scholarly journals Caldicellulosiruptor bescii Adheres to Polysaccharides via a Type IV Pilin-Dependent Mechanism

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma M. A. M. Khan ◽  
Valerie J. Hauk ◽  
Mena Ibrahim ◽  
Thomas R. Raffel ◽  
Sara E. Blumer-Schuette

ABSTRACT Biological hydrolysis of cellulose above 70°C involves microorganisms that secrete free enzymes and deploy separate protein systems to adhere to their substrate. Strongly cellulolytic Caldicellulosiruptor bescii is one such extreme thermophile, which deploys modular, multifunctional carbohydrate-acting enzymes to deconstruct plant biomass. Additionally, C. bescii also encodes noncatalytic carbohydrate binding proteins, which likely evolved as a mechanism to compete against other heterotrophs in carbon-limited biotopes that these bacteria inhabit. Analysis of the Caldicellulosiruptor pangenome identified a type IV pilus (T4P) locus encoded upstream of the tāpirins, that is encoded by all Caldicellulosiruptor species. In this study, we sought to determine if the C. bescii T4P plays a role in attachment to plant polysaccharides. The major C. bescii pilin (CbPilA) was identified by the presence of pilin-like protein domains, paired with transcriptomics and proteomics data. Using immuno-dot blots, we determined that the plant polysaccharide xylan induced production of CbPilA 10- to 14-fold higher than glucomannan or xylose. Furthermore, we are able to demonstrate that recombinant CbPilA directly interacts with xylan and cellulose at elevated temperatures. Localization of CbPilA at the cell surface was confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Lastly, a direct role for CbPilA in cell adhesion was demonstrated using recombinant CbPilA or anti-CbPilA antibodies to reduce C. bescii cell adhesion to xylan and crystalline cellulose up to 4.5- and 2-fold, respectively. Based on these observations, we propose that CbPilA and, by extension, the T4P play a role in Caldicellulosiruptor cell attachment to plant biomass. IMPORTANCE Most microorganisms are capable of attaching to surfaces in order to persist in their environment. Type IV (T4) pili produced by certain mesophilic Firmicutes promote adherence; however, a role for T4 pili encoded by thermophilic members of this phylum has yet to be demonstrated. Prior comparative genomics analyses identified a T4 pilus locus possessed by an extremely thermophilic genus within the Firmicutes. Here, we demonstrate that attachment to plant biomass-related carbohydrates by strongly cellulolytic Caldicellulosiruptor bescii is mediated by T4 pilins. Surprisingly, xylan but not cellulose induced expression of the major T4 pilin. Regardless, the C. bescii T4 pilin interacts with both polysaccharides at high temperatures and is located to the cell surface, where it is directly involved in C. bescii attachment. Adherence to polysaccharides is likely key to survival in environments where carbon sources are limiting, allowing C. bescii to compete against other plant-degrading microorganisms.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma M.A.M. Khan ◽  
Valerie J. Hauk ◽  
Mena Ibrahim ◽  
Thomas R. Raffel ◽  
Sara E. Blumer-Schuette

ABSTRACTBiological hydrolysis of cellulose above 70°C involves microorganisms that secrete free enzymes, and deploy separate protein systems to adhere to their substrate. Strongly cellulolytic Caldicellulosiruptor bescii is one such extreme thermophile, which deploys modular, multi-functional carbohydrate acting enzymes to deconstruct plant biomass. Additionally, C. bescii also encodes for non-catalytic carbohydrate binding proteins, which likely evolved as a mechanism to compete against other heterotrophs in carbon limited biotopes that these bacteria inhabit. Analysis of the Caldicellulosiruptor pangenome identified a type IV pilus (T4P) locus encoded upstream of the tāpirins, that is encoded for by all Caldicellulosiruptor species. In this study, we sought to determine if the C. bescii T4P plays a role in attachment to plant polysaccharides. The major C. bescii pilin (CbPilA) was identified by the presence of pilin-like protein domains, paired with transcriptomics and proteomics data. Using immuno-dot blots, we determined that the plant polysaccharide, xylan, induced production of CbPilA 10 to 14-fold higher than glucomannan or xylose. Furthermore, we are able to demonstrate that recombinant CbPilA directly interacts with xylan, and cellulose at elevated temperatures. Localization of CbPilA at the cell surface was confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Lastly, a direct role for CbPilA in cell adhesion was demonstrated using recombinant CbPilA or anti-CbPilA antibodies to reduce C. bescii cell adhesion to xylan and crystalline cellulose up to 4.5 and 2-fold, respectively. Based on these observations, we propose that CbPilA and by extension, the T4P, plays a role in Caldicellulosiruptor cell attachment to plant biomass.IMPORTANCEMost microorganisms are capable of attaching to surfaces in part to persist in their environment. Here, we describe that the thermophilic, plant degrading bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, uses type IV pili to attach to carbohydrates found in plant biomass. This ability is likely key to survival in environments where carbon sources are limiting, allowing C. bescii to compete against other plant degrading microorganisms. Interestingly, the carbohydrate that induced the highest expression of pilin protein was xylan, a hemicellulose that is not the majority polysaccharide in plant biomass. Not only do we demonstrate a direct interaction of the pilin with the polysaccharides, but also that cell attachment to polysaccharides can be disrupted by the addition of recombinant pilin and notably by antibody neutralization of the native pilin. This mechanism mirrors those recently described in pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria, and further supports the ancient origins of type IV pilus systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan F. Russell ◽  
Matthew L. Russo ◽  
Xuewen Wang ◽  
Neal Hengge ◽  
Daehwan Chung ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Caldicellulosiruptor bescii secretes a large number of complementary multifunctional enzymes with unique activities for biomass deconstruction. The most abundant enzymes in the C. bescii secretome are found in a unique gene cluster containing a glycosyl transferase (GT39) and a putative peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase. Deletion of the glycosyl transferase in this cluster resulted in loss of detectable protein glycosylation in C. bescii, and its activity has been shown to be responsible for the glycosylation of the proline-threonine rich linkers found in many of the multifunctional cellulases. The presence of a putative peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase within this gene cluster suggested that it might also play a role in cellulase modification. Here, we identify this gene as a putative prsA prolyl cis-trans isomerase. Deletion of prsA2 leads to the inability of C. bescii to grow on insoluble substrates such as Avicel, the model cellulose substrate, while exhibiting no differences in phenotype with the wild-type strain on soluble substrates. Finally, we provide evidence that the prsA2 gene is likely needed to increase solubility of multifunctional cellulases and that this unique gene cluster was likely acquired by members of the Caldicellulosiruptor genus with a group of genes to optimize the production and activity of multifunctional cellulases. IMPORTANCE Caldicellulosiruptor has the ability to digest complex plant biomass without pretreatment and have been engineered to convert biomass, a sustainable, carbon neutral substrate, to fuels. Their strategy for deconstructing plant cell walls relies on an interesting class of cellulases consisting of multiple catalytic modules connected by linker regions and carbohydrate binding modules. The best studied of these enzymes, CelA, has a unique deconstruction mechanism. CelA is located in a cluster of genes that likely allows for optimal expression, secretion, and activity. One of the genes in this cluster is a putative isomerase that modifies the CelA protein. In higher eukaryotes, these isomerases are essential for the proper folding of glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, but little is known about the role of isomerization in cellulase activity. We show that the stability and activity of CelA is dependent on the activity of this isomerase.


2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 768-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inci Ozdemir ◽  
Sara E. Blumer-Schuette ◽  
Robert M. Kelly

ABSTRACTThe genusCaldicellulosiruptorcontains extremely thermophilic bacteria that grow on plant polysaccharides. The genomes ofCaldicellulosiruptorspecies reveal certain surface layer homology (SLH) domain proteins that have distinguishing features, pointing to a role in lignocellulose deconstruction. Two of these proteins inCaldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus(Csac_0678 and Csac_2722) were examined from this perspective. In addition to three contiguous SLH domains, the Csac_0678 gene encodes a glycoside hydrolase family 5 (GH5) catalytic domain and a family 28 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM); orthologs to Csac_0678 could be identified in all genome-sequencedCaldicellulosiruptorspecies. Recombinant Csac_0678 was optimally active at 75°C and pH 5.0, exhibiting both endoglucanase and xylanase activities. SLH domain removal did not impact Csac_0678 GH activity, but deletion of the CBM28 domain eliminated binding to crystalline cellulose and rendered the enzyme inactive on this substrate. Csac_2722 is the largest open reading frame (ORF) in theC. saccharolyticusgenome (predicted molecular mass of 286,516 kDa) and contains two putative sugar-binding domains, two Big4 domains (bacterial domains with an immunoglobulin [Ig]-like fold), and a cadherin-like (Cd) domain. Recombinant Csac_2722, lacking the SLH and Cd domains, bound to cellulose and had detectable carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrolytic activity. Antibodies directed against Csac_0678 and Csac_2722 confirmed that these proteins bound to theC. saccharolyticusS-layer. Their cellular localization and functional biochemical properties indicate roles for Csac_0678 and Csac_2722 in recruitment and hydrolysis of complex polysaccharides and the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. Furthermore, these results suggest that related SLH domain proteins in otherCaldicellulosiruptorgenomes may also be important contributors to plant biomass utilization.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed I. Hamouda ◽  
Nasir Ali ◽  
Hang Su ◽  
Jie Feng ◽  
Ming Lu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Pectin deconstruction is the initial step in breaking the recalcitrance of plant biomass by using selected microorganisms that encode pectinolytic enzymes. Pectate lyases that cleave the α-1,4-galacturonosidic linkage of pectin are widely used in industries such as papermaking and fruit softening. However, there are few reports on pectate lyases with good thermostability. Here, two pectate lyases (CbPL3 and CbPL9) from a hyperthermophilic bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, belonging to family 3 and family 9 polysaccharide lyases, respectively, were investigated. The biochemical properties of the two CbPLs were shown to be similar under optimized conditions of 80°C to 85°C and pH 8 to 9. However, the degradation products from pectin and polygalacturonic acids (pGAs) were different. A family 66 carbohydrate-binding module (CbCBM66) located in the N terminus of the two CbPLs shares 100% amino acid identity. A CbCBM66-truncated mutant of CbPL9 showed lower activities than the wild type, whereas CbPL3 with a CbCBM66 knockout portion was reported to have enhanced activities, thereby revealing the different effect of CbCBM66. Prediction by the I-TASSER server revealed that CbCBM66 is structurally close to BsCBM66 from Bacillus subtilis; however, the COFACTOR and COACH programs indicated that the substrate-binding sites between CbCBM66 and BsCBM66 are different. Furthermore, a substrate-binding assay indicated that the catalytic domains in the two CbPLs had strong affinities for pectate-related substrates, but CbCBM66 showed a weak interaction with a number of lignocellulosic carbohydrates. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and a total reducing sugar assay showed that the two enzymes could improve the saccharification of switchgrass. The two CbPLs are impressive sources for the degradation of plant biomass. IMPORTANCE Thermophilic proteins could be implemented in diverse industrial applications. We sought to characterize two pectate lyases, CbPL3 and CbPL9, from a thermophilic bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. The two enzymes share a high optimum temperature, a low optimum pH, and good thermostability at the evaluated temperature. A family 66 carbohydrate-binding module (CbCBM66) was identified in the two CbPLs, sharing 100% amino acid identity. The deletion of CbCBM66 dramatically decreased the activity of CbPL9 but increased the activity and thermostability of CbPL3, suggesting different roles of CbCBM66 in the two enzymes. Moreover, the degradation products of the two CbPLs were different. These results revealed that these enzymes could represent potential pectate lyases for applications in the paper and textile industries.


2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph P. Park ◽  
Min-Jung Choi ◽  
Se Hun Kim ◽  
Seung Hwan Lee ◽  
Haeshin Lee

ABSTRACTMussels attach to virtually all types of inorganic and organic surfaces in aqueous environments, and catecholamines composed of 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (DOPA), lysine, and histidine in mussel adhesive proteins play a key role in the robust adhesion. DOPA is an unusual catecholic amino acid, and its side chain is called catechol. In this study, we displayed the adhesive moiety of DOPA-histidine onEscherichia colisurfaces using outer membrane protein W as an anchoring motif for the first time. Localization of catecholamines on the cell surface was confirmed by Western blot and immunofluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, cell-to-cell cohesion (i.e., cellular aggregation) induced by the displayed catecholamine and synthesis of gold nanoparticles on the cell surface support functional display of adhesive catecholamines. The engineeredE. coliexhibited significant adhesion onto various material surfaces, including silica and glass microparticles, gold, titanium, silicon, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(urethane), and poly(dimethylsiloxane). The uniqueness of this approach utilizing the engineered stickyE. coliis that no chemistry for cell attachment are necessary, and the ability of spontaneousE. coliattachment allows one to immobilize the cells on challenging material surfaces such as synthetic polymers. Therefore, we envision that mussel-inspired catecholamine yielded stickyE. colithat can be used as a new type of engineered microbe for various emerging fields, such as whole living cell attachment on versatile material surfaces, cell-to-cell communication systems, and many others.


mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vida Ho ◽  
Philippe Herman-Bausier ◽  
Christopher Shaw ◽  
Karen A. Conrad ◽  
Melissa C. Garcia-Sherman ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The human fungal commensal Candida albicans can become a serious opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. The C. albicans cell adhesion protein Als1p is a highly expressed member of a large family of paralogous adhesins. Als1p can mediate binding to epithelial and endothelial cells, is upregulated in infections, and is important for biofilm formation. Als1p includes an amyloid-forming sequence at amino acids 325 to 331, identical to the sequence in the paralogs Als5p and Als3p. Therefore, we mutated Val326 to test whether this sequence is important for activity. Wild-type Als1p (Als1pWT) and Als1p with the V326N mutation (Als1pV326N) were expressed at similar levels in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae surface display model. Als1pV326N cells adhered to bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated beads similarly to Als1pWT cells. However, cells displaying Als1pV326N showed visibly smaller aggregates and did not fluoresce in the presence of the amyloid-binding dye Thioflavin-T. A new analysis tool for single-molecule force spectroscopy-derived surface mapping showed that statistically significant force-dependent Als1p clustering occurred in Als1pWT cells but was absent in Als1pV326N cells. In single-cell force spectroscopy experiments, strong cell-cell adhesion was dependent on an intact amyloid core sequence on both interacting cells. Thus, the major adhesin Als1p interacts through amyloid-like β-aggregation to cluster adhesin molecules in cis on the cell surface as well as in trans to form cell-cell bonds. IMPORTANCE Microbial cell surface adhesins control essential processes such as adhesion, colonization, and biofilm formation. In the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans, the agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) gene family encodes eight cell surface glycoproteins that mediate adherence to biotic and abiotic surfaces and cell-cell aggregation. Als proteins are critical for commensalism and virulence. Their activities include attachment and invasion of endothelial and epithelial cells, morphogenesis, and formation of biofilms on host tissue and indwelling medical catheters. At the molecular level, Als5p-mediated cell-cell aggregation is dependent on the formation of amyloid-like nanodomains between Als5p-expressing cells. A single-site mutation to valine 326 abolishes cellular aggregation and amyloid formation. Our results show that the binding characteristics of Als1p follow a mechanistic model similar to Als5p, despite its differential expression and biological roles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aretha Fiebig

ABSTRACTIn aquatic environments,Caulobacterspp. can be found at the boundary between liquid and air known as the neuston. I report an approach to study temporal features ofCaulobacter crescentuscolonization and pellicle biofilm development at the air-liquid interface and have defined the role of cell surface structures in this process. At this interface,C. crescentusinitially forms a monolayer of cells bearing a surface adhesin known as the holdfast. When excised from the liquid surface, this monolayer strongly adheres to glass. The monolayer subsequently develops into a three-dimensional structure that is highly enriched in clusters of stalked cells known as rosettes. As this pellicle film matures, it becomes more cohesive and less adherent to a glass surface. A mutant strain lacking a flagellum does not efficiently reach the surface, and strains lacking type IV pili exhibit defects in organization of the three-dimensional pellicle. Strains unable to synthesize the holdfast fail to accumulate at the boundary between air and liquid and do not form a pellicle. Phase-contrast images support a model whereby the holdfast functions to trapC. crescentuscells at the air-liquid boundary. Unlike the holdfast, neither the flagellum nor type IV pili are required forC. crescentusto partition to the air-liquid interface. While it is well established that the holdfast enables adherence to solid surfaces, this study provides evidence that the holdfast has physicochemical properties that allow partitioning of nonmotile mother cells to the air-liquid interface and facilitate colonization of this microenvironment.IMPORTANCEIn aquatic environments, the boundary at the air interface is often highly enriched with nutrients and oxygen. Colonization of this niche likely confers a significant fitness advantage in many cases. This study provides evidence that the cell surface adhesin known as a holdfast enablesCaulobacter crescentusto partition to and colonize the air-liquid interface. Additional surface structures, including the flagellum and type IV pili, are important determinants of colonization and biofilm formation at this boundary. Considering that holdfast-like adhesins are broadly conserved inCaulobacterspp. and other members of the diverse classAlphaproteobacteria, these surface structures may function broadly to facilitate colonization of air-liquid boundaries in a range of ecological contexts, including freshwater, marine, and soil ecosystems.


1981 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
W G Carter ◽  
H Rauvala ◽  
S I Hakomori

The kinetics of cell attachment and cell spreading on the coated surfaces of two classes of carbohydrate-reactive proteins, enzymes and lectins, have been compared with those on fibronectin-coated surfaces with the following results: (a) A remarkable similarity between the kinetics of cell attachment to fibronectin-coated and glycosidase-coated surfaces was found. In contrast, cell attachment kinetics induced by lectin- and galactose oxidase-coated surfaces, in general, were strikingly different from those on fibronectin and glycosidase surfaces. The distinction between fibronectin- or glycosidase- and lectin- or galactose oxidase (an enzyme with lectin-type characteristics)-coated surfaces was further supported by the finding that cytochalasin B and EDTA inhibited cell attachment to fibronectin- and glycosidase-coated surfaces but not lectin-coated surfaces. (b) Fibronectin, if labeled and added to a cell suspension, showed only low or negligible interaction with the cell surface. However, fibronectin absorbed on plastic surfaces showed a high cell-attaching activity. It is assumed that fibronectin coated on plastic surfaces may form polyvalent attachment sites in contrast to its lower valency in aqueous solution. (c) Various inhibitors of cell attachment to both fibronectin-, galactose oxidase-, and lectin-coated surfaces were effective only during the first few minutes of the adhesion assay, after which time the attached cells became insensitive to the inhibitors. It is suggested that the initial specific recognition on either lectin-type or fibronectin-type surfaces is followed by an active cell-dependent attachment process. The primary role of the adhesion surface is to stimulate the cell-dependent attachment response. (d) Cells attached on tetravalent concanavalin A (Con A) spread very rapidly and quantitatively, whereas divalent succinyl Con A and monovalent Con A were effective stimulators of cell attachment but not cell spreading. Cross-linking of succinyl Con A restored the cell spreading activity. Tetravalent Con A surfaces specifically bind soluble glycoproteins, whereas succinyl Con A has a greatly reduced ability to bind the same glycoproteins. These results suggest that cross-linking of cell surface glycoproteins by the multivalent adhesive surface may trigger the cellular reaction leading to cell spreading.


2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (19) ◽  
pp. 7048-7059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Libin Ye ◽  
Xiaoyun Su ◽  
George E. Schmitz ◽  
Young Hwan Moon ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTA large polypeptide encoded in the genome of the thermophilic bacteriumCaldicellulosiruptor besciiwas determined to consist of two glycoside hydrolase (GH) modules separated by two carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). Based on the detection of mannanase and endoglucanase activities in the N-terminal GH5 and the C-terminal GH44 module, respectively, the protein was designated CbMan5B/Cel44A. A GH5 module with >99% identity from the same organism was characterized previously (X. Su, R. I. Mackie, and I. K. Cann, Appl. Environ. Microbiol.78:2230-2240, 2012); therefore, attention was focused on CbMan5A/Cel44A-TM2 (or TM2), which harbors the GH44 module and the two CBMs. On cellulosic substrates, TM2 had an optimal temperature and pH of 85°C and 5.0, respectively. Although the amino acid sequence of the GH44 module of TM2 was similar to those of other GH44 modules that hydrolyzed cello-oligosaccharides, cellulose, lichenan, and xyloglucan, it was unique that TM2 also displayed modest activity on mannose-configured substrates and xylan. The TM2 protein also degraded Avicel with higher specific activity than activities reported for its homologs. The GH44 catalytic module is composed of a TIM-like domain and a β-sandwich domain, which consists of one β-sheet at the N terminus and nine β-sheets at the C terminus. Deletion of one or more β-sheets from the β-sandwich domain resulted in insoluble proteins, suggesting that the β-sandwich domain is essential for proper folding of the polypeptide. Combining TM2 with three other endoglucanases fromC. besciiled to modest synergistic activities during degradation of cellulose, and based on our results, we propose a model for cellulose hydrolysis and utilization byC. bescii.


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