Requirement of Purine and Pyrimidine Synthesis for Colonization of the Mouse Intestine by Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT To study the adaptation of an intestinal bacterium to its natural environment, germfree mice were associated with commensal Escherichia coli MG1655. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to identify proteins differentially expressed in E. coli MG1655 collected from either cecal contents or anaerobic in vitro cultures. Fourteen differentially expressed proteins (>3-fold; P < 0.05) were identified, nine of which were upregulated in cecal versus in vitro-grown E. coli. Four of these proteins were investigated further for their role in gut colonization. After deletion of the corresponding genes, the resulting E. coli mutants were tested for their ability to colonize the intestines of gnotobiotic mice in competition with the wild-type strain. A mutant devoid of ydjG, which encodes a putative NADH-dependent methylglyoxal reductase, reached a 1.2-log-lower cecal concentration than the wild type. Deletion of the nanA gene encoding N-acetylneuraminate lyase affected the colonization and persistence of E. coli in the intestines of the gnotobiotic mice only slightly. A mutant devoid of 5′-phosphoribosyl 4-(N-succinocarboxamide)-5-aminoimidazole synthase, a key enzyme of purine synthesis, displayed intestinal cell counts >4 logs lower than those of the wild type. Deletion of the gene encoding aspartate carbamoyltransferase, a key enzyme of pyrimidine synthesis, even resulted in the washout of the corresponding mutant from the mouse intestinal tract. These findings indicate that E. coli needs to synthesize purines and pyrimidines to successfully colonize the mouse intestine.

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Role of Motility and the flhDC Operon in Escherichia coli MG1655 Colonization of the Mouse Intestine

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00052-07 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 75 (7) ◽

pp. 3315-3324 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Eric J. Gauger ◽

Mary P. Leatham ◽

Regino Mercado-Lubo ◽

David C. Laux ◽

Tyrrell Conway ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Regulatory Region ◽

Flagellar Motor ◽

Wild Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Mouse Intestine ◽

Flagellum Biosynthesis ◽

Colonizing Ability

ABSTRACT Previously, we reported that the mouse intestine selected mutants of Escherichia coli MG1655 that have improved colonizing ability (M. P. Leatham et al., Infect. Immun. 73:8039-8049, 2005). These mutants grew 10 to 20% faster than their parent in mouse cecal mucus in vitro and 15 to 30% faster on several sugars found in the mouse intestine. The mutants were nonmotile and had deletions of various lengths beginning immediately downstream of an IS1 element located within the regulatory region of the flhDC operon, which encodes the master regulator of flagellum biosynthesis, FlhD4C2. Here we show that during intestinal colonization by wild-type E. coli strain MG1655, 45 to 50% of the cells became nonmotile by day 3 after feeding of the strain to mice and between 80 and 90% of the cells were nonmotile by day 15 after feeding. Ten nonmotile mutants isolated from mice were sequenced, and all were found to have flhDC deletions of various lengths. Despite this strong selection, 10 to 20% of the E. coli MG1655 cells remained motile over a 15-day period, suggesting that there is an as-yet-undefined intestinal niche in which motility is an advantage. The deletions appear to be selected in the intestine for two reasons. First, genes unrelated to motility that are normally either directly or indirectly repressed by FlhD4C2 but can contribute to maximum colonizing ability are released from repression. Second, energy normally used to synthesize flagella and turn the flagellar motor is redirected to growth.

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l-Fucose Stimulates Utilization of d-Ribose by Escherichia coli MG1655 ΔfucAO and E. coli Nissle 1917 ΔfucAO Mutants in the Mouse Intestine and in M9 Minimal Medium

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00822-07 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 75 (11) ◽

pp. 5465-5475 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Steven M. Autieri ◽

Jeremy J. Lins ◽

Mary P. Leatham ◽

David C. Laux ◽

Tyrrell Conway ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Minimal Medium ◽

Wild Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Commensal Strain ◽

Mouse Intestine ◽

Level 2 ◽

Growth Experiments

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli MG1655 uses several sugars for growth in the mouse intestine. To determine the roles of l-fucose and d-ribose, an E. coli MG1655 ΔfucAO mutant and an E. coli MG1655 ΔrbsK mutant were fed separately to mice along with wild-type E. coli MG1655. The E. coli MG1655 ΔfucAO mutant colonized the intestine at a level 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of the wild type, but the E. coli MG1655 ΔrbsK mutant and the wild type colonized at nearly identical levels. Surprisingly, an E. coli MG1655 ΔfucAO ΔrbsK mutant was eliminated from the intestine by either wild-type E. coli MG1655 or E. coli MG1655 ΔfucAO, suggesting that the ΔfucAO mutant switches to ribose in vivo. Indeed, in vitro growth experiments showed that l-fucose stimulated utilization of d-ribose by the E. coli MG1655 ΔfucAO mutant but not by an E. coli MG1655 ΔfucK mutant. Since the ΔfucK mutant cannot convert l-fuculose to l-fuculose-1-phosphate, whereas the ΔfucAO mutant accumulates l-fuculose-1-phosphate, the data suggest that l-fuculose-1-phosphate stimulates growth on ribose both in the intestine and in vitro. An E. coli Nissle 1917 ΔfucAO mutant, derived from a human probiotic commensal strain, acted in a manner identical to that of E. coli MG1655 ΔfucAO in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, l-fucose at a concentration too low to support growth stimulated the utilization of ribose by the wild-type E. coli strains in vitro. Collectively, the data suggest that l-fuculose-1-phosphate plays a role in the regulation of ribose usage as a carbon source by E. coli MG1655 and E. coli Nissle 1917 in the mouse intestine.

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Enhancement of the Efficiency of Secretion of Heterologous Lipase in Escherichia coli by Directed Evolution of the ABC Transporter System

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.71.7.3468-3474.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 71 (7) ◽

pp. 3468-3474 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Gyeong Tae Eom ◽

Jae Kwang Song ◽

Jung Hoon Ahn ◽

Yeon Soo Seo ◽

Joon Shick Rhee

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Directed Evolution ◽

Abc Transporter ◽

Microtiter Plate ◽

Single Amino Acid ◽

Wild Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Single Amino Acid Change ◽

Secretion Efficiency

ABSTRACT The ABC transporter (TliDEF) from Pseudomonas fluorescens SIK W1, which mediated the secretion of a thermostable lipase (TliA) into the extracellular space in Escherichia coli, was engineered using directed evolution (error-prone PCR) to improve its secretion efficiency. TliD mutants with increased secretion efficiency were identified by coexpressing the mutated tliD library with the wild-type tliA lipase in E. coli and by screening the library with a tributyrin-emulsified indicator plate assay and a microtiter plate-based assay. Four selected mutants from one round of error-prone PCR mutagenesis, T6, T8, T24, and T35, showed 3.2-, 2.6-, 2.9-, and 3.0-fold increases in the level of secretion of TliA lipase, respectively, but had almost the same level of expression of TliD in the membrane as the strain with the wild-type TliDEF transporter. These results indicated that the improved secretion of TliA lipase was mediated by the transporter mutations. Each mutant had a single amino acid change in the predicted cytoplasmic regions in the membrane domain of TliD, implying that the corresponding region of TliD was important for the improved and successful secretion of the target protein. We therefore concluded that the efficiency of secretion of a heterologous protein in E. coli can be enhanced by in vitro engineering of the ABC transporter.

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Multiple Elements Controlling Adherence of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 to HeLa Cells

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.71.9.4985-4995.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 71 (9) ◽

pp. 4985-4995 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Alfredo G. Torres ◽

James B. Kaper

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Hela Cells ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Wild Type ◽

Transposon Insertion ◽

Reduced Adherence ◽

Insertion Mutants

ABSTRACT Adherence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to the intestinal epithelium is essential for initiation of infection. Intimin is the only factor demonstrated to play a role in intestinal colonization by EHEC O157:H7. Other attempts to identify additional adhesion factors in vitro have been unsuccessful, suggesting that expression of these factors is under tight regulation. We sought to identify genes involved in the control of adherence of EHEC O157:H7 to cultured epithelial cells. A total of 5,000 independent transposon insertion mutants were screened for their ability to adhere to HeLa cells, and 7 mutants were isolated with a markedly enhanced adherence. The mutants adhered at levels 113 to 170% that of the wild-type strain, and analysis of the protein profiles of these mutants revealed several proteins differentially expressed under in vitro culture conditions. We determined the sequence of the differentially expressed proteins and further investigated the function of OmpA, whose expression was increased in a mutant with an insertionally inactivated tcdA gene. An isogenic ompA mutant showed reduced adherence compared to the parent strain. Disruption of the ompA gene in the tdcA mutant strain abolished the hyperadherent phenotype, and anti-OmpA serum inhibited adhesion of wild-type and tdcA mutant strains to HeLa cells. Enhanced adhesion mediated by OmpA was also observed with Caco-2 cells, and anti-OmpA serum blocked adherence to HeLa cells of other EHEC O157:H7 strains. Our results indicate that multiple elements control adherence and OmpA acts as an adhesin in EHEC O157:H7.

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In Vivo Titration of Mitomycin C Action by Four Escherichia coli Genomic Regions on Multicopy Plasmids

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.183.7.2259-2264.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 183 (7) ◽

pp. 2259-2264 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Yan Wei ◽

Amy C. Vollmer ◽

Robert A. LaRossa

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Mitomycin C ◽

Transcriptional Activation ◽

Efflux Pump ◽

Wild Type ◽

Potent Inducer ◽

E Coli ◽

Genomic Regions

ABSTRACT Mitomycin C (MMC), a DNA-damaging agent, is a potent inducer of the bacterial SOS response; surprisingly, it has not been used to select resistant mutants from wild-type Escherichia coli. MMC resistance is caused by the presence of any of four distinctE. coli genes (mdfA, gyrl, rob, andsdiA) on high-copy-number vectors. mdfAencodes a membrane efflux pump whose overexpression results in broad-spectrum chemical resistance. The gyrI (also called sbmC) gene product inhibits DNA gyrase activity in vitro, while the rob protein appears to function in transcriptional activation of efflux pumps. SdiA is a transcriptional activator of ftsQAZ genes involved in cell division.

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Regulation and Mechanism of Action of the Small Heat Shock Protein from the Hyperthermophilic ArchaeonPyrococcus furiosus

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.183.17.5198-5202.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 183 (17) ◽

pp. 5198-5202 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Pongpan Laksanalamai ◽

Dennis L. Maeder ◽

Frank T. Robb

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Heat Shock ◽

Heat Shock Protein ◽

Mechanism Of Action ◽

Pyrococcus Furiosus ◽

Small Heat Shock Protein ◽

Control Culture ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

E Coli

ABSTRACT The small heat shock protein (sHSP) from the hyperthermophilePyrococcus furiosus was specifically induced at the level of transcription by heat shock at 105°C. The gene encoding this protein was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant sHSP prevented the majority of E. coli proteins from aggregating in vitro for up to 40 min at 105°C. The sHSP also prevented bovine glutamate dehydrogenase from aggregating at 56°C. Survivability of E. colioverexpressing the sHSP was enhanced approximately sixfold during exposure to 50°C for 2 h compared with the control culture, which did not express the sHSP. Apparently, the sHSP confers a survival advantage on mesophilic bacteria by preventing protein aggregation at supraoptimal temperatures.

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Expression and lipoylation in Escherichia coli of the inner lipoyl domain of the E2 component of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2890081 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 289 (1) ◽

pp. 81-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

J Quinn ◽

A G Diamond ◽

A K Masters ◽

D E Brookfield ◽

N G Wallis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase ◽

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex ◽

Structural Studies ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

E Coli ◽

Inner Lipoyl Domain ◽

Dehydrogenase Complex ◽

Lipoyl Domain

The dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase subunit (E2p) of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex has two highly conserved lipoyl domains each modified with a lipoyl cofactor bound in amide linkage to a specific lysine residue. A sub-gene encoding the inner lipoyl domain of human E2p has been over-expressed in Escherichia coli. Two forms of the domain have been purified, corresponding to lipoylated and non-lipoylated species. The apo-domain can be lipoylated in vitro with partially purified E. coli lipoate protein ligase, and the lipoylated domain can be reductively acetylated by human E1p (pyruvate dehydrogenase). Availability of the two forms will now allow detailed biochemical and structural studies of the human lipoyl domains.

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Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 gal Mutants Are Sensitive to Bacteriophage P1 and Defective in Intestinal Colonization

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.01342-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. 1661-1666 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Theresa Deland Ho ◽

Matthew K. Waldor

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Genetic Manipulation ◽

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli ◽

Deletion Strain ◽

Growth Defect ◽

Intestinal Colonization ◽

Wild Type ◽

E Coli ◽

O Antigen

ABSTRACT Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), especially E. coli O157:H7, is an emerging cause of food-borne illness. Unfortunately, E. coli O157 cannot be genetically manipulated using the generalized transducing phage P1, presumably because its extensive O antigen obscures the P1 receptor, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core subunit. The GalE, GalT, GalK, and GalU proteins are necessary for modifying galactose before it can be assembled into the repeating subunit of the O antigen. Here, we constructed E. coli O157:H7 gal mutants which presumably have little or no O antigen. These strains were able to adsorb P1. P1 lysates grown on the gal mutant strains could be used to move chromosomal markers between EHEC strains, thereby facilitating genetic manipulation of E. coli O157:H7. The gal mutants could easily be reverted to a wild-type Gal+ strain using P1 transduction. We found that the O157:H7 galETKM::aad-7 deletion strain was 500-fold less able to colonize the infant rabbit intestine than the isogenic Gal+ parent, although it displayed no growth defect in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo a Gal+ revertant of this mutant outcompeted the galETKM deletion strain to an extent similar to that of the wild type. This suggests that the O157 O antigen is an important intestinal colonization factor. Compared to the wild type, EHEC gal mutants were 100-fold more sensitive to a peptide derived from bactericidal permeability-increasing protein, a bactericidal protein found on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells. Thus, one way in which the O157 O antigen may contribute to EHEC intestinal colonization is to promote resistance to host-derived antimicrobial polypeptides.

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Positive control of sulphate reduction in Escherichia coli. The nature of the pleiotropic cysteineless mutants of E. coli K 12

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj1100597 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 110 (3) ◽

pp. 597-602 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

M. C. Jones-Mortimer

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Mutant Allele ◽

Positive Control ◽

Wild Type Allele ◽

Wild Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Type Allele ◽

K 12 ◽

Sulphite Reductase

1. The function of the wild-type alleles of the pleiotropic mutants cysB and cysE of Escherichia coli was investigated. 2. The wild-type allele cysB+ is dominant to the mutant allele cysB in stable and transient heterozygotes. 3. The wild-type allele cysE+ is dominant to the mutant allele cysE, as predicted. 4. Sulphur-starved cultures of cysB or cysE strains contain less than 0·2nmole of free cysteine/mg. dry wt. 5. Complementation in vitro is not observed between extracts of cysB mutants and mutants lacking sulphite reductase only. 6. A scheme, involving positive control of the enzymes of sulphate activation and reduction, is suggested to account for the control of cysteine biosynthesis.

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ucFabV Requires Functional Reductase Activity to Confer Reduced Triclosan Susceptibility in Escherichia coli

Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology ◽

10.1159/000441640 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 394-402 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Taylor L. Fischer ◽

Robert J. White ◽

Katherine F.K. Mares ◽

Devin E. Molnau ◽

Justin J. Donato

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Reductase Activity ◽

Acid Synthesis ◽

Temperature Sensitive ◽

Wild Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Enoyl Acp Reductase ◽

Selection For

Background/Aims: We previously identified the Triclo1 fosmid in a functional metagenomic selection for clones that increased triclosan tolerance in Escherichia coli. The active enzyme encoded by Triclo1 is ucFabV. Although ucFabV is homologous to FabV from other organisms, ucFabV contains substitutions at key positions that would predict differences in substrate binding. Therefore, a detailed characterization of ucFabV was conducted to link its biochemical activity to its ability to confer reduced triclosan sensitivity. Methods: ucFabV and a catalytic mutant were purified and used to reduce crotonoyl-CoA in vitro. The mutant and wild-type enzymes were introduced into E. coli, and their ability to confer triclosan tolerance as well as suppress a temperature-sensitive mutant of FabI were measured. Results: Purified ucFabV, but not the mutant, reduced crotonoyl-CoA in vitro. The wild-type enzyme confers increased triclosan tolerance when introduced into E. coli, whereas the mutant remained susceptible to triclosan. Additionally, wild-type ucFabV, but not the mutant, functionally replaced FabI within living cells. Conclusion: ucFabV confers increased tolerance through its function as an enoyl-ACP reductase. Furthermore, ucFabV is capable of restoring viability in the presence of compromised FabI, suggesting ucFabV is likely facilitating an alternate step within fatty acid synthesis, bypassing FabI inhibition.

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