scholarly journals Dual Roles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgE in Secretion of the Virulence Factor Alginate and Formation of the Secretion Complex

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 2002-2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahid U. Rehman ◽  
Bernd H. A. Rehm

ABSTRACTAlgE is a monomeric 18-stranded β-barrel protein required for secretion of the extracellular polysaccharide alginate inPseudomonas aeruginosa. To assess the molecular mechanism of alginate secretion, AlgE was subjected to site-specific and FLAG epitope insertion mutagenesis. Except for β-strands 6 and 10, epitope insertions into the transmembrane β-strands abolished localization of AlgE to the outer membrane. Interestingly, an epitope insertion into β-strand 10 produced alginate and was only detectable in outer membranes isolated from cells grown on solid media. The deletion of nine C-terminal amino acid residues destabilized AlgE. Replacement of amino acids that constitute the highly electropositive pore constriction showed that individual amino acid residues have a specific function in alginate secretion. Two of the triple mutants (K47E+R353A+R459E and R74E+R362A+R459E) severely reduced alginate production. Mutual stability analysis using thealgEdeletion mutant PDO300ΔalgE(miniCTX) showed the periplasmic alginate biosynthesis proteins AlgK and AlgX were completely destabilized, while the copy number of the inner membrane c-di-GMP receptor Alg44 was reduced. Chromosomal integration ofalgErestored AlgK, AlgX, and Alg44, providing evidence for a multiprotein complex that spans the cell envelope. Periplasmic turn 4 of AlgE was identified as an important region for maintaining the stability of the putative multiprotein complex.

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fata Moradali ◽  
Shirin Ghods ◽  
Bernd H. A. Rehm

ABSTRACT The exopolysaccharide alginate, produced by the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, confers a survival advantage to the bacterium by contributing to the formation of characteristic biofilms during infection. Membrane-anchored proteins Alg8 (catalytic subunit) and Alg44 (copolymerase) constitute the alginate polymerase that is being activated by the second messenger molecule bis-(3′, 5′)-cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP), but the mechanism of activation remains elusive. To shed light on the c-di-GMP-mediated activation of alginate polymerization in vivo, an in silico structural model of Alg8 fused to the c-di-GMP binding PilZ domain informed by the structure of cellulose synthase, BcsA, was developed. This structural model was probed by site-specific mutagenesis and different cellular levels of c-di-GMP. Results suggested that c-di-GMP-mediated activation of alginate polymerization involves amino acids residing at two loops, including H323 (loop A) and T457 and E460 (loop B), surrounding the catalytic site in the predicted model. The activities of the respective Alg8 variants suggested that c-di-GMP-mediated control of substrate access to the catalytic site of Alg8 is dissimilar to the known activation mechanism of BcsA. Alg8 variants responded differently to various c-di-GMP levels, while MucR imparted c-di-GMP for activation of alginate polymerase. Furthermore, we showed that Alg44 copolymerase constituted a stable dimer, with its periplasmic domains required for protein localization and alginate polymerization and modification. Superfolder green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions of Alg8 and Alg44 showed a nonuniform, punctate, and patchy arrangement of both proteins surrounding the cell. Overall, this study provides insights into the c-di-GMP-mediated activation of alginate polymerization while assigning functional roles to Alg8 and Alg44, including their subcellular localization and distribution. IMPORTANCE The exopolysaccharide alginate is an important biofilm component of the opportunistic human pathogen P. aeruginosa and the principal cause of the mucoid phenotype that is the hallmark of chronic infections of cystic fibrosis patients. The production of alginate is mediated by interacting membrane proteins Alg8 and Alg44, while their activity is posttranslationally regulated by the second messenger c-di-GMP, a well-known regulator of the synthesis of a range of other exopolysaccharides in bacteria. This study provides new insights into the unknown activation mechanism of alginate polymerization by c-di-GMP. Experimental evidence that the activation of alginate polymerization requires the engagement of specific amino acid residues residing at the catalytic domain of Alg8 glycosyltransferase was obtained, and these residues are proposed to exert an allosteric effect on the PilZAlg44 domain upon c-di-GMP binding. This mechanism is dissimilar to the proposed mechanism of the autoinhibition of cellulose polymerization imposed by salt bridge formation between amino acid residues and released upon c-di-GMP binding, leading to activation of polymerization. On the other hand, conserved amino acid residues in the periplasmic domain of Alg44 were found to be involved in alginate polymerization as well as modification events, i.e., acetylation and epimerization. Due to the critical role of c-di-GMP in the regulation of many biological processes, particularly the motility-sessility switch and also the emergence of persisting mucoid phenotypes, these results aid to reach a better understanding of biofilm-associated regulatory networks and c-di-GMP signaling and might assist the development of inhibitory drugs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 3264-3272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahid U. Rehman ◽  
Yajie Wang ◽  
M. Fata Moradali ◽  
Iain D. Hay ◽  
Bernd H. A. Rehm

ABSTRACTPseudomonas aeruginosais an opportunistic pathogen of particular significance to cystic fibrosis patients. This bacterium produces the exopolysaccharide alginate, which is an indicator of poor prognosis for these patients. The proteins required for alginate polymerization and secretion are encoded by genes organized in a single operon; however, the existence of internal promoters has been reported. It has been proposed that these proteins form a multiprotein complex which extends from the inner to outer membrane. Here, experimental evidence supporting such a multiprotein complex was obtained via mutual stability analysis, pulldown assays, and coimmunoprecipitation. The impact of the absence of single proteins or subunits on this multiprotein complex, i.e., on the stability of potentially interacting proteins, as well as on alginate production was investigated. Deletion ofalgKin an alginate-overproducing strain, PDO300, interfered with the polymerization of alginate, suggesting that in the absence of AlgK, the polymerase and copolymerase subunits, Alg8 and Alg44, are destabilized. Based on mutual stability analysis, interactions between AlgE (outer membrane), AlgK (periplasm), AlgX (periplasm), Alg44 (inner membrane), Alg8 (inner membrane), and AlgG (periplasm) were proposed. Coimmunoprecipitation using a FLAG-tagged variant of AlgE further demonstrated its interaction with AlgK. Pulldown assays using histidine-tagged AlgK showed that AlgK interacts with AlgX, which in turn was also copurified with histidine-tagged Alg44. Detection of AlgG and AlgE in PAO1 supported the existence of internal promoters controlling expression of the respective genes. Overall experimental evidence was provided for the existence of a multiprotein complex required for alginate polymerization and secretion.


2019 ◽  
Vol 202 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E. Price ◽  
Dustin G. Brown ◽  
Dominique H. Limoli ◽  
Vanessa V. Phelan ◽  
George A. O’Toole

ABSTRACT Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients chronically infected with both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus have worse health outcomes than patients who are monoinfected with either P. aeruginosa or S. aureus. We showed previously that mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa can coexist with S. aureus in vitro due to the transcriptional downregulation of several toxic exoproducts typically produced by P. aeruginosa, including siderophores, rhamnolipids, and HQNO (2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide). Here, we demonstrate that exogenous alginate protects S. aureus from P. aeruginosa in both planktonic and biofilm coculture models under a variety of nutritional conditions. S. aureus protection in the presence of exogenous alginate is due to the transcriptional downregulation of pvdA, a gene required for the production of the iron-scavenging siderophore pyoverdine as well as the downregulation of the PQS (Pseudomonas quinolone signal) (2-heptyl-3,4-dihydroxyquinoline) quorum sensing system. The impact of exogenous alginate is independent of endogenous alginate production. We further demonstrate that coculture of mucoid P. aeruginosa with nonmucoid P. aeruginosa strains can mitigate the killing of S. aureus by the nonmucoid strain of P. aeruginosa, indicating that the mechanism that we describe here may function in vivo in the context of mixed infections. Finally, we investigated a panel of mucoid clinical isolates that retain the ability to kill S. aureus at late time points and show that each strain has a unique expression profile, indicating that mucoid isolates can overcome the S. aureus-protective effects of mucoidy in a strain-specific manner. IMPORTANCE CF patients are chronically infected by polymicrobial communities. The two dominant bacterial pathogens that infect the lungs of CF patients are P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, with ∼30% of patients coinfected by both species. Such coinfected individuals have worse outcomes than monoinfected patients, and both species persist within the same physical space. A variety of host and environmental factors have been demonstrated to promote P. aeruginosa-S. aureus coexistence, despite evidence that P. aeruginosa kills S. aureus when these organisms are cocultured in vitro. Thus, a better understanding of P. aeruginosa-S. aureus interactions, particularly mechanisms by which these microorganisms are able to coexist in proximal physical space, will lead to better-informed treatments for chronic polymicrobial infections.


mBio ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith H. Merritt ◽  
Dae-Gon Ha ◽  
Kimberly N. Cowles ◽  
Wenyun Lu ◽  
Diana K. Morales ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The signaling nucleotide cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) regulates the transition between motile and sessile growth in a wide range of bacteria. Understanding how microbes control c-di-GMP metabolism to activate specific pathways is complicated by the apparent multifold redundancy of enzymes that synthesize and degrade this dinucleotide, and several models have been proposed to explain how bacteria coordinate the actions of these many enzymes. Here we report the identification of a diguanylate cyclase (DGC), RoeA, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that promotes the production of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) and contributes to biofilm formation, that is, the transition from planktonic to surface-dwelling cells. Our studies reveal that RoeA and the previously described DGC SadC make distinct contributions to biofilm formation, controlling polysaccharide production and flagellar motility, respectively. Measurement of total cellular levels of c-di-GMP in ∆roeA and ∆sadC mutants in two different genetic backgrounds revealed no correlation between levels of c-di-GMP and the observed phenotypic output with regard to swarming motility and EPS production. Our data strongly argue against a model wherein changes in total levels of c-di-GMP can account for the specific surface-related phenotypes of P. aeruginosa. IMPORTANCE A critical question in the study of cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) signaling is how the bacterial cell integrates contributions of multiple c-di-GMP-metabolizing enzymes to mediate its cognate functional outputs. One leading model suggests that the effects of c-di-GMP must, in part, be localized subcellularly. The data presented here show that the phenotypes controlled by two different diguanylate cyclase (DGC) enzymes have discrete outputs despite the same total level of c-di-GMP. These data support and extend the model in which localized c-di-GMP signaling likely contributes to coordination of the action of the multiple proteins involved in the synthesis, degradation, and/or binding of this critical signal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (34) ◽  
pp. 11984-11994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Collet ◽  
Seung-Hyun Cho ◽  
Bogdan I. Iorga ◽  
Camille V. Goemans

The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria is a multilayered structure essential for bacterial viability; the peptidoglycan cell wall provides shape and osmotic protection to the cell, and the outer membrane serves as a permeability barrier against noxious compounds in the external environment. Assembling the envelope properly and maintaining its integrity are matters of life and death for bacteria. Our understanding of the mechanisms of envelope assembly and maintenance has increased tremendously over the past two decades. Here, we review the major achievements made during this time, giving central stage to the amino acid cysteine, one of the least abundant amino acid residues in proteins, whose unique chemical and physical properties often critically support biological processes. First, we review how cysteines contribute to envelope homeostasis by forming stabilizing disulfides in crucial bacterial assembly factors (LptD, BamA, and FtsN) and stress sensors (RcsF and NlpE). Second, we highlight the emerging role of enzymes that use cysteine residues to catalyze reactions that are necessary for proper envelope assembly, and we also explain how these enzymes are protected from oxidative inactivation. Finally, we suggest future areas of investigation, including a discussion of how cysteine residues could contribute to envelope homeostasis by functioning as redox switches. By highlighting the redox pathways that are active in the envelope of Escherichia coli, we provide a timely overview of the assembly of a cellular compartment that is the hallmark of Gram-negative bacteria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice Compain ◽  
Agathe Debray ◽  
Pauline Adjadj ◽  
Delphine Dorchêne ◽  
Michel Arthur

ABSTRACT Chromosomal and plasmid-borne AmpC cephalosporinases are a major resistance mechanism to β-lactams in Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The new β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam effectively inhibits class C enzymes and can fully restore ceftazidime susceptibility. The conserved amino acid residue Asn346 of AmpC cephalosporinases directly interacts with the avibactam sulfonate. Disruption of this interaction caused by the N346Y amino acid substitution in Citrobacter freundii AmpC was previously shown to confer resistance to the ceftazidime-avibactam combination (CAZ-AVI). The aim of this study was to phenotypically and biochemically characterize the consequences of the N346Y substitution in various AmpC backgrounds. Introduction of N346Y into Enterobacter cloacae AmpC (AmpCcloacae), plasmid-mediated DHA-1, and P. aeruginosa PDC-5 led to 270-, 12,000-, and 79-fold decreases in the inhibitory efficacy (k2/Ki) of avibactam, respectively. The kinetic parameters of AmpCcloacae and DHA-1 for ceftazidime hydrolysis were moderately affected by the substitution. Accordingly, AmpCcloacae and DHA-1 harboring N346Y conferred CAZ-AVI resistance (MIC of ceftazidime of 16 μg/ml in the presence of 4 μg/ml of avibactam). In contrast, production of PDC-5 N346Y was associated with a lower MIC (4 μg/ml) since this β-lactamase retained a higher inactivation efficacy by avibactam in comparison to AmpCcloacae N346Y. For FOX-3, the I346Y substitution did not reduce the inactivation efficacy of avibactam and the substitution was highly deleterious for β-lactam hydrolysis, including ceftazidime, preventing CAZ-AVI resistance. Since AmpCcloacae and DHA-1 display substantial sequence diversity, our results suggest that loss of hydrogen interaction between Asn346 and avibactam could be a common mechanism of acquisition of CAZ-AVI resistance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulu Wang ◽  
Liyue Wang ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Xintong Duan ◽  
Yuqi Feng ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The biosynthesis of histidine, a proteinogenic amino acid, has been extensively studied due to its importance in bacterial growth and survival. Histidinol-phosphate phosphatase (Hol-Pase), which is responsible for the penultimate step of histidine biosynthesis, is generally the last enzyme to be characterized in many bacteria because its origin and evolution are more complex compared to other enzymes in histidine biosynthesis. However, none of the enzymes in histidine biosynthesis, including Hol-Pase, have been characterized in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is an important opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen that can cause serious human infections. In our previous work, a transposon mutant of P. aeruginosa was found to display a growth defect on glucose-containing minimal solid medium. In this study, we found that the growth defect was due to incomplete histidine auxotrophy caused by PA0335 inactivation. Subsequently, PA0335 was shown to encode Hol-Pase, and its function and enzymatic activity were investigated using genetic and biochemical methods. In addition to PA0335, the roles of 12 other predicted genes involved in histidine biosynthesis in P. aeruginosa were examined. Among them, hisC2 (PA3165), hisH2 (PA3152), and hisF2 (PA3151) were found to be dispensable for histidine synthesis, whereas hisG (PA4449), hisE (PA5067), hisF1 (PA5140), hisB (PA5143), hisI (PA5066), hisC1 (PA4447), and hisA (PA5141) were essential because deletion of each resulted in complete histidine auxotrophy; similar to the case for PA0335, hisH1 (PA5142) or hisD (PA4448) deletion caused incomplete histidine auxotrophy. Taken together, our results outline the histidine synthesis pathway of P. aeruginosa. IMPORTANCE Histidine is a common amino acid in proteins. Because it plays critical roles in bacterial metabolism, its biosynthetic pathway in many bacteria has been elucidated. However, the pathway remains unclear in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important opportunistic pathogen in clinical settings; in particular, there is scant knowledge about histidinol-phosphate phosphatase (Hol-Pase), which has a complex origin and evolution. In this study, P. aeruginosa Hol-Pase was identified and characterized. Furthermore, the roles of all other predicted genes involved in histidine biosynthesis were examined. Our results illustrate the histidine synthesis pathway of P. aeruginosa. The knowledge obtained from this study may help in developing strategies to control P. aeruginosa-related infections. In addition, some enzymes of the histidine synthesis pathway from P. aeruginosa might be used as elements of histidine synthetic biology in other industrial microorganisms.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
VaNae Hamilton ◽  
Ujjal K. Singha ◽  
Joseph T. Smith ◽  
Ebony Weems ◽  
Minu Chaudhuri

ABSTRACTRecognition of mitochondrial targeting signals (MTS) by receptor translocases of outer and inner membranes of mitochondria is one of the prerequisites for import of nucleus-encoded proteins into this organelle. The MTS for a majority of trypanosomatid mitochondrial proteins have not been well defined. Here we analyzed the targeting signal for trypanosome alternative oxidase (TAO), which functions as the sole terminal oxidase in the infective form ofTrypanosoma brucei. Deleting the first 10 of 24 amino acids predicted to be the classical N-terminal MTS of TAO did not affect its import into mitochondriain vitro. Furthermore, ectopically expressed TAO was targeted to mitochondria in both forms of the parasite even after deletion of first 40 amino acid residues. However, deletion of more than 20 amino acid residues from the N terminus reduced the efficiency of import. These data suggest that besides an N-terminal MTS, TAO possesses an internal mitochondrial targeting signal. In addition, both the N-terminal MTS and the mature TAO protein were able to target a cytosolic protein, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), to aT. bruceimitochondrion. Further analysis identified a cryptic internal MTS of TAO, located within amino acid residues 115 to 146, which was fully capable of targeting DHFR to mitochondria. The internal signal was more efficient than the N-terminal MTS for import of this heterologous protein. Together, these results show that TAO possesses a cleavable N-terminal MTS as well as an internal MTS and that these signals act together for efficient import of TAO into mitochondria.


2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 1806-1812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain D. Hay ◽  
Zahid U. Rehman ◽  
Bernd H. A. Rehm

ABSTRACT The ubiquitous opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes a viscous extracellular polysaccharide, called alginate, as a virulence factor during chronic infection of patients with cystic fibrosis. In the present study, it was demonstrated that the outer membrane protein AlgE is required for the production of alginate in P. aeruginosa. An isogenic marker-free algE deletion mutant was constructed. This strain was incapable of producing alginate but did secrete alginate degradation products, indicating that polymerization occurs but that the alginate chain is subsequently degraded during transit through the periplasm. Alginate production was restored by introducing the algE gene. The membrane topology of the outer membrane protein AlgE was assessed by site-specific insertions of FLAG epitopes into predicted extracellular loop regions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 753-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiko Maeda ◽  
Hideki Nagata ◽  
Masae Kuboniwa ◽  
Miki Ojima ◽  
Tsukasa Osaki ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCoaggregation ofPorphyromonas gingivalisand oral streptococci is thought to play an important role inP. gingivaliscolonization. Previously, we reported thatP. gingivalismajor fimbriae interacted withStreptococcus oralisglyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and that amino acid residues 166 to 183 of GAPDH exhibited strong binding activity towardP. gingivalisfimbriae (H. Nagata, M. Iwasaki, K. Maeda, M. Kuboniwa, E. Hashino, M. Toe, N. Minamino, H. Kuwahara, and S. Shizukuishi, Infect. Immun.77:5130–5138, 2009). The present study aimed to identify and characterizeP. gingivaliscomponents other than fimbriae that interact withS. oralisGAPDH. A pulldown assay was performed to detect potential interactions betweenP. gingivalisclient proteins andS. oralisrecombinant GAPDH with amino acid residues 166 to 183 deleted by site-directed mutagenesis. Seven proteins, namely,tonB-dependent receptor protein (RagA4), arginine-specific proteinase B, 4-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A dehydratase (AbfD), lysine-specific proteinase, GAPDH, NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH), were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by proteomic analysis using tandem mass spectrometry. Interactions between these client proteins andS. oralisGAPDH were analyzed with a biomolecular interaction analysis system.S. oralisGAPDH showed high affinity for five of the seven client proteins (RagA4, AbfD, GAPDH, GDH, and MDH). Interactions betweenP. gingivalisandS. oraliswere measured by a turbidimetric method and fluorescence microscopy. RagA4, AbfD, and GDH enhanced coaggregation, whereas GAPDH and MDH inhibited coaggregation. Furthermore, the expression ofluxSinP. gingivaliswas upregulated by RagA4, AbfD, and GDH but was downregulated by MDH. These results indicate that the fiveP. gingivalisclient proteins function as regulators inP. gingivalisbiofilm formation with oral streptococci.


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