scholarly journals MCE domain proteins: conserved inner membrane lipid-binding proteins required for outer membrane homeostasis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia L. Isom ◽  
Nathaniel J. Davies ◽  
Zhi-Soon Chong ◽  
Jack A. Bryant ◽  
Mohammed Jamshad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Membrane Lipid ◽  
Lipid Binding ◽  
Single Domain ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Single Domain Protein ◽  
Lipid Binding Proteins

Bacterial proteins with MCE domains were first described as being important forMammalianCellEntry. More recent evidence suggests they are components of lipid ABC transporters. InEscherichia coli, the single-domain protein MlaD is known to be part of an inner membrane transporter that is important for maintenance of outer membrane lipid asymmetry. Here we describe two multi MCE domain-containing proteins inEscherichia coli, PqiB and YebT, the latter of which is an orthologue of MAM-7 that was previously reported to be an outer membrane protein. We show that all three MCE domain-containing proteins localise to the inner membrane. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that MCE domains are widely distributed across bacterial phyla but multi MCE domain-containing proteins evolved in Proteobacteria from single-domain proteins. Mutants defective inmlaD,pqiABandyebSTwere shown to have distinct but partially overlapping phenotypes, but the primary functions of PqiB and YebT differ from MlaD. Complementing our previous findings that all three proteins bind phospholipids, results presented here indicate that multi-domain proteins evolved in Proteobacteria for specific functions in maintaining cell envelope homeostasis.

scholarly journals MCE domain proteins: conserved inner membrane lipid-binding proteins required for outer membrane homeostasis

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia L. Isom ◽  
Nathaniel J. Davies ◽  
Zhi-Soon Chong ◽  
Jack A. Bryant ◽  
Mohammed Jamshad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Membrane Lipid ◽  
Lipid Binding ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Lipid Binding Proteins

The uptake and acylation of exogenous lysophosphatidylethanolamine by Escherichia coli cells

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 1381-1386 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Hellion ◽  
F. Landry ◽  
P. V. Subbaiah ◽  
P. Proulx
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Isotope Ratio ◽  
Inorganic Phosphate ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Membrane Lipid ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Absorption Process ◽  
Outer Membranes ◽  
Escherichia Coli Cells

Escherichia coli envelopes were fractionated to yield inner and outer membrane fractions. Both these fractions were found to convert [14C]lysophosphatidylethanolamine to its diacyl analogue. Intact Escherichia coli cells were capable of absorbing exogenous labelled lysophosphatidylethanolamine and converting it to phosphatidylethanolamine. When the 14C- and 32P-labelled lyso analogue was used, both the absorption process and the conversion to diacyl analogue proceeded without a significant change in isotope ratio either in the presence or in the absence of added inorganic phosphate. The absorption process was not markedly stimulated by Ca2+ in the medium; it proceeded to an amount representing 25–30% of the endogenous membrane lipid and was accompanied by some degradation to water-soluble products which accumulated in the cell mainly, but also in the incubation medium. The absorbed lipid was recovered in both the inner and outer membrane fractions of the cell envelope. The results indicate that Escherichia coli inner and outer membranes are capable of absorbing exogenous lysophosphoglyceride and converting it into structurally useful diacyl analogue.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Effects ofn-butanol on the cell envelope ofE. coli

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Fletcher ◽  
Teuta Pilizota ◽  
Philip R. Davies ◽  
Alexander McVey ◽  
Chris E. French
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Membrane Protrusion ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
External Concentration ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Rational Engineering

ABSTRACTBiofuel alcohols have severe consequences on the microbial hosts used in their biosynthesis, which limits the productivity of the bioconversion. The cell envelope is one of the most strongly affected structures, in particular, as the external concentration of biofuels rises during biosynthesis. Damage to the cell envelope can have severe consequences, such as impairment of transport into and out of the cell; however the nature of butanol-induced envelope damage has not been well characterized. In the present study, the effects ofn-butanol on the cell envelope ofEscherichia coliwere investigated. Using enzyme and fluorescence-based assays, we observed that 1% v/v n-butanol resulted in release of lipopolysaccharides from the outer membrane ofE. coliand caused ‘leakiness’ in both outer and inner membranes. Higher concentrations ofn-butanol, within the range of 2% – 10% (v/v), resulted in inner membrane protrusion through the peptidoglycan observed by characteristic blebs. The findings suggest that strategies for rational engineering of butanol-tolerant bacterial strains should take into account all components of the cell envelope.

Colicin translocation across the Escherichia coli outer membrane

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1475-1479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas G. Housden ◽  
Colin Kleanthous
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Protonmotive Force ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Group A

We are investigating how protein bacteriocins import their toxic payload across the Gram-negative cell envelope, both as a means of understanding the translocation process itself and as a means of probing the organization of the cell envelope and the function of the protein machines within it. Our work focuses on the import mechanism of the group A endonuclease (DNase) colicin ColE9 into Escherichia coli, where we combine in vivo observations with structural, biochemical and biophysical approaches to dissect the molecular mechanism of colicin entry. ColE9 assembles a multiprotein ‘translocon’ complex at the E. coli outer membrane that triggers entry of the toxin across the outer membrane and the simultaneous jettisoning of its tightly bound immunity protein, Im9, in a step that is dependent on the protonmotive force. In the present paper, we focus on recent work where we have uncovered how ColE9 assembles its translocon complex, including isolation of the complex, and how this leads to subversion of a signal intrinsic to the Tol–Pal assembly within the periplasm and inner membrane. In this way, the externally located ColE9 is able to ‘connect’ to the inner membrane protonmotive force via a network of protein–protein interactions that spans the entirety of the E. coli cell envelope to drive dissociation of Im9 and initiate entry of the colicin into the cell.

scholarly journals Genetic analysis of the role of the conserved inner membrane protein CvpA in EHEC resistance to deoxycholate

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson R. Warr ◽  
Rachel T. Giorgio ◽  
Matthew K. Waldor
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Bile Salt ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Enteric Bacteria ◽  
Enteric Pathogens ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Inner Membrane Protein

The function of cvpA, a bacterial gene predicted to encode an inner membrane protein, is largely unknown. Early studies in E. coli linked cvpA to Colicin V secretion and recent work revealed that it is required for robust intestinal colonization by diverse enteric pathogens. In enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), cvpA is required for resistance to the bile salt deoxycholate (DOC). Here, we carried out genome-scale transposon-insertion mutagenesis and spontaneous suppressor analysis to uncover cvpA’s genetic interactions and identify common pathways that rescue the sensitivity of a ΔcvpA EHEC mutant to DOC. These screens demonstrated that mutations predicted to activate the σE-mediated extracytoplasmic stress response bypass the ΔcvpA mutant’s susceptibility to DOC. Consistent with this idea, we found that deletions in rseA and msbB and direct overexpression of rpoE restored DOC resistance to the ΔcvpA mutant. Analysis of the distribution of CvpA homologs revealed that this inner membrane protein is conserved across diverse bacterial phyla, in both enteric and non-enteric bacteria that are not exposed to bile. Together, our findings suggest that CvpA plays a role in cell envelope homeostasis in response to DOC and similar stress stimuli in diverse bacterial species. IMPORTANCE Several enteric pathogens, including Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), require CvpA to robustly colonize the intestine. This inner membrane protein is also important for secretion of a colicin and EHEC resistance to the bile salt deoxycholate (DOC), but its function is unknown. Genetic analyses carried out here showed that activation of the σE-mediated extracytoplasmic stress response restored the resistance of a cvpA mutant to DOC, suggesting that CvpA plays a role in cell envelope homeostasis. The conservation of CvpA across diverse bacterial phyla suggests that this membrane protein facilitates cell envelope homeostasis in response to varied cell envelope perturbations.

scholarly journals YejM Modulates Activity of the YciM/FtsH Protease Complex To Prevent Lethal Accumulation of Lipopolysaccharide

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Randi L. Guest ◽  
Daniel Samé Guerra ◽  
Maria Wissler ◽  
Jacqueline Grimm ◽  
Thomas J. Silhavy
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Essential Protein ◽  
Ftsh Protease ◽  
Acyl Chains ◽  
Lipid Balance

ABSTRACT Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an essential glycolipid present in the outer membrane (OM) of many Gram-negative bacteria. Balanced biosynthesis of LPS is critical for cell viability; too little LPS weakens the OM, while too much LPS is lethal. In Escherichia coli, this balance is maintained by the YciM/FtsH protease complex, which adjusts LPS levels by degrading the LPS biosynthesis enzyme LpxC. Here, we provide evidence that activity of the YciM/FtsH protease complex is inhibited by the essential protein YejM. Using strains in which LpxC activity is reduced, we show that yciM is epistatic to yejM, demonstrating that YejM acts upstream of YciM to prevent toxic overproduction of LPS. Previous studies have shown that this toxicity can be suppressed by deleting lpp, which codes for a highly abundant OM lipoprotein. It was assumed that deletion of lpp restores lipid balance by increasing the number of acyl chains available for glycerophospholipid biosynthesis. We show that this is not the case. Rather, our data suggest that preventing attachment of lpp to the peptidoglycan sacculus allows excess LPS to be shed in vesicles. We propose that this loss of OM material allows continued transport of LPS to the OM, thus preventing lethal accumulation of LPS within the inner membrane. Overall, our data justify the commitment of three essential inner membrane proteins to avoid toxic over- or underproduction of LPS. IMPORTANCE Gram-negative bacteria are encapsulated by an outer membrane (OM) that is impermeable to large and hydrophobic molecules. As such, these bacteria are intrinsically resistant to several clinically relevant antibiotics. To better understand how the OM is established or maintained, we sought to clarify the function of the essential protein YejM in Escherichia coli. Here, we show that YejM inhibits activity of the YciM/FtsH protease complex, which regulates synthesis of the essential OM glycolipid lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our data suggest that disrupting proper communication between LPS synthesis and transport to the OM leads to accumulation of LPS within the inner membrane (IM). The lethality associated with this event can be suppressed by increasing OM vesiculation. Our research has identified a completely novel signaling pathway that we propose coordinates LPS synthesis and transport.

scholarly journals Insight from TonB Hybrid Proteins into the Mechanism of Iron Transport through the Outer Membrane

2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (11) ◽  
pp. 4001-4016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wallace A. Kaserer ◽  
Xiaoxu Jiang ◽  
Qiaobin Xiao ◽  
Daniel C. Scott ◽  
Matthew Bauler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Outer Membrane Proteins ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Hybrid Proteins ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
N Terminus

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.

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