scholarly journals Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of the Bacterial Arginine Glycosyltransferase Effector NleB1 from Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1346-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Wong Fok Lung ◽  
Cristina Giogha ◽  
Kristina Creuzburg ◽  
Sze Ying Ong ◽  
Georgina L. Pollock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Fas Ligand ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Caspase 8 ◽  
Death Domain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Functional Sites

EnteropathogenicEscherichia coli(EPEC) interferes with host cell signaling by injecting virulence effector proteins into enterocytes via a type III secretion system (T3SS). NleB1 is a novel T3SS glycosyltransferase effector from EPEC that transfers a singleN-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moiety in anN-glycosidic linkage to Arg117of the Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD). GlcNAcylation of FADD prevents the assembly of the canonical death-inducing signaling complex and inhibits Fas ligand (FasL)-induced cell death. Apart from the DXD catalytic motif of NleB1, little is known about other functional sites in the enzyme. In the present study, members of a library of 22 random transposon-based, in-frame, linker insertion mutants of NleB1 were tested for their ability to block caspase-8 activation in response to FasL during EPEC infection. Immunoblot analysis of caspase-8 cleavage showed that 17 mutant derivatives of NleB1, including the catalytic DXD mutant, did not inhibit caspase-8 activation. Regions of interest around the insertion sites with multiple or single amino acid substitutions were examined further. Coimmunoprecipitation studies of 34 site-directed mutants showed that the NleB1 derivatives with the E253A, Y219A, and PILN(63–66)AAAA(in which the PILN motif from residues 63 to 66 was changed to AAAA) mutations bound to but did not GlcNAcylate FADD. A further mutant derivative, the PDG(236–238)AAAmutant, did not bind to or GlcNAcylate FADD. Infection of mice with the EPEC-like mouse pathogenCitrobacter rodentiumexpressing NleBE253Aand NleBY219Ashowed that these strains were attenuated, indicating the importance of residues E253 and Y219 in NleB1 virulencein vivo. In summary, we identified new amino acid residues critical for NleB1 activity and confirmed that these are required for the virulence function of NleB1.

scholarly journals Distinct Roles of the Antiapoptotic Effectors NleB and NleF from Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina L. Pollock ◽  
Clare V. L. Oates ◽  
Cristina Giogha ◽  
Tania Wong Fok Lung ◽  
Sze Ying Ong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Fas Ligand ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Caspase 8 ◽  
Death Domain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fas Signaling

ABSTRACT During infection, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) translocates effector proteins directly into the cytosol of infected enterocytes using a type III secretion system (T3SS). Once inside the host cell, these effector proteins subvert various immune signaling pathways, including death receptor-induced apoptosis. One such effector protein is the non-locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE)-encoded effector NleB1, which inhibits extrinsic apoptotic signaling via the FAS death receptor. NleB1 transfers a single N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residue to Arg117 in the death domain of Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) and inhibits FAS ligand (FasL)-stimulated caspase-8 cleavage. Another effector secreted by the T3SS is NleF. Previous studies have shown that NleF binds to and inhibits the activity of caspase-4, -8, and -9 in vitro. Here, we investigated a role for NleF in the inhibition of FAS signaling and apoptosis during EPEC infection. We show that NleF prevents the cleavage of caspase-8, caspase-3, and receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) in response to FasL stimulation. When translocated into host cells by the T3SS or expressed ectopically, NleF also blocked FasL-induced cell death. Using the EPEC-like mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium, we found that NleB but not NleF contributed to colonization of mice in the intestine. Hence, despite their shared ability to block FasL/FAS signaling, NleB and NleF have distinct roles during infection.

scholarly journals Identification of a Kinase-Active CheA Conformation in Escherichia coli Chemoreceptor Signaling Complexes

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Germán E. Piñas ◽  
John S. Parkinson
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Active State ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Atp Binding ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli chemotaxis relies on control of the autophosphorylation activity of the histidine kinase CheA by transmembrane chemoreceptors. Core signaling units contain two receptor trimers of dimers, one CheA homodimer, and two monomeric CheW proteins that couple CheA activity to receptor control. Core signaling units appear to operate as two-state devices, with distinct kinase-on and kinase-off CheA output states whose structural nature is poorly understood. A recent all-atom molecular dynamic simulation of a receptor core unit revealed two alternative conformations, “dipped” and “undipped,” for the ATP-binding CheA.P4 domain that could be related to kinase activity states. To explore possible signaling roles for the dipped CheA.P4 conformation, we created CheA mutants with amino acid replacements at residues (R265, E368, and D372) implicated in promoting the dipped conformation and examined their signaling consequences with in vivo Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based kinase assays. We used cysteine-directed in vivo cross-linking reporters for the dipped and undipped conformations to assess mutant proteins for these distinct CheA.P4 domain configurations. Phenotypic suppression analyses revealed functional interactions among the conformation-controlling residues. We found that structural interactions between R265, located at the N terminus of the CheA.P3 dimerization domain, and E368/D372 in the CheA.P4 domain played a critical role in stabilizing the dipped conformation and in producing kinase-on output. Charge reversal replacements at any of these residues abrogated the dipped cross-linking signal, CheA kinase activity, and chemotactic ability. We conclude that the dipped conformation of the CheA.P4 domain is critical to the kinase-active state in core signaling units. IMPORTANCE Regulation of CheA kinase in chemoreceptor arrays is critical for Escherichia coli chemotaxis. However, to date, little is known about the CheA conformations that lead to the kinase-on or kinase-off states. Here, we explore the signaling roles of a distinct conformation of the ATP-binding CheA.P4 domain identified by all-atom molecular dynamics simulation. Amino acid replacements at residues predicted to stabilize the so-called “dipped” CheA.P4 conformation abolished the kinase activity of CheA and its ability to support chemotaxis. Our findings indicate that the dipped conformation of the CheA.P4 domain is critical for reaching the kinase-active state in chemoreceptor signaling arrays.

scholarly journals The Topology of the l-Arginine Exporter ArgO Conforms to an Nin-CoutConfiguration in Escherichia coli: Requirement for the Cytoplasmic N-Terminal Domain, Functional Helical Interactions, and an Aspartate Pair for ArgO Function

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (23) ◽  
pp. 3186-3199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Pathania ◽  
Arvind Kumar Gupta ◽  
Swati Dubey ◽  
Balasubramanian Gopal ◽  
Abhijit A. Sardesai
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Cytoplasmic Membrane ◽  
Basic Amino Acid ◽  
Intramolecular Interactions ◽  
Membrane Topology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Terminal Domain

ABSTRACTArgO and LysE are members of the LysE family of exporter proteins and ordinarily mediate the export ofl-arginine (Arg) inEscherichia coliandl-lysine (Lys) and Arg inCorynebacterium glutamicum, respectively. Under certain conditions, ArgO also mediates Lys export. To delineate the arrangement of ArgO in the cytoplasmic membrane ofE. coli, we have employed a combination of cysteine accessibilityin situ, alkaline phosphatase fusion reporters, and protein modeling to arrive at a topological model of ArgO. Our studies indicate that ArgO assumes an Nin-Coutconfiguration, potentially forming a five-transmembrane helix bundle flanked by a cytoplasmic N-terminal domain (NTD) comprising roughly its first 38 to 43 amino acyl residues and a short periplasmic C-terminal region (CTR). Mutagenesis studies indicate that the CTR, but not the NTD, is dispensable for ArgO functionin vivoand that a pair of conserved aspartate residues, located near the opposing edges of the cytoplasmic membrane, may play a pivotal role in facilitating transmembrane Arg flux. Additional studies on amino acid substitutions that impair ArgO functionin vivoand their derivatives bearing compensatory amino acid alterations indicate a role for intramolecular interactions in the Arg export mechanism, and some interactions are corroborated by normal-mode analyses. Lastly, our studies suggest that ArgO may exist as a monomerin vivo, thus highlighting the requirement for intramolecular interactions in ArgO, as opposed to interactions across multiple ArgO monomers, in the formation of an Arg-translocating conduit.IMPORTANCEThe orthologous proteins LysE ofC. glutamicumand ArgO ofE. colifunction as exporters of the basic amino acidsl-arginine andl-lysine and the basic amino acidl-arginine, respectively, and LysE can functionally substitute for ArgO when expressed inE. coli. Notwithstanding this functional equivalence, studies reported here show that ArgO possesses a membrane topology that is distinct from that reported for LysE, with substantial variation in the topological arrangement of the proximal one-third portions of the two exporters. Additional genetic andin silicostudies reveal the importance of (i) the cytoplasmic N-terminal domain, (ii) a pair of conserved aspartate residues, and (iii) potential intramolecular interactions in ArgO function and indicate that an Arg-translocating conduit is formed by a monomer of ArgO.

scholarly journals NDM-4 Metallo-β-Lactamase with Increased Carbapenemase Activity from Escherichia coli

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 2184-2186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice Nordmann ◽  
Anne E. Boulanger ◽  
Laurent Poirel
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Substitution ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Hydrolytic Activity ◽  
Single Amino Acid Substitution ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTA clinicalEscherichia coliisolate resistant to all β-lactams, including carbapenems, expressed a novel metallo-β-lactamase (MBL), NDM-4, differing from NDM-1 by a single amino acid substitution (Met154Leu). NDM-4 possessed increased hydrolytic activity toward carbapenems and several cephalosporins compared to that of NDM-1. This amino acid substitution was not located in the known active sites of NDM-1, indicating that remote amino acid substitutions might also play a role in the extended activity of this MBL.

scholarly journals A Trigger Residue for Transmembrane Signaling in the Escherichia coli Serine Chemoreceptor

2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (15) ◽  
pp. 2568-2579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smiljka Kitanovic ◽  
Peter Ames ◽  
John S. Parkinson
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Transmembrane Signaling ◽  
Synthetic Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Output State ◽  
Cable Segment

ABSTRACTThe transmembrane Tsr protein ofEscherichia colimediates chemotactic responses to environmental serine gradients. Serine binds to the periplasmic domain of the homodimeric Tsr molecule, promoting a small inward displacement of one transmembrane helix (TM2). TM2 piston displacements, in turn, modulate the structural stability of the Tsr-HAMP domain on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane to control the autophosphorylation activity of the signaling CheA kinase bound to the membrane-distal cytoplasmic tip of Tsr. A five-residue control cable segment connects TM2 to the AS1 helix of HAMP and transmits stimulus and sensory adaptation signals between them. To explore the possible role of control cable helicity in transmembrane signaling by Tsr, we characterized the signaling properties of mutant receptors with various control cable alterations. An all-alanine control cable shifted Tsr output toward the kinase-on state, whereas an all-glycine control cable prevented Tsr from reaching either a fully on or fully off output state. Restoration of the native isoleucine (I214) in these synthetic control cables largely alleviated their signaling defects. Single amino acid replacements at Tsr-I214 shifted output toward the kinase-off (L, N, H, and R) or kinase-on (A and G) states, whereas other control cable residues tolerated most amino acid replacements with little change in signaling behavior. These findings indicate that changes in control cable helicity might mediate transitions between the kinase-on and kinase-off states during transmembrane signaling by chemoreceptors. Moreover, the Tsr-I214 side chain plays a key role, possibly through interaction with the membrane interfacial environment, in triggering signaling changes in response to TM2 piston displacements.IMPORTANCEThe Tsr protein ofE. colimediates chemotactic responses to environmental serine gradients. Stimulus signals from the Tsr periplasmic sensing domain reach its cytoplasmic kinase control domain through piston displacements of a membrane-spanning helix and an adjoining five-residue control cable segment. We characterized the signaling properties of Tsr variants to elucidate the transmembrane signaling role of the control cable, an element present in many microbial sensory proteins. Both the kinase-on and kinase-off output states of Tsr depended on control cable helicity, but only one residue, I214, was critical for triggering responses to attractant inputs. These findings suggest that signal transmission in Tsr involves modulation of control cable helicity through interaction of the I214 side chain with the cytoplasmic membrane.

scholarly journals Mutational Analysis of Escherichia coli Heat Shock Transcription Factor Sigma 32 Reveals Similarities with Sigma 70 in Recognition of the −35 Promoter Element and Differences in Promoter DNA Melting and −10 Recognition

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (19) ◽  
pp. 6762-6769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga V. Kourennaia ◽  
Laura Tsujikawa ◽  
Pieter L. deHaseth
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Promoter Dna

ABSTRACT Upon the exposure of Escherichia coli to high temperature (heat shock), cellular levels of the transcription factor σ32 rise greatly, resulting in the increased formation of the σ32 holoenzyme, which is capable of transcription initiation at heat shock promoters. Higher levels of heat shock proteins render the cell better able to cope with the effects of higher temperatures. To conduct structure-function studies on σ32 in vivo, we have carried out site-directed mutagenesis and employed a previously developed system involving σ32 expression from one plasmid and a β-galactosidase reporter gene driven by the σ32-dependent groE promoter on another in order to monitor the effects of single amino acid substitutions on σ32 activity. It was found that the recognition of the −35 region involves similar amino acid residues in regions 4.2 of E. coli σ32 and σ70. Three conserved amino acids in region 2.3 of σ32 were found to be only marginally important in determining activity in vivo. Differences between σ32 and σ70 in the effects of mutation in region 2.4 on the activities of the two sigma factors are consistent with the pronounced differences between both the amino acid sequences in this region and the recognized promoter DNA sequences.

scholarly journals Pseudomonas aeruginosa MutL protein functions in Escherichia coli

2005 ◽  
Vol 388 (3) ◽  
pp. 879-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela K. JACQUELÍN ◽  
Adrián FILIBERTI ◽  
Carlos E. ARGARAÑA ◽  
José L. BARRA
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Repair System ◽  
E Coli ◽  
New Findings

Escherichia coli MutS, MutL and MutH proteins act sequentially in the MMRS (mismatch repair system). MutH directs the repair system to the newly synthesized strand due to its transient lack of Dam (DNA-adenine methylase) methylation. Although Pseudomonas aeruginosa does not have the corresponding E. coli MutH and Dam homologues, and consequently the MMRS seems to work differently, we show that the mutL gene from P. aeruginosa is capable of complementing a MutL-deficient strain of E. coli. MutL from P. aeruginosa has conserved 21 out of the 22 amino acids known to affect functioning of E. coli MutL. We showed, using protein affinity chromatography, that the C-terminal regions of P. aeruginosa and E. coli MutL are capable of specifically interacting with E. coli MutH and retaining the E. coli MutH. Although, the amino acid sequences of the C-terminal regions of these two proteins are only 18% identical, they are 88% identical in the predicted secondary structure. Finally, by analysing (E. coli–P. aeruginosa) chimaeric MutL proteins, we show that the N-terminal regions of E. coli and P. aeruginosa MutL proteins function similarly, in vivo and in vitro. These new findings support the hypothesis that a large surface, rather than a single amino acid, constitutes the MutL surface for interaction with MutH, and that the N- and C-terminal regions of MutL are involved in such interactions.

scholarly journals MetR-Regulated Vibrio cholerae Metabolism Is Required for Virulence

mBio ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan W. Bogard ◽  
Bryan W. Davies ◽  
John J. Mekalanos
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Vibrio Cholerae ◽  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Intestinal Colonization ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mouse Intestine

ABSTRACTLysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) are the largest, most diverse family of prokaryotic transcription factors, with regulatory roles spanning metabolism, cell growth and division, and pathogenesis. Using a sequence-defined transposon mutant library, we screened a panel ofV. choleraeEl Tor mutants to identify LTTRs required for host intestinal colonization. Surprisingly, out of 38 LTTRs, only one severely affected intestinal colonization in the suckling mouse model of cholera: the methionine metabolism regulator, MetR. Genetic analysis of genes influenced by MetR revealed thatglyA1andmetJwere also required for intestinal colonization. Chromatin immunoprecipitation of MetR and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed interaction with and regulation ofglyA1, indicating that misregulation ofglyA1is likely responsible for the colonization defect observed in themetRmutant. TheglyA1mutant was auxotrophic for glycine but exhibited wild-type trimethoprim sensitivity, making folate deficiency an unlikely cause of its colonization defect. MetJ regulatory mutants are not auxotrophic but are likely altered in the regulation of amino acid-biosynthetic pathways, including those for methionine, glycine, and serine, and this misregulation likely explains its colonization defect. However, mutants defective in methionine, serine, and cysteine biosynthesis exhibited wild-type virulence, suggesting that these amino acids can be scavenged in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that glycine biosynthesis may be required to alleviate an in vivo nutritional restriction in the mouse intestine; however, additional roles for glycine may exist. Irrespective of the precise nature of this requirement, this study illustrates the importance of pathogen metabolism, and the regulation thereof, as a virulence factor.IMPORTANCEVibrio choleraecontinues to be a severe cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Identification ofV. choleraefactors critical to disease progression offers the potential to develop or improve upon therapeutics and prevention strategies. To increase the efficiency of virulence factor discovery, we employed a regulator-centric approach to multiplex our in vivo screening capabilities and allow whole regulons inV. choleraeto be interrogated for pathogenic potential. We identified MetR as a new virulence regulator and serine hydroxymethyltransferase GlyA1 as a new MetR-regulated virulence factor, both required byV. choleraeto colonize the infant mouse intestine. Bacterial metabolism is a prerequisite to virulence, and current knowledge of in vivo metabolism of pathogens is limited. Here, we expand the known role of amino acid metabolism and regulation in virulence and offer new insights into the in vivo metabolic requirements ofV. choleraewithin the mouse intestine.

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