Dataset Information

Deciphering the Rules Underlying Xenogeneic Silencing and Counter-Silencing of Lsr2-like Proteins Using CgpS of Corynebacterium glutamicum as a Model.

ABSTRACT: Lsr2-like nucleoid-associated proteins play an important role as xenogeneic silencers (XS) of horizontally acquired genomic regions in actinobacteria. In this study, we systematically analyzed the in vivo constraints underlying silencing and counter-silencing of the Lsr2-like protein CgpS in Corynebacterium glutamicum Genome-wide analysis revealed binding of CgpS to regions featuring a distinct drop in GC profile close to the transcription start site (TSS) but also identified an overrepresented motif with multiple A/T steps at the nucleation site of the nucleoprotein complex. Binding of specific transcription factors (TFs) may oppose XS activity, leading to counter-silencing. Following a synthetic counter-silencing approach, target gene activation was realized by inserting operator sites of an effector-responsive TF within various CgpS target promoters, resulting in increased promoter activity upon TF binding. Analysis of reporter constructs revealed maximal counter-silencing when the TF operator site was inserted at the position of maximal CgpS coverage. This principle was implemented in a synthetic toggle switch, which features a robust and reversible response to effector availability, highlighting the potential for biotechnological applications. Together, our results provide comprehensive insights into how Lsr2 silencing and counter-silencing shape evolutionary network expansion in this medically and biotechnologically relevant bacterial phylum.IMPORTANCE In actinobacteria, Lsr2-like nucleoid-associated proteins function as xenogeneic silencers (XS) of horizontally acquired genomic regions, including viral elements, virulence gene clusters in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and genes involved in cryptic specialized metabolism in Streptomyces species. Consequently, a detailed mechanistic understanding of Lsr2 binding in vivo is relevant as a potential drug target and for the identification of novel bioactive compounds. Here, we followed an in vivo approach to investigate the rules underlying xenogeneic silencing and counter-silencing of the Lsr2-like XS CgpS from Corynebacterium glutamicum Our results demonstrated that CgpS distinguishes between self and foreign by recognizing a distinct drop in GC profile in combination with a short, sequence-specific motif at the nucleation site. Following a synthetic counter-silencer approach, we studied the potential and constraints of transcription factors to counteract CgpS silencing, thereby facilitating the integration of new genetic traits into host regulatory networks.

SUBMITTER: Wiechert J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7002338 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Deciphering the Rules Underlying Xenogeneic Silencing and Counter-Silencing of Lsr2-like Proteins Using CgpS of Corynebacterium glutamicum as a Model.

Wiechert Johanna J Filipchyk Andrei A Hünnefeld Max M Gätgens Cornelia C Brehm Jannis J Heermann Ralf R Frunzke Julia J

mBio 20200204 1

Lsr2-like nucleoid-associated proteins play an important role as xenogeneic silencers (XS) of horizontally acquired genomic regions in actinobacteria. In this study, we systematically analyzed the <i>in vivo</i> constraints underlying silencing and counter-silencing of the Lsr2-like protein CgpS in <i>Corynebacterium glutamicum</i> Genome-wide analysis revealed binding of CgpS to regions featuring a distinct drop in GC profile close to the transcription start site (TSS) but also identified an ov ...[more]

PMID: 32019787

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Project description:In a manner similar to ubiquitin, the prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup) has been shown to target proteins for degradation via the proteasome in mycobacteria. However, not all actinobacteria possessing the Pup protein also harbor a proteasome, suggesting fates for pupylated proteins other than degradation via a proteasome or degradation at all. In the present study we set out to study pupylation in the proteasome-lacking non-pathogenic model microorganism and biotechnological workhorse Corynebacterium glutamicum. A defined pup deletion mutant of C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 grew as the control indicating that pupylation seems to be dispensable under the conditions tested. By expression of homologous Pup carrying a poly-histidine tag in C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 we purified the first pupylome of a microorganism lacking a proteasome. Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT) unraveled 54 proteins being pupylated in this organism. Similar to mycobacteria, the majority of pupylated proteins in C. glutamicum can be classified as enzymes of the metabolism or as involved in translation. These results help to elucidate the common target pathways of pupylation in bacteria. Sample 1: For growth in CGXII minimal media, a preculture 1 was grown in 5 ml BHI medium inoculated with a single colony from a fresh BHI agar plate and incubated at 170 rpm for 8 hours. Then 500 M-BM-5l of preculture 1 were used to inoculate preculture 2 in 100 ml shake flasks with 20 ml CGXII minimal medium containing 4 % (w/v) glucose and incubated over night (140 rpm , 30 M-BM-0C ). Subsequent main cultures (50 ml CGXII medium with 4 % glucose) were inoculated with cells from preculture 2 to an OD600 of about 0.4. For DNA microarray analysis, cells were harvested in the exponential growth phase at an OD600 of 4 to 5. After extraction of total RNA 25M-BM-5g of total RNA from C. glutamicum Delta-pup and C. glutamicum WT were compared in two-color microarray analysis. Overall three biological replicates were done. Sample 2-4: For growth in CGXII minimal media, a preculture 1 was grown in 5 ml BHI medium inoculated with a single colony from a fresh BHI agar plate and incubated at 170 rpm for 8 hours. Then 500 M-BM-5l of preculture 1 were used to inoculate preculture 2 in 100 ml shake flasks with 20 ml CGXII minimal medium containing 4 % (w/v) glucose and incubated over night (140 rpm , 30 M-BM-0C ). Subsequent main cultures (50 ml CGXII medium with 4 % glucose) were inoculated with cells from preculture 2 to an OD600 of about 0.4. For growth experiments in complex BHI medium, 20 ml brain heart infusion (BHI) medium (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, USA) were inoculated with a single colony from a fresh BHI agar plate and incubated at 140 rpm as overnight cultures. Subsequent main cultures (50 ml BHI medium) were inoculated with cells from overnight cultures to an optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of about 1. For DNA microarray analysis, cells were harvested in the exponential growth phase at an OD600 of 4 to 5. After extraction of total RNA 25M-BM-5g of total RNA from C. glutamicum Delta-pup and C. glutamicum WT were compared in two-color microarray analysis. Overall three biological replicates were done for each growth medium. Sample 5-6: For growth experiments in complex BHI medium, 20 ml brain heart infusion (BHI) medium (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, USA) were inoculated with a single colony from a fresh BHI agar plate and incubated at 140 rpm as overnight cultures. Subsequent main cultures (50 ml BHI medium) were inoculated with cells from overnight cultures to an optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of about 1. For DNA microarray analysis, cells were harvested in the exponential growth phase at an OD600 of 4 to 5. After extraction of total RNA 25M-BM-5g of total RNA from C. glutamicum Delta-pup and C. glutamicum WT were compared in two-color microarray analysis. Overall three biological replicates were done.

Project description:Proteins of the LCP (LytR, CpsA, Psr) family have been shown to inherit important roles in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. However, their exact function in the formation of the complex cell wall structures of the Corynebacteriales, including the prominent pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Corynebacterium diphtheriae, remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the role of the LCP proteins LcpA and LcpB of Corynebacterium glutamicum, both of which localize at regions of nascent cell wall biosynthesis. A strain lacking lcpB did not show any growth-related or morphological phenotype under the tested conditions. In contrast, conditional silencing of the essential lcpA gene resulted in severe growth defects and drastic morphological changes. Compared to the wild-type cell wall, the cell wall of this mutant contained significantly less mycolic acids and a reduced amount of arabinogalactan. In particular, rhamnose, a specific sugar component of the linker that connects arabinogalactan and peptidoglycan, was decreased. Complementation studies of the lcpA-silencing strain with several mutated and truncated LcpA variants suggested that both periplasmic domains are essential for function whereas the cytoplasmic N-terminal part is dispensable. Successful complementation experiments with proteins of M. tuberculosis and C. diphtheriae revealed a conserved function of LCP proteins in these species. Finally, pyrophosphatase activity of LcpA was shown in an in vitro assay. Taken together, our results suggest that LCP proteins are responsible for the transfer of arabinogalactan onto peptidoglycan in actinobacterial species and support a crucial function of a so-far-uncharacterized C-terminal domain (LytR_C domain) which is frequently found at the C terminus of the LCP domain in this prokaryotic phylum.ImportanceAbout one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and multiple-antibiotic resistance provokes the demand for novel antibiotics. The special cell wall architecture of Corynebacteriales is critical for treatments because it is either a direct target or a barrier that the drug has to cross. Here, we present the analysis of LcpA and LcpB of the closely related Corynebacterium glutamicum, the first of which is an essential protein involved in cell wall biogenesis. Our work provides a comprehensive characterization of the impact of LCP proteins on cell wall biogenesis in this medically and biotechnologically important class of bacteria. Special focus is set on the two periplasmic LcpA domains and their contributions to physiological function.

Dataset Information

Deciphering the Rules Underlying Xenogeneic Silencing and Counter-Silencing of Lsr2-like Proteins Using CgpS of Corynebacterium glutamicum as a Model.

Publications

Deciphering the Rules Underlying Xenogeneic Silencing and Counter-Silencing of Lsr2-like Proteins Using CgpS of Corynebacterium glutamicum as a Model.

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