S, Zhu C, McDonald P, Roy A, Maity PK, Rane D, Perera C, Hardwidge PR. High-Throughput Screening for Bacterial Glycosyltransferase Inhibitors. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:435. [PMID: 30619781 PMCID: PMC6305410 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli NleB proteins as well as the Salmonella enterica SseK proteins are type III secretion system effectors that function as glycosyltransferase enzymes to post-translationally modify host substrates on arginine residues. This modification is unusual because it occurs on the guanidinium groups of arginines, which are poor nucleophiles, and is distinct from the activity of the mammalian O-linked N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase. We conducted high-throughput screening assays to identify small molecules that inhibit NleB/SseK activity. Two compounds, 100066N and 102644N, both significantly inhibited NleB1, SseK1, and SseK2 activities. Addition of these compounds to cultured mammalian cells was sufficient to inhibit NleB1 glycosylation of the tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1-associated DEATH domain protein. These compounds were also capable of inhibiting Salmonella enterica strain ATCC 14028 replication in mouse macrophage-like cells. Neither inhibitor was significantly toxic to mammalian cells, nor showed in vitro cross-reactivity with the mammalian O-linked N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase. These compounds or derivatives generated from medicinal chemistry refinements may have utility as a potential alternative therapeutic strategy to antibiotics or as reagents to further the study of bacterial glycosyltransferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Congrui Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Peter McDonald
- High Throughput Screening Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Anuradha Roy
- High Throughput Screening Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Pradip Kumar Maity
- Synthetic Chemical Biology Core Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Digamber Rane
- Synthetic Chemical Biology Core Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Chamani Perera
- Synthetic Chemical Biology Core Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
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12
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Park JB, Kim YH, Yoo Y, Kim J, Jun SH, Cho JW, El Qaidi S, Walpole S, Monaco S, García-García AA, Wu M, Hays MP, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Angulo J, Hardwidge PR, Shin JS, Cho HS. Structural basis for arginine glycosylation of host substrates by bacterial effector proteins. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4283. [PMID: 30327479 PMCID: PMC6191443 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06680-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial effector proteins SseK and NleB glycosylate host proteins on arginine residues, leading to reduced NF-κB-dependent responses to infection. Salmonella SseK1 and SseK2 are E. coli NleB1 orthologs that behave as NleB1-like GTs, although they differ in protein substrate specificity. Here we report that these enzymes are retaining glycosyltransferases composed of a helix-loop-helix (HLH) domain, a lid domain, and a catalytic domain. A conserved HEN motif (His-Glu-Asn) in the active site is important for enzyme catalysis and bacterial virulence. We observe differences between SseK1 and SseK2 in interactions with substrates and identify substrate residues that are critical for enzyme recognition. Long Molecular Dynamics simulations suggest that the HLH domain determines substrate specificity and the lid-domain regulates the opening of the active site. Overall, our data suggest a front-face SNi mechanism, explain differences in activities among these effectors, and have implications for future drug development against enteric pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Bae Park
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Hun Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngki Yoo
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Juyeon Kim
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hoon Jun
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.,Center for Electron Microscopy Research, Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Chungbuk, 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Won Cho
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Samuel Walpole
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Serena Monaco
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Ana A García-García
- BIFI, University of Zaragoza, BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) Joint Unit, Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Miaomiao Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Michael P Hays
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Ramon Hurtado-Guerrero
- BIFI, University of Zaragoza, BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) Joint Unit, Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain. .,Fundación ARAID, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Jesus Angulo
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jeon-Soo Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea. .,Severance Biomedical Science Institute and Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyun-Soo Cho
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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13
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El Qaidi S, Wu M, Zhu C, Hardwidge PR. Salmonella, E. coli, and Citrobacter Type III Secretion System Effector Proteins that Alter Host Innate Immunity. Adv Exp Med Biol 2018; 1111:205-218. [PMID: 30411307 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2018_289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria deliver virulence proteins termed 'effectors' to counteract host innate immunity. Protein-protein interactions within the host cell ultimately subvert the generation of an inflammatory response to the infecting pathogen. Here we briefly describe a subset of T3SS effectors produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Citrobacter rodentium, and Salmonella enterica that inhibit innate immune pathways. These effectors are interesting for structural and mechanistic reasons, as well as for their potential utility in being engineered to treat human autoimmune disorders associated with perturbations in NF-κB signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Miaomiao Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Congrui Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
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14
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El Qaidi S, Chen K, Halim A, Siukstaite L, Rueter C, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Clausen H, Hardwidge PR. NleB/SseK effectors from Citrobacter rodentium, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica display distinct differences in host substrate specificity. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:11423-11430. [PMID: 28522607 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.790675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [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: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens use a syringe-like apparatus called a type III secretion system to inject virulence factors into host cells. Some of these effectors are enzymes that modify host proteins to subvert their normal functions. NleB is a glycosyltransferase that modifies host proteins with N-acetyl-d-glucosamine to inhibit antibacterial and inflammatory host responses. NleB is conserved among the attaching/effacing pathogens enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and Citrobacter rodentium Moreover, Salmonella enterica strains encode up to three NleB orthologs named SseK1, SseK2, and SseK3. However, there are conflicting reports regarding the activities and host protein targets among the NleB/SseK orthologs. Therefore, here we performed in vitro glycosylation assays and cell culture experiments to compare the activities and substrate specificities of these effectors. SseK1, SseK3, EHEC NleB1, EPEC NleB1, and Crodentium NleB blocked TNF-mediated NF-κB pathway activation, whereas SseK2 and NleB2 did not. C. rodentium NleB, EHEC NleB1, and SseK1 glycosylated host GAPDH. C. rodentium NleB, EHEC NleB1, EPEC NleB1, and SseK2 glycosylated the FADD (Fas-associated death domain protein). SseK3 and NleB2 were not active against either substrate. We also found that EHEC NleB1 glycosylated two GAPDH arginine residues, Arg197 and Arg200, and that these two residues were essential for GAPDH-mediated activation of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 ubiquitination. These results provide evidence that members of this highly conserved family of bacterial virulence effectors target different host protein substrates and exhibit distinct cellular modes of action to suppress host responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir El Qaidi
- From the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506
| | - Kangming Chen
- From the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506
| | - Adnan Halim
- the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.,the Laboratory of Cellular and Structural Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065
| | - Lina Siukstaite
- the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Christian Rueter
- the Institute of Infectiology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany, and
| | - Ramon Hurtado-Guerrero
- the Fundacion ARAID, Edificio CEEI ARAGÓN and Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems, University of Zaragoza, Instituto de Quimica Fisica Rocasolano, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Joint Unit, 500018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Henrik Clausen
- the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- From the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506,
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15
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Weber B, Lindell K, El Qaidi S, Hjerde E, Willassen NP, Milton DL. The phosphotransferase VanU represses expression of four qrr genes antagonizing VanO-mediated quorum-sensing regulation in Vibrio anguillarum. Microbiology (Reading) 2011; 157:3324-3339. [PMID: 21948044 PMCID: PMC3352281 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.051011-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Vibrio anguillarum utilizes quorum sensing to regulate stress responses required for survival in the aquatic environment. Like other Vibrio species, V. anguillarum contains the gene qrr1, which encodes the ancestral quorum regulatory RNA Qrr1, and phosphorelay quorum-sensing systems that modulate the expression of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) that destabilize mRNA encoding the transcriptional regulator VanT. In this study, three additional Qrr sRNAs were identified. All four sRNAs were positively regulated by σ54 and the σ54-dependent response regulator VanO, and showed a redundant activity. The Qrr sRNAs, together with the RNA chaperone Hfq, destabilized vanT mRNA and modulated expression of VanT-regulated genes. Unexpectedly, expression of all four qrr genes peaked at high cell density, and exogenously added N-acylhomoserine lactone molecules induced expression of the qrr genes at low cell density. The phosphotransferase VanU, which phosphorylates and activates VanO, repressed expression of the Qrr sRNAs and stabilized vanT mRNA. A model is presented proposing that VanU acts as a branch point, aiding cross-regulation between two independent phosphorelay systems that activate or repress expression of the Qrr sRNAs, giving flexibility and precision in modulating VanT expression and inducing a quorum-sensing response to stresses found in a constantly changing aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Weber
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå SE-901 87, Sweden
| | - Kristoffer Lindell
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå SE-901 87, Sweden
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå SE-901 87, Sweden
| | - Erik Hjerde
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø 9037, Norway
| | - Nils-Peder Willassen
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø 9037, Norway
| | - Debra L Milton
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå SE-901 87, Sweden
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16
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El Qaidi S, Allemand F, Oberto J, Plumbridge J. Repression of galP, the galactose transporter in Escherichia coli, requires the specific regulator of N-acetylglucosamine metabolism. Mol Microbiol 2008; 71:146-57. [PMID: 19007420 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06515.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Soupene et al. [J. Bacteriol. (2003) 185 5611-5626] made the unexpected observation that the presence of a mutation, in the gene for the N-acetylglucosamine repressor, nagC, increased the growth rate of Escherichia coli MG1655 on galactose, an unrelated sugar. We have found that NagC, binds to a single, high-affinity site overlapping the promoter of galP (galactose permease) gene and that expression of galP is repressed by a combination of NagC, GalR and GalS. In addition to the previously identified galOE operator, other gal operators further upstream are required for full repression. GalS has a specific role, as it binds with higher affinity to one of the upstream operators but its effect in vivo is only observed in the presence of GalR. Regulation of galP by three specific repressors, NagC, GalR and GalS is unusual in that it involves multiple, specific regulators from two different areas of metabolism. This novel regulation seems to be particular for E. coli and its nearest neighbour, Shigella. Other bacteria with galP orthologues, although retaining the metK-galP gene order, do not have the NagC site. Although quantitative effects were strain specific, nagC mutations increased the growth rate on galactose of all E. coli strains tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir El Qaidi
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (UPR9073-CNRS), 13, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
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