scholarly journals A family of T6SS antibacterial effectors related to L,D-transpeptidases targets the Peptidoglycan

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (7A) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Sibinelli de Sousa ◽  
Julia Takuno Hespanhol ◽  
Bruno Matsuyama ◽  
Stephane Mesnage ◽  
Gianlucca Nicastro ◽  
...  

Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are contractile nanomachines widely used by bacteria to intoxicate competitors. Salmonella Typhimurium encodes a T6SS within the Salmonella pathogenicity island 6 (SPI-6) that is used during competition against species of the gut microbiota. We characterized a new SPI-6 T6SS antibacterial effector named Tlde1 (type VI L,D-transpeptidase effector 1). Tlde1 is toxic in target-cell periplasm and its toxicity is neutralized by co-expression with immunity protein Tldi1 (type VI L,D-transpeptidase immunity 1). Time-lapse microscopy revealed that intoxicated cells display altered cell division and lose cell envelope integrity. Bioinformatics analysis showed that Tlde1 is evolutionarily related to L,D-transpeptidases. Point mutations on conserved histidine121 and cysteine131 residues eliminated toxicity. Co-incubation of purified recombinant Tlde1 and peptidoglycan tetrapeptides showed that Tlde1 displays both L,D-carboxypeptidase activity by cleaving GM-tetrapeptides between meso-diaminopimelic acid3 and D-alanine4, and L,D-transpeptidase exchange activity by replacing D-alanine4 for a non-canonical D-amino acid. Tlde1 constitutes a new family of T6SS effectors widespread in Proteobacteria. This work increases our knowledge about the bacterial effectors used in interbacterial competitions and provides molecular insight into a new mechanism of bacterial antagonism.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Mariano ◽  
Katharina Trunk ◽  
David J. Williams ◽  
Laura Monlezun ◽  
Henrik Strahl ◽  
...  

AbstractType VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are nanomachines widely used by bacteria to compete with rivals. T6SSs deliver multiple toxic effector proteins directly into neighbouring cells and play key roles in shaping diverse polymicrobial communities. A number of families of T6SS-dependent anti-bacterial effectors have been characterised, however the mode of action of others remains unknown. Here we report that Ssp6, an anti-bacterial effector delivered by theSerratia marcescensT6SS, is an ion-selective pore-forming toxin.In vivo, Ssp6 inhibits growth by causing depolarisation of the inner membrane of intoxicated cells and also leads to increased outer membrane permeability, whilst reconstruction of Ssp6 activityin vitrodemonstrated that it forms cation-selective pores. A survey of bacterial genomes revealed that Ssp6-like effectors are widespread in Enterobacteriaceae and often linked with T6SS genes. We conclude that Ssp6 represents a new family of T6SS-delivered anti-bacterial effectors, further diversifying the portfolio of weapons available for deployment during inter-bacterial conflict.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Mariano ◽  
Katharina Trunk ◽  
David J. Williams ◽  
Laura Monlezun ◽  
Henrik Strahl ◽  
...  

AbstractType VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are nanomachines widely used by bacteria to deliver toxic effector proteins directly into neighbouring cells. However, the modes of action of many effectors remain unknown. Here we report that Ssp6, an anti-bacterial effector delivered by a T6SS of the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens, is a toxin that forms ion-selective pores. Ssp6 inhibits bacterial growth by causing depolarisation of the inner membrane in intoxicated cells, together with increased outer membrane permeability. Reconstruction of Ssp6 activity in vitro demonstrates that it forms cation-selective pores. A survey of bacterial genomes reveals that genes encoding Ssp6-like effectors are widespread in Enterobacteriaceae and often linked with T6SS genes. We conclude that Ssp6 and similar proteins represent a new family of T6SS-delivered anti-bacterial effectors.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Sibinelli de Sousa ◽  
Julia Takuno Hespanhol ◽  
Gianlucca Gonçalves Nicastro ◽  
Bruno Yasui Matsuyama ◽  
Stephane Mesnage ◽  
...  

SummaryType VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are contractile nanomachines used by bacteria to inject toxic effectors into competitors. The identity and mechanism of many effectors remain unknown. We characterized a Salmonella SPI-6 T6SS antibacterial effector called Tae5STM (type VI amidase effector 5). Tae5STM is toxic in target-cell periplasm and is neutralized by its cognate immunity protein (Tai5STM). Microscopy analysis revealed that cells expressing the effector stop dividing and lose cell envelope integrity. Bioinformatic analysis uncovered similarities between Tae5STM and the catalytic domain of L,D-transpeptidase. Point mutations on conserved catalytic histidine and cysteine residues abrogated toxicity. Biochemical assays revealed that Tae5STM displays L,D-carboxypeptidase activity, cleaving peptidoglycan tetrapeptides between meso-diaminopimelic acid3 and D-alanine4. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Tae5STM homologs constitutes a new superfamily of T6SS-associated amidase effectors distributed among α-, β- and γ-proteobacteria. This work expands our current knowledge about bacterial effectors used in interbacterial competition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Czolkoss ◽  
Xenia Safronov ◽  
Sascha Rexroth ◽  
Lisa R. Knoke ◽  
Meriyem Aktas ◽  
...  

Cell membranes are not homogenous but compartmentalized into lateral microdomains, which are considered as biochemical reaction centers for various physiological processes in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Due to their special lipid and protein composition, some of these microdomains are resistant to treatment with non-ionic detergents and can be purified as detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs). Here we report the proteome of DRMs from the Gram-negative phytopathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Using label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we identified proteins enriched in DRMs isolated under normal and virulence-mimicking growth conditions. Prominent microdomain marker proteins such as the SPFH (stomatin/prohibitin/flotillin/HflKC) proteins HflK, HflC and Atu3772, along with the protease FtsH were highly enriched in DRMs isolated under any given condition. Moreover, proteins involved in cell envelope biogenesis, transport and secretion, as well as motility- and chemotaxis-associated proteins were overrepresented in DRMs. Most strikingly, we found virulence-associated proteins such as the VirA/VirG two-component system, and the membrane-spanning type IV and type VI secretion systems enriched in DRMs. Fluorescence microscopy of the cellular localization of both secretion systems and of marker proteins was in agreement with the results from the proteomics approach. These findings suggest that virulence traits are micro-compartmentalized into functional microdomains in A. tumefaciens.


2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 621-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Wang ◽  
Maj Brodmann ◽  
Marek Basler

Bacteria need to deliver large molecules out of the cytosol to the extracellular space or even across membranes of neighboring cells to influence their environment, prevent predation, defeat competitors, or communicate. A variety of protein-secretion systems have evolved to make this process highly regulated and efficient. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is one of the largest dynamic assemblies in gram-negative bacteria and allows for delivery of toxins into both bacterial and eukaryotic cells. The recent progress in structural biology and live-cell imaging shows the T6SS as a long contractile sheath assembled around a rigid tube with associated toxins anchored to a cell envelope by a baseplate and membrane complex. Rapid sheath contraction releases a large amount of energy used to push the tube and toxins through the membranes of neighboring target cells. Because reach of the T6SS is limited, some bacteria dynamically regulate its subcellular localization to precisely aim at their targets and thus increase efficiency of toxin translocation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 195 (6) ◽  
pp. 943-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Alix ◽  
Shaeri Mukherjee ◽  
Craig R. Roy

Mammalian phagocytes control bacterial infections effectively through phagocytosis, the process by which particles engulfed at the cell surface are transported to lysosomes for destruction. However, intracellular pathogens have evolved mechanisms to avoid this fate. Many bacterial pathogens use specialized secretion systems to deliver proteins into host cells that subvert signaling pathways controlling membrane transport. These bacterial effectors modulate the function of proteins that regulate membrane transport and alter the phospholipid content of membranes. Elucidating the biochemical function of these effectors has provided a greater understanding of how bacteria control membrane transport to create a replicative niche within the host and provided insight into the regulation of membrane transport in eukaryotic cells.


2012 ◽  
Vol 367 (1592) ◽  
pp. 1102-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Cascales ◽  
Christian Cambillau

Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are transenvelope complexes specialized in the transport of proteins or domains directly into target cells. These systems are versatile as they can target either eukaryotic host cells and therefore modulate the bacteria–host interaction and pathogenesis or bacterial cells and therefore facilitate access to a specific niche. These molecular machines comprise at least 13 proteins. Although recent years have witnessed advances in the role and function of these secretion systems, little is known about how these complexes assemble in the cell envelope. Interestingly, the current information converges to the idea that T6SSs are composed of two subassemblies, one resembling the contractile bacteriophage tail, whereas the other subunits are embedded in the inner and outer membranes and anchor the bacteriophage-like structure to the cell envelope. In this review, we summarize recent structural information on individual T6SS components emphasizing the fact that T6SSs are composite systems, adapting subunits from various origins.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa C. Metzger ◽  
Noémie Matthey ◽  
Candice Stoudmann ◽  
Esther J. Collas ◽  
Melanie Blokesch

SummaryBacteria of the genusVibrioare common members of aquatic environments where they compete with other prokaryotes and defend themselves against grazing predators. A macromolecular protein complex called the type VI secretion system (T6SS) is used for both purposes. Previous research showed that the sole T6SS of the human pathogenV. choleraeis induced by extracellular (chitin) or intracellular (low c-di-GMP levels) cues and that these cues lead to distinctive signalling pathways for which the proteins TfoX and TfoY serve as master regulators. In this study, we tested whether the TfoX- and TfoY-mediated regulation of T6SS was conserved in non-cholera species, and if so, how these regulators affected the production of individual T6SSs in double-armed vibrios. We show that, alongside representative competence genes, TfoX regulates at least one T6SS in all testedVibriospecies. TfoY, on the other hand, fostered motility in all vibrios but had a more versatile T6SS response in that it did not foster T6SS-mediated killing inV. fischeriwhile it induced both systems inV. alginolyticus. Collectively, our data provide evidence that the TfoX- and TfoY-mediated signalling pathways are mostly conserved in diverseVibriospecies and important for signal-specific T6SS induction.Originality-Significance StatementThis work provides new insight into the regulatory circuits involved in type VI secretion in diverseVibriospecies. Specifically, it is the first study to compare the effects of the two regulatory proteins TfoX and TfoY on the primary or secondary type VI secretion systems of non-cholera vibrios. Importantly, this work also shows that decreased c-di-GMP levels inV. parahaemolyticuslead to TfoY production without changingtfoYtranscript levels, thereby indirectly linking TfoY production to surface sensing.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian W Schuttert ◽  
Marta Gomez-Chiarri ◽  
David C Rowley ◽  
David R Nelson

Vibrio coralliilyticus is an extracellular bacterial pathogen and a causative agent of vibriosis in larval oysters. Host mortality rates can quickly reach 100% during vibriosis outbreaks in oyster hatcheries. Type VI Secretion Systems (T6SS) are rapidly polymerizing, contact dependent injection apparatus for prey cell intoxication and play important roles in pathogenesis. DNA sequencing of V. coralliilyticus RE22Sm indicated the likely presence of two functional T6SSs with one on each of two chromosomes. Here, we investigated the antibacterial and anti-eukaryotic roles of the two T6SSs (T6SS1 and T6SS2) against E. coli Sm10 cells and Crassostrea virginica larvae, respectively. Mutations in hcp and vgrG genes were created and characterized for their effects upon bacterial antagonism and eukaryotic host virulence. Mutations in hcp1 and hcp2 resulted in significantly reduced antagonism against E. coli Sm10, with the hcp2 mutation demonstrating the greater impact. In contrast, mutations in vgrG1 or vgrG2 had little effect on E. coli killing. In eastern oyster larval challenge assays, T6SS1 mutations in either hcp1 or vgrG1 dramatically attenuated virulence against C. virginica larvae. Strains with restored wild type hcp or vgrG genes reestablished T6SS-mediated killing to that of wild type V. coralliilyticus RE22Sm. These data suggest that the T6SS1 of V. coralliilyticus RE22Sm principally targets eukaryotes and secondarily bacteria, while the T6SS2 primarily targets bacterial cells and secondarily eukaryotes. Attenuation of pathogenicity was observed in all T6SS mutants, demonstrating the requirement for proper assembly of the T6SS systems to maintain maximal virulence. Importance: Vibriosis outbreaks lead to large-scale hatchery losses of oyster larvae (product and seed) where Vibrio sp. associated losses of 80 to 100 percent are not uncommon. Practical and proactive biocontrol measures can be taken to help mitigate larval death by Vibrio sp. by better understanding the underlying mechanisms of virulence in V. coralliilyticus. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of two Type VI Secretion Systems (T6SS) in V. coralliilyticus RE22Sm and interrogate the roles of each T6SS in bacterial antagonism and pathogenesis against a eukaryotic host. Specifically, we show that the loss of T6SS1 function results in the loss of virulence against oyster larvae.


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