scholarly journals Utilization of different MurNAc sources by the oral pathogen Tannerella forsythia and role of the inner membrane transporter AmpG

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina M. T. Mayer ◽  
Markus B. Tomek ◽  
Rudolf Figl ◽  
Marina Borisova ◽  
Isabel Hottmann ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Gram-negative oral pathogen Tannerella forsythia strictly depends on the external supply of the essential bacterial cell wall sugar N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) for survival because of the lack of the common MurNAc biosynthesis enzymes MurA/MurB. The bacterium thrives in a polymicrobial biofilm consortium and, thus, it is plausible that it procures MurNAc from MurNAc-containing peptidoglycan (PGN) fragments (muropeptides) released from cohabiting bacteria during natural PGN turnover or cell death. There is indirect evidence that in T. forsythia, an AmpG-like permease (Tanf_08365) is involved in cytoplasmic muropeptide uptake. In E. coli, AmpG is specific for the import of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-anhydroMurNAc(−peptides) which are common PGN turnover products, with the disaccharide portion as a minimal requirement. Currently, it is unclear which natural, complex MurNAc sources T. forsythia can utilize and which role AmpG plays therein. Results We performed a screen of various putative MurNAc sources for T. forsythia mimicking the situation in the natural habitat and compared bacterial growth and cell morphology of the wild-type and a mutant lacking AmpG (T. forsythia ΔampG). We showed that supernatants of the oral biofilm bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, and of E. coli ΔampG, as well as isolated PGN and defined PGN fragments obtained after enzymatic digestion, namely GlcNAc-anhydroMurNAc(−peptides) and GlcNAc-MurNAc(−peptides), could sustain growth of T. forsythia wild-type, while T. forsythia ΔampG suffered from growth inhibition. In supernatants of T. forsythia ΔampG, the presence of GlcNAc-anhMurNAc and, unexpectedly, also GlcNAc-MurNAc was revealed by tandem mass spectrometry analysis, indicating that both disaccharides are substrates of AmpG. The importance of AmpG in the utilization of PGN fragments as MurNAc source was substantiated by a significant ampG upregulation in T. forsythia cells cultivated with PGN, as determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Further, our results indicate that PGN-degrading amidase, lytic transglycosylase and muramidase activities in a T. forsythia cell extract are involved in PGN scavenging. Conclusion T. forsythia metabolizes intact PGN as well as muropeptides released from various bacteria and the bacterium’s inner membrane transporter AmpG is essential for growth on these MurNAc sources, and, contrary to the situation in E. coli, imports both, GlcNAc-anhMurNAc and GlcNAc-MurNAc fragments.

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. e2016904118
Author(s):  
Derek K. Cheng ◽  
Tobiloba E. Oni ◽  
Jennifer S. Thalappillil ◽  
Youngkyu Park ◽  
Hsiu-Chi Ting ◽  
...  

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy with limited treatment options. Although activating mutations of the KRAS GTPase are the predominant dependency present in >90% of PDAC patients, targeting KRAS mutants directly has been challenging in PDAC. Similarly, strategies targeting known KRAS downstream effectors have had limited clinical success due to feedback mechanisms, alternate pathways, and dose-limiting toxicities in normal tissues. Therefore, identifying additional functionally relevant KRAS interactions in PDAC may allow for a better understanding of feedback mechanisms and unveil potential therapeutic targets. Here, we used proximity labeling to identify protein interactors of active KRAS in PDAC cells. We expressed fusions of wild-type (WT) (BirA-KRAS4B), mutant (BirA-KRAS4BG12D), and nontransforming cytosolic double mutant (BirA-KRAS4BG12D/C185S) KRAS with the BirA biotin ligase in murine PDAC cells. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that RSK1 selectively interacts with membrane-bound KRASG12D, and we demonstrate that this interaction requires NF1 and SPRED2. We find that membrane RSK1 mediates negative feedback on WT RAS signaling and impedes the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells upon the ablation of mutant KRAS. Our findings link NF1 to the membrane-localized functions of RSK1 and highlight a role for WT RAS signaling in promoting adaptive resistance to mutant KRAS-specific inhibitors in PDAC.


2010 ◽  
Vol 192 (8) ◽  
pp. 2044-2052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyl S. Matson ◽  
Hyun Ju Yoo ◽  
Kristina Hakansson ◽  
Victor J. DiRita

ABSTRACTAntimicrobial peptides are critical for innate antibacterial defense. Both Gram-negative and Gram-positive microbes have mechanisms to alter their surfaces and resist killing by antimicrobial peptides. InVibrio cholerae, two natural epidemic biotypes, classical and El Tor, exhibit distinct phenotypes with respect to sensitivity to the peptide antibiotic polymyxin B: classical strains are sensitive and El Tor strains are relatively resistant. We carried out mutant screens of both biotypes, aiming to identify classicalV. choleraemutants resistant to polymyxin B and El TorV. choleraemutants sensitive to polymyxin B. Insertions in a gene annotatedmsbB(encoding a predicted lipid A secondary acyltransferase) answered both screens, implicating its activity in antimicrobial peptide resistance ofV. cholerae. Analysis of a defined mutation in the El Tor biotype demonstrated thatmsbBis required for resistance to all antimicrobial peptides tested. Mutation ofmsbBin a classical strain resulted in reduced resistance to several antimicrobial peptides but in no significant change in resistance to polymyxin B.msbBmutants of both biotypes showed decreased colonization of infant mice, with a more pronounced defect observed for the El Tor mutant. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that lipid A of themsbBmutant for both biotypes was underacylated compared to lipid A of the wild-type isolates, confirming that MsbB is a functional acyltransferase inV. cholerae.


2010 ◽  
Vol 192 (18) ◽  
pp. 4651-4659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy D. Smith ◽  
Jonathan A. Pointon ◽  
Emily Abbot ◽  
Hae Joo Kang ◽  
Edward N. Baker ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Adhesive pili on the surface of the serotype M1 Streptococcus pyogenes strain SF370 are composed of a major backbone subunit (Spy0128) and two minor subunits (Spy0125 and Spy0130), joined covalently by a pilin polymerase (Spy0129). Previous studies using recombinant proteins showed that both minor subunits bind to human pharyngeal (Detroit) cells (A. G. Manetti et al., Mol. Microbiol. 64:968-983, 2007), suggesting both may act as pilus-presented adhesins. While confirming these binding properties, studies described here indicate that Spy0125 is the pilus-presented adhesin and that Spy0130 has a distinct role as a wall linker. Pili were localized predominantly to cell wall fractions of the wild-type S. pyogenes parent strain and a spy0125 deletion mutant. In contrast, they were found almost exclusively in culture supernatants in both spy0130 and srtA deletion mutants, indicating that the housekeeping sortase (SrtA) attaches pili to the cell wall by using Spy0130 as a linker protein. Adhesion assays with antisera specific for individual subunits showed that only anti-rSpy0125 serum inhibited adhesion of wild-type S. pyogenes to human keratinocytes and tonsil epithelium to a significant extent. Spy0125 was localized to the tip of pili, based on a combination of mutant analysis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of purified pili. Assays comparing parent and mutant strains confirmed its role as the adhesin. Unexpectedly, apparent spontaneous cleavage of a labile, proline-rich (8 of 14 residues) sequence separating the N-terminal ∼1/3 and C-terminal ∼2/3 of Spy0125 leads to loss of the N-terminal region, but analysis of internal spy0125 deletion mutants confirmed that this has no significant effect on adhesion.


2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (22) ◽  
pp. 3119-3125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Ruscitto ◽  
Isabel Hottmann ◽  
Graham P. Stafford ◽  
Christina Schäffer ◽  
Christoph Mayer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTTannerella forsythiais a Gram-negative periodontal pathogen lacking the ability to undergode novosynthesis of amino sugarsN-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) andN-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) that form the disaccharide repeating unit of the peptidoglycan backbone.T. forsythiarelies on the uptake of these sugars from the environment, which is so far unexplored. Here, we identified a novel transporter system ofT. forsythiainvolved in the uptake of MurNAc across the inner membrane and characterized a homolog of theEscherichia coliMurQ etherase involved in the conversion of MurNAc-6-phosphate (MurNAc-6-P) to GlcNAc-6-P. The genes encoding these components were identified on a three-gene cluster spanning Tanf_08375 to Tanf_08385 located downstream from a putative peptidoglycan recycling locus. We show that the three genes, Tanf_08375, Tanf_08380, and Tanf_08385, encoding a MurNAc transporter, a putative sugar kinase, and a MurQ etherase, respectively, are transcriptionally linked. Complementation of the Tanf_08375 and Tanf_08380 genes together intrans, but not individually, rescued the inability of anE. colimutant deficient in the phosphotransferase (PTS) system-dependent MurNAc transporter MurP as well as that of a double mutant deficient in MurP and components of the PTS system to grow on MurNAc. In addition, complementation with this two-gene construct inE. colicaused depletion of MurNAc in the medium, further confirming this observation. Our results show that the products of Tanf_08375 and Tanf_08380 constitute a novel non-PTS MurNAc transporter system that seems to be widespread among bacteria of theBacteroidetesphylum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first identification of a PTS-independent MurNAc transporter in bacteria.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we report the identification of a novel transporter for peptidoglycan amino sugarN-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) in the periodontal pathogenT. forsythia. It has been known since the late 1980s thatT. forsythiais a MurNAc auxotroph relying on environmental sources for this essential sugar. Most sugar transporters, and the MurNAc transporter MurP in particular, require a PTS phosphorelay to drive the uptake and concurrent phosphorylation of the sugar through the inner membrane in Gram-negative bacteria. Our study uncovered a novel type of PTS-independent MurNAc transporter, and although so far, it seems to be unique toT. forsythia, it may be present in a range of bacteria both of the oral cavity and gut, especially of the phylumBacteroidetes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 3539-3549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélissa Caza ◽  
François Lépine ◽  
Sylvain Milot ◽  
Charles M. Dozois

ABSTRACT Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strains are a subset of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains associated with respiratory infections and septicemia in poultry. The iroBCDEN genes encode the salmochelin siderophore system present in Salmonella enterica and some ExPEC strains. Roles of the iro genes for virulence in chickens and production of salmochelins were assessed by introducing plasmids carrying different combinations of iro genes into an attenuated salmochelin- and aerobactin-negative mutant of O78 strain χ7122. Complementation with the iroBCDEN genes resulted in a regaining of virulence, whereas the absence of iroC, iroDE, or iroN abrogated restoration of virulence. The iroE gene was not required for virulence, since introduction of iroBCDN restored the capacity to cause lesions and colonize extraintestinal tissues. Prevalence studies indicated that iro sequences were associated with virulent APEC strains. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of supernatants of APEC χ7122 and the complemented mutants indicated that (i) for χ7122, salmochelins comprised 14 to 27% of the siderophores present in iron-limited medium or infected tissues; (ii) complementation of the mutant with the iro locus increased levels of glucosylated dimers (S1 and S5) and monomer (SX) compared to APEC strain χ7122; (iii) the iroDE genes were important for generation of S1, S5, and SX; (iv) iroC was required for export of salmochelin trimers and dimers; and (v) iroB was required for generation of salmochelins. Overall, efficient glucosylation (IroB), transport (IroC and IroN), and processing (IroD and IroE) of salmochelins are required for APEC virulence, although IroE appears to serve an ancillary role.


2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Nieto ◽  
C. Madrid ◽  
E. Miquelay ◽  
J. L. Parra ◽  
S. Rodríguez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli nucleoid-associated H-NS protein interacts with the Hha protein, a member of a new family of global modulators that also includes the YmoA protein from Yersinia enterocolitica. This interaction has been found to be involved in the regulation of the expression of the toxin α-hemolysin. In this study, we further characterize the interaction between H-NS and Hha. We show that the presence of DNA in preparations of copurified His-Hha and H-NS is not directly implicated in the interaction between the proteins. The precise molecular mass of the H-NS protein retained by Hha, obtained by mass spectrometry analysis, does not show any posttranslational modification other than removal of the N-terminal Met residue. We constructed an H-NS-His recombinant protein and found that, as expected, it interacts with Hha. We used a Ni2+-nitrilotriacetic acid agarose method for affinity chromatography copurification of proteins to identify the H-NS protein of Y. enterocolitica. We constructed a six-His-YmoA recombinant protein derived from YmoA, the homologue of Hha in Y. enterocolitica, and found that it interacts with Y. enterocolitica H-NS. We also cloned and sequenced the hns gene of this microorganism. In the course of these experiments we found that His-YmoA can also retain H-NS from E. coli. We also found that the hns gene of Y. enterocolitica can complement an hns mutation of E. coli. Finally, we describe for the first time systematic characterization of missense mutant alleles of hha and truncated Hha′ proteins, and we report a striking and previously unnoticed similarity of the Hha family of proteins to the oligomerization domain of the H-NS proteins.


2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (5) ◽  
pp. L996-L1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabah N. A. Hussain ◽  
Ghassan Matar ◽  
Esther Barreiro ◽  
Maria Florian ◽  
Maziar Divangahi ◽  
...  

Although 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE, a product of lipid peroxidation) is a major cause of oxidative damage inside skeletal muscles, the exact proteins modified by HNE are unknown. We used two-dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry to identify selective proteins targeted by HNE inside the diaphragm of rats under two conditions: severe sepsis [induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS)] and during strenuous muscle contractions elicited by severe inspiratory resistive loading (IRL). Diaphragm HNE-protein adduct formation (detected with a polyclonal antibody) increased significantly after 1 and 3 h of LPS injection with a return to baseline values thereafter. Similarly, HNE-protein adduct formation inside the diaphragm rose significantly after 6 but not 3 h of IRL. Mass spectrometry analysis of HNE-modified proteins revealed enolase 3b, aldolase and triosephosphate isomerase 1, creatine kinase, carbonic anyhdrase III, aconitase 2, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase, and electron transfer flavoprotein-β. Measurements of in vitro enolase activity in the presence of pure HNE revealed that HNE significantly attenuated enolase activity in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting that HNE-derived modifications have inhibitory effects on enzyme activity. We conclude that lipid peroxidation products may inhibit muscle contractile performance through selective targeting of enzymes involved in glycolysis, energy production as well as CO2 hydration.


2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 5777-5789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Takahashi ◽  
Russel W. Carlson ◽  
Artur Muszynski ◽  
Biswa Choudhury ◽  
Kwang Sik Kim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of Neisseria meningitidis can be decorated with phosphoethanolamine (PEA) at the 4′ position of lipid A and at the O-3 and O-6 positions of the inner core of the heptose II residue. The biological role of PEA modification in N. meningitidis remains unclear. During the course of our studies to elucidate the pathogenicity of the ST-2032 (invasive) meningococcal clonal group, disruption of lptA, the gene that encodes the PEA transferase for 4′ lipid A, led to a approximately 10-fold decrease in N. meningitidis adhesion to four kinds of human endothelial and epithelial cell lines at an multiplicity of infection of 5,000. Complementation of the lptA gene in a ΔlptA mutant restored wild-type adherence. By matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, PEA was lost from the lipid A of the ΔlptA mutant compared to that of the wild-type strain. The effect of LptA on meningococcal adhesion was independent of other adhesins such as pili, Opc, Opa, and PilC but was inhibited by the presence of capsule. These results indicate that modification of LOS with PEA by LptA enhances meningococcal adhesion to human endothelial and epithelial cells in unencapsulated N. meningitidis.


2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (10) ◽  
pp. 2937-2944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Vimont ◽  
Patrick Berche

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae, the agent of cholera, is a normal inhabitant of aquatic environments, in which it survives under a wide range of conditions of pH and salinity. In this work, we identified thenhaA gene in a wild-type epidemic strain of V. cholerae O1. nhaA encodes a protein of 382 amino acids that is very similar to the proteins NhaA of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus (∼87% identity), and Escherichia coli (56% identity). V. cholerae NhaA complements an E. coli nhaA mutant, enabling it to grow in 700 mM NaCl, pH 7.5, indicating functional homology to E. coli NhaA. However, unlike E. coli, the growth of a nhaA-inactivated mutant ofV. cholerae was not restricted at various pH and NaCl concentrations, although it was inhibited in the presence of 120 mM LiCl at pH 8.5. Nevertheless, using a nhaA′-lacZtranscriptional fusion, we observed induction of nhaAtranscription by Na+, Li+, and K+. These results strongly suggest that NhaA is an Na+/H+ antiporter contributing to the Na+/H+ homeostasis of V. cholerae. nhaA-related sequences were detected in all strains ofV. cholerae from the various serogroups. This gene is presumably involved in the survival and persistence of free-living bacteria in their natural habitat.


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