scholarly journals BacSJ—Another Bacteriocin with Distinct Spectrum of Activity that Targets Man-PTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 7860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Tymoszewska ◽  
Piotr Walczak ◽  
Tamara Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Surface Protein ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Phosphotransferase System ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Activity Spectrum ◽  
Specific Receptors ◽  
Resistant Mutants ◽  
Intracellular Region

Lactic acid bacteria produce diverse antimicrobial peptides called bacteriocins. Most bacteriocins target sensitive bacteria by binding to specific receptors. Although a plethora of bacteriocins have been identified, for only a few of them the receptors they recognize are known. Here, we identified permease IIC and surface protein IID, two membrane subunits of the mannose-specific quaternary phosphotransferase system (Man-PTS), as a receptor for BacSJ, a subclass IId bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BGSJ2-8. BacSJ shares 45% identity with another Man-PTS binding bacteriocin, garvicin Q (GarQ). Similarly to GarQ, BacSJ has a relatively broad activity spectrum acting against several Gram-positive bacteria, such as Lactococcus lactis and Listeria monocytogenes, harboring fairly similar Man-PTSs, but not against Lactococcus garvieae. To identify specific Man-PTS amino acids responsible for the L.lactis sensitivity to BacSJ, and thus likely involved in the interaction with this bacteriocin, we generated eight independent BacSJ resistant L.lactis mutants harboring five distinct missense mutations in the ptnC or ptnD genes encoding the IIC and IID subunits. Concurrently with the resistance to BacSJ, the mutants efficiently utilized mannose as a carbon source, which indicated functionality of their mutated Man-PTS. The amino acid substitutions in the mutants localized to the intracellular region of the IIC permease or to the extracellular parts of IID. This localization coincides with regions targeted by GarQ and some other Man-PTS-binding garvicins, pointing to similarities between all these bacteriocins in the mechanism of their interaction with Man-PTS. During the attack by these bacteriocins, subunits IID and IIC are assumed to function sequentially as a docking and an entry module allowing the toxic peptide to bind the cell and then open the pore. However, since not all of the BacSJ-resistant mutants exhibited cross-resistance to GarQ, we propose that BacSJ interacts with Man-PTS in a manner slightly different from that of GarQ.

scholarly journals Fructose Utilization in Lactococcus lactis as a Model for Low-GC Gram-Positive Bacteria: Its Regulator, Signal, and DNA-Binding Site

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (11) ◽  
pp. 3752-3761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Barrière ◽  
Maria Veiga-da-Cunha ◽  
Nicolas Pons ◽  
Eric Guédon ◽  
Sacha A. F. T. van Hijum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Transcriptome Profiling ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Phosphotransferase System ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Fructose Metabolism ◽  
Inducer Exclusion ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Regulation Scheme ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT In addition to its role as carbon and energy source, fructose metabolism was reported to affect other cellular processes, such as biofilm formation by streptococci and bacterial pathogenicity in plants. Fructose genes encoding a 1-phosphofructokinase and a phosphotransferase system (PTS) fructose-specific enzyme IIABC component reside commonly in a gene cluster with a DeoR family regulator in various gram-positive bacteria. We present a comprehensive study of fructose metabolism in Lactococcus lactis, including a systematic study of fru mutants, global messenger analysis, and a molecular characterization of its regulation. The fru operon is regulated at the transcriptional level by both FruR and CcpA and at the metabolic level by inducer exclusion. The FruR effector is fructose-1-phosphate (F1P), as shown by combined analysis of transcription and measurements of the intracellular F1P pools in mutants either unable to produce this metabolite or accumulating it. The regulation of the fru operon by FruR requires four adjacent 10-bp direct repeats. The well-conserved organization of the fru promoter region in various low-GC gram-positive bacteria, including CRE boxes as well as the newly defined FruR motif, suggests that the regulation scheme defined in L. lactis could be applied to these bacteria. Transcriptome profiling of fruR and fruC mutants revealed that the effect of F1P and FruR regulation is limited to the fru operon in L. lactis. This result is enforced by the fact that no other targets for FruR were found in the available low-GC gram-positive bacteria genomes, suggesting that additional phenotypical effects due to fructose metabolism do not rely directly on FruR control, but rather on metabolism.

scholarly journals Genetic Analysis of Colistin Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

2009 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 2298-2305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Sun ◽  
Aurel Negrea ◽  
Mikael Rhen ◽  
Dan I. Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Mutation Rate ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Regulator Protein ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Sensor Kinases ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT Colistin is a cyclic cationic peptide that kills gram-negative bacteria by interacting with and disrupting the outer membrane. We isolated 44 independent mutants in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with reduced susceptibility to colistin and identified 27 different missense mutations located in the pmrA and pmrB genes (encoding the regulator and sensor of a two-component regulatory system) that conferred increased resistance. By comparison of the two homologous sensor kinases, PmrB and EnvZ, the 22 missense mutations identified in pmrB were shown to be located in four different structural domains of the protein. All five pmrA mutations were located in the phosphate receiver domain of the regulator protein. The mutants appeared at a mutation rate of 0.6 × 10−6 per cell per generation. The MICs of colistin for the mutants increased 2- to 35-fold, and the extent of killing was reduced several orders of magnitude compared to the susceptible strain. The growth rates of the mutants were slightly reduced in both rich medium and M9-glycerol minimal medium, whereas growth in mice appeared unaffected by the pmrA and pmrB mutations. The low fitness costs and the high mutation rate suggest that mutants with reduced susceptibility to colistin could emerge in clinical settings.

Comprehensive genomics depict accessory genes encoding pathogenicity and biofilm determinants in Enterococcus faecalis

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-184
Author(s):  
Karthika Suryaletha ◽  
Sivakumar K Chandrika ◽  
Sabu Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Signaling System ◽  
Phosphotransferase System ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Polysaccharide Lyase ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Accessory Genes ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Phage Proteins

Aim: Enterococcus faecalis is a leading nosocomial pathogen in biofilm-associated polymicrobial infections. The study aims to understand pathogenicity and biofilm determinants of the pathogen by genome analysis. Methodology: Genome sequencing of a strong biofilm forming clinical isolate Enterococcus faecalis SK460 devoid of Fsr quorum-signaling system, was performed and comparative genomics was carried out among a set of pathogenic biofilm formers and nonpathogenic weak biofilm formers. Results: Analysis revealed a pool of virulence and adhesion related factors associated with pathogenicity. Absence of CRISPR-Cas system facilitated acquisition of pheromone responsive plasmid, pathogenicity island and phages. Comprehensive analysis identified a subset of accessory genes encoding polysaccharide lyase, sugar phosphotransferase system, phage proteins and transcriptional regulators exclusively in pathogenic biofilm formers. Conclusion: The study identified a set of genes specific to pathogenic biofilm formers and these can act as targets which in turn help to develop future treatment endeavors against enterococcal infections.

scholarly journals The Phosphoenolpyruvate:Sugar Phosphotransferase System Is Involved in Sensitivity to the Glucosylated Bacteriocin Sublancin

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 6844-6854 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. V. Garcia De Gonzalo ◽  
E. L. Denham ◽  
R. A. T. Mars ◽  
J. Stülke ◽  
W. A. van der Donk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Phosphotransferase System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Distinct Mechanism ◽  
Genomic Studies ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Bacterial Sensitivity

ABSTRACTThe mode of action of a group of glycosylated antimicrobial peptides known as glycocins remains to be elucidated. In the current study of one glycocin, sublancin, we identified the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) ofBacillusspecies as a key player in bacterial sensitivity. Sublancin kills several Gram-positive bacteria, such asBacillusspecies andStaphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA). Unlike other classes of bacteriocins for which the PTS is involved in their mechanism of action, we show that the addition of PTS-requiring sugars leads to increased resistance rather than increased sensitivity, suggesting that sublancin has a distinct mechanism of action. Collectively, our present mutagenesis and genomic studies demonstrate that the histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein (HPr) and domain A of enzyme II (PtsG) in particular are critical determinants for bacterial sensitivity to sublancin.

scholarly journals A Budding Yeast Model for Human Disease Mutations in the EXOSC2 Cap Subunit of the RNA Exosome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria C. Sterrett ◽  
Liz Enyenihi ◽  
Sara W. Leung ◽  
Laurie Hess ◽  
Sarah E. Strassler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Budding Yeast ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Subunit Gene ◽  
Rna Targets ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Rna Exosome ◽  
Transcriptomic Changes

AbstractRNA exosomopathies, a growing family of tissue-specific diseases, are linked to missense mutations in genes encoding the structural subunits of the conserved 10-subunit exoribonuclease complex, the RNA exosome. Such mutations in the cap subunit gene EXOSC2 cause the novel syndrome SHRF (Short stature, Hearing loss, Retinitis pigmentosa and distinctive Facies). In contrast, exosomopathy mutations in the cap subunit gene EXOSC3 cause pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 1b (PCH1b). Though having strikingly different disease pathologies, EXOSC2 and EXOSC3 exosomopathy mutations result in amino acid substitutions in similar, conserved domains of the cap subunits, suggesting that these exosomopathy mutations have distinct consequences for RNA exosome function. We generated the first in vivo model of the SHRF pathogenic amino acid substitutions using budding yeast by introducing the EXOSC2 mutations in the orthologous S. cerevisiae gene RRP4. The resulting rrp4 mutant cells have defects in cell growth and RNA exosome function. We detect significant transcriptomic changes in both coding and non-coding RNAs in the rrp4 variant, rrp4-G226D, which models EXOSC2 p.Gly198Asp. Comparing this rrp4-G226D mutant to the previously studied S. cerevisiae model of EXOSC3 PCH1b mutation, rrp40-W195R, reveals that these mutants have disparate effects on certain RNA targets, providing the first evidence for different mechanistic consequences of these exosomopathy mutations. Congruently, we detect specific negative genetic interactions between RNA exosome cofactor mutants and rrp4-G226D but not rrp40-W195R. These data provide insight into how SHRF mutations could alter the function of the RNA exosome and allow the first direct comparison of exosomopathy mutations that cause distinct pathologies.

Effects of SEL-12 presenilin on LIN-12 localization and function in Caenorhabditis elegans

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (18) ◽  
pp. 3599-3606 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Levitan ◽  
I. Greenwald
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Notch Activity ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Vulval Precursor Cells ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
And Function

Presenilins have been implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease and in facilitating LIN-12/Notch activity. Here, we use genetic methods to explore the relationship between C. elegans LIN-12 and SEL-12 presenilin. Reducing sel-12 activity can suppress the effects of elevated lin-12 activity when LIN-12 is activated by missense mutations but not when LIN-12 is activated by removal of the extracellular and transmembrane domains. These results suggest that SEL-12 does not function downstream of activated LIN-12. An active SEL-12::GFP hybrid protein accumulates in the perinuclear region of the vulval precursor cells (VPCs) of living hermaphrodites, consistent with a localization in endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi membranes; when sel-12 activity is reduced, less LIN-12 protein accumulates in the plasma membranes of the VPCs. Together with the genetic interactions between lin-12 and sel-12, these observations suggest a role for SEL-12 in LIN-12 processing or trafficking. However, SEL-12 does not appear to be a general factor that influences membrane protein activity, since reducing sel-12 activity does not suppress or enhance hypomorphic mutations in other genes encoding membrane proteins. We discuss potential parallels for the role of SEL-12/presenilin in facilitating LIN-12/Notch activity and in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing.

Bacteriocins of Gram-positive bacteria having activity spectra extending beyond closely-related species

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.D. Todorov ◽  
B.D.G. de Melo Franco ◽  
J.R. Tagg
Keyword(s):  
Critical Points ◽  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Activity Spectrum ◽  
Novel Applications ◽  
Selection Of

Bacteriocins are bacterially-produced antimicrobial peptides that have killing activity principally against other relatively closely-related bacteria. Some bacteriocins of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have for many years been extensively applied in food biopreservation. However, especially during the last decade, a number of reports have appeared about unanticipated extensions to the generally rather narrow anti-bacterial activity spectrum of some of the LAB bacteriocins and novel applications have been proposed for bacteriocins ranging from controlling the growth of an increasingly-heterogeneous variety of pathogens, including Gram-negative multidrug resistant bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and in particular, difficult to control Mycobacterium spp., to their potential application as anticancer agents. How best can we assess this now rapidly-accumulating stream of reports on potential future applications of bacteriocins? Where is the line between realistic, science-based proposals and highly-speculative fiction and what are the ‘critical points’ that might help us to draw this line? In this review, we have attempted to analyse a selection of the presently-available data concerning relatively ‘unorthodox’ (i.e. beyond food preservation) applications of bacteriocins, and, by utilising our set of ‘critical points’, we endeavour to identify essential or/and missing information that appear crucial for success of the proposed applications.

scholarly journals Multiple Rare Risk Coding Variants in Postsynaptic Density-Related Genes Associated With Schizophrenia Susceptibility

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsung-Ming Hu ◽  
Ying-Chieh Wang ◽  
Chia-Liang Wu ◽  
Shih-Hsin Hsu ◽  
Hsin-Yao Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Postsynaptic Density ◽  
Psychiatric History ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Synaptic Receptors ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
Coding Variants

ObjectiveSchizophrenia is a chronic debilitating neurobiological disorder of aberrant synaptic connectivity and synaptogenesis. Postsynaptic density (PSD)–related proteins in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor–postsynaptic signaling complexes are crucial to regulating the synaptic transmission and functions of various synaptic receptors. This study examined the role of PSD-related genes in susceptibility to schizophrenia.MethodsWe resequenced 18 genes encoding the disks large-associated protein (DLGAP), HOMER, neuroligin (NLGN), neurexin, and SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains (SHANK) protein families in 98 schizophrenic patients with family psychiatric history using semiconductor sequencing. We analyzed the protein function of the identified rare schizophrenia-associated mutants via immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry.ResultsWe identified 50 missense heterozygous mutations in 98 schizophrenic patients with family psychiatric history, and in silico analysis revealed some as damaging or pathological to the protein function. Ten missense mutations were absent from the dbSNP database, the gnomAD (non-neuro) dataset, and 1,517 healthy controls from Taiwan BioBank. Immunoblotting revealed eight missense mutants with altered protein expressions in cultured cells compared with the wild type.ConclusionOur findings suggest that PSD-related genes, especially the NLGN, SHANK, and DLGAP families, harbor rare functional mutations that might alter protein expression in some patients with schizophrenia, supporting contributing rare coding variants into the genetic architecture of schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Point Mutations in the β-Tubulin of Phytophthora sojae Confer Resistance to Ethaboxam

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (12) ◽  
pp. 2096-2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Peng ◽  
Zhiwen Wang ◽  
Yuan Fang ◽  
Weizhen Wang ◽  
Xingkai Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungicide Resistance ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Resistance Management ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Phytophthora Sojae ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Baseline Sensitivity ◽  
Resistant Mutants ◽  
Β Tubulin

Ethaboxam is a β-tubulin inhibitor registered for the control of oomycete pathogens. The current study was established to determine the ethaboxam sensitivity of the plant pathogen Phytophthora sojae and investigate the potential for the emergence of fungicide resistance. The effective concentration for 50% inhibition (EC50) of 112 Phytophthora sojae isolates exhibited a unimodal distribution with a mean EC50 for ethaboxam of 0.033 µg/ml. Establishing this baseline sensitivity provided critical data for monitoring changes in ethaboxam-sensitivity in field populations. The potential for fungicide resistance was investigated using adaptation on ethaboxam-amended V8 agar, which resulted in the isolation of 20 resistant mutants. An assessment of the biological characteristics of the mutants including mycelial growth, sporulation, germination rate and pathogenicity indicated that the resistance risk in Phytophthora sojae was low to medium with no cross-resistance between ethaboxam and cymoxanil, metalaxyl, flumorph, and oxathiapiprolin being detected. However, positive cross-resistance was found between ethaboxam and zoxamide for Q8L and I258V but negative cross-resistance for C165Y. Further investigation revealed that the ethaboxam-resistant mutants had point mutations at amino acids Q8L, C165Y, or I258V of their β-tubulin protein sequences. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transformation experiments confirmed that the Q8L, C165Y, or I258V mutations could confer ethaboxam resistance in Phytophthora sojae and that the C165Y mutation induces high levels of resistance. Taken together, the results of the study provide essential data for monitoring the emergence of resistance and resistance management strategies for ethaboxam, as well as for improving the design of novel β-tubulin inhibitors for future development.

scholarly journals Analysis of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Hemato-Oncological Patients

Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 785
Author(s):  
Kristýna Hricová ◽  
Taťána Štosová ◽  
Pavla Kučová ◽  
Kateřina Fišerová ◽  
Jan Bardoň ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Protein ◽  
Ionization Time ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci ◽  
Oncological Patients ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Unique Restriction ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Enterococci are important bacterial pathogens, and their significance is even greater in the case of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The study analyzed the presence of VRE in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of hemato-oncological patients. Active screening using selective agars yielded VRE for phenotypic and genotypic analyses. Isolated strains were identified with MALDI-TOF MS, (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry) their susceptibility to antibiotics was tested, and resistance genes (vanA, vanB, vanC-1, vanC2-C3) and genes encoding virulence factors (asa1, gelE, cylA, esp, hyl) were detected. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to assess the relationship of the isolated strains. Over a period of three years, 103 VanA-type VRE were identified in 1405 hemato-oncological patients. The most frequently detected virulence factor was extracellular surface protein (84%), followed by hyaluronidase (40%). Unique restriction profiles were observed in 33% of strains; clonality was detected in 67% of isolates. The study found that 7% of hemato-oncological patients carried VRE in their GIT. In all cases, the species identified was Enterococcus faecium. No clone persisted for the entire 3-year study period. However, genetically different clusters were observed for shorter periods of time, no longer than eight months, with identical VRE spreading among patients.

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