Dataset Information

Characterization of Conserved and Novel Septal Factors in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

ABSTRACT: Septation in bacteria requires coordinated regulation of cell wall biosynthesis and hydrolysis enzymes so that new septal cross-wall can be appropriately constructed without compromising the integrity of the existing cell wall. Bacteria with different modes of growth and different types of cell wall require different regulators to mediate cell growth and division processes. Mycobacteria have both a cell wall structure and a mode of growth that are distinct from well-studied model organisms and use several different regulatory mechanisms. Here, using Mycobacterium smegmatis, we identify and characterize homologs of the conserved cell division regulators FtsL and FtsB, and show that they appear to function similarly to their homologs in Escherichia coli We identify a number of previously undescribed septally localized factors which could be involved in cell wall regulation. One of these, SepIVA, has a DivIVA domain, is required for mycobacterial septation, and is localized to the septum and the intracellular membrane domain. We propose that SepIVA is a regulator of cell wall precursor enzymes that contribute to construction of the septal cross-wall, similar to the putative elongation function of the other mycobacterial DivIVA homolog, Wag31.IMPORTANCE The enzymes that build bacterial cell walls are essential for cell survival but can cause cell lysis if misregulated; thus, their regulators are also essential. The number and nature of these regulators is likely to vary in bacteria that grow in different ways. The mycobacteria are a genus that have a cell wall whose composition and construction vary greatly from those of well-studied model organisms. In this work, we identify and characterize some of the proteins that regulate the mycobacterial cell wall. We find that some of these regulators appear to be functionally conserved with their structural homologs in evolutionarily distant species such as Escherichia coli, but other proteins have critical regulatory functions that may be unique to the actinomycetes.

SUBMITTER: Wu KJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5826036 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characterization of Conserved and Novel Septal Factors in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Wu Katherine J KJ Zhang Jenna J Baranowski Catherine C Leung Vivian V Rego E Hesper EH Morita Yasu S YS Rubin Eric J EJ Boutte Cara C CC

Journal of bacteriology 20180223 6

Septation in bacteria requires coordinated regulation of cell wall biosynthesis and hydrolysis enzymes so that new septal cross-wall can be appropriately constructed without compromising the integrity of the existing cell wall. Bacteria with different modes of growth and different types of cell wall require different regulators to mediate cell growth and division processes. Mycobacteria have both a cell wall structure and a mode of growth that are distinct from well-studied model organisms and u ...[more]

PMID: 29311277

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Project description:Mycobacterium smegmatis SigF is a group III sigma factor. Its ortholog in M. tuberculosis is reported to have role in regulation and function of cell wall components. In present study we have created an M. smegmatis M-NM-^TsigF mutant by allele exchange method. M. smegmatis sigF mutant shows non pigmented phenotype and is more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide generated oxidative stress. DNA microarray analysis of M. smegmatis wild type and M-NM-^TsigF mutant suggests that SigF in this species controls the expression of several energy and central intermediary metabolism genes along with regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis. Gene expression patterns of M.smegmatis wild type and M-NM-^TsigF mutant strains were compared at two growth stages i.e. log (OD600 ~1.4) and stationary (OD600 ~3.0). M. smegmatis strains were grown in DifcoTM MiddleBrook 7H9 broth base (BD Biosciences, Sparks, MD, USA) with 0.2% glycerol (v/v) and 0.05% Tween-80 (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) supplemented with 10% albumen dextrose catalase (BD Biosciences) (v/v) at 37 0C with continuous shaking. Total RNA was isolated using Trizole (Invitrogen) method and labelled with cyanine 3 (Cy3) as per Agilent 1-color labelling protocol (Version 5.5, February 2007). Six hundred nanograms of each Cy3 labelled samples were fragmented and hybridized. Fragmentation of labeled cRNA and hybridization were performed using Gene Expression Hybridization kit (Agilent Technologies). Hybridization was carried out in AgilentM-bM-^@M-^Ys Surehyb Chambers at 65 0C for 16 h. The hybridized slides were washed using Agilent Gene Expression wash buffers and scanned using the Agilent Microarray Scanner G Model G2565BA at 5 micron resolution. Feature extracted data was analysed using GeneSpring GX v 7.3.1 software from Agilent. Normalization of the data was done in GeneSpring GX using the recommended one color Per Chip and Per Gene Data Transformation. Set measurements less than 0.01 to 0.01 per chip, normalize to 50th percentile per gene, and normalize to specific samples.

Project description:Resuscitation-promoting factors (Rpfs) have previously been shown to act as growth-stimulatory molecules via their lysozyme-like activity on peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall. In this study, we investigated the ability of Mycobacterium smegmatis strains lacking rpf genes to form biofilms and tested their susceptibilities to cell wall-targeting agents. M. smegmatis contains four distinct rpf homologues, namely, MSMEG_5700 (rpfA), MSMEG_5439 (rpfB), MSMEG_4640 (rpfE2), and MSMEG_4643 (rpfE). During axenic growth of the wild-type strain, all four mRNA transcripts were expressed to various degrees, but the expression of MSMEG_4643 was significantly greater during exponential growth. Similarly, all rpf mRNA transcripts could be detected in biofilms grown for 7, 14, and 28 days, with MSMEG_4643 expressed at the highest abundance after 7 days. In-frame unmarked deletion mutants (single and combinatorial) were generated and displayed altered colony morphologies and the inability to form typical biofilms. Moreover, any strain lacking rpfA and rpfB simultaneously exhibited increased susceptibility to rifampin, vancomycin, and SDS. Exogenous Rpf supplementation in the form of culture filtrate failed to restore biofilm formation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of peptidoglycan (PG) suggested a reduction in 4-3 cross-linked PG in the ΔrpfABEE2 mutant strain. In addition, the level of PG-repeat units terminating in 1,6-anhydroMurNAc appeared to be significantly reduced in the quadruple rpf mutant. Collectively, our data have shown that Rpfs play an important role in biofilm formation, possibly through alterations in PG cross-linking and the production of signaling molecules.IMPORTANCE The cell wall of pathogenic mycobacteria is composed of peptidoglycan, arabinogalactan, mycolic acids, and an outer capsule. This inherent complexity renders it resistant to many antibiotics. Consequently, its biosynthesis and remodeling during growth directly impact viability. Resuscitation-promoting factors (Rpfs), enzymes with lytic transglycosylase activity, have been associated with the revival of dormant cells and subsequent resumption of vegetative growth. Mycobacterium smegmatis, a soil saprophyte and close relative of the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, encodes four distinct Rpfs. Herein, we assessed the relationship between Rpfs and biofilm formation, which is used as a model to study drug tolerance and bacterial signaling in mycobacteria. We demonstrated that progressive deletion of rpf genes hampered the development of biofilms and reduced drug tolerance. These effects were accompanied by a reduction in muropeptide production and altered peptidoglycan cross-linking. Collectively, these observations point to an important role for Rpfs in mycobacterial communication and drug tolerance.

Dataset Information

Characterization of Conserved and Novel Septal Factors in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Publications

Characterization of Conserved and Novel Septal Factors in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

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