scholarly journals Nonspecific Adherence and Fibril Biogenesis by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans: TadA Protein Is an ATPase

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (20) ◽  
pp. 5927-5936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mrinal K. Bhattacharjee ◽  
Scott C. Kachlany ◽  
Daniel H. Fine ◽  
David H. Figurski

ABSTRACT Cells of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, a gram-negative pathogen responsible for an aggressive form of juvenile periodontitis, form tenaciously adherent biofilms on solid surfaces. The bacteria produce long fibrils of bundled pili, which are required for adherence. Mutations in flp-1, which encodes the major subunit of the pili, or any of seven downstreamtad genes (tadABCDEFG) cause defects in fibril production, autoaggregation, and tenacious adherence. We proposed that the tad genes specify part of a novel secretion system for the assembly and transport of Flp pili. The predicted amino acid sequence of TadA (426 amino acids, 47,140 Da) contains motifs for nucleotide binding and hydrolysis common among secretion NTP hydrolase (NTPase) proteins. In addition, thetadA gene is the first representative of a distinct subfamily of potential type IV secretion NTPase genes. Here we report studies on the function of TadA. The tadA gene was altered to express a modified version of TadA that has the 11-residue epitope (T7-TAG) fused to its C terminus. The TadA-T7 protein was indistinguishable from the wild type in its ability to complement the fibril and adherence defects of A. actinomycetemcomitanstadA mutants. Although TadA is not predicted to have a transmembrane domain, the protein was localized to the inner membrane and cytoplasmic fractions of A. actinomycetemcomitans cells, indicating a possible peripheral association with the inner membrane. TadA-T7 was purified and found to hydrolyze ATP in vitro. The ATPase activity is stimulated by Triton X-100, with maximal stimulation at the critical micellar concentration. TadA-T7 forms multimers that are stable during sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in nonreducing conditions, and electron microscopy revealed that TadA-T7 can form structures closely resembling the hexameric rings of other type IV secretion NTPases. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to substitute Ala and Gln residues for the conserved Lys residue of the Walker A box for nucleotide binding. Both mutants were found to be defective in their ability to complementtadA mutants. We suggest that the ATPase activity of TadA is required to energize the assembly or secretion of Flp pili for tight adherence of A. actinomycetemcomitans.

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (9) ◽  
pp. 2867-2878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Jakubowski ◽  
Vidhya Krishnamoorthy ◽  
Peter J. Christie

ABSTRACT This study characterized the contribution of Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB6, a polytopic inner membrane protein, to the formation of outer membrane VirB7 lipoprotein and VirB9 protein multimers required for type IV secretion. VirB7 assembles as a disulfide cross-linked homodimer that associates with the T pilus and a VirB7-VirB9 heterodimer that stabilizes other VirB proteins during biogenesis of the secretion machine. Two presumptive VirB protein complexes, composed of VirB6, VirB7, and VirB9 and of VirB7, VirB9, and VirB10, were isolated by immunoprecipitation or glutathione S-transferase pulldown assays from detergent-solubilized membrane extracts of wild-type A348 and a strain producing only VirB6 through VirB10 among the VirB proteins. To examine the biological importance of VirB6 complex formation for type IV secretion, we monitored the effects of nonstoichiometric VirB6 production and the synthesis of VirB6 derivatives with 4-residue insertions (VirB6.i4) on VirB7 and VirB9 multimerization, T-pilus assembly, and substrate transfer. A virB6 gene deletion mutant accumulated VirB7 dimers at diminished steady-state levels, whereas complementation with a plasmid bearing wild-type virB6 partially restored accumulation of the dimers. VirB6 overproduction was correlated with formation of higher-order VirB9 complexes or aggregates and also blocked substrate transfer without a detectable disruption of T-pilus production; these phenotypes were displayed by cells grown at 28°C, a temperature that favors VirB protein turnover, but not by cells grown at 20°C. Strains producing several VirB6.i4 mutant proteins assembled novel VirB7 and VirB9 complexes detectable by nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and two strains producing the D60.i4 and L191.i4 mutant proteins translocated IncQ plasmid and VirE2 effector protein substrates in the absence of a detectable T pilus. Our findings support a model that VirB6 mediates formation of VirB7 and VirB9 complexes required for biogenesis of the T pilus and the secretion channel.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-171
Author(s):  
M J Matunis ◽  
W M Michael ◽  
G Dreyfuss

At least 20 major proteins make up the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes of heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) in mammalian cells. Many of these proteins have distinct RNA-binding specificities. The abundant, acidic heterogeneous nuclear RNP (hnRNP) K and J proteins (66 and 64 kDa, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) are unique among the hnRNP proteins in their binding preference: they bind tenaciously to poly(C), and they are the major oligo(C)- and poly(C)-binding proteins in human HeLa cells. We purified K and J from HeLa cells by affinity chromatography and produced monoclonal antibodies to them. K and J are immunologically related and conserved among various vertebrates. Immunofluorescence microscopy with antibodies shows that K and J are located in the nucleoplasm. cDNA clones for K were isolated, and their sequences were determined. The predicted amino acid sequence of K does not contain an RNP consensus sequence found in many characterized hnRNP proteins and shows no extensive homology to sequences of any known proteins. The K protein contains two internal repeats not found in other known proteins, as well as GlyArgGlyGly and GlyArgGlyGlyPhe sequences, which occur frequently in many RNA-binding proteins. Overall, K represents a novel type of hnRNA-binding protein. It is likely that K and J play a role in the nuclear metabolism of hnRNAs, particularly for pre-mRNAs that contain cytidine-rich sequences.


1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (6) ◽  
pp. C1699-C1713 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Schluter ◽  
R. H. Fitts

Mechanical properties were measured in single skinned fibers from rat hindlimb muscle to test the hypothesis that the fast type IIb fiber exhibits a higher maximal shortening velocity (Vo) than the fast type IIa fiber and that the difference is directly attributable to a higher myofibrillar adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity in the type IIb fiber. Additional measurements were made to test the hypotheses that regular endurance exercise increases and decreases the Vo of the type I and IIa fiber, respectively, and that the altered Vo is associated with a corresponding change in the fiber ATPase activity. Rats were exercised by 8-12 wk of treadmill running for 2 h/day, 5 day/wk, up a 15% grade at a speed of 27 m/min. Fiber Vo was determined by the slack test, and the ATPase was measured fluorometrically in the same fiber. The myosin isozyme profile of each fiber was subsequently determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The mean +/- SE Vo (7.9 +/- 0.22 fiber lengths/s) of the type IIb fiber was significantly greater than the type IIa fiber (4.4 +/- 0.21 fiber lengths/s), and the higher Vo was associated with a higher ATPase activity (927 +/- 70 vs. 760 +/- 60 microM.min-1.mm-3). The exercise program induced cardiac hypertrophy and an approximately twofold increase in the mitochondrial marker enzyme citrate synthase. Exercise had no effect on fiber diameter or peak tension per cross-sectional area in any fiber type, but, importantly, it significantly increased (23%) both the Vo and the ATPase activity of the slow type I fiber of the soleus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1993 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 2949-2957 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. McDonald ◽  
R. H. Fitts

This study characterizes the time course of change in single soleus muscle fiber size and function elicited by hindlimb unweighting (HU) and analyzes the extent to which varying durations of HU altered maximal velocity of shortening (Vo), myofibrillar adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase), and relative content of slow and fast myosin in individual soleus fibers. After 1, 2, or 3 wk of HU, soleus muscle bundles were prepared and stored in skinning solution at -20 degrees C. Single fibers were isolated and mounted between a motor arm and a transducer, and fiber force, Vo, and ATPase activity were measured. Fiber myosin content was determined by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate- (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After 1, 2, and 3 wk of HU, soleus fibers exhibited a progressive reduction in fiber diameter (16, 22, and 42%, respectively) and peak force (42, 48, and 72%, respectively). Peak specific tension was significantly reduced after 1 wk of HU (18%) and showed no further change in 2–3 wk of HU. During 1 and 3 wk of HU, fiber Vo and ATPase showed a significant increase. By 3 wk, Vo had increased from 1.32 +/- 0.04 to 2.94 +/- 0.17 fiber lengths/s and fiber ATPase from 291 +/- 16 to 1,064 +/- 128 microM.min-1 x mm-3. The percent fibers expressing fast myosin heavy chain increased from 4% to 29% by 3 wk of HU, and Vo and ATPase activity within a fiber were highly correlated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Matunis ◽  
W M Michael ◽  
G Dreyfuss

At least 20 major proteins make up the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes of heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) in mammalian cells. Many of these proteins have distinct RNA-binding specificities. The abundant, acidic heterogeneous nuclear RNP (hnRNP) K and J proteins (66 and 64 kDa, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) are unique among the hnRNP proteins in their binding preference: they bind tenaciously to poly(C), and they are the major oligo(C)- and poly(C)-binding proteins in human HeLa cells. We purified K and J from HeLa cells by affinity chromatography and produced monoclonal antibodies to them. K and J are immunologically related and conserved among various vertebrates. Immunofluorescence microscopy with antibodies shows that K and J are located in the nucleoplasm. cDNA clones for K were isolated, and their sequences were determined. The predicted amino acid sequence of K does not contain an RNP consensus sequence found in many characterized hnRNP proteins and shows no extensive homology to sequences of any known proteins. The K protein contains two internal repeats not found in other known proteins, as well as GlyArgGlyGly and GlyArgGlyGlyPhe sequences, which occur frequently in many RNA-binding proteins. Overall, K represents a novel type of hnRNA-binding protein. It is likely that K and J play a role in the nuclear metabolism of hnRNAs, particularly for pre-mRNAs that contain cytidine-rich sequences.


1987 ◽  
Vol 241 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Ishibashi ◽  
A Ito ◽  
K Sakyo ◽  
Y Mori

Culture medium from rabbit uterine cervical fibroblasts contained a procollagenase and a neutral proproteinase which acts as a procollagenase activator. These two proenzymes have been purified by a combination of ion-exchange, affinity and gel chromatographies. The purified neutral proproteinase showed Mr 60,000 with sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. This neutral proproteinase was activated by trypsin, 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) and plasmin, and the active species of the proteinase had Mr 53,000 when activated by APMA; kallikrein and urokinase did not activate this proproteinase. The purified neutral proteinase was inhibited by EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline and rabbit plasma, but not by serine proteinase inhibitors, suggesting that this proteinase is a metal-dependent proteinase. The purified enzyme could also degrade gelatin, casein, proteoglycan and type IV procollagen. The purified procollagenase had Mr 55,000 and was activated by trypsin, APMA and the active neutral proteinase. These activations were accompanied by decrease in Mr, and the activated species had an Mr which was approx. 10,000 less than that of the procollagenase. In particular, procollagenase activation with neutral proteinase depended on incubation time and proteolytic activity of proteinase. These results indicate that activation of procollagenase by the rabbit uterine neutral proteinase is related to limited proteolysis in the procollagenase molecule.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (10) ◽  
pp. 3486-3495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Jakubowski ◽  
Eric Cascales ◽  
Vidhya Krishnamoorthy ◽  
Peter J. Christie

ABSTRACT Agrobacterium tumefaciens translocates DNA and protein substrates between cells via a type IV secretion system (T4SS) whose channel subunits include the VirD4 coupling protein, VirB11 ATPase, VirB6, VirB8, VirB2, and VirB9. In this study, we used linker insertion mutagenesis to characterize the contribution of the outer-membrane-associated VirB9 to assembly and function of the VirB/D4 T4SS. Twenty-five dipeptide insertion mutations were classified as permissive for intercellular substrate transfer (Tra+), completely transfer defective (Tra−), or substrate discriminating, e.g., selectively permissive for transfer only of the oncogenic transfer DNA and the VirE2 protein substrates or of a mobilizable IncQ plasmid substrate. Mutations inhibiting transfer of DNA substrates did not affect formation of close contacts of the substrate with inner membrane channel subunits but blocked formation of contacts with the VirB2 and VirB9 channel subunits, which is indicative of a defect in assembly or function of the distal portion of the secretion channel. Several mutations in the N- and C-terminal regions disrupted VirB9 complex formation with the outer-membrane-associated lipoprotein VirB7 or the inner membrane energy sensor VirB10. Several VirB9.i2-producing Tra+ strains failed to elaborate T pilus at detectable levels (Pil−), and three such Tra+ Pil− mutant strains were rendered Tra− upon deletion of virB2, indicating that the cellular form of pilin protein is essential for substrate translocation. Our findings, together with computer-based analyses, support a model in which distinct domains of VirB9 contribute to substrate selection and translocation, establishment of channel subunit contacts, and T-pilus biogenesis.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (2) ◽  
pp. G231-G241 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Crothers ◽  
D. C. Chow ◽  
J. G. Forte

Amounts and fractional distributions of gastric H(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity and H(+)-K(+)-ATPase protein as well as properties of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase-containing membranes were studied in rabbits injected with omeprazole (OM; 1 mg/kg sc twice daily for 5 days). Total H(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity decreased to 22 +/- 2% of control (n = 4). Densitometry of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blots showed H(+)-K(+)-ATPase protein was decreased to 60-70% of control. In vitro reduction of the enzyme-OM disulfide bond with 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol increased microsomal H(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity to 56 +/- 7% of control (n = 3), consistent with a substantial decrease in enzyme protein. Incorporation of 35S-labeled methionine for 30 min before death resulted in 2.2-fold more label per unit of microsomal alpha-subunit protein (5 days OM vs. control). Thus the decrease in enzyme protein resulted from increased breakdown rather than decreased synthesis. A striking shift in distribution of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase-containing microsomes (tubulovesicles) on sucrose gradients reflected slow equilibration of most control vesicles with the gradient medium and faster equilibration after 5 days OM, indicating increased permeability. After 5 days OM, microsomal vesicle acidification (by acridine orange uptake assay) was negligible, even with 2-mercaptoethanol treatment, and H+ leakage on sudden delta pH was faster than control. We conclude that extended OM treatment not only inhibits H(+)-K(+)-ATPase but accelerates its breakdown and renders H(+)-K(+)-ATPase-containing membranes more permeable. It is thus possible that increased backward H+ flux contributes to profound inhibition of acid secretion during extended omeprazole treatment. In parallel experiments, H(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and density gradient sedimentation of tubulovesicles returned to near normal 3 days after OM withdrawal.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 454-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. I. de Vicente ◽  
P. del Valle ◽  
F. Busto ◽  
D. de Arriaga ◽  
J. Soler

Mitochondrial F1-ATPase was purified from the mycelium of Phycomyces blakesleeanus NRRL 1555(−) and its kinetic characteristics were studied. Sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme reveals five bands (α, β, γ, δ, and ε) characteristic of the F1 portion with apparent molecular weights of 60 000, 53 000, 31 000, 25 000, and 21 000, respectively. The molecular weight of the native F1-ATPase from Phycomyces blakesleeanus was in agreement with the stoichiometry α3 β3 γ δ ε. The MgATP complex is the true substrate for ATPase activity which has a Km value of 0.15 mM. High concentrations of free ATP or free Mg2+ ions inhibit the ATPase activity. ADP appears to act as a negative allosteric effector with regard to MgATP hydrolysis, with the apparent Vmax remaining unchanged.Key words: mitochondrial F1-ATPase, Phycomyces blakesleeanus, enzyme purification, kinetic properties.


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