In this section
@article{Seddon:2025:10.1038/s41467-025-55834-w,
author = {Seddon, C and David, S and Wong, J and Ishimoto, N and He, S and Bradshaw, J and Low, WW and Frankel, G and Beis, K},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-55834-w},
journal = {Nature Communications},
title = {Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55834-w},
volume = {16},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Conjugation plays a major role in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Following transfer of IncF-like plasmids, recipients become refractory to a second wave of conjugation with the same plasmid via entry (TraS) and surface (TraT) exclusion mechanisms. Here, we show that TraT from the pKpQIL and F plasmids (TraTpKpQIL and TraTF) exhibits plasmid surface exclusion specificity. The cryo-EM structures of TraTpKpQIL and TraTF reveal that they oligomerise into decameric champagne bottle cork-like structures, which are anchored to the outer membrane via a diacylglycerol and palmitic acid modified α-helical barrel domain. Unexpectedly, we identify chromosomal TraT homologues from multiple Gram-negative phyla which form numerous divergent lineages in a phylogenetic tree of TraT sequences. Plasmid-associated TraT sequences are found in multiple distinct lineages, including two separate clades incorporating TraT from Enterobacteriaceae IncF/F-like and Legionellaceae F-like plasmids. These findings suggest that different plasmid backbones have acquired and co-opted TraT on independent occasions.
AU - Seddon,C
AU - David,S
AU - Wong,J
AU - Ishimoto,N
AU - He,S
AU - Bradshaw,J
AU - Low,WW
AU - Frankel,G
AU - Beis,K
DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-55834-w
PY - 2025///
SN - 2041-1723
TI - Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT
T2 - Nature Communications
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55834-w
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-55834-w
VL - 16
ER -
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