scholarly journals An angular motion of a conserved four-helix bundle facilitates alternating access transport in the TtNapA and EcNhaA transporters

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (50) ◽  
pp. 31850-31860
Author(s):  
Gal Masrati ◽  
Ramakanta Mondal ◽  
Abraham Rimon ◽  
Amit Kessel ◽  
Etana Padan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Conformational Change ◽  
Thermus Thermophilus ◽  
Angular Motion ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Conformational Sampling ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Helix Bundle ◽  
Bias Potential ◽  
Alternating Access

There is ongoing debate regarding the mechanism through which cation/proton antiporters (CPAs), like Thermus thermophilus NapA (TtNapA) and Escherichia coli NapA (EcNhaA), alternate between their outward- and inward-facing conformations in the membrane. CPAs comprise two domains, and it is unclear whether the transition is driven by their rocking-bundle or elevator motion with respect to each other. Here we address this question using metadynamics simulations of TtNapA, where we bias conformational sampling along two axes characterizing the two proposed mechanisms: angular and translational motions, respectively. By applying the bias potential for the two axes simultaneously, as well as to the angular, but not the translational, axis alone, we manage to reproduce each of the two known states of TtNapA when starting from the opposite state, in support of the rocking-bundle mechanism as the driver of conformational change. Next, starting from the inward-facing conformation of EcNhaA, we sample what could be its long-sought-after outward-facing conformation and verify it using cross-linking experiments.

scholarly journals Identification of the l,d-Transpeptidases Responsible for Attachment of the Braun Lipoprotein to Escherichia coli Peptidoglycan

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (10) ◽  
pp. 3927-3931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Magnet ◽  
Samuel Bellais ◽  
Lionel Dubost ◽  
Martine Fourgeaud ◽  
Jean-Luc Mainardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Resistant Mutant ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Acyl Acceptors

ABSTRACT The l,d-transpeptidase Ldtfm catalyzes peptidoglycan cross-linking in β-lactam-resistant mutant strains of Enterococcus faecium. Here, we show that in Escherichia coli Ldtfm homologues are responsible for the attachment of the Braun lipoprotein to murein, indicating that evolutionarily related domains have been tailored to use muropeptides or proteins as acyl acceptors in the l,d-transpeptidation reaction.

scholarly journals Structural basis for the alternating access mechanism of the cation diffusion facilitator YiiP

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (12) ◽  
pp. 3042-3047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luisa Lopez-Redondo ◽  
Nicolas Coudray ◽  
Zhening Zhang ◽  
John Alexopoulos ◽  
David L. Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Membrane Domains ◽  
Cation Diffusion ◽  
Cation Diffusion Facilitator ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Bacterial Membranes ◽  
Helix Bundle ◽  
Four Helix Bundle ◽  
Alternating Access

YiiP is a dimeric antiporter from the cation diffusion facilitator family that uses the proton motive force to transport Zn2+ across bacterial membranes. Previous work defined the atomic structure of an outward-facing conformation, the location of several Zn2+ binding sites, and hydrophobic residues that appear to control access to the transport sites from the cytoplasm. A low-resolution cryo-EM structure revealed changes within the membrane domain that were associated with the alternating access mechanism for transport. In the current work, the resolution of this cryo-EM structure has been extended to 4.1 Å. Comparison with the X-ray structure defines the differences between inward-facing and outward-facing conformations at an atomic level. These differences include rocking and twisting of a four-helix bundle that harbors the Zn2+ transport site and controls its accessibility within each monomer. As previously noted, membrane domains are closely associated in the dimeric structure from cryo-EM but dramatically splayed apart in the X-ray structure. Cysteine crosslinking was used to constrain these membrane domains and to show that this large-scale splaying was not necessary for transport activity. Furthermore, dimer stability was not compromised by mutagenesis of elements in the cytoplasmic domain, suggesting that the extensive interface between membrane domains is a strong determinant of dimerization. As with other secondary transporters, this interface could provide a stable scaffold for movements of the four-helix bundle that confers alternating access of these ions to opposite sides of the membrane.

Preliminary NMR studies of Thermus thermophilus ribosomal protein S19 overproduced in Escherichia coli

FEBS Letters ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 415 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia L Davydova ◽  
Alexey V Rak ◽  
Olga I Gryaznova ◽  
Anders Liljas ◽  
Bengt-Harald Jonsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Ribosomal Protein ◽  
Thermus Thermophilus ◽  
Nmr Studies ◽  
Ribosomal Protein S19

scholarly journals Site-Directed Cross-Linking Identifies the Stator-Rotor Interaction Surfaces in a Hybrid Bacterial Flagellar Motor

2021 ◽  
Vol 203 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Terashima ◽  
Seiji Kojima ◽  
Michio Homma
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Physical Interaction ◽  
Flagellar Motor ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bacterial Flagellum ◽  
Cross Links ◽  
Bacterial Flagellar Motor ◽  
Rotary Motor

ABSTRACT The bacterial flagellum is the motility organelle powered by a rotary motor. The rotor and stator elements of the motor are located in the cytoplasmic membrane and cytoplasm. The stator units assemble around the rotor, and an ion flux (typically H+ or Na+) conducted through a channel of the stator induces conformational changes that generate rotor torque. Electrostatic interactions between the stator protein PomA in Vibrio (MotA in Escherichia coli) and the rotor protein FliG have been shown by genetic analyses but have not been demonstrated biochemically. Here, we used site-directed photo-cross-linking and disulfide cross-linking to provide direct evidence for the interaction. We introduced a UV-reactive amino acid, p-benzoyl-l-phenylalanine (pBPA), into the cytoplasmic region of PomA or the C-terminal region of FliG in intact cells. After UV irradiation, pBPA inserted at a number of positions in PomA and formed a cross-link with FliG. PomA residue K89 gave the highest yield of cross-links, suggesting that it is the PomA residue nearest to FliG. UV-induced cross-linking stopped motor rotation, and the isolated hook-basal body contained the cross-linked products. pBPA inserted to replace residue R281 or D288 in FliG formed cross-links with the Escherichia coli stator protein, MotA. A cysteine residue introduced in place of PomA K89 formed disulfide cross-links with cysteine inserted in place of FliG residues R281 and D288 and some other flanking positions. These results provide the first demonstration of direct physical interaction between specific residues in FliG and PomA/MotA. IMPORTANCE The bacterial flagellum is a unique organelle that functions as a rotary motor. The interaction between the stator and rotor is indispensable for stator assembly into the motor and the generation of motor torque. However, the interface of the stator-rotor interaction has only been defined by mutational analysis. Here, we detected the stator-rotor interaction using site-directed photo-cross-linking and disulfide cross-linking approaches. We identified several residues in the PomA stator, especially K89, that are in close proximity to the rotor. Moreover, we identified several pairs of stator and rotor residues that interact. This study directly demonstrates the nature of the stator-rotor interaction and suggests how stator units assemble around the rotor and generate torque in the bacterial flagellar motor.

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