Publications
240 results found
Rasmussen HO, Kumar A, Shin B, et al., 2023, FapA is an Intrinsically Disordered Chaperone for Pseudomonas Functional Amyloid FapC, JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Vol: 435, ISSN: 0022-2836
Miliara X, Tatsuta T, Eiyama A, et al., 2023, An intermolecular hydrogen bonded network in the PRELID-TRIAP protein family plays a role in lipid sensing, BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS, Vol: 1871, ISSN: 1570-9639
Meisl G, Xu CK, Taylor JD, et al., 2022, Uncovering the universality of self-replication in protein aggregation and its link to disease, SCIENCE ADVANCES, Vol: 8, ISSN: 2375-2548
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- Citations: 4
Zhang K, Li S, Wang Y, et al., 2022, Bacteriophage protein PEIP is a potent Bacillus subtilis enolase inhibitor, CELL REPORTS, Vol: 40, ISSN: 2211-1247
McKenna S, Huse KK, Giblin S, et al., 2022, The role of streptococcal cell-envelope proteases in bacterial evasion of the innate immune system, Journal of Innate Immunity, Vol: 14, Pages: 69-88, ISSN: 1662-811X
Bacteria possess the ability to evolve varied and ingenious strategies to outwit the host immune system, instigating an evolutionary arms race. Proteases are amongst the many weapons employed by bacteria, which specifically cleave and neutralize key signalling molecules required for a coordinated immune response. In this article, we focus on a family of S8 subtilisin-like serine proteases expressed as cell-envelope proteases (CEPs) by group A and group B streptococci. Two of these proteases known as Streptococcus pyogenes CEP (SpyCEP) and C5a peptidase cleave the chemokine CXCL8 and the complement fragment C5a, respectively. Both CXCL8 and C5a are potent neutrophil-recruiting chemokines, and by neutralizing their activity, streptococci evade a key defence mechanism of innate immunity. We review the mechanisms by which CXCL8 and C5a recruit neutrophils and the characterization of SpyCEP and C5a peptidase, including both in vitro and in vivo studies. Recently described structural insights into the function of this CEP family are also discussed. We conclude by examining the progress of prototypic vaccines incorporating SpyCEP and C5a peptidase in their preparation. Since streptococci-producing SpyCEP and C5a peptidase are responsible for a considerable global disease burden, targeting these proteases by vaccination strategies or by small-molecule antagonists should provide protection from and promote the resolution of streptococcal infections.
Kelsall IR, McCrory EH, Xu Y, et al., 2022, HOIL-1 ubiquitin ligase activity targets unbranched glucosaccharides and is required to prevent polyglucosan accumulation, EMBO JOURNAL, Vol: 41, ISSN: 0261-4189
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- Citations: 10
Zhang P, Zhao X, Wang Y, et al., 2022, Bacteriophage protein Gp46 is a cross-species inhibitor of nucleoid-associated HU proteins, PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Vol: 119, ISSN: 0027-8424
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- Citations: 3
Rattu P, Glencross F, Mader SL, et al., 2022, Atomistic level characterisation of ssDNA translocation through the E. coli proteins CsgG and CsgF for nanopore sequencing (vol 19, pg 6417, 2021), COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Vol: 20, Pages: 1027-1027, ISSN: 2001-0370
Matthews S, 2022, Secondary structure and X-ray crystallographic analysis of the Glideosome-Associated Connector (GAC) from Toxoplasma gondii, Crystals, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-6, ISSN: 2073-4352
A model for parasitic motility has been proposed in which parasite filamentous actin (F-actin) is attached to surface adhesins by a large component of the glideosome, known as the glideosome-associated connector protein (GAC). This large 286 kDa protein interacts at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane with the phosphatidic acid-enriched inner leaflet and cytosolic tails of surface adhesins to connect them to the parasite actomyosin system. GAC is observed initially to the conoid at the apical pole and re-localised with the glideosome to the basal pole in gliding parasite. GAC presumably functions in force transmission to surface adhesins in the plasma membrane and not in force generation. Proper connection between F-actin and the adhesins is as important for motility and invasion as motor operation itself. This notion highlights the need for new structural information on GAC interactions, which has eluded the field since its discovery. We have obtained crystals that diffracted to 2.6–2.9 Å for full-length GAC from Toxoplasma gondii in native and selenomethionine-labelled forms. These crystals belong to space group P212121; cell dimensions are roughly a = 119 Å, b = 123 Å, c = 221 Å, α = 90°, β = 90° and γ = 90° with 1 molecule per asymmetric unit, suggesting a more compact conformation than previously proposed
Kumar A, Zhang X, Vadas O, et al., 2021, Secondary structure and X-Ray crystallographic analysis of the Glideosome-Associated Connector (GAC) from toxoplasma gondii, Publisher: Preprints
A model for parasitic motility has been proposed in which parasite filamentous actin (F-actin) is attached to surface adhesins by a large component of the glideosome, known as the glideosome-associated connector protein (GAC). This large 286 kDa protein interacts at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane with the phosphatidic acid-enriched inner leaflet and cytosolic tails of surface adhesins to connect them to the parasite actomyosin system. GAC is observed initially to the conoid at the apical pole and re-localised with the glideosome to the basal pole in gliding parasite. GAC presumably functions in force transmission to surface adhesins in the plasma membrane and not in force generation. Proper connection between F-actin and the adhesins is as important for motility and invasion as motor operation itself. This notion highlights the need for new structural information on GAC interactions, which has eluded the field since its discovery. We have obtained crystals that diffracted to 2.6-2.9 Å for full-length GAC from Toxoplasma gondii in native and selenomethionine-labelled forms. These crystals belong to space group P212121, cell dimensions are roughly a=119 Å, b=123Å, c=221Å, α=90, β=90, γ=90 with 1 molecule per asymmetric unit, suggesting a more compact conformation than previously proposed.
Nagaraj M, Najarzadeh Z, Pansieri J, et al., 2021, Chaperones mainly suppress primary nucleation during formation of functional amyloid required for bacterial biofilm formation, CHEMICAL SCIENCE, Vol: 13, Pages: 536-553, ISSN: 2041-6520
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- Citations: 3
Rattu P, Glencross F, Mader SL, et al., 2021, Atomistic level characterisation of ssDNA translocation through the E. coli proteins CsgG and CsgF for nanopore sequencing, COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Vol: 19, Pages: 6417-6430, ISSN: 2001-0370
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- Citations: 1
McKenna S, Giblin SP, Bunn RA, et al., 2021, A highly efficient method for the production and purification of recombinant human CXCL8, PLoS One, Vol: 16, Pages: 1-12, ISSN: 1932-6203
Chemokines play diverse and fundamental roles in the immune system and human disease, which has prompted their structural and functional characterisation. Production of recombinant chemokines that are folded and bioactive is vital to their study but is limited by the stringent requirements of a native N-terminus for receptor activation and correct disulphide bonding required to stabilise the chemokine fold. Even when expressed as fusion proteins, overexpression of chemokines in E. coli tends to result in the formation of inclusion bodies, generating the additional steps of solubilisation and refolding. Here we present a novel method for producing soluble chemokines in relatively large amounts via a simple two-step purification procedure with no requirements for refolding. CXCL8 produced by this method has the correct chemokine fold as determined by NMR spectroscopy and in chemotaxis assays was indistinguishable from commercially available chemokines. We believe that this protocol significantly streamlines the generation of recombinant chemokines.
Liu B, Li S, Liu Y, et al., 2021, Bacteriophage Twort protein Gp168 is a beta-clamp inhibitor by occupying the DNA sliding channel, NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH, Vol: 49, Pages: 11367-11378, ISSN: 0305-1048
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- Citations: 3
Kelsall IR, McCrory EH, Xu Y, et al., 2021, HOIL-1-catalysed ubiquitylation of unbranched glucosaccharides and its activation by ubiquitin oligomers
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>HOIL-1, a component of the Linear Ubiquitin Assembly Complex (LUBAC), ubiquitylates serine and threonine residues in proteins, forming ester bonds (Kelsall et al, 2019, PNAS 116, 13293-13298). Here we report that mice expressing the E3 ligase-inactive HOIL-1[C458S] mutant accumulate polyglucosan in brain, cardiac muscle and other organs, indicating that HOIL-1’s E3 ligase activity is essential to prevent these toxic polysaccharide deposits from accumulating. We found that HOIL-1 monoubiquitylates glycogen and α1:4-linked maltoheptaose <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic> and identify the C6 hydroxyl moiety of glucose as the site of ester-linked ubiquitylation. The HOIL-1-catalysed monoubiquitylation of maltoheptaose was accelerated >100-fold by Met1-linked or Lys63-linked ubiquitin oligomers, which interact with the catalytic RBR domain of HOIL-1. HOIL-1 also transferred preformed ubiquitin oligomers to maltoheptaose <jats:italic>en bloc</jats:italic>, producing polyubiquitylated maltoheptaose in one catalytic step. The Sharpin and HOIP components of LUBAC, but not HOIL-1, bound to amylose resin <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic>, suggesting a potential function in targeting HOIL-1 to unbranched glucosaccharides in cells. We suggest that monoubiquitylation of unbranched glucosaccharides may initiate their removal by glycophagy to prevent precipitation as polyglucosan.</jats:p>
Wang Z, Wang H, Mulvenna N, et al., 2021, A Bacteriophage DNA Mimic Protein Employs a Non-specific Strategy to Inhibit the Bacterial RNA Polymerase, FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, Vol: 12, ISSN: 1664-302X
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- Citations: 5
Wang Z, Zhao S, Li Y, et al., 2021, RssB-mediated sigma(S) Activation is Regulated by a Two-Tier Mechanism via Phosphorylation and Adaptor Protein - IraD, JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Vol: 433, ISSN: 0022-2836
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- Citations: 1
Darby JF, Vidler LR, Simpson PJ, et al., 2020, Solution structure of the Hop TPR2A domain and investigation of target druggability by NMR, biochemical and in silico approaches, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, Vol: 10, ISSN: 2045-2322
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- Citations: 5
Murphy P, Xu Y, Rouse SL, et al., 2020, Functional 3D architecture in an intrinsically disordered E3 ligase domain facilitates ubiquitin transfer, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, Vol: 11, ISSN: 2041-1723
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- Citations: 4
Broncel M, Dominicus C, Vigetti L, et al., 2020, Profiling of myristoylation in Toxoplasma gondii reveals an N-myristoylated protein important for host cell penetration, ELIFE, Vol: 9, ISSN: 2050-084X
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- Citations: 7
Sewell L, Stylianou F, Xu Y, et al., 2020, NMR insights into the pre-amyloid ensemble and secretion targeting of the curli subunit CsgA, Scientific Reports, Vol: 10, ISSN: 2045-2322
The biofilms of Enterobacteriaceae are fortified by assembly of curli amyloid fibres on the cell surface. Curli not only provides structural reinforcement, but also facilitates surface adhesion. To prevent toxic intracellular accumulation of amyloid precipitate, secretion of the major curli subunit, CsgA, is tightly regulated. In this work, we have employed solution state NMR spectroscopy to characterise the structural ensemble of the pre-fibrillar state of CsgA within the bacterial periplasm, and upon recruitment to the curli pore, CsgG, and the secretion chaperone, CsgE. We show that the N-terminal targeting sequence (N) of CsgA binds specifically to CsgG and that its subsequent sequestration induces a marked transition in the conformational ensemble, which is coupled to a preference for CsgE binding. These observations lead us to suggest a sequential model for binding and structural rearrangement of CsgA at the periplasmic face of the secretion machinery.
Sheppard D, Berry J-L, Denise R, et al., 2020, The major subunit of widespread competence pili exhibits a novel and conserved type IV pilin fold, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol: 295, Pages: 6594-6604, ISSN: 0021-9258
<jats:p>Type IV filaments (T4F), which are helical assemblies of type IV pilins, constitute a superfamily of filamentous nanomachines virtually ubiquitous in prokaryotes that mediate a wide variety of functions. The competence (Com) pilus is a widespread T4F, mediating DNA uptake (the first step in natural transformation) in bacteria with one membrane (monoderms), an important mechanism of horizontal gene transfer. Here, we report the results of genomic, phylogenetic, and structural analyses of ComGC, the major pilin subunit of Com pili. By performing a global comparative analysis, we show that Com pili genes are virtually ubiquitous in Bacilli, a major monoderm class of Firmicutes. This also revealed that ComGC displays extensive sequence conservation, defining a monophyletic group among type IV pilins. We further report ComGC solution structures from two naturally competent human pathogens, <jats:italic>Streptococcus sanguinis</jats:italic> (ComGC<jats:sub>SS</jats:sub>) and <jats:italic>Streptococcus pneumoniae</jats:italic> (ComGC<jats:sub>SP</jats:sub>), revealing that this pilin displays extensive structural conservation. Strikingly, ComGC<jats:sub>SS</jats:sub> and ComGC<jats:sub>SP</jats:sub> exhibit a novel type IV pilin fold that is purely helical. Results from homology modeling analyses suggest that the unusual structure of ComGC is compatible with helical filament assembly. Because ComGC displays such a widespread distribution, these results have implications for hundreds of monoderm species.</jats:p>
Chorev DS, Tang H, Rouse SL, et al., 2020, The use of sonicated lipid vesicles for mass spectrometry of membrane protein complexes, NATURE PROTOCOLS, Vol: 15, Pages: 1690-1706, ISSN: 1754-2189
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- Citations: 19
Matthews S, McKenna S, Malito E, et al., 2020, Structure, dynamics and immunogenicity of a catalytically inactive CXC Chemokine-degrading Protease SpyCEP from Streptococcus pyogenes, Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, Vol: 18, Pages: 650-660, ISSN: 2001-0370
Over 18 million disease cases and half a million deaths worldwide are estimated to be caused annually by Group A Streptococcus. A vaccine to prevent GAS disease is urgently needed. SpyCEP (Streptococcus pyogenes Cell-Envelope Proteinase) is a surface-exposed serine protease that inactivates chemokines, impairing neutrophil recruitment and bacterial clearance, and has shown promising immunogenicity in preclinical models. Although SpyCEP structure has been partially characterized, a more complete and higher resolution understanding of its antigenic features would be desirable prior to large scale manufacturing. To address these gaps and facilitate development of this globally important vaccine, we performed immunogenicity studies with a safety-engineered SpyCEP mutant, and comprehensively characterized its structure by combining X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. We found that the catalytically-inactive SpyCEP antigen conferred protection similar to wild-type SpyCEP in a mouse infection model. Further, a new higher-resolution crystal structure of the inactive SpyCEP mutant provided new insights into this large chemokine protease comprising nine domains derived from two non-covalently linked fragments. NMR spectroscopy and molecular simulation analyses revealed conformational flexibility that is likely important for optimal substrate recognition and overall function. These combined immunogenicity and structural data demonstrate that the full-length SpyCEP inactive mutant is a strong candidate human vaccine antigen. These findings show how a multi-disciplinary study was used to overcome obstacles in the development of a GAS vaccine, an approach applicable to other future vaccine programs. Moreover, the information provided may also facilitate the structure-based discovery of small-molecule therapeutics targeting SpyCEP protease inhibition.
Murphy P, Xu Y, Rouse SL, et al., 2019, Functional 3D architecture in an intrinsically disordered E3 ligase domain facilitates ubiquitin transfer
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Post-translational modification of proteins with ubiquitin represents a widely used mechanism for cellular regulation. Ubiquitin is activated by an E1 enzyme, transferred to an E2 conjugating enzyme and covalently linked to substrates by one of an estimated 600 E3 ligases (1). RING E3 ligases play a pivotal role in selecting substrates and priming the ubiquitin loaded E2 (E2~Ub) for catalysis (2,3). RING E3 RNF4 is a SUMO targeted ubiquitin ligase (4) with important roles in arsenic therapy for cancer (4,5) and in DNA damage responses (6,7). RNF4 has a RING domain and a substrate recognition domain containing multiple SUMO Interaction Motifs (SIM<jats:sc>s</jats:sc>) embedded in a region thought to be intrinsically disordered (8). While molecular details of SUMO recognition by the SIMs (8–10) and RING engagement of ubiquitin loaded E2 (3,11–15) have been determined, the mechanism by which SUMO substrate is delivered to the RING to facilitate ubiquitin transfer is an important question to be answered. Here, we show that the intrinsically disordered substrate-recognition domain of RNF4 maintains the SIMs in a compact global architecture that facilitates SUMO binding, while a highly-basic region positions substrate for nucleophilic attack on RING-bound ubiquitin loaded E2. Contrary to our expectation that the substrate recognition domain of RNF4 was completely disordered, distance measurements using single molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET) and NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) revealed that it adopts a defined conformation primed for SUMO interaction. Mutational and biochemical analysis indicated that electrostatic interactions involving the highly basic region linking the substrate recognition and RING domains juxtaposed those regions and mediated substrate ubiquitination. Our results offer insight into a key step in substrate ubiquitination by a membe
Wang Z, Zhao S, Jiang S, et al., 2019, Resonance assignments of N-terminal receiver domain of sigma factor S regulator RssB from Escherichia coli, BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS, Vol: 13, Pages: 333-337, ISSN: 1874-2718
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- Citations: 1
Tabib-Salazar A, Mulvenna N, Severinov K, et al., 2019, Xenogeneic regulation of the bacterial transcription machinery, Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol: 431, Pages: 4078-4092, ISSN: 0022-2836
The parasitic life cycle of viruses involves the obligatory subversion of the host's macromolecular processes for efficient viral progeny production. Viruses that infect bacteria, bacteriophages (phages), are no exception and have evolved sophisticated ways to control essential biosynthetic machineries of their bacterial prey to benefit phage development. The xenogeneic regulation of bacterial cell function is a poorly understood area of bacteriology. The activity of the bacterial transcription machinery, the RNA polymerase (RNAP), is often regulated by a variety of mechanisms involving small phage-encoded proteins. In this review, we provide a brief overview of known phage proteins that interact with the bacterial RNAP and compare how two prototypical phages of Escherichia coli, T4 and T7, use small proteins to 'puppeteer' the bacterial RNAP to ensure a successful infection.
Berry J, Gurung I, Anonsen JH, et al., 2019, Global biochemical and structural analysis of the type IV pilus from the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus sanguinis, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol: 294, Pages: 6796-6808, ISSN: 0021-9258
Type IV pili (Tfp) are functionally versatile filaments, widespread in prokaryotes, that belong to a large class of filamentous nanomachines known as type IV filaments (Tff). Although Tfp have been extensively studied in several Gram-negative pathogens where they function as key virulence factors, many aspects of their biology remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a global biochemical and structural analysis of Tfp in a recently emerged Gram-positive model, Streptococcus sanguinis. In particular, we focused on the five pilins and pilin-like proteins involved in Tfp biology in S. sanguinis. We found that the two major pilins, PilE1 and PilE2, (i) follow widely conserved principles for processing by the prepilin peptidase PilD and for assembly into filaments; (ii) display only one of the post-translational modifications frequently found in pilins, i.e. a methylated N-terminus; (iii) are found in the same hetero-polymeric filaments; and (iv) are not functionally equivalent. The 3D structure of PilE1, solved by NMR, revealed a classical pilin fold with a highly unusual flexible C-terminus. Intriguingly, PilE1 more closely resembles pseudopilins forming shorter Tff than bona fide Tfp-forming major pilins, underlining the evolutionary relatedness among different Tff. Finally, we show that S. sanguinis Tfp contain a low abundance of three additional proteins processed by PilD, the minor pilins PilA, PilB, and PilC. These findings provide the first global biochemical and structural picture of a Gram-positive Tfp and have fundamental implications for our understanding of a widespread class of filamentous nanomachines.
Zhang P, Wang Z, Zhao S, et al., 2019, H-1, C-13 and N-15 NMR assignments of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPO1 protein Gp46, BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS, Vol: 13, Pages: 245-247, ISSN: 1874-2718
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- Citations: 3
Miliara X, Tatsuta T, Berry J-L, et al., 2019, Structural determinants of lipid specificity within Ups/PRELI lipid transfer proteins, Nature Communications, Vol: 10, Pages: 1-15, ISSN: 2041-1723
Conserved lipid transfer proteins of the Ups/PRELI family regulate lipid accumulation in mitochondria by shuttling phospholipids in a lipid-specific manner across the intermembrane space. Here, we combine structural analysis, unbiased genetic approaches in yeast and molecular dynamics simulations to unravel determinants of lipid specificity within the conserved Ups/PRELI family. We present structures of human PRELID1–TRIAP1 and PRELID3b–TRIAP1 complexes, which exert lipid transfer activity for phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine, respectively. Reverse yeast genetic screens identify critical amino acid exchanges that broaden and swap their lipid specificities. We find that amino acids involved in head group recognition and the hydrophobicity of flexible loops regulate lipid entry into the binding cavity. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal different membrane orientations of PRELID1 and PRELID3b during the stepwise release of lipids. Our experiments thus define the structural determinants of lipid specificity and the dynamics of lipid interactions by Ups/PRELI proteins.
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