scholarly journals Plasticity of Repetitive DNA Sequences within a Bacterial (Type IV) Secretion System Component

2003 ◽  
Vol 198 (9) ◽  
pp. 1349-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul A. Aras ◽  
Wolfgang Fischer ◽  
Guillermo I. Perez-Perez ◽  
MariaLuisa Crosatti ◽  
Takafumi Ando ◽  
...  

DNA rearrangement permits bacteria to regulate gene content and expression. In Helicobacter pylori, cagY, which contains an extraordinary number of direct DNA repeats, encodes a surface-exposed subunit of a (type IV) bacterial secretory system. Examining potential DNA rearrangements involving the cagY repeats indicated that recombination events invariably yield in-frame open reading frames, producing alternatively expressed genes. In individual hosts, H. pylori cell populations include strains that produce CagY proteins that differ in size, due to the predicted in-frame deletions or duplications, and elicit minimal or no host antibody recognition. Using repetitive DNA, H. pylori rearrangements in a host-exposed subunit of a conserved bacterial secretion system may permit a novel form of antigenic evasion.

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 162 (3) ◽  
pp. 1435-1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M Stupar ◽  
Junqi Song ◽  
Ahmet L Tek ◽  
Zhukuan Cheng ◽  
Fenggao Dong ◽  
...  

Abstract The heterochromatin in eukaryotic genomes represents gene-poor regions and contains highly repetitive DNA sequences. The origin and evolution of DNA sequences in the heterochromatic regions are poorly understood. Here we report a unique class of pericentromeric heterochromatin consisting of DNA sequences highly homologous to the intergenic spacer (IGS) of the 18S•25S ribosomal RNA genes in potato. A 5.9-kb tandem repeat, named 2D8, was isolated from a diploid potato species Solanum bulbocastanum. Sequence analysis indicates that the 2D8 repeat is related to the IGS of potato rDNA. This repeat is associated with highly condensed pericentromeric heterochromatin at several hemizygous loci. The 2D8 repeat is highly variable in structure and copy number throughout the Solanum genus, suggesting that it is evolutionarily dynamic. Additional IGS-related repetitive DNA elements were also identified in the potato genome. The possible mechanism of the origin and evolution of the IGS-related repeats is discussed. We demonstrate that potato serves as an interesting model for studying repetitive DNA families because it is propagated vegetatively, thus minimizing the meiotic mechanisms that can remove novel DNA repeats.


2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaclav Brazda ◽  
Miroslav Fojta ◽  
Richard P. Bowater

DNA is a fundamentally important molecule for all cellular organisms due to its biological role as the store of hereditary, genetic information. On the one hand, genomic DNA is very stable, both in chemical and biological contexts, and this assists its genetic functions. On the other hand, it is also a dynamic molecule, and constant changes in its structure and sequence drive many biological processes, including adaptation and evolution of organisms. DNA genomes contain significant amounts of repetitive sequences, which have divergent functions in the complex processes that involve DNA, including replication, recombination, repair, and transcription. Through their involvement in these processes, repetitive DNA sequences influence the genetic instability and evolution of DNA molecules and they are located non-randomly in all genomes. Mechanisms that influence such genetic instability have been studied in many organisms, including within human genomes where they are linked to various human diseases. Here, we review our understanding of short, simple DNA repeats across a diverse range of bacteria, comparing the prevalence of repetitive DNA sequences in different genomes. We describe the range of DNA structures that have been observed in such repeats, focusing on their propensity to form local, non-B-DNA structures. Finally, we discuss the biological significance of such unusual DNA structures and relate this to studies where the impacts of DNA metabolism on genetic stability are linked to human diseases. Overall, we show that simple DNA repeats in bacteria serve as excellent and tractable experimental models for biochemical studies of their cellular functions and influences.


2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (13) ◽  
pp. 4787-4800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie J. Busler ◽  
Victor J. Torres ◽  
Mark S. McClain ◽  
Oscar Tirado ◽  
David B. Friedman ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Many Helicobacter pylori isolates contain a 40-kb region of chromosomal DNA known as the cag pathogenicity island (PAI). The risk for development of gastric cancer or peptic ulcer disease is higher among humans infected with cag PAI-positive H. pylori strains than among those infected with cag PAI-negative strains. The cag PAI encodes a type IV secretion system that translocates CagA into gastric epithelial cells. To identify Cag proteins that are expressed by H. pylori during growth in vitro, we compared the proteomes of a wild-type H. pylori strain and an isogenic cag PAI deletion mutant using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) in multiple pH ranges. Seven Cag proteins were identified by this approach. We then used a yeast two-hybrid system to detect potential protein-protein interactions among 14 Cag proteins. One heterotypic interaction (CagY/7 with CagX/8) and two homotypic interactions (involving H. pylori VirB11/ATPase and Cag5) were similar to interactions previously reported to occur among homologous components of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens type IV secretion system. Other interactions involved Cag proteins that do not have known homologues in other bacterial species. Biochemical analysis confirmed selected interactions involving five of the proteins that were identified by 2D-DIGE. Protein-protein interactions among Cag proteins are likely to have an important role in the assembly of the H. pylori type IV secretion apparatus.


mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arwen E. Frick-Cheng ◽  
Tasia M. Pyburn ◽  
Bradley J. Voss ◽  
W. Hayes McDonald ◽  
Melanie D. Ohi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) can function to export or import DNA, and can deliver effector proteins into a wide range of target cells. Relatively little is known about the structural organization of T4SSs that secrete effector proteins. In this report, we describe the isolation and analysis of a membrane-spanning core complex from the Helicobacter pylori cag T4SS, which has an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. We show that this complex contains five H. pylori proteins, CagM, CagT, Cag3, CagX, and CagY, each of which is required for cag T4SS activity. CagX and CagY are orthologous to the VirB9 and VirB10 components of T4SSs in other bacterial species, and the other three Cag proteins are unique to H. pylori . Negative stain single-particle electron microscopy revealed complexes 41 nm in diameter, characterized by a 19-nm-diameter central ring linked to an outer ring by spoke-like linkers. Incomplete complexes formed by Δ cag3 or Δ cagT mutants retain the 19-nm-diameter ring but lack an organized outer ring. Immunogold labeling studies confirm that Cag3 is a peripheral component of the complex. The cag T4SS core complex has an overall diameter and structural organization that differ considerably from the corresponding features of conjugative T4SSs. These results highlight specialized features of the H. pylori cag T4SS that are optimized for function in the human gastric mucosal environment. IMPORTANCE Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are versatile macromolecular machines that are present in many bacterial species. In this study, we investigated a T4SS found in the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori is an important cause of stomach cancer, and the H. pylori T4SS contributes to cancer pathogenesis by mediating entry of CagA (an effector protein regarded as a “bacterial oncoprotein”) into gastric epithelial cells. We isolated and analyzed the membrane-spanning core complex of the H. pylori T4SS and showed that it contains unique proteins unrelated to components of T4SSs in other bacterial species. These results constitute the first structural analysis of the core complex from this important secretion system.


Genome ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shree P. Thapa ◽  
Duck H. Park ◽  
Won S. Kim ◽  
Beom S. Choi ◽  
Jong S. Lim ◽  
...  

Japanese Erwinia pyrifoliae strains cause bacterial shoot blight of pear (BSBP) in Japan. The genetics of Japanese Erwinia remains largely unknown relative to the abundant genomic information available for other Erwinia strains. We compared the genome of Japanese and Korean E. pyrifoliae strains along with those of E. amylovora and E. tasmaniensis. Comparisons with the Korean E. pyrifoliae strain revealed numerous gene insertions/deletions, rearrangements, and inversions in the central regions of the chromosomes. Approximately 80% (2843) of coding DNA sequences (CDSs) are shared by these two genomes which represent about three-quarters of the genome, and there are about 20% unique CDSs. Comparative analysis with closely related erwinias showed that 1942 (more than 50%) core open reading frames (ORF) are shared by all these strains. In addition to two type III secretion systems (hrp/dsp and inv/spa), the genome of Ejp617 encodes numerous virulence factors, including a type VI secretion system, an exopolysaccharide synthesis cluster, and another protein secretion system present in plant pathogenic Erwinia strains. The availability of whole genome sequence should provide a resource to further improve the understanding of pathogenesis in Japanese E. pyrifoliae Ejp617 and to facilitate evolutionary studies among the species of the genus Erwinia.


2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 4643-4652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Bauer ◽  
Stefan Moese ◽  
Sina Bartfeld ◽  
Thomas F. Meyer ◽  
Matthias Selbach

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori persistently infects the human stomach and can cause gastritis, gastric ulceration, and gastric cancer. The type IV secretion system (TFSS) of virulent H. pylori strains translocates the CagA protein, inducing the dephosphorylation of host cell proteins and leading to changes in the morphology or shape of AGS gastric epithelial cells. Furthermore, the TFSS is involved in the induction of proinflammatory cytokines. While the H. pylori genes required for TFSS function have been investigated systematically, little is known about possible host cell factors involved. We infected 19 different mammalian cell lines individually with H. pylori and analyzed CagA translocation, dephosphorylation of host cell proteins, chemokine secretion (interleukin-8 and macrophage inflammatory protein 2), and changes in cellular phenotypes. Our results demonstrate that not only bacterial but also host cell factors determine the cellular response to infection. The identification of such unknown host cell factors will add to our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and might help in the development of new therapeutic strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 10035
Author(s):  
Hyun Woo Kim ◽  
Hyun Jun Woo ◽  
Ji Yeong Yang ◽  
Jong-Bae Kim ◽  
Sa-Hyun Kim

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium known to infect the human stomach. It can cause various gastrointestinal diseases including gastritis and gastric cancer. Hesperetin is a major flavanone component contained in citrus fruits. It has been reported to possess antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. However, the antibacterial mechanism of hesperetin against H. pylori has not been reported yet. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the inhibitory effects of hesperetin on H. pylori growth and its inhibitory mechanisms. The results of this study showed that hesperetin inhibits the growth of H. pylori reference strains and clinical isolates. Hesperetin inhibits the expression of genes in replication (dnaE, dnaN, dnaQ, and holB) and transcription (rpoA, rpoB, rpoD, and rpoN) machineries of H. pylori. Hesperetin also inhibits the expression of genes related to H. pylori motility (flhA, flaA, and flgE) and adhesion (sabA, alpA, alpB, hpaA, and hopZ). It also inhibits the expression of urease. Hespereti n downregulates major virulence factors such as cytotoxin-associated antigen A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) and decreases the translocation of CagA and VacA proteins into gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells. These results might be due to decreased expression of the type IV secretion system (T4SS) and type V secretion system (T5SS) involved in translocation of CagA and VacA, respectively. The results of this study indicate that hesperetin has antibacterial effects against H. pylori. Thus, hesperetin might be an effective natural product for the eradication of H. pylori.


BMC Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio M. Palacios-Gimenez ◽  
Julia Koelman ◽  
Marc Palmada-Flores ◽  
Tessa M. Bradford ◽  
Karl K. Jones ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Repetitive DNA sequences, including transposable elements (TEs) and tandemly repeated satellite DNA (satDNAs), collectively called the “repeatome”, are found in high proportion in organisms across the Tree of Life. Grasshoppers have large genomes, averaging 9 Gb, that contain a high proportion of repetitive DNA, which has hampered progress in assembling reference genomes. Here we combined linked-read genomics with transcriptomics to assemble, characterize, and compare the structure of repetitive DNA sequences in four chromosomal races of the morabine grasshopper Vandiemenella viatica species complex and determine their contribution to genome evolution. Results We obtained linked-read genome assemblies of 2.73–3.27 Gb from estimated genome sizes of 4.26–5.07 Gb DNA per haploid genome of the four chromosomal races of V. viatica. These constitute the third largest insect genomes assembled so far. Combining complementary annotation tools and manual curation, we found a large diversity of TEs and satDNAs, constituting 66 to 75% per genome assembly. A comparison of sequence divergence within the TE classes revealed massive accumulation of recent TEs in all four races (314–463 Mb per assembly), indicating that their large genome sizes are likely due to similar rates of TE accumulation. Transcriptome sequencing showed more biased TE expression in reproductive tissues than somatic tissues, implying permissive transcription in gametogenesis. Out of 129 satDNA families, 102 satDNA families were shared among the four chromosomal races, which likely represent a diversity of satDNA families in the ancestor of the V. viatica chromosomal races. Notably, 50 of these shared satDNA families underwent differential proliferation since the recent diversification of the V. viatica species complex. Conclusion This in-depth annotation of the repeatome in morabine grasshoppers provided new insights into the genome evolution of Orthoptera. Our TEs analysis revealed a massive recent accumulation of TEs equivalent to the size of entire Drosophila genomes, which likely explains the large genome sizes in grasshoppers. Despite an overall high similarity of the TE and satDNA diversity between races, the patterns of TE expression and satDNA proliferation suggest rapid evolution of grasshopper genomes on recent timescales.


2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (5) ◽  
pp. 1595-1604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Ahmed Aly ◽  
Lilian Krall ◽  
Friedrich Lottspeich ◽  
Christian Baron

ABSTRACT VirB5 is a minor component of the extracellular T pilus determined by the Agrobacterium tumefaciens type IV secretion system. To identify proteins that interact with VirB5 during the pilus assembly process, we purified VirB5 as a recombinant fusion protein and, by using a gel overlay assay, we detected a 26-kDa interacting protein in Agrobacterium cell lysates. The VirB5-binding protein was purified from A. tumefaciens and identified as the cytokinin biosynthetic enzyme Tzs. The VirB5-Tzs interaction was confirmed using pulldown assays with purified proteins and the yeast two-hybrid system. An analysis of the subcellular localization in A. tumefaciens showed that Tzs was present in the soluble as well as the membrane fraction. Tzs was extracted from the membranes with the mild detergent dodecyl-β-d-maltoside in complexes of different molecular masses, and this association was strongly reduced in the absence of VirB5. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we also detected Tzs on the Agrobacterium cell surface. A functional type IV secretion system was required for efficient translocation to the surface, but Tzs was not secreted into the cell supernatant. The fact that Tzs localizes on the cell surface suggests that it may contribute to the interaction of Agrobacterium with plants.


mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e03147-20
Author(s):  
Emma C. Skoog ◽  
Miriam E. Martin ◽  
Roberto M. Barrozo ◽  
Lori M. Hansen ◽  
Lucy P. Cai ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe Helicobacter pylori type IV secretion system (T4SS) encoded on the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) secretes the CagA oncoprotein and other effectors into the gastric epithelium. During murine infection, T4SS function is lost in an immune-dependent manner, typically as a result of in-frame recombination in the middle repeat region of cagY, though single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cagY or in other essential genes may also occur. Loss of T4SS function also occurs in gerbils, nonhuman primates, and humans, suggesting that it is biologically relevant and not simply an artifact of the murine model. Here, we sought to identify physiologically relevant conditions under which T4SS function is maintained in the murine model. We found that loss of H. pylori T4SS function in mice was blunted by systemic Salmonella coinfection and completely eliminated by dietary iron restriction. Both have epidemiologic parallels in humans, since H. pylori strains from individuals in developing countries, where iron deficiency and systemic infections are common, are also more often cagPAI+ than strains from developed countries. These results have implications for our fundamental understanding of the cagPAI and also provide experimental tools that permit the study of T4SS function in the murine model.IMPORTANCE The type IV secretion system (T4SS) is the major Helicobacter pylori virulence factor, though its function is lost during murine infection. Loss of function also occurs in gerbils and in humans, suggesting that it is biologically relevant, but the conditions under which T4SS regulation occurs are unknown. Here, we found that systemic coinfection with Salmonella and iron deprivation each promote retention of T4SS function. These results improve our understanding of the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) and provide experimental tools that permit the study of T4SS function in the murine model.


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