scholarly journals Sortase-assembled pili in Corynebacterium diphtheriae are built using a latch mechanism

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (12) ◽  
pp. e2019649118
Author(s):  
Scott A. McConnell ◽  
Rachel A. McAllister ◽  
Brendan R. Amer ◽  
Brendan J. Mahoney ◽  
Christopher K. Sue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solution Structure ◽  
Corynebacterium Diphtheriae ◽  
Crosslinking Reaction ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Kinetic Measurements ◽  
Sorting Signal ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Isopeptide Bond ◽  
Assembly Mechanism ◽  
Binding Groove

Gram-positive bacteria assemble pili (fimbriae) on their surfaces to adhere to host tissues and to promote polymicrobial interactions. These hair-like structures, although very thin (1 to 5 nm), exhibit impressive tensile strengths because their protein components (pilins) are covalently crosslinked together via lysine–isopeptide bonds by pilus-specific sortase enzymes. While atomic structures of isolated pilins have been determined, how they are joined together by sortases and how these interpilin crosslinks stabilize pilus structure are poorly understood. Using a reconstituted pilus assembly system and hybrid structural biology methods, we elucidated the solution structure and dynamics of the crosslinked interface that is repeated to build the prototypical SpaA pilus from Corynebacterium diphtheriae. We show that sortase-catalyzed introduction of a K190-T494 isopeptide bond between adjacent SpaA pilins causes them to form a rigid interface in which the LPLTG sorting signal is inserted into a large binding groove. Cellular and quantitative kinetic measurements of the crosslinking reaction shed light onto the mechanism of pilus biogenesis. We propose that the pilus-specific sortase in C. diphtheriae uses a latch mechanism to select K190 on SpaA for crosslinking in which the sorting signal is partially transferred from the enzyme to a binding groove in SpaA in order to facilitate catalysis. This process is facilitated by a conserved loop in SpaA, which after crosslinking forms a stabilizing latch that covers the K190-T494 isopeptide bond. General features of the structure and sortase-catalyzed assembly mechanism of the SpaA pilus are likely conserved in Gram-positive bacteria.

scholarly journals Molecular Strategy for Blocking Isopeptide Bond Formation in Nascent Pilin Proteins

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Andrés Rivas-Pardo ◽  
Carmen L. Badilla ◽  
Rafael Tapia-Rojo ◽  
Álvaro Alonso-Caballero ◽  
Julio M. Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Adhesion ◽  
Oxygen Radicals ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Isopeptide Bond ◽  
Isopeptide Bonds ◽  
Single Polypeptide

ABSTRACTBacteria anchor to their host cells through their adhesive pili, which must resist the large mechanical stresses induced by the host as it attempts to dislodge the pathogens. The pili of Gram-positive bacteria are constructed as a single polypeptide made of hundreds of pilin repeats, which contain intramolecular isopeptide bonds strategically located in the structure to prevent their unfolding under force, protecting the pilus from degradation by extant proteases and oxygen radicals. Here, we demonstrate the design of a short peptide that blocks the formation of the isopeptide bond present in the pilin Spy0128 from the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, resulting in mechanically labile pilin domains. We use a combination of protein engineering and AFM force spectroscopy to demonstrate that the peptide blocks the formation of the native isopeptide bond and compromises the mechanics of the domain. While an intact Spy0128 is inextensible at any force, peptide-modified Spy0128 pilins readily unfold at very low forces, marking the abrogation of the intramolecular isopeptide bond as well as the absence of a stable pilin fold. We propose that isopeptide-blocking peptides could be further developed as a novel type of highly-specific anti-adhesive antibiotics to treat Gram-positive pathogens.SignificanceAt the onset of an infection, Gram-positive bacteria adhere to host cells through their pili, filamentous structures built by hundreds of repeats of pilin proteins. These proteins can withstand large mechanical challenges without unfolding, remaining anchored to the host and resisting cleavage by proteases and oxygen radicals present in the targeted tissues. The key structural component that gives pilins mechanical resilience are internal isopeptide bonds, strategically placed so that pilins become inextensible structures. We target this bond by designing a blocking peptide that interferes with its formation during folding. We demonstrate that peptide-modified pilins lack mechanical stability and extend at low forces. We propose this strategy as a rational design of mechanical antibiotics, targeting the Achilles’ Heel of bacterial adhesion.

scholarly journals Crystal Structure of DsbA from Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Its Functional Implications for CueP in Gram-Positive Bacteria

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 715-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si-Hyeon Um ◽  
Jin-Sik Kim ◽  
Saemee Song ◽  
Nam Ah Kim ◽  
Seong Hoon Jeong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Corynebacterium Diphtheriae ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Functional Implications

scholarly journals Molecular strategy for blocking isopeptide bond formation in nascent pilin proteins

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (37) ◽  
pp. 9222-9227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Andrés Rivas-Pardo ◽  
Carmen L. Badilla ◽  
Rafael Tapia-Rojo ◽  
Álvaro Alonso-Caballero ◽  
Julio M. Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Bond Formation ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Isopeptide Bond ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Isopeptide Bonds ◽  
Single Polypeptide

Bacteria anchor to their host cells through their adhesive pili, which must resist the large mechanical stresses induced by the host as it attempts to dislodge the pathogens. The pili of gram-positive bacteria are constructed as a single polypeptide made of hundreds of pilin repeats, which contain intramolecular isopeptide bonds strategically located in the structure to prevent their unfolding under force, protecting the pilus from degradation by extant proteases and oxygen radicals. Here, we demonstrate the design of a short peptide that blocks the formation of the isopeptide bond present in the pilin Spy0128 from the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, resulting in mechanically labile pilin domains. We use a combination of protein engineering and atomic-force microscopy force spectroscopy to demonstrate that the peptide blocks the formation of the native isopeptide bond and compromises the mechanics of the domain. While an intact Spy0128 is inextensible at any force, peptide-modified Spy0128 pilins readily unfold at very low forces, marking the abrogation of the intramolecular isopeptide bond as well as the absence of a stable pilin fold. We propose that isopeptide-blocking peptides could be further developed as a type of highly specific antiadhesive antibiotics to treat gram-positive pathogens.

NMR Solution Structure, Backbone Mobility, and Homology Modeling ofc-Type Cytochromes from Gram-Positive Bacteria

ChemBioChem ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Banci ◽  
Ivano Bertini ◽  
Stefano Ciurli ◽  
Alexander Dikiy ◽  
Jens Dittmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Homology Modeling ◽  
Solution Structure ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Nmr Solution Structure ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria

Influence of Cell Wall Composition on the Fossilisation of Bacteria and the Implications for the Search for Early Life Forms

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 491-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Westall
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Cation Binding ◽  
Positive Bacterium ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Hydrothermal Sediments ◽  
Identification Of Bacteria ◽  
The Difference

AbstractThe oldest cell-like structures on Earth are preserved in silicified lagoonal, shallow sea or hydrothermal sediments, such as some Archean formations in Western Australia and South Africa. Previous studies concentrated on the search for organic fossils in Archean rocks. Observations of silicified bacteria (as silica minerals) are scarce for both the Precambrian and the Phanerozoic, but reports of mineral bacteria finds, in general, are increasing. The problems associated with the identification of authentic fossil bacteria and, if possible, closer identification of bacteria type can, in part, be overcome by experimental fossilisation studies. These have shown that not all bacteria fossilise in the same way and, indeed, some seem to be very resistent to fossilisation. This paper deals with a transmission electron microscope investigation of the silicification of four species of bacteria commonly found in the environment. The Gram positiveBacillus laterosporusand its spore produced a robust, durable crust upon silicification, whereas the Gram negativePseudomonas fluorescens, Ps. vesicularis, andPs. acidovoranspresented delicately preserved walls. The greater amount of peptidoglycan, containing abundant metal cation binding sites, in the cell wall of the Gram positive bacterium, probably accounts for the difference in the mode of fossilisation. The Gram positive bacteria are, therefore, probably most likely to be preserved in the terrestrial and extraterrestrial rock record.

Microanatomy of the Periplasm of Bacillus Licheniformis

1971 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 262-263
Author(s):  
B.K. Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Bacillus Licheniformis ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Periplasmic Space ◽  
Modified Technique ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria

Periplasm of bacteria is the space outside the permeability barrier of plasma membrane but enclosed by the cell wall. The contents of this special milieu exterior could be regulated by the plasma membrane from the internal, and by the cell wall from the external environment of the cell. Unlike the gram-negative organism, the presence of this space in gram-positive bacteria is still controversial because it cannot be clearly demonstrated. We have shown the importance of some periplasmic bodies in the secretion of penicillinase from Bacillus licheniformis.In negatively stained specimens prepared by a modified technique (Figs. 1 and 2), periplasmic space (PS) contained two kinds of structures: (i) fibrils (F, 100 Å) running perpendicular to the cell wall from the protoplast and (ii) an array of vesicles of various sizes (V), which seem to have evaginated from the protoplast.

Rapid demonstration of septic or infectious arthritis due to Gram-negative bacteria

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 686-687
Author(s):  
Jacob S. Hanker ◽  
Paul R. Gross ◽  
Beverly L. Giammara
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Arthritis ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Infectious Arthritis ◽  
Bacterial Arthritis ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria

Blood cultures are positive in approximately only 50 per cent of the patients with nongonococcal bacterial infectious arthritis and about 20 per cent of those with gonococcal arthritis. But the concept that gram-negative bacteria could be involved even in chronic arthritis is well-supported. Gram stains are more definitive in staphylococcal arthritis caused by gram-positive bacteria than in bacterial arthritis due to gram-negative bacteria. In the latter situation where gram-negative bacilli are the problem, Gram stains are helpful for 50% of the patients; they are only helpful for 25% of the patients, however, where gram-negative gonococci are the problem. In arthritis due to gram-positive Staphylococci. Gramstained smears are positive for 75% of the patients.

Antibacterial activity of magnesium oxide nanoparticles prepared by Calcination method

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaf Ayad Kadhem ◽  
Miaad Hamzah Zghair ◽  
Sarah , Hussam H. Tizkam, Shoeb Alahmad Salih Mahdi ◽  
Hussam H. Tizkam ◽  
Shoeb Alahmad
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Magnesium Oxide ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Agar Disc

magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) were prepared by simple wet chemical method using different calcination temperatures. The prepared NPs were characterized by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). It demonstrates sharp intensive peak with the increase of crystallinty and increase of the size with varying morphologies with respect to increase of calcination temperature. Antibacterial studies were done on gram negative bacteria (E.coli) and gram positive bacteria (S.aureus) by agar disc diffusion method. The zones of inhibitions were found larger for gram positive bacteria than gram negative bacteria, this mean, antibacterial MgO NPs activity more active on gram positive bacteria than gram negative bacteria because of the structural differences. It was found that antibacterial activity of MgO NPs was found it has directly proportional with their concentration.

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