scholarly journals Cytophaga hutchinsonii SprA and SprT Are Essential Components of the Type IX Secretion System Required for Ca2+ Acquisition, Cellulose Degradation, and Cell Motility

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijuan Gao ◽  
Yahong Tan ◽  
Weican Zhang ◽  
Qingsheng Qi ◽  
Xuemei Lu

The type IX secretion system (T9SS) is a novel protein secretion system, which is found in and confined to the phylum Bacteroidetes. T9SS is involved in the secretion of virulence factors, cell surface adhesins, and complex biopolymer degrading enzymes to the cell surface or extracellular medium. Cytophaga hutchinsonii is a widely distributed bacterium, which is able to efficiently digest cellulose and rapidly glide along the solid surfaces. C. hutchinsonii has a full set of orthologs of T9SS components. However, the functions of most homologous proteins have not been verified. In C. hutchinsonii, CHU_0029 and CHU_2709 are similar in sequence to Flavobacterium johnsoniae T9SS components SprA and SprT, respectively. In this study, the single deletion mutants of chu_0029 (sprA) and chu_2709 (sprT) were obtained using a complex medium with the addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+. Single deletion of sprA or sprT resulted in defects in cellulose utilization and gliding motility. Moreover, the ΔsprA and ΔsprT mutants showed growth defects in Ca2+- and Mg2+-deficient media. The results of ICP-MS test showed that both the whole cell and intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ were dramatically reduced in the ΔsprA and ΔsprT mutants, indicating that SprA and SprT are both important for the assimilation of trace amount of Ca2+. While the assimilation of Mg2+ was not obviously influenced in the ΔsprA and ΔsprT mutants. Through proteomics analysis of the cell surface proteins of the wild type and mutants, we found that the ΔsprA and ΔsprT mutants were defective in secretion of the majority of T9SS substrates. Together, these results indicate that SprA and SprT are both essential components of C. hutchinsonii T9SS, which is required for protein secretion, Ca2+ acquisition, cellulose degradation, and gliding motility in C. hutchinsonii. Our study shed more light on the functions of SprA and SprT in T9SS, and further proved the link between the T9SS and Ca2+ uptake system.

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Surashree S. Kulkarni ◽  
Joseph J. Johnston ◽  
Yongtao Zhu ◽  
Zachary T. Hying ◽  
Mark J. McBride

ABSTRACTFlavobacterium johnsoniaeSprB moves rapidly along the cell surface, resulting in gliding motility. SprB secretion requires the type IX secretion system (T9SS). Proteins secreted by the T9SS typically have conserved C-terminal domains (CTDs) belonging to the type A CTD or type B CTD family. Attachment of 70- to 100-amino-acid type A CTDs to a foreign protein allows its secretion. Type B CTDs are common but have received little attention. Secretion of the foreign protein superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) fused to regions spanning the SprB type B CTD (sfGFP-CTDSprB) was analyzed. CTDs of 218 amino acids or longer resulted in secretion of sfGFP, whereas a 149-amino-acid region did not. Some sfGFP was secreted in soluble form, whereas the rest was attached on the cell surface. Surface-attached sfGFP was rapidly propelled along the cell, suggesting productive interaction with the motility machinery. This did not result in rapid cell movement, which apparently requires additional regions of SprB. Secretion of sfGFP-CTDSprBrequired coexpression withsprF, which lies downstream ofsprB. SprF is similar in sequence toPorphyromonas gingivalisPorP. MostF. johnsoniaegenes encoding proteins with type B CTDs lie immediately upstream ofporP/sprF-like genes. sfGFP was fused to the type B CTD from one such protein (Fjoh_3952). This resulted in secretion of sfGFP only when it was coexpressed with its cognate PorP/SprF-like protein. These results highlight the need for extended regions of type B CTDs and for coexpression with the appropriate PorP/SprF-like protein for efficient secretion and cell surface localization of cargo proteins.IMPORTANCETheF. johnsoniaegliding motility adhesin SprB is delivered to the cell surface by the type IX secretion system (T9SS) and is rapidly propelled along the cell by the motility machinery. How this 6,497-amino-acid protein interacts with the secretion and motility machines is not known. Fusion of the C-terminal 218 amino acids of SprB to a foreign cargo protein resulted in its secretion, attachment to the cell surface, and rapid movement by the motility machinery. Efficient secretion of SprB required coexpression with the outer membrane protein SprF. Secreted proteins that have sequence similarity to SprB in their C-terminal regions are common in the phylumBacteroidetesand may have roles in adhesion, motility, and virulence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhana G. Gorasia ◽  
Paul D. Veith ◽  
Eric C. Reynolds

The type IX secretion system (T9SS) is specific to the Bacteroidetes phylum. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone pathogen for periodontitis, utilises the T9SS to transport many proteins—including its gingipain virulence factors—across the outer membrane and attach them to the cell surface. Additionally, the T9SS is also required for gliding motility in motile organisms, such as Flavobacterium johnsoniae. At least nineteen proteins have been identified as components of the T9SS, including the three transcription regulators, PorX, PorY and SigP. Although the components are known, the overall organisation and the molecular mechanism of how the T9SS operates is largely unknown. This review focusses on the recent advances made in the structure, function, and organisation of the T9SS machinery to provide further insight into this highly novel secretion system.


2014 ◽  
Vol 197 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sampada S. Kharade ◽  
Mark J. McBride

Flavobacterium johnsoniaeexhibits gliding motility and digests many polysaccharides, including chitin. A novel protein secretion system, the type IX secretion system (T9SS), is required for gliding and chitin utilization. The T9SS secretes the cell surface motility adhesins SprB and RemA and the chitinase ChiA. Proteins involved in secretion by the T9SS include GldK, GldL, GldM, GldN, SprA, SprE, and SprT.Porphyromonas gingivalishas orthologs for each of these that are required for secretion of gingipain protease virulence factors by its T9SS.P. gingivalisporUandporVhave also been linked to T9SS-mediated secretion, andF. johnsoniaehas orthologs of these. Mutations inF. johnsoniaeporUandporVwere constructed to determine if they function in secretion. Cells of aporVdeletion mutant were deficient in chitin utilization and failed to secrete ChiA. They were also deficient in secretion of the motility adhesin RemA but retained the ability to secrete SprB. SprB is involved in gliding motility and is needed for formation of spreading colonies on agar, and theporVmutant exhibited gliding motility and formed spreading colonies. However, theporVmutant was partially deficient in attachment to glass, apparently because of the absence of RemA and other adhesins on the cell surface. TheporVmutant also appeared to be deficient in secretion of numerous other proteins that have carboxy-terminal domains associated with targeting to the T9SS. PorU was not required for secretion of ChiA, RemA, or SprB, indicating that it does not play an essential role in theF. johnsoniaeT9SS.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 1756-1766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daichi Kita ◽  
Satoshi Shibata ◽  
Yuichiro Kikuchi ◽  
Eitoyo Kokubu ◽  
Koji Nakayama ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCapnocytophaga ochraceais a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that demonstrates gliding motility when cultured on solid agar surfaces.C. ochraceapossesses the ability to form biofilms; however, factors involved in biofilm formation by this bacterium are unclear. A type IX secretion system (T9SS) inFlavobacterium johnsoniaewas shown to be involved in the transport of proteins (e.g., several adhesins) to the cell surface. Genes orthologous to those encoding T9SS proteins inF. johnsoniaehave been identified in the genome ofC. ochracea; therefore, the T9SS may be involved in biofilm formation byC. ochracea. Here we constructed three ortholog-deficientC. ochraceamutants lackingsprB(which encodes a gliding motility adhesin) orgldKorsprT(which encode T9SS proteins inF. johnsoniae). Gliding motility was lost in each mutant, suggesting that, inC. ochracea, the proteins encoded bysprB,gldK, andsprTare necessary for gliding motility, and SprB is transported to the cell surface by the T9SS. For the ΔgldK, ΔsprT, and ΔsprBstrains, the amounts of crystal violet-associated biofilm, relative to wild-type values, were 49%, 34%, and 65%, respectively, at 48 h. Confocal laser scanning and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the biofilms formed by wild-typeC. ochraceawere denser and bacterial cells were closer together than in those formed by the mutant strains. Together, these results indicate that proteins exported by the T9SS are key elements of the gliding motility and biofilm formation ofC. ochracea.


Author(s):  
Shuaishuai Xie ◽  
Yahong Tan ◽  
Wenxia Song ◽  
Weican Zhang ◽  
Qingsheng Qi ◽  
...  

Cytophaga hutchinsonii is a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes . It digests crystalline cellulose with an unknown mechanism, and possesses a type IX secretion system (T9SS) that can recognize the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the cargo protein as a signal. In this study, the functions of CTD in the secretion and localization of T9SS substrates in C. hutchinsonii were studied by fusing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) with CTD from CHU_2708. CTD is necessary for the secretion of GFP by C. hutchinsonii T9SS. The GFP-CTD CHU_2708 fusion protein was found to be glycosylated in the periplasm with a molecular mass about 5 kDa higher than that predicted from its sequence. The glycosylated protein was sensitive to peptide- N -glycosidase F which can hydrolyze N -linked oligosaccharides. Analyses of mutants obtained by site-directed mutagenesis of asparagine residues in the N-X-S/T motif of CTD CHU_2708 suggest that N -glycosylation occurred on the CTD. CTD N- glycosylation is important for the secretion and localization of GFP-CTD recombinant proteins in C. hutchinsonii . Glycosyltransferase encoding gene chu_3842 , a homologous gene of Campylobacter jejuni pglA , was found to participate in the N -glycosylation of C. hutchinsonii . Deletion of chu_3842 affected cell motility, cellulose degradation, and cell resistance to some chemicals. Our study provided the evidence that CTD as the signal of T9SS was N -glycosylated in the periplasm of C. hutchinsonii . IMPORTANCE The bacterial N -glycosylation system has previously only been found in several species of Proteobacteria and Campylobacterota , and the role of N -linked glycans in bacteria is still not fully understood. C. hutchinsonii has a unique cell-contact cellulose degradation mechanism, and many cell surface proteins including cellulases are secreted by the T9SS. Here, we found that C. hutchinsonii , a member of the phylum Bacteroidetes , has an N -glycosylation system. Glycosyltransferase CHU_3842 was found to participate in the N -glycosylation of C. hutchinsonii proteins, and had effects on cell resistance to some chemicals, cell motility, and cellulose degradation. Moreover, N -glycosylation occurs on the CTD translocation signal of T9SS. The glycosylation of CTD apears to play an important role in affecting T9SS substrates transportation and localization. This study enriched our understanding of the widespread existence and multiple biological roles of N -glycosylation in bacteria.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Gorasia ◽  
G Chreifi ◽  
CA Seers ◽  
CA Butler ◽  
JE Heath ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Bacteroidetes type IX secretion system (T9SS) consists of at least 19 components that translocate proteins with a type A or type B C-terminal domain (CTD) signal across the outer membrane. The overall organisation and architecture of this system including how the secretion pore (Sov) interacts with the other components is unknown. We used cryo-electron tomography to obtain the first images of the T9SS including PorK/N rings inside intact Porphyromonas gingivalis cells. Using proteomics, we identified a novel complex between Sov, PorV and PorA and showed that Sov interacts with the PorK/N rings via PorW and a new component PGN_1783. A separate complex comprising the outer membrane β-barrel protein PorP, PorE, and the type B CTD protein PG1035 was also identified. Similarly, the Flavobacterium johnsoniae PorP-like protein, SprF was found bound to the major gliding motility adhesin, SprB. Based on these data, we propose cell surface anchorage for type B CTD proteins to PorP-like proteins and a unique model where the PorK/N rings function as an outer membrane barrier to maintain the close proximity of the translocon to the shuttle and attachment complexes inside the rings, ensuring the harmonized secretion and cell surface attachment of the T9SS substrates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijuan Gao ◽  
Zhiwei Guan ◽  
Peng Gao ◽  
Weican Zhang ◽  
Qingsheng Qi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The type IX secretion system (T9SS), which is involved in pathogenicity, motility, and utilization of complex biopolymers, is a novel protein secretion system confined to the phylum Bacteroidetes. Cytophaga hutchinsonii, a common cellulolytic soil bacterium belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes, can rapidly digest crystalline cellulose using a novel strategy. In this study, the deletion mutant of chu_0174 (gldN) was obtained using PY6 medium supplemented with Stanier salts. GldN was verified to be a core component of C. hutchinsonii T9SS, and is indispensable for cellulose degradation, motility, and secretion of C-terminal domain (CTD) proteins. Notably, the ΔgldN mutant showed significant growth defects in Ca2+- and Mg2+-deficient media. These growth defects could be relieved by the addition of Ca2+ or Mg2+. The intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ were markedly reduced in ΔgldN. These results demonstrated that GldN is essential for the acquisition of trace amounts of Ca2+ and Mg2+, especially for Ca2+. Moreover, an outer membrane efflux protein, CHU_2807, which was decreased in abundance on the outer membrane of ΔgldN, is essential for normal growth in PY6 medium. The reduced intracellular accumulation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the Δ2807 mutant indicated that CHU_2807 is involved in the uptake of trace amounts of Ca2+ and Mg2+. This study provides insights into the role of T9SS in metal ion assimilation in C. hutchinsonii. IMPORTANCE The widespread Gram-negative bacterium Cytophaga hutchinsonii uses a novel but poorly understood strategy to utilize crystalline cellulose. Recent studies showed that a T9SS exists in C. hutchinsonii and is involved in cellulose degradation and motility. However, the main components of the C. hutchinsonii T9SS and their functions are still unclear. Our study characterized the function of GldN, which is a core component of the T9SS. GldN was proved to play vital roles in cellulose degradation and cell motility. Notably, GldN is essential for the acquisition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions under Ca2+- and Mg2+-deficient conditions, revealing a link between the T9SS and the metal ion transport system. The outer membrane abundance of CHU_2807, which is essential for Ca2+ and Mg2+ uptake in PY6 medium, was affected by the deletion of GldN. This study demonstrated that the C. hutchinsonii T9SS has extensive functions, including cellulose degradation, motility, and metal ion assimilation, and contributes to further understanding of the function of the T9SS in the phylum Bacteroidetes.


Author(s):  
Dhana G. Gorasia ◽  
Ignacio Lunar Silva ◽  
Catherine A. Butler ◽  
Maïalène Chabalier ◽  
Thierry Doan ◽  
...  

The T9SS is a newly identified protein secretion system of the Fibrobacteres - Chlorobi - Bacteroidetes superphylum used by pathogens associated with diseases of humans, fish, and poultry for the secretion and cell surface attachment of virulence factors. The T9SS comprises three known modules: (i) the trans-envelope core module comprising the PorL/M motor and the PorK/N ring, (ii) the outer membrane Sov translocon, and (iii) the cell surface attachment complex.


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