scholarly journals Ferric uptake regulator (Fur) reversibly binds a [2Fe-2S] cluster to sense intracellular iron homeostasis in Escherichia coli

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (46) ◽  
pp. 15454-15463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsey R. Fontenot ◽  
Homyra Tasnim ◽  
Kathryn A. Valdes ◽  
Codrina V. Popescu ◽  
Huangen Ding
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Iron Content ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Ferric Uptake Regulator ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Free Iron ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Fur Protein ◽  
Mutant Cells

The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) is a global transcription factor that regulates intracellular iron homeostasis in bacteria. The current hypothesis states that when the intracellular “free” iron concentration is elevated, Fur binds ferrous iron, and the iron-bound Fur represses the genes encoding for iron uptake systems and stimulates the genes encoding for iron storage proteins. However, the “iron-bound” Fur has never been isolated from any bacteria. Here we report that the Escherichia coli Fur has a bright red color when expressed in E. coli mutant cells containing an elevated intracellular free iron content because of deletion of the iron–sulfur cluster assembly proteins IscA and SufA. The acid-labile iron and sulfide content analyses in conjunction with the EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements and the site-directed mutagenesis studies show that the red Fur protein binds a [2Fe-2S] cluster via conserved cysteine residues. The occupancy of the [2Fe-2S] cluster in Fur protein is ∼31% in the E. coli iscA/sufA mutant cells and is decreased to ∼4% in WT E. coli cells. Depletion of the intracellular free iron content using the membrane-permeable iron chelator 2,2´-dipyridyl effectively removes the [2Fe-2S] cluster from Fur in E. coli cells, suggesting that Fur senses the intracellular free iron content via reversible binding of a [2Fe-2S] cluster. The binding of the [2Fe-2S] cluster in Fur appears to be highly conserved, because the Fur homolog from Hemophilus influenzae expressed in E. coli cells also reversibly binds a [2Fe-2S] cluster to sense intracellular iron homeostasis.

scholarly journals YdiV regulates Escherichia coli ferric uptake by manipulating the DNA-binding ability of Fur in a SlyD-dependent manner

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (17) ◽  
pp. 9571-9588
Author(s):  
Fengyu Zhang ◽  
Bingqing Li ◽  
Hongjie Dong ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
Shun Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Iron Uptake ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Bacterial Invasion ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Uptake System ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
E Coli

Abstract Iron is essential for all bacteria. In most bacteria, intracellular iron homeostasis is tightly regulated by the ferric uptake regulator Fur. However, how Fur activates the iron-uptake system during iron deficiency is not fully elucidated. In this study, we found that YdiV, the flagella gene inhibitor, is involved in iron homeostasis in Escherichia coli. Iron deficiency triggers overexpression of YdiV. High levels of YdiV then transforms Fur into a novel form which does not bind DNA in a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase SlyD dependent manner. Thus, the cooperation of YdiV, SlyD and Fur activates the gene expression of iron-uptake systems under conditions of iron deficiency. Bacterial invasion assays also demonstrated that both ydiV and slyD are necessary for the survival and growth of uropathogenic E. coli in bladder epithelial cells. This reveals a mechanism where YdiV not only represses flagella expression to make E. coli invisible to the host immune system, but it also promotes iron acquisition to help E. coli overcome host nutritional immunity.

scholarly journals Detection and Quantification of Superoxide Formed within the Periplasm of Escherichia coli

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (17) ◽  
pp. 6326-6334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei Korshunov ◽  
James A. Imlay
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Phagocytic Cells ◽  
Free Living ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Superoxide Formation ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Copper Zinc ◽  
Primary Substrate

ABSTRACT Many gram-negative bacteria harbor a copper/zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) in their periplasms. In pathogenic bacteria, one role of this enzyme may be to protect periplasmic biomolecules from superoxide that is released by host phagocytic cells. However, the enzyme is also present in many nonpathogens and/or free-living bacteria, including Escherichia coli. In this study we were able to detect superoxide being released into the medium from growing cultures of E. coli. Exponential-phase cells do not normally synthesize CuZnSOD, which is specifically induced in stationary phase. However, the engineered expression of CuZnSOD in growing cells eliminated superoxide release, confirming that this superoxide was formed within the periplasm. The rate of periplasmic superoxide production was surprisingly high and approximated the estimated rate of cytoplasmic superoxide formation when both were normalized to the volume of the compartment. The rate increased in proportion to oxygen concentration, suggesting that the superoxide is generated by the adventitious oxidation of an electron carrier. Mutations that eliminated menaquinone synthesis eradicated the superoxide formation, while mutations in genes encoding respiratory complexes affected it only insofar as they are likely to affect the redox state of menaquinone. We infer that the adventitious autoxidation of dihydromenaquinone in the cytoplasmic membrane releases a steady flux of superoxide into the periplasm of E. coli. This endogenous superoxide may create oxidative stress in that compartment and be a primary substrate of CuZnSOD.

scholarly journals Escherichia coli Mutants Lacking All Possible Combinations of Eight Penicillin Binding Proteins: Viability, Characteristics, and Implications for Peptidoglycan Synthesis

1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (13) ◽  
pp. 3981-3993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia A. Denome ◽  
Pamela K. Elf ◽  
Thomas A. Henderson ◽  
David E. Nelson ◽  
Kevin D. Young
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Kanamycin Resistance ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Penicillin Binding Proteins ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis ◽  
Kanamycin Resistance Cassette ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT The penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) synthesize and remodel peptidoglycan, the structural component of the bacterial cell wall. Much is known about the biochemistry of these proteins, but little is known about their biological roles. To better understand the contributions these proteins make to the physiology ofEscherichia coli, we constructed 192 mutants from which eight PBP genes were deleted in every possible combination. The genes encoding PBPs 1a, 1b, 4, 5, 6, and 7, AmpC, and AmpH were cloned, and from each gene an internal coding sequence was removed and replaced with a kanamycin resistance cassette flanked by two ressites from plasmid RP4. Deletion of individual genes was accomplished by transferring each interrupted gene onto the chromosome of E. coli via λ phage transduction and selecting for kanamycin-resistant recombinants. Afterwards, the kanamycin resistance cassette was removed from each mutant strain by supplying ParA resolvase in trans, yielding a strain in which a long segment of the original PBP gene was deleted and replaced by an 8-bpres site. These kanamycin-sensitive mutants were used as recipients in further rounds of replacement mutagenesis, resulting in a set of strains lacking from one to seven PBPs. In addition, thedacD gene was deleted from two septuple mutants, creating strains lacking eight genes. The only deletion combinations not produced were those lacking both PBPs 1a and 1b because such a combination is lethal. Surprisingly, all other deletion mutants were viable even though, at the extreme, 8 of the 12 known PBPs had been eliminated. Furthermore, when both PBPs 2 and 3 were inactivated by the β-lactams mecillinam and aztreonam, respectively, several mutants did not lyse but continued to grow as enlarged spheres, so that one mutant synthesized osmotically resistant peptidoglycan when only 2 of 12 PBPs (PBPs 1b and 1c) remained active. These results have important implications for current models of peptidoglycan biosynthesis, for understanding the evolution of the bacterial sacculus, and for interpreting results derived by mutating unknown open reading frames in genome projects. In addition, members of the set of PBP mutants will provide excellent starting points for answering fundamental questions about other aspects of cell wall metabolism.

scholarly journals Activation of Toxin-Antitoxin System Toxins Suppresses Lethality Caused by the Loss of σEin Escherichia coli

2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (14) ◽  
pp. 2316-2324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasushi Daimon ◽  
Shin-ichiro Narita ◽  
Yoshinori Akiyama
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Growth Media ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Envelope Stress ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Σ Factor ◽  
Mutant Forms

ABSTRACTσE, an alternative σ factor that governs a major signaling pathway in envelope stress responses in Gram-negative bacteria, is essential for growth ofEscherichia colinot only under stressful conditions, such as elevated temperature, but also under normal laboratory conditions. A mutational inactivation of thehicBgene has been reported to suppress the lethality caused by the loss of σE.hicBencodes the antitoxin of the HicA-HicB toxin-antitoxin (TA) system; overexpression of the HicA toxin, which exhibits mRNA interferase activity, causes cleavage of mRNAs and an arrest of cell growth, while simultaneous expression of HicB neutralizes the toxic effects of overproduced HicA. To date, however, how the loss of HicB rescues the cell lethality in the absence of σEand, more specifically, whether HicA is involved in this process remain unknown. Here we showed that simultaneous disruption ofhicAabolished suppression of the σEessentiality in the absence ofhicB, while ectopic expression of wild-type HicA, but not that of its mutant forms without mRNA interferase activity, restored the suppression. Furthermore, HicA and two other mRNA interferase toxins, HigB and YafQ, suppressed the σEessentiality even in the presence of chromosomally encoded cognate antitoxins when these toxins were overexpressed individually. Interestingly, when the growth media were supplemented with low levels of antibiotics that are known to activate toxins,E. colicells with no suppressor mutations grew independently of σE. Taken together, our results indicate that the activation of TA system toxins can suppress the σEessentiality and affect the extracytoplasmic stress responses.IMPORTANCEσEis an alternative σ factor involved in extracytoplasmic stress responses. Unlike other alternative σ factors, σEis indispensable for the survival ofE. colieven under unstressed conditions, although the exact reason for its essentiality remains unknown. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widely distributed in prokaryotes and are composed of two adjacent genes, encoding a toxin that exerts harmful effects on the toxin-producing bacterium itself and an antitoxin that neutralizes the cognate toxin. Curiously, it is known that inactivation of an antitoxin rescues the σEessentiality, suggesting a connection between TA systems and σEfunction. We demonstrate here that toxin activation is necessary for this rescue and suggest the possible involvement of TA systems in extracytoplasmic stress responses.

scholarly journals Heterogeneous and Flexible Transmission ofmcr-1in Hospital-AssociatedEscherichia coli

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingbo Shen ◽  
Zuowei Wu ◽  
Yang Wang ◽  
Rong Zhang ◽  
Hong-Wei Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Fluoroquinolone Resistance ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Colistin Resistance ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACTThe recent emergence of a transferable colistin resistance mechanism, MCR-1, has gained global attention because of its threat to clinical treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. However, the possible transmission route ofmcr-1amongEnterobacteriaceaespecies in clinical settings is largely unknown. Here, we present a comprehensive genomic analysis ofEscherichia coliisolates collected in a hospital in Hangzhou, China. We found thatmcr-1-carrying isolates from clinical infections and feces of inpatients and healthy volunteers were genetically diverse and were not closely related phylogenetically, suggesting that clonal expansion is not involved in the spread ofmcr-1. Themcr-1gene was found on either chromosomes or plasmids, but in most of theE. coliisolates,mcr-1was carried on plasmids. The genetic context of the plasmids showed considerable diversity as evidenced by the different functional insertion sequence (IS) elements, toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems, heavy metal resistance determinants, and Rep proteins of broad-host-range plasmids. Additionally, the genomic analysis revealed nosocomial transmission ofmcr-1and the coexistence ofmcr-1with other genes encoding β-lactamases and fluoroquinolone resistance in theE. coliisolates. These findings indicate thatmcr-1is heterogeneously disseminated in both commensal and pathogenic strains ofE. coli, suggest the high flexibility of this gene in its association with diverse genetic backgrounds of the hosts, and provide new insights into the genome epidemiology ofmcr-1among hospital-associatedE. colistrains.IMPORTANCEColistin represents one of the very few available drugs for treating infections caused by extensively multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. The recently emergentmcr-1colistin resistance gene threatens the clinical utility of colistin and has gained global attention. Howmcr-1spreads in hospital settings remains unknown and was investigated by whole-genome sequencing ofmcr-1-carryingEscherichia coliin this study. The findings revealed extraordinary flexibility ofmcr-1in its spread among genetically diverseE. colihosts and plasmids, nosocomial transmission ofmcr-1-carryingE. coli, and the continuous emergence of novel Inc types of plasmids carryingmcr-1and newmcr-1variants. Additionally,mcr-1was found to be frequently associated with other genes encoding β-lactams and fluoroquinolone resistance. These findings provide important information on the transmission and epidemiology ofmcr-1and are of significant public health importance as the information is expected to facilitate the control of this significant antibiotic resistance threat.

scholarly journals Intracellular Free Iron and Its Potential Role in Ultrahigh-Pressure-Induced Inactivation of Escherichia coli

2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 722-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Yan ◽  
Joy G. Waite-Cusic ◽  
Periannan Kuppusamy ◽  
Ahmed E. Yousef
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Iron Chelator ◽  
Ultrahigh Pressure ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Paramagnetic Resonance ◽  
Free Iron ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Electron Paramagnetic ◽  
Dose Dependent

ABSTRACTIntracellular free iron ofEscherichia coliwas determined by whole-cell electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry. Ultrahigh pressure (UHP) increased both intracellular free iron and cell lethality in a pressure-dose-dependent manner. The iron chelator 2,2′-dipyridyl protected cells against UHP treatments. A mutation that produced iron overload conditions sensitizedE. colito UHP treatment.

Chromosomal Integration of Heterologous DNA in Escherichia coli with Precise Removal of Markers and Replicons Used during Construction

1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (22) ◽  
pp. 7143-7148 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Martinez-Morales ◽  
A. C. Borges ◽  
A. Martinez ◽  
K. T. Shanmugam ◽  
L. O. Ingram
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Helper Plasmid ◽  
Flp Recombinase ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Homologous Fragment ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Dna Insertion ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Multiple Cloning Sites

ABSTRACT A set of vectors which facilitates the sequential integration of new functions into the Escherichia coli chromosome by homologous recombination has been developed. These vectors are based on plasmids described by Posfai et al. (J. Bacteriol. 179:4426–4428, 1997) which contain conditional replicons (pSC101 or R6K), a choice of three selectable markers (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, or kanamycin), and a single FRT site. The modified vectors contain twoFRT sites which bracket a modified multiple cloning region for DNA insertion. After integration, a helper plasmid expressing the flippase (FLP) recombinase allows precise in vivo excision of the replicon and the marker used for selection. Sites are also available for temporary insertion of additional functions which can be subsequently deleted with the replicon. Only the DNA inserted into the multiple cloning sites (passenger genes and homologous fragment for targeting) and a single FRT site (68 bp) remain in the chromosome after excision. The utility of these vectors was demonstrated by integrating Zymomonas mobilis genes encoding the ethanol pathway behind the native chromosomaladhE gene in strains of E. coli K-12 andE. coli B. With these vectors, a single antibiotic selection system can be used repeatedly for the successive improvement of E. coli strains with precise deletion of extraneous genes used during construction.

scholarly journals The Putrescine Importer PuuP of Escherichia coli K-12

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (8) ◽  
pp. 2776-2782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Kurihara ◽  
Yuichi Tsuboi ◽  
Shinpei Oda ◽  
Hyeon Guk Kim ◽  
Hidehiko Kumagai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Growth Phase ◽  
Exponential Growth ◽  
Minimal Medium ◽  
Exponential Growth Phase ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Utilization Pathway

ABSTRACT The Puu pathway is a putrescine utilization pathway involving gamma-glutamyl intermediates. The genes encoding the enzymes of the Puu pathway form a gene cluster, the puu gene cluster, and puuP is one of the genes in this cluster. In Escherichia coli, three putrescine importers, PotFGHI, PotABCD, and PotE, were discovered in the 1990s and have been studied; however, PuuP had not been discovered previously. This paper shows that PuuP is a novel putrescine importer whose kinetic parameters are equivalent to those of the polyamine importers discovered previously. A puuP + strain absorbed up to 5 mM putrescine from the medium, but a ΔpuuP strain did not. E. coli strain MA261 has been used in previous studies of polyamine transporters, but PuuP had not been identified previously. It was revealed that the puuP gene of MA261 was inactivated by a point mutation. When E. coli was grown on minimal medium supplemented with putrescine as the sole carbon or nitrogen source, only PuuP among the polyamine importers was required. puuP was expressed strongly when putrescine was added to the medium or when the puuR gene, which encodes a putative repressor, was deleted. When E. coli was grown in M9-tryptone medium, PuuP was expressed mainly in the exponential growth phase, and PotFGHI was expressed independently of the growth phase.

scholarly journals Virulence Genes and Molecular Typing of Different Groups of Escherichia coli O157 Strains in Cattle

2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (19) ◽  
pp. 6282-6291 ◽  
Author(s):  
István Tóth ◽  
Herbert Schmidt ◽  
Gábor Kardos ◽  
Zsuzsanna Lancz ◽  
Kristina Creuzburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Enzyme Analysis ◽  
Virulence Plasmid ◽  
O157 Strain ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Strain Collection ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT Characterization of an Escherichia coli O157 strain collection (n = 42) derived from healthy Hungarian cattle revealed the existence of diverse pathotypes. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC; eae positive) appeared to be the most frequent pathotype (n = 22 strains), 11 O157 strains were typical enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC; stx and eae positive), and 9 O157 strains were atypical, with none of the key stx and eae virulence genes detected. EHEC and EPEC O157 strains all carried eae-gamma, tir-gamma, tccP, and paa. Other virulence genes located on the pO157 virulence plasmid and different O islands (O island 43 [OI-43] and OI-122), as well as espJ and espM, also characterized the EPEC and EHEC O157 strains with similar frequencies. However, none of these virulence genes were detected by PCR in atypical O157 strains. Interestingly, five of nine atypical O157 strains produced cytolethal distending toxin V (CDT-V) and carried genes encoding long polar fimbriae. Macro-restriction fragment enzyme analysis (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) revealed that these E. coli O157 strains belong to four main clusters. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed that five housekeeping genes were identical in EHEC and EPEC O157 strains but were different in the atypical O157 strains. These results suggest that the Hungarian bovine E. coli O157 strains represent at least two main clones: EHEC/EPEC O157:H7/NM (nonmotile) and atypical CDT-V-producing O157 strains with H antigens different from H7. The CDT-V-producing O157 strains represent a novel genogroup. The pathogenic potential of these strains remains to be elucidated.

Virulence factors analysis and antibiotic resistance of uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from patients in northeast of Iran

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdis Ghavidel ◽  
Tahere Gholamhosseini-Moghadam ◽  
Kimiya Nourian ◽  
Kiarash Ghazvini
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Resistance Pattern ◽  
Antibiotics Resistance ◽  
Disk Diffusion Test ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Tract Infections

Background and Objectives: Escherichia coli is known to be the pathogen commonly isolated from those infected with uri- nary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of E. coli virulence genes and antibiotics’ resistance pattern among clinical isolates in the Northeast of Iran. Relationships between virulence genes and antimicrobial resistances were studied as well. Materials and Methods: Three hundred isolates of E. coli were isolated from patients with UTIs that referred to Ghaem and Imam Reza hospitals (Mashhad, Iran) during August 2016 to February 2017. A multiplex PCR was employed to amplify the genes encoding pyelonephritis associated pili (pap), S-family adhesions (sfa), type1fimbriae (fimH) and aerobactin (aer). Disk diffusion test was performed to test the susceptibility of isolates to β-lactams, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, quino- lone, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Results: The PCR results identified the fimH in 78.4%, aer in 70.5%, sfa in 13.6% and the pap in 8.2% of isolates. The rates of antibiotic resistance of the isolates were as follows: 64.7% resistant to cephalosporins, 34% to trimethoprim-sul- famethoxazole, 31% to fluoroquinolones, 15.3% to aminoglycosides, 13.3% to β-lactams, 7.8% to quinolones and 4.4% to carbapenems. Significant relationships existed between pap and aer, pap and sfa, aer and fluoroquinolones also pap and cephalosporins. Conclusion: fimH and aer were found in > 50% of isolates suggesting the importance of both genes in UPEC. The majority of isolates had fimH as adhesion factor for colonization. Determining antibiotic resistance patterns in specific geographical areas is necessary for appropriate treatment of urinary tract infection. The high rate of resistance to cephalosporins is most likely due to incorrect drug administration

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