Acidity and calcium interaction affecting cell envelope stability inRhizobium

1998 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 582-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen G Ballen ◽  
Peter H Graham ◽  
Roger K Jones ◽  
John H Bowers

Calcium improves the ability of many rhizobia to survive and persist in acid soils, but the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon has not been studied in detail. Here, we present data examining the combined effects of pH and calcium on the cell envelope of Rhizobium strains that differ in pH tolerance. The effect of pH and calcium on solute uptake was demonstrated by a change in the resistance to selected antimicrobial agents. When grown at pH 5.0, all strains exhibited fatty acid methyl ester profiles that were significantly different from those obtained using cells grown at pH 7.0. These differences included changes in the C16:C18 ratio and the percentage of 19:0 cyclopropane in the membrane. Both pH and calcium level had marked effects on Rhizobium etli UMR1632 lipopolysaccharide-banding patterns, but there was little evidence of a change in lipopolysaccharides with pH and calcium in Rhizobium tropici UMR1899. Both pH and calcium influenced expression of outer membrane proteins in all strains.Key words: Rhizobium, acidity, calcium, lipopolysaccharide, cell envelope, outer membrane protein.

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 4681-4685 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Bina ◽  
John J. Mekalanos

ABSTRACT TolC and its homologues are outer membrane proteins that are essential for the transport of many molecules across the cell envelope. In this study we characterized the gene encoding Vibrio cholerae TolC. V. cholerae tolC mutants failed to secrete the RTX cytotoxin, were hypersensitive to antimicrobial agents, and were deficient in intestinal colonization.


2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (11) ◽  
pp. 4001-4016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wallace A. Kaserer ◽  
Xiaoxu Jiang ◽  
Qiaobin Xiao ◽  
Daniel C. Scott ◽  
Matthew Bauler ◽  
...  

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.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (23) ◽  
pp. 5718
Author(s):  
Jiao Meng ◽  
Junhong Xu ◽  
Can Huang ◽  
Jingyu Chen

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, and its integrity is monitored by various stress response systems. Although the Rcs system is involved in the envelope stress response and regulates genes controlling numerous bacterial cell functions of Yersinia enterocolitica, whether it can sense the truncated LPS in Y. enterocolitica remains unclear. In this study, the deletion of the Y. enterocolitica waaF gene truncated the structure of LPS and produced a deep rough LPS. The truncated LPS increased the cell surface hydrophobicity and outer membrane permeability, generating cell envelope stress. The truncated LPS also directly exposed the smooth outer membrane to the external environment and attenuated the resistance to adverse conditions, such as impaired survival under polymyxin B and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) exposure. Further phenotypic experiment and gene expression analysis indicated that the truncated LPS was correlated with the activation of the Rcs phosphorelay, thereby repressing cell motility and biofilm formation. Our findings highlight the importance of LPS integrity in maintaining membrane function and broaden the understanding of Rcs phosphorelay signaling in response to cell envelope stress, thus opening new avenues to develop effective antimicrobial agents for combating Y. enterocolitica infections.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 2292-2297
Author(s):  
Asma Ul Husna ◽  
Shabir Ahmad Mir ◽  
Rusheeba Manzoor ◽  
Farhat Pandit ◽  
Shakil Ahmad Wani ◽  
...  

Salmonella isolates should be distinguished as it may assist in tracing the source of an outbreak and monitoring trends in antimicrobial resistance associated with a particular type. The specific detection of these Salmonella serotypes is therefore extremely important in order to attribute an isolate to a previously known epidemic outbreak. The present investigation was to isolate and identify S. Gallinarum, to study variation in the profile of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and to determine in vitro antibiogram of S. Gallinarum in poultry. A total of 228 faecal samples and 22 visceral samples suspected for Salmonellosis were collected, of these 15 samples (6.0%) were found positive for S. Gallinarum. In the present study, rfbS gene sequence was helpful in the serotype-specific detection of S. Gallinarum giving a 187 bp product. Salmonella Gallinarum crude protein extracts determined by SDSPAGE showed migration of OMPs as several bands at approximate moleculer weights of appx. 45 kDa, 55 kDa, 64 kDa, 65 kDa, 74 kDa, 110 kDa, 120 kDa, 135 kDa, 150 kDa,155 kDa, 200 kDa and above 200 kDa. The study indicated a definite variation in the profile of OMPs of various Salmonella Gallinarum strains with major OMPs in the range of appx 80-100 kDa which could be the target for vaccine production. All the isolates tested against 14 antimicrobial agents showed variable susceptibility pattern with highest resistance to nalidixic acid, ampicillin and sulphadiazine and sensitivity to chloramphenicol, gentamicin and enrofloxacin.


2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (10) ◽  
pp. 3670-3680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshikane Itoh ◽  
John D. Rice ◽  
Carlos Goller ◽  
Archana Pannuri ◽  
Jeannette Taylor ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The linear homopolymer poly-β-1,6-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (β-1,6-GlcNAc; PGA) serves as an adhesin for the maintenance of biofilm structural stability in diverse eubacteria. Its function in Escherichia coli K-12 requires the gene products of the pgaABCD operon, all of which are necessary for biofilm formation. PgaC is an apparent glycosyltransferase that is required for PGA synthesis. Using a monoclonal antibody directed against E. coli PGA, we now demonstrate that PgaD is also needed for PGA formation. The deletion of genes for the predicted outer membrane proteins PgaA and PgaB did not prevent PGA synthesis but did block its export, as shown by the results of immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) and antibody adsorption assays. IEM also revealed a conditional localization of PGA at the cell poles, the initial attachment site for biofilm formation. PgaA contains a predicted β-barrel porin and a superhelical domain containing tetratricopeptide repeats, which may mediate protein-protein interactions, implying that it forms the outer membrane secretin for PGA. PgaB contains predicted carbohydrate binding and polysaccharide N-deacetylase domains. The overexpression of pgaB increased the primary amine content (glucosamine) of PGA. Site-directed mutations targeting the N-deacetylase catalytic activity of PgaB blocked PGA export and biofilm formation, implying that N-deacetylation promotes PGA export through the PgaA porin. The results of previous studies indicated that N-deacetylation of β-1,6-GlcNAc in Staphylococcus epidermidis by the PgaB homolog, IcaB, anchors it to the cell surface. The deletion of icaB resulted in release of β-1,6-GlcNAc into the growth medium. Thus, covalent modification of β-1,6-GlcNAc by N-deacetylation serves distinct biological functions in gram-negative and gram-positive species, dictated by cell envelope differences.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (23) ◽  
pp. 6961-6972 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Wesley Overton ◽  
Dan M. Park ◽  
Mimi C. Yung ◽  
Alice C. Dohnalkova ◽  
John Smit ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSurface layers, or S-layers, are two-dimensional protein arrays that form the outermost layer of many bacteria and archaea. They serve several functions, including physical protection of the cell from environmental threats. The high abundance of S-layer proteins necessitates a highly efficient export mechanism to transport the S-layer protein from the cytoplasm to the cell exterior.Caulobacter crescentusis unique in that it has two homologous, seemingly redundant outer membrane proteins, RsaFaand RsaFb, which together with other components form a type I protein translocation pathway for S-layer export. These proteins have homology toEscherichia coliTolC, the outer membrane channel of multidrug efflux pumps. Here we provide evidence that, unlike TolC, RsaFaand RsaFbare not involved in either the maintenance of membrane stability or the active export of antimicrobial compounds. Rather, RsaFaand RsaFbare required to prevent intracellular accumulation and aggregation of the S-layer protein RsaA; deletion of RsaFaand RsaFbled to a general growth defect and lowered cellular fitness. Using Western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), we show that loss of both RsaFaand RsaFbled to accumulation of insoluble RsaA in the cytoplasm, which in turn caused upregulation of a number of genes involved in protein misfolding and degradation pathways. These findings provide new insight into the requirement for RsaFaand RsaFbin cellular fitness and tolerance to antimicrobial agents and further our understanding of the S-layer export mechanism on both the transcriptional and translational levels inC. crescentus.IMPORTANCEDecreased growth rate and reduced cell fitness are common side effects of protein production in overexpression systems. Inclusion bodies typically form inside the cell, largely due to a lack of sufficient export machinery to transport the overexpressed proteins to the extracellular environment. This phenomenon can conceivably also occur in natural systems. As one example of a system evolved to prevent intracellular protein accumulation, our study demonstrates thatCaulobacter crescentushas two homologous outer membrane transporter proteins that are involved in S-layer export. This is an interesting case study that demonstrates how bacteria can evolve redundancy to ensure adequate protein export functionality and maintain high cellular fitness. Moreover, we provide evidence that these two outer membrane proteins, although being the closestC. crescentushomologs to TolC inE. coli, do not process TolC functionality inC. crescentus.


Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (9) ◽  
pp. 2587-2596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Tommassen

The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria consists of two membranes separated by the periplasm. In contrast with most integral membrane proteins, which span the membrane in the form of hydrophobic α-helices, integral outer-membrane proteins (OMPs) form β-barrels. Similar β-barrel proteins are found in the outer membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts, probably reflecting the endosymbiont origin of these eukaryotic cell organelles. How these β-barrel proteins are assembled into the outer membrane has remained enigmatic for a long time. In recent years, much progress has been reached in this field by the identification of the components of the OMP assembly machinery. The central component of this machinery, called Omp85 or BamA, is an essential and highly conserved bacterial protein that recognizes a signature sequence at the C terminus of its substrate OMPs. A homologue of this protein is also found in mitochondria, where it is required for the assembly of β-barrel proteins into the outer membrane as well. Although accessory components of the machineries are different between bacteria and mitochondria, a mitochondrial β-barrel OMP can be assembled into the bacterial outer membrane and, vice versa, bacterial OMPs expressed in yeast are assembled into the mitochondrial outer membrane. These observations indicate that the basic mechanism of OMP assembly is evolutionarily highly conserved.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (6) ◽  
pp. 1913-1922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anindya S. Ghosh ◽  
Kevin D. Young

ABSTRACT In bacteria, several physiological processes once thought to be the products of uniformly dispersed reactions are now known to be highly asymmetric, with some exhibiting interesting geometric localizations. In particular, the cell envelope of Escherichia coli displays a form of subcellular differentiation in which peptidoglycan and outer membrane proteins at the cell poles remain stable for generations while material in the lateral walls is diluted by growth and turnover. To determine if material in the side walls was organized in any way, we labeled outer membrane proteins with succinimidyl ester-linked fluorescent dyes and then grew the stained cells in the absence of dye. Labeled proteins were not evenly dispersed in the envelope but instead appeared as helical ribbons that wrapped around the outside of the cell. By staining the O8 surface antigen of E. coli 2443 with a fluorescent derivative of concanavalin A, we observed a similar helical organization for the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) component of the outer membrane. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching indicated that some of the outer membrane proteins remained freely diffusible in the side walls and could also diffuse into polar domains. On the other hand, the LPS O antigen was virtually immobile. Thus, the outer membrane of E. coli has a defined in vivo organization in which a subfraction of proteins and LPS are embedded in stable domains at the poles and along one or more helical ribbons that span the length of this gram-negative rod.


Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (6) ◽  
pp. 1783-1794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Zilm ◽  
Alex Mira ◽  
Christopher J. Bagley ◽  
Anthony H. Rogers

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative anaerobic organism that plays a central role in the development of periodontal diseases. The progression of periodontitis is associated with a rise in pH of the gingival sulcus which promotes the growth and expression of virulence factors by periodontopathic bacteria. We have previously reported that the expression of specific cytoplasmic proteins is altered by a shift in growth pH. In the present study we have compared cell envelope protein expression of F. nucleatum during chemostat growth at pH 7.2 and 7.8. From a total of 176 proteins resolved from the cell envelope, 15 were found to have altered expression in response to an increase in growth pH and were identified by MS. Upregulated proteins included an outer membrane porin which has been identified as playing a role in virulence, a periplasmic chaperone which assists in the folding of outer membrane proteins, and a transporter thought to be involved with iron uptake. Proteins downregulated at pH 7.8 were consistent with our previous findings that the bacterium reduces its catabolism of energy-yielding substrates in favour of energy-storage pathways. Among the downregulated proteins, two transporters which are involved in the uptake of C4 dicarboxylates and phosphate were identified. A putative protease and an enzyme associated with the metabolism of glutamate were also identified. A high proportion of the cell envelope proteins suggested by these data to play a role in the organism's response to alkaline growth pH may have arisen by lateral gene transfer. This would support the hypothesis that genes that provide an ability to adapt to the changing conditions of the oral environment may be readily shared between oral bacteria.


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (8) ◽  
pp. 2445-2453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Otto ◽  
Joakim Norbeck ◽  
Thomas Larsson ◽  
Karl-Anders Karlsson ◽  
Malte Hermansson

ABSTRACT Phenotypic differences between planktonic bacteria and those attached to abiotic surfaces exist, but the mechanisms involved in the adhesion response of bacteria are not well understood. By the use of two-dimensional (2D) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we have demonstrated that attachment of Escherichia coli to abiotic surfaces leads to alteration in the composition of outer membrane proteins. A major decrease in the abundance of resolved proteins was observed during adhesion of type 1-fimbriated E. colistrains, which was at least partly caused by proteolysis. Moreover, a study of fimbriated and nonfimbriated mutants revealed that these changes were due mainly to type 1 fimbria-mediated surface contact and that only a few changes occurred in the outer membranes of nonfimbriated mutant strains. Protein synthesis and proteolytic degradation were involved to different extents in adhesion of fimbriated and nonfimbriated cells. While protein synthesis appeared to affect adhesion of only the nonfimbriated strain, proteolytic activity mostly seemed to contribute to adhesion of the fimbriated strain. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry, six of the proteins resolved by 2D analysis were identified as BtuB, EF-Tu, OmpA, OmpX, Slp, and TolC. While the first two proteins were unaffected by adhesion, the levels of the last four were moderately to strongly reduced. Based on the present results, it may be suggested that physical interactions between type 1 fimbriae and the surface are part of a surface-sensing mechanism in which protein turnover may contribute to the observed change in composition of outer membrane proteins. This change alters the surface characteristics of the cell envelope and may thus influence adhesion.


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