Structural basis for effector recognition by an antibacterial type IV secretion system

Many soil-, water-, and plant-associated bacterial species from the orders Xanthomonadales, Burkholderales, and Neisseriales carry a type IV secretion system (T4SS) specialized in translocating effector proteins into other gram-negative species, leading to target cell death. These effectors, known as X-Tfes, carry a carboxyl-terminal domain of ∼120 residues, termed XVIPCD, characterized by several conserved motifs and a glutamine-rich tail. Previous studies showed that the XVIPCD is required for interaction with the T4SS coupling protein VirD4 and for T4SS-dependent translocation. However, the structural basis of the XVIPCD–VirD4 interaction is unknown. Here, we show that the XVIPCD interacts with the central all-alpha domain of VirD4 (VirD4AAD). We used solution NMR spectroscopy to solve the structure of the XVIPCD of X-TfeXAC2609 from Xanthomonas citri and to map its interaction surface with VirD4AAD. Isothermal titration calorimetry and in vivo Xanthomonas citri versus Escherichia coli competition assays using wild-type and mutant X-TfeXAC2609 and X-TfeXAC3634 indicate that XVIPCDs can be divided into two regions with distinct functions: the well-folded N-terminal region contains specific conserved motifs that are responsible for interactions with VirD4AAD, while both N- and carboxyl-terminal regions are required for effective X-Tfe translocation into the target cell. The conformational stability of the N-terminal region is reduced at and below pH 7.0, a property that may facilitate X-Tfe unfolding and translocation through the more acidic environment of the periplasm.

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Identification of ElpA, a Coxiella burnetii Pathotype-Specific Dot/Icm Type IV Secretion System Substrate

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.02855-14 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 83 (3) ◽

pp. 1190-1198 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Joseph G. Graham ◽

Caylin G. Winchell ◽

Uma M. Sharma ◽

Daniel E. Voth

Keyword(s):

Coxiella Burnetii ◽

Q Fever ◽

Parasitophorous Vacuole ◽

Secretion System ◽

Terminal Region ◽

Effector Proteins ◽

Type Iv Secretion ◽

Type Iv Secretion System ◽

Content Type ◽

Type Iv

Coxiella burnetiicauses human Q fever, a zoonotic disease that presents with acute flu-like symptoms and can result in chronic life-threatening endocarditis. In human alveolar macrophages,C. burnetiiuses a Dot/Icm type IV secretion system (T4SS) to generate a phagolysosome-like parasitophorous vacuole (PV) in which to replicate. The T4SS translocates effector proteins, or substrates, into the host cytosol, where they mediate critical cellular events, including interaction with autophagosomes, PV formation, and prevention of apoptosis. Over 100C. burnetiiDot/Icm substrates have been identified, but the function of most remains undefined. Here, we identified a novel Dot/Icm substrate-encoding open reading frame (CbuD1884) present in allC. burnetiiisolates except the Nine Mile reference isolate, where the gene is disrupted by a frameshift mutation, resulting in a pseudogene. The CbuD1884 protein contains two transmembrane helices (TMHs) and a coiled-coil domain predicted to mediate protein-protein interactions. The C-terminal region of the protein contains a predicted Dot/Icm translocation signal and was secreted by the T4SS, while the N-terminal portion of the protein was not secreted. When ectopically expressed in eukaryotic cells, the TMH-containing N-terminal region of the CbuD1884 protein trafficked to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with the C terminus dispersed nonspecifically in the host cytoplasm. This new Dot/Icm substrate is now termed ElpA (ER-localizingproteinA). Full-length ElpA triggered substantial disruption of ER structure and host cell secretory transport. These results suggest that ElpA is a pathotype-specific T4SS effector that influences ER function duringC. burnetiiinfection.

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Bactericidal Type IV Secretion System Homeostasis in Xanthomonas citri

10.1101/647685 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

William Cenens ◽

Maxuel O. Andrade ◽

Chuck S. Farah

Keyword(s):

Cell Envelope ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Secretion System ◽

Type Iv Secretion ◽

Type Iv Secretion System ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Global Regulator ◽

Xanthomonas Citri ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Type Iv

AbstractSeveral Xanthomonas species have a type IV secretion system (T4SS) that injects a cocktail of antibacterial proteins into neighbouring Gram-negative bacteria, often leading to rapid lysis upon cell contact. This capability represents an obvious fitness benefit since it can eliminate competition while the liberated contents of the lysed bacteria could provide an increase in the local availability of nutrients. However, the production of this Mega Dalton-sized T4SS, with over a hundred subunits, also imposes a significant metabolic cost. Here we show that the chromosomal virB operon, which encodes the entirety of structural genes of the T4SS in X. citri, is regulated by the global regulator CsrA. Relieving CsrA repression from the virB operon produced a greater number of T4SSs in the cell envelope and an increased efficiency in contact dependent lysis of target cells. However, this was also accompanied by a physiological cost leading to reduced fitness when in co-culture with wild-type X. citri. We show that T4SS production is constitutive despite being downregulated by CsrA. Cells subjected to a wide range of rich and poor growth conditions maintain a constant density of T4SSs in the cell envelope and concomitant interbacterial competitiveness. These results show that CsrA provides a constant though partial repression on the virB operon, independent of the tested growth conditions, in this way controlling T4SS-related costs while at the same time maintaining X. citri’s aggressive posture when confronted by competitors.Author SummaryXanthomonas citri is a member of a family of phytopathogenic bacteria that can cause substantial losses in crops. At different stages of the infection cycle, these cells will encounter other bacterial species with whom they will have to compete for space and nutrients. One mechanism which improves a cell’s chance to survive these encounters is a type IV secretion system that transfers a cocktail of antimicrobial effector proteins into other Gram-negative bacteria in a contact-dependent manner. Here, we show that this system is constitutively produced at a low basal level, even during low nutrient conditions, despite representing a significant metabolic burden to the cell. The conserved global regulator, CsrA, provides a constant, nutrient-independent, repression on the production T4SS components, thereby holding production costs to a minimum while at the same time ensuring X. citri’s competitiveness during encounters with bacterial rivals.

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