Agrobacterium tumefaciens Growth Pole Ring Protein: C Terminus and Internal Apolipoprotein Homologous Domains Are Essential for Function and Subcellular Localization

ABSTRACT The Agrobacterium growth pole ring (GPR) protein forms a hexameric ring at the growth pole (GP) that is essential for polar growth. GPR is large (2,115 amino acids) and contains 1,700 amino acids of continuous α-helices. To dissect potential GPR functional domains, we created deletions of regions with similarity to human apolipoprotein A-IV (396 amino acids), itself composed of α-helical domains. We also tested deletions of the GPR C terminus. Deletions were inducibly expressed as green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins and tested for merodiploid interference with wild-type (WT) GPR function, for partial function in cells lacking GPR, and for formation of paired fluorescent foci (indicative of hexameric rings) at the GP. Deletion of domains similar to human apolipoprotein A-IV in GPR caused defects in cell morphology when expressed in trans to WT GPR and provided only partial complementation to cells lacking GPR. Agrobacterium-specific domains A-IV-1 and A-IV-4 contain predicted coiled coil (CC) regions of 21 amino acids; deletion of CC regions produced severe defects in cell morphology in the interference assay. Mutants that produced the most severe effects on cell shape also failed to form paired polar foci. Modeling of A-IV-1 and A-IV-4 reveals significant similarity to the solved structure of human apolipoprotein A-IV. GPR C-terminal deletions profoundly blocked complementation. Finally, peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis is abnormally localized circumferentially in cells lacking GPR. The results support the hypothesis that GPR plays essential roles as an organizing center for membrane and PG synthesis during polar growth. IMPORTANCE Bacterial growth and division are extensively studied in model systems (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Caulobacter crescentus) that grow by dispersed insertion of new cell wall material along the length of the cell. An alternative growth mode—polar growth—is used by some Actinomycetales and Proteobacteria species. The latter phylum includes the family Rhizobiaceae, in which many species, including Agrobacterium tumefaciens, exhibit polar growth. Current research aims to identify growth pole (GP) factors. The Agrobacterium growth pole ring (GPR) protein is essential for polar growth and forms a striking hexameric ring structure at the GP. GPR is long (2,115 amino acids), and little is known about regions essential for structure or function. Genetic analyses demonstrate that the C terminus of GPR, and two internal regions with homology to human apolipoproteins (that sequester lipids), are essential for GPR function and localization to the GP. We hypothesize that GPR is an organizing center for membrane and cell wall synthesis during polar growth.

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Loss of PodJ in Agrobacterium tumefaciens Leads to Ectopic Polar Growth, Branching, and Reduced Cell Division

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00198-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 198 (13) ◽

pp. 1883-1891 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

James C. Anderson-Furgeson ◽

John R. Zupan ◽

Romain Grangeon ◽

Patricia C. Zambryski

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Division ◽

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens ◽

Cell Envelope ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Polar Growth ◽

Content Type ◽

Growth Pole ◽

Envelope Material ◽

Z Ring

ABSTRACTAgrobacterium tumefaciensis a rod-shaped Gram-negative bacterium that elongates by unipolar addition of new cell envelope material. Approaching cell division, the growth pole transitions to a nongrowing old pole, and the division site creates new growth poles in sibling cells. TheA. tumefacienshomolog of theCaulobacter crescentuspolar organizing protein PopZ localizes specifically to growth poles. In contrast, theA. tumefacienshomolog of theC. crescentuspolar organelle development protein PodJ localizes to the old pole early in the cell cycle and accumulates at the growth pole as the cell cycle proceeds. FtsA and FtsZ also localize to the growth pole for most of the cell cycle prior to Z-ring formation. To further characterize the function of polar localizing proteins, we created a deletion ofA. tumefacienspodJ(podJAt). ΔpodJAtcells display ectopic growth poles (branching), growth poles that fail to transition to an old pole, and elongated cells that fail to divide. In ΔpodJAtcells,A. tumefaciensPopZ-green fluorescent protein (PopZAt-GFP) persists at nontransitioning growth poles postdivision and also localizes to ectopic growth poles, as expected for a growth-pole-specific factor. Even though GFP-PodJAtdoes not localize to the midcell in the wild type, deletion ofpodJAtimpacts localization, stability, and function of Z-rings as assayed by localization of FtsA-GFP and FtsZ-GFP. Z-ring defects are further evidenced by minicell production. Together, these data indicate that PodJAtis a critical factor for polar growth and that ΔpodJAtcells display a cell division phenotype, likely because the growth pole cannot transition to an old pole.IMPORTANCEHow rod-shaped prokaryotes develop and maintain shape is complicated by the fact that at least two distinct species-specific growth modes exist: uniform sidewall insertion of cell envelope material, characterized in model organisms such asEscherichia coli, and unipolar growth, which occurs in several alphaproteobacteria, includingAgrobacterium tumefaciens. Essential components for unipolar growth are largely uncharacterized, and the mechanism constraining growth to one pole of a wild-type cell is unknown. Here, we report that the deletion of a polar development gene,podJAt, results in cells exhibiting ectopic polar growth, including multiple growth poles and aberrant localization of cell division and polar growth-associated proteins. These data suggest that PodJAtis a critical factor in normal polar growth and impacts cell division inA. tumefaciens.

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The C Terminus of Substrates Is Critical but Not Sufficient for Their Degradation by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa CtpA Protease

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00174-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 202 (16) ◽

Author(s):

Sammi Chung ◽

Andrew J. Darwin

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Content Type ◽

C Terminus ◽

Outer Membrane Lipoprotein ◽

Membrane Lipoprotein ◽

Carboxyl Terminal

ABSTRACT Bacterial carboxyl-terminal processing proteases (CTPs) are widely conserved and have been linked to important processes, including signal transduction, cell wall metabolism, and virulence. However, the features that target proteins for CTP-dependent cleavage are unclear. Studies of the Escherichia coli CTP Prc suggested that it cleaves proteins with nonpolar and/or structurally unconstrained C termini, but it is not clear if this applies broadly. Pseudomonas aeruginosa has a divergent CTP, CtpA, which is required for virulence. CtpA works in complex with the outer membrane lipoprotein LbcA to degrade cell wall hydrolases. In this study, we investigated if the C termini of two nonhomologous CtpA substrates are important for their degradation. We determined that these substrates have extended C termini compared to those of their closest E. coli homologs. Removing 7 amino acids from these extensions was sufficient to reduce their degradation by CtpA both in vivo and in vitro. Degradation of one truncated substrate was restored by adding the C terminus from the other but not by adding an unrelated sequence. However, modification of the C termini of nonsubstrates, by adding the C-terminal amino acids from a substrate, did not cause their degradation by CtpA. Therefore, the C termini of CtpA substrates are required but not sufficient for their efficient degradation. Although C-terminal truncated substrates were protected from degradation, they still associated with the LbcA-CtpA complex in vivo. Therefore, degradation of a protein by CtpA requires a C terminus-independent interaction with the LbcA-CtpA complex, followed by C terminus-dependent degradation, perhaps because CtpA normally initiates cleavage at a C-terminal site. IMPORTANCE Carboxyl-terminal processing proteases (CTPs) are found in all three domains of life, but exactly how they work is poorly understood, including how they recognize substrates. Bacterial CTPs have been associated with virulence, including CtpA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which works in complex with the outer membrane lipoprotein LbcA to degrade potentially dangerous peptidoglycan hydrolases. We report an important advance by revealing that efficient degradation by CtpA requires at least two separable phenomena and that one of them depends on information encoded in the substrate C terminus. A C terminus-independent association with the LbcA-CtpA complex is followed by C terminus-dependent cleavage by CtpA. Increased understanding of how CTPs target proteins is significant, due to their links to virulence, peptidoglycan remodeling, and other important processes.

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Absence of the Polar Organizing Protein PopZ Results in Reduced and Asymmetric Cell Division in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00101-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 199 (17) ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Matthew Howell ◽

Alena Aliashkevich ◽

Anne K. Salisbury ◽

Felipe Cava ◽

Grant R. Bowman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Division ◽

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens ◽

Chromosome Segregation ◽

Caulobacter Crescentus ◽

Length Distribution ◽

Polar Growth ◽

Atypical Cell ◽

Content Type ◽

Growth Pole ◽

Animal Pathogens

ABSTRACT Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a rod-shaped bacterium that grows by polar insertion of new peptidoglycan during cell elongation. As the cell cycle progresses, peptidoglycan synthesis at the pole ceases prior to insertion of new peptidoglycan at midcell to enable cell division. The A. tumefaciens homolog of the Caulobacter crescentus polar organelle development protein PopZ has been identified as a growth pole marker and a candidate polar growth-promoting factor. Here, we characterize the function of PopZ in cell growth and division of A. tumefaciens. Consistent with previous observations, we observe that PopZ localizes specifically to the growth pole in wild-type cells. Despite the striking localization pattern of PopZ, we find the absence of the protein does not impair polar elongation or cause major changes in the peptidoglycan composition. Instead, we observe an atypical cell length distribution, including minicells, elongated cells, and cells with ectopic poles. Most minicells lack DNA, suggesting a defect in chromosome segregation. Furthermore, the canonical cell division proteins FtsZ and FtsA are misplaced, leading to asymmetric sites of cell constriction. Together, these data suggest that PopZ plays an important role in the regulation of chromosome segregation and cell division. IMPORTANCE A. tumefaciens is a bacterial plant pathogen and a natural genetic engineer. However, very little is known about the spatial and temporal regulation of cell wall biogenesis that leads to polar growth in this bacterium. Understanding the molecular basis of A. tumefaciens growth may allow for the development of innovations to prevent disease or to promote growth during biotechnology applications. Finally, since many closely related plant and animal pathogens exhibit polar growth, discoveries in A. tumefaciens may be broadly applicable for devising antimicrobial strategies.

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Cell-Biological Studies of Osmotic Shock Response in Streptomyces spp

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00465-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 199 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Katsuya Fuchino ◽

Klas Flärdh ◽

Paul Dyson ◽

Nora Ausmees

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Cell Polarity ◽

Tip Growth ◽

Biological Study ◽

Polar Growth ◽

Hyphal Branching ◽

Content Type ◽

Biological Studies ◽

Wide Range ◽

Tip Extension

ABSTRACT Most bacteria are likely to face osmotic challenges, but there is yet much to learn about how such environmental changes affect the architecture of bacterial cells. Here, we report a cell-biological study in model organisms of the genus Streptomyces, which are actinobacteria that grow in a highly polarized fashion to form branching hyphae. The characteristic apical growth of Streptomyces hyphae is orchestrated by protein assemblies, called polarisomes, which contain coiled-coil proteins DivIVA and Scy, and recruit cell wall synthesis complexes and the stress-bearing cytoskeleton of FilP to the tip regions of the hyphae. We monitored cell growth and cell-architectural changes by time-lapse microscopy in osmotic upshift experiments. Hyperosmotic shock caused arrest of growth, loss of turgor, and hypercondensation of chromosomes. The recovery period was protracted, presumably due to the dehydrated state of the cytoplasm, before hyphae could restore their turgor and start to grow again. In most hyphae, this regrowth did not take place at the original hyphal tips. Instead, cell polarity was reprogrammed, and polarisomes were redistributed to new sites, leading to the emergence of multiple lateral branches from which growth occurred. Factors known to regulate the branching pattern of Streptomyces hyphae, such as the serine/threonine kinase AfsK and Scy, were not involved in reprogramming of cell polarity, indicating that different mechanisms may act under different environmental conditions to control hyphal branching. Our observations of hyphal morphology during the stress response indicate that turgor and sufficient hydration of cytoplasm are required for Streptomyces tip growth. IMPORTANCE Polar growth is an intricate manner of growth for accomplishing a complicated morphology, employed by a wide range of organisms across the kingdoms of life. The tip extension of Streptomyces hyphae is one of the most pronounced examples of polar growth among bacteria. The expansion of the cell wall by tip extension is thought to be facilitated by the turgor pressure, but it was unknown how external osmotic change influences Streptomyces tip growth. We report here that severe hyperosmotic stress causes cessation of growth, followed by reprogramming of cell polarity and rearrangement of growth zones to promote lateral hyphal branching. This phenomenon may represent a strategy of hyphal organisms to avoid osmotic stress encountered by the growing hyphal tip.

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Subcellular localization of the Streptococcus mutans P1 protein C terminus

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/w99-037 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 536-539 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mary K Homonylo-McGavin ◽

Song F Lee ◽

George H Bowden

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Monoclonal Antibody ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Streptococcus Mutans ◽

Polyclonal Antibody ◽

Cell Walls ◽

Protein C ◽

Protein Localization ◽

Subcellular Location ◽

C Terminus

To determine the subcellular location of the Streptococcus mutans P1 protein C-terminal anchor, cell envelope fractionation experiments were conducted in combination with Western immunoblotting, using monoclonal antibody MAb 6-8C specific for an epitope that maps near the C terminus of P1 protein and also a polyclonal antibody preparation directed against the P1 C-terminal 144 amino acids (P1COOH). P1 protein was detected in cell walls but not the membrane purified from S. mutans cells by the monoclonal antibody. In contrast, P1 protein was not detected in the same cell wall preparation using the anti-P1COOH polyclonal antibody. However, proteins released from the cell walls by treatment with mutanolysin contained antigen that was recognized by the anti-P1COOH antibody, suggesting that the epitopes recognized by the antibody were masked by peptidoglycan in the cell wall preparations. When cell walls were treated with boiling trichloroacetic acid to solubilize cell-wall-associated carbohydrate, P1 antigen could not be detected in either the solubilized carbohydrate, or in the remaining peptidoglycan, regardless of whether polyclonal or monoclonal antibody was used. However, when the peptidoglycan was treated with mutanolysin, P1 antigen could be detected in the mutanolysin solubilized fraction by MAb 6-8C. Collectively, these data suggest that the C-terminal 144 amino acids of the P1 protein are embedded within the cell wall, and associated exclusively with the peptidoglycan. Furthermore, the ability of the anti-P1COOH antibody to recognize P1 antigen only after mutanolysin treatment of cell walls suggests these C-terminal 144 amino acids are tightly intercalated within the peptidoglycan strands.Key words: antigen P1, cell wall proteins, fusion proteins, peptidoglycan, protein localization.

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Multiple Alternative Carbon Pathways Combine To Promote Candida albicans Stress Resistance, Immune Interactions, and Virulence

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.03070-19 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Robert B. Williams ◽

Michael C. Lorenz

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Candida Albicans ◽

Stress Resistance ◽

Innate Immune System ◽

Carbon Sources ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Content Type ◽

Multiple Alternative ◽

Carbon Pathways

ABSTRACT The phagocytic cells of the innate immune system are an essential first line of antimicrobial defense, and yet Candida albicans, one of the most problematic fungal pathogens, is capable of resisting the stresses imposed by the macrophage phagosome, eventually resulting in the destruction of the phagocyte. C. albicans rapidly adapts to the phagosome by upregulating multiple alternative carbon utilization pathways, particularly those for amino acids, carboxylic acids, and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Here, we report that C. albicans recognizes these carbon sources both as crucial nutrients and as independent signals in its environment. Even in the presence of glucose, each carbon source promotes increased resistance to a unique profile of stressors; lactate promotes increased resistance to osmotic and cell wall stresses, amino acids increased resistance to oxidative and nitrosative stresses, and GlcNAc increased resistance to oxidative stress and caspofungin, while all three alternative carbon sources have been shown to induce resistance to fluconazole. Moreover, we show mutants incapable of utilizing these carbon sources, in particular, strains engineered to be defective in all three pathways, are significantly attenuated in both macrophage and mouse models, with additive effects observed as multiple carbon pathways are eliminated, suggesting that C. albicans simultaneously utilizes multiple carbon sources within the macrophage phagosome and during disseminated candidiasis. Taking the data together, we propose that, in addition to providing energy to the pathogen within host environments, alternative carbon sources serve as niche-specific priming signals that allow C. albicans to recognize microenvironments within the host and to prepare for stresses associated with that niche, thus promoting host adaptation and virulence. IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is a fungal pathogen and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in people with defects, sometimes minor ones, in innate immunity. The phagocytes of the innate immune system, particularly macrophages and neutrophils, generally restrict this organism to its normal commensal niches, but C. albicans shows a robust and multifaceted response to these cell types. Inside macrophages, a key component of this response is the activation of multiple pathways for the utilization of alternative carbon sources, particularly amino acids, carboxylic acids, and N-acetylglucosamine. These carbon sources are key sources of energy and biomass but also independently promote stress resistance, induce cell wall alterations, and affect C. albicans interactions with macrophages. Engineered strains incapable of utilizing these alternative carbon pathways are attenuated in infection models. These data suggest that C. albicans recognizes nutrient composition as an indicator of specific host environments and tailors its responses accordingly.

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D-Methionine and D-Phenylalanine Improve Lactococcus lactis F44 Acid Resistance and Nisin Yield by Governing Cell Wall Remodeling

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02981-19 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 86 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Hao Wu ◽

Ershu Xue ◽

Ning Zhi ◽

Qianqian Song ◽

Kairen Tian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Lactococcus Lactis ◽

Acid Stress ◽

Acid Tolerance ◽

Acid Resistance ◽

Cell Wall Synthesis ◽

Nisin Production ◽

Content Type ◽

Nisin Yield

ABSTRACT Lactococcus lactis encounters various environmental challenges, especially acid stress, during its growth. The cell wall can maintain the integrity and shape of the cell under environmental stress, and d-amino acids play an important role in cell wall synthesis. Here, by analyzing the effects of 19 different d-amino acids on the physiology of L. lactis F44, we found that exogenously supplied d-methionine and d-phenylalanine increased the nisin yield by 93.22% and 101.29%, respectively, as well as significantly increasing the acid resistance of L. lactis F44. The composition of the cell wall in L. lactis F44 with exogenously supplied d-Met or d-Phe was further investigated via a vancomycin fluorescence experiment and a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay, which demonstrated that d-Met could be incorporated into the fifth position of peptidoglycan (PG) muropeptides and d-Phe could be added to the fourth and fifth positions. Moreover, overexpression of the PG synthesis gene murF further enhanced the levels of d-Met and d-Phe involved in PG and increased the survival rate under acid stress and the nisin yield of the strain. This study reveals that the exogenous supply of d-Met or d-Phe can change the composition of the cell wall and influence acid tolerance as well as nisin yield in L. lactis. IMPORTANCE As d-amino acids play an important role in cell wall synthesis, we analyzed the effects of 19 different d-amino acids on L. lactis F44, demonstrating that d-Met and d-Phe can participate in peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis and improve the acid resistance and nisin yield of this strain. murF overexpression further increased the levels of d-Met and d-Phe incorporated into PG and contributed to the acid resistance of the strain. These findings suggest that d-Met and d-Phe can be incorporated into PG to improve the acid resistance and nisin yield of L. lactis, and this study provides new ideas for the enhancement of nisin production.

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Tol-Pal System and Rgs Proteins Interact to Promote Unipolar Growth and Cell Division in Sinorhizobium meliloti

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.00306-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elizaveta Krol ◽

Hamish C. L. Yau ◽

Marcus Lechner ◽

Simon Schäper ◽

Gert Bange ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Cell Division ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Cell Elongation ◽

Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽

Rgs Proteins ◽

Polar Growth ◽

Content Type ◽

Cell Pole ◽

Growing Cell

ABSTRACT Sinorhizobium meliloti is an alphaproteobacterium belonging to the Rhizobiales. Bacteria from this order elongate their cell wall at the new cell pole, generated by cell division. Screening for protein interaction partners of the previously characterized polar growth factors RgsP and RgsM, we identified the inner membrane components of the Tol-Pal system (TolQ and TolR) and novel Rgs (rhizobial growth and septation) proteins with unknown functions. TolQ, Pal, and all Rgs proteins, except for RgsE, were indispensable for S. meliloti cell growth. Six of the Rgs proteins, TolQ, and Pal localized to the growing cell pole in the cell elongation phase and to the septum in predivisional cells, and three Rgs proteins localized to the growing cell pole only. The putative FtsN-like protein RgsS contains a conserved SPOR domain and is indispensable at the early stages of cell division. The components of the Tol-Pal system were required at the late stages of cell division. RgsE, a homolog of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens growth pole ring protein GPR, has an important role in maintaining the normal growth rate and rod cell shape. RgsD is a periplasmic protein with the ability to bind peptidoglycan. Analysis of the phylogenetic distribution of the Rgs proteins showed that they are conserved in Rhizobiales and mostly absent from other alphaproteobacterial orders, suggesting a conserved role of these proteins in polar growth. IMPORTANCE Bacterial cell proliferation involves cell growth and septum formation followed by cell division. For cell growth, bacteria have evolved different complex mechanisms. The most prevalent growth mode of rod-shaped bacteria is cell elongation by incorporating new peptidoglycans in a dispersed manner along the sidewall. A small share of rod-shaped bacteria, including the alphaproteobacterial Rhizobiales, grow unipolarly. Here, we identified and initially characterized a set of Rgs (rhizobial growth and septation) proteins, which are involved in cell division and unipolar growth of Sinorhizobium meliloti and highly conserved in Rhizobiales. Our data expand the knowledge of components of the polarly localized machinery driving cell wall growth and suggest a complex of Rgs proteins with components of the divisome, differing in composition between the polar cell elongation zone and the septum.

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Peptidoglycan Synthesis Machinery in Agrobacterium tumefaciens During Unipolar Growth and Cell Division

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.01219-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Todd A. Cameron ◽

James Anderson-Furgeson ◽

John R. Zupan ◽

Justin J. Zik ◽

Patricia C. Zambryski

Keyword(s):

Cell Division ◽

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Polar Growth ◽

Growth Strategies ◽

Cell Width ◽

Content Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Cell Compartments ◽

New Material

ABSTRACT The synthesis of peptidoglycan (PG) in bacteria is a crucial process controlling cell shape and vitality. In contrast to bacteria such as Escherichia coli that grow by dispersed lateral insertion of PG, little is known of the processes that direct polar PG synthesis in other bacteria such as the Rhizobiales. To better understand polar growth in the Rhizobiales Agrobacterium tumefaciens, we first surveyed its genome to identify homologs of (~70) well-known PG synthesis components. Since most of the canonical cell elongation components are absent from A. tumefaciens, we made fluorescent protein fusions to other putative PG synthesis components to assay their subcellular localization patterns. The cell division scaffolds FtsZ and FtsA, PBP1a, and a Rhizobiales- and Rhodobacterales-specific l,d-transpeptidase (LDT) all associate with the elongating cell pole. All four proteins also localize to the septum during cell division. Examination of the dimensions of growing cells revealed that new cell compartments gradually increase in width as they grow in length. This increase in cell width is coincident with an expanded region of LDT-mediated PG synthesis activity, as measured directly through incorporation of exogenous d-amino acids. Thus, unipolar growth in the Rhizobiales is surprisingly dynamic and represents a significant departure from the canonical growth mechanism of E. coli and other well-studied bacilli. IMPORTANCE Many rod-shaped bacteria, including pathogens such as Brucella and Mycobacteriu, grow by adding new material to their cell poles, and yet the proteins and mechanisms contributing to this process are not yet well defined. The polarly growing plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used as a model bacterium to explore these polar growth mechanisms. The results obtained indicate that polar growth in this organism is facilitated by repurposed cell division components and an otherwise obscure class of alternative peptidoglycan transpeptidases (l,d-transpeptidases). This growth results in dynamically changing cell widths as the poles expand to maturity and contrasts with the tightly regulated cell widths characteristic of canonical rod-shaped growth. Furthermore, the abundance and/or activity of l,d-transpeptidases appears to associate with polar growth strategies, suggesting that these enzymes may serve as attractive targets for specifically inhibiting growth of Rhizobiales, Actinomycetales, and other polarly growing bacterial pathogens.

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Loss of PopZAtactivity inAgrobacterium tumefaciensby Deletion or Depletion Leads to Multiple Growth Poles, Minicells, and Growth Defects

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.01881-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Romain Grangeon ◽

John Zupan ◽

Yeonji Jeon ◽

Patricia C. Zambryski

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Division ◽

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens ◽

Caulobacter Crescentus ◽

Polar Growth ◽

Growth Pole ◽

Growth Defects ◽

Animal Pathogens ◽

Cell Asymmetry

ABSTRACTAgrobacterium tumefaciensgrows by addition of peptidoglycan (PG) at one pole of the bacterium. During the cell cycle, the cell needs to maintain two different developmental programs, one at the growth pole and another at the inert old pole. Proteins involved in this process are not yet well characterized. To further characterize the role of pole-organizing proteinA. tumefaciensPopZ (PopZAt), we created deletions of the five PopZAtdomains and assayed their localization. In addition, we created apopZAtdeletion strain (ΔpopZAt) that exhibited growth and cell division defects with ectopic growth poles and minicells, but the strain is unstable. To overcome the genetic instability, we created an inducible PopZAtstrain by replacing the native ribosome binding site with a riboswitch. Cultivated in a medium without the inducer theophylline, the cells look like ΔpopZAtcells, with a branching and minicell phenotype. Adding theophylline restores the wild-type (WT) cell shape. Localization experiments in the depleted strain showed that the domain enriched in proline, aspartate, and glutamate likely functions in growth pole targeting. Helical domains H3 and H4 together also mediate polar localization, but only in the presence of the WT protein, suggesting that the H3 and H4 domains multimerize with WT PopZAt, to stabilize growth pole accumulation of PopZAt.IMPORTANCEAgrobacterium tumefaciensis a rod-shaped bacterium that grows by addition of PG at only one pole. The factors involved in maintaining cell asymmetry during the cell cycle with an inert old pole and a growing new pole are not well understood. Here we investigate the role of PopZAt, a homologue ofCaulobacter crescentusPopZ (PopZCc), a protein essential in many aspects of pole identity inC. crescentus. We report that the loss of PopZAtleads to the appearance of branching cells, minicells, and overall growth defects. As many plant and animal pathogens also employ polar growth, understanding this process inA. tumefaciensmay lead to the development of new strategies to prevent the proliferation of these pathogens. In addition, studies ofA. tumefacienswill provide new insights into the evolution of the genetic networks that regulate bacterial polar growth and cell division.

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