Bacterial chemoreceptor arrays are hexagonally packed trimers of receptor dimers networked by rings of kinase and coupling proteins

High-throughput cryo-electron tomography enables multiscale visualization of the inner life of microbes

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is an advanced and rapidly evolving imaging technique that enables three-dimensional visualization of biological structures in their native state. Although cryo-ET has historically faced significant challenges, including limited applications, tedious data acquisition, labor-intensive image processing, and lower resolution when compared with single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), recent breakthroughs in hardware and software development have significantly improved the entire cryo-ET workflow to enable higher throughput and resolution. These advances have accelerated discoveries in structural and cellular biology, particularly in microbiology, where cryo-ET has unveiled unprecedented insights into the inner life of microbes. This review presents pivotal advances propelling high-throughput cryo-ET and the visualization of microbial architecture. As innovations in imaging technologies, workflow automation, and computational methods continue progressing rapidly, cryo-ET is expected to be increasingly utilized across various fields of life sciences, shaping the future of biological research and biomedical discoveries.

Di-HAMP domains of a cytoplasmic chemoreceptor modulate nucleoid array formation and downstream signaling

In bacterial chemosensing, environmental cues are typically sensed by bacterial transmembrane receptors known as methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). MCPs form highly organized arrays using the bacterial membrane as a scaffold. These arrays amplify the signals and transduce them into a cellular response. The FrzCD cytoplasmic receptor from Myxococcus xanthus is unique due to its ability to bind DNA and use the nucleoid as a scaffold to form arrays. In this study, we identified two HAMP (histidine kinase, adenylyl cyclase, MCP, and phosphatase) domains located between the DNA binding and signaling domains of FrzCD. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the di-HAMP domain restricts FrzCD to a dimeric form in solution and modulate FrzCD affinity for DNA, whereas the signaling domain stabilizes higher-order oligomeric assemblies upon DNA binding. Through fluorescence microscopy and analyses of M. xanthus social behavior, we demonstrate that the impact of the FrzCD HAMP domains on DNA binding and oligomerization significantly influences the formation of Frz clusters on the nucleoid as well as group motility and development. Our results suggest that the di-HAMP domain might have roles not only in signal transduction but also in the plasticity of chemosensory arrays. These observations illustrate mechanisms of regulation of a DNA-bound cytoplasmic array formed by a diffusible MCP.IMPORTANCEOur study identifies the presence of a di-HAMP domain in a cytoplasmic chemoreceptor, FrzCD, from Myxococcus xanthus, and highlights its role in dynamic receptor oligomerization on a DNA scaffold. By controlling receptor oligomerization and subsequently the array formation on the nucleoid, the di-HAMP domain imparts plasticity to receptor arrays. Such plasticity governs cellular responses to external signals and dictates bacterial social behaviors such as group motility and multicellular structure formation.

Chemotaxis and Related Signaling Systems in Vibrio cholerae

The motility and chemotaxis of Vibrio cholerae, the bacterial pathogen responsible for cholera, play crucial roles in both environmental survival and infection. Understanding their molecular mechanisms is therefore essential not only for fundamental biology but also for infection control and therapeutic development. The bacterium's sheathed, polar flagellum-its motility organelle-is powered by a sodium-driven motor. This motor's rotation is regulated by the chemotaxis (Che) signaling system, with a histidine kinase, CheA, and a response regulator, CheY, serving as the central processing unit. However, V. cholerae possesses two additional, parallel Che signaling systems whose physiological functions remain unclear. Furthermore, the bacterium harbors over 40 receptors/transducers that interact with CheA homologs, forming a complex regulatory network likely adapted to diverse environmental cues. Despite significant progress, many aspects of these systems remain to be elucidated. Here, we summarize the current understanding to facilitate future research.

Unpacking Alternative Features of the Bacterial Chemotaxis System

The bacterial chemotaxis system is one of the best-understood cellular pathways and serves as the model for signal transduction systems. Most chemotaxis research has been conducted with transmembrane chemotaxis systems from Escherichia coli and has established paradigms of the system that were thought to be universal. However, emerging research has revealed that many bacteria possess alternative features of their chemotaxis system, demonstrating that these systems are likely more complex than previously assumed. Here, we compare the canonical chemotaxis system of E. coli with systems that diverge in supramolecular architecture, sensory mechanisms, and protein composition. The alternative features have likely evolved to accommodate chemical specificities of natural niches and cell morphologies. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that bacterial chemotaxis systems are a rapidly expanding field that offers many new opportunities to explore this exceedingly diverse system.

Time-reversal symmetry breaking in the chemosensory array reveals a general mechanism for dissipation-enhanced cooperative sensing

The Escherichia coli chemoreceptors form an extensive array that achieves cooperative and adaptive sensing of extracellular signals. The receptors control the activity of histidine kinase CheA, which drives a nonequilibrium phosphorylation-dephosphorylation reaction cycle for response regulator CheY. Cooperativity and dissipation are both important aspects of chemotaxis signaling, yet their consequences have only been studied separately. Recent single-cell FRET measurements revealed that kinase activity of the array spontaneously switches between active and inactive states, with asymmetric switching times that signify time-reversal symmetry breaking in the underlying dynamics. Here, we present a nonequilibrium lattice model of the chemosensory array, which demonstrates that the observed asymmetric switching dynamics can only be explained by an interplay between the dissipative reactions within individual core units and the cooperative coupling between neighboring units. Microscopically, the switching time asymmetry originates from irreversible transition paths. The model shows that strong dissipation enables sensitive and rapid signaling response by relieving the speed-sensitivity trade-off, which can be tested by future single-cell experiments. Overall, our model provides a general framework for studying biological complexes composed of coupled subunits that are individually driven by dissipative cycles and the rich nonequilibrium physics within.

Chemoreceptors in Sinorhizobium meliloti require minimal pentapeptide tethers to provide adaptational assistance

Sensory adaptation in bacterial chemotaxis is mediated by posttranslational modifications of methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). In Escherichia coli, the adaptation proteins CheR and CheB tether to a conserved C-terminal receptor pentapeptide. Here,we investigated the function of the pentapeptide motif (N/D)WE(E/N)F in Sinorhizobium meliloti chemotaxis. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed stronger affinity of the pentapeptides to CheR and activated CheB relative to unmodified CheB. Strains with mutations of the conserved tryptophan in one or all four MCP pentapeptides resulted in a significant decrease or loss of chemotaxis to glycine betaine, lysine, and acetate, chemoattractants sensed by pentapeptide-bearing McpX and pentapeptide-lacking McpU and McpV, respectively. Importantly, we discovered that the pentapeptide mediates chemotaxis when fused to the C-terminus of pentapeptide-lacking chemoreceptors via a flexible linker. We propose that adaptational assistance and a threshold number of available sites enable the efficient docking of adaptation proteins to the chemosensory array. Altogether, these results demonstrate that S. meliloti effectively utilizes a pentapeptide-dependent adaptation system with a minimal number of tethering units to assist pentapeptide-lacking chemoreceptors and hypothesize that the higher abundance of CheR and CheB in S. meliloti compared to E. coli allows for ample recruitment of adaptation proteins to the chemosensory array.

Identification of a dCache-type chemoreceptor in Campylobacter jejuni that specifically mediates chemotaxis towards methyl pyruvate

The foodborne pathogenic bacterium Campylobacter jejuni utilizes chemotaxis to assist in the colonization of host niches. A key to revealing the relationship among chemotaxis and pathogenicity is the discovery of signaling molecules perceived by the chemoreceptors. The C. jejuni chemoreceptor Tlp11 is encoded by the highly infective C. jejuni strains. In the present study, we report that the dCache-type ligand-binding domain (LBD) of C. jejuni ATCC 33560 Tlp11 binds directly to novel ligands methyl pyruvate, toluene, and quinoline using the same pocket. Methyl pyruvate elicits a strong chemoattractant response, while toluene and quinoline function as the antagonists without triggering chemotaxis. The sensory LBD was used to control heterologous proteins by constructing chimeras, indicating that the signal induced by methyl pyruvate is transmitted across the membrane. In addition, bioinformatics and experiments revealed that the dCache domains with methyl pyruvate-binding sites and ability are widely distributed in the order Campylobacterales. This is the first report to identify the class of dCache chemoreceptors that bind to attractant methyl pyruvate and antagonists toluene and quinoline. Our research provides a foundation for understanding the chemotaxis and virulence of C. jejuni and lays a basis for the control of this foodborne pathogen.

Signal integration in chemoreceptor complexes

Motile bacteria use large receptor arrays to detect chemical and physical stimuli in their environment, process this complex information, and accordingly bias their swimming in a direction they deem favorable. The chemoreceptor molecules form tripod-like trimers of receptor dimers through direct contacts between their cytoplasmic tips. A pair of trimers, together with a dedicated kinase enzyme, form a core signaling complex. Hundreds of core complexes network to form extended arrays. While considerable progress has been made in revealing the hierarchical structure of the array, the molecular properties underlying signal processing in these structures remain largely unclear. Here we analyzed the signaling properties of nonnetworked core complexes in live cells by following both conformational and kinase control responses to attractant stimuli and to output-biasing lesions at various locations in the receptor molecule. Contrary to the prevailing view that individual receptors are binary two-state devices, we demonstrate that conformational coupling between the ligand binding and the kinase-control receptor domains is, in fact, only moderate. In addition, we demonstrate communication between neighboring receptors through their trimer-contact domains that biases them to adopt similar signaling states. Taken together, these data suggest a view of signaling in receptor trimers that allows significant signal integration to occur within individual core complexes.

Diverse domain architectures of CheA histidine kinase, a central component of bacterial and archaeal chemosensory systems

IMPORTANCE

We found that in contrast to the best-studied model organisms, such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, most bacterial and archaeal species have a CheA protein with a different domain composition. We report variations in CheA architecture, such as domain duplication and acquisition as well as class-specific domain composition. Our results will be of interest to those working on signal transduction in bacteria and archaea and lay the foundation for experimental studies.

Attractant and repellent induce opposing changes in the four-helix bundle ligand-binding domain of a bacterial chemoreceptor

Motile bacteria navigate toward favorable conditions and away from unfavorable environments using chemotaxis. Mechanisms of sensing attractants are well understood; however, molecular aspects of how bacteria sense repellents have not been established. Here, we identified malate as a repellent recognized by the MCP2201 chemoreceptor in a bacterium Comamonas testosteroni and showed that it binds to the same site as an attractant citrate. Binding determinants for a repellent and an attractant had only minor differences, and a single amino acid substitution in the binding site inverted the response to malate from a repellent to an attractant. We found that malate and citrate affect the oligomerization state of the ligand-binding domain in opposing way. We also observed opposing effects of repellent and attractant binding on the orientation of an alpha helix connecting the sensory domain to the transmembrane helix. We propose a model to illustrate how positive and negative signals might be generated.

Virus structures revealed by advanced cryoelectron microscopy methods

Before the resolution revolution, cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) single-particle analysis (SPA) already achieved resolutions beyond 4 Å for certain icosahedral viruses, enabling ab initio atomic model building of these viruses. As the only samples that achieved such high resolution at that time, cryo-EM method development was closely intertwined with the improvement of reconstructions of symmetrical viruses. Viral morphology exhibits significant diversity, ranging from small to large, uniform to non-uniform, and from containing single symmetry to multiple symmetries. Furthermore, viruses undergo conformational changes during their life cycle. Several methods, such as asymmetric reconstruction, Ewald sphere correction, cryoelectron tomography (cryo-ET), and sub-tomogram averaging (STA), have been developed and applied to determine virus structures in vivo and in vitro. This review outlines current advanced cryo-EM methods for high-resolution structure determination of viruses and summarizes accomplishments obtained with these approaches. Moreover, persisting challenges in comprehending virus structures are discussed and we propose potential solutions.

Structure of the native chemotaxis core signaling unit from phage E-protein lysed E. coli cells

IMPORTANCE

Bacterial chemotaxis is a ubiquitous behavior that enables cell movement toward or away from specific chemicals. It serves as an important model for understanding cell sensory signal transduction and motility. Characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying chemotaxis is of fundamental interest and requires a high-resolution structural picture of the sensing machinery, the chemosensory array. In this study, we combine cryo-electron tomography and molecular simulation to present the complete structure of the core signaling unit, the basic building block of chemosensory arrays, from Escherichia coli. Our results provide new insight into previously poorly-resolved regions of the complex and offer a structural basis for designing new experiments to test mechanistic hypotheses.

A new class of protein sensor links spirochete pleomorphism, persistence, and chemotaxis

IMPORTANCE

A new class of bacterial protein sensors monitors intracellular levels of S-adenosylmethionine to modulate cell morphology, chemotaxis, and biofilm formation. Simultaneous regulation of these behaviors enables bacterial pathogens to survive within their niche. This sensor, exemplified by Treponema denticola CheWS, is anchored to the chemotaxis array and its sensor domain is located below the chemotaxis rings. This position may allow the sensor to directly interact with the chemotaxis histidine kinase CheA. Collectively, these data establish a critical role of CheWS in pathogenesis and further illustrate the impact of studying non-canonical chemotaxis proteins.

A nonequilibrium allosteric model for receptor-kinase complexes: The role of energy dissipation in chemotaxis signaling

The Escherichia coli chemotaxis signaling pathway has served as a model system for the adaptive sensing of environmental signals by large protein complexes. The chemoreceptors control the kinase activity of CheA in response to the extracellular ligand concentration and adapt across a wide concentration range by undergoing methylation and demethylation. Methylation shifts the kinase response curve by orders of magnitude in ligand concentration while incurring a much smaller change in the ligand binding curve. Here, we show that the disproportionate shift in binding and kinase response is inconsistent with equilibrium allosteric models. To resolve this inconsistency, we present a nonequilibrium allosteric model that explicitly includes the dissipative reaction cycles driven by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis. The model successfully explains all existing joint measurements of ligand binding, receptor conformation, and kinase activity for both aspartate and serine receptors. Our results suggest that the receptor complex acts as an enzyme: Receptor methylation modulates the ON-state kinetics of the kinase (e.g., phosphorylation rate), while ligand binding controls the equilibrium balance between kinase ON/OFF states. Furthermore, sufficient energy dissipation is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the sensitivity range and amplitude of the kinase response. We demonstrate that the nonequilibrium allosteric model is broadly applicable to other sensor-kinase systems by successfully fitting previously unexplained data from the DosP bacterial oxygen-sensing system. Overall, this work provides a nonequilibrium physics perspective on cooperative sensing by large protein complexes and opens up research directions for understanding their microscopic mechanisms through simultaneous measurements and modeling of ligand binding and downstream responses.

Diverse domain architectures of CheA histidine kinase, a central component of bacterial and archaeal chemosensory systems

Chemosensory systems in bacteria and archaea are complex, multi-protein pathways that enable rapid cellular responses to environmental changes. The CheA histidine kinase is a central component of chemosensory systems. In contrast to other histidine kinases, it lacks a sensor (input) domain and utilizes dedicated chemoreceptors for sensing. CheA is a multi-domain protein; in model organisms as diverse as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, it contains five single-copy domains. Deviations from this canonical domain architecture have been reported, however, a broad genome-wide analysis of CheA diversity is lacking. Here, we present results of a genomic survey of CheA domain composition carried out using an unbiased set of thousands of CheA sequences from bacteria and archaea. We found that four out of five canonical CheA domains comprise a minimal functional unit (core domains), as they are present in all surveyed CheA homologs. The most common deviations from a classical five-domain CheA architecture are the lack of a P2/CheY-binding domain, which is missing from more than a half of CheA homologs and the acquisition of a response regulator receiver (CheY-like) domain, which is present in ~35% of CheA homologs. We also document other deviations from classical CheA architecture, including bipartite CheA proteins, domain duplications and fusions, and reveal that phylogenetically defined CheA classes have pre-dominant domain architectures. This study lays a foundation for a better classification of CheA homologs and identifies targets for experimental investigations.

The benefits of clustering in TNF receptor superfamily signaling

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily is a structurally and functionally related group of cell surface receptors that play crucial roles in various cellular processes, including apoptosis, cell survival, and immune regulation. This review paper synthesizes key findings from recent studies, highlighting the importance of clustering in TNF receptor superfamily signaling. We discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms of signaling, the functional consequences of receptor clustering, and potential therapeutic implications of targeting surface structures of receptor complexes.

Bacterial chemoreceptor signaling complexes control kinase activity by stabilizing the catalytic domain of CheA

Motile bacteria have a chemotaxis system that enables them to sense their environment and direct their swimming toward favorable conditions. Chemotaxis involves a signaling process in which ligand binding to the extracellular domain of the chemoreceptor alters the activity of the histidine kinase, CheA, bound ~300 Å away to the distal cytoplasmic tip of the receptor, to initiate a phosphorylation cascade that controls flagellar rotation. The cytoplasmic domain of the receptor is thought to propagate this signal via changes in dynamics and/or stability, but it is unclear how these changes modulate the kinase activity of CheA. To address this question, we have used hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to probe the structure and dynamics of CheA within functional signaling complexes of the Escherichia coli aspartate receptor cytoplasmic fragment, CheA, and CheW. Our results reveal that stabilization of the P4 catalytic domain of CheA correlates with kinase activation. Furthermore, differences in activation of the kinase that occur during sensory adaptation depend on receptor destabilization of the P3 dimerization domain of CheA. Finally, hydrogen exchange properties of the P1 domain that bears the phosphorylated histidine identify the dimer interface of P1/P1' in the CheA dimer and support an ordered sequential binding mechanism of catalysis, in which dimeric P1/P1' has productive interactions with P4 only upon nucleotide binding. Thus stabilization/destabilization of domains is a key element of the mechanism of modulating CheA kinase activity in chemotaxis, and may play a role in the control of other kinases.

Azospirillum brasilense AerC and Tlp4b Cytoplasmic Chemoreceptors Are Promiscuous and Interact with the Two Membrane-Bound Chemotaxis Signaling Clusters Mediating Chemotaxis Responses

Chemotaxis in Bacteria and Archaea depends on the presence of hexagonal polar arrays composed of membrane-bound chemoreceptors that interact with rings of baseplate signaling proteins. In the alphaproteobacterium Azospirillum brasilense, chemotaxis is controlled by two chemotaxis signaling systems (Che1 and Che4) that mix at the baseplates of two spatially distinct membrane-bound chemoreceptor arrays. The subcellular localization and organization of transmembrane chemoreceptors in chemotaxis signaling clusters have been well characterized but those of soluble chemoreceptors remain relatively underexplored. By combining mutagenesis, microscopy, and biochemical assays, we show that the cytoplasmic chemoreceptors AerC and Tlp4b function in chemotaxis and localize to and interact with membrane-bound chemoreceptors and chemotaxis signaling proteins from both polar arrays, indicating that soluble chemoreceptors are promiscuous. The interactions of AerC and Tlp4b with polar chemotaxis signaling clusters are not equivalent and suggest distinct functions. Tlp4b, but not AerC, modulates the abundance of chemoreceptors within the signaling clusters through an unknown mechanism. The AerC chemoreceptor, but not Tlp4b, is able to traffic in and out of chemotaxis signaling clusters depending on its level of expression. We also identify a role of the chemoreceptor composition of chemotaxis signaling clusters in regulating their polar subcellular organization. The organization of chemotaxis signaling proteins as large membrane-bound arrays underlies chemotaxis sensitivity. Our findings suggest that the composition of chemoreceptors may fine-tune chemotaxis signaling not only through their chemosensory specificity but also through their role in the organization of polar chemotaxis signaling clusters. IMPORTANCE Cytoplasmic chemoreceptors represent about 14% of all chemoreceptors encoded in bacterial and archaeal genomes, but little is known about how they interact with and function in large polar assemblies of membrane-bound chemotaxis signaling clusters. Here, we show that two soluble chemoreceptors with a role in chemotaxis are promiscuous and interact with two distinct membrane-bound chemotaxis signaling clusters that control all chemotaxis responses in Azospirillum brasilense. We also found that any change in the chemoreceptor composition of chemotaxis signaling clusters alters their polar organization, suggesting a dynamic interplay between the sensory specificity of chemotaxis signaling clusters and their polar membrane organization.

Recent structural advances in bacterial chemotaxis signalling

Bacterial chemosensory arrays have served as a model system for in-situ structure determination, clearly cataloguing the improvement of cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) over the past decade. In recent years, this has culminated in an accurately fitted atomistic model for the full-length core signalling unit (CSU) and numerous insights into the function of the transmembrane receptors responsible for signal transduction. Here, we review the achievements of the latest structural advances in bacterial chemosensory arrays and the developments which have made such advances possible.

Knockdown Experiment Reveals an Essential GTPase CgtA's Involvement in Growth, Viability, Motility, Morphology, and Persister Phenotypes in Vibrio cholerae

CgtA is an essential bacterial GTPase consisting of a highly conserved N-terminal Spo0B-associated GTP-binding protein (Obg) domain, a central GTPase domain, and a variable C-terminal domain (CTD). This study reports global changes in the proteome and transcriptome of wild-type (Wt) versus full-length CgtA-depleted Vibrio cholerae in minimal media. Comparative transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq), followed by comparative proteomic analyses, revealed that the knockdown of cgtA significantly altered expressions of 311 proteins involved in diverse cellular activities, many of which are associated with the survival of V. cholerae. Various intracellular functional roles of CgtA in growth, viability, motility, morphology, and persister phenotypes in V. cholerae are revealed based on subsequent confirmatory experiments. Furthermore, a more sustained mRNA expression pattern of cgtA in a minimal medium than in a rich medium was also observed for Wt V. cholerae, where the highest level of mRNA expression of cgtA was observed during the logarithmic growth phase. Thereby, we propose that minimal medium-associated reduced growth rate coupled with cgtA depletion aggravates the intracellular stress in V. cholerae, interrupting vital cellular processes. The functional role of the CTD in V. cholerae is not fully understood. Hence, to specifically investigate the intracellular role of the 57-amino-acid-long CTD of CgtAVC, the CTD-only portion of CgtA was deleted. Subsequent proteomics studies revealed an altered expression of 240 proteins in the CgtA(ΔCTD) mutant, having major overlap with the full-length cgtA-deleted condition. Overall, our study reveals an alternative facet of the survival mechanism of V. cholerae during nutritional downshift as per the concomitant consequences of cgtA depletion. IMPORTANCE It is very important that we must find new drug target proteins from multidrug-resistant human-pathogenic organisms like V. cholerae. CgtA is among such potential candidates, and here, we are reporting about some newly identified cellular roles of it that are important for the survival of V. cholerae. Briefly, we knocked down the full-length cgtA gene, as well as did a partial deletion of this gene from the V. cholerae genome followed by RNA-Seq and proteomics studies. Results from our study revealed up- and downregulation of several known and unknown genes and proteins as the effect of the cgtA knockdown experiment. Also, we have presented some interesting observations that are linked with cgtA for growth, viability, motility, morphology, and persister phenotypes in V. cholerae. Our study enhances the importance of CgtA and paves the way for further exploration based on our provided data.

The Cellular Abundance of Chemoreceptors, Chemosensory Signaling Proteins, Sensor Histidine Kinases, and Solute Binding Proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Provides Insight into Sensory Preferences and Signaling Mechanisms

Chemosensory pathways and two-component systems are important bacterial signal transduction systems. In the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, these systems control many virulence traits. Previous studies showed that inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency induces virulence. We report here the abundance of chemosensory and two-component signaling proteins of P. aeruginosa grown in Pi deficient and sufficient media. The cellular abundance of chemoreceptors differed greatly, since a 2400-fold difference between the most and least abundant receptors was observed. For many chemoreceptors, their amount varied with the growth condition. The amount of chemoreceptors did not correlate with the magnitude of chemotaxis to their cognate chemoeffectors. Of the four chemosensory pathways, proteins of the Che chemotaxis pathway were most abundant and showed little variation in different growth conditions. The abundance of chemoreceptors and solute binding proteins indicates a sensing preference for amino acids and polyamines. There was an excess of response regulators over sensor histidine kinases in two-component systems. In contrast, ratios of the response regulators CheY and CheB to the histidine kinase CheA of the Che pathway were all below 1, indicative of different signaling mechanisms. This study will serve as a reference for exploring sensing preferences and signaling mechanisms of other bacteria.

Advanced imaging techniques: Microscopy

For decades, bacteria were thought of as "bags" of enzymes, lacking organelles and significant subcellular structures. This stood in sharp contrast with eukaryotes, where intracellular compartmentalization and the role of large-scale order had been known for a long time. However, the emerging field of Bacterial Cell Biology has established that bacteria are in fact highly organized, with most macromolecular components having specific subcellular locations that can change depending on the cell's physiological state (Barry & Gitai, 2011; Lenz & Søgaard-Andersen, 2011; Thanbichler & Shapiro, 2008). For example, we now know that many processes in bacteria are orchestrated by cytoskeletal proteins, which polymerize into surprisingly diverse superstructures, such as rings, sheets, and tread-milling rods (Pilhofer & Jensen, 2013). These superstructures connect individual proteins, macromolecular assemblies, and even two neighboring cells, to affect essential higher-order processes including cell division, DNA segregation, and motility. Understanding these processes requires resolving the in vivo dynamics and ultrastructure at different functional stages of the cell, at macromolecular resolution and in 3-dimensions (3D). Fluorescence light microscopy (fLM) of tagged proteins is highly valuable for investigating protein localization and dynamics, and the resolution power of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is required to elucidate the structure of macromolecular complexes in vivo and in vitro. This chapter summarizes the most recent advances in LM and TEM approaches that have revolutionized our knowledge and understanding of the microbial world.

Mechanisms of E. coli chemotaxis signaling pathways visualized using cryoET and computational approaches

Chemotaxis signaling pathways enable bacteria to sense and respond to their chemical environment and, in some species, are critical for lifestyle processes such as biofilm formation and pathogenesis. The signal transduction underlying chemotaxis behavior is mediated by large, highly ordered protein complexes known as chemosensory arrays. For nearly two decades, cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) has been used to image chemosensory arrays, providing an increasingly detailed understanding of their structure and function. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of the use of cryoET to study chemosensory arrays, including imaging strategies, key results, and outstanding questions. We further discuss the application of molecular modeling and simulation techniques to complement structure determination efforts and provide insight into signaling mechanisms. We close the review with a brief outlook, highlighting promising future directions for the field.

Interdomain Linkers Regulate Histidine Kinase Activity by Controlling Subunit Interactions

Bacterial chemoreceptors regulate the cytosolic multidomain histidine kinase CheA through largely unknown mechanisms. Residue substitutions in the peptide linkers that connect the P4 kinase domain to the P3 dimerization and P5 regulatory domain affect CheA basal activity and activation. To understand the role that these linkers play in CheA activity, the P3-to-P4 linker (L3) and P4-to-P5 linker (L4) were extended and altered in variants of Thermotoga maritima (Tm) CheA. Flexible extensions of the L3 and L4 linkers in CheA-LV1 (linker variant 1) allowed for a well-folded kinase domain that retained wild-type (WT)-like binding affinities for nucleotide and normal interactions with the receptor-coupling protein CheW. However, CheA-LV1 autophosphorylation activity registered ∼50-fold lower compared to WT. Neither a WT nor LV1 dimer containing a single P4 domain could autophosphorylate the P1 substrate domain. Autophosphorylation activity was rescued in variants with extended L3 and L4 linkers that favor helical structure and heptad spacing. Autophosphorylation depended on linker spacing and flexibility and not on sequence. Pulse-dipolar electron-spin resonance (ESR) measurements with spin-labeled adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) analogues indicated that CheA autophosphorylation activity inversely correlated with the proximity of the P4 domains within the dimers of the variants. Despite their separation in primary sequence and space, the L3 and L4 linkers also influence the mobility of the P1 substrate domains. In all, interactions of the P4 domains, as modulated by the L3 and L4 linkers, affect domain dynamics and autophosphorylation of CheA, thereby providing potential mechanisms for receptors to regulate the kinase.

Using Atomistic Simulations to Explore the Role of Methylation and ATP in Chemotaxis Signal Transduction

A bacterial chemotaxis mechanism is activated when nutrients bind to surface receptors. The sequence of intra- and interprotein events in this signal cascade from the receptors to the eventual molecular motors has been clearly identified. However, the atomistic details remain elusive, as in general may be expected of intraprotein signal transduction pathways, especially when fibrillar proteins are involved. We performed atomistic calculations of the methyl accepting chemoprotein (MCP)-CheA-CheW multidomain complex from Escherichia coli, simulating the methylated and unmethylated conditions in the chemoreceptors and the ATP-bound and apo conditions of the CheA. Our results indicate that these atomistic simulations, especially with one of the two force fields we tried, capture several relevant features of the downstream effects, such as the methylation favoring an intermediate structure that is more toward a dipped state and increases the chance of ATP hydrolysis. The results thus suggest the sensitivity of the model to reflect the nutrient signal response, a nontrivial validation considering the complexity of the system, encouraging even more detailed studies on the thermodynamic quantification of the effects and the identification of the signaling networks.

Signal binding at both modules of its dCache domain enables the McpA chemoreceptor of Bacillus velezensis to sense different ligands

Bacteria have evolved multiple signal transduction systems that permit an adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Chemoreceptor-based signaling cascades are very abundant in bacteria and are among the most complex signaling systems. Currently, our knowledge on the molecular features that determine signal recognition at chemoreceptors is limited. Chemoreceptor McpA of Bacillus velezensis SQR9 has been shown to mediate chemotaxis to a broad range of different ligands. Here we show that its ligand binding domain binds directly 13 chemoattractants. We provide support that organic acids and amino acids bind to the membrane-distal and membrane-proximal module of the dCache domain, respectively, whereas binding of sugars/sugar alcohols occurred at both modules. Structural biology studies combined with site-directed mutagenesis experiments have permitted to identify 10 amino acid residues that play key roles in the recognition of multiple ligands. Residues in membrane-distal and membrane-proximal regions were central for sensing organic acids and amimo acids, respectively, whereas all residues participated in sugars/sugar alcohol sensing. Most characterized chemoreceptors possess a narrow and well-defined ligand spectrum. We propose here a sensing mechanism involving both dCache modules that allows the integration of very diverse signals by a single chemoreceptor.

Revealing bacterial cell biology using cryo-electron tomography

Visualizing macromolecules inside bacteria at a high spatial resolution has remained a challenge owing to their small size and limited resolution of optical microscopy techniques. Recent advances in cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) imaging methods have revealed the spatial and temporal assemblies of many macromolecules involved in different cellular processes in bacteria at a resolution of a few nanometers in their native milieu. Specifically, the application of cryo-focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) milling to thin bacterial specimens makes them amenable for high-resolution cryo-ET data collection. In this review, we highlight recent research in three emerging areas of bacterial cell biology that have benefited from the cryo-FIB-ET technology - cytoskeletal filament assembly, intracellular organelles, and multicellularity.

Engineered microbial systems for advanced drug delivery

The human body is a natural habitat for a multitude of microorganisms, with bacteria being the major constituent of the microbiota. These bacteria colonize discrete anatomical locations that provide suitable conditions for their survival. Many bacterial species, both symbiotic and pathogenic, interact with the host via biochemical signaling. Based on these attributes, commensal and attenuated pathogenic bacteria have been engineered to deliver therapeutic molecules to target specific diseases. Recent advances in synthetic biology have enabled us to perform complex genetic modifications in live bacteria and bacteria-derived particles, which simulate micron or submicron lipid-based vectors, for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. In this review, we highlight various examples of engineered bacteria or bacteria-derived particles that encapsulate, secrete, or surface-display therapeutic molecules for the treatment or prevention of various diseases. The review highlights recent studies on (i) the production of therapeutics by microbial cell factories, (ii) disease-triggered release of therapeutics by sense and respond systems, (iii) bacteria targeting tumor hypoxia, and (iv) bacteria-derived particles as chassis for drug delivery. In addition, we discuss the potential of such drug delivery systems to be translated into clinical therapies.

Structural insights into the mechanism of archaellar rotational switching

Signal transduction via phosphorylated CheY towards the flagellum and the archaellum involves a conserved mechanism of CheY phosphorylation and subsequent conformational changes within CheY. This mechanism is conserved among bacteria and archaea, despite substantial differences in the composition and architecture of archaellum and flagellum, respectively. Phosphorylated CheY has higher affinity towards the bacterial C-ring and its binding leads to conformational changes in the flagellar motor and subsequent rotational switching of the flagellum. In archaea, the adaptor protein CheF resides at the cytoplasmic face of the archaeal C-ring formed by the proteins ArlCDE and interacts with phosphorylated CheY. While the mechanism of CheY binding to the C-ring is well-studied in bacteria, the role of CheF in archaea remains enigmatic and mechanistic insights are absent. Here, we have determined the atomic structures of CheF alone and in complex with activated CheY by X-ray crystallography. CheF forms an elongated dimer with a twisted architecture. We show that CheY binds to the C-terminal tail domain of CheF leading to slight conformational changes within CheF. Our structural, biochemical and genetic analyses reveal the mechanistic basis for CheY binding to CheF and allow us to propose a model for rotational switching of the archaellum.

Signal transduction via phosphorylated CheY is conserved in bacteria and archaea. In this study, the authors employ structural biochemistry combined with cell biology to delineate the mechanism of CheY recognition by the adaptor protein CheF.

Collective responses of bacteria to a local source of conflicting effectors

To cope in complex environments, motile bacteria have developed a chemosensory system that integrates multiple cues and directs their motion toward regions that it deems favorable. However, we have a limited understanding of the principles that govern bacterial behavior in complex stimuli fields. Here, we followed the spatial redistribution of E. coli cells in perplexing environments created by a local source of both beneficial (nutrients) and hazardous (low pH or indole) effectors. We identified two fundamentally distinct collective responses: a ‘trade-off’ response, in which bacteria sharply accumulated at a distance from the source that reflected a trade-off between the propagating effectors, and a ‘bet-hedging’ response, in which part of the bacteria accumulated away from the source, avoiding the hazardous effector, while the other part evaded the repulsive force and accumulated at the source. In addition, we demonstrate that cells lacking the Tsr sensor swim toward both repellents and, surprisingly, even toward pH values well below 7. Using a numerical analysis, we could correlate the collective bacterial responses with fundamentally distinct chemotactic force fields created along the channel by the propagation of the effectors and their unique perception by the chemosensory system.

How advances in cryo-electron tomography have contributed to our current view of bacterial cell biology

Advancements in the field of cryo-electron tomography have greatly contributed to our current understanding of prokaryotic cell organization and revealed intracellular structures with remarkable architecture. In this review, we present some of the prominent advancements in cryo-electron tomography, illustrated by a subset of structural examples to demonstrate the power of the technique. More specifically, we focus on technical advances in automation of data collection and processing, sample thinning approaches, correlative cryo-light and electron microscopy, and sub-tomogram averaging methods. In turn, each of these advances enabled new insights into bacterial cell architecture, cell cycle progression, and the structure and function of molecular machines. Taken together, these significant advances within the cryo-electron tomography workflow have led to a greater understanding of prokaryotic biology. The advances made the technique available to a wider audience and more biological questions and provide the basis for continued advances in the near future.

Protein rings are critical to the remarkable signaling properties of bacterial chemotaxis nanoarrays

Bacteria build an extensive sensory nanoarray to collect information that guides their swimming. In this issue of Science Signaling, Piñas et al. demonstrate that a key element of these arrays that enhances chemotaxis responses are hexameric rings of CheW, one of two types of rings that couple the responses of core signaling units to achieve remarkable signaling properties such as single-molecule detection.

Hexameric rings of the scaffolding protein CheW enhance response sensitivity and cooperativity in Escherichia coli chemoreceptor arrays

The Escherichia coli chemoreceptor array is a supramolecular assembly that enables cells to respond to extracellular cues dynamically and with great precision and sensitivity. In the array, transmembrane receptors organized as trimers of dimers are connected at their cytoplasmic tips by hexameric rings of alternating subunits of the kinase CheA and the scaffolding protein CheW (CheA-CheW rings). Interactions of CheW molecules with the members of receptor trimers not directly bound to CheA-CheW rings may lead to the formation of hexameric CheW rings in the chemoreceptor array. Here, we detected such CheW rings with a cellular cysteine-directed cross-linking assay and explored the requirements for their formation and their participation in array assembly. We found that CheW ring formation varied with cellular CheW abundance, depended on the presence of receptors capable of a trimer-of-dimers arrangement, and did not require CheA. Cross-linking studies of a CheA~CheW fusion protein incapable of forming homomeric CheW oligomers demonstrated that CheW rings were not essential for the assembly of CheA-containing arrays. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based kinase assays of arrays containing variable amounts of CheW rings revealed that CheW rings enhanced the cooperativity and the sensitivity of the responses to attractants. We propose that six-membered CheW rings provide the additional interconnectivity required for optimal signaling and gradient tracking performance by chemosensory arrays.

Signal Amplification in Highly Ordered Networks Is Driven by Geometry

Here, we hypothesize that, in biological systems such as cell surface receptors that relay external signals, clustering leads to substantial improvements in signaling efficiency. Representing cooperative signaling networks as planar graphs and applying Euler’s polyhedron formula, we can show that clustering may result in an up to a 200% boost in signaling amplitude dictated solely by the size and geometry of the network. This is a fundamental relationship that applies to all clustered systems regardless of its components. Nature has figured out a way to maximize the signaling amplitude in receptors that relay weak external signals. In addition, in cell-to-cell interactions, clustering both receptors and ligands may result in maximum efficiency and synchronization. The importance of clustering geometry in signaling efficiency goes beyond biological systems and can inform the design of amplifiers in nonbiological systems.

Effect of receptor cooperativity on methylation dynamics in bacterial chemotaxis with weak and strong gradient

We study methylation dynamics of the chemoreceptors as an Escherichia coli cell moves around in a spatially varying chemoattractant environment. We consider attractant concentration with strong and weak spatial gradient. During the uphill and downhill motion of the cell along the gradient, we measure the temporal variation of average methylation level of the receptor clusters. Our numerical simulations we show that the methylation dynamics depends sensitively on the size of the receptor clusters and also on the strength of the gradient. At short times after the beginning of a run, the methylation dynamics is mainly controlled by short runs which are generally associated with high receptor activity. This results in demethylation at short times. But for intermediate or large times, long runs play an important role and depending on receptor cooperativity or gradient strength, the qualitative variation of methylation can be completely different in this time regime. For weak gradient, both for uphill and downhill runs, after the initial demethylation, we find methylation level increases steadily with time for all cluster sizes. Similar qualitative behavior is observed for strong gradient during uphill runs as well. However, the methylation dynamics for downhill runs in strong gradient show highly nontrivial dependence on the receptor cluster size. We explain this behavior as a result of interplay between the sensing and adaptation modules of the signaling network.

Concerted Differential Changes of Helical Dynamics and Packing upon Ligand Occupancy in a Bacterial Chemoreceptor

Transmembrane receptors are central components of the chemosensory systems by which motile bacteria detect and respond to chemical gradients. An attractant bound to the receptor periplasmic domain generates conformational signals that regulate a histidine kinase interacting with its cytoplasmic domain. Ligand-induced signaling through the periplasmic and transmembrane domains of the receptor involves a piston-like helical displacement, but the nature of this signaling through the >200 Å four-helix coiled coil of the cytoplasmic domain had not yet been identified. We performed single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer measurements on Escherichia coli aspartate receptor homodimers inserted into native phospholipid bilayers enclosed in nanodiscs. The receptors were labeled with fluorophores at diagnostic positions near the middle of the cytoplasmic coiled coil. At these positions, we found that the two N-helices of the homodimer were more distant, that is, less tightly packed and more dynamic than the companion C-helix pair, consistent with previous deductions that the C-helices form a stable scaffold and the N-helices are dynamic. Upon ligand binding, the scaffold pair compacted further, while separation and dynamics of the dynamic pair increased. Thus, ligand binding had asymmetric effects on the two helical pairs, shifting mean distances in opposite directions and increasing the dynamics of one pair. We suggest that this reflects a conformational change in which differential alterations to the packing and dynamics of the two helical pairs are coupled. These coupled changes could represent a previously unappreciated mode of conformational signaling that may well occur in other coiled-coil signaling proteins.

Studying bacterial chemosensory array with CryoEM

Bacteria direct their movement in respond to gradients of nutrients and other stimuli in the environment through the chemosensory system. The behavior is mediated by chemosensory arrays that are made up of thousands of proteins to form an organized array near the cell pole. In this review, we briefly introduce the architecture and function of the chemosensory array and its core signaling unit. We describe the in vivo and in vitro systems that have been used for structural studies of chemosensory array by cryoEM, including reconstituted lipid nanodiscs, 2D lipid monolayer arrays, lysed bacterial ghosts, bacterial minicells and native bacteria cells. Lastly, we review recent advances in structural analysis of chemosensory arrays using state-of-the-art cryoEM and cryoET methodologies, focusing on the latest developments and insights with a perspective on current challenges and future directions.

Alternative Architecture of the E. coli Chemosensory Array

Chemotactic responses in motile bacteria are the result of sophisticated signal transduction by large, highly organized arrays of sensory proteins. Despite tremendous progress in the understanding of chemosensory array structure and function, a structural basis for the heightened sensitivity of networked chemoreceptors is not yet complete. Here, we present cryo-electron tomography visualisations of native-state chemosensory arrays in E. coli minicells. Strikingly, these arrays appear to exhibit a p2-symmetric array architecture that differs markedly from the p6-symmetric architecture previously described in E. coli. Based on this data, we propose molecular models of this alternative architecture and the canonical p6-symmetric assembly. We evaluate our observations and each model in the context of previously published data, assessing the functional implications of an alternative architecture and effects for future studies.

State of the art of bacterial chemotaxis

Bacterial chemotaxis is a biased movement of bacteria toward the beneficial chemical gradient or away from a toxic chemical gradient. This movement is achieved by sensing a chemical gradient by chemoreceptors. In most of the chemotaxis studies, Escherichia coli has been used as a model organism. E. coli have about 4-6 flagella on their surfaces, and the motility is achieved by rotating the flagella. Each flagellum has reversible flagellar motors at its base, which rotate the flagella in counterclockwise and clockwise directions to achieve "run" and "tumble." The chemotaxis of bacteria is regulated by a network of interacting proteins. The sensory signal is processed and transmitted to the flagellar motor by cytoplasmic proteins. Bacterial chemotaxis plays an important role in many biological processes such as biofilm formation, quorum sensing, bacterial pathogenesis, and host infection. Bacterial chemotaxis can be applied for bioremediation, horizontal gene transfer, drug delivery, or maybe some other industry in near future. This review contains an overview of bacterial chemotaxis, recent findings of the physiological importance of bacterial chemotaxis in other biological processes, and the application of bacterial chemotaxis.

Effect of receptor clustering on chemotactic performance of E. coli: Sensing versus adaptation

We show how the competition between sensing and adaptation can result in a performance peak in Escherichia coli chemotaxis using extensive numerical simulations in a detailed theoretical model. Receptor clustering amplifies the input signal coming from ligand binding which enhances chemotactic efficiency. But large clusters also induce large fluctuations in total activity since the number of clusters goes down. The activity and hence the run-tumble motility now gets controlled by methylation levels which are part of adaptation module rather than ligand binding. This reduces chemotactic efficiency.

How an unusual chemosensory system forms arrays on the bacterial nucleoid

Chemosensory systems are signaling pathways elegantly organized in hexagonal arrays that confer unique functional features to these systems such as signal amplification. Chemosensory arrays adopt different subcellular localizations from one bacterial species to another, yet keeping their supramolecular organization unmodified. In the gliding bacterium Myxococcus xanthus, a cytoplasmic chemosensory system, Frz, forms multiple clusters on the nucleoid through the direct binding of the FrzCD receptor to DNA. A small CheW-like protein, FrzB, might be responsible for the formation of multiple (instead of just one) Frz arrays. In this review, we summarize what is known on Frz array formation on the bacterial chromosome and discuss hypotheses on how FrzB might contribute to the nucleation of multiple clusters. Finally, we will propose some possible biological explanations for this type of localization pattern.

Molecular interactions and their predictive roles in cell pole determination in bacteria

Bacterial cell cycle is divided into well-coordinated phases; chromosome duplication and segregation, cell elongation, septum formation, and cytokinesis. The temporal separation of these phases depends upon the growth rates and doubling time in different bacteria. The entire process of cell division starts with the assembly of divisome complex at mid-cell position followed by constriction of the cell wall and septum formation. In the mapping of mid-cell position for septum formation, the gradient of oscillating Min proteins across the poles plays a pivotal role in several bacteria genus. The cues in the cell that defines the poles and plane of cell division are not fully characterized in cocci. Recent studies have shed some lights on molecular interactions at the poles and the underlying mechanisms involved in pole determination in non-cocci. In this review, we have brought forth recent findings on these aspects together, which would suggest a model to explain the mechanisms of pole determination in rod shaped bacteria and could be extrapolated as a working model in cocci.

Electrolocation? The evidence for redox-mediated taxis in Shewanella oneidensis

Shewanella oneidensis is a dissimilatory metal reducing bacterium and model for extracellular electron transfer (EET), a respiratory mechanism in which electrons are transferred out of the cell. In the last 10 years, migration to insoluble electron acceptors for EET has been shown to be nonrandom and tactic, seemingly in the absence of molecular or energy gradients that typically allow for taxis. As the ability to sense, locate, and respire electrodes has applications in bioelectrochemical technology, a better understanding of taxis in S. oneidensis is needed. While the EET conduits of S. oneidensis have been studied extensively, its taxis pathways and their interplay with EET are not yet understood, making investigation into taxis phenomena nontrivial. Since S. oneidensis is a member of an EET-encoding clade, the genetic circuitry of taxis to insoluble acceptors may be conserved. We performed a bioinformatic analysis of Shewanella genomes to identify S. oneidensis chemotaxis orthologs conserved in the genus. In addition to the previously reported core chemotaxis gene cluster, we identify several other conserved proteins in the taxis signaling pathway. We present the current evidence for the two proposed models of EET taxis, "electrokinesis" and flavin-mediated taxis, and highlight key areas in need of further investigation.

Exploring Spiroplasma Biology: Opportunities and Challenges

Spiroplasmas are cell-wall-deficient helical bacteria belonging to the class Mollicutes. Their ability to maintain a helical shape in the absence of cell wall and their motility in the absence of external appendages have attracted attention from the scientific community for a long time. In this review we compare and contrast motility, shape determination and cytokinesis mechanisms of Spiroplasma with those of other Mollicutes and cell-walled bacteria. The current models for rod-shape determination and cytokinesis in cell-walled bacteria propose a prominent role for the cell wall synthesis machinery. These models also involve the cooperation of the actin-like protein MreB and FtsZ, the bacterial homolog of tubulin. However the exact role of the cytoskeletal proteins is still under much debate. Spiroplasma possess MreBs, exhibit a rod-shape dependent helical morphology, and divide by an FtsZ-dependent mechanism. Hence, spiroplasmas represent model organisms for deciphering the roles of MreBs and FtsZ in fundamental mechanisms of non-spherical shape determination and cytokinesis in bacteria, in the absence of a cell wall. Identification of components implicated in these processes and deciphering their functions would require genetic experiments. Challenges in genetic manipulations in spiroplasmas are a major bottleneck in understanding their biology. We discuss advancements in genome sequencing, gene editing technologies, super-resolution microscopy and electron cryomicroscopy and tomography, which can be employed for addressing long-standing questions related to Spiroplasma biology.

Atypical chemoreceptor arrays accommodate high membrane curvature

The prokaryotic chemotaxis system is arguably the best-understood signaling pathway in biology. In all previously described species, chemoreceptors organize into a hexagonal (P6 symmetry) extended array. Here, we report an alternative symmetry (P2) of the chemotaxis apparatus that emerges from a strict linear organization of the histidine kinase CheA in Treponema denticola cells, which possesses arrays with the highest native curvature investigated thus far. Using cryo-ET, we reveal that Td chemoreceptor arrays assume an unusual arrangement of the supra-molecular protein assembly that has likely evolved to accommodate the high membrane curvature. The arrays have several atypical features, such as an extended dimerization domain of CheA and a variant CheW-CheR-like fusion protein that is critical for maintaining an ordered chemosensory apparatus. Furthermore, the previously characterized Td oxygen sensor ODP influences CheA ordering. These results suggest a greater diversity of the chemotaxis signaling system than previously thought.

Engineered chemotaxis core signaling units indicate a constrained kinase-off state

Bacterial chemoreceptors, the histidine kinase CheA, and the coupling protein CheW form transmembrane molecular arrays with remarkable sensing properties. The receptors inhibit or stimulate CheA kinase activity depending on the presence of attractants or repellants, respectively. We engineered chemoreceptor cytoplasmic regions to assume a trimer of receptor dimers configuration that formed well-defined complexes with CheA and CheW and promoted a CheA kinase-off state. These mimics of core signaling units were assembled to homogeneity and investigated by site-directed spin-labeling with pulse-dipolar electron-spin resonance spectroscopy (PDS), small-angle x-ray scattering, targeted protein cross-linking, and cryo-electron microscopy. The kinase-off state was especially stable, had relatively low domain mobility, and associated the histidine substrate and docking domains with the kinase core, thus preventing catalytic activity. Together, these data provide an experimentally restrained model for the inhibited state of the core signaling unit and suggest that chemoreceptors indirectly sequester the kinase and substrate domains to limit histidine autophosphorylation.

Adaptive tuning of cell sensory diversity without changes in gene expression

In the face of uncertainty, cell populations tend to diversify to enhance survival and growth. Previous studies established that cells can optimize such bet hedging upon environmental change by modulating gene expression to adapt both the average and diversity of phenotypes. Here, we demonstrate that cells can tune phenotypic diversity also using posttranslational modifications. In the chemotaxis network of Escherichia coli, we find, for both major chemoreceptors Tar and Tsr, that cell-to-cell variation in response sensitivity is dynamically modulated depending on the presence or absence of their cognate chemoeffector ligands in the environment. Combining experiments with mathematical modeling, we show that this diversity tuning requires only the environment-dependent covalent modification of chemoreceptors and a standing cell-to-cell variation in their allosteric coupling. Thus, when environmental cues are unavailable, phenotypic diversity enhances the population's readiness for many signals. However, once a signal is perceived, the population focuses on tracking that signal.

The chemosensory systems of Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the acute diarrheal disease cholera, is able to thrive in diverse habitats such as natural water bodies and inside human hosts. To ensure their survival, these bacteria rely on chemosensory pathways to sense and respond to changing environmental conditions. These pathways constitute a highly sophisticated cellular control system in Bacteria and Archaea. Reflecting the complex life cycle of V. cholerae, this organism has three different chemosensory pathways that together contain over 50 proteins expressed under different environmental conditions. Only one of them is known to control motility, while the function of the other two remains to be discovered. Here, we provide an overview of the chemosensory systems in V. cholerae and the advances toward understanding their structure and function.

The switch complex ArlCDE connects the chemotaxis system and the archaellum

Cells require a sensory system and a motility structure to achieve directed movement. Bacteria and archaea possess rotating filamentous motility structures that work in concert with the sensory chemotaxis system. This allows microorganisms to move along chemical gradients. The central response regulator protein CheY can bind to the motor of the motility structure, the flagellum in bacteria, and the archaellum in archaea. Both motility structures have a fundamentally different protein composition and structural organization. Yet, both systems receive input from the chemotaxis system. So far, it was unknown how the signal is transferred from the archaeal CheY to the archaellum motor to initiate motor switching. We applied a fluorescent microscopy approach in the model euryarchaeon Haloferax volcanii and shed light on the sequence order in which signals are transferred from the chemotaxis system to the archaellum. Our findings indicate that the euryarchaeal-specific ArlCDE are part of the archaellum motor and that they directly receive input from the chemotaxis system via the adaptor protein CheF. Hence, ArlCDE are an important feature of the archaellum of euryarchaea, are essential for signal transduction during chemotaxis and represent the archaeal switch complex.

Specific Root Exudate Compounds Sensed by Dedicated Chemoreceptors Shape Azospirillum brasilense Chemotaxis in the Rhizosphere

Plant roots shape the rhizosphere community by secreting compounds that recruit diverse bacteria. Colonization of various plant roots by the motile alphaproteobacterium Azospirillum brasilens e causes increased plant growth, root volume, and crop yield. Bacterial chemotaxis in this and other motile soil bacteria is critical for competitive colonization of the root surfaces. The role of chemotaxis in root surface colonization has previously been established by endpoint analyses of bacterial colonization levels detected a few hours to days after inoculation. More recently, microfluidic devices have been used to study plant-microbe interactions, but these devices are size limited. Here, we use a novel slide-in chamber that allows real-time monitoring of plant-microbe interactions using agriculturally relevant seedlings to characterize how bacterial chemotaxis mediates plant root surface colonization during the association of A. brasilens e with Triticum aestivum (wheat) and Medicago sativa (alfalfa) seedlings. We track A. brasilense accumulation in the rhizosphere and on the root surfaces of wheat and alfalfa. A. brasilense motile cells display distinct chemotaxis behaviors in different regions of the roots, including attractant and repellent responses that ultimately drive surface colonization patterns. We also combine these observations with real-time analyses of behaviors of wild-type and mutant strains to link chemotaxis responses to distinct chemicals identified in root exudates to specific chemoreceptors that together explain the chemotactic response of motile cells in different regions of the roots. Furthermore, the bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP modulates these chemotaxis responses. Together, these findings illustrate dynamic bacterial chemotaxis responses to rhizosphere gradients that guide root surface colonization.IMPORTANCE Plant root exudates play critical roles in shaping rhizosphere microbial communities, and the ability of motile bacteria to respond to these gradients mediates competitive colonization of root surfaces. Root exudates are complex chemical mixtures that are spatially and temporally dynamic. Identifying the exact chemical(s) that mediates the recruitment of soil bacteria to specific regions of the roots is thus challenging. Here, we connect patterns of bacterial chemotaxis responses and sensing by chemoreceptors to chemicals found in root exudate gradients and identify key chemical signals that shape root surface colonization in different plants and regions of the roots.