scholarly journals lfnA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa O12 and wbuX from Escherichia coli O145 Encode Membrane-Associated Proteins and Are Required for Expression of 2,6-Dideoxy-2-Acetamidino-l-Galactose in Lipopolysaccharide O Antigen

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (5) ◽  
pp. 1671-1679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry D. King ◽  
Erin F. Mulrooney ◽  
Evgeny Vinogradov ◽  
Bernd Kneidinger ◽  
Kristen Mead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analysis ◽  
O Antigen ◽  
O Antigens

ABSTRACT The rare sugar 2,6-dideoxy-2-acetamidino-l-galactose (l-FucNAm) is found only in bacteria and is a component of cell surface glycans in a number of pathogenic species, including the O antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype O12 and Escherichia coli O145. P. aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen, and the O12 serotype is associated with multidrug-resistant epidemic outbreaks. O145 is one of the classic non-O157 serotypes associated with Shiga toxin-producing, enterohemorrhagic E. coli. The acetamidino (NAm) moiety of l-FucNAm is of interest, because at neutral pH it contributes a positive charge to the cell surface, and we aimed to characterize the biosynthesis of this functional group. The pathway is not known, but expression of NAm-modified sugars coincides with the presence of a pseA homologue in the relevant biosynthetic locus. PseA is a putative amidotransferase required for synthesis of a NAm-modified sugar in Campylobacter jejuni. In P. aeruginosa O12 and E. coli O145, the pseA homologues are lfnA and wbuX, respectively, and we hypothesized that these genes function in l-FucNAm biosynthesis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the lfnA mutant O-antigen structure indicated that the mutant expresses 2,6-dideoxy-2-acetamido-l-galactose (l-FucNAc) in place of l-FucNAm. The mutation could be complemented by expression of either His6-tagged lfnA or wbuX in trans, confirming that these genes are functional homologues and that they are required for NAm moiety synthesis. Both proteins retained their activity when fused to a His6 tag and localized to the membrane fraction. These data will assist future biochemical investigation of this pathway.

scholarly journals Variability in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lipopolysaccharide Expression during Crude Oil Degradation

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 5096-5103 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sean Norman ◽  
Roberto Frontera-Suau ◽  
Pamela J. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Cell Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Colony Morphology ◽  
Oil Degradation ◽  
O Antigen ◽  
Crude Oil Degradation

ABSTRACT Bacterial utilization of crude oil components, such as the n-alkanes, requires complex cell surface adaptation to allow adherence to oil. To better understand microbial cell surface adaptation to growth on crude oil, the cell surface characteristics of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, U1 and U3, both isolated from the same crude oil-degrading microbial community enriched on Bonny Light crude oil (BLC), were compared. Analysis of growth rates demonstrated an increased lag time for U1 cells compared to U3 cells. Amendment with EDTA inhibited U1 and U3 growth and degradation of the n-alkane component of BLC, suggesting a link between cell surface structure and crude oil degradation. U1 cells demonstrated a smooth-to-rough colony morphology transition when grown on BLC, while U3 cells exhibited rough colony morphology at the outset. Combining high-resolution atomic force microscopy of the cell surface and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of extracted lipopolysaccharides (LPS), we demonstrate that isolates grown on BLC have reduced O-antigen expression compared with that of glucose-grown cells. The loss of O-antigen resulted in shorter LPS molecules, increased cell surface hydrophobicity, and increased n-alkane degradation.

scholarly journals Identification of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa O17 and O15 O-Specific Antigen Biosynthesis Loci Reveals an ABC Transporter-Dependent Synthesis Pathway and Mechanisms of Genetic Diversity

2020 ◽  
Vol 202 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Huszczynski ◽  
Youai Hao ◽  
Joseph S. Lam ◽  
Cezar M. Khursigara
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Abc Transporter ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Content Type ◽  
O Antigen ◽  
O Antigens ◽  
Dependent Pathway

ABSTRACT Many bacterial cell surface glycans, such as the O antigen component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), are produced via the so-called Wzx/Wzy- or ABC transporter-dependent pathways. O antigens are highly diverse polysaccharides that protect bacteria from their environment and engage in important host-pathogen interactions. The specific structure and composition of O antigens are the basis of classifying bacteria into O serotypes. In the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, there are currently 20 known O-specific antigen (OSA) structures. The clusters of genes responsible for 18 of these O antigens have been identified, all of which follow the Wzx/Wzy-dependent pathway and are located at a common locus. In this study, we located the two unidentified O antigen biosynthesis clusters responsible for the synthesis of the O15 and the O17 OSA structures by analyzing published whole-genome sequence data. Intriguingly, these clusters were found outside the conserved OSA biosynthesis locus and were likely acquired through multiple horizontal gene transfer events. Based on data from knockout and overexpression studies, we determined that the synthesis of these O antigens follows an ABC transporter-dependent rather than a Wzx/Wzy-dependent pathway. In addition, we collected evidence to show that the O15 and O17 polysaccharide chain lengths are regulated by molecular rulers with distinct and variable domain architectures. The findings in this report are critical for a comprehensive understanding of O antigen biosynthesis in P. aeruginosa and provide a framework for future studies. IMPORTANCE P. aeruginosa is a problematic opportunistic pathogen that causes diseases in those with compromised host defenses, such as those suffering from cystic fibrosis. This bacterium produces a number of virulence factors, including a serotype-specific O antigen. Here, we identified and characterized the gene clusters that produce the O15 and O17 O antigens and show that they utilize a pathway for synthesis that is distinct from that of the 18 other known serotypes. We also provide evidence that these clusters have acquired mutations in specific biosynthesis genes and have undergone extensive horizontal gene transfer within the P. aeruginosa population. These findings expand on our understanding of O antigen biosynthesis in Gram-negative bacteria and the mechanisms that drive O antigen diversity.

scholarly journals Rhamnolipid-Induced Removal of Lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Effect on Cell Surface Properties and Interaction with Hydrophobic Substrates

2000 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 3262-3268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ragheb A. Al-Tahhan ◽  
Todd R. Sandrin ◽  
Adria A. Bodour ◽  
Raina M. Maier
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Fatty Acid Content ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Cell Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant

ABSTRACT Little is known about the interaction of biosurfactants with bacterial cells. Recent work in the area of biodegradation suggests that there are two mechanisms by which biosurfactants enhance the biodegradation of slightly soluble organic compounds. First, biosurfactants can solubilize hydrophobic compounds within micelle structures, effectively increasing the apparent aqueous solubility of the organic compound and its availability for uptake by a cell. Second, biosurfactants can cause the cell surface to become more hydrophobic, thereby increasing the association of the cell with the slightly soluble substrate. Since the second mechanism requires very low levels of added biosurfactant, it is the more intriguing of the two mechanisms from the perspective of enhancing the biodegradation process. This is because, in practical terms, addition of low levels of biosurfactants will be more cost-effective for bioremediation. To successfully optimize the use of biosurfactants in the bioremediation process, their effect on cell surfaces must be understood. We report here that rhamnolipid biosurfactant causes the cell surface ofPseudomonas spp. to become hydrophobic through release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were grown on glucose and hexadecane to investigate the chemical and structural changes that occur in the presence of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant. Results showed that rhamnolipids caused an overall loss in cellular fatty acid content. Loss of fatty acids was due to release of LPS from the outer membrane, as demonstrated by 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The amount of LPS loss was found to be dependent on rhamnolipid concentration, but significant loss occurred even at concentrations less than the critical micelle concentration. We conclude that rhamnolipid-induced LPS release is the probable mechanism of enhanced cell surface hydrophobicity.

scholarly journals Localized Tufts of Fibrils on Staphylococcus epidermidis NCTC 11047 Are Comprised of the Accumulation-Associated Protein

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (7) ◽  
pp. 2793-2804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam A. Banner ◽  
John G. Cunniffe ◽  
Robin L. Macintosh ◽  
Timothy J. Foster ◽  
Holger Rohde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Lateral Position ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Immunogold Staining ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus epidermidis is both a human skin commensal and an opportunistic pathogen, causing infections linked to implanted medical devices. This paper describes localized tufts of fibrillar appendages on a subpopulation (25%) of wild-type (WT) S. epidermidis NCTC 11047 cells. The fibrils (122.2 ± 10.8 nm long) are usually in a lateral position on the cells. Fibrillar (Fib+) and nonfibrillar (Fib−) subpopulations were separated (enriched) by 34 sequential partitions of WT cells between a buffer phase and a hexadecane phase. Following enrichment, hydrophobic cells from the hexadecane phase comprised 70% Fib+ cells and the less hydrophobic cells from the buffer phase entirely comprised Fib− cells. The Fib+ and Fib− subpopulations did not revert on subculture (34 times) on solid medium. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cell surface proteins from WT, Fib+, and Fib− cells revealed two high-molecular-mass proteins (280 kDa and 230 kDa) on the WT and Fib+ cells that were absent from the Fib− cells. Amino acid sequencing revealed that fragments of both the 280- and 230-kDa proteins had 100% identity to the accumulation-associated protein (Aap). Aap is known to cause biofilm formation if it is truncated by loss of the terminal A domain. Immunogold staining with anti-Aap antibodies labeled tuft fibrils of the WT and Fib+ cells but not the cell surface of Fib− cells. The tufts were labeled with N-terminally directed antibodies (anti-A domain), showing that the fibrillar Aap was not truncated on the cell surface. Thus, the presence of full-length Aap correlated with the low biofilm-forming abilities of both WT and Fib+ S. epidermidis NCTC 11047 populations. Reverse transcription-PCR showed that aap was transcribed in both Fib+ and Fib− cells. We therefore propose that full-length Aap is expressed on cells of S. epidermidis NCTC 11047 as tufts of short fibrils and that fibril expression is regulated at a posttranscriptional level.

scholarly journals Molecular Analysis of the O-Antigen Gene Cluster of Escherichia coli O86:B7 and Characterization of the Chain Length Determinant Gene (wzz)

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (12) ◽  
pp. 7995-8001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongjie Guo ◽  
Wen Yi ◽  
Jun Shao ◽  
Yuquan Lu ◽  
Wenpeng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Degree Of Polymerization ◽  
Antigen Gene ◽  
O Antigen

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli O86:B7 has long been used as a model bacterial strain to study the generation of natural blood group antibody in humans, and it has been shown to possess high human blood B activity. The O-antigen structure of O86:B7 was solved recently in our laboratory. Comparison with the published structure of O86:H2 showed that both O86 subtypes shared the same O unit, yet each of the O antigens is polymerized from a different terminal sugar in a different glycosidic linkage. To determine the genetic basis for the O-antigen differences between the two O86 strains, we report the complete sequence of O86:B7 O-antigen gene cluster between galF and hisI, each gene was identified based on homology to other genes in the GenBank databases. Comparison of the two O86 O-antigen gene clusters revealed that the encoding regions between galF and gnd are identical, including wzy genes. However, deletion of the two wzy genes revealed that wzy in O86:B7 is responsible for the polymerization of the O antigen, while the deletion of wzy in O86:H2 has no effect on O-antigen biosynthesis. Therefore, we proposed that there must be another functional wzy gene outside the O86:H2 O-antigen gene cluster. Wzz proteins determine the degree of polymerization of the O antigen. When separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of O86:B7 exhibited a modal distribution of LPS bands with relatively short O units attached to lipid A-core, which differs from the LPS pattern of O86:H2. We proved that the wzz genes are responsible for the different LPS patterns found in the two O86 subtypes, and we also showed that the very short type of LPS is responsible for the serum sensitivity of the O86:B7 strain.

Structure of the O-chain polysaccharide of the phenol-phase soluble lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli 0:157:H7

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm B. Perry ◽  
Leann MacLean ◽  
Douglas W. Griffith
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Brucella Abortus ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Extraction Procedure ◽  
Periodate Oxidation ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Structure Formula ◽  
Phenol Water

The phenol-phase soluble lipopolysaccharide isolated from Escherichia coli 0:157 by the hot phenol–water extraction procedure was shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, periodate oxidation, methylation, and 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance studies to be an unbranched linear polysaccharide with a tetrasaccharide repeating unit having the structure:[Formula: see text]The serological cross-reactivity of E. coli 0:157 with Brucella abortus, Yersinia enterocolitica (serotype 0:9), group N Salmonella, and some other E. coli species can be related immunochemically to the presence of 1,2-glycosylated N-acylated 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-mannopyranosyl residues in the O-chains of their respective lipopolysaccharides.

Identification of pilin pools in the membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1982 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 687-691
Author(s):  
T H Watts ◽  
E A Worobec ◽  
W Paranchych
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Outer Membranes

The proteins of purified inner and outer membranes obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PAK and PAK/2Pfs were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose, and treated with antiserum raised against pure pili. Bound antipilus antibodies were visualized by reaction with 125I-labeled protein A from Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that there are pools of pilin in both the inner and outer membranes of P. aeruginosa and that the pool size in the multipiliated strain is comparable with that of the wild-type strain.

scholarly journals Acetate and Formate Stress: Opposite Responses in the Proteome of Escherichia coli

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (21) ◽  
pp. 6466-6477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Kirkpatrick ◽  
Lisa M. Maurer ◽  
Nikki E. Oyelakin ◽  
Yuliya N. Yoncheva ◽  
Russell Maurer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Opposite Effect ◽  
Stress Proteins ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Acid Resistance ◽  
Luria Broth ◽  
Acetyl Coa ◽  
Fermentation Products ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT Acetate and formate are major fermentation products ofEscherichia coli. Below pH 7, the balance shifts to lactate; an oversupply of acetate or formate retards growth. E. coli W3110 was grown with aeration in potassium-modified Luria broth buffered at pH 6.7 in the presence or absence of added acetate or formate, and the protein profiles were compared by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Acetate increased the steady-state expression levels of 37 proteins, including periplasmic transporters for amino acids and peptides (ArtI, FliY, OppA, and ProX), metabolic enzymes (YfiD and GatY), the RpoS growth phase regulon, and the autoinducer synthesis protein LuxS. Acetate repressed 17 proteins, among them phosphotransferase (Pta). An ackA-pta deletion, which nearly eliminates interconversion between acetate and acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), led to elevated basal levels of 16 of the acetate-inducible proteins, including the RpoS regulon. Consistent with RpoS activation, the ackA-pta strain also showed constitutive extreme-acid resistance. Formate, however, repressed 10 of the acetate-inducible proteins, including the RpoS regulon. Ten of the proteins with elevated basal levels in the ackA-ptastrain were repressed by growth of the mutant with formate; thus, the formate response took precedence over the loss of theackA-pta pathway. The similar effects of exogenous acetate and the ackA-pta deletion, and the opposite effect of formate, could have several causes; one possibility is that the excess buildup of acetyl-CoA upregulates stress proteins but excess formate depletes acetyl-CoA and downregulates these proteins.

scholarly journals F-type Pyocins are Diverse Non-Contractile Phage Tail-Like Weapons for Killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senjuti Saha ◽  
Chidozie D. Ojobor ◽  
Erik Mackinnon ◽  
Olesia I. North ◽  
Joseph Bondy-Denomy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Bactericidal Activity ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Intraspecies Competition

ABSTRACTMost Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains produce bacteriocins derived from contractile or non-contractile phage tails known as R-type and F-type pyocins, respectively. These bacteriocins possess strain-specific bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa and likely increase evolutionary fitness through intraspecies competition. R-type pyocins have been studied extensively and show promise as alternatives to antibiotics. Although they have similar therapeutic potential, experimental studies on F-type pyocins are limited. Here, we provide a bioinformatic and experimental investigation of F-type pyocins. We introduce a systematic naming scheme for genes found in R- and F-type pyocin operons and identify 15 genes invariably found in strains producing F-type pyocins. Five proteins encoded at the 3’-end of the F-type pyocin cluster are divergent in sequence, and likely determine bactericidal specificity. We use sequence similarities among these proteins to define 11 distinct F-type pyocin groups, five of which had not been previously described. The five genes encoding the variable proteins associate in two modules that have clearly re-assorted independently during the evolution of these operons. These proteins are considerably more diverse than the specificity-determining tail fibers of R-type pyocins, suggesting that F-type pyocins emerged earlier or have been subject to distinct evolutionary pressures. Experimental studies on six F-type pyocin groups show that each displays a distinct spectrum of bactericidal activity. This activity is strongly influenced by the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen type, but other factors also play a role. F-type pyocins appear to kill as efficiently as R-type pyocins. These studies set the stage for the development of F-type pyocins as anti-bacterial therapeutics.IMPORTANCEPseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a broad spectrum of antibiotic resistant infections with high mortality rates, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and cystic fibrosis patients. Due to the increasing frequency of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa infections, there is great interest in the development of alternative therapeutics. One alternative is protein-based antimicrobials called bacteriocins, which are produced by one strain of bacteria to kill other strains. In this study, we investigate F-type pyocins, bacteriocins naturally produced by P. aeruginosa that resemble non-contractile phage tails. We show that they are potent killers of P. aeruginosa, and distinct pyocin groups display different killing specificities. We have identified the probable specificity determinants of F-type pyocins, which opens up the potential to engineer them to precisely target strains of pathogenic bacteria. The resemblance of F-type pyocins to well characterized phage tails will greatly facilitate their development into effective antibacterials.

scholarly journals Absence of the Outer Membrane Phospholipase A Suppresses the Temperature-Sensitive Phenotype of Escherichia coli degPMutants and Induces the Cpx and ςE Extracytoplasmic Stress Responses

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (18) ◽  
pp. 5230-5238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey R. Langen ◽  
Jill R. Harper ◽  
Thomas J. Silhavy ◽  
S. Peter Howard
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Phospholipase A ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Outer Membrane Phospholipase A ◽  
Temperature Sensitive Phenotype

ABSTRACT DegP is a periplasmic protease that is a member of both the ςE and Cpx extracytoplasmic stress regulons ofEscherichia coli and is essential for viability at temperatures above 42°C. [U-14C]acetate labeling experiments demonstrated that phospholipids were degraded indegP mutants at elevated temperatures. In addition, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, β-lactamase, and β-galactosidase assays as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis indicated that large amounts of cellular proteins are released from degP cells at the nonpermissive temperature. A mutation in pldA, which encodes outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA), was found to rescue degPcells from the temperature-sensitive phenotype. pldA degP mutants had a normal plating efficiency at 42°C, displayed increased viability at 44°C, showed no degradation of phospholipids, and released far lower amounts of cellular protein to culture supernatants. degP and pldA degP mutants containing chromosomal lacZ fusions to Cpx and ςE regulon promoters indicated that both regulons were activated in the pldA mutants. The overexpression of the envelope lipoprotein, NlpE, which induces the Cpx regulon, was also found to suppress the temperature-sensitive phenotype ofdegP mutants but did not prevent the degradation of phospholipids. These results suggest that the absence of OMPLA corrects the degP temperature-sensitive phenotype by inducing the Cpx and ςE regulons rather than by inactivating the phospholipase per se.

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