Quality control of disulfide bond formation in pilus subunits by the chaperone FimC

Coupling of gene regulation and carrier modification manipulates bacterial biofilms as robust living catalysts

The biofilm of an engineered strain is limited by slow growth and low yield, resulting in an unsatisfactory ability to resist external stress and promote catalytic efficiency. Here, biofilms used as robust living catalysts were manipulated through dual functionalized gene regulation and carrier modification strategies. The results showed that gene overexpression regulates the autoinducer-2 activity, extracellular polymeric substance content and colony behavior of Escherichia coli, and the biofilm yield of csgD overexpressed strains increased by 79.35 % compared to that of the wild type strains (p < 0.05). In addition, the hydrophilicity of polyurethane fibres modified with potassium dichromate increased significantly, and biofilm adhesion increased by 105.80 %. Finally, the isoquercitrin yield in the catalytic reaction of the biofilm reinforced by the csgD overexpression strain and the modified carrier was 247.85 % higher than that of the untreated group. Overall, this study has developed engineered strains biofilm with special functions, providing possibilities for catalytic applications.

The assembly platform FimD is required to obtain the most stable quaternary structure of type 1 pili

Type 1 pili are important virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli that mediate bacterial attachment to epithelial cells in the urinary tract. The pilus rod is comprised of thousands of copies of the main structural subunit FimA and is assembled in vivo by the assembly platform FimD. Although type 1 pilus rods can self-assemble from FimA in vitro, this reaction is slower and produces structures with lower kinetic stability against denaturants compared to in vivo-assembled rods. Our study reveals that FimD-catalysed in vitro-assembled type 1 pilus rods attain a similar stability as pilus rods assembled in vivo. Employing structural, biophysical and biochemical analyses, we show that in vitro assembly reactions lacking FimD produce pilus rods with structural defects, reducing their stability against dissociation. Overall, our results indicate that FimD is not only required for the catalysis of pilus assembly, but also to control the assembly of the most stable quaternary structure.

Stochastic chain termination in bacterial pilus assembly

Adhesive type 1 pili from uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains are filamentous, supramolecular protein complexes consisting of a short tip fibrillum and a long, helical rod formed by up to several thousand copies of the major pilus subunit FimA. Here, we reconstituted the entire type 1 pilus rod assembly reaction in vitro, using all constituent protein subunits in the presence of the assembly platform FimD, and identified the so-far uncharacterized subunit FimI as an irreversible assembly terminator. We provide a complete, quantitative model of pilus rod assembly kinetics based on the measured rate constants of FimD-catalyzed subunit incorporation. The model reliably predicts the length distribution of assembled pilus rods as a function of the ratio between FimI and the main pilus subunit FimA and is fully consistent with the length distribution of membrane-anchored pili assembled in vivo. The results show that the natural length distribution of adhesive pili formed via the chaperone-usher pathway results from a stochastic chain termination reaction. In addition, we demonstrate that FimI contributes to anchoring the pilus to the outer membrane and report the crystal structures of (i) FimI in complex with the assembly chaperone FimC, (ii) the FimI-FimC complex bound to the N-terminal domain of FimD, and (iii) a ternary complex between FimI, FimA and FimC that provides structural insights on pilus assembly termination and pilus anchoring by FimI.

A review on pilus assembly mechanisms in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

The surface of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria contains long hair-like proteinaceous protrusion known as pili or fimbriae. Historically, pilin proteins were considered to play a major role in the transfer of genetic material during bacterial conjugation. Recent findings however elucidate their importance in virulence, biofilm formation, phage transduction, and motility. Therefore, it is crucial to gain mechanistic insights on the subcellular assembly of pili and the localization patterns of their subunit proteins (major and minor pilins) that aid the macromolecular pilus assembly at the bacterial surface. In this article, we review the current knowledge of pilus assembly mechanisms in a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including subcellular localization patterns of a few pilin subunit proteins and their role in virulence and pathogenesis.

Endospore Appendages: a novel pilus superfamily from the endospores of pathogenic Bacilli

Bacillus cereus sensu lato is a group of Gram-positive endospore-forming bacteria with high ecological diversity. Their endospores are decorated with micrometer-long appendages of unknown identity and function. Here, we isolate endospore appendages (Enas) from the food poisoning outbreak strain B. cereus NVH 0075-95 and find proteinaceous fibers of two main morphologies: S- and L-Ena. By using cryoEM and 3D helical reconstruction of S-Enas, we show these to represent a novel class of Gram-positive pili. S-Enas consist of single domain subunits with jellyroll topology that are laterally stacked by β-sheet augmentation. S-Enas are longitudinally stabilized by disulfide bonding through N-terminal connector peptides that bridge the helical turns. Together, this results in flexible pili that are highly resistant to heat, drought, and chemical damage. Phylogenomic analysis reveals a ubiquitous presence of the ena-gene cluster in the B. cereus group, which include species of clinical, environmental, and food importance. We propose Enas to represent a new class of pili specifically adapted to the harsh conditions encountered by bacterial spores.

Processive dynamics of the usher assembly platform during uropathogenic Escherichia coli P pilus biogenesis

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli assemble surface structures termed pili or fimbriae to initiate infection of the urinary tract. P pili facilitate bacterial colonization of the kidney and pyelonephritis. P pili are assembled through the conserved chaperone-usher pathway. Much of the structural and functional understanding of the chaperone-usher pathway has been gained through investigations of type 1 pili, which promote binding to the bladder and cystitis. In contrast, the structural basis for P pilus biogenesis at the usher has remained elusive. This is in part due to the flexible and variable-length P pilus tip fiber, creating structural heterogeneity, and difficulties isolating stable P pilus assembly intermediates. Here, we circumvent these hindrances and determine cryo-electron microscopy structures of the activated PapC usher in the process of secreting two- and three-subunit P pilus assembly intermediates, revealing processive steps in P pilus biogenesis and capturing new conformational dynamics of the usher assembly machine.

Escherichia coli form pili structures in order to initiate infection of the urinary tract. Here, Thanassi et al., have solved the structures of pili assembly intermediates and provided insights into their biogenesis and assembly.

Salmonella enterica BcfH Is a Trimeric Thioredoxin-Like Bifunctional Enzyme with Both Thiol Oxidase and Disulfide Isomerase Activities

Aims: Thioredoxin (TRX)-fold proteins are ubiquitous in nature. This redox scaffold has evolved to enable a variety of functions, including redox regulation, protein folding, and oxidative stress defense. In bacteria, the TRX-like disulfide bond (Dsb) family mediates the oxidative folding of multiple proteins required for fitness and pathogenic potential. Conventionally, Dsb proteins have specific redox functions with monomeric and dimeric Dsbs exclusively catalyzing thiol oxidation and disulfide isomerization, respectively. This contrasts with the eukaryotic disulfide forming machinery where the modular TRX protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) mediates thiol oxidation and disulfide reshuffling. In this study, we identified and structurally and biochemically characterized a novel Dsb-like protein from Salmonella enterica termed bovine colonization factor protein H (BcfH) and defined its role in virulence. Results: In the conserved bovine colonization factor (bcf) fimbrial operon, the Dsb-like enzyme BcfH forms a trimeric structure, exceptionally uncommon among the large and evolutionary conserved TRX superfamily. This protein also displays very unusual catalytic redox centers, including an unwound α-helix holding the redox active site and a trans-proline instead of the conserved cis-proline active site loop. Remarkably, BcfH displays both thiol oxidase and disulfide isomerase activities contributing to Salmonella fimbrial biogenesis. Innovation and Conclusion: Typically, oligomerization of bacterial Dsb proteins modulates their redox function, with monomeric and dimeric Dsbs mediating thiol oxidation and disulfide isomerization, respectively. This study demonstrates a further structural and functional malleability in the TRX-fold protein family. BcfH trimeric architecture and unconventional catalytic sites permit multiple redox functions emulating in bacteria the eukaryotic PDI dual oxidoreductase activity. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 35, 21-39.

The RyfA small RNA regulates oxidative and osmotic stress responses and virulence in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common bacterial infectious disease in humans, and strains of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the most frequent cause of UTIs. During infection, UPEC must cope with a variety of stressful conditions in the urinary tract. Here, we demonstrate that the small RNA (sRNA) RyfA of UPEC strains is required for resistance to oxidative and osmotic stresses. Transcriptomic analysis of the ryfA mutant showed changes in expression of genes associated with general stress responses, metabolism, biofilm formation and genes coding for cell surface proteins. Inactivation of ryfA in UPEC strain CFT073 decreased urinary tract colonization in mice and the ryfA mutant also had reduced production of type 1 and P fimbriae (pili), adhesins which are known to be important for UTI. Furthermore, loss of ryfA also reduced UPEC survival in human macrophages. Thus, ryfA plays a key regulatory role in UPEC adaptation to stress, which contributes to UTI and survival in macrophages.

Donor strand sequence, rather than donor strand orientation, determines the stability and non-equilibrium folding of the type 1 pilus subunit FimA

FimA is the main structural subunit of adhesive type 1 pili from uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains. Up to 3000 copies of FimA assemble to the helical pilus rod through a mechanism termed donor strand complementation, in which the incomplete immunoglobulin-like fold of each FimA subunit is complemented by the N-terminal extension (Nte) of the next subunit. The Nte of FimA, which exhibits a pseudo-palindromic sequence, is inserted in an antiparallel orientation relative to the last β-strand of the preceding subunit in the pilus. The resulting subunit-subunit interactions are extraordinarily stable against dissociation and unfolding. Alternatively, FimA can fold to a self-complemented monomer with anti-apoptotic activity, in which the Nte inserts intramolecularly into the FimA core in the opposite, parallel orientation. The FimA monomers, however, show dramatically lower thermodynamic stability compared with FimA subunits in the assembled pilus. Using self-complemented FimA variants with reversed, pseudo-palindromic extensions, we demonstrate that the high stability of FimA polymers is primarily caused by the specific interactions between the side chains of the Nte residues and the FimA core and not by the antiparallel orientation of the donor strand alone. In addition, we demonstrate that nonequilibrium two-state folding, a hallmark of FimA with the Nte inserted in the pilus rod-like, antiparallel orientation, only depends on the identity of the inserted Nte side chains and not on Nte orientation.

Adaptations of Escherichia coli strains to oxidative stress are reflected in properties of their structural proteomes

BACKGROUND

The reconstruction of metabolic networks and the three-dimensional coverage of protein structures have reached the genome-scale in the widely studied Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 strain. The combination of the two leads to the formation of a structural systems biology framework, which we have used to analyze differences between the reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensitivity of the proteomes of sequenced strains of E. coli. As proteins are one of the main targets of oxidative damage, understanding how the genetic changes of different strains of a species relates to its oxidative environment can reveal hypotheses as to why these variations arise and suggest directions of future experimental work.

RESULTS

Creating a reference structural proteome for E. coli allows us to comprehensively map genetic changes in 1764 different strains to their locations on 4118 3D protein structures. We use metabolic modeling to predict basal ROS production levels (ROStype) for 695 of these strains, finding that strains with both higher and lower basal levels tend to enrich their proteomes with antioxidative properties, and speculate as to why that is. We computationally assess a strain's sensitivity to an oxidative environment, based on known chemical mechanisms of oxidative damage to protein groups, defined by their localization and functionality. Two general groups - metalloproteins and periplasmic proteins - show enrichment of their antioxidative properties between the 695 strains with a predicted ROStype as well as 116 strains with an assigned pathotype. Specifically, proteins that a) utilize a molybdenum ion as a cofactor and b) are involved in the biogenesis of fimbriae show intriguing protective properties to resist oxidative damage. Overall, these findings indicate that a strain's sensitivity to oxidative damage can be elucidated from the structural proteome, though future experimental work is needed to validate our model assumptions and findings.

CONCLUSION

We thus demonstrate that structural systems biology enables a proteome-wide, computational assessment of changes to atomic-level physicochemical properties and of oxidative damage mechanisms for multiple strains in a species. This integrative approach opens new avenues to study adaptation to a particular environment based on physiological properties predicted from sequence alone.

Therapeutic Approaches Targeting the Assembly and Function of Chaperone-Usher Pili

The chaperone-usher (CU) pathway is a conserved secretion system dedicated to the assembly of a superfamily of virulence-associated surface structures by a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria. Pilus biogenesis by the CU pathway requires two specialized assembly components: a dedicated periplasmic chaperone and an integral outer membrane assembly and secretion platform termed the usher. The CU pathway assembles a variety of surface fibers, ranging from thin, flexible filaments to rigid, rod-like organelles. Pili typically act as adhesins and function as virulence factors that mediate contact with host cells and colonization of host tissues. Pilus-mediated adhesion is critical for early stages of infection, allowing bacteria to establish a foothold within the host. Pili are also involved in modulation of host cell signaling pathways, bacterial invasion into host cells, and biofilm formation. Pili are critical for initiating and sustaining infection and thus represent attractive targets for the development of antivirulence therapeutics. Such therapeutics offer a promising alternative to broad-spectrum antibiotics and provide a means to combat antibiotic resistance and treat infection while preserving the beneficial microbiota. A number of strategies have been taken to develop antipilus therapeutics, including vaccines against pilus proteins, competitive inhibitors of pilus-mediated adhesion, and small molecules that disrupt pilus biogenesis. Here we provide an overview of the function and assembly of CU pili and describe current efforts aimed at interfering with these critical virulence structures.

Characterization of H/D exchange in type 1 pili by proton-detected solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics simulations

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli invades and colonizes hosts by attaching to cells using adhesive pili on the bacterial surface. Although many biophysical techniques have been used to study the structure and mechanical properties of pili, many important details are still unknown. Here we use proton-detected solid-state NMR experiments to investigate solvent accessibility and structural dynamics. Deuterium back-exchange at labile sites of the perdeuterated, fully proton back-exchanged pili was conducted to investigate hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange patterns of backbone amide protons in pre-assembled pili. We found distinct H/D exchange patterns in lateral and axial intermolecular interfaces in pili. Amide protons protected from H/D exchange in pili are mainly located in the core region of the monomeric subunit and in the lateral intermolecular interface, whereas the axial intermolecular interface and the exterior region of pili are highly exposed to H/D exchange. Additionally, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of the type 1 pilus rod and estimated the probability of H/D exchange based on hydrogen bond dynamics. The comparison of the experimental observables and simulation data provides insights into stability and mechanical properties of pili.

Alternative folding to a monomer or homopolymer is a common feature of the type 1 pilus subunit FimA from enteroinvasive bacteria

Adhesive type 1 pili from enteroinvasive, Gram-negative bacteria mediate attachment to host cells. Up to 3000 copies of the main pilus subunit, FimA, assemble into the filamentous, helical quaternary structure of the pilus rod via a mechanism termed donor-strand complementation, in which the N-terminal extension of each subunit, the donor strand, is inserted into the incomplete immunoglobulin-like fold of the preceding FimA subunit. For FimA from Escherichia coli, it has been previously shown that the protein can also adopt a monomeric, self-complemented conformation in which the donor strand is inserted intramolecularly in the opposite orientation relative to that observed for FimA polymers. Notably, soluble FimA monomers can act as apoptosis inhibitors in epithelial cells after uptake of type 1-piliated pathogens. Here, we show that the FimA orthologues from Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella enterica can all fold to form self-complemented monomers. We solved X-ray structures of all three FimA monomers at 0.89–1.69 Å resolutions, revealing identical, intramolecular donor-strand complementation mechanisms. Our results also showed that the pseudo-palindromic sequences of the donor strands in all FimA proteins permit their alternative folding possibilities. All FimA monomers proved to be 50–60 kJ/mol less stable against unfolding than their pilus rod-like counterparts (which exhibited very high energy barriers of unfolding and refolding). We conclude that the ability of FimA to adopt an alternative, monomeric state with anti-apoptotic activity is a general feature of FimA proteins of type 1-piliated bacteria.

Conformational Dynamics, Intramolecular Domain Conformation Signaling, and Activation of Apo-FimD Revealed by Single-Molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Studies

The chaperone-usher secretion pathway is a conserved bacterial protein secretion system dedicated to the biogenesis of adhesive fibers. Usher, a multidomain-containing outer membrane protein, plays a central role in this process by acting as a molecular machine that recruits different chaperone-subunit complexes, catalyzes subunit polymerization, and forms a channel for secretion of the assembled subunits. While recent crystal structural studies have greatly advanced our understanding of the structure and function of ushers, the overall architecture of the full-length apo-usher, the molecular events that dictate conformational changes in usher during pilus biogenesis, and its activation by the specific chaperone-adhesin complex remain largely elusive. Using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies, we found that the substrate-free usher FimD (apo-FimD) adopts a contracted conformation that is distinct from its substrate-bound states; both the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the C-terminal domain (CTD) of apo-FimD are highly dynamic, and FimD coordinates its domain conformational changes via intramolecular domain conformation signaling. By combining these studies with in vitro photo-cross-linking studies, we further show that only the chaperone-bound adhesin (FimC:FimH) can be transferred to the CTD, dislocates the plug domain, and triggers conformational changes in the remaining FimD domains. Taken together, these studies delineate an overall architecture of the full-length apo-FimD, provide detailed mechanic insight into the activation of apo-FimD, and explain why FimD could adjust its conformational states to perform multiple functions in each cycle of pilus subunit addition and ensure that pilus assembly proceeds progressively in a cellular energy-free environment.

The Remarkable Biomechanical Properties of the Type 1 Chaperone-Usher Pilus: A Structural and Molecular Perspective

Chaperone-usher (CU) pili are long, supramolecular protein fibers tethered to the surface of numerous bacterial pathogens. These virulence factors function primarily in bacterial adhesion to host tissues, but they also mediate biofilm formation. Type 1 and P pili of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the two best-studied CU pilus examples, and here we primarily focus on the former. UPEC can be transmitted to the urinary tract by fecal shedding. It can then ascend up the urinary tract and cause disease by invading and colonizing host tissues of the bladder, causing cystitis, and the kidneys, causing pyelonephritis. FimH is the subunit displayed at the tip of type 1 pili and mediates adhesion to mannosylated host cells via a unique catch-bond mechanism. In response to shear forces caused by urine flow, FimH can transition from a low-affinity to high-affinity binding mode. This clever allosteric mechanism allows UPEC cells to remain tightly attached during periods of urine flow, while loosening their grip to allow dissemination through the urinary tract during urine stasis. Moreover, the bulk of a CU pilus is made up of the rod, which can reversibly uncoil in response to urine flow to evenly spread the tensile forces over the entire pilus length. We here explore the novel structural and mechanistic findings relating to the type 1 pilus FimH catch-bond and rod uncoiling and explain how they function together to enable successful attachment, spread, and persistence in the hostile urinary tract.

BPSL1626: Reverse and Structural Vaccinology Reveal a Novel Candidate for Vaccine Design against Burkholderia pseudomallei

Due to significant advances in computational biology, protein prediction, together with antigen and epitope design, have rapidly moved from conventional methods, based on experimental approaches, to in silico-based bioinformatics methods. In this context, we report a reverse vaccinology study that identified a panel of 104 candidate antigens from the Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is responsible for the disease melioidosis. B. pseudomallei can cause fatal sepsis in endemic populations in the tropical regions of the world and treatment with antibiotics is mostly ineffective. With the aim of identifying potential vaccine candidates, we report the experimental validation of predicted antigen and type I fimbrial subunit, BPSL1626, which we show is able to recognize and bind human antibodies from the sera of Burkholderia infected patients and to stimulate T-lymphocytes in vitro. The prerequisite for a melioidosis vaccine, in fact, is that both antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses must be triggered. In order to reveal potential antigenic regions of the protein that may aid immunogen re-design, we also report the crystal structure of BPSL1626 at 1.9 Å resolution on which structure-based epitope predictions were based. Overall, our data suggest that BPSL1626 and three epitope regions here-identified can represent viable candidates as potential antigenic molecules.

Mechanical architecture and folding of E. coli type 1 pilus domains

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli attach to tissues using pili type 1. Each pilus is composed by thousands of coiled FimA domains followed by the domains of the tip fibrillum, FimF-FimG-FimH. The domains are linked by non-covalent β-strands that must resist mechanical forces during attachment. Here, we use single-molecule force spectroscopy to measure the mechanical contribution of each domain to the stability of the pilus and monitor the oxidative folding mechanism of a single Fim domain assisted by periplasmic FimC and the oxidoreductase DsbA. We demonstrate that pilus domains bear high mechanical stability following a hierarchy by which domains close to the tip are weaker than those close to or at the pilus rod. During folding, this remarkable stability is achieved by the intervention of DsbA that not only forms strategic disulfide bonds but also serves as a chaperone assisting the folding of the domains.

The pilus type 1 of uropathogenic E. coli must resist mechanical forces to remain attached to the epithelium. Here the authors use single-molecule force spectroscopy to demonstrate a hierarchy of mechanical stability among the pilus domains and show that the oxidoreductase DsbA also acts as a folding chaperone on the domains.

Pili Assembled by the Chaperone/Usher Pathway in Escherichia coli and Salmonella

Gram-negative bacteria assemble a variety of surface structures, including the hair-like organelles known as pili or fimbriae. Pili typically function in adhesion and mediate interactions with various surfaces, with other bacteria, and with other types of cells such as host cells. The chaperone/usher (CU) pathway assembles a widespread class of adhesive and virulence-associated pili. Pilus biogenesis by the CU pathway requires a dedicated periplasmic chaperone and integral outer membrane protein termed the usher, which forms a multifunctional assembly and secretion platform. This review addresses the molecular and biochemical aspects of the CU pathway in detail, focusing on the type 1 and P pili expressed by uropathogenic Escherichia coli as model systems. We provide an overview of representative CU pili expressed by E. coli and Salmonella, and conclude with a discussion of potential approaches to develop antivirulence therapeutics that interfere with pilus assembly or function.

Functional role of the type 1 pilus rod structure in mediating host-pathogen interactions

Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), which cause urinary tract infections (UTI), utilize type 1 pili, a chaperone usher pathway (CUP) pilus, to cause UTI and colonize the gut. The pilus rod, comprised of repeating FimA subunits, provides a structural scaffold for displaying the tip adhesin, FimH. We solved the 4.2 Å resolution structure of the type 1 pilus rod using cryo-electron microscopy. Residues forming the interactive surfaces that determine the mechanical properties of the rod were maintained by selection based on a global alignment of fimA sequences. We identified mutations that did not alter pilus production in vitro but reduced the force required to unwind the rod. UPEC expressing these mutant pili were significantly attenuated in bladder infection and intestinal colonization in mice. This study elucidates an unappreciated functional role for the molecular spring-like property of type 1 pilus rods in host-pathogen interactions and carries important implications for other pilus-mediated diseases.

Escherichia coli, or E. coli for short, is a type of bacteria commonly found in the guts of people and animals. Certain types of E. coli can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs): they travel from the digestive tract up to the bladder (and sometimes to the kidneys) where they provoke painful symptoms. To cause the infection, the bacteria must become solidly attached to the lining of the bladder; otherwise they will get flushed out whenever urine is expelled.

Pili are hair-like structures that cover a bacterium and allow it to attach to surfaces. E. coli has many different types of pili, but one seems particularly important in UTIs: type 1 pili. These pili are formed of subunits that assemble into a long coil-shaped rod, which is tipped by adhesive molecules that can stick to body surfaces. The current hypothesis is that the pili act as shock absorbers: when the bladder empties, the pili’s coil-like structure can unwind into a flexible straight fiber. This would take some of the forces off the adhesive molecules that are attached to the bladder, and help the bacteria to remain in place when urine flows out. However, the exact structure of type 1 pili is still unclear, and the essential role of their coil-like shape unconfirmed.

Here, Spaulding, Schreiber, Zheng et al. use a microscopy method called cryo-EM to reveal the structure of the type 1 pili at near atomic-level, and identify the key units necessary for their coiling properties. The experiments show that pili with certain mutations in these units unwind much more easily when the bacteria carrying them are ‘tugged on’ with molecular tweezers. The bacteria with mutant pili are also less able to cause UTIs in mice. The coiling ability of the type 1 pili is therefore essential for E. coli to invade and colonize the bladder.

Every year, over 150 million people worldwide experience a UTI; for 25% of women, the infection regularly returns. Antibiotics usually treat the problem but bacteria are becoming resistant to these drugs. New treatments could be designed if scientists understand what roles pili play in the infection mechanisms.

The Cryoelectron Microscopy Structure of the Type 1 Chaperone-Usher Pilus Rod

Adhesive chaperone-usher pili are long, supramolecular protein fibers displayed on the surface of many bacterial pathogens. The type 1 and P pili of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) play important roles during urinary tract colonization, mediating attachment to the bladder and kidney, respectively. The biomechanical properties of the helical pilus rods allow them to reversibly uncoil in response to flow-induced forces, allowing UPEC to retain a foothold in the unique and hostile environment of the urinary tract. Here we provide the 4.2-Å resolution cryo-EM structure of the type 1 pilus rod, which together with the previous P pilus rod structure rationalizes the remarkable "spring-like" properties of chaperone-usher pili. The cryo-EM structure of the type 1 pilus rod differs in its helical parameters from the structure determined previously by a hybrid approach. We provide evidence that these structural differences originate from different quaternary structures of pili assembled in vivo and in vitro.

Role of the disulfide bond in stabilizing and folding of the fimbrial protein DraE from uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Dr fimbriae are homopolymeric adhesive organelles of uropathogenic Escherichia coli composed of DraE subunits, responsible for the attachment to host cells. These structures are characterized by enormously high stability resulting from the structural properties of an Ig-like fold of DraE. One feature of DraE and other fimbrial subunits that makes them peculiar among Ig-like domain-containing proteins is a conserved disulfide bond that joins their A and B strands. Here, we investigated how this disulfide bond affects the stability and folding/unfolding pathway of DraE. We found that the disulfide bond stabilizes self-complemented DraE (DraE-sc) by ∼50 kJ mol⁻¹ in an exclusively thermodynamic manner, i.e. by lowering the free energy of the native state and with almost no effect on the free energy of the transition state. This finding was confirmed by experimentally determined folding and unfolding rate constants of DraE-sc and a disulfide bond-lacking DraE-sc variant. Although the folding of both proteins exhibited similar kinetics, the unfolding rate constant changed upon deletion of the disulfide bond by 10 orders of magnitude, from ∼10⁻¹⁷ s⁻¹ to 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹. Molecular simulations revealed that unfolding of the disulfide bond-lacking variant is initiated by strands A or G and that disulfide bond-mediated joining of strand A to the core strand B cooperatively stabilizes the whole protein. We also show that the disulfide bond in DraE is recognized by the DraB chaperone, indicating a mechanism that precludes the incorporation of less stable, non-oxidized DraE forms into the fimbriae.

Bacterial thiol oxidoreductases - from basic research to new antibacterial strategies

The recent, rapid increase in bacterial antimicrobial resistance has become a major public health concern. One approach to generate new classes of antibacterials is targeting virulence rather than the viability of bacteria. Proteins of the Dsb system, which play a key role in the virulence of many pathogenic microorganisms, represent potential new drug targets. The first part of the article presents current knowledge of how the Dsb system impacts function of various protein secretion systems that influence the virulence of many pathogenic bacteria. Next, the review describes methods used to study the structure, biochemistry, and microbiology of the Dsb proteins and shows how these experiments broaden our knowledge about their function. The lessons gained from basic research have led to a specific search for inhibitors blocking the Dsb networks.

Off-pathway assembly of fimbria subunits is prevented by chaperone CfaA of CFA/I fimbriae from enterotoxigenic E. coli

The assembly of the class 5 colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I) fimbriae of enterotoxigenic E. coli was proposed to proceed via the alternate chaperone-usher pathway. Here, we show that in the absence of the chaperone CfaA, CfaB, the major pilin subunit of CFA/I fimbriae, is able to spontaneously refold and polymerize into cyclic trimers. CfaA kinetically traps CfaB to form a metastable complex that can be stabilized by mutations. Crystal structure of the stabilized complex reveals distinctive interactions provided by CfaA to trap CfaB in an assembly competent state through donor-strand complementation (DSC) and cleft-mediated anchorage. Mutagenesis indicated that DSC controls the stability of the chaperone-subunit complex and the cleft-mediated anchorage of the subunit C-terminus additionally assist in subunit refolding. Surprisingly, over-stabilization of the chaperone-subunit complex led to delayed fimbria assembly, whereas destabilizing the complex resulted in no fimbriation. Thus, CfaA acts predominantly as a kinetic trap by stabilizing subunit to avoid its off-pathway self-polymerization that results in energetically favorable trimers and could serve as a driving force for CFA/I pilus assembly, representing an energetic landscape unique to class 5 fimbria assembly.

Protein folding in the cell envelope of Escherichia coli

While the entire proteome is synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes, almost half associates with, localizes in or crosses the bacterial cell envelope. In Escherichia coli a variety of mechanisms are important for taking these polypeptides into or across the plasma membrane, maintaining them in soluble form, trafficking them to their correct cell envelope locations and then folding them into the right structures. The fidelity of these processes must be maintained under various environmental conditions including during stress; if this fails, proteases are called in to degrade mislocalized or aggregated proteins. Various soluble, diffusible chaperones (acting as holdases, foldases or pilotins) and folding catalysts are also utilized to restore proteostasis. These responses can be general, dealing with multiple polypeptides, with functional overlaps and operating within redundant networks. Other chaperones are specialized factors, dealing only with a few exported proteins. Several complex machineries have evolved to deal with binding to, integration in and crossing of the outer membrane. This complex protein network is responsible for fundamental cellular processes such as cell wall biogenesis; cell division; the export, uptake and degradation of molecules; and resistance against exogenous toxic factors. The underlying processes, contributing to our fundamental understanding of proteostasis, are a treasure trove for the development of novel antibiotics, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines.

Proteomics Evidence for the Activity of the Putative Antibacterial Plant Alkaloid (-)-Roemerine: Mainstreaming Omics-Guided Drug Discovery

Discovery of new antibacterials with novel mechanisms is important to counteract the ingenious resistance mechanisms of bacteria. In this connection, omics-guided drug discovery offers a rigorous method in the quest of new antibacterials. (-)-Roemerine is a plant alkaloid that has been reported to possess putative antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhimurium. The aim of the present study was to characterize the activity of (-)-roemerine in Escherichia coli TB1 using proteomics tools. With (-)-roemerine treatment, we found limited permeability through the outer membrane and repression of transport proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, resulting in poor carbon source availability. The shortfall of intracellular carbon sources in turn led to impaired cell growth. The reduction in the abundance of proteins related to translational machinery, amino acid biosynthesis, and metabolism was accompanied by a nutrient-limited state. The latter finding could suggest a metabolic shutdown in E. coli cells. High osmolarity was clearly not one of the reasons of bacterial death by (-)-roemerine. These observations collectively attest to the promise of plant omics and profiling of putative drug candidates using proteomics tools. Omics-guided drug discovery deserves greater attention in mainstream pharmacology so as to better understand the plants' medicinal potentials.

Metabolic Requirements of Escherichia coli in Intracellular Bacterial Communities during Urinary Tract Infection Pathogenesis

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the primary etiological agent of over 85% of community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs). Mouse models of infection have shown that UPEC can invade bladder epithelial cells in a type 1 pilus-dependent mechanism, avoid a TLR4-mediated exocytic process, and escape into the host cell cytoplasm. The internalized UPEC can clonally replicate into biofilm-like intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) of thousands of bacteria while avoiding many host clearance mechanisms. Importantly, IBCs have been documented in urine from women and children suffering acute UTI. To understand this protected bacterial niche, we elucidated the transcriptional profile of bacteria within IBCs using microarrays. We delineated the upregulation within the IBC of genes involved in iron acquisition, metabolism, and transport. Interestingly, lacZ was highly upregulated, suggesting that bacteria were sensing and/or utilizing a galactoside for metabolism in the IBC. A ΔlacZ strain displayed significantly smaller IBCs than the wild-type strain and was attenuated during competitive infection with a wild-type strain. Similarly, a galK mutant resulted in smaller IBCs and attenuated infection. Further, analysis of the highly upregulated gene yeaR revealed that this gene contributes to oxidative stress resistance and type 1 pilus production. These results suggest that bacteria within the IBC are under oxidative stress and, consistent with previous reports, utilize nonglucose carbon metabolites. Better understanding of the bacterial mechanisms used for IBC development and establishment of infection may give insights into development of novel anti-virulence strategies.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections, impacting mostly women. Every year, millions of UTIs occur in the U.S. with most being caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). During a UTI, UPEC invade bladder cells and form an intracellular bacterial community (IBC) that allows for the bacteria to replicate protected from the host immune response. In this study, we investigated genes that are expressed by UPEC within the IBC and determined how they contribute to the formation of this specialized community. Our findings suggest that galactose is important for UPEC growth in the IBC. Additionally, we found that a gene involved in oxidative stress is also important in the regulation of a key factor needed for UPEC invasion of bladder cells. These results may open the door for the development of treatments to diminish UTI frequency and/or severity.

Soluble Oligomers of the Pore-forming Toxin Cytolysin A from Escherichia coli Are Off-pathway Products of Pore Assembly

The α-pore-forming toxin Cytolysin A (ClyA) is responsible for the hemolytic activity of various Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica strains. Soluble ClyA monomers spontaneously assemble into annular dodecameric pore complexes upon contact with membranes or detergent. At ClyA monomer concentrations above ∼100 nm, the rate-limiting step in detergent- or membrane- induced pore assembly is the unimolecular reaction from the monomer to the assembly-competent protomer, which then oligomerizes rapidly to active pore complexes. In the absence of detergent, ClyA slowly forms soluble oligomers. Here we show that soluble ClyA oligomers cannot form dodecameric pore complexes after the addition of detergent and are hemolytically inactive. In addition, we demonstrate that the natural cysteine pair Cys-87/Cys-285 of ClyA forms a disulfide bond under oxidizing conditions and that both the oxidized and reduced ClyA monomers assemble to active pores via the same pathway in the presence of detergent, in which an unstructured, monomeric intermediate is transiently populated. The results show that the oxidized ClyA monomer assembles to pore complexes about one order of magnitude faster than the reduced monomer because the unstructured intermediate of oxidized ClyA is less stable and dissolves more rapidly than the reduced intermediate. Moreover, we show that oxidized ClyA forms soluble, inactive oligomers in the absence of detergent much faster than the reduced monomer, providing an explanation for several contradictory reports in which oxidized ClyA had been described as inactive.

Structure, Function, and Assembly of Adhesive Organelles by Uropathogenic Bacteria

Bacteria assemble a wide range of adhesive proteins, termed adhesins, to mediate binding to receptors and colonization of surfaces. For pathogenic bacteria, adhesins are critical for early stages of infection, allowing the bacteria to initiate contact with host cells, colonize different tissues, and establish a foothold within the host. The adhesins expressed by a pathogen are also critical for bacterial-bacterial interactions and the formation of bacterial communities, including biofilms. The ability to adhere to host tissues is particularly important for bacteria that colonize sites such as the urinary tract, where the flow of urine functions to maintain sterility by washing away non-adherent pathogens. Adhesins vary from monomeric proteins that are directly anchored to the bacterial surface to polymeric, hair-like fibers that extend out from the cell surface. These latter fibers are termed pili or fimbriae, and were among the first identified virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Studies since then have identified a range of both pilus and non-pilus adhesins that contribute to bacterial colonization of the urinary tract, and have revealed molecular details of the structures, assembly pathways, and functions of these adhesive organelles. In this review, we describe the different types of adhesins expressed by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive uropathogens, what is known about their structures, how they are assembled on the bacterial surface, and the functions of specific adhesins in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections.

Acceleration of protein folding by four orders of magnitude through a single amino acid substitution

Cis prolyl peptide bonds are conserved structural elements in numerous protein families, although their formation is energetically unfavorable, intrinsically slow and often rate-limiting for folding. Here we investigate the reasons underlying the conservation of the cis proline that is diagnostic for the fold of thioredoxin-like thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases. We show that replacement of the conserved cis proline in thioredoxin by alanine can accelerate spontaneous folding to the native, thermodynamically most stable state by more than four orders of magnitude. However, the resulting trans alanine bond leads to small structural rearrangements around the active site that impair the function of thioredoxin as catalyst of electron transfer reactions by more than 100-fold. Our data provide evidence for the absence of a strong evolutionary pressure to achieve intrinsically fast folding rates, which is most likely a consequence of proline isomerases and molecular chaperones that guarantee high in vivo folding rates and yields.

Monitoring Oxidative Folding of a Single Protein Catalyzed by the Disulfide Oxidoreductase DsbA

Oxidative folding, the process by which proteins fold and acquire disulfide bonds concurrently, is of critical importance for a wide range of biological processes. Generally, this process is catalyzed by oxidoreductase enzymes that facilitate oxidation and also bear chaperone functionality. Although this process has been well described qualitatively, fine yet important details remain obscured by a limited quantitative perspective, arising from the limitations in the application of bulk biochemical methods to the study of oxidative folding. In this work, we have applied single molecule force spectroscopy techniques to monitor in real time the process of oxidative folding as catalyzed by DsbA, the enzyme solely responsible for the catalysis of oxidative folding in the bacterial periplasm. We provide a quantitative and detailed description of the catalytic mechanism utilized by DsbA that offers insight into the entire sequence of events that occurs in the periplasm from the unfolded-reduced state to the folded-oxidized protein. We have compared our results with those of protein disulfide-isomerase, the eukaryotic counterpart of DsbA, allowing us to devise a general mechanism for oxidative folding that also reflects upon the physiological functions and demands of these enzymes in vivo.

Molecular mechanism of bacterial type 1 and P pili assembly

The formation of adhesive surface structures called pili or fimbriae ('bacterial hair') is an important contributor towards bacterial pathogenicity and persistence. To fight often chronic or recurrent bacterial infections such as urinary tract infections, it is necessary to understand the molecular mechanism of the nanomachines assembling such pili. Here, we focus on the so far best-known pilus assembly machinery: the chaperone-usher pathway producing the type 1 and P pili, and highlight the most recently acquired structural knowledge. First, we describe the subunits' structure and the molecular role of the periplasmic chaperone. Second, we focus on the outer-membrane usher structure and the catalytic mechanism of usher-mediated pilus biogenesis. Finally, we describe how the detailed understanding of the chaperone-usher pathway at a molecular level has paved the way for the design of a new generation of bacterial inhibitors called 'pilicides'.

Structural insight into host recognition by aggregative adherence fimbriae of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is a leading cause of acute and persistent diarrhea worldwide. A recently emerged Shiga-toxin-producing strain of EAEC resulted in significant mortality and morbidity due to progressive development of hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The attachment of EAEC to the human intestinal mucosa is mediated by aggregative adherence fimbria (AAF). Using X-ray crystallography and NMR structures, we present new atomic resolution insight into the structure of AAF variant I from the strain that caused the deadly outbreak in Germany in 2011, and AAF variant II from archetype strain 042, and propose a mechanism for AAF-mediated adhesion and biofilm formation. Our work shows that major subunits of AAF assemble into linear polymers by donor strand complementation where a single minor subunit is inserted at the tip of the polymer by accepting the donor strand from the terminal major subunit. Whereas the minor subunits of AAF have a distinct conserved structure, AAF major subunits display large structural differences, affecting the overall pilus architecture. These structures suggest a mechanism for AAF-mediated adhesion and biofilm formation. Binding experiments using wild type and mutant subunits (NMR and SPR) and bacteria (ELISA) revealed that despite the structural differences AAF recognize a common receptor, fibronectin, by employing clusters of basic residues at the junction between subunits in the pilus. We show that AAF-fibronectin attachment is based primarily on electrostatic interactions, a mechanism not reported previously for bacterial adhesion to biotic surfaces.

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is a major cause of diarrhea worldwide and is commonly present as an infection in symptomatic travelers returning from developing countries. The attachment of EAEC to the human intestine is mediated protein filaments extending from the bacterial surface known as aggregative adherence fimbria (AAF). Here we use X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structures to provide an atomic structure of the protein fibers made by the two major variants, AAF/I and AAF/II. The structures of the major subunit proteins show that the AAFs assemble into flexible, linear polymers that are capped by a single minor protein subunit at the tip. Biochemical assays reveal that the AAFs recognize a common receptor, the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin, via clusters of positively-charged amino acid residues running along the length of the fimbriae. Our structures suggest a unique mechanism based on ionic interactions for AAF-mediated receptor binding and biofilm formation.

Reprint of "Biogenesis and adhesion of type 1 and P pili"

BACKGROUND

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) in approximately 50% of women. These bacteria use type 1 and P pili for host recognition and attachment. These pili are assembled by the chaperone-usher pathway of pilus biogenesis.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

The review examines the biogenesis and adhesion of the UPEC type 1 and P pili. Particular emphasis is drawn to the role of the outer membrane usher protein. The structural properties of the complete pilus are also examined to highlight the strength and functionality of the final assembly.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

The usher orchestrates the sequential addition of pilus subunits in a defined order. This process follows a subunit-incorporation cycle which consists of four steps: recruitment at the usher N-terminal domain, donor-strand exchange with the previously assembled subunit, transfer to the usher C-terminal domains and translocation of the nascent pilus. Adhesion by the type 1 and P pili is strengthened by the quaternary structure of their rod sections. The rod is endowed with spring-like properties which provide mechanical resistance against urine flow. The distal adhesins operate differently from one another, targeting receptors in a specific manner. The biogenesis and adhesion of type 1 and P pili are being therapeutically targeted, and efforts to prevent pilus growth or adherence are described.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The combination of structural and biochemical study has led to the detailed mechanistic understanding of this membrane spanning nano-machine. This can now be exploited to design novel drugs able to inhibit virulence. This is vital in the present era of resurgent antibiotic resistance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Structural biochemistry and biophysics of membrane proteins.

Structure of the Acinetobacter baumannii dithiol oxidase DsbA bound to elongation factor EF-Tu reveals a novel protein interaction site

The multidrug resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant cause of nosocomial infection. Biofilm formation, that requires both disulfide bond forming and chaperone-usher pathways, is a major virulence trait in this bacterium. Our biochemical characterizations show that the periplasmic A. baumannii DsbA (AbDsbA) enzyme has an oxidizing redox potential and dithiol oxidase activity. We found an unexpected non-covalent interaction between AbDsbA and the highly conserved prokaryotic elongation factor, EF-Tu. EF-Tu is a cytoplasmic protein but has been localized extracellularly in many bacterial pathogens. The crystal structure of this complex revealed that the EF-Tu switch I region binds to the non-catalytic surface of AbDsbA. Although the physiological and pathological significance of a DsbA/EF-Tu association is unknown, peptides derived from the EF-Tu switch I region bound to AbDsbA with submicromolar affinity. We also identified a seven-residue DsbB-derived peptide that bound to AbDsbA with low micromolar affinity. Further characterization confirmed that the EF-Tu- and DsbB-derived peptides bind at two distinct sites. These data point to the possibility that the non-catalytic surface of DsbA is a potential substrate or regulatory protein interaction site. The two peptides identified in this work together with the newly characterized interaction site provide a novel starting point for inhibitor design targeting AbDsbA.

Biogenesis and adhesion of type 1 and P pili

BACKGROUND

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) in approximately 50% of women. These bacteria use type 1 and P pili for host recognition and attachment. These pili are assembled by the chaperone-usher pathway of pilus biogenesis.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

The review examines the biogenesis and adhesion of the UPEC type 1 and P pili. Particular emphasis is drawn to the role of the outer membrane usher protein. The structural properties of the complete pilus are also examined to highlight the strength and functionality of the final assembly.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

The usher orchestrates the sequential addition of pilus subunits in a defined order. This process follows a subunit-incorporation cycle which consists of four steps: recruitment at the usher N-terminal domain, donor-strand exchange with the previously assembled subunit, transfer to the usher C-terminal domains and translocation of the nascent pilus. Adhesion by the type 1 and P pili is strengthened by the quaternary structure of their rod sections. The rod is endowed with spring-like properties which provide mechanical resistance against urine flow. The distal adhesins operate differently from one another, targeting receptors in a specific manner. The biogenesis and adhesion of type 1 and P pili are being therapeutically targeted, and efforts to prevent pilus growth or adherence are described.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The combination of structural and biochemical study has led to the detailed mechanistic understanding of this membrane spanning nano-machine. This can now be exploited to design novel drugs able to inhibit virulence. This is vital in the present era of resurgent antibiotic resistance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Structural biochemistry and biophysics of membrane proteins.

Intramolecular donor strand complementation in the E. coli type 1 pilus subunit FimA explains the existence of FimA monomers as off-pathway products of pilus assembly that inhibit host cell apoptosis

Type 1 pili are filamentous organelles mediating the attachment of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to epithelial cells of host organisms. The helical pilus rod consists of up to 3000 copies of the main structural subunit FimA that interact via donor strand complementation, where the incomplete Ig-like fold of FimA is completed by insertion of the N-terminal extension (donor strand) of the following FimA subunit. Recently, it was shown that FimA also exists in a monomeric, assembly-incompetent form and that FimA monomers act as inhibitors of apoptosis in infected host cells. Here we present the NMR structure of monomeric wild-type FimA with its natural N-terminal donor strand complementing the Ig fold. Compared to FimA subunits in the assembled pilus, intramolecular self-complementation in the monomer stabilizes the FimA fold with significantly less interactions, and the natural FimA donor strand is inserted in the opposite orientation. In addition, we show that a motif of two glycine residues in the FimA donor strand, separated by five residues, is the prerequisite of the alternative, parallel donor strand insertion mechanism in the FimA monomer and that this motif is preserved in FimA homologs of many enteroinvasive pathogens. We conclude that FimA is a unique case of a protein with alternative, functionally relevant folding possibilities, with the FimA polymer forming the highly stable pilus rod and the FimA monomer promoting pathogen propagation by apoptosis suppression of infected epithelial target cells.

Ordered and ushered; the assembly and translocation of the adhesive type I and p pili

Type I and P pili are chaperone-usher pili of uropathogenic Escherichia coli, which allow bacteria to adhere to host cell receptors. Pilus formation and secretion are orchestrated by two accessory proteins, a chaperone, which catalyses pilus subunit folding and maintains them in a polymerization-competent state, and an outer membrane-spanning nanomachine, the usher, which choreographs their assembly into a pilus and drives their secretion through the membrane. In this review, recent structures and kinetic studies are combined to examine the mechanism of type I and P pili assembly, as it is currently known. We also investigate how the knowledge of pilus biogenesis mechanisms has been exploited to design selective inhibitors of the process.