Sequential and spatially restricted interactions of assembly factors with an autotransporter beta domain.
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ABSTRACT: Autotransporters are bacterial virulence factors that consist of an N-terminal extracellular ("passenger") domain and a C-terminal ? barrel domain ("? domain") that resides in the outer membrane. Here we used an in vivo site-specific photocrosslinking approach to gain insight into the mechanism by which the ? domain is integrated into the outer membrane and the relationship between ? domain assembly and passenger domain secretion. We found that periplasmic chaperones and specific components of the ? barrel assembly machinery (Bam) complex interact with the ? domain of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 autotransporter extracellular serine protease P (EspP) in a temporally and spatially regulated fashion. Although the chaperone Skp initially interacted with the entire ? domain, BamA, BamB, and BamD subsequently interacted with discrete ? domain regions. BamB and BamD remained bound to the ? domain longer than BamA and therefore appeared to function at a later stage of assembly. Interestingly, we obtained evidence that the completion of ? domain assembly is regulated by an intrinsic checkpoint mechanism that requires the completion of passenger domain secretion. In addition to leading to a detailed model of autotransporter biogenesis, our results suggest that the lipoprotein components of the Bam complex play a direct role in the membrane integration of ? barrel proteins.
SUBMITTER: Ieva R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3150907 | biostudies-other | 2011 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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