scholarly journals Identification and in vitro Characterization of a Novel Phage Endolysin that Targets Gram-Negative Bacteria

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaewoo Bai ◽  
Sangmi Lee ◽  
Sangryeol Ryu
Keyword(s):  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Cell Lysis ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
Virion Protein ◽  
Sec Pathway ◽  
In Vitro Characterization ◽  
Lysis Activity

Most double-stranded (ds) DNA phages utilize holin proteins to secrete endolysin for host peptidoglycan lysis. In contrast, several holin-independent endolysins with secretion sequences or signal-arrest-release (SAR) sequences are secreted via the Sec pathway. In this study, we characterized a novel lysis protein (M4Lys) encoded by the dsDNA phage BSPM4, whose lysis function is not dependent on either holin or the Sec pathway in vitro. In silico analysis of M4Lys revealed that it contains a putative virion protein domain and an unusual C-terminal transmembrane domain (TMD). Turbidity reduction assays and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using purified peptidoglycan showed that the virion protein domain of M4Lys has peptidoglycan lysis activity. In vitro overproduction of M4Lys in Escherichia coli revealed that M4Lys alone caused rapid cell lysis. Treatment of E. coli with a Sec inhibitor did not inhibit the lysis activity of M4Lys, indicating that the Sec pathway is not involved in M4Lys-mediated cell lysis. Truncation of the TMD eliminated the cell lysis phenomenon, while production of the TMD alone did not induce the cell lysis. All these findings demonstrate that M4Lys is a novel endolysin that has a unique mosaic structure distinct from other canonical endolysins and the TMD plays a critical role in M4Lys-mediated in vitro cell lysis.

scholarly journals Two Distinct Modes of Lysis Regulation in Campylobacter Fletchervirus and Firehammervirus Phages

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1247
Author(s):  
Athina Zampara ◽  
Stephen J. Ahern ◽  
Yves Briers ◽  
Lone Brøndsted ◽  
Martine Camilla Holst Sørensen
Keyword(s):  
Signal Peptide ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Protein Domains ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Cell Lysis ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Sec Pathway ◽  
Gene Functions ◽  
Lytic Genes ◽  
Silico Analysis

Campylobacter phages are divided into two genera; Fletchervirus and Firehammervirus, showing only limited intergenus homology. Here, we aim to identify the lytic genes of both genera using two representative phages (F352 and F379) from our collection. We performed a detailed in silico analysis searching for conserved protein domains and found that the predicted lytic genes are not organized into lysis cassettes but are conserved within each genus. To verify the function of selected lytic genes, the proteins were expressed in E. coli, followed by lytic assays. Our results show that Fletchervirus phages encode a typical signal peptide (SP) endolysin dependent on the Sec-pathway for translocation and a holin for activation. In contrast, Firehammervirus phages encode a novel endolysin that does not belong to currently described endolysin groups. This endolysin also uses the Sec-pathway for translocation but induces lysis of E. coli after overexpression. Interestingly, co-expression of this endolysin with an overlapping gene delayed and limited cell lysis, suggesting that this gene functions as a lysis inhibitor. These results indicate that Firehammervirus phages regulate lysis timing by a yet undescribed mechanism. In conclusion, we found that the two Campylobacter phage genera control lysis by two distinct mechanisms.

scholarly journals Novel insights into RAD51 activity and regulation during homologous recombination and DNA replication

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 407-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen K. Godin ◽  
Meghan R. Sullivan ◽  
Kara A. Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
Homologous Recombination ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Filament Formation ◽  
In Vitro Characterization ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Strand Invasion ◽  
High Resolution Microscopy

In this review we focus on new insights that challenge our understanding of homologous recombination (HR) and Rad51 regulation. Recent advances using high-resolution microscopy and single molecule techniques have broadened our knowledge of Rad51 filament formation and strand invasion at double-strand break (DSB) sites and at replication forks, which are one of most physiologically relevant forms of HR from yeast to humans. Rad51 filament formation and strand invasion is regulated by many mediator proteins such as the Rad51 paralogues and the Shu complex, consisting of a Shu2/SWS1 family member and additional Rad51 paralogues. Importantly, a novel RAD51 paralogue was discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans, and its in vitro characterization has demonstrated a new function for the worm RAD51 paralogues during HR. Conservation of the human RAD51 paralogues function during HR and repair of replicative damage demonstrate how the RAD51 mediators play a critical role in human health and genomic integrity. Together, these new findings provide a framework for understanding RAD51 and its mediators in DNA repair during multiple cellular contexts.

scholarly journals Roles of the Outer Membrane Protein AsmA of Salmonella enterica in the Control of marRAB Expression and Invasion of Epithelial Cells

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (11) ◽  
pp. 3615-3622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana I. Prieto ◽  
Sara B. Hernández ◽  
Ignacio Cota ◽  
M. Graciela Pucciarelli ◽  
Yuri Orlov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Sodium Deoxycholate ◽  
Oral Route ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Bile Resistance

ABSTRACT A genetic screen for suppressors of bile sensitivity in DNA adenine methylase (dam) mutants of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium yielded insertions in an uncharacterized locus homologous to the Escherichia coli asmA gene. Disruption of asmA suppressed bile sensitivity also in phoP and wec mutants of S. enterica and increased the MIC of sodium deoxycholate for the parental strain ATCC 14028. Increased levels of marA mRNA were found in asmA, asmA dam, asmA phoP, and asmA wec strains of S. enterica, suggesting that lack of AsmA activates expression of the marRAB operon. Hence, asmA mutations may enhance bile resistance by inducing gene expression changes in the marRAB-controlled Mar regulon. In silico analysis of AsmA structure predicted the existence of one transmembrane domain. Biochemical analysis of subcellular fractions revealed that the asmA gene of S. enterica encodes a protein of ∼70 kDa located in the outer membrane. Because AsmA is unrelated to known transport and/or efflux systems, we propose that activation of marRAB in asmA mutants may be a consequence of envelope reorganization. Competitive infection of BALB/c mice with asmA + and asmA isogenic strains indicated that lack of AsmA attenuates Salmonella virulence by the oral route but not by the intraperitoneal route. Furthermore, asmA mutants showed a reduced ability to invade epithelial cells in vitro.

scholarly journals Microneme Rhomboid Protease TgROM1 Is Required for Efficient Intracellular Growth of Toxoplasma gondii

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 664-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Brossier ◽  
G. Lucas Starnes ◽  
Wandy L. Beatty ◽  
L. David Sibley
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Secretory Pathway ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Intracellular Growth ◽  
Adhesive Proteins

ABSTRACT Rhomboids are serine proteases that cleave their substrates within the transmembrane domain. Toxoplasma gondii contains six rhomboids that are expressed in different life cycle stages and localized to different cellular compartments. Toxoplasma rhomboid protein 1 (TgROM1) has previously been shown to be active in vitro, and the orthologue in Plasmodium falciparum processes the essential microneme protein AMA1 in a heterologous system. We investigated the role of TgROM1 to determine its role during in vitro growth of T. gondii. TgROM1 was localized in the secretory pathway of the parasite, including the Golgi apparatus and micronemes, which contain adhesive proteins involved in invasion of host cells. However, unlike other micronemal proteins, TgROM1 was not released onto the parasite surface during cell invasion, suggesting it does not play a critical role in cell invasion. Suppression of TgROM1 using the tetracycline-regulatable system revealed that ROM1-deficient parasites were outcompeted by wild-type T. gondii. ROM1-deficient parasites showed only modest decrease in invasion but replicated more slowly than wild-type cells. Collectively, these results indicate that ROM1 is required for efficient intracellular growth by T. gondii.

scholarly journals Substitutions at Loop Regions of TMUV E Protein Domain III Differentially Impair Viral Entry and Assembly

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Hu ◽  
Zhen Wu ◽  
Shaoxiong Wu ◽  
Mingshu Wang ◽  
Renyong Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Virus Entry ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Virus Binding ◽  
Loop Regions ◽  
Domain Iii

Flavivirus envelope protein (E) plays an important role in cellular infection, especially in virulence and antigenicity. E domain III of Tembusu virus (TMUV) is highly conserved among flaviviruses and contains four loop regions. However, the functions of the loop regions of TMUV E domain III in the viral life cycle have not yet been discovered. In this study, using a reverse genetics system, we performed site-directed mutagenesis on loops I, II, III, and IV of TMUV E domain III. Mutant 6 (S388A.G389A.K390A) showed better proliferation than the wild-type virus, while mutants 1–5 exhibited decreased in vitro infectivity, as determined by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Based on a TMUV replicon system, the mutations exhibited no apparent effect on TMUV RNA replication. Subcellular fractionation assays and packaging system assays indicated that mutations in loops II–IV (T332A, T332S, S365A.S366A.T367A, and S388A.G389A.K390A, respectively) disrupted virion assembly. Moreover, loops I–IV played an important role in virus binding and entry, while mutant 6 (S388A.G389A.K390A) exhibited robust activity in virus entry. Taken together, our findings indicated the critical role of the loop regions in TMUV E domain III in the virus entry and assembly process.

Fibrin Polymerization Defect in HIV-infected Patients-Evidence for a Critical Role of Albumin in the Prolongation of Thrombin and Reptilase Clotting Times

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (03) ◽  
pp. 349-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Toulon ◽  
Elyane Frere ◽  
Claude Bachmeyer ◽  
Nathalie Candia ◽  
Philippe Blanche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Human Albumin ◽  
Albumin Level ◽  
Final Concentration ◽  
Albumin Concentration ◽  
Clotting Time ◽  
Fibrin Polymerization ◽  
Small Series ◽  
Group 1

SummaryThrombin clotting time (TCT) and reptilase clotting time (RCT) were found significantly prolonged in a series of 72 HIV-infected patients drawn for routine coagulation testing. Both TCT and RCT were highly significantly correlated with albumin (r = -0.64, and r = -0.73 respectively, p<0.0001). TCT and RCT were significantly higher (p<0.0001) in a series of 30 other HIV-infected patients selected on their albumin level below 30.0 g/l (group l) than in 30 HIV-infected patients with albumin level above 40.0 g/l or in 30 HIV-negative controls; the two latter groups were not different. In vitro supplementation of plasma from group 1 patients with purified human albumin up to 45.0 g/l (final concentration) lead to a dramatic shortening effect on both TCT and RCT, which reached normal values. The TCT and RCT of the purified fibrinogen solutions (2.0 g/l final concentration) were not different in the three groups, and normal polymerization curves were obtained in all cases. This further ruled out the presence of any dysfibrinogenemia in the plasma from group 1 patients. Using purified proteins, highly significant correlations were demonstrated between the albumin concentration and the prolongations of both TCT and RCT, which were of the same magnitude order than those found in the patients plasma. These results suggest that hypo-albuminemia is responsible for the acquired fibrin polymerization defect reported in HIV-infected patients. The pathophysiological implication of the low albumin levels was suggested by the finding of decreased albumin levels (associated with prolonged TCT and RCT) in a small series of the eight HIV-infected patients who developed thrombotic complications.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document