Structure and uptake mechanism of bacteriocins targeting peptidoglycan renewal

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1560-1565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kornelius Zeth
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Periplasmic Space ◽  
Uptake Mechanism ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dna ◽  
Peptidoglycan Structure ◽  
Colicin M ◽  
Translocation Domain ◽  
Energy Dependent ◽  
Activity Domain

Bacteriocins are narrow-spectrum protein antibiotics released to kill related bacteria of the same niche. Uptake of bacteriocins depends critically on the presence of an uptake receptor in the outer membrane, a translocation pore and an energy-dependent activating system of the inner membrane. Most bacteriocins act on the inner membrane as pore-forming toxins or they target cytoplasmic DNA/RNA and ribosomal synthesis respectively. Only two bacteriocins are known to become activated in the periplasmic space and to inhibit the renewal process of the peptidoglycan structure. In Escherichia coli, the Cma (colicin M) phosphatase is activated in the periplasmic space by the FkpA chaperone and subsequently degrades the C55-PP precursor unit of the peptidoglycan. Pst (pesticin) from Yersinia pestis carries a lysozyme homology domain to degrade peptidoglycan. Import of Pst is only achieved if the N-terminal translocation domain can span the outer membrane and if extensive unfolding of the protein during membrane passage is permitted. There is considerable plasticity in the import pathway since a chimaera comprising the activity domain replaced by T4 lysozyme is also translocated and active in killing those bacteria carrying the FyuA receptor.

scholarly journals Structure and Stoichiometry of the Ton Molecular Motor

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herve Celia ◽  
Nicholas Noinaj ◽  
Susan K Buchanan
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Molecular Motor ◽  
Proton Gradient ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Periplasmic Space ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Crystallography

The Ton complex is a molecular motor that uses the proton gradient at the inner membrane of Gram-negative bacteria to generate force and movement, which are transmitted to transporters at the outer membrane, allowing the entry of nutrients into the periplasmic space. Despite decades of investigation and the recent flurry of structures being reported by X-ray crystallography and cryoEM, the mode of action of the Ton molecular motor has remained elusive, and the precise stoichiometry of its subunits is still a matter of debate. This review summarizes the latest findings on the Ton system by presenting the recently reported structures and related reports on the stoichiometry of the fully assembled complex.

Import of periplasmic bacteriocins targeting the murein

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1449-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volkmar Braun ◽  
Stephanie Helbig ◽  
Silke I. Patzer
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Protein Import ◽  
Cytoplasmic Membrane ◽  
T4 Lysozyme ◽  
16S Rna ◽  
Colicin M ◽  
Activity Domain

Colicins are the only proteins imported by Escherichia coli and thus serve as tools to study the protein import mechanism. Most of the colicins studied degrade DNA, 16S RNA or tRNA in the cytoplasm, or form pores in the cytoplasmic membrane. Two bacteriocins, Cma (colicin M) and Pst (pesticin), affect the murein structure in the periplasm. These two bacteriocins must be imported only across the outer membrane and therefore represent the simplest system for studying protein import. Cma can be reversibly translocated across the outer membrane. Cma and Pst unfold during import. The crystal structure of Pst reveals a phage T4L (T4 lysozyme) fold of the activity domain. Both bacteriocins require energy for import which is translocated from the cytoplasmic membrane into the outer membrane by the Ton system. Cma kills cells only when the periplasmic FkpA PPIase (peptidylprolyl cis–trans isomerase)/chaperone is present.

scholarly journals Toxicity of the Colicin M Catalytic Domain Exported to the Periplasm Is FkpA Independent

2010 ◽  
Vol 192 (19) ◽  
pp. 5212-5219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélie Barnéoud-Arnoulet ◽  
Hélène Barreteau ◽  
Thierry Touzé ◽  
Dominique Mengin-Lecreulx ◽  
Roland Lloubès ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Periplasmic Protein ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Toxic Activity ◽  
Immunity Protein ◽  
Outer Leaflet ◽  
Lipid Ii ◽  
Colicin M ◽  
Peptidylprolyl Isomerase

ABSTRACT Colicin M (ColM) is a bactericidal protein that kills sensitive cells by hydrolyzing lipid II, involved in the biosynthesis of cell wall peptidoglycan. It recognizes FhuA on the outer leaflet, and its translocation through the outer membrane depends on the energized Ton complex in the inner membrane. To be active in the periplasm, ColM must be translocated through the outer membrane and then interact with FkpA, a periplasmic protein that exhibits both cis- and trans-peptidylprolyl isomerase (PPiase) and chaperon activities. In an attempt to directly target ColM to the periplasm of the producing bacteria, we fused the presequence of OmpA to ColM (sp-ColM). We found that expression of this hybrid protein in an Escherichia coli strain devoid of ColM immunity protein (Cmi) was bactericidal. We showed that sp-ColM was correctly expressed, processed, and associated with the inner membrane. sp-ColM toxicity was related to its enzymatic activity and did not rely on the TonB import proteins or the FhuA receptor. The presence of both activity domains of FkpA was still required for sp-ColM activity. Analyses of deletion mutants of sp-ColM show that the domain required for toxicity corresponds to the C-terminal last 153 amino acids of ColM. Like the full-length protein, this domain is not active in the presence of the immunity protein Cmi. On the other hand, it does not require FkpA for toxic activity.

scholarly journals Effect of Bile on the Cell Surface Permeability Barrier and Efflux System of Vibrio cholerae

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (20) ◽  
pp. 6809-6814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arpita Chatterjee ◽  
Sohini Chaudhuri ◽  
Gargi Saha ◽  
Satadeepa Gupta ◽  
Rukhsana Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Vibrio Cholerae ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Synergistic Activity ◽  
Efflux System ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Outer Leaflet ◽  
Hydrophobic Compounds ◽  
Energy Dependent

ABSTRACT Gram-negative bacteria are inherently impermeable to hydrophobic compounds, due to the synergistic activity of the permeability barrier imposed by the outer membrane and energy dependent efflux systems. The gram-negative, enteric pathogen Vibrio cholerae appears to be deficient in both these activities; the outer membrane is not an effective barrier to hydrophobic permeants, presumably due to the presence of exposed phospholipids on the outer leaflet of the outer membrane, and efflux systems are at best only partially active. When V. cholerae was grown in the presence of bile, entry of hydrophobic compounds into the cells was significantly reduced. No difference was detected in the extent of exposed phospholipids on the outer leaflet of the outer membrane between cells grown in the presence or absence of bile. However, in the presence of energy uncouplers, uptake of hydrophobic probes was comparable between cells grown in the presence or absence of bile, indicating that energy-dependent efflux processes may be involved in restricting the entry of hydrophobic permeants into bile grown cells. Indeed, an efflux system(s) is essential for survival of V. cholerae in the presence of bile. Expression of acrAB, encoding an RND family efflux pump, was significantly increased in V. cholerae cells grown in vitro in the presence of bile and also in cells grown in rabbit intestine.

Freeze-fracture studies of frog atrial fibres

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-434
Author(s):  
F. Mazet ◽  
J. Cartaud
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Present Knowledge ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Freeze Fracturing ◽  
Morphological Variant ◽  
Characteristic Features

The freeze-fracturing technique was used to characterize the junctional devices involved in the electrical coupling of frog atrial fibres. These fibres are connected by a type of junction which can be interpreted as a morphological variant of the “gap junction” or “nexus”. The most characteristic features are rows of 9-nm junctional particles forming single or anastomosed circular profiles on the inner membrane face, and corresponding pits on the outer membrane face. Very seldom aggregates consisting of few geometrically disposed 9-nm particles are found. The significance of the junctional structures in the atrial fibres is discussed, with respect to present knowledge about junctional features of gap junctions in various tissues, including embryonic ones.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document