Staphylococcus aureus AbcA transporter enhances persister formation under β-lactam exposure

We evaluated the role of Staphylococcus aureus AbcA transporter in bacterial persistence and survival following exposure to the bactericidal agents nafcillin and oxacillin at both the population and single-cell levels. We show that AbcA overexpression resulted in resistance to nafcillin but not oxacillin. Using distinct fluorescent reporters of cell viability and AbcA expression, we found that over 6-14 hours of persistence formation, the proportion of AbcA reporter-expressing cells assessed by confocal microscopy increased sixfold as cell viability reporters decreased. Similarly, single-cell analysis in a high-throughput microfluidic system found a strong correspondence between antibiotic exposure and AbcA reporter expression. Persister cells grown in the absence of antibiotics showed neither an increase in nafcillin MIC nor in abcA transcript levels, indicating that survival was not associated with stable mutational resistance or abcA overexpression. Furthermore, persister cell levels on exposure to 1×MIC and 25×MIC of nafcillin decreased in an abcA knockout mutant. Survivors of nafcillin and oxacillin treatment overexpressed transporter AbcA, contributing to an enrichment of the number of persisters during treatment with pump-substrate nafcillin but not with pump-non-substrate oxacillin, indicating that efflux pump expression can contribute selectively to the survival of a persister population.

Genetic Diversity at 15 Fluorescent-Labeled Short Tandem Repeat Loci in the Patel and Other Communities of Gujarat, India

Thirteen tetranucleotide and 2 pentanucleotide repeat units were analyzed in 120 unrelated individuals of Patel and other communities of Gujarat, India. Allele frequency data obtained from the analysis of 15 short tandem repeat markers of the population were found to be satisfying Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with marginal deviations. Departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed in Patel communities at locus vWA and for that of the other communities at locus D7S820 and at locus TPOX. The power of discrimination values on an average fall within the range of 0.718 and 0.870, with deviations at locus D3S1358 showing a value of 0.400 for Patels. The value ranged between 0.709 and 0.869, with slight variations among the studied alleles in the other group. Thus, the 15 markers selected for this study were found to be highly suitable in human identification and for providing information on genetic polymorphism of the population of Gujarat.

H-2M3a violates the paradigm for major histocompatibility complex class I peptide binding

The major histocompatibility (MHC) class I-b molecule H-2M3a binds and presents N-formylated peptides to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This requirement potentially places severe constraints on the number of peptides that M3a can present to the immune system. Consistent with this idea, the M3a-Ld MHC class I chimera is expressed at very low levels on the cell surface, but can be induced significantly by the addition of specific peptides at 27 degrees C. Using this assay, we show that M3a binds many very short N-formyl peptides, including N-formyl chemotactic peptides and canonical octapeptides. This observation is in sharp contrast to the paradigmatic size range of peptides of 8-10 amino acids binding to most class I-a molecules and the class I-b molecule Qa-2. Stabilization by fMLF-benzyl amide could be detected at peptide concentrations as low as 100 nM. While N-formyl peptides as short as two amino acids in length stabilized expression of M3a-Ld, increasing the length of these peptides added to the stability of peptide-MHC complexes as determined by 27-37 degrees C temperature shift experiments. We propose that relaxation of the length rule may represent a compensatory adaptation to maximize the number of peptides that can be presented by H-2M3a.

Availability of endogenous peptides limits expression of an M3a-Ld major histocompatibility complex class I chimera

Taking advantage of our understanding of the peptide specificity of the major histocompatibility complex class I-b molecule M3a, we sought to determine why these molecules are poorly represented on the cell surface. To this end we constructed a chimeric molecule with the alpha 1 and alpha 2 domains of M3a and alpha 3 of Ld thereby allowing use of available monoclonal antibodies to quantify surface expression. Transfected, but not control, B10.CAS2 (H-2M3b) cells were lysed readily by M3a-restricted monoclonal cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Thus, the chimera bound, trafficked, and presented endogenous mitochondrial peptides. However, despite high levels of M3a-Ld mRNA, transfectants were negative by surface staining. This finding was consistent with inefficient trafficking to the cell surface. Incubation at 26 degrees C, thought to permit trafficking of unoccupied heavy (H) chains, resulted in detectable cell surface expression of chimeric molecules. Incubation with exogenous peptide at 26 degrees C (but not at 37 degrees C) greatly enhanced expression of M3a-Ld molecules in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting stabilization of unoccupied molecules. Stable association of beta 2-microglobulin with the chimeric H chain was observed in labeled cell lysates only in the presence of exogenous specific peptide, indicating that peptide is required for the formation of a ternary complex. These results indicate that surface expression of M3a-Ld is limited largely by the steady-state availability of endogenous peptides. Since most known M3a-binding peptides are N-formylated, native M3a may normally be expressed at high levels only during infection by intracellular bacteria.

Antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex class I-B molecules

Class I-b genes constitute the majority of MHC class I loci. These monomorphic or oligomorphic molecules have been described in many organisms; they are best characterized in the mouse, which contains a substantial number of potentially intact genes. Two main characteristics differentiate class I-b from class I-a molecules: limited polymorphism and lower cell surface expression. These distinguishing features suggest possible generalizations regarding the evolution and function of this class. Additionally, class I-b proteins tend to have shorter cytoplasmic domains or in some cases may be secreted or may substitute a lipid anchor for the transmembrane domain. Some are also expressed in a limited distribution of cells or tissues. At least six mouse MHC class I-b molecules have been shown to present antigens to alpha beta or gamma delta T cells. Recent advances have provided insight into the physiological function of H-2M3a and have defined the natural peptide-binding motif of Qa-2. In addition, significant progress has been made toward better understanding of other class I-b molecules, including Qa-1, TL, HLA-E, HLA-G, and the MHC-unlinked class I molecule CD1. We begin this review, however, by arguing that the dichotomous categorization of MHC genes as class I-a and I-b is conceptually misleading, despite its historical basis and practical usefulness. With these reservations in mind, we then discuss antigen presentation by MHC class I-b molecules with particular attention to their structure, polymorphism, requirements for peptide antigen binding and tissue expression.

Differential amino-terminal anchors for peptide binding to H-2M3a or H-2Kb and H-2Db

We previously established that H-2M3a, the H chain of the maternally transmitted Ag (Mta), is specialized for presentation of N-formylated peptides. We hypothesized that the N-formyl group might prevent or limit the presentation of peptide Ag by H-2K and H-2D molecules. We now show by Mta- and OVA-specific CTL assays, peptide competition, and immunofluorescence analyses that N-formyl modification of four antigenic peptides inhibited their binding by either H-2Kb (OVAMet258-264, VSVNP52-59, and SVNP324-332) or H2-Db (SVNP324-332, and IVNP366-374). In contrast, N-formyl-OVAMet258-264 did bind to H2-M3a. The data imply lack of an N-formyl-binding pocket in classical MHC class I molecules and are consistent with a specialized role for H2-M3a in presentation of N-formylated peptides such as derived from intracellular prokaryotic parasites.

Differential amino-terminal anchors for peptide binding to H-2M3a or H-2Kb and H-2Db

We previously established that H-2M3a, the H chain of the maternally transmitted Ag (Mta), is specialized for presentation of N-formylated peptides. We hypothesized that the N-formyl group might prevent or limit the presentation of peptide Ag by H-2K and H-2D molecules. We now show by Mta- and OVA-specific CTL assays, peptide competition, and immunofluorescence analyses that N-formyl modification of four antigenic peptides inhibited their binding by either H-2Kb (OVAMet258-264, VSVNP52-59, and SVNP324-332) or H2-Db (SVNP324-332, and IVNP366-374). In contrast, N-formyl-OVAMet258-264 did bind to H2-M3a. The data imply lack of an N-formyl-binding pocket in classical MHC class I molecules and are consistent with a specialized role for H2-M3a in presentation of N-formylated peptides such as derived from intracellular prokaryotic parasites.

Biochemical specificity of H-2M3a. Stereospecificity and space-filling requirements at position 1 maintain N-formyl peptide binding

The maternally transmitted Ag is a cell surface product of three gene products: 1) H-2M3a (formerly Hmta), a class I MHC heavy chain; 2) beta 2-microglobulin; and 3) maternally transmitted factor (Mtf), the N-terminus of the mitochondrially encoded ND1 subunit of the reduced form of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase. This class I molecule has been shown to be an N-formyl peptide receptor. Although the N-formyl moiety is necessary for binding to M3a, it is not sufficient. We proposed that the R group of the amino acid in position 1 plays a pivotal role in peptide binding to M3a. To test this hypothesis, analogues differing in size and stereospecificity of the R group were synthesized. Substitutions with other hydrophobic amino acids such as N-formyl phenylalanine and N-formyl valine had no significant effect on the ability of these Mtf alpha analogues to sensitize target cells (M3a, Mtf beta) to M3a, Mtf alpha-specific CTL. In contrast, the nonsubstituted, N-formylated, and N-acetylated glycyl analogues of Mtf beta bound equivalently to M3a in a peptide competition assay. Moreover, the alanine analogue bound in an N-formyl-dependent manner. To determine the limitations of the putative N-formyl pocket, peptide analogues were constructed incorporating D-isomer amino acids. When formylated D-alanine or D-methionine replaced the native methionine, these peptide derivatives did not show significant binding to M3a. Therefore, the presence of a space-filling R group (greater than hydrogen) is necessary for an antigenic peptide to bind M3a in an N-formyl-dependent manner. Additionally, the ability of M3a to discriminate between the optical forms of methionine and alanine demonstrates that this N-formyl pocket is stereospecific in its ability to bind peptide. Thus, we have defined three requirements for peptide binding to M3a: an N-formyl moiety at the amino terminus of the peptide, a space-filling R group at position 1 to maintain this N-formyl specificity, and the correct stereoisomer of the first amino acid.

Biochemical specificity of H-2M3a. Stereospecificity and space-filling requirements at position 1 maintain N-formyl peptide binding

The maternally transmitted Ag is a cell surface product of three gene products: 1) H-2M3a (formerly Hmta), a class I MHC heavy chain; 2) beta 2-microglobulin; and 3) maternally transmitted factor (Mtf), the N-terminus of the mitochondrially encoded ND1 subunit of the reduced form of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase. This class I molecule has been shown to be an N-formyl peptide receptor. Although the N-formyl moiety is necessary for binding to M3a, it is not sufficient. We proposed that the R group of the amino acid in position 1 plays a pivotal role in peptide binding to M3a. To test this hypothesis, analogues differing in size and stereospecificity of the R group were synthesized. Substitutions with other hydrophobic amino acids such as N-formyl phenylalanine and N-formyl valine had no significant effect on the ability of these Mtf alpha analogues to sensitize target cells (M3a, Mtf beta) to M3a, Mtf alpha-specific CTL. In contrast, the nonsubstituted, N-formylated, and N-acetylated glycyl analogues of Mtf beta bound equivalently to M3a in a peptide competition assay. Moreover, the alanine analogue bound in an N-formyl-dependent manner. To determine the limitations of the putative N-formyl pocket, peptide analogues were constructed incorporating D-isomer amino acids. When formylated D-alanine or D-methionine replaced the native methionine, these peptide derivatives did not show significant binding to M3a. Therefore, the presence of a space-filling R group (greater than hydrogen) is necessary for an antigenic peptide to bind M3a in an N-formyl-dependent manner. Additionally, the ability of M3a to discriminate between the optical forms of methionine and alanine demonstrates that this N-formyl pocket is stereospecific in its ability to bind peptide. Thus, we have defined three requirements for peptide binding to M3a: an N-formyl moiety at the amino terminus of the peptide, a space-filling R group at position 1 to maintain this N-formyl specificity, and the correct stereoisomer of the first amino acid.

Specialized functions of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. II. Hmt binds N-formylated peptides of mitochondrial and prokaryotic origin

The physiological functions of the mouse telomeric major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, including Hmt, are unknown. Hmt presents a polymorphic, N-formylated peptide encoded by the mitochondrial gene ND1 forming the cell surface maternally transmitted antigen (Mta). Because the N-formyl moiety is required for Hmt binding, we proposed that Hmt may function generally in presentation of N-formylated antigens. This hypothesis was validated by a competitive binding assay, demonstrating that synthetic N-formyl peptides from other mitochondrial genes also bound Hmt. Bacteria similarly initiate protein synthesis with N-formylmethionine; indeed, we established that Hmt can also present prokaryotic peptides in an N-formyl-dependent manner. These results indicate biochemical specialization of this MHC-peptide interaction and suggest a unique role for Hmt in prokaryotic host defenses.