scholarly journals Structural insights into phosphatidylethanolamine formation in bacterial membrane biogenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gyuhyeok Cho ◽  
Eunju Lee ◽  
Jungwook Kim
Keyword(s):  
Schiff Base ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Cellular Membrane ◽  
Fatty Acyl ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Acyl Chains ◽  
Structural Insights

AbstractPhosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a major component of the cellular membrane across all domains of life, is synthesized exclusively by membrane-anchored phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (PSD) in most bacteria. The enzyme undergoes auto-cleavage for activation and utilizes the pyruvoyl moiety to form a Schiff base intermediate with PS to facilitate decarboxylation. However, the structural basis for self-maturation, PS binding, and decarboxylation processes directed by PSD remain unclear. Here, we present X-ray crystal structures of PSD from Escherichia coli, representing an apo form and a PE-bound complex, in which the phospholipid is chemically conjugated to the essential pyruvoyl residue, mimicking the Schiff base intermediate. The high-resolution structures of PE-complexed PSD clearly illustrate extensive hydrophobic interactions with the fatty acyl chains of the phospholipid, providing insights into the broad specificity of the enzyme over a wide range of cellular PS. Furthermore, these structures strongly advocate the unique topology of the enzyme in a lipid bilayer environment, where the enzyme associates with cell membranes in a monotopic fashion via the N-terminal domain composed of three amphipathic helices. Lastly, mutagenesis analyses reveal that E. coli PSD primarily employs D90/D142–H144–S254 to achieve auto-cleavage for the proenzyme maturation, where D90 and D142 act in complementary to each other.

scholarly journals Acyltransferase-mediated selection of the length of the fatty acyl chain and of the acylation site governs activation of bacterial RTX toxins

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (28) ◽  
pp. 9268-9280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Osickova ◽  
Humaira Khaliq ◽  
Jiri Masin ◽  
David Jurnecka ◽  
Anna Sukova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Fatty Acyl ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Fatty Acyl Chain ◽  
Acyl Carrier Proteins ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Rtx Toxins ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Lysine Residues ◽  
Acyl Chains

In a wide range of organisms, from bacteria to humans, numerous proteins have to be posttranslationally acylated to become biologically active. Bacterial repeats in toxin (RTX) cytolysins form a prominent group of proteins that are synthesized as inactive protoxins and undergo posttranslational acylation on ε-amino groups of two internal conserved lysine residues by co-expressed toxin-activating acyltransferases. Here, we investigated how the chemical nature, position, and number of bound acyl chains govern the activities of Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA), Escherichia coli α-hemolysin (HlyA), and Kingella kingae cytotoxin (RtxA). We found that the three protoxins are acylated in the same E. coli cell background by each of the CyaC, HlyC, and RtxC acyltransferases. We also noted that the acyltransferase selects from the bacterial pool of acyl–acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) an acyl chain of a specific length for covalent linkage to the protoxin. The acyltransferase also selects whether both or only one of two conserved lysine residues of the protoxin will be posttranslationally acylated. Functional assays revealed that RtxA has to be modified by 14-carbon fatty acyl chains to be biologically active, that HlyA remains active also when modified by 16-carbon acyl chains, and that CyaA is activated exclusively by 16-carbon acyl chains. These results suggest that the RTX toxin molecules are structurally adapted to the length of the acyl chains used for modification of their acylated lysine residue in the second, more conserved acylation site.

scholarly journals Structural Characterization of an ACP from Thermotoga maritima: Insights into Hyperthermal Adaptation

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeongjoon Lee ◽  
Ahjin Jang ◽  
Min-Cheol Jeong ◽  
Nuri Park ◽  
Jungwoo Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Acyl Carrier Protein ◽  
Thermotoga Maritima ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Amide Proton ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Aqueous Environments ◽  
Hydrogen Deuterium ◽  
Acyl Chains

Thermotoga maritima, a deep-branching hyperthermophilic bacterium, expresses an extraordinarily stable Thermotoga maritima acyl carrier protein (Tm-ACP) that functions as a carrier in the fatty acid synthesis system at near-boiling aqueous environments. Here, to understand the hyperthermal adaptation of Tm-ACP, we investigated the structure and dynamics of Tm-ACP by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The melting temperature of Tm-ACP (101.4 °C) far exceeds that of other ACPs, owing to extensive ionic interactions and tight hydrophobic packing. The D59 residue, which replaces Pro/Ser of other ACPs, mediates ionic clustering between helices III and IV. This creates a wide pocket entrance to facilitate the accommodation of long acyl chains required for hyperthermal adaptation of the T. maritima cell membrane. Tm-ACP is revealed to be the first ACP that harbor an amide proton hyperprotected against hydrogen/deuterium exchange for I15. The hydrophobic interactions mediated by I15 appear to be the key driving forces of the global folding process of Tm-ACP. Our findings provide insights into the structural basis of the hyperthermal adaptation of ACP, which might have allowed T. maritima to survive in hot ancient oceans.

Crystal structure of bacterial cyclopropane-fatty-acyl-phospholipid synthase with phospholipid

2019 ◽  
Vol 166 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulong Ma ◽  
Chunli Pan ◽  
Qihai Wang
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Cyclopropane Ring ◽  
Fatty Acyl ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Cyclopropane Fatty Acid ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
General Base ◽  
Acyl Chains ◽  
Methylene Group

AbstractThe lipids containing cyclopropane-fatty-acid (CFA) protect bacteria from adverse conditions such as acidity, freeze-drying desiccation and exposure to pollutants. CFA is synthesized when cyclopropane-fatty-acyl-phospholipid synthase (CFA synthase, CFAS) transfers a methylene group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) across the cis double bonds of unsaturated fatty acyl chains. Here, we reported a 2.7-Å crystal structure of CFAS from Lactobacillus acidophilus. The enzyme is composed of N- and C-terminal domain, which belong to the sterol carrier protein and methyltransferase superfamily, respectively. A phospholipid in the substrate binding site and a bicarbonate ion (BCI) acting as a general base in the active site were discovered. To elucidate the mechanism, a docking experiment using CFAS from L. acidophilus and SAM was carried out. The analysis of this structure demonstrated that three groups, the carbons from the substrate, the BCI and the methyl of S(CHn)3 group, were close enough to form a cyclopropane ring with the help of amino acids in the active site. Therefore, the structure supports the hypothesis that CFAS from L. acidophilus catalyzes methyl transfer via a carbocation mechanism. These findings provide a structural basis to more deeply understand enzymatic cyclopropanation.

3D-QSAR, Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Studies on Quinazoline Derivatives as PAK4 Inhibitors

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Zhong Chen ◽  
Dai Chen ◽  
Yan Shen ◽  
Juan Wang ◽  
Yong Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
3D Qsar ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
High Biological Activity ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Background: The p21-activated kinases 4 (PAK4) refer to a promising target for cancer treatment. Currently, a wide range of PAK4 inhibitors has been reported. Objective: To study the structural requirements of quinoline derivatives as PAK4 inhibitors and design novel PAK4 inhibitors. Method: In the present study, a set of quinazoline PAK4 inhibitors underwent CoMFA, CoMSIA, molecular docking, as well as molecular dynamics simulations. Results: The built CoMFA (q2=0.792, r2=0.994, r2pred =0.74) and CoMSIA (q2=0.873, r2=0.994, r2pred=0.81) models exhibited high robustness and prominent predicting ability. As revealed from the results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions primarily impact the affinity of PAK4 inhibitors, and Leu398 acts as an amino acid that leads to significant stabilization of the mentioned inhibitors. Moreover, the present study developed five novel molecules exhibiting high biological activity predicted and satisfactory ADME properties. Conclusion: The structural basis of PAK4 with respect to the activities of its inhibitors was revealed, which may be conducive to designing novel PAK4 inhibitors.

scholarly journals Proton conductance and fatty acyl composition of liver mitochondria correlates with body mass in birds

2003 ◽  
Vol 376 (3) ◽  
pp. 741-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin D. BRAND ◽  
Nigel TURNER ◽  
Augustine OCLOO ◽  
Paul L. ELSE ◽  
A. J. HULBERT
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Respiratory Control ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Fatty Acyl ◽  
Proton Conductance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mammalian Liver ◽  
Acyl Chains ◽  
Mass In G

The proton conductance of isolated liver mitochondria correlates significantly with body mass in mammals, but not in ectotherms. To establish whether the correlation in mammals is general for endotherms or mammal-specific, we measured proton conductance in mitochondria from birds, the other main group of endotherms, using birds varying in mass over a wide range (nearly 3000-fold), from 13 g zebra finches to 35 kg emus. Respiratory control ratios were higher in mitochondria from larger birds. Mitochondrial proton conductance in liver mitochondria from birds correlated strongly with body mass [respiration rate per mg of protein driving proton leak at 170 mV being 44.7 times (body mass in g)−0.19], thus suggesting a general relationship between body mass and proton conductance in endotherms. Mitochondria from larger birds had the same or perhaps greater surface area per mg of protein than mitochondria from smaller birds. Hence, the lower proton conductance was caused not by surface area changes but by some change in the properties of the inner membrane. Liver mitochondria from larger birds had phospholipid fatty acyl chains that were less polyunsaturated and more monounsaturated when compared with those from smaller birds. Phospholipid fatty acyl polyunsaturation correlated positively and monounsaturation correlated negatively with proton conductance. These correlations echo those seen in mammalian liver mitochondria, suggesting that they too are general for endotherms.

Small Molecule Permeation Across Membrane Channels: Chemical Modification to Quantify Transport Across OmpF

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiajun Wang ◽  
Jayesh Arun Bafna ◽  
Satya Prathyusha Bhamidimarri ◽  
Mathias Winterhalter
Keyword(s):  
Dwell Time ◽  
Covalent Binding ◽  
Channel Structure ◽  
Ion Current ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Current Fluctuation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Outer Membrane Channel ◽  
Biological Channels ◽  
Constriction Region

Biological channels facilitate the exchange of small molecules across membranes, but surprisingly there is a lack of general tools for the identification and quantification of transport (i.e., translocation and binding). Analyzing the ion current fluctuation of a typical channel with its constriction region in the middle does not allow a direct conclusion on successful transport. For this, we created an additional barrier acting as a molecular counter at the exit of the channel. To identify permeation, we mainly read the molecule residence time in the channel lumen as the indicator whether the molecule reached the exit of the channel. As an example, here we use the well-studied porin, OmpF, an outer membrane channel from <i>E. coli</i>. Inspection of the channel structure suggests that aspartic acid at position 181 is located below the constriction region (CR) and we subsequently mutated this residue to cysteine, where else cysteine free and functionalized it by covalent binding with 2-sulfonatoethyl methanethiosulfonate (MTSES) or the larger glutathione (GLT) blockers. Using the dwell time as the signal for transport, we found that both mono-arginine and tri-arginine permeation process is prolonged by 20% and 50% respectively through OmpF<sub>E181C</sub>MTSES, while the larger sized blocker modification OmpF<sub>E181C</sub>GLT drastically decreased the permeation of mono-arginine by 9-fold and even blocked the pathway of the tri-arginine. In case of the hepta-arginine as substrate, both chemical modifications led to an identical ‘blocked’ pattern observed by the dwell time of ion current fluctuation of the OmpF<sub>wt</sub>. As an instance for antibiotic permeation, we analyzed norfloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent. The modulation of the interaction dwell time suggests possible successful permeation of norfloxacin across OmpF<sub>wt</sub>. This approach may discriminate blockages from translocation events for a wide range of substrates. A potential application could be screening for scaffolds to improve the permeability of antibiotics.

An Improved Membrane Filtration Method for Enumeration of Faecal Coliforms and E. Coli by a Fluorogenic β-Glucuronidase Assay

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 267-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Augoustinos ◽  
N. A. Grabow ◽  
B. Genthe ◽  
R. Kfir
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Faecal Coliforms ◽  
Environmental Waters ◽  
Filtration Method ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Pure Cultures ◽  
Glucuronidase Assay

A fluorogenic β-glucuronidase assay comprising membrane filtration followed by selective enumeration on m-FC agar at 44.5°C and further confirmation using tlie 4-metliylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucuronide (MUG) containing medium was evaluated for the detection of Escherichia coli in water. A total of 200 typical blue and non-typical blue colonies were isolated from sea and fresh water samples using initial selective enumeration on m-FC agar. Pure cultures of the selected colonies were further tested using the MUG assay and identified using the API 20E method. Of the colonies tested which were shown to be positive using the MUG assay 99.4% were Escherichia coli. The results of this study indicate the combination of the m-FC method followed by the MUG assay to be highly efficient for the selection and confirmation of E. coli from a wide range of environmental waters.

scholarly journals In Vitro Cellular Uptake Studies of Self-Assembled Fluorinated Nanoparticles Labelled with Antibodies

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1906
Author(s):  
Mona Atabakhshi-Kashi ◽  
Mónica Carril ◽  
Hossein Mahdavi ◽  
Wolfgang J. Parak ◽  
Carolina Carrillo-Carrion ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Cellular Uptake ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Intrinsic Properties ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Self Assembled ◽  
Uptake Studies ◽  
Targeting Ability ◽  
Fluorinated Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with antibodies (Abs) on their surface are used in a wide range of bioapplications. Whereas the attachment of antibodies to single NPs to trigger the internalization in cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis has been widely studied, the conjugation of antibodies to larger NP assemblies has been much less explored. Taking into account that NP assemblies may be advantageous for some specific applications, the possibility of incorporating targeting ligands is quite important. Herein, we performed the effective conjugation of antibodies onto a fluorescent NP assembly, which consisted of fluorinated Quantum Dots (QD) self-assembled through fluorine–fluorine hydrophobic interactions. Cellular uptake studies by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry revealed that the NP assembly underwent the same uptake procedure as individual NPs; that is, the antibodies retained their targeting ability once attached to the nanoassembly, and the NP assembly preserved its intrinsic properties (i.e., fluorescence in the case of QD nanoassembly).

scholarly journals The Fennoscandian Shield deep terrestrial virosphere suggests slow motion ‘boom and burst’ cycles

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Holmfeldt ◽  
Emelie Nilsson ◽  
Domenico Simone ◽  
Margarita Lopez-Fernandez ◽  
Xiaofen Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Production ◽  
Nutrient Recycling ◽  
Slow Motion ◽  
Deep Biosphere ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Microbial Turnover ◽  
Rna Transcript ◽  
Viral Isolates ◽  
Antagonistic Interactions

AbstractThe deep biosphere contains members from all three domains of life along with viruses. Here we investigate the deep terrestrial virosphere by sequencing community nucleic acids from three groundwaters of contrasting chemistries, origins, and ages. These viromes constitute a highly unique community compared to other environmental viromes and sequenced viral isolates. Viral host prediction suggests that many of the viruses are associated with Firmicutes and Patescibacteria, a superphylum lacking previously described active viruses. RNA transcript-based activity implies viral predation in the shallower marine water-fed groundwater, while the deeper and more oligotrophic waters appear to be in ‘metabolic standby’. Viral encoded antibiotic production and resistance systems suggest competition and antagonistic interactions. The data demonstrate a viral community with a wide range of predicted hosts that mediates nutrient recycling to support a higher microbial turnover than previously anticipated. This suggests the presence of ‘kill-the-winner’ oscillations creating slow motion ‘boom and burst’ cycles.

scholarly journals Granulibacter bethesdensis, a Pathogen from Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease, Produces a Penta-Acylated Hypostimulatory Glycero-d-talo-oct-2-ulosonic Acid–Lipid A Glycolipid (Ko-Lipid A)

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3303
Author(s):  
Artur Muszyński ◽  
Kol A. Zarember ◽  
Christian Heiss ◽  
Joseph Shiloach ◽  
Lars J. Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Granulomatous Disease ◽  
Human Blood ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Acid Resistance ◽  
Strong Acid ◽  
Granulomatous Disease ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Phagocyte Nadph Oxidase ◽  
Acyl Chains ◽  
Ulosonic Acid

Granulibacter bethesdensis can infect patients with chronic granulomatous disease, an immunodeficiency caused by reduced phagocyte NADPH oxidase function. Intact G. bethesdensis (Gb) is hypostimulatory compared to Escherichia coli, i.e., cytokine production in human blood requires 10–100 times more G. bethesdensis CFU/mL than E. coli. To better understand the pathogenicity of G. bethesdensis, we isolated its lipopolysaccharide (GbLPS) and characterized its lipid A. Unlike with typical Enterobacteriaceae, the release of presumptive Gb lipid A from its LPS required a strong acid. NMR and mass spectrometry demonstrated that the carbohydrate portion of the isolated glycolipid consists of α-Manp-(1→4)-β-GlcpN3N-(1→6)-α-GlcpN-(1⇿1)-α-GlcpA tetra-saccharide substituted with five acyl chains: the amide-linked N-3′ 14:0(3-OH), N-2′ 16:0(3-O16:0), and N-2 18:0(3-OH) and the ester-linked O-3 14:0(3-OH) and 16:0. The identification of glycero-d-talo-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Ko) as the first constituent of the core region of the LPS that is covalently attached to GlcpN3N of the lipid backbone may account for the acid resistance of GbLPS. In addition, the presence of Ko and only five acyl chains may explain the >10-fold lower proinflammatory potency of GbKo–lipidA compared to E. coli lipid A, as measured by cytokine induction in human blood. These unusual structural properties of the G.bethesdensis Ko–lipid A glycolipid likely contribute to immune evasion during pathogenesis and resistance to antimicrobial peptides.

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