1
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Rahman MM, Zamakhaeva S, Rush JS, Chaton CT, Kenner CW, Hla YM, Tsui HCT, Uversky VN, Winkler ME, Korotkov KV, Korotkova N. Glycosylation of serine/threonine-rich intrinsically disordered regions of membrane-associated proteins in streptococci. Nat Commun 2025; 16:4011. [PMID: 40301326 PMCID: PMC12041528 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58692-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2025] [Indexed: 05/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Proteins harboring intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) lacking stable secondary or tertiary structures are abundant across the three domains of life. These regions have not been systematically studied in prokaryotes. Here, our genome-wide analysis identifies extracytoplasmic serine/threonine-rich IDRs in several biologically important membrane-associated proteins in streptococci. We demonstrate that these IDRs are glycosylated with glucose by glycosyltransferases GtrB and PgtC2 in Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and with N-acetylgalactosamine by a Pgf-dependent mechanism in Streptococcus mutans. The absence of glycosylation leads to a defect in biofilm formation under ethanol-stressed conditions in S. mutans. We link this phenotype to the C-terminal IDR of the post-translocation chaperone PrsA. Our data reveal that O-linked glycosylation protects the IDR-containing proteins from proteolytic degradation and is critical for the biological function of PrsA in biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad M Rahman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Svetlana Zamakhaeva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Rush
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Catherine T Chaton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Cameron W Kenner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Yin Mon Hla
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | | | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Malcolm E Winkler
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Konstantin V Korotkov
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Natalia Korotkova
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
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2
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Schultz BJ, Walker S. Acyltransferases that Modify Cell Surface Polymers Across the Membrane. Biochemistry 2025; 64:1728-1749. [PMID: 40171682 PMCID: PMC12021268 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2025]
Abstract
Cell surface oligosaccharides and related polymers are commonly decorated with acyl esters that alter their structural properties and influence their interactions with other molecules. In many cases, these esters are added to polymers that are already positioned on the extracytoplasmic side of a membrane, presenting cells with a chemical challenge because the high-energy acyl donors used for these modifications are made in the cytoplasm. How activated acyl groups are passed from the cytoplasm to extra-cytoplasmic polymers has been a longstanding question. Recent mechanistic work has shown that many bacterial acyl transfer pathways operate by shuttling acyl groups through two covalent intermediates to their final destination on an extracellular polymer. Key to these and other pathways are cross-membrane acyltransferases─enzymes that catalyze transfer of acyl groups from a donor on one side of the membrane to a recipient on the other side. Here we review what has been learned recently about how cross-membrane acyltransferases in polymer acylation pathways function, highlighting the chemical and biosynthetic logic used by two key protein families, membrane-bound O-acyltransferases (MBOATs) and acyltransferase-3 (AT3) proteins. We also point out outstanding questions and avenues for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey J. Schultz
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Suzanne Walker
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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3
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Roney IJ, Rudner DZ. Two new enzymes that liberate undecaprenyl-phosphate to replenish the carrier lipid pool during envelope stress. mBio 2025; 16:e0371024. [PMID: 39878533 PMCID: PMC11898649 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03710-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2025] [Indexed: 01/31/2025] Open
Abstract
The 55-carbon isoprenoid, undecaprenyl-phosphate (UndP), is a universal carrier lipid that ferries most glycans and glycopolymers across the cytoplasmic membrane in bacteria. In addition to peptidoglycan precursors, UndP transports O-antigen, capsule, wall teichoic acids, and sugar modifications. How this shared but limited lipid is distributed among competing pathways is just beginning to be elucidated. We recently reported that in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, the stress-response sigma factor SigM and its cognate anti-sigma factor complex respond to changes in the free UndP pool. When levels are low, SigM activates genes that increase flux through the essential cell wall synthesis pathway, promote the recycling of the lipid carrier, and liberate the carrier from other polymer pathways. Here, we report that two additional enzymes under SigM control help maintain the free pool of UndP. One, UshA (YqjL), resembles alpha-beta hydrolases and liberates UndP from undecaprenyl-monophosphate-linked sugars. The other, UpsH (YpbG), resembles metallophosphoesterases and releases UndP from undecaprenyl-diphosphate-linked wall teichoic acids polymers but not lipid-linked peptidoglycan precursors. UshA becomes critical for growth when UndP-linked sugars are sequestered, and the carrier lipid pool is depleted. Similarly, UpsH becomes essential for viability when UndPP-linked intermediates accumulate. Mutations in the predicted catalytic residues of both putative hydrolases abrogate their function arguing that they act directly to release UndP. These findings define two new enzymes that liberate the carrier lipid from UndP- and UndPP-linked intermediates and bolster the model that the SigM stress-response pathway maintains the UndP pool and prioritizes its use for peptidoglycan synthesis.IMPORTANCEMotivated by the success of naturally occurring glycopeptide antibiotics like vancomycin, one arm of recent antibiotic discovery efforts has focused on compounds that bind lipid-linked precursors used to build extracytoplasmic polymers. Trapping these precursors depletes the universal carrier lipid undecaprenyl-phosphate, which is required for the synthesis of virtually all surface polymers, including peptidoglycan. Understanding how cells respond to this stress to restore the carrier lipid pool is critical to identifying effective drugs. Here, we report the identification of two new enzymes that are produced in response to the depletion of the carrier lipid pool. These enzymes recover the carrier lipid but cleave distinct lipid-linked precursors to do so.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian J. Roney
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David Z. Rudner
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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4
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Mandinyenya T, Wambui J, Muchaamba F, Stevens MJA, Tasara T. Nisin resistance is increased through GtcA mutation induced loss of cell wall teichoic acid N-acetylglucosamine modifications in Listeria monocytogenes. Int J Food Microbiol 2025; 428:110954. [PMID: 39566380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 10/04/2024] [Accepted: 10/19/2024] [Indexed: 11/22/2024]
Abstract
Nisin resistance development is one of food safety challenges posed by Listeria monocytogenes, an important foodborne pathogen that causes human listeriosis. The GtcA flippase enzyme is functionally crucial in two separate pathways that glycosylate cell envelope wall teichoic acids (WTA) with N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and lipoteichoic acids (LTA) with galactose, respectively. This study investigated phenotypic roles and molecular mechanisms underlying GtcA involvement in L. monocytogenes nisin resistance. A GtcAA65V mutation was linked with increased nisin resistance in a food processing environment associated L. monocytogenes strain. Examination of nisin stress survival and growth phenotypes among L. monocytogenes gtcA mutants in different genetic backgrounds showed that GtcA function promoted sensitivity and loss of its function through genetic deletion (ΔgtcA) and a natural GtcAA65V mutation increased nisin resistance. Individual contributions of GtcA WTA NAG and LTA galactose glycosylation functions to nisin resistance modulation were examined through nisin sensitivity analysis of genetic deletion mutants and L. monocytogenes strains complemented using functionally altered GtcA mutants. This revealed WTA NAG glycosylation to be the main functional mechanism that determines GtcA dependent nisin phenotypic sensitization. An examination for mechanisms underlying GtcA involvement in nisin sensitivity revealed that the loss of GtcA function induces changes in the cell envelope carbohydrate composition profiles reducing cell surface hydrophobicity. Overall, our results showed that cell envelope WTA NAG glycosylation promotes nisin susceptibility through facilitation of hydrophobic interactions between nisin and the Listeria cell envelope. There may be practical implications from our observations since nisin resistance could be gained in food associated L. monocytogenes strains that develop phage resistance through acquisition of mutations in genes that cause loss of cell envelope WTA NAG modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toruvandepi Mandinyenya
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 272, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joseph Wambui
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 272, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francis Muchaamba
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 272, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marc J A Stevens
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 272, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Taurai Tasara
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 272, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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5
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Rush JS, Zamakhaeva S, Murner NR, Deng P, Morris AJ, Kenner CW, Black I, Heiss C, Azadi P, Korotkov KV, Widmalm G, Korotkova N. Structure and mechanism of biosynthesis of Streptococcus mutans cell wall polysaccharide. Nat Commun 2025; 16:954. [PMID: 39843487 PMCID: PMC11754754 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56205-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2025] [Indexed: 01/24/2025] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans, the causative agent of human dental caries, expresses a cell wall attached Serotype c-specific Carbohydrate (SCC) that is critical for cell viability. SCC consists of a polyrhamnose backbone of →3)α-Rha(1 → 2)α-Rha(1→ repeats with glucose (Glc) side-chains and glycerol phosphate (GroP) decorations. This study reveals that SCC has one predominant and two more minor Glc modifications. The predominant Glc modification, α-Glc, attached to position 2 of 3-rhamnose, is installed by SccN and SccM glycosyltransferases and is the site of the GroP addition. The minor Glc modifications are β-Glc linked to position 4 of 3-rhamnose installed by SccP and SccQ glycosyltransferases, and α-Glc attached to position 4 of 2-rhamnose installed by SccN working in tandem with an unknown enzyme. Both the major and the minor β-Glc modifications control bacterial morphology, but only the GroP and major Glc modifications are critical for biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Rush
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Svetlana Zamakhaeva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Nicholas R Murner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Pan Deng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Andrew J Morris
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Science and Central Arkansas Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Cameron W Kenner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Ian Black
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Christian Heiss
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Konstantin V Korotkov
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Göran Widmalm
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Natalia Korotkova
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
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6
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Peng H, Chen IA, Qimron U. Engineering Phages to Fight Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. Chem Rev 2025; 125:933-971. [PMID: 39680919 PMCID: PMC11758799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2024] [Revised: 12/04/2024] [Accepted: 12/09/2024] [Indexed: 12/18/2024]
Abstract
Facing the global "superbug" crisis due to the emergence and selection for antibiotic resistance, phages are among the most promising solutions. Fighting multidrug-resistant bacteria requires precise diagnosis of bacterial pathogens and specific cell-killing. Phages have several potential advantages over conventional antibacterial agents such as host specificity, self-amplification, easy production, low toxicity as well as biofilm degradation. However, the narrow host range, uncharacterized properties, as well as potential risks from exponential replication and evolution of natural phages, currently limit their applications. Engineering phages can not only enhance the host bacteria range and improve phage efficacy, but also confer new functions. This review first summarizes major phage engineering techniques including both chemical modification and genetic engineering. Subsequent sections discuss the applications of engineered phages for bacterial pathogen detection and ablation through interdisciplinary approaches of synthetic biology and nanotechnology. We discuss future directions and persistent challenges in the ongoing exploration of phage engineering for pathogen control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Peng
- Cellular
Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology
and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of
MOE, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Irene A. Chen
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry, University of California
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1592, United States
| | - Udi Qimron
- Department
of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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7
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Bhowmick S, Viveros RP, Latoscha A, Commichau FM, Wrede C, Al-Bassam MM, Tschowri N. Cell shape and division septa positioning in filamentous Streptomyces require a functional cell wall glycopolymer ligase CglA. mBio 2024; 15:e0149224. [PMID: 39248520 PMCID: PMC11481543 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01492-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell wall of monoderm bacteria consists of peptidoglycan and glycopolymers in roughly equal proportions and is crucial for cellular integrity, cell shape, and bacterial vitality. Despite the immense value of Streptomyces in biotechnology and medicine as antibiotic producers, we know very little about their cell wall biogenesis, composition, and functions. Here, we have identified the LCP-LytR_C domain protein CglA (Vnz_13690) as a key glycopolymer ligase, which specifically localizes in zones of cell wall biosynthesis in S. venezuelae. Reduced amount of glycopolymers in the cglA mutant results in enlarged vegetative hyphae and failures in FtsZ-rings formation and positioning. Consequently, division septa are misplaced leading to the formation of aberrant cell compartments, misshaped spores, and reduced cell vitality. In addition, we report our discovery that c-di-AMP signaling and decoration of the cell wall with glycopolymers are physiologically linked in Streptomyces since the deletion of cglA restores growth of the S. venezuelae disA mutant at high salt. Altogether, we have identified and characterized CglA as a novel component of cell wall biogenesis in Streptomyces, which is required for cell shape maintenance and cellular vitality in filamentous, multicellular bacteria.IMPORTANCEStreptomyces are our key producers of antibitiotics and other bioactive molecules and are, therefore, of high value for medicine and biotechnology. They proliferate by apical extension and branching of hyphae and undergo complex cell differentiation from filaments to spores during their life cycle. For both, growth and sporulation, coordinated cell wall biogenesis is crucial. However, our knowledge about cell wall biosynthesis, functions, and architecture in Streptomyces and in other Actinomycetota is still very limited. Here, we identify CglA as the key enzyme needed for the attachment of glycopolymers to the cell wall of S. venezuelae. We demonstrate that defects in the cell wall glycopolymer content result in loss of cell shape in these filamentous bacteria and show that division-competent FtsZ-rings cannot assemble properly and fail to be positioned correctly. As a consequence, cell septa placement is disturbed leading to the formation of misshaped spores with reduced viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Bhowmick
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ruth P. Viveros
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Latoscha
- Institute of Biology/Microbiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabian M. Commichau
- Institute of Biology, FG Molecular Microbiology 190 h, Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christoph Wrede
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Research Core Unit Electron Microscopy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Natalia Tschowri
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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8
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di Cologna NDM, Andresen S, Samaddar S, Archer-Hartmann S, Rogers AM, Kajfasz JK, Ganguly T, Garcia BA, Saengpet I, Peterson AM, Azadi P, Szymanski CM, Lemos JA, Abranches J. Post-translational modification by the Pgf glycosylation machinery modulates Streptococcus mutans OMZ175 physiology and virulence. Mol Microbiol 2024; 122:133-151. [PMID: 37972006 PMCID: PMC11096274 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans is commonly associated with dental caries and the ability to form biofilms is essential for its pathogenicity. We recently identified the Pgf glycosylation machinery of S. mutans, responsible for the post-translational modification of the surface-associated adhesins Cnm and WapA. Since the four-gene pgf operon (pgfS-pgfM1-pgfE-pgfM2) is part of the S. mutans core genome, we hypothesized that the scope of the Pgf system goes beyond Cnm and WapA glycosylation. In silico analyses and tunicamycin sensitivity assays suggested a functional overlap between the Pgf machinery and the rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide synthesis pathway. Phenotypic characterization of pgf mutants (ΔpgfS, ΔpgfE, ΔpgfM1, ΔpgfM2, and Δpgf) revealed that the Pgf system is important for biofilm formation, surface charge, membrane stability, and survival in human saliva. Moreover, deletion of the entire pgf operon (Δpgf strain) resulted in significantly impaired colonization in a rat oral colonization model. Using Cnm as a model, we showed that Cnm is heavily modified with N-acetyl hexosamines but it becomes heavily phosphorylated with the inactivation of the PgfS glycosyltransferase, suggesting a crosstalk between these two post-translational modification mechanisms. Our results revealed that the Pgf machinery contributes to multiple aspects of S. mutans pathobiology that may go beyond Cnm and WapA glycosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silke Andresen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Sandip Samaddar
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Ashley Marie Rogers
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jessica K. Kajfasz
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tridib Ganguly
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Bruna A. Garcia
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Irene Saengpet
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alexandra M. Peterson
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Christine M. Szymanski
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - José A. Lemos
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jacqueline Abranches
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
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9
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Barbuti MD, Lambert E, Myrbråten IS, Ducret A, Stamsås GA, Wilhelm L, Liu X, Salehian Z, Veening JW, Straume D, Grangeasse C, Perez C, Kjos M. The function of CozE proteins is linked to lipoteichoic acid biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus. mBio 2024; 15:e0115724. [PMID: 38757970 PMCID: PMC11237490 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01157-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Coordinated membrane and cell wall synthesis is vital for maintaining cell integrity and facilitating cell division in bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms that underpin such coordination are poorly understood. Here we uncover the pivotal roles of the staphylococcal proteins CozEa and CozEb, members of a conserved family of membrane proteins previously implicated in bacterial cell division, in the biosynthesis of lipoteichoic acids (LTA) and maintenance of membrane homeostasis in Staphylococcus aureus. We establish that there is a synthetic lethal relationship between CozE and UgtP, the enzyme synthesizing the LTA glycolipid anchor Glc2DAG. By contrast, in cells lacking LtaA, the flippase of Glc2DAG, the essentiality of CozE proteins was alleviated, suggesting that the function of CozE proteins is linked to the synthesis and flipping of the glycolipid anchor. CozE proteins were indeed found to modulate the flipping activity of LtaA in vitro. Furthermore, CozEb was shown to control LTA polymer length and stability. Together, these findings establish CozE proteins as novel players in membrane homeostasis and LTA biosynthesis in S. aureus.IMPORTANCELipoteichoic acids are major constituents of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. These anionic polymers are important virulence factors and modulators of antibiotic susceptibility in the important pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. They are also critical for maintaining cell integrity and facilitating proper cell division. In this work, we discover that a family of membrane proteins named CozE is involved in the biosynthesis of lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) in S. aureus. CozE proteins have previously been shown to affect bacterial cell division, but we here show that these proteins affect LTA length and stability, as well as the flipping of glycolipids between membrane leaflets. This new mechanism of LTA control may thus have implications for the virulence and antibiotic susceptibility of S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Disen Barbuti
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | | | - Ine Storaker Myrbråten
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Adrien Ducret
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS UM 5086, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Gro Anita Stamsås
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Linus Wilhelm
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS UM 5086, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Xue Liu
- Department of Pathogen, Biology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zhian Salehian
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Jan-Willem Veening
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Straume
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Christophe Grangeasse
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS UM 5086, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Camilo Perez
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Morten Kjos
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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10
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Rush JS, Zamakhaeva S, Murner NR, Deng P, Morris AJ, Kenner CW, Black I, Heiss C, Azadi P, Korotkov KV, Widmalm G, Korotkova N. Structure and mechanism of biosynthesis of Streptococcus mutans cell wall polysaccharide. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.09.593426. [PMID: 38766245 PMCID: PMC11100793 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.09.593426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans, the causative agent of human dental caries, expresses a cell wall attached Serotype c- specific Carbohydrate (SCC) that is critical for cell viability. SCC consists of a repeating →3)α-Rha(1→2)α-Rha(1→ polyrhamnose backbone, with glucose (Glc) side-chains and glycerol phosphate (GroP) decorations. This study reveals that SCC has one major and two minor Glc modifications. The major Glc modification, α-Glc, attached to position 2 of 3-rhamnose, is installed by SccN and SccM glycosyltransferases and is the site of the GroP addition. The minor Glc modifications are β-Glc linked to position 4 of 3-rhamnose installed by SccP and SccQ glycosyltransferases, and α-Glc attached to position 4 of 2-rhamnose installed by SccN working in tandem with an unknown enzyme. Both the major and the minor β-Glc modifications control bacterial morphology, but only the GroP and major Glc modifications are critical for biofilm formation.
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11
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Guérin H, Courtin P, Guillot A, Péchoux C, Mahony J, van Sinderen D, Kulakauskas S, Cambillau C, Touzé T, Chapot-Chartier MP. Molecular mechanisms underlying the structural diversity of rhamnose-rich cell wall polysaccharides in lactococci. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105578. [PMID: 38110036 PMCID: PMC10821137 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In Gram-positive bacteria, cell wall polysaccharides (CWPS) play critical roles in bacterial cell wall homeostasis and bacterial interactions with their immediate surroundings. In lactococci, CWPS consist of two components: a conserved rhamnan embedded in the peptidoglycan layer and a surface-exposed polysaccharide pellicle (PSP), which are linked together to form a large rhamnose-rich CWPS (Rha-CWPS). PSP, whose structure varies from strain to strain, is a receptor for many bacteriophages infecting lactococci. Here, we examined the first two steps of PSP biosynthesis, using in vitro enzymatic tests with lipid acceptor substrates combined with LC-MS analysis, AlfaFold2 modeling of protein 3D-structure, complementation experiments, and phage assays. We show that the PSP repeat unit is assembled on an undecaprenyl-monophosphate (C55P) lipid intermediate. Synthesis is initiated by the WpsA/WpsB complex with GlcNAc-P-C55 synthase activity and the PSP precursor GlcNAc-P-C55 is then elongated by specific glycosyltransferases that vary among lactococcal strains, resulting in PSPs with diverse structures. Also, we engineered the PSP biosynthesis pathway in lactococci to obtain a chimeric PSP structure, confirming the predicted glycosyltransferase specificities. This enabled us to highlight the importance of a single sugar residue of the PSP repeat unit in phage recognition. In conclusion, our results support a novel pathway for PSP biosynthesis on a lipid-monophosphate intermediate as an extracellular modification of rhamnan, unveiling an assembly machinery for complex Rha-CWPS with structural diversity in lactococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Guérin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Pascal Courtin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Alain Guillot
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Christine Péchoux
- Université Paris-Saclay INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Jennifer Mahony
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Douwe van Sinderen
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Saulius Kulakauskas
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Christian Cambillau
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM), Institut de Microbiologie, Bioénergies et Biotechnologie (IMM), Aix-Marseille Université - CNRS, UMR 7255, Marseille, France
| | - Thierry Touzé
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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12
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Liu Y, Yu W, Wang Q, Cao Z, Li J. Artificially engineered bacteria to treat gastrointestinal disease and cancer. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103667. [PMID: 37302541 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutics based on living organisms provide a roadmap for next-generation biomedicine. Bacteria have an essential role in the development, regulation, and treatment of gastrointestinal disease and cancer through similar mechanisms. However, primitive bacteria lack the stability to overcome complex drug delivery barriers, and their multifunctionality in reinforcing both conventional and emerging therapeutics is limited. Artificially engineered bacteria (ArtBac) with modified surfaces and genetic functions show promise for tackling these problems. Herein, we discuss recent applications of ArtBac as living biomedicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and tumors. Future perspectives are given to guide the rational design of ArtBac toward safe multifunctional medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Liu
- School of Science, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Wenqin Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.
| | - Zhenping Cao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
| | - Juanjuan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
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13
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Du J, Huang S, Wu M, Chen S, Zhou W, Zhan L, Huang X. Dlt operon regulates physiological function and cariogenic virulence in Streptococcus mutans. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:225-233. [PMID: 37097048 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans is one of the major cariogenic pathogens in the oral cavity. The dlt operon is responsible for the process of D-alanylation of lipoteichoic acid and is related to the virulence of S. mutans. The dlt operon contributes to the adhesion, biofilm formation, stress response, interspecies competitiveness and autolysis of S. mutans. In addition, we have summarized the possible regulatory networks of the dlt operon. This review highlights the significant role of the dlt operon in S. mutans and provides new ideas for ecological caries prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyun Du
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College & University, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shan Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College & University, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Minjing Wu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College & University, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College & University, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wen Zhou
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College & University, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhan
- Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Orofacial Sciences, Department of Preventive & Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xiaojing Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College & University, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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14
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Gu Y, Zhang B, Tian J, Li L, He Y. Physiology, quorum sensing, and proteomics of lactic acid bacteria were affected by Saccharomyces cerevisiae YE4. Food Res Int 2023; 166:112612. [PMID: 36914328 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
The interaction mode between lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast in a fermentation system directly determines the quality of the products, thus understanding their mode of interaction can improve product quality. The present study investigated the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae YE4 on LAB from the perspectives of physiology, quorum sensing (QS), and proteomics. The presence of S. cerevisiae YE4 slowed down the growth of Enterococcus faecium 8-3 but had no significant effect on acid production or biofilm formation. S. cerevisiae YE4 significantly reduced the activity of autoinducer-2 at 19 h in E. faecium 8-3 and at 7-13 h in Lactobacillus fermentum 2-1. Expression of the QS-related genes luxS and pfs was also inhibited at 7 h. Moreover, a total of 107 E. faecium 8-3 proteins differed significantly in coculture with S. cerevisiae YE4-these proteins are involved in metabolic pathways including biosynthesis of secondary metabolites; biosynthesis of amino acids; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; fatty acid metabolism; and fatty acid biosynthesis. Among them, proteins involved in cell adhesion, cell wall formation, two-component systems, and ABC transporters were detected. Therefore, S. cerevisiae YE4 might affect the physiological metabolism of E. faecium 8-3 by affecting cell adhesion, cell wall formation, and cell-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Gu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 306 Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China
| | - Baojun Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 306 Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China
| | - Jianjun Tian
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 306 Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China
| | - Lijie Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 306 Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China.
| | - Yinfeng He
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 306 Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China.
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15
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Brogan AP, Rudner DZ. Regulation of peptidoglycan hydrolases: localization, abundance, and activity. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 72:102279. [PMID: 36812681 PMCID: PMC10031507 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Most bacteria are surrounded by a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan (PG) that specifies shape and protects the cell from osmotic rupture. Growth, division, and morphogenesis are intimately linked to the synthesis of this exoskeleton but also its hydrolysis. The enzymes that cleave the PG meshwork require careful control to prevent aberrant hydrolysis and loss of envelope integrity. Bacteria employ diverse mechanisms to control the activity, localization, and abundance of these potentially autolytic enzymes. Here, we discuss four examples of how cells integrate these control mechanisms to finely tune cell wall hydrolysis. We highlight recent advances and exciting avenues for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Brogan
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Z Rudner
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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16
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Ledger EVK, Edwards AM. Growth Arrest of Staphylococcus aureus Induces Daptomycin Tolerance via Cell Wall Remodelling. mBio 2023; 14:e0355822. [PMID: 36722949 PMCID: PMC9973334 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03558-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Almost all bactericidal drugs require bacterial replication and/or metabolic activity for their killing activity. When these processes are inhibited by bacteriostatic antibiotics, bacterial killing is significantly reduced. One notable exception is the lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin, which has been reported to efficiently kill growth-arrested bacteria. However, these studies employed only short periods of growth arrest (<1 h), which may not fully represent the duration of growth arrest that can occur in vivo. We found that a growth inhibitory concentration of the protein synthesis inhibitor tetracycline led to a time-dependent induction of daptomycin tolerance in S. aureus, with an approximately 100,000-fold increase in survival after 16 h of growth arrest, relative to exponential-phase bacteria. Daptomycin tolerance required glucose and was associated with increased production of the cell wall polymers peptidoglycan and wall-teichoic acids. However, while the accumulation of peptidoglycan was required for daptomycin tolerance, only a low abundance of wall teichoic acid was necessary. Therefore, whereas tolerance to most antibiotics occurs passively due to a lack of metabolic activity and/or replication, daptomycin tolerance arises via active cell wall remodelling. IMPORTANCE Understanding why antibiotics sometimes fail to cure infections is fundamental to improving treatment outcomes. This is a major challenge when it comes to Staphylococcus aureus because this pathogen causes several different chronic or recurrent infections. Previous work has shown that a lack of replication, as often occurs during infection, makes bacteria tolerant of most bactericidal antibiotics. However, one antibiotic that has been reported to kill nonreplicating bacteria is daptomycin. In this work, we show that the growth arrest of S. aureus does in fact lead to daptomycin tolerance, but it requires time, nutrients, and biosynthetic pathways, making it distinct from other types of antibiotic tolerance that occur in nonreplicating bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth V. K. Ledger
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M. Edwards
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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17
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Barbuti MD, Myrbråten IS, Morales Angeles D, Kjos M. The cell cycle of Staphylococcus aureus: An updated review. Microbiologyopen 2023; 12:e1338. [PMID: 36825883 PMCID: PMC9733580 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As bacteria proliferate, DNA replication, chromosome segregation, cell wall synthesis, and cytokinesis occur concomitantly and need to be tightly regulated and coordinated. Although these cell cycle processes have been studied for decades, several mechanisms remain elusive, specifically in coccus-shaped cells such as Staphylococcus aureus. In recent years, major progress has been made in our understanding of how staphylococci divide, including new, fundamental insights into the mechanisms of cell wall synthesis and division site selection. Furthermore, several novel proteins and mechanisms involved in the regulation of replication initiation or progression of the cell cycle have been identified and partially characterized. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding of the cell cycle processes in the spheroid model bacterium S. aureus, with a focus on recent advances in the understanding of how these processes are regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D. Barbuti
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food ScienceNorwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)ÅsNorway
| | - Ine S. Myrbråten
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food ScienceNorwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)ÅsNorway
| | - Danae Morales Angeles
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food ScienceNorwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)ÅsNorway
| | - Morten Kjos
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food ScienceNorwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)ÅsNorway
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18
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Leprince A, Mahillon J. Phage Adsorption to Gram-Positive Bacteria. Viruses 2023; 15:196. [PMID: 36680236 PMCID: PMC9863714 DOI: 10.3390/v15010196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The phage life cycle is a multi-stage process initiated by the recognition and attachment of the virus to its bacterial host. This adsorption step depends on the specific interaction between bacterial structures acting as receptors and viral proteins called Receptor Binding Proteins (RBP). The adsorption process is essential as it is the first determinant of phage host range and a sine qua non condition for the subsequent conduct of the life cycle. In phages belonging to the Caudoviricetes class, the capsid is attached to a tail, which is the central player in the adsorption as it comprises the RBP and accessory proteins facilitating phage binding and cell wall penetration prior to genome injection. The nature of the viral proteins involved in host adhesion not only depends on the phage morphology (i.e., myovirus, siphovirus, or podovirus) but also the targeted host. Here, we give an overview of the adsorption process and compile the available information on the type of receptors that can be recognized and the viral proteins taking part in the process, with the primary focus on phages infecting Gram-positive bacteria.
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19
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Schulz LM, Rothe P, Halbedel S, Gründling A, Rismondo J. Imbalance of peptidoglycan biosynthesis alters the cell surface charge of Listeria monocytogenes. Cell Surf 2022; 8:100085. [PMID: 36304571 PMCID: PMC9593813 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2022.100085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell wall is composed of a thick layer of peptidoglycan and cell wall polymers, which are either embedded in the membrane or linked to the peptidoglycan backbone and referred to as lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and wall teichoic acid (WTA), respectively. Modifications of the peptidoglycan or WTA backbone can alter the susceptibility of the bacterial cell towards cationic antimicrobials and lysozyme. The human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is intrinsically resistant towards lysozyme, mainly due to deacetylation and O-acetylation of the peptidoglycan backbone via PgdA and OatA. Recent studies identified additional factors, which contribute to the lysozyme resistance of this pathogen. One of these is the predicted ABC transporter, EslABC. An eslB mutant is hyper-sensitive towards lysozyme, likely due to the production of thinner and less O-acetylated peptidoglycan. Using a suppressor screen, we show here that suppression of eslB phenotypes could be achieved by enhancing peptidoglycan biosynthesis, reducing peptidoglycan hydrolysis or alterations in WTA biosynthesis and modification. The lack of EslB also leads to a higher negative surface charge, which likely stimulates the activity of peptidoglycan hydrolases and lysozyme. Based on our results, we hypothesize that the portion of cell surface exposed WTA is increased in the eslB mutant due to the thinner peptidoglycan layer and that latter one could be caused by an impairment in UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) production or distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Maria Schulz
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patricia Rothe
- FG11, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Burgstraße 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Sven Halbedel
- FG11, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Burgstraße 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Gründling
- Section of Molecular Microbiology and Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jeanine Rismondo
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Section of Molecular Microbiology and Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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20
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Ruiz‐Cruz S, Erazo Garzon A, Kelleher P, Bottacini F, Breum SØ, Neve H, Heller KJ, Vogensen FK, Palussière S, Courtin P, Chapot‐Chartier M, Vinogradov E, Sadovskaya I, Mahony J, van Sinderen D. Host genetic requirements for DNA release of lactococcal phage TP901-1. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:2875-2889. [PMID: 36259418 PMCID: PMC9733650 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The first step in phage infection is the recognition of, and adsorption to, a receptor located on the host cell surface. This reversible host adsorption step is commonly followed by an irreversible event, which involves phage DNA delivery or release into the bacterial cytoplasm. The molecular components that trigger this latter event are unknown for most phages of Gram-positive bacteria. In the current study, we present a comparative genome analysis of three mutants of Lactococcus cremoris 3107, which are resistant to the P335 group phage TP901-1 due to mutations that affect TP901-1 DNA release. Through genetic complementation and phage infection assays, a predicted lactococcal three-component glycosylation system (TGS) was shown to be required for TP901-1 infection. Major cell wall saccharidic components were analysed, but no differences were found. However, heterologous gene expression experiments indicate that this TGS is involved in the glucosylation of a cell envelope-associated component that triggers TP901-1 DNA release. To date, a saccharide modification has not been implicated in the DNA delivery process of a Gram-positive infecting phage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Ruiz‐Cruz
- School of Microbiology & APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Andrea Erazo Garzon
- School of Microbiology & APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Philip Kelleher
- School of Microbiology & APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Francesca Bottacini
- School of Microbiology & APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland,Department of Biological SciencesMunster Technological UniversityCorkIreland
| | - Solvej Østergaard Breum
- Section of Microbiology and Fermentation, Department of Food Science, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksbergDenmark,Present address:
Department of Virus & Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Division of Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum InstitutCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Horst Neve
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner‐InstitutFederal Research Institute of Nutrition and FoodKielGermany
| | - Knut J. Heller
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner‐InstitutFederal Research Institute of Nutrition and FoodKielGermany
| | - Finn K. Vogensen
- Section of Microbiology and Fermentation, Department of Food Science, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksbergDenmark
| | - Simon Palussière
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis InstituteJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
| | - Pascal Courtin
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis InstituteJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
| | | | - Evgeny Vinogradov
- National Research Council CanadaInstitute for Biological SciencesOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Irina Sadovskaya
- Equipe BPA, Université du Littoral‐Côte d'Opale, Institut Charles Violette EA 7394 USC AnsesBoulogne‐sur‐merFrance
| | - Jennifer Mahony
- School of Microbiology & APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Douwe van Sinderen
- School of Microbiology & APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
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21
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Guérin H, Kulakauskas S, Chapot-Chartier MP. Structural variations and roles of rhamnose-rich cell wall polysaccharides in Gram-positive bacteria. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102488. [PMID: 36113580 PMCID: PMC9574508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhamnose-rich cell wall polysaccharides (Rha-CWPSs) have emerged as crucial cell wall components of numerous Gram-positive, ovoid-shaped bacteria—including streptococci, enterococci, and lactococci—of which many are of clinical or biotechnological importance. Rha-CWPS are composed of a conserved polyrhamnose backbone with side-chain substituents of variable size and structure. Because these substituents contain phosphate groups, Rha-CWPS can also be classified as polyanionic glycopolymers, similar to wall teichoic acids, of which they appear to be functional homologs. Recent advances have highlighted the critical role of these side-chain substituents in bacterial cell growth and division, as well as in specific interactions between bacteria and infecting bacteriophages or eukaryotic hosts. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the structure and biosynthesis of Rha-CWPS in several ovoid-shaped bacterial species. We emphasize the role played by multicomponent transmembrane glycosylation systems in the addition of side-chain substituents of various sizes as extracytoplasmic modifications of the polyrhamnose backbone. We provide an overview of the contribution of Rha-CWPS to cell wall architecture and biogenesis and discuss current hypotheses regarding their importance in the cell division process. Finally, we sum up the critical roles that Rha-CWPS can play as bacteriophage receptors or in escaping host defenses, roles that are mediated mainly through their side-chain substituents. From an applied perspective, increased knowledge of Rha-CWPS can lead to advancements in strategies for preventing phage infection of lactococci and streptococci in food fermentation and for combating pathogenic streptococci and enterococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Guérin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Saulius Kulakauskas
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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22
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Nikolopoulos N, Matos RC, Courtin P, Ayala I, Akherraz H, Simorre JP, Chapot-Chartier MP, Leulier F, Ravaud S, Grangeasse C. DltC acts as an interaction hub for AcpS, DltA and DltB in the teichoic acid D-alanylation pathway of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13133. [PMID: 35907949 PMCID: PMC9338922 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17434-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Teichoic acids (TA) are crucial for the homeostasis of the bacterial cell wall as well as their developmental behavior and interplay with the environment. TA can be decorated by different modifications, modulating thus their biochemical properties. One major modification consists in the esterification of TA by d-alanine, a process known as d-alanylation. TA d-alanylation is performed by the Dlt pathway, which starts in the cytoplasm and continues extracellularly after d-Ala transportation through the membrane. In this study, we combined structural biology and in vivo approaches to dissect the cytoplasmic steps of this pathway in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a bacterial species conferring health benefits to its animal host. After establishing that AcpS, DltB, DltC1 and DltA are required for the promotion of Drosophila juvenile growth under chronic undernutrition, we solved their crystal structure and/or used NMR and molecular modeling to study their interactions. Our work demonstrates that the suite of interactions between these proteins is ordered with a conserved surface of DltC1 docking sequentially AcpS, DltA and eventually DltB. Altogether, we conclude that DltC1 acts as an interaction hub for all the successive cytoplasmic steps of the TA d-alanylation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Nikolopoulos
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS UMR 5086, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Renata C Matos
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5242, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Pascal Courtin
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Isabel Ayala
- Institut de Biologie Structurale, CEA, CNRS UMR 5075, Université Grenoble Alpes, 3800, Grenoble, France
| | - Houssam Akherraz
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5242, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Simorre
- Institut de Biologie Structurale, CEA, CNRS UMR 5075, Université Grenoble Alpes, 3800, Grenoble, France
| | | | - François Leulier
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5242, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphanie Ravaud
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS UMR 5086, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
| | - Christophe Grangeasse
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS UMR 5086, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
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23
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Blaga AC, Tanasă AM, Cimpoesu R, Tataru-Farmus RE, Suteu D. Biosorbents Based on Biopolymers from Natural Sources and Food Waste to Retain the Methylene Blue Dye from the Aqueous Medium. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14132728. [PMID: 35808773 PMCID: PMC9269617 DOI: 10.3390/polym14132728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of a biosorbent based on residual biomass from brewing industry (Saccharomyces pastorianus) immobilized in a natural biopolymer (sodium alginate) was investigated for Methylene Blue removal from aqueous medium. Saccharomyces pastorianus, immobilized by a simple entrapment technique and by microencapsulation in alginate was characterized using SEM, EDAX, pHPZC and the biosorption behavior toward organic pollutant, such as cationic dye. The biosorption experiments were studied by assessing, in a first stage, the influence of the most important operational physical parameters on the efficiency of the biosorbent: the initial concentration of the dye, the contact time between phases, the temperature, the dye solution pH, the biosorbent granule size, and the amount of biosorbent. The highest sorption capacity was obtained for the biosorbent obtained by microencapsulation, at pH 9, at biosorbent dose of 5.28 g/L and a contact time of about 100 min. The biosorption equilibrium was then studied by modeling the data on the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin- Radushkevich isotherms. The Langmuir model is best suited for experimental data on both particle sizes leading to a maximum biosorption capacity of 188.679 mg/g at room temperature. The values of the adsorption energy, E, obtained with the help of the Dubinin-Radushkevich model-suggest that the type of mechanism (physical or chemical) involved in the biosorption process depends on the particle size of the biosorbent. The results confirm that the residual microbial biomass of Saccharomyces pastorianus immobilized in a polymeric matrix such as sodium alginate, can be considered an efficient biosorbent in retaining cationic organic dyes present in aqueous solutions in moderate concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Cristina Blaga
- Department of Organic, Biochemical and Food Engineering, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environment Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Prof. Dr. docent D. Mangeron Blvd., No. 73, 700050 Iasi, Romania; (A.C.B.); (A.M.T.)
| | - Alexandra Maria Tanasă
- Department of Organic, Biochemical and Food Engineering, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environment Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Prof. Dr. docent D. Mangeron Blvd., No. 73, 700050 Iasi, Romania; (A.C.B.); (A.M.T.)
| | - Ramona Cimpoesu
- Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Prof. Dr. docent D. Mangeron Blvd., No. 41, 700259 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Ramona-Elena Tataru-Farmus
- Department of Chemical Engineering, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Prof. Dr. docent D. Mangeron Blvd., No. 73, 700050 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Daniela Suteu
- Department of Organic, Biochemical and Food Engineering, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environment Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Prof. Dr. docent D. Mangeron Blvd., No. 73, 700050 Iasi, Romania; (A.C.B.); (A.M.T.)
- Correspondence:
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