Autolysis of Lactococcus lactis Is Increased upon d-Alanine Depletion of Peptidoglycan and Lipoteichoic Acids

ABSTRACT Mutations in the genes encoding enzymes responsible for the incorporation of d-Ala into the cell wall of Lactococcus lactis affect autolysis. An L. lactis alanine racemase (alr) mutant is strictly dependent on an external supply of d-Ala to be able to synthesize peptidoglycan and to incorporate d-Ala in the lipoteichoic acids (LTA). The mutant lyses rapidly when d-Ala is removed at mid-exponential growth. AcmA, the major lactococcal autolysin, is partially involved in the increased lysis since an alr acmA double mutant still lyses, albeit to a lesser extent. To investigate the role of d-Ala on LTA in the increased cell lysis, a dltD mutant of L. lactis was investigated, since this mutant is only affected in the d-alanylation of LTA and not the synthesis of peptidoglycan. Mutation of dltD results in increased lysis, showing that d-alanylation of LTA also influences autolysis. Since a dltD acmA double mutant does not lyse, the lysis of the dltD mutant is totally AcmA dependent. Zymographic analysis shows that no degradation of AcmA takes place in the dltD mutant, whereas AcmA is degraded by the extracellular protease HtrA in the wild-type strain. In L. lactis, LTA has been shown to be involved in controlled (directed) binding of AcmA. LTA lacking d-Ala has been reported in other bacterial species to have an improved capacity for autolysin binding. Mutation of dltD in L. lactis, however, does not affect peptidoglycan binding of AcmA; neither the amount of AcmA binding to the cells nor the binding to specific loci is altered. In conclusion, d-Ala depletion of the cell wall causes lysis by two distinct mechanisms. First, it results in an altered peptidoglycan that is more susceptible to lysis by AcmA and also by other factors, e.g., one or more of the other (putative) cell wall hydrolases expressed by L. lactis. Second, reduced amounts of d-Ala on LTA result in decreased degradation of AcmA by HtrA, which results in increased lytic activity.

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A Lytic Transglycosylase of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Is Involved in Peptidoglycan-Derived Cytotoxin Production

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.70.6.2752-2757.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 70 (6) ◽

pp. 2752-2757 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Karen A. Cloud ◽

Joseph P. Dillard

Keyword(s):

Neisseria Gonorrhoeae ◽

Wild Type Strain ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Stationary Phase Culture ◽

Lytic Transglycosylases ◽

Lytic Transglycosylase ◽

Phase Culture ◽

Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT Neisseria gonorrhoeae releases soluble fragments of peptidoglycan during growth. These molecules are implicated in the pathogenesis of various forms of gonococcal infection. A major peptidoglycan fragment released by gonococci is identical to the tracheal cytotoxin of Bordetella pertussis and has been shown to kill ciliated fallopian tube cells in organ culture. Previous studies indicated that a unique lytic peptidoglycan transglycosylase (AtlA) was responsible for some, but not all, of the peptidoglycan-derived cytotoxin (PGCT) production in certain gonococcal strains. To examine the role of other putative lytic transglycosylases in PGCT production, we made a deletion mutation in a gonococcal gene exhibiting similarity with genes encoding lytic transglycosylases from other bacterial species. The gonococcal mutant was viable and grew normally, but it was less autolytic than the wild-type strain in stationary-phase culture and under nongrowth conditions. The gonococcal mutant was reduced in peptidoglycan turnover, and the profile of the released products showed a reduction in monomeric peptidoglycan. Proportionally more multimeric fragments were released. These results suggest that this gonococcal gene (ltgA) encodes a lytic peptidoglycan transglycosylase and that it is responsible for a significant proportion of the PGCT released by N. gonorrhoeae.

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Expression and function of the cdgD gene, encoding a CHASE–PAS-DGC-EAL domain protein, in Azospirillum brasilense

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80125-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

José Francisco Cruz-Pérez ◽

Roxana Lara-Oueilhe ◽

Cynthia Marcos-Jiménez ◽

Ricardo Cuatlayotl-Olarte ◽

María Luisa Xiqui-Vázquez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Azospirillum Brasilense ◽

Type Strain ◽

Wild Type Strain ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Wild Type ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Wheat Roots ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

In The Wild ◽

Plant Growth Promoting

AbstractThe plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense contains several genes encoding proteins involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP, which may control key bacterial functions, such as biofilm formation and motility. Here, we analysed the function and expression of the cdgD gene, encoding a multidomain protein that includes GGDEF-EAL domains and CHASE and PAS domains. An insertional cdgD gene mutant was constructed, and analysis of biofilm and extracellular polymeric substance production, as well as the motility phenotype indicated that cdgD encoded a functional diguanylate protein. These results were correlated with a reduced overall cellular concentration of cyclic-di-GMP in the mutant over 48 h compared with that observed in the wild-type strain, which was recovered in the complemented strain. In addition, cdgD gene expression was measured in cells growing under planktonic or biofilm conditions, and differential expression was observed when KNO3 or NH4Cl was added to the minimal medium as a nitrogen source. The transcriptional fusion of the cdgD promoter with the gene encoding the autofluorescent mCherry protein indicated that the cdgD gene was expressed both under abiotic conditions and in association with wheat roots. Reduced colonization of wheat roots was observed for the mutant compared with the wild-type strain grown in the same soil conditions. The Azospirillum-plant association begins with the motility of the bacterium towards the plant rhizosphere followed by the adsorption and adherence of these bacteria to plant roots. Therefore, it is important to study the genes that contribute to this initial interaction of the bacterium with its host plant.

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The Transcription Factor Con7-1 Is a Master Regulator of Morphogenesis and Virulence in Fusarium oxysporum

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-07-14-0205-r ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 55-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Carmen Ruiz-Roldán ◽

Yolanda Pareja-Jaime ◽

José Antonio González-Reyes ◽

M. Isabel G. Roncero

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Gene Expression Analysis ◽

Wall Structure ◽

Targeted Deletion ◽

Signal Perception ◽

Cell Wall Biogenesis ◽

Primary And Secondary Metabolism ◽

Genes Encoding

Previous studies have demonstrated the essential role of morphogenetic regulation in Fusarium oxysporum pathogenesis, including processes such as cell-wall biogenesis, cell division, and differentiation of infection-like structures. We identified three F. oxysporum genes encoding predicted transcription factors showing significant identities to Magnaporthe oryzae Con7p, Con7-1, plus two identical copies of Con7-2. Targeted deletion of con7-1 produced nonpathogenic mutants with altered morphogenesis, including defects in cell wall structure, polar growth, hyphal branching, and conidiation. By contrast, simultaneous inactivation of both con7-2 copies caused no detectable defects in the resulting mutants. Comparative microarray-based gene expression analysis indicated that Con7-1 modulates the expression of a large number of genes involved in different biological functions, including host–pathogen interactions, morphogenesis and development, signal perception and transduction, transcriptional regulation, and primary and secondary metabolism. Taken together, our results point to Con7-1 as general regulator of morphogenesis and virulence in F. oxysporum.

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Aspergillus nidulans Protein O-Mannosyltransferases Play Roles in Cell Wall Integrity and Developmental Patterning

Eukaryotic Cell ◽

10.1128/ec.00040-09 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 1475-1485 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Thanyanuch Kriangkripipat ◽

Michelle Momany

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Aspergillus Nidulans ◽

Double Mutant ◽

Elevated Temperatures ◽

Cell Wall Integrity ◽

Wild Type ◽

Spatial Cues ◽

Developmental Patterning ◽

In The Wild ◽

Increased Sensitivity

ABSTRACT Protein O-mannosyltransferases (Pmts) initiate O-mannosyl glycan biosynthesis from Ser and Thr residues of target proteins. Fungal Pmts are divided into three subfamilies, Pmt1, -2, and -4. Aspergillus nidulans possesses a single representative of each Pmt subfamily, pmtA (subfamily 2), pmtB (subfamily 1), and pmtC (subfamily 4). In this work, we show that single Δpmt mutants are viable and have unique phenotypes and that the ΔpmtA ΔpmtB double mutant is the only viable double mutant. This makes A. nidulans the first fungus in which all members of individual Pmt subfamilies can be deleted without loss of viability. At elevated temperatures, all A. nidulans Δpmt mutants show cell wall-associated defects and increased sensitivity to cell wall-perturbing agents. The Δpmt mutants also show defects in developmental patterning. Germ tube emergence is early in ΔpmtA and more frequent in ΔpmtC mutants than in the wild type. In ΔpmtB mutants, intrahyphal hyphae develop. All Δpmt mutants show distinct conidiophore defects. The ΔpmtA strain has swollen vesicles and conidiogenous cells, the ΔpmtB strain has swollen conidiophore stalks, and the ΔpmtC strain has dramatically elongated conidiophore stalks. We also show that AN5660, an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Wsc1p, is modified by PmtA and PmtC. The Δpmt phenotypes at elevated temperatures, increased sensitivity to cell wall-perturbing agents and restoration to wild-type growth with osmoticum suggest that A. nidulans Pmts modify proteins in the cell wall integrity pathway. The altered developmental patterns in Δpmt mutants suggest that A. nidulans Pmts modify proteins that serve as spatial cues.

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Sensitivity of normal and mutant strains of Escherichia coli to actinomycin-D

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m72-139 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 909-915 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. P. Singh ◽

K.-J. Cheng ◽

J. W. Costerton ◽

E. S. Idziak ◽

J. M. Ingram

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Wild Type Strain ◽

Actinomycin D ◽

Cytoplasmic Membrane ◽

Cell Envelope ◽

Coli Strain ◽

Wild Type ◽

Mutant Strains ◽

In The Wild

The site of the cell barrier to actinomycin-D uptake was studied using a wild-type Escherichia coli strain P and its cell envelope-defective filamentous mutants, strains 6γ and 12γ, both of which 'leak' β-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase into the medium during growth indicating both membrane and cell-wall defects. Actinomycin-D entered the cells of these two mutant strains as evidenced by the inhibition of both 14C-uracil incorporation and synthesis of the induced β-galactosidase system. Under similar conditions, no inhibition occurred in the wild-type strain and its sucrose-lysozyme prepared spheroplasts. Actinomycin-D did, however, inhibit the above-mentioned systems in the wild-type sucrose-lysozyme spheroplasts prepared in the presence of 2 mM EDTA. The experimental data indicate that although the cell wall may act as a primary barrier or sieve to actinomycin-D, the cytoplasmic membrane should be considered the final and determinative barrier to this antibiotic.

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The regulatory and transcriptional landscape associated with carbon utilization in a filamentous fungus

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1915611117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 117 (11) ◽

pp. 6003-6013 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Vincent W. Wu ◽

Nils Thieme ◽

Lori B. Huberman ◽

Axel Dietschmann ◽

David J. Kowbel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Transcription Factors ◽

Plant Cell ◽

Plant Cell Wall ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Carbon Sources ◽

Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes ◽

Degrading Enzymes ◽

Genes Encoding

Filamentous fungi, such asNeurospora crassa, are very efficient in deconstructing plant biomass by the secretion of an arsenal of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, by remodeling metabolism to accommodate production of secreted enzymes, and by enabling transport and intracellular utilization of plant biomass components. Although a number of enzymes and transcriptional regulators involved in plant biomass utilization have been identified, how filamentous fungi sense and integrate nutritional information encoded in the plant cell wall into a regulatory hierarchy for optimal utilization of complex carbon sources is not understood. Here, we performed transcriptional profiling ofN. crassaon 40 different carbon sources, including plant biomass, to provide data on how fungi sense simple to complex carbohydrates. From these data, we identified regulatory factors inN. crassaand characterized one (PDR-2) associated with pectin utilization and one with pectin/hemicellulose utilization (ARA-1). Using in vitro DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq), we identified direct targets of transcription factors involved in regulating genes encoding plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. In particular, our data clarified the role of the transcription factor VIB-1 in the regulation of genes encoding plant cell wall-degrading enzymes and nutrient scavenging and revealed a major role of the carbon catabolite repressor CRE-1 in regulating the expression of major facilitator transporter genes. These data contribute to a more complete understanding of cross talk between transcription factors and their target genes, which are involved in regulating nutrient sensing and plant biomass utilization on a global level.

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Role of CpALS4790 and CpALS0660 in Candida parapsilosis Virulence: Evidence from a Murine Model of Vaginal Candidiasis

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof6020086 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 86

Author(s):

Marina Zoppo ◽

Fabrizio Fiorentini ◽

Cosmeri Rizzato ◽

Mariagrazia Di Luca ◽

Antonella Lupetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Murine Model ◽

Type Strain ◽

Wild Type Strain ◽

Candida Parapsilosis ◽

Vaginal Candidiasis ◽

Phenotypic Characterization ◽

Wild Type ◽

Mutant Strains

The Candida parapsilosis genome encodes for five agglutinin-like sequence (Als) cell-wall glycoproteins involved in adhesion to biotic and abiotic surfaces. The work presented here is aimed at analyzing the role of the two still uncharacterized ALS genes in C. parapsilosis, CpALS4790 and CpALS0660, by the generation and characterization of CpALS4790 and CpALS066 single mutant strains. Phenotypic characterization showed that both mutant strains behaved as the parental wild type strain regarding growth rate in liquid/solid media supplemented with cell-wall perturbing agents, and in the ability to produce pseudohyphae. Interestingly, the ability of the CpALS0660 null mutant to adhere to human buccal epithelial cells (HBECs) was not altered when compared with the wild-type strain, whereas deletion of CpALS4790 led to a significant loss of the adhesion capability. RT-qPCR analysis performed on the mutant strains in co-incubation with HBECs did not highlight significant changes in the expression levels of others ALS genes. In vivo experiments in a murine model of vaginal candidiasis indicated a significant reduction in CFUs recovered from BALB/C mice infected with each mutant strain in comparison to those infected with the wild type strain, confirming the involvement of CpAls4790 and CpAls5600 proteins in C. parapsilosis vaginal candidiasis in mice.

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Five Genes Encoding Surface-Exposed LPXTG Proteins Are Enriched in Hospital-Adapted Enterococcus faecium Clonal Complex 17 Isolates

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00664-07 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 189 (22) ◽

pp. 8321-8332 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Antoni P. A. Hendrickx ◽

Willem J. B. van Wamel ◽

George Posthuma ◽

Marc J. M. Bonten ◽

Rob J. L. Willems

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Enterococcus Faecium ◽

Clonal Complex ◽

Mrna Level ◽

Surface Protein ◽

Surface Proteins ◽

Dot Blot ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Invasive Infections

ABSTRACT Most Enterococcus faecium isolates associated with hospital outbreaks and invasive infections belong to a distinct genetic subpopulation called clonal complex 17 (CC17). It has been postulated that the genetic evolution of CC17 involves the acquisition of various genes involved in antibiotic resistance, metabolic pathways, and virulence. To gain insight into additional genes that may have favored the rapid emergence of this nosocomial pathogen, we aimed to identify surface-exposed LPXTG cell wall-anchored proteins (CWAPs) specifically enriched in CC17 E. faecium. Using PCR and Southern and dot blot hybridizations, 131 E. faecium isolates (40 CC17 and 91 non-CC17) were screened for the presence of 22 putative CWAP genes identified from the E. faecium TX0016 genome. Five genes encoding LPXTG surface proteins were specifically enriched in E. faecium CC17 isolates. These five LPXTG surface protein genes were found in 28 to 40 (70 to 100%) of CC17 and in only 7 to 24 (8 to 26%) of non-CC17 isolates (P < 0.05). Three of these CWAP genes clustered together on the E. faecium TX0016 genome, which may comprise a novel enterococcal pathogenicity island covering E. faecium contig 609. Expression at the mRNA level was demonstrated, and immunotransmission electron microscopy revealed an association of the five LPXTG surface proteins with the cell wall. Minimal spanning tree analysis based on the presence and absence of 22 CWAP genes revealed grouping of all 40 CC17 strains together with 18 hospital-derived but evolutionary unrelated non-CC17 isolates in a distinct CWAP-enriched cluster, suggesting horizontal transfer of CWAP genes and a role of these CWAPs in hospital adaptation.

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CodY-Regulated Aminotransferases AraT and BcaT Play a Major Role in the Growth of Lactococcus lactis in Milk by Regulating the Intracellular Pool of Amino Acids

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.69.6.3061-3068.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 69 (6) ◽

pp. 3061-3068 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Emilie Chambellon ◽

Mireille Yvon

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Growth Inhibition ◽

Lactococcus Lactis ◽

Double Mutant ◽

Wild Type Strain ◽

Aromatic Amino Acids ◽

Nitrogen Sources ◽

Nutritional Factors ◽

Keto Acids ◽

Branched Chain

ABSTRACT Aminotransferases, which catalyze the last step of biosynthesis of most amino acids and the first step of their catabolism, may be involved in the growth of Lactococcus lactis in milk. Previously, we isolated two aminotransferases from L. lactis, AraT and BcaT, which are responsible for the transamination of aromatic amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, and methionine. In this study, we demonstrated that double inactivation of AraT and BcaT strongly reduced the growth of L. lactis in milk. Supplementation of milk with amino acids and keto acids that are substrates of both aminotransferases did not improve the growth of the double mutant. On the contrary, supplementation of milk with isoleucine or a dipeptide containing isoleucine almost totally inhibited the growth of the double mutant, while it did not affect or only slightly affected the growth of the wild-type strain. These results suggest that AraT and BcaT play a major role in the growth of L. lactis in milk by degrading the intracellular excess isoleucine, which is responsible for the growth inhibition. The growth inhibition by isoleucine is likely to be due to CodY repression of the proteolytic system, which is necessary for maximal growth of L. lactis in milk, since the growth of the CodY mutant was not affected by addition of isoleucine to milk. Moreover, we demonstrated that AraT and BcaT are part of the CodY regulon and therefore are regulated by nutritional factors, such as the carbohydrate and nitrogen sources.

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