scholarly journals Mycobacterium tuberculosis CwsA Interacts with CrgA and Wag31, and the CrgA-CwsA Complex Is Involved in Peptidoglycan Synthesis and Cell Shape Determination

2012 ◽  
Vol 194 (23) ◽  
pp. 6398-6409 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Plocinski ◽  
N. Arora ◽  
K. Sarva ◽  
E. Blaszczyk ◽  
H. Qin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
Double Mutant ◽  
Bacterial Cell Division ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ring Assembly ◽  
Double Mutant Strain

ABSTRACTBacterial cell division and cell wall synthesis are highly coordinated processes involving multiple proteins. Here, we show that Rv0008c, a novel small membrane protein fromMycobacterium tuberculosis, localizes to the poles and on membranes and shows an overall punctate localization throughout the cell. Furthermore, Rv0008c interacts with two proteins, CrgA and Wag31, implicated in peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis in mycobacteria. Deletion of the Rv0008c homolog inM. smegmatis, MSMEG_0023, caused bulged cell poles, formation of rounded cells, and defects in polar localization of Wag31 and cell wall synthesis, with cell wall synthesis measured by the incorporation of the [14C]N-acetylglucosamine cell wall precursor. TheM. smegmatisMSMEG_0023crgAdouble mutant strain showed severe defects in growth, viability, cell wall synthesis, cell shape, and the localization of the FtsZ, FtsI, and Wag31 proteins. The double mutant strain also exhibited increased autolytic activity in the presence of detergents. Because CrgA and Wag31 proteins interact with FtsI individually, we believe that regulated cell wall synthesis and cell shape maintenance require the concerted actions of the CrgA, Rv0008c, FtsI, and Wag31 proteins. We propose that, together, CrgA and Rv0008c, renamed CwsA forcellwall synthesis and cellshape proteinA, play crucial roles in septal and polar PG synthesis and help coordinate these processes with the FtsZ-ring assembly in mycobacteria.

scholarly journals Lysis of a Lactococcus lactis Dipeptidase Mutant and Rescue by Mutation in the Pleiotropic Regulator CodY

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenxi Huang ◽  
Jhonatan A. Hernandez-Valdes ◽  
Oscar P. Kuipers ◽  
Jan Kok
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Nitrogen Metabolism ◽  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
Single Point Mutation ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Acid Uptake ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363 is a model for the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) used in the dairy industry. The proteolytic system, consisting of a proteinase, several peptide and amino acid uptake systems, and a host of intracellular peptidases, plays a vital role in nitrogen metabolism and is of eminent importance for flavor formation in dairy products. The dipeptidase PepV functions in the last stages of proteolysis. A link between nitrogen metabolism and peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthesis was underlined by the finding that deletion of the dipeptidase gene pepV (creating strain MGΔpepV) resulted in a prolonged lag phase when the mutant strain was grown with a high concentration of glycine. In addition, most MGΔpepV cells lyse and have serious defects in their shape. This phenotype is due to a shortage of alanine, since adding alanine can rescue the growth and shape defects. Strain MGΔpepV is more resistant to vancomycin, an antibiotic targeting peptidoglycan d-Ala–d-Ala ends, which confirmed that MGΔpepV has an abnormal PG composition. A mutant of MGΔpepV was obtained in which growth inhibition and cell shape defects were alleviated. Genome sequencing showed that this mutant has a single point mutation in the codY gene, resulting in an arginine residue at position 218 in the DNA-binding motif of CodY being replaced by a cysteine residue. Thus, this strain was named MGΔpepVcodYR218C. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) data revealed a dramatic derepression in peptide uptake and amino acid utilization in MGΔpepVcodYR218C. A model of the connections among PepV activity, CodY regulation, and PG synthesis of L. lactis is proposed. IMPORTANCE Precise control of peptidoglycan synthesis is essential in Gram-positive bacteria for maintaining cell shape and integrity as well as resisting stresses. Although neither the dipeptidase PepV nor alanine is essential for L. lactis MG1363, adequate availability of either ensures proper cell wall synthesis. We broaden the knowledge about the dipeptidase PepV, which acts as a linker between nitrogen metabolism and cell wall synthesis in L. lactis.

scholarly journals Role of Hsl7 in Morphology and Pathogenicity and Its Interaction with Other Signaling Components in the Plant Pathogen Ustilago maydis

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 869-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ben Lovely ◽  
Kavita Burman Aulakh ◽  
Michael H. Perlin
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Double Mutant ◽  
Ustilago Maydis ◽  
Cell Length ◽  
Phytopathogenic Fungus ◽  
Nitrogen Base ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dimorphic Transition ◽  
Double Mutant Strain

ABSTRACTThe phytopathogenic fungusUstilago maydisundergoes a dimorphic transition in response to mating pheromone, host, and environmental cues. On a solid medium deficient in ammonium (SLAD [0.17% yeast nitrogen base without ammonium sulfate or amino acids, 2% dextrose, 50 μM ammonium sulfate]),U. maydisproduces a filamentous colony morphology, while in liquid SLAD, the cells do not form filaments. The p21-activated protein kinases (PAKs) play a substantial role in regulating the dimorphic transition in fungi. The PAK-like Ste20 homologue Smu1 is required for a normal response to pheromone, via upregulation of pheromone expression, and virulence, and its disruption affects both processes. Our experiments suggest that Smu1 also regulates cell length and the filamentous response on solid SLAD medium. Yeast two-hybrid analysis suggested an Hsl7 homologue as a potential interacting partner of Smu1, and a unique open reading frame for such an arginine methyltransferase was detected in theU. maydisgenome sequence. Hsl7 regulates cell length and the filamentous response to solid SLAD in a fashion opposite to that of Smu1, but neither overexpression nor disruption ofhsl7attenuates virulence. Simultaneous disruption ofhsl7and overexpression ofsmu1lead to a hyperfilamentous response on solid SLAD. Moreover, only this double mutant strain forms filaments in liquid SLAD. The double mutant strain was also significantly reduced in virulence. A similar filamentous response in both solid and liquid SLAD was observed in strains lacking another PAK-like protein kinase involved in cytokinesis and polar growth, Cla4. Our data suggest that Hsl7 may regulate cell cycle progression, while both Smu1 and Cla4 appear to be involved in the filamentous response inU. maydis.

scholarly journals Drug Targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis Cell Wall Synthesis: Development of a Microtiter Plate-Based Screen for UDP-Galactopyranose Mutase and Identification of an Inhibitor from a Uridine-Based Library

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 378-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Scherman ◽  
Katharine A. Winans ◽  
Richard J. Stern ◽  
Victoria Jones ◽  
Carolyn R. Bertozzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Drug Targeting ◽  
Enzyme Inhibitor ◽  
Microtiter Plate ◽  
Biosynthetic Enzyme ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Chemical Library ◽  
Microtiter Plate Assay ◽  
Plate Assay

ABSTRACT A microtiter plate assay for UDP-galactopyranose mutase, an essential cell wall biosynthetic enzyme of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was developed. The assay is based on the release of tritiated formaldehyde from UDP-galactofuranose but not UDP-galactopyranose by periodate and was used to identify a uridine-based enzyme inhibitor from a chemical library.

scholarly journals Interplay between Antibiotic Efficacy and Drug-Induced Lysis Underlies Enhanced Biofilm Formation at Subinhibitory Drug Concentrations

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Yu ◽  
Kelsey M. Hallinen ◽  
Kevin B. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Cell Lysis ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Subinhibitory Concentrations ◽  
Antibiotic Efficacy

ABSTRACTSubinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics have been shown to enhance biofilm formation in multiple bacterial species. While antibiotic exposure has been associated with modulated expression of many biofilm-related genes, the mechanisms of drug-induced biofilm formation remain a focus of ongoing research efforts and may vary significantly across species. In this work, we investigate antibiotic-induced biofilm formation inEnterococcus faecalis, a leading cause of nosocomial infections. We show that biofilm formation is enhanced by subinhibitory concentrations of cell wall synthesis inhibitors but not by inhibitors of protein, DNA, folic acid, or RNA synthesis. Furthermore, enhanced biofilm is associated with increased cell lysis, increases in extracellular DNA (eDNA) levels, and increases in the density of living cells in the biofilm. In addition, we observe similar enhancement of biofilm formation when cells are treated with nonantibiotic surfactants that induce cell lysis. These findings suggest that antibiotic-induced biofilm formation is governed by a trade-off between drug toxicity and the beneficial effects of cell lysis. To understand this trade-off, we developed a simple mathematical model that predicts changes in antibiotic-induced biofilm formation due to external perturbations, and we verified these predictions experimentally. Specifically, we demonstrate that perturbations that reduce eDNA (DNase treatment) or decrease the number of living cells in the planktonic phase (a second antibiotic) decrease biofilm induction, while chemical inhibitors of cell lysis increase relative biofilm induction and shift the peak to higher antibiotic concentrations. Overall, our results offer experimental evidence linking cell wall synthesis inhibitors, cell lysis, increased eDNA levels, and biofilm formation inE. faecaliswhile also providing a predictive quantitative model that sheds light on the interplay between cell lysis and antibiotic efficacy in developing biofilms.

scholarly journals Epistatic and Synergistic Interactions Between Circadian Clock Mutations in Neurospora crassa

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 159 (2) ◽  
pp. 537-543
Author(s):  
Louis W Morgan ◽  
Jerry F Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Temperature Compensation ◽  
Double Mutant ◽  
Synergistic Interactions ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Double Mutant Strain ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Compensation Mechanisms

Abstract We identified a series of epistatic and synergistic interactions among the circadian clock mutations of Neurospora crassa that indicate possible physical interactions among the various clock components encoded by these genes. The period-6 (prd-6) mutation, a short-period temperature-sensitive clock mutation, is epistatic to both the prd-2 and prd-3 mutations. The prd-2 and prd-3 long-period mutations show a synergistic interaction in that the period length of the double mutant strain is considerably longer than predicted. In addition, the prd-2 prd-3 double mutant strain also exhibits overcompensation to changes in ambient temperature, suggesting a role in the temperature compensation machinery of the clock. The prd-2, prd-3, and prd-6 mutations also show significant interactions with the frq7 long-period mutation. These results suggest that the gene products of prd-2, prd-3, and prd-6 play an important role in both the timing and temperature compensation mechanisms of the circadian clock and may interact with the FRQ protein.

scholarly journals Activation of 2,4-Diaminoquinazoline in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Rv3161c, a Putative Dioxygenase

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduard Melief ◽  
Shilah A. Bonnett ◽  
Edison S. Zuniga ◽  
Tanya Parish
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Type A ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Metabolite Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Data Support ◽  
In The Wild

ABSTRACT The diaminoquinazoline series has good potency against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Resistant isolates have mutations in Rv3161c, a putative dioxygenase. We carried out metabolite analysis on a wild-type strain and an Rv3161c mutant strain after exposure to a diaminoquinazoline. The parental compound was found in intracellular extracts from the mutant but not the wild type. A metabolite consistent with a monohydroxylated form was identified in the wild type. These data support the hypothesis that Rv3161c metabolizes diaminoquinazolines in M. tuberculosis.

Characterizing KAS Enzymes Using the E. Coli Double Mutant Strain CY244

2003 ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Anne Vinther Rasmussen ◽  
Rie Yasuno ◽  
Penny von Wettstein-Knowles
Keyword(s):  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Double Mutant ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Double Mutant Strain

scholarly journals Role of BGS13 in the Secretory Mechanism of Pichia pastoris

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Naranjo ◽  
Anita D. Jivan ◽  
Maria N. Vo ◽  
Katherine H. de Sa Campos ◽  
Jared S. Deyarmin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Pichia Pastoris ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Recombinant Proteins ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Heterologous Protein Expression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Kinase C

ABSTRACT The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has been utilized for heterologous protein expression for over 30 years. Because P. pastoris secretes few of its own proteins, the exported recombinant protein is the major polypeptide in the extracellular medium, making purification relatively easy. Unfortunately, some recombinant proteins intended for secretion are retained within the cell. A mutant strain isolated in our laboratory, containing a disruption of the BGS13 gene, displayed elevated levels of secretion for a variety of reporter proteins. The Bgs13 peptide (Bgs13p) is similar to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein kinase C 1 protein (Pkc1p), but its specific mode of action is currently unclear. To illuminate differences in the secretion mechanism between the wild-type (wt) strain and the bgs13 strain, we determined that the disrupted bgs13 gene expressed a truncated protein that had reduced protein kinase C activity and a different location in the cell, compared to the wt protein. Because the Pkc1p of baker’s yeast plays a significant role in cell wall integrity, we investigated the sensitivity of the mutant strain’s cell wall to growth antagonists and extraction by dithiothreitol, determining that the bgs13 strain cell wall suffered from inherent structural problems although its porosity was normal. A proteomic investigation of the bgs13 strain secretome and cell wall-extracted peptides demonstrated that, compared to its wt parent, the bgs13 strain also displayed increased release of an array of normally secreted, endogenous proteins, as well as endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperone proteins, suggesting that Bgs13p helps regulate the unfolded protein response and protein sorting on a global scale. IMPORTANCE The yeast Pichia pastoris is used as a host system for the expression of recombinant proteins. Many of these products, including antibodies, vaccine antigens, and therapeutic proteins such as insulin, are currently on the market or in late stages of development. However, one major weakness is that sometimes these proteins are not secreted from the yeast cell efficiently, which impedes and raises the cost of purification of these vital proteins. Our laboratory has isolated a mutant strain of Pichia pastoris that shows enhanced secretion of many proteins. The mutant produces a modified version of Bgs13p. Our goal is to understand how the change in the Bgs13p function leads to improved secretion. Once the Bgs13p mechanism is illuminated, we should be able to apply this understanding to engineer new P. pastoris strains that efficiently produce and secrete life-saving recombinant proteins, providing medical and economic benefits.

scholarly journals Bacteriophage SP01 Gene Product 56 Inhibits Bacillus subtilis Cell Division by Interacting with FtsL and Disrupting Pbp2B and FtsW Recruitment

2020 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. e00463-20
Author(s):  
Amit Bhambhani ◽  
Isabella Iadicicco ◽  
Jules Lee ◽  
Syed Ahmed ◽  
Max Belfatto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Cell Division ◽  
Gene Product ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Lytic Bacteriophage ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ftsz Ring ◽  
Green Fluorescent

ABSTRACTPrevious work identified gene product 56 (gp56), encoded by the lytic bacteriophage SP01, as being responsible for inhibition of Bacillus subtilis cell division during its infection. Assembly of the essential tubulin-like protein FtsZ into a ring-shaped structure at the nascent site of cytokinesis determines the timing and position of division in most bacteria. This FtsZ ring serves as a scaffold for recruitment of other proteins into a mature division-competent structure permitting membrane constriction and septal cell wall synthesis. Here, we show that expression of the predicted 9.3-kDa gp56 of SP01 inhibits later stages of B. subtilis cell division without altering FtsZ ring assembly. Green fluorescent protein-tagged gp56 localizes to the membrane at the site of division. While its localization does not interfere with recruitment of early division proteins, gp56 interferes with the recruitment of late division proteins, including Pbp2b and FtsW. Imaging of cells with specific division components deleted or depleted and two-hybrid analyses suggest that gp56 localization and activity depend on its interaction with FtsL. Together, these data support a model in which gp56 interacts with a central part of the division machinery to disrupt late recruitment of the division proteins involved in septal cell wall synthesis.IMPORTANCE Studies over the past decades have identified bacteriophage-encoded factors that interfere with host cell shape or cytokinesis during viral infection. The phage factors causing cell filamentation that have been investigated to date all act by targeting FtsZ, the conserved prokaryotic tubulin homolog that composes the cytokinetic ring in most bacteria and some groups of archaea. However, the mechanisms of several phage factors that inhibit cytokinesis, including gp56 of bacteriophage SP01 of Bacillus subtilis, remain unexplored. Here, we show that, unlike other published examples of phage inhibition of cytokinesis, gp56 blocks B. subtilis cell division without targeting FtsZ. Rather, it utilizes the assembled FtsZ cytokinetic ring to localize to the division machinery and to block recruitment of proteins needed for septal cell wall synthesis.

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