scholarly journals Overproducing the BAM complex improves secretion of difficult-to-secrete recombinant autotransporter chimeras

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trang H. Phan ◽  
Coen Kuijl ◽  
Dung T. Huynh ◽  
Wouter S. P. Jong ◽  
Joen Luirink ◽  
...  

AbstractMonomeric autotransporters have been used extensively to transport recombinant proteins or protein domains to the cell surface of Gram-negative bacteria amongst others for antigen display. Genetic fusion of such antigens into autotransporters has yielded chimeras that can be used for vaccination purposes. However, not every fusion construct is transported efficiently across the cell envelope. Problems occur in particular when the fused antigen attains a relatively complex structure in the periplasm, prior to its translocation across the outer membrane. The latter step requires the interaction with periplasmic chaperones and the BAM (β-barrel assembly machinery) complex in the outer membrane. This complex catalyzes insertion and folding of β-barrel outer membrane proteins, including the β-barrel domain of autotransporters. Here, we investigated whether the availability of periplasmic chaperones or the BAM complex is a limiting factor for the surface localization of difficult-to-secrete chimeric autotransporter constructs. Indeed, we found that overproduction of in particular the BAM complex, increases surface display of difficult-to-secrete chimeras. Importantly, this beneficial effect appeared to be generic not only for a number of monomeric autotransporter fusions but also for fusions to trimeric autotransporters. Therefore, overproduction of BAM might be an attractive strategy to improve the production of recombinant autotransporter constructs.

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (14) ◽  
pp. 1984-1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara F. Mahoney ◽  
Dante P. Ricci ◽  
Thomas J. Silhavy

ABSTRACTThe biogenesis of the outer membrane (OM) ofEscherichia coliis a conserved and vital process. The assembly of integral β-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which represent a major component of the OM, depends on periplasmic chaperones and the heteropentameric β-barrel assembly machine (Bam complex) in the OM. However, not all OMPs are affected by null mutations in the same chaperones or nonessential Bam complex members, suggesting there are categories of substrates with divergent requirements for efficient assembly. We have previously demonstrated two classes of substrates, one comprising large, low-abundance, and difficult-to-assemble substrates that are heavily dependent on SurA and also Skp and FkpA, and the other comprising relatively simple and abundant substrates that are not as dependent on SurA but are strongly dependent on BamB for assembly. Here, we describe novel mutations inbamDthat lower levels of BamD 10-fold and >25-fold without altering the sequence of the mature protein. We utilized these mutations, as well as a previously characterized mutation that lowers wild-type BamA levels, to reveal a third class of substrates. These mutations preferentially cause a marked decrease in the levels of multimeric proteins. This susceptibility of multimers to lowered quantities of Bam machines in the cell may indicate that multiple Bam complexes are needed to efficiently assemble multimeric proteins into the OM.IMPORTANCEThe outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria, such asEscherichia coli, serves as a selective permeability barrier that prevents the uptake of toxic molecules and antibiotics. Integral β-barrel proteins (OMPs) are assembled by the β-barrel assembly machine (Bam), components of which are conserved in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and all Gram-negative bacteria, including many clinically relevant pathogenic species. Bam is essential for OM biogenesis and accommodates a diverse array of client proteins; however, a mechanistic model that accounts for the selectivity and broad substrate range of Bam is lacking. Here, we show that the assembly of multimeric OMPs is more strongly affected than that of monomeric OMPs when essential Bam complex components are limiting, suggesting that multiple Bam complexes are needed to assemble multimeric proteins.


Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (5) ◽  
pp. 1613-1622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yann Fardini ◽  
Jérôme Trotereau ◽  
Elisabeth Bottreau ◽  
Charlène Souchard ◽  
Philippe Velge ◽  
...  

In Escherichia coli, the assembly of outer-membrane proteins (OMP) requires the BAM complex and periplasmic chaperones, such as SurA or DegP. Previous work has suggested a potential link between OMP assembly and expression of the genes encoding type-III secretion systems. In order to test this hypothesis, we studied the role of the different lipoproteins of the BAM complex (i.e. BamB, BamC, BamD and BamE), and the periplasmic chaperones SurA and DegP, in these two phenotypes in Salmonella. Analysis of the corresponding deletion mutants showed that, as previously described with the ΔbamB mutant, BamD, SurA and, to a lesser extent, BamE play a role in outer-membrane biogenesis in Salmonella Enteritidis, while the membrane was not notably disturbed in ΔbamC and ΔdegP mutants. Interestingly, we found that BamD is not essential in Salmonella, unlike its homologues in Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In contrast, BamD was the only protein required for full expression of T3SS-1 and flagella, as demonstrated by transcriptional analysis of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of these T3SSs. In line with this finding, bamD mutants showed a reduced secretion of effector proteins by these T3SSs, and a reduced ability to invade HT-29 cells. As ΔsurA and ΔbamE mutants had lower levels of OMPs in their outer membrane, but showed no alteration in T3SS-1 and flagella expression, these results demonstrate the absence of a systematic link between an OMP assembly defect and the downregulation of T3SSs in Salmonella; therefore, this link appears to be related to a more specific mechanism that involves at least BamB and BamD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen G Fleming ◽  
Shawn M Costello ◽  
Ashlee M Plummer ◽  
Patrick J Fleming

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C578-C578
Author(s):  
Nicholas Noinaj ◽  
Adam Kuszak ◽  
Curtis Balusek ◽  
JC Gumbart ◽  
Petra Lukacik ◽  
...  

Beta-barrel membrane proteins are essential for nutrient import, signaling, motility, and survival. In Gram-negative bacteria, the beta-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) complex is responsible for the biogenesis of beta-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs), with homologous complexes found in mitochondria and chloroplasts. Despite their essential roles, exactly how these OMPs are formed remains unknown. The BAM complex consists of a central and essential component called BamA (an OMP itself) and four lipoproteins called BamB-E. While the structure of the lipoproteins have been reported, the structure of full length BamA has been elusive. Recently though, we described the structure of BamA from two species of bacteria: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus ducreyi. BamA consists of a large periplasmic domain attached to a 16-strand transmembrane beta-barrel domain. Together, our crystal structures and molecule dynamics (MD) simulations revealed several structural features which gave clues to the mechanism by which BamA catalyzes beta-barrel assembly. The first is that the interior cavity is accessible in one BamA structure and conformationally closed in the other. Second, an exterior rim of the beta-barrel has a distinctly narrowed hydrophobic surface, locally destabilizing the outer membrane. Third, the beta-barrel can undergo lateral opening, suggesting a route from the interior cavity in BamA into the outer membrane. And fourth, a surface exposed exit pore positioned above the lateral opening site which may play a role in the biogenesis of extracellular loops. In this presentation, the crystal structures and MD simulations of BamA will be presented along with our work looking at the role of these four structural features in the role of BamA within the BAM complex.


2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (11) ◽  
pp. 4001-4016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wallace A. Kaserer ◽  
Xiaoxu Jiang ◽  
Qiaobin Xiao ◽  
Daniel C. Scott ◽  
Matthew Bauler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We created hybrid proteins to study the functions of TonB. We first fused the portion of Escherichia coli tonB that encodes the C-terminal 69 amino acids (amino acids 170 to 239) of TonB downstream from E. coli malE (MalE-TonB69C). Production of MalE-TonB69C in tonB + bacteria inhibited siderophore transport. After overexpression and purification of the fusion protein on an amylose column, we proteolytically released the TonB C terminus and characterized it. Fluorescence spectra positioned its sole tryptophan (W213) in a weakly polar site in the protein interior, shielded from quenchers. Affinity chromatography showed the binding of the TonB C-domain to other proteins: immobilized TonB-dependent (FepA and colicin B) and TonB-independent (FepAΔ3-17, OmpA, and lysozyme) proteins adsorbed MalE-TonB69C, revealing a general affinity of the C terminus for other proteins. Additional constructions fused full-length TonB upstream or downstream of green fluorescent protein (GFP). TonB-GFP constructs had partial functionality but no fluorescence; GFP-TonB fusion proteins were functional and fluorescent. The activity of the latter constructs, which localized GFP in the cytoplasm and TonB in the cell envelope, indicate that the TonB N terminus remains in the inner membrane during its biological function. Finally, sequence analyses revealed homology in the TonB C terminus to E. coli YcfS, a proline-rich protein that contains the lysin (LysM) peptidoglycan-binding motif. LysM structural mimicry occurs in two positions of the dimeric TonB C-domain, and experiments confirmed that it physically binds to the murein sacculus. Together, these findings infer that the TonB N terminus remains associated with the inner membrane, while the downstream region bridges the cell envelope from the affinity of the C terminus for peptidoglycan. This architecture suggests a membrane surveillance model of action, in which TonB finds occupied receptor proteins by surveying the underside of peptidoglycan-associated outer membrane proteins.


2020 ◽  
Vol 202 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Hart ◽  
Thomas J. Silhavy

ABSTRACT The heteropentomeric β-barrel assembly machine (BAM complex) is responsible for folding and inserting a diverse array of β-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) into the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria. The BAM complex contains two essential proteins, the β-barrel OMP BamA and a lipoprotein BamD, whereas the auxiliary lipoproteins BamBCE are individually nonessential. Here, we identify and characterize three bamA mutations, the E-to-K change at position 470 (bamAE470K), the A-to-P change at position 496 (bamAA496P), and the A-to-S change at position 499 (bamAA499S), that suppress the otherwise lethal ΔbamD, ΔbamB ΔbamC ΔbamE, and ΔbamC ΔbamD ΔbamE mutations. The viability of cells lacking different combinations of BAM complex lipoproteins provides the opportunity to examine the role of the individual proteins in OMP assembly. Results show that, in wild-type cells, BamBCE share a redundant function; at least one of these lipoproteins must be present to allow BamD to coordinate productively with BamA. Besides BamA regulation, BamD shares an additional essential function that is redundant with a second function of BamB. Remarkably, bamAE470K suppresses both, allowing the construction of a BAM complex composed solely of BamAE470K that is able to assemble OMPs in the absence of BamBCDE. This work demonstrates that the BAM complex lipoproteins do not participate in the catalytic folding of OMP substrates but rather function to increase the efficiency of the assembly process by coordinating and regulating the assembly of diverse OMP substrates. IMPORTANCE The folding and insertion of β-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are conserved processes in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and Gram-negative bacteria. In Gram-negative bacteria, OMPs are assembled into the outer membrane (OM) by the heteropentomeric β-barrel assembly machine (BAM complex). In this study, we probe the function of the individual BAM proteins and how they coordinate assembly of a diverse family of OMPs. Furthermore, we identify a gain-of-function bamA mutant capable of assembling OMPs independently of all four other BAM proteins. This work advances our understanding of OMP assembly and sheds light on how this process is distinct in Gram-negative bacteria.


2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Chen ◽  
Li-Hong Zhan ◽  
Hai-Feng Hou ◽  
Zeng-Qiang Gao ◽  
Jian-Hua Xu ◽  
...  

InEscherichia coli, the Omp85 protein BamA and four lipoproteins (BamBCDE) constitute the BAM complex, which is essential for the assembly and insertion of outer membrane proteins into the outer membrane. Here, the crystal structure of BamB in complex with the POTRA3–4 domains of BamA is reported at 2.1 Å resolution. Based on this structure, the POTRA3 domain is associated with BamBviahydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Structural and biochemical analysis revealed that the conserved residues Arg77, Glu127, Glu150, Ser167, Leu192, Leu194 and Arg195 of BamB play an essential role in interaction with the POTRA3 domain.


2017 ◽  
Vol 199 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne L. McCabe ◽  
Dante Ricci ◽  
Modupe Adetunji ◽  
Thomas J. Silhavy

ABSTRACT Most integral outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, assume a β-barrel structure. The β-barrel assembly machine (Bam), a five-member complex composed of β-barrel OMP BamA and four associated lipoproteins, BamB, BamC, BamD, and BamE, folds and inserts OMPs into the outer membrane. The two essential proteins BamA and BamD interact to stabilize two subcomplexes, BamAB and BamCDE, and genetic and structural evidence suggests that interactions between BamA and BamD occur via an electrostatic interaction between a conserved aspartate residue in a periplasmic domain of BamA and a conserved arginine in BamD. In this work, we characterize charge-change mutations at these key BamA and BamD residues and nearby charged residues in BamA with respect to OMP assembly and Bam complex stability. We show that Bam complex stability does not correlate with function, that BamA and BamD must adopt at least two active conformational states during OMP assembly, and that these charged residues are not required for function. Rather, these charged residues are important for coordinating the activities of BamA and BamD to allow efficient OMP assembly. We present a model of OMP assembly wherein recognition and binding of unfolded OMP substrate by BamA and BamD induce a signaling interaction between the two proteins, causing conformational changes necessary for the assembly reaction to proceed. By analogy to signal sequence recognition by SecYEG, we believe these BamA-BamD interactions ensure that both substrate and complex are competent for OMP assembly before the assembly reaction commences. IMPORTANCE Conformational changes in the proteins of the β-barrel assembly machine (Bam complex) are associated with the folding and assembly of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in Gram-negative bacteria. We show that electrostatic interactions between the two essential proteins BamA and BamD coordinate conformational changes upon binding of unfolded substrate that allow the assembly reaction to proceed. Mutations affecting this interaction are lethal not because they destabilize the Bam complex but rather because they disrupt this coordination. Our model of BamA-BamD interactions regulating conformation in response to proper substrate interaction is reminiscent of conformational changes the secretory (Sec) machinery undergoes after signal sequence recognition that ensure protein quality control.


mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Grabowicz ◽  
Daria Koren ◽  
Thomas J. Silhavy

ABSTRACT The promoter most strongly induced upon activation of the Cpx two-component envelope stress response is the cpxP promoter. The 3′ untranscribed region (UTR) of the cpxP transcript is shown to produce a small RNA (sRNA), CpxQ. We investigated the role of CpxQ in combating envelope stress. Remarkably, the two effectors specified by the transcript are deployed to combat distinct stresses in different cellular compartments. CpxP acts in both a regulatory negative-feedback loop and as an effector that combats periplasmic protein misfolding. We find that CpxQ combats toxicity at the inner membrane (IM) by downregulating the synthesis of the periplasmic chaperone Skp. Our data indicate that this regulation prevents Skp from inserting β-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) into the IM, a lethal event that likely collapses the proton motive force. Our findings suggest that Skp can fold and directly insert OMPs into a lipid bilayer in vivo without the aid of the Bam complex. IMPORTANCE Skp is a well-characterized periplasmic chaperone that binds unfolded OMPs. Surprisingly, we find that Skp can catalyze the folding and mistargeting of OMPs into the inner membrane without the aid of the other cellular proteins that normally assemble OMPs. Several OMPs function as diffusion pores. Accordingly, their mistargeting is lethal because it depolarizes the inner membrane. We show that the most highly expressed transcript of the Cpx stress response produces an sRNA from the 3′ UTR, CpxQ, which combats this potential toxicity by downregulating Skp production. Defects in OMP assembly trigger the σ E response to upregulate factors, including Skp, that promote OMP folding. The Cpx response downregulates σ E . Our findings reveal that this heretofore puzzling hierarchy exists to protect the inner membrane.


eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ranava ◽  
Yiying Yang ◽  
Luis Orenday-Tapia ◽  
François Rousset ◽  
Catherine Turlan ◽  
...  

In Proteobacteria, integral outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are crucial for the maintenance of the envelope permeability barrier to some antibiotics and detergents. In Enterobacteria, envelope stress caused by unfolded OMPs activates the sigmaE (σE) transcriptional response. σE upregulates OMP biogenesis factors, including the β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) that catalyses OMP folding. Here we report that DolP (formerly YraP), a σE-upregulated and poorly understood outer membrane lipoprotein, is crucial for fitness in cells that undergo envelope stress. We demonstrate that DolP interacts with the BAM complex by associating with outer membrane-assembled BamA. We provide evidence that DolP is important for proper folding of BamA that overaccumulates in the outer membrane, thus supporting OMP biogenesis and envelope integrity. Notably, mid-cell recruitment of DolP had been linked to regulation of septal peptidoglycan remodelling by an unknown mechanism. We now reveal that, during envelope stress, DolP loses its association with the mid-cell, thereby suggesting a mechanistic link between envelope stress caused by impaired OMP biogenesis and the regulation of a late step of cell division.


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