Rok from B. subtilis: Bridging genome structure and transcription regulation

Bacterial genomes are folded and organized into compact yet dynamic structures, called nucleoids. Nucleoid orchestration involves many factors at multiple length scales, such as nucleoid-associated proteins and liquid-liquid phase separation, and has to be compatible with replication and transcription. Possibly, genome organization plays an intrinsic role in transcription regulation, in addition to classical transcription factors. In this review, we provide arguments supporting this view using the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis as a model. Proteins BsSMC, HBsu and Rok all impact the structure of the B. subtilis chromosome. Particularly for Rok, there is compelling evidence that it combines its structural function with a role as global gene regulator. Many studies describe either function of Rok, but rarely both are addressed at the same time. Here, we review both sides of the coin and integrate them into one model. Rok forms unusually stable DNA-DNA bridges and this ability likely underlies its repressive effect on transcription by either preventing RNA polymerase from binding to DNA or trapping it inside DNA loops. Partner proteins are needed to change or relieve Rok-mediated gene repression. Lastly, we investigate which features characterize H-NS-like proteins, a family that, at present, lacks a clear definition.

Antagonistic interactions between phage and host factors control arbitrium lysis-lysogeny decision

Phages can use a small-molecule communication arbitrium system to coordinate lysis-lysogeny decisions, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here we determined that the arbitrium system in Bacillus subtilis phage phi3T modulates the bacterial toxin-antitoxin system MazE-MazF to regulate the phage life cycle. We show that phi3T expresses AimX and YosL, which bind to and inactivate MazF. AimX also inhibits the function of phi3T_93, a protein that promotes lysogeny by binding to MazE and releasing MazF. Overall, these mutually exclusive interactions promote the lytic cycle of the phage. After several rounds of infection, the phage-encoded AimP peptide accumulates intracellularly and inactivates the phage antiterminator AimR, a process that eliminates aimX expression from the aimP promoter. Therefore, when AimP increases, MazF activity promotes reversion back to lysogeny, since AimX is absent. Altogether, our study reveals the evolutionary strategy used by arbitrium to control lysis-lysogeny by domesticating and fine-tuning a phage-defence mechanism.

Extraordinary long-stem confers resistance of intrinsic terminators to processive antitermination

Many prokaryotic operons encode a processive antitermination (P-AT) system. Transcription complexes associated with an antitermination factor can bypass multiple transcription termination signals regardless of their sequences. However, to avoid compromising transcriptional regulation of downstream regions, the terminator at the end of the operon needs to be resistant to antitermination. So far, no studies on the mechanism of resistance to antitermination have been reported. The recently discovered conAn P-AT system is composed of two components that are encoded at the start of many conjugation operons on plasmids of Gram-positive bacteria. Here we report the identification of a conAn-resistant terminator, named TerR, in the conjugation operon of the Bacillus subtilis plasmid pLS20, re-defining the end of the conjugation operon. We investigated the various characteristics of TerR and show that its extraordinary long stem is the determining feature for resistance to antitermination. This is the first P-AT resistance mechanism to be reported.

A tetramerization domain in prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription regulators homologous to p53

Transcriptional regulation usually requires the action of several proteins that either repress or activate a promotor of an open reading frame. These proteins can counteract each other, thus allowing tight regulation of the transcription of the corresponding genes, where tight repression is often linked to DNA looping or cross-linking. Here, the tetramerization domain of the bacterial gene repressor Rco from Bacillus subtilis plasmid pLS20 (Rco_pLS20) has been identified and its structure is shown to share high similarity to the tetramerization domain of the well known p53 family of human tumor suppressors, despite lacking clear sequence homology. In Rco_pLS20, this tetramerization domain is responsible for inducing DNA looping, a process that involves multiple tetramers. In accordance, it is shown that Rco_pLS20 can form octamers. This domain was named TetD_loop and its occurrence was identified in other Bacillus species. The TetD_loop fold was also found in the structure of a transcriptional repressor from Salmonella phage SPC32H. It is proposed that the TetD_loop fold has evolved through divergent evolution and that the TetD_loop originates from a common ancestor predating the occurrence of multicellular life.

The B. subtilis Rok protein is an atypical H-NS-like protein irresponsive to physico-chemical cues

Nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) play a central role in chromosome organization and environment-responsive transcription regulation. The Bacillus subtilis-encoded NAP Rok binds preferentially AT-rich regions of the genome, which often contain genes of foreign origin that are silenced by Rok binding. Additionally, Rok plays a role in chromosome architecture by binding in genomic clusters and promoting chromosomal loop formation. Based on this, Rok was proposed to be a functional homolog of E. coli H-NS. However, it is largely unclear how Rok binds DNA, how it represses transcription and whether Rok mediates environment-responsive gene regulation. Here, we investigated Rok's DNA binding properties and the effects of physico-chemical conditions thereon. We demonstrate that Rok is a DNA bridging protein similar to prototypical H-NS-like proteins. However, unlike these proteins, the DNA bridging ability of Rok is not affected by changes in physico-chemical conditions. The DNA binding properties of the Rok interaction partner sRok are affected by salt concentration. This suggests that in a minority of Bacillus strains Rok activity can be modulated by sRok, and thus respond indirectly to environmental stimuli. Despite several functional similarities, the absence of a direct response to physico-chemical changes establishes Rok as disparate member of the H-NS family.

A New Tool for the Flexible Genetic Manipulation of Geobacillus kaustophilus

Geobacillus kaustophilus , a thermophilic Gram-positive bacterium, is an attractive host for the development of high-temperature bioprocesses. However, its reluctance against genetic manipulation by standard methodologies hampers its exploitation. Here, we describe a simple methodology in which an artificial DNA segment on the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis can be transferred via pLS20-mediated conjugation resulting in subsequent integration in the genome of G. kaustophilus. Therefore, we have developed a transformation strategy to design an artificial DNA segment on the chromosome of B. subtilis and introduce it into G. kaustophilus . The artificial DNA segment can be freely designed by taking advantage of the plasticity of the B. subtilis genome and combined with the simplicity of pLS20 conjugation transfer. This transformation strategy would adapt to various Gram-positive bacteria other than G. kaustophilus . Graphical abstract.

A novel method for transforming Geobacillus kaustophilus with a chromosomal segment of Bacillus subtilis transferred via pLS20-dependent conjugation

Background

Geobacillus kaustophilus is a thermophilic Gram-positive bacterium. Methods for its transformation are still under development. Earlier studies have demonstrated that pLS20catΔoriT mobilized the resident mobile plasmids from Bacillus subtilis to G. kaustophilus and transferred long segments of chromosome from one cell to another between B. subtilis.

Results

In this study, we applied mobilization of the B. subtilis chromosome mediated by pLS20catΔoriT to transform G. kaustophilus. We constructed a gene cassette to be integrated into G. kaustophilus and designed it within the B. subtilis chromosome. The pLS20catΔoriT-mediated conjugation successfully transferred the gene cassette from the B. subtilis chromosome into the G. kaustophilus allowing for the desired genetic transformation.

Conclusions

This transformation approach described here will provide a new tool to facilitate the flexible genetic manipulation of G. kaustophilus.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-022-01759-8.

Conjugation Operons in Gram-Positive Bacteria with and without Antitermination Systems

Genes involved in the same cellular process are often clustered together in an operon whose expression is controlled by an upstream promoter. Generally, the activity of the promoter is strictly controlled. However, spurious transcription undermines this strict regulation, particularly affecting large operons. The negative effects of spurious transcription can be mitigated by the presence of multiple terminators inside the operon, in combination with an antitermination system. Antitermination systems modify the transcription elongation complexes and enable them to bypass terminators. Bacterial conjugation is the process by which a conjugative DNA element is transferred from a donor to a recipient cell. Conjugation involves many genes that are mostly organized in one or a few large operons. It has recently been shown that many conjugation operons present on plasmids replicating in Gram-positive bacteria possess a bipartite antitermination system that allows not only many terminators inside the conjugation operon to be bypassed, but also the differential expression of a subset of genes. Here, we show that some conjugation operons on plasmids belonging to the Inc18 family of Gram-positive broad host-range plasmids do not possess an antitermination system, suggesting that the absence of an antitermination system may have advantages. The possible (dis)advantages of conjugation operons possessing (or not) an antitermination system are discussed.

pLS20 is the archetype of a new family of conjugative plasmids harboured by Bacillus species

Conjugation plays important roles in genome plasticity, adaptation and evolution but is also the major horizontal gene-transfer route responsible for spreading toxin, virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. A better understanding of the conjugation process is required for developing drugs and strategies to impede the conjugation-mediated spread of these genes. So far, only a limited number of conjugative elements have been studied. For most of them, it is not known whether they represent a group of conjugative elements, nor about their distribution patterns. Here we show that pLS20 from the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis is the prototype conjugative plasmid of a family of at least 35 members that can be divided into four clades, and which are harboured by different Bacillus species found in different global locations and environmental niches. Analyses of their phylogenetic relationship and their conjugation operons have expanded our understanding of a family of conjugative plasmids of Gram-positive origin.

Assessment of Bacillus subtilis Plasmid pLS20 Conjugation in the Absence of Quorum Sensing Repression

Bacillus subtilis conjugative plasmid pLS20 uses a quorum-sensing mechanism to control expression levels of its conjugation genes, involving the repressor Rco_pLS20, the anti-repressor Rap_pLS20, and the signaling peptide Phr*_pLS20. In previous studies, artificial overexpression of rap_pLS20 in the donor cells was shown to enhance conjugation efficiency. However, we found that the overexpression of rap_pLS20 led to various phenotypic traits, including cell aggregation and death, which might have affected the correct determination of the conjugation efficiency when determined by colony formation assay. In the current study, conjugation efficiencies were determined under different conditions using a two-color fluorescence-activated flow cytometry method and measuring a single-round of pLS20-mediated transfer of a mobilizable plasmid. Under standard conditions, the conjugation efficiency obtained by fluorescence-activated flow cytometry was 23-fold higher than that obtained by colony formation. Furthermore, the efficiency difference increased to 45-fold when rap_pLS20 was overexpressed.

Micellar Antibiotics of Bacillus

Members of the Bacillus genus, particularly the “Bacillus subtilis group”, are known to produce amphipathic lipopeptides with biosurfactant activity. This includes the surfactins, fengycins and iturins that have been associated with antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-viral properties. We have screened a large collection of Bacillus, isolated from human, animal, estuarine water and soil samples and found that the most potent lipopeptide producers are members of the species Bacillus velezensis. B. velezensis lipopeptides exhibited anti-bacterial activity which was localised on the surface of both vegetative cells and spores. Interestingly, lipopeptide micelles (6–10 nm diameter) were detectable in strains exhibiting the highest levels of activity. Micelles were stable (heat and gastric stable) and shown to entrap other antimicrobials produced by the host bacterium (exampled here was the dipeptide antibiotic chlorotetaine). Commercially acquired lipopeptides did not exhibit similar levels of inhibitory activity and we suspect that micelle formation may relate to the particular isomeric forms produced by individual bacteria. Using naturally produced micelle formulations we demonstrated that they could entrap antimicrobial compounds (e.g., clindamycin, vancomycin and resveratrol). Micellar incorporation of antibiotics increased activity. Bacillus is a prolific producer of antimicrobials, and this phenomenon could be exploited naturally to augment antimicrobial activity. From an applied perspective, the ability to readily produce Bacillus micelles and formulate with drugs enables a possible strategy for enhanced drug delivery.

A novel bipartite antitermination system widespread in conjugative elements of Gram-positive bacteria

Transcriptional regulation allows adaptive and coordinated gene expression, and is essential for life. Processive antitermination systems alter the transcription elongation complex to allow the RNA polymerase to read through multiple terminators in an operon. Here, we describe the discovery of a novel bipartite antitermination system that is widespread among conjugative elements from Gram-positive bacteria, which we named conAn. This system is composed of a large RNA element that exerts antitermination, and a protein that functions as a processivity factor. Besides allowing coordinated expression of very long operons, we show that these systems allow differential expression of genes within an operon, and probably contribute to strict regulation of the conjugation genes by minimizing the effects of spurious transcription. Mechanistic features of the conAn system are likely to decisively influence its host range, with important implications for the spread of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes.

Multiple Layered Control of the Conjugation Process of the Bacillus subtilis Plasmid pLS20

Bacterial conjugation is the main horizontal gene transfer route responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance, virulence and toxin genes. During conjugation, DNA is transferred from a donor to a recipient cell via a sophisticated channel connecting the two cells. Conjugation not only affects many different aspects of the plasmid and the host, ranging from the properties of the membrane and the cell surface of the donor, to other developmental processes such as competence, it probably also poses a burden on the donor cell due to the expression of the large number of genes involved in the conjugation process. Therefore, expression of the conjugation genes must be strictly controlled. Over the past decade, the regulation of the conjugation genes present on the conjugative Bacillus subtilis plasmid pLS20 has been studied using a variety of methods including genetic, biochemical, biophysical and structural approaches. This review focuses on the interplay between Rco_pLS20, Rap_pLS20 and Phr*_pLS20, the proteins that control the activity of the main conjugation promoter P_c located upstream of the conjugation operon. Proper expression of the conjugation genes requires the following two fundamental elements. First, conjugation is repressed by default and an intercellular quorum-signaling system is used to sense conditions favorable for conjugation. Second, different layers of regulation act together to repress the P_c promoter in a strict manner but allowing rapid activation. During conjugation, ssDNA is exported from the cell by a membrane-embedded DNA translocation machine. Another membrane-embedded DNA translocation machine imports ssDNA in competent cells. Evidences are reviewed indicating that conjugation and competence are probably mutually exclusive processes. Some of the questions that remain unanswered are discussed.

A Conserved Class II Type Thioester Domain-Containing Adhesin Is Required for Efficient Conjugation in Bacillus subtilis

Conjugation, the process by which a DNA element is transferred from a donor to a recipient cell, is the main horizontal gene transfer route responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Contact between a donor and a recipient cell is a prerequisite for conjugation, because conjugative DNA is transferred into the recipient via a channel connecting the two cells. Conjugative elements encode proteins dedicated to facilitating the recognition and attachment to recipient cells, also known as mating pair formation. A subgroup of the conjugative elements is able to mediate efficient conjugation during planktonic growth, and mechanisms facilitating mating pair formation will be particularly important in these cases. Conjugative elements of Gram-negative bacteria encode conjugative pili, also known as sex pili, some of which are retractile. Far less is known about mechanisms that promote mating pair formation in Gram-positive bacteria. The conjugative plasmid pLS20 of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis allows efficient conjugation in liquid medium. Here, we report the identification of an adhesin gene in the pLS20 conjugation operon. The N-terminal region of the adhesin contains a class II type thioester domain (TED) that is essential for efficient conjugation, particularly in liquid medium. We show that TED-containing adhesins are widely conserved in Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens where they often play crucial roles in pathogenesis. Our study is the first to demonstrate the involvement of a class II type TED-containing adhesin in conjugation.IMPORTANCE Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become a serious health care problem. The spread of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria of the same or different species is often mediated by a process named conjugation, where a donor cell transfers DNA to a recipient cell through a connecting channel. The first step in conjugation is recognition and attachment of the donor to a recipient cell. Little is known about this first step, particularly in Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we show that the conjugative plasmid pLS20 of Bacillus subtilis encodes an adhesin protein that is essential for effective conjugation. This adhesin protein has a structural organization similar to adhesins produced by other Gram-positive bacteria, including major pathogens, where the adhesins serve in attachment to host tissues during colonization and infection. Our findings may thus also open novel avenues to design drugs that inhibit the spread of antibiotic resistance by blocking the first recipient-attachment step in conjugation.

Inactivation of the dimeric RappLS20 anti-repressor of the conjugation operon is mediated by peptide-induced tetramerization

Quorum sensing allows bacterial cells to communicate through the release of soluble signaling molecules into the surrounding medium. It plays a pivotal role in controlling bacterial conjugation in Gram-positive cells, a process that has tremendous impact on health. Intracellular regulatory proteins of the RRNPP family are common targets of these signaling molecules. The RRNPP family of gene regulators bind signaling molecules at their C-terminal domain (CTD), but have highly divergent functionalities at their N-terminal effector domains (NTD). This divergence is also reflected in the functional states of the proteins, and is highly interesting from an evolutionary perspective. Rap_pLS20 is an RRNPP encoded on the Bacillus subtilis plasmid pLS20. It relieves the gene repression effectuated by Rco_pLS20 in the absence of the mature pLS20 signaling peptide Phr*_pLS20. We report here an in-depth structural study of apo and Phr*_pLS20-bound states of Rap_pLS20 at various levels of atomic detail. We show that apo-Rap_pLS20 is dimeric and that Phr*_pLS20-bound Rap forms NTD-mediated tetramers. In addition, we show that Rap_pLS20 binds Rco_pLS20 directly in the absence of Phr*_pLS20 and that addition of Phr*_pLS20 releases Rco_pLS20 from Rap_pLS20. This allows Rco_pLS20 to bind the promotor region of crucial conjugation genes blocking their expression.

Reversible regulation of conjugation of Bacillus subtilis plasmid pLS20 by the quorum sensing peptide responsive anti-repressor RappLS20

Quorum sensing plays crucial roles in bacterial communication including in the process of conjugation, which has large economical and health-related impacts by spreading antibiotic resistance. The conjugative Bacillus subtilis plasmid pLS20 uses quorum sensing to determine when to activate the conjugation genes. The main conjugation promoter, Pc, is by default repressed by a regulator RcopLS20 involving DNA looping. A plasmid-encoded signalling peptide, Phr*pLS20, inactivates the anti-repressor of RcopLS20, named RappLS20, which belongs to the large group of RRNPP family of regulatory proteins. Here we show that DNA looping occurs through interactions between two RcopLS20 tetramers, each bound to an operator site. We determined the relative promoter strengths for all the promoters involved in synthesizing the regulatory proteins of the conjugation genes, and constructed an in vivo system uncoupling these regulatory genes to show that RappLS20 is sufficient for activating conjugation in vivo. We also show that RappLS20 actively detaches RcopLS20 from DNA by preferentially acting on the RcopLS20 molecules involved in DNA looping, resulting in sequestration but not inactivation of RcopLS20. Finally, results presented here in combination with our previous results show that activation of conjugation inhibits competence and competence development inhibits conjugation, indicating that both processes are mutually exclusive.

Surface Exclusion Revisited: Function Related to Differential Expression of the Surface Exclusion System of Bacillus subtilis Plasmid pLS20

During conjugation a genetic element is transferred from a bacterial donor to a recipient cell via a connecting channel. It is the major route responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance. Conjugative elements can contain exclusion system(s) that inhibit its transfer to a cell already harboring the element. Our limited knowledge on exclusion systems is mainly based on plasmids of Gram-negative bacteria. Here we studied the conjugative plasmid pLS20 of the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis. We demonstrate that pLS20 contains an exclusion system and identified the single gene responsible for exclusion, named sespLS20 , which is embedded in the conjugation operon. SespLS20 is the founding member of a novel family of surface exclusion proteins encoded by conjugative elements of Gram-positive origin. We show that the extent of surface exclusion correlates with the level of sespLS20 expression, and that sespLS20 is expressed at basal low-levels in all donor cells but becomes highly expressed in conjugating cells. Accordingly, the transfer of pLS20 from a conjugation-primed donor cell to an un-primed or conjugation-primed donor is inhibited moderately and very efficiently, respectively. The consequences of this differential regulation, which appears to be a conserved feature of surface exclusion systems of Gram-positive and Gram-negative origin, are discussed.

Novel regulatory mechanism of establishment genes of conjugative plasmids

The principal route for dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes is conjugation by which a conjugative DNA element is transferred from a donor to a recipient cell. Conjugative elements contain genes that are important for their establishment in the new host, for instance by counteracting the host defense mechanisms acting against incoming foreign DNA. Little is known about these establishment genes and how they are regulated. Here, we deciphered the regulation mechanism of possible establishment genes of plasmid p576 from the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus pumilus. Unlike the ssDNA promoters described for some conjugative plasmids, the four promoters of these p576 genes are repressed by a repressor protein, which we named Reg576. Reg576 also regulates its own expression. After transfer of the DNA, these genes are de-repressed for a period of time until sufficient Reg576 is synthesized to repress the promoters again. Complementary in vivo and in vitro analyses showed that different operator configurations in the promoter regions of these genes lead to different responses to Reg576. Each operator is bound with extreme cooperativity by two Reg576-dimers. The X-ray structure revealed that Reg576 has a Ribbon-Helix-Helix core and provided important insights into the high cooperativity of DNA recognition.

A novel method for transforming the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus kaustophilus

BACKGROUND

Bacterial strains of the genus Geobacillus grow at high temperatures of 50-75 °C and could thus be useful for biotechnological applications. However, genetic manipulation of these species is difficult because the current techniques for transforming Geobacillus species are not efficient. In this study, we developed an easy and efficient method for transforming Geobacillus kaustophilus using the conjugative plasmid pLS20cat.

RESULTS

We constructed a transformation system comprising (i) a mobilizable Bacillus subtilis-G. kaustophilus shuttle plasmid named pGK1 that carries the elements for selection and replication in Geobacillus, and (ii) a pLS20cat-harboring B. subtilis donor strain expressing the dam methylase gene of Escherichia coli and the conjugation-stimulating rapLS20 gene of pLS20cat. This system can be used to efficiently introduce pGK1 into G. kaustophilus by mobilization in a pLS20cat-dependent way. Whereas the thermostable kanamycin marker and Geobacillus replication origin of pGK1 as well as expression of dam methylase in the donor were indispensable for mobilization, ectopic expression of rapLS20 increased its efficiency. In addition, the conditions of the recipient influenced mobilization efficiency: the highest mobilization efficiencies were obtained using recipient cells that were in the exponential growth phase. Furthermore, elimination of the origin of transfer from pLS20cat enhanced the mobilization.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe a novel method of plasmid mobilization into G. kaustophilus recipient from B. subtilis donor depending on the helper function of pLS20cat, which enables simple, rapid, and easy transformation of the thermophilic Gram-positive bacterium.

The Bacillus subtilis Conjugative Plasmid pLS20 Encodes Two Ribbon-Helix-Helix Type Auxiliary Relaxosome Proteins That Are Essential for Conjugation

Bacterial conjugation is the process by which a conjugative element (CE) is transferred horizontally from a donor to a recipient cell via a connecting pore. One of the first steps in the conjugation process is the formation of a nucleoprotein complex at the origin of transfer (oriT), where one of the components of the nucleoprotein complex, the relaxase, introduces a site- and strand specific nick to initiate the transfer of a single DNA strand into the recipient cell. In most cases, the nucleoprotein complex involves, besides the relaxase, one or more additional proteins, named auxiliary proteins, which are encoded by the CE and/or the host. The conjugative plasmid pLS20 replicates in the Gram-positive Firmicute bacterium Bacillus subtilis. We have recently identified the relaxase gene and the oriT of pLS20, which are separated by a region of almost 1 kb. Here we show that this region contains two auxiliary genes that we name aux1LS20 and aux2LS20 , and which we show are essential for conjugation. Both Aux1LS20 and Aux2LS20 are predicted to contain a Ribbon-Helix-Helix DNA binding motif near their N-terminus. Analyses of the purified proteins show that Aux1LS20 and Aux2LS20 form tetramers and hexamers in solution, respectively, and that they both bind preferentially to oriTLS20 , although with different characteristics and specificities. In silico analyses revealed that genes encoding homologs of Aux1LS20 and/or Aux2LS20 are located upstream of almost 400 relaxase genes of the RelLS20 family (MOBL) of relaxases. Thus, Aux1LS20 and Aux2LS20 of pLS20 constitute the founding member of the first two families of auxiliary proteins described for CEs of Gram-positive origin.

Discovery of a new family of relaxases in Firmicutes bacteria

Antibiotic resistance is a serious global problem. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), which are widespread in environmental bacteria, can be transferred to pathogenic bacteria via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Gut microbiomes are especially apt for the emergence and dissemination of ARG. Conjugation is the HGT route that is predominantly responsible for the spread of ARG. Little is known about conjugative elements of Gram-positive bacteria, including those of the phylum Firmicutes, which are abundantly present in gut microbiomes. A critical step in the conjugation process is the relaxase-mediated site- and strand-specific nick in the oriT region of the conjugative element. This generates a single-stranded DNA molecule that is transferred from the donor to the recipient cell via a connecting channel. Here we identified and characterized the relaxosome components oriT and the relaxase of the conjugative plasmid pLS20 of the Firmicute Bacillus subtilis. We show that the relaxase gene, named rel_LS20, is essential for conjugation, that it can function in trans and provide evidence that Tyr26 constitutes the active site residue. In vivo and in vitro analyses revealed that the oriT is located far upstream of the relaxase gene and that the nick site within oriT is located on the template strand of the conjugation genes. Surprisingly, the Rel_LS20 shows very limited similarity to known relaxases. However, more than 800 genes to which no function had been attributed so far are predicted to encode proteins showing significant similarity to Rel_LS20. Interestingly, these putative relaxases are encoded almost exclusively in Firmicutes bacteria. Thus, Rel_LS20 constitutes the prototype of a new family of relaxases. The identification of this novel relaxase family will have an important impact in different aspects of future research in the field of HGT in Gram-positive bacteria in general, and specifically in the phylum of Firmicutes, and in gut microbiome research.

Antibiotics have saved the lives of millions. However, the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance compromises the effectiveness of antibiotics. Genes conferring antibiotic resistance are often located on genetic elements that can be transferred to other bacteria. Conjugation is the predominant route responsible for spreading antibiotic resistance genes, and depends critically on a class of proteins called relaxases. These enzymes initiate conjugation by processing the DNA of the mobile element and are therefore an Achilles´ heel of the conjugation process. Although antibiotic resistance is an important health threat in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, conjugation has so far been studied primarily in Gram-negative bacteria. Due to the extremely high concentration of bacteria, which favors conjugation, the intestinal gut is a hotspot for spreading antibiotic resistance. It is now known that a large part of the gut microbiome corresponds to Gram-positive bacteria, and many of these belong to the phylum Firmicutes. To better understand conjugation and specifically relaxases of Gram-positive conjugative elements we have identified and characterized the relaxase and the DNA region at which it acts of the conjugative plasmid pLS20 from the Gram-positive Firmicute Bacillus subtilis. We also show that the relaxase of pLS20 is the founding member of a new and large family of relaxases that is almost exclusively present in Firmicutes bacteria. This work will have important implications for the transfer of genes in Gram-positive bacteria in general and specifically for conjugation-mediated spread of antibiotic resistance in Firmicutes bacteria of the intestinal gut.

A complex genetic switch involving overlapping divergent promoters and DNA looping regulates expression of conjugation genes of a gram-positive plasmid

Plasmid conjugation plays a significant role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity determinants. Understanding how conjugation is regulated is important to gain insights into these features. Little is known about regulation of conjugation systems present on plasmids from Gram-positive bacteria. pLS20 is a native conjugative plasmid from the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Recently the key players that repress and activate pLS20 conjugation have been identified. Here we studied in detail the molecular mechanism regulating the pLS20 conjugation genes using both in vivo and in vitro approaches. Our results show that conjugation is subject to the control of a complex genetic switch where at least three levels of regulation are integrated. The first of the three layers involves overlapping divergent promoters of different strengths regulating expression of the conjugation genes and the key transcriptional regulator Rco_LS20. The second layer involves a triple function of Rco_LS20 being a repressor of the main conjugation promoter and an activator and repressor of its own promoter at low and high concentrations, respectively. The third level of regulation concerns formation of a DNA loop mediated by simultaneous binding of tetrameric Rco_LS20 to two operators, one of which overlaps with the divergent promoters. The combination of these three layers of regulation in the same switch allows the main conjugation promoter to be tightly repressed during conditions unfavorable to conjugation while maintaining the sensitivity to accurately switch on the conjugation genes when appropriate conditions occur. The implications of the regulatory switch and comparison with other genetic switches involving DNA looping are discussed.

Plasmids are extrachromosomal, autonomously replicating units that are harbored by many bacteria. Many plasmids encode transfer function allowing them to be transferred into plasmid-free bacteria by a process named conjugation. Since many of them also carry antibiotic resistance genes, plasmid-mediated conjugation is a major mechanism in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. In depth knowledge on the regulation of conjugation genes is a prerequisite to design measures interfering with the spread of antibiotic resistance. pLS20 is a conjugative plasmid of the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which is also a gut commensal in animals and humans. Here we describe in detail the molecular mechanism by which the key transcriptional regulator tightly represses the conjugation genes during conditions unfavorable to conjugation without compromising the ability to switch on accurately the conjugation genes when appropriate. We found that conjugation is subject to the control of a unique genetic switch where at least three levels of regulation are integrated. The first level involves overlapping divergent promoters of different strengths. The second layer involves a triple function of the transcriptional regulator. And the third level of regulation concerns formation of a DNA loop mediated by the transcriptional regulator.

Diverse regulatory circuits for transfer of conjugative elements

Conjugation systems are present on many plasmids as well as on chromosomally integrated elements. Conjugation, which is a major route by which bacteria exchange genetic material, is a complex and energy-consuming process. Hence, a shared feature of conjugation systems is that expression of the genes involved is strictly controlled in such a way that conjugation is kept in a default 'OFF' state and that the process is switched on only under conditions that favor the transfer of the conjugative element into a recipient cell. However, there is a remarkable diversity in the way by which conjugation genes present on different transferable elements are regulated. Here, we review these diverse regulatory circuits on the basis of several prototypes with a special focus on the recently discovered regulation of the conjugation genes present on the native Bacillus subtilis plasmid pLS20.

Mobility of the native Bacillus subtilis conjugative plasmid pLS20 is regulated by intercellular signaling

Horizontal gene transfer mediated by plasmid conjugation plays a significant role in the evolution of bacterial species, as well as in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity determinants. Characterization of their regulation is important for gaining insights into these features. Relatively little is known about how conjugation of Gram-positive plasmids is regulated. We have characterized conjugation of the native Bacillus subtilis plasmid pLS20. Contrary to the enterococcal plasmids, conjugation of pLS20 is not activated by recipient-produced pheromones but by pLS20-encoded proteins that regulate expression of the conjugation genes. We show that conjugation is kept in the default “OFF” state and identified the master repressor responsible for this. Activation of the conjugation genes requires relief of repression, which is mediated by an anti-repressor that belongs to the Rap family of proteins. Using both RNA sequencing methodology and genetic approaches, we have determined the regulatory effects of the repressor and anti-repressor on expression of the pLS20 genes. We also show that the activity of the anti-repressor is in turn regulated by an intercellular signaling peptide. Ultimately, this peptide dictates the timing of conjugation. The implications of this regulatory mechanism and comparison with other mobile systems are discussed.

Bacteria evolve rapidly due to their short generation time and their ability to exchange genetic material, which can occur via different processes, collectively named Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT). Most bacteria contain, besides a single chromosome, autonomously replicating units called plasmids. Many plasmids carry genes enabling them to be transferred into plasmid-free bacteria. This process, called conjugation, contributes significantly to HGT. Many plasmids also contain antibiotic resistance genes. Therefore, plasmid conjugation plays a major role in the spread of antibiotic resistance. Understanding the regulation of conjugation genes is essential for designing strategies to combat the spread of antibiotic resistance. We have studied the regulation of the native plasmid pLS20 from Bacillus subtilis. Besides being a soil bacterium, B. subtilis is a gut commensal in animals and humans. Here we unraveled the mechanisms controlling conjugation and found that pLS20 conjugation genes become activated when plasmid-free recipient cells are present. We have identified the repressor protein that keeps conjugation in an ‘OFF’ state, and an anti-repressor that activates conjugation. The activity of the anti-repressor is inhibited by a pLS20-encoded peptide that is secreted from the cell and can be absorbed by cells, after a secondary processing step. Ultimately, it is the signaling-peptide that dictates when conjugation genes become activated.

Inhibition of Bacillus subtilis natural competence by a native, conjugative plasmid-encoded comK repressor protein

Under certain growth conditions, Bacillus subtilis can develop natural competence, the state in which it is able to bind, adsorb and incorporate exogenous DNA. Development of competence is a bistable process and is subject to complex regulation. Rok is a repressor of the key transcriptional activator of competence genes, comK, and limits the size of the subpopulation that develops competence. Here we report the finding that the large conjugative B. subtilis plasmid pLS20 harbours a rok homologue rok(LS20). Although the deduced product of rok(LS20) is considerably shorter than the chromosomally encoded Rok protein, we show that ectopic expression of the plasmid-encoded Rok(LS20) leads to inhibition of competence by repressing comK, and that the effects of the plasmid and chromosomally encoded Rok proteins are additive. We also show that pLS20 inhibits competence in a rok(LS20) -dependent manner and that purified Rok(LS20) preferentially binds to the comK promoter. By analysing the available databases we identified several additional rok-like genes. These putative rok genes can be divided into two groups and we propose that rok(LS20) is the prototype of a newly identified subgroup of nine rok genes. Finally, we discuss the possible role of the plasmid-located rok and its relatedness with other rok genes.

Differential Spo0A-mediated effects on transcription and replication of the related Bacillus subtilis phages Nf and phi29 explain their different behaviours in vivo

Members of groups 1 (e.g. ϕ29) and 2 (e.g. Nf) of the ϕ29 family of phages infect the spore forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Although classified as lytic phages, the lytic cycle of ϕ29 can be suppressed and its genome can become entrapped into the B. subtilis spore. This constitutes an alternative infection strategy that depends on the presence of binding sites for the host-encoded protein Spo0A in the ϕ29 genome. Binding of Spo0A to these sites represses ϕ29 transcription and prevents initiation of DNA replication. Although the Nf genome can also become trapped into B. subtilis spores, in vivo studies showed that its lytic cycle is less susceptible to spo0A-mediated suppression than that of ϕ29. Here we have analysed the molecular mechanism underlying this difference showing that Spo0A differently affects transcription and replication initiation of the genomes of these phages. Thus, whereas Spo0A represses all three main early promoters of ϕ29, it only represses one out of the three equivalent early promoters of Nf. In addition, contrary to ϕ29, Spo0A does not prevent the in vitro initiation of Nf DNA replication. Altogether, the differences in Spo0A-mediated regulation of transcription and replication between ϕ29 and Nf explain their different behaviours in vivo.

Different responses to Spo0A-mediated suppression of the related Bacillus subtilis phages Nf and phi29

The phi29 family of phages is divided in three groups. Members of groups 1 and 2 infect the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Previous studies showed that group 1 phage phi29 adapts its infection strategy to the physiological state of the host. Thus, the lytic cycle of phi29 is suppressed when cells are infected during the early stages of sporulation and the infecting genome becomes trapped into the spore. A major element of this adaptive strategy is a very sensitive response to the host-encoded Spo0A protein, the key regulator for sporulation activation, which is directly responsible for suppression of phi29 development. Here we analysed if this adaptation is conserved in phage Nf belonging to group 2. The results obtained show that although Nf also possesses the alternative infection strategy, it is clearly less sensitive to Spo0A-mediated suppression than phi29. Sequence determination of the Nf genome revealed striking differences in the number of Spo0A binding site sequences. The results provide evidence that the life style of two highly related phages is distinctly tuned by differences in binding sites for a host-encoded regulatory protein, being a good example of how viruses have evolved to optimally exploit features of their host.

kinC/D-mediated heterogeneous expression of spo0A during logarithmical growth in Bacillus subtilis is responsible for partial suppression of phi 29 development

The host of the lytic bacteriophage phi 29 is the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis. When infection occurs during early stages of sporulation, however, phi 29 development is suppressed and the infecting phage genome becomes trapped into the developing spore. Recently, we have shown that Spo0A, the key transcriptional regulator for entry into sporulation, is directly responsible for suppression of the lytic phi 29 cycle in cells having initiated sporulation. Surprisingly, we found that phi 29 development is suppressed in a subpopulation of logarithmically growing culture and that spo0A is heterogeneously expressed during this growth stage. Furthermore, we showed that kinC and, to a minor extent, kinD, are responsible for heterogeneous expression levels of spo0A during logarithmical growth that are below the threshold to activate sporulation, but sufficient for suppression of the lytic cycle of phi 29. Whereas spo0A was known to be heterogeneously expressed during the early stages of sporulation, our findings show that this also occurs during logarithmical growth. These insights are likely to have important consequences, not only for the life cycle of phi 29, but also for B. subtilis developmental processes.

The phage phi29 membrane protein p16.7, involved in DNA replication, is required for efficient ejection of the viral genome

It is becoming clear that in vivo phage DNA ejection is not a mere passive process. In most cases, both phage and host proteins seem to be involved in pulling at least part of the viral DNA inside the cell. The DNA ejection mechanism of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage phi29 is a two-step process where the linear DNA penetrates the cell with a right-left polarity. In the first step approximately 65% of the DNA is pushed into the cell. In the second step, the remaining DNA is actively pulled into the cytoplasm. This step requires protein p17, which is encoded by the right-side early operon that is ejected during the first push step. The membrane protein p16.7, also encoded by the right-side early operon, is known to play an important role in membrane-associated phage DNA replication. In this work we show that, in addition, p16.7 is required for efficient execution of the second pull step of DNA ejection.

Structural and Functional Analysis of ϕ29 p16.7C Dimerization Mutants

Prokaryotic DNA replication is compartmentalized at the cellular membrane. The Bacillus subtilis phage varphi29-encoded membrane protein p16.7 is one of the few proteins known to be involved in the organization of prokaryotic membrane-associated DNA replication. The functional DNA binding domain of p16.7 is constituted by its C-terminal half, p16.7C, which forms high affinity dimers in solution and which can form higher order oligomers. Recently, the solution and crystal structures of p16.7C and the crystal structure of the p16.7C-DNA complex have been solved. Here, we have studied the p16.7C dimerization process and the structural and functional roles of p16.7 residues Trp-116 and Asn-120 and its last nine C-terminal amino acids, which form an extended tail. The results obtained show that transition of folded dimers into unfolded monomers occurs without stable intermediates and that both Trp-116 and the C-terminal tail are important for dimerization and functionality of p16.7C. Residue Trp-116 is involved in formation of a novel aromatic cage dimerization motif, which we call "Pro cage." Finally, whereas residue Asn-120 plays a minor role in p16.7C dimerization, we show that it is critical for both oligomerization and DNA binding, providing further evidence that DNA binding and oligomerization of p16.7C are coupled processes.

Spo0A, the key transcriptional regulator for entrance into sporulation, is an inhibitor of DNA replication

The transcription factor Spo0A is a master regulator for entry into sporulation in Bacillus subtilis and also regulates expression of the virulent B. subtilis phage phi29. Here, we describe a novel function for Spo0A, being an inhibitor of DNA replication of both, the phi29 genome and the B. subtilis chromosome. Binding of Spo0A near the phi29 DNA ends, constituting the two origins of replication of the linear phi29 genome, prevents formation of phi29 protein p6-nucleoprotein initiation complex resulting in inhibition of phi29 DNA replication. At the B. subtilis oriC, binding of Spo0A to specific sequences, which mostly coincide with DnaA-binding sites, prevents open complex formation. Thus, by binding to the origins of replication, Spo0A prevents the initiation step of DNA replication of either genome. The implications of this novel role of Spo0A for phage phi29 development and the bacterial chromosome replication during the onset of sporulation are discussed.

Structural basis for membrane anchorage of viral phi29 DNA during replication

Prokaryotic DNA replication is compartmentalized at the cellular membrane. Functional and biochemical studies showed that the Bacillus subtilis phage 29-encoded membrane protein p16.7 is directly involved in the organization of membrane-associated viral DNA replication. The structure of the functional domain of p16.7 in complex with DNA, presented here, reveals the multimerization mode of the protein and provides insights in the organization of the phage genome at the membrane of the infected cell.

Molecular basis for the exploitation of spore formation as survival mechanism by virulent phage phi29

Phage phi29 is a virulent phage of Bacillus subtilis with no known lysogenic cycle. Indeed, lysis occurs rapidly following infection of vegetative cells. Here, we show that phi29 possesses a powerful strategy that enables it to adapt its infection strategy to the physiological conditions of the infected host to optimize its survival and proliferation. Thus, the lytic cycle is suppressed when the infected cell has initiated the process of sporulation and the infecting phage genome is directed into the highly resistant spore to remain dormant until germination of the spore. We have also identified two host-encoded factors that are key players in this adaptive infection strategy. We present evidence that chromosome segregation protein Spo0J is involved in spore entrapment of the infected phi29 genome. In addition, we demonstrate that Spo0A, the master regulator for initiation of sporulation, suppresses phi29 development by repressing the main early phi29 promoters via different and novel mechanisms and also by preventing activation of the single late phi29 promoter.

Structure of the functional domain of phi29 replication organizer: insights into oligomerization and dna binding

The Bacillus subtilis phage phi29-encoded membrane protein p16.7 is one of the few proteins involved in prokaryotic membrane-associated DNA replication that has been characterized at a functional and biochemical level. In this work we have determined both the solution and crystal structures of its dimeric functional domain, p16.7C. Although the secondary structure of p16.7C is remarkably similar to that of the DNA binding homeodomain, present in proteins belonging to a large family of eukaryotic transcription factors, the tertiary structures of p16.7C and homeodomains are fundamentally different. In fact, p16.7C defines a novel dimeric six-helical fold. We also show that p16.7C can form multimers in solution and that this feature is a key factor for efficient DNA binding. Moreover, a combination of NMR and x-ray approaches, combined with functional analyses of mutants, revealed that multimerization of p16.7C dimers is mediated by a large protein surface that is characterized by a striking self-complementarity. Finally, the structural analyses of the p16.7C dimer and oligomers provide important clues about how protein multimerization and DNA binding are coupled.

Phage phi29 DNA replication organizer membrane protein p16.7 contains a coiled coil and a dimeric, homeodomain-related, functional domain

The Bacillus subtilis phage varphi29-encoded membrane protein p16.7 is one of the few proteins known to be involved in prokaryotic membrane-associated DNA replication. Protein p16.7 contains an N-terminal transmembrane domain responsible for membrane localization. A soluble variant lacking the N-terminal membrane anchor, p16.7A, forms dimers in solution, binds to DNA, and has affinity for the varphi29 terminal protein. Here we show that the soluble N-terminal half of p16.7A can form a dimeric coiled coil. However, a second domain, located in the C-terminal half of the protein, has been characterized as being the main domain responsible for p16.7 dimerization. This 70-residue C-terminal domain, named p16.7C, also constitutes the functional part of the protein as it binds to DNA and terminal protein. Sequence alignments, secondary structure predictions, and spectroscopic analyses suggest that p16.7C is evolutionarily related to DNA binding homeodomains, present in many eukaryotic transcriptional regulator proteins. Based on the results, a structural model of p16.7 is presented.

Enhancement of DNA, cDNA synthesis and fidelity at high temperatures by a dimeric single-stranded DNA-binding protein

Bacterial single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) are required for DNA replication and repair. We have over-expressed and purified the native form and two His-tagged fusions of the SSB from Thermus thermophilus (TthSSB). The three proteins were found as dimers in solution. They bound in vitro to single-stranded DNA specifically over a temperature range of 4-80 degrees C, and the wild-type protein could withstand incubation at 94 degrees C for 2 min. Addition of TthSSB to PCR halved the elongation time required for the DNA polymerases of T.thermophilus (Tth) and Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) to synthesise DNA fragments in PCRs. The presence of TthSSB increased the fidelity of the proof- reading-free DNA polymerase of T.thermophilus. TthSSB was also able to bind single-stranded RNA, allowing a dramatic enhancement of the reverse transcription activity of its cognate Tth DNA polymerase during cDNA synthesis.

Relevance of UP elements for three strong Bacillus subtilis phage phi29 promoters

Various Escherichia coli promoters contain, in addition to the classical -35 and -10 hexamers, a third recognition element, named the UP element. Located upstream of the -35 box, UP elements stimulate promoter activity by forming a docking site for the C-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit (alphaCTD). Accumulating genetic, biochemical and structural information has provided a detailed picture on the molecular mechanism underlying UP element-dependent promoter stimulation in E.coli. However, far less is known about functional UP elements of Bacillus subtilis promoters. Here we analyse the strong early sigma(A)-RNA polymerase-dependent promoters C2, A2c and A2b of the lytic B.subtilis phage phi29. We demonstrate that the phage promoters contain functional UP elements although their contribution to promoter strength is very different. Moreover, we show that the UP element of the A2b promoter, being critical for its activity, is located further upstream of the -35 box than most E.coli UP elements. The importance of the UP elements for the phage promoters and how they relate to other UP elements are discussed.

The integral membrane protein p16.7 organizes in vivo phi29 DNA replication through interaction with both the terminal protein and ssDNA

Remarkably little is known about the in vivo organization of membrane-associated prokaryotic DNA replication or the proteins involved. We have studied this fundamental process using the Bacillus subtilis phage phi29 as a model system. Previously, we demonstrated that the phi29-encoded dimeric integral membrane protein p16.7 binds to ssDNA and is involved in the organization of membrane-associated phi29 DNA replication. Here we demonstrate that p16.7 forms multimers, both in vitro and in vivo, and interacts with the phi29 terminal protein. In addition, we show that in vitro multimerization is enhanced in the presence of ssDNA and that the C-terminal region of p16.7 is required for multimerization but not for ssDNA binding or interaction with the terminal protein. Moreover, we provide evidence that the ability of p16.7 to form multimers is crucial for its ssDNA-binding mode. These and previous results indicate that p16.7 encompasses four distinct modules. An integrated model of the structural and functional domains of p16.7 in relation to the organization of in vivo phi29 DNA replication is presented.

The Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 protein p16.7, involved in phi 29 DNA replication, is a membrane-localized single-stranded DNA-binding protein

The functional role of the phi 29-encoded integral membrane protein p16.7 in phage DNA replication was studied using a soluble variant, p16.7A, lacking the N-terminal membrane-spanning domain. Because of the protein-primed mechanism of DNA replication, the bacteriophage phi 29 replication intermediates contain long stretches of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Protein p16.7A was found to be an ssDNA-binding protein. In addition, by direct and functional analysis we show that protein p16.7A binds to the stretches of ssDNA of the phi 29 DNA replication intermediates. Properties of protein p16.7A were compared with those of the phi 29-encoded single-stranded DNA-binding protein p5. The results obtained show that both proteins have different, non-overlapping functions. The likely role of p16.7 in attaching phi 29 DNA replication intermediates to the membrane of the infected cell is discussed. Homologues of gene 16.7 are present in phi 29-related phages, suggesting that the proposed role of p16.7 is conserved in this family of phages.