Inhibition of exogenous 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate incorporation into lipid A precursor of toluene-treated Salmonella typhimurium cells.

Analogs of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate (KDO) were designed to inhibit CTP:CMP-KDO cytidylyltransferase (CMP-KDO synthetase). Since these analogs lacked whole-cell antibacterial activity, a permeabilized-cell method was developed to measure intracellular compound activity directly. The method employed a mutant of Salmonella typhimurium defective in KDO-8-phosphate synthetase (kdsA), which accumulated lipid A precursor at 42 degrees C. Cells permeabilized with 1% toluene were used to evaluate inhibitor effect on [3H]KDO incorporation into preformed lipid A precursor. KDO incorporation proceeded through the enzymes CMP-KDO synthetase and CMP-KDO:lipid A KDO transferase. Optimum KDO incorporation occurred between pH 8 and 9 and required CTP, prior lipid A precursor accumulation, and a functional kdsB gene product, CMP-KDO synthetase. The apparent Km for KDO in this coupled system at pH 7.6 was 1.38 mM. The reaction products isolated and characterized contained 1 and 2 KDO residues per lipid A precursor molecule. Several KDO analogs produced concentration-related reductions of KDO incorporation in toluenized cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations comparable to those obtained in purified CMP-KDO synthetase systems. Two compounds, 8-amino-2-deoxy-KDO (A-60478) and 8-aminomethyl-2-deoxy-KDO (A-60821), competitively inhibited KDO incorporation, displaying Kis of 4.2 microM for A-60478 and 2.5 microM for A-60821. These data indicated that the inactivity of the KDO analogs on intact bacteria was the result of poor permeation into cells rather than intracellular inactivation.     

Leakage of periplasmic enzymes from lipopolysaccharide-defective mutants of Salmonella typhimurium.

Mutants of Salmonella typhimurium with defects in the heptose region of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule (heptose-deficient, chemotype Re) leak periplasmic enzymes (acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2), cyclic phosphodiesterase, ribonuclease I (EC 3.1.4.22), and phosphoglucose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9) (PGI is at least partially periplasmic in E. coli and S. typhimurium; see below)) and do not leak an internal enzyme (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) into the growth medium. The extent of this leakage is markedly increased at higher temperature (42 degrees C). Leakage of periplasmic enzymes from the strains lacking units distal to heptose I in the LPS molecule (chemotype Rd2) occurs only at 42 degrees C, and not at 30 or 37 degrees C. The extent of leakage of these enzymes from smooth strain and mutants of other LPS chemotypes (Rc, Rd1) is not significant, and is not influenced by growth temperatures. The kinetics of leakage of periplasmic enzymes after shift to 42 degrees C in nutrient broth reveal an accelerated release into the medium from heptose-deficient strains of cyclic phosphodiesterase and ribonuclease I after 30 min at 42 degrees C, and phosphoglucose isomerase after 60 min at 42 degrees C; at 30 degrees C the rate of release of cyclic phosphodiesterase and ribonuclease I is relatively slower. After 60 min at 42 degrees C in nutrient broth, growth of these strains has either slowed down or stopped. In L-broth, which permits the growth of the heptose-deficient strain (SA1377) at 42 degrees C, leakage of cyclic phosphodiesterase and phosphoglucose isomerase occurs, whereas there is no detectable leakage of these enzymes from the isogenic smooth strain (SA1355). Thus, leakage of the periplasmic enzymes from the heptose-deficient strain occurs with or without growth. Mg2+ (0.75 mM), sodium chloride (50 mM), and sucrose (100 mM) in nutrient broth at 42 degrees C prevent the leakage of these enzymes. The shedding of LPS from the heptose-deficient as well as the smooth strains is enhanced by high temperature (42 degrees C), whereas considerable leakage of protein occurs only in the heptose-deficient strain at 42 degrees C and not in the smooth strain. The smooth and heptose-deficient strains are equally sensitive to osmotic shock although a significant proportion of acid phosphatase and cyclic phosphodiesterase activities from the heptose-deficient cells grown at 42 degrees C comes off in the Tris-NaCl wash step suggesting a rather loose attachment of these enzymes onto the cell surface.     

Temperature-Sensitive Cell Division Mutants of Escherichia coli with Thermolabile Penicillin-Binding Proteins

The thermostability of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of 31 temperature-sensitive cell division mutants of Escherichia coli has been examined. Two independent cell division mutants have been found that have highly thermolabile PBP3. Binding of [(14)C]benzylpenicillin to PBP3 (measured in envelopes prepared from cells grown at the permissive temperature) was about 30% of the normal level at 30 degrees C, and the ability to bind [(14)C]benzylpenicillin was rapidly lost on incubation at 42 degrees C. The other PBPs were normal in both mutants. At 30 degrees C both mutants were slightly longer than their parents and on shifting to 42 degrees C they ceased dividing, but cell mass and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis continued and long filaments were formed. At 42 degrees C division slowly recommenced, but at 44 degrees C this did not occur. The inhibition of division at 42 degrees C was suppressed by 0.35 M sucrose, and in one of the mutants it was partially suppressed by 10 mM MgCl(2). PBP3 was not stabilized in vitro at 42 degrees C by these concentrations of sucrose or MgCl(2). Revertants that grew as normal rods at 42 degrees C regained both the normal level and the normal thermostability of PBP3. The results provide extremely strong evidence that the inactivation of PBP3 at 42 degrees C in the mutants is the cause of the inhibition of cell division at this temperature and identify PBP3 as an essential component of the process of cell division in E. coli. It is the inactivation of this protein by penicillins and cephalosporins that results in the inhibition of division characteristic of low concentrations of many of these antibiotics.     

Localization of the terminal steps of O-antigen synthesis in Salmonella typhimurium.

Previous immunoelectron microscopic studies have shown that both the final intermediate in O-antigen synthesis, undecaprenol-linked O polymer, and newly synthesized O-antigenic lipopolysaccharide are localized to the periplasmic face of the inner membrane (C. A. Mulford and M. J. Osborn, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:1159-1163, 1983). In vivo pulse-chase experiments now provide further evidence that attachment of O antigen to core lipopolysaccharide, as well as polymerization of O-specific polysaccharide chains, takes place at the periplasmic face of the membrane. Mutants doubly conditional in lipopolysaccharide synthesis [kdsA(Ts) pmi] were constructed in which synthesis of core lipopolysaccharide and O antigen are temperature sensitive and mannose dependent, respectively. Periplasmic orientation of O antigen:core lipopolysaccharide ligase was established by experiments showing rapid chase of undecaprenol-linked O polymer, previously accumulated at 42 degrees C in the absence of core synthesis, into lipopolysaccharide following resumption of core formation at 30 degrees C. In addition, chase of the monomeric O-specific tetrasaccharide unit into lipopolysaccharide was found in similar experiments in an O-polymerase-negative [rfc kdsA(Ts) pmi] mutant, suggesting that polymerization of O chains also occurs at the external face of the inner membrane.     

Analysis of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli by using agents which specifically block incorporation of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate.

Antibacterial agents which specifically inhibit CTP:CMP-3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate cytidylyltransferase activity were used to block the incorporation of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate (KDO) into lipopolysaccharide. Lipopolysaccharide synthesis ceased, molecules similar in structure to lipid A accumulated, and bacterial growth ceased following addition of such agents to cultures of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Although four major species of lipid A accumulated in S. typhimurium, their kinetics of accumulation were different. The least polar of the major species was IVA [O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----6)-2-amino-2-deoxy-a lph a- D-glucose, acylated at positions 2, 3, 2', and 3' with beta-hydroxymyristoyl groups and bearing phosphates at positions 1 and 4'], a molecule previously isolated from bacteria containing a kdsA mutation (C. R. H. Raetz, S. Purcell, M. V. Meyer, N. Qureshi, and K. Takayama, J. Biol. Chem. 260:16080-16088, 1985). Species IVA accumulated first and to the greatest extent following addition of the inhibitor, with other more polar derivatives appearing only after IVA attained half its maximal level. In contrast, only two major species of precursor accumulated in E. coli following addition of the inhibitor. One of these species was identical to IVA from S. typhimurium on the basis of chemical composition, fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, and comigration on Silica Gel H, and it also accumulated prior to a more polar species of related structure. We conclude that the addition of KDO to precursor species IVA is the major pathway of lipid A-KDO formation in both S. typhimurium LT2 and E. coli and that accumulation of the more polar species lacking KDO only occurs in response to accumulation of species IVA following inhibition of the normal pathway.     

Selective detection of 3-deoxymannooctulosonic acid in intact lipopolysaccharides by spin-echo 13C NMR

The 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonic acid (KDO) region of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the heptoseless mutant Salmonella minnesota R595 and inner core and heptoseless mutants derived from Escherichia coli K12 was studied by 13C NMR spectroscopy. A spin-echo spectral editing technique was employed for the selective detection of the quaternary anomeric carbon of ketosidically linked KDO. Only two quaternary carbon resonances attributable to KDO were detected in the anomeric carbon spectral region of each LPS from heptoseless mutants E. coli D31m4 (99.7 and 100.8 ppm) and S. minnesota R595 (100.0 and 100.9 ppm). Integrated signal intensities from fully relaxed normal 13C spectra showed that equivalent molar quantities of KDO and glucosamine (i.e. 2 mol of each) were present in each of these samples. Similarly, only two KDO anomeric carbon resonances were detected in the LPS from the inner core mutants E. coli D21f1 (100.8 and 101.2 ppm) and E. coli D21e7 (100.8 and 101.2 ppm). These data confirm the presence of a KDO disaccharide structure rather than a trisaccharide as determined by others using thiobarbituric acid-based assays. The LPS of E. coli D21 (complete inner core oligosaccharide) exhibited four quaternary anomeric carbon resonances (99.4, 100.7, 101.8, and 102.7 ppm). The unequal intensities of these resonances, however, demonstrated that significant heterogeneity exists with respect to KDO substitution in this LPS. A third KDO moiety present in substoichiometric amounts could be consistent with this observation. However, this possibility could not be distinguished from other modes of substitutional heterogeneity involving only 2 KDO residues.     

Isolation and characterization of dnaJ null mutants of Escherichia coli.

Bacteriophage lambda requires the lambda O and P proteins for its DNA replication. The rest of the replication proteins are provided by the Escherichia coli host. Some of these host proteins, such as DnaK, DnaJ, and GrpE, are heat shock proteins. Certain mutations in the dnaK, dnaJ, or grpE gene block lambda growth at all temperatures and E. coli growth above 43 degrees C. We have isolated bacterial mutants that were shown by Southern analysis to contain a defective, mini-Tn10 transposon inserted into either of two locations and in both orientations within the dnaJ gene. We have shown that these dnaJ-insertion mutants did not grow as well as the wild type at temperatures above 30 degrees C, although they blocked lambda DNA replication at all temperatures. The dnaJ-insertion mutants formed progressively smaller colonies at higher temperatures, up to 42 degrees C, and did not form colonies at 43 degrees C. The accumulation of frequent, uncharacterized suppressor mutations allowed these insertion mutants to grow better at all temperatures and to form colonies at 43 degrees C. None of these suppressor mutations restored the ability of the host to propagate phage lambda. Radioactive labeling of proteins synthesized in vivo followed by immunoprecipitation or immunoblotting with anti-DnaJ antibodies demonstrated that no DnaJ protein could be detected in these mutants. Labeling studies at different temperatures demonstrated that these dnaJ-insertion mutations resulted in altered kinetics of heat shock protein synthesis. An additional eight dnaJ mutant isolates, selected spontaneously on the basis of blocking phage lambda growth at 42 degrees C, were shown not to synthesize DnaJ protein as well. Three of these eight spontaneous mutants had gross DNA alterations in the dnaJ gene. Our data provide evidence that the DnaJ protein is not absolutely essential for E. coli growth at temperatures up to 42 degrees C under standard laboratory conditions but is essential for growth at 43 degrees C. However, the accumulation of extragenic suppressors is necessary for rapid bacterial growth at higher temperatures.     

A gene coding for 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic-acid transferase in Escherichia coli. Identification, mapping, cloning, and sequencing

An autoradiographic assay applicable to colonies immobilized on filter paper was developed for obtaining temperature-sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli defective in the transfer of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (KDO) from CMP-KDO to a tetraacyldisaccharide 1,4'-bisphosphate precursor of lipid A, designated lipid IVA. Cell-free extracts from two mutants found in a population of 30,000 mutagen-treated cells showed normal KDO transferase activity when assayed at 30 degrees C, but almost no activity at 42 degrees C. The mutation was mapped by mating one of the mutants with different Hfr strains and analyzing genetic linkage of KDO transferase activity to selectable markers. The lesion was located to a position between 80 and 84 min on the E. coli chromosome. A plasmid from the Clarke and Carbon collection (Clarke, L., and Carbon, J. (1976) Cell 9, 91-99), pLC17-24, known to contain genes from the rfa region (81 min), was shown to overexpress KDO transferase activity 4-5 times and to correct the mutation when the plasmid was conjugated into the mutant strains. The KDO transferase gene, designated kdtA, was subcloned from pLC17-24 into a multicopy vector. The resulting plasmid, pCL3, overproduced transferase activity approximately 100-fold. The kdtA gene was shown to code for a 43-kDa polypeptide, as judged by radiolabeling of minicells. Its DNA sequence was determined. The results demonstrate that overexpression of this single gene product greatly stimulates the incorporation of two stereochemically distinct KDO residues during lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in extracts of E. coli.     

Photosynthetic regeneration of ATP using a strain of thermophilic blue-green algae

Photosynthetic ATP accumulation was shown in the presence of exogenous ADP plus orthophosphate on illumination to the intact cells of a strain of thermophilic blue-green algae isolated from Matsue hot springs, Mastigocladus sp. Kinetic studies of various effectors on the ATP accumulation proved that the ATP synthesis depends mainly on the cyclic photophosphorylation system around photosystem I (PS-I) in the algal cells. The temperature and pH optima for the accumulation were found at 45 degrees C and pH 7.5. Maximum yield was obtained with light intensity higher than 15 mW/cm(2). Borate ion exerted pronounced enhancement on the ATP synthesis. With a continuous reactor at a flow rate of 1 ml/hr at 45 degrees C and pH 7.5, efficient photoconversion of ADP (2mM, at substrate reservoir) to ATP (1mM, at product outlet) has been maintained for a period of 2.5 days, though the efficiency has decreased in a further 2-day period to the level of 0.5mM ATP/9.5 h of residence time.     

Extragenic Suppressors of Growth Defects in msbB Salmonella

Lipid A, a potent endotoxin which can cause septic shock, anchors lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the outer leaflet of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. MsbB acylates (KDO)(2)-(lauroyl)-lipid IV-A with myristate during lipid A biosynthesis. Reports of knockouts of the msbB gene describe effects on virulence but describe no evidence of growth defects in Escherichia coli K-12 or Salmonella. Our data confirm the general lack of growth defects in msbB E. coli K-12. In contrast, msbB Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium exhibits marked sensitivity to galactose-MacConkey and 6 mM EGTA media. At 37 degrees C in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth, msbB Salmonella cells elongate, form bulges, and grow slowly. msbB Salmonella grow well on LB-no salt (LB-0) agar; however, under specific shaking conditions in LB-0 broth, many msbB Salmonella cells lyse during exponential growth and a fraction of the cells form filaments. msbB Salmonella grow with a near-wild-type growth rate in MSB (LB-0 containing Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)) broth (23 to 42 degrees C). Extragenic compensatory mutations, which partially suppress the growth defects, spontaneously occur at high frequency, and mutants can be isolated on media selective for faster growing derivatives. One of the suppressor mutations maps at 19.8 centisomes and is a recessive IS10 insertional mutation in somA, a gene of unknown function which corresponds to ybjX in E. coli. In addition, random Tn10 mutagenesis carried out in an unsuppressed msbB strain produced a set of Tn10 inserts, not in msbB or somA, that correlate with different suppressor phenotypes. Thus, insertional mutations, in somA and other genes, can suppress the msbB phenotype.     

The role of lipopolysaccharides in the action of the bactericidal/permeability-increasing neutrophil protein on the bacterial envelope

The killing of gram-negative bacteria by the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein ( BPI ) of neutrophils requires surface binding, and is accompanied by a discrete increase in outer membrane permeability to small hydrophobic substances. This outer membrane alteration appears to be related to perturbation of outer membrane lipopolysaccharides (LPS). BPI causes extracellular release of LPS, but only at supra-saturating doses. Nevertheless, because the organization of LPS in the outer membrane is altered by pretreatment of bacteria with saturating doses of BPI (producing maximal bactericidal and permeability-increasing effects), the amount of LPS released during Tris-EDTA treatment is reduced by 80%. BPI markedly (approximately 50%) and selectively stimulates biosynthesis of LPS, suggesting an attempt by BPI -killed bacteria to repair outer membrane damage. The removal of surface-bound BPI by 40 mM Mg2+ initiates time- and temperature-dependent repair of the outer membrane permeability barrier and a further increase (approximately 170% of control) in LPS synthesis, even though the bacteria are no longer viable. Mg2+-induced repair is blocked when: 1) a temperature-sensitive mutant (Salmonella typhimurium HD50 ) with a conditional defect in LPS synthesis is incubated at the nonpermissive temperature (42 degrees C); and 2) LPS synthesis is selectively inhibited by a diazaborine derivative (Sandoz drug No. 84474). In contrast, repair is normal by the mutant at permissive temperatures (30 degrees C) and by the parent strain (S. typhimurium AG701 ) at both 30 degrees C and 42 degrees C. Inhibition (greater than 85%) of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol has little or no effect on repair. These findings indicate that the repair of the permeability barrier after the removal of BPI from the surface requires newly made LPS, but apparently no biosynthesis of other outer membrane constituents, which strongly suggests that the effects of BPI on LPS are mainly responsible for the break-down of the outer membrane permeability barrier.     

Methylation analysis of the heptose/3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid region (inner core) of the lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella minnesota rough mutants

A modified methylation analysis is described which allows the elucidation of the structure of the inner core region [heptose/3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (KDO)] of enterobacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Salmonella minnesota rough mutants (Re, strain R595; and Rd2P-, strain R4). Methylation, carboxyl-reduction, remethylation, hydrolysis, carbonyl-reduction, and acetylation of the Re-mutant LPS yielded the 2,6-di-O-acetyl and 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl derivatives of partially methylated 3-deoxyoctitol in equimolar amounts, indicating the presence of a terminal and a 4-linked pyranosidic KDO residue. For Rd2P- LPS, the hydrolysis step involved 0.1M trifluoroacetic acid at 100 degrees for 1 h which cleaved ketosidic linkages, and the final products included the foregoing acetyl derivatives in the molar ratio of 1:02 and a partially methylated and acetylated 3-deoxyoctitol derivative which was substituted at O-5 by a methylated heptopyranosyl residue. Trideuteriomethylation of the latter product followed by methanolysis and acetylation gave 5-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-1,7,8-tri-O-methyl-2,4,6-tri-O-trideuteriomethyl++ +-D- glycero-D-talo/galacto-octitol and 1,5-di-O-acetyl-2,3,4,6,7-penta-O-methyl-L-glycero-D-manno-heptitol++ +. These results prove the presence of a (2----4)-linked KDO disaccharide in Re LPS and show that the core region of Rd2P- LPS contains a terminal alpha-L-glycero-D-manno-heptopyranosyl group and a non-substituted, a 4-O-, and a 4,5-di-O-substituted pyranosidic KDO residue in the molar ratios 1:1:0.2:1.     

Chemical structure of the 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO) region of the lipopolysaccharide isolated from O1 Vibrio cholerae NIH 4IR (Ogawa).

The chemical structure of the 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO) region of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from O1 V. cholerae NIH 41R (Ogawa) was elucidated by dephosphorylation, periodate oxidation and methylation analysis. Methylation analysis of KDO in the dephosphorylated LPS revealed the presence of 5-O-acetyl-1,2,4,6,7,8-hexa-O-methyl-3-deoxy-octitol and 2-keto-3-deoxy-heptulosonic acid was detected in the methanolysate of the periodate-oxidized and dephosphorylated LPS. These results indicated that the site of binding of KDO to the core oligosaccharide is position C5 as in enteric gram-negative bacterial LPS, while only one molecule of the KDO residue carrying phosphate on position C4 is present in the inner core region of the LPS in contrast to enteric gram-negative bacterial LPS in which one molecule of KDO carrying KDO or KDO2----4KDO disaccharide instead of the phosphate group at position C4 is present in its main chain.     

Investigation of lipopolysaccharides from Sinorhizobium meliloti SKHM1-188 and two of its mutants with decreased nodulation competitiveness

A comparative study of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Sinorhizobium meliloti SKHM 1-188 and two its LPS-mutants (Th29 and Ts22) with sharply decreased nodulation competitiveness was conducted. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed two forms of LPS in all the three strains: a higher molecular-weight LPS1, containing O-polysaccharide (O-PS), and a and lower molecular-weight LPS2 without O-PS. However, the LPS1 content in mutants was significantly smaller than in the parent strain. The LPS of the strains studied contained glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, three nonidentified sugars--X1 (TGlc 0.53), X2 (TGlc 0.47), and X3 (TGlc 0.43), glucosamine, and ethanolamine, while the LPS of S. meliloti SKHM1-188 additionally contained galactosamine, glucuronic and galacturonic acids, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid (KDO), as well as fatty acids, such as 3-OH C14:0, 3-OH C15:0, 3-OH C16:0, 3-OH C18:0, nonidentified hydroxy X (T3-OH C14:0 1.33), C18:0, and unsaturated C18:1 fatty acids. The LPS of both mutants were similar in the component composition but differed from the LPS of the parent strain by a lower X2, X3, and 3-OH C 14:0 content and a higher KDO, C18:0, and hydroxy X content. The LPS of all the strains were subjected to mild hydrolysis with 1% acetic acid and fractionated on a column with Sephadex G-25. The higher molecular weight fractions (2500-4000 Da) contained a set of sugars typical of intact LPS and, supposedly, corresponded to the LPS polysaccharide portion (PS1). In the lower molecular weight fractions (600-770 Da, PS2), glucose and uronic acids were the major components; galactose, mannose, and X1 were present in smaller amounts. The PS1/PS2 ratio for the two mutants was significantly lower than for strain SKHM1-188. The data obtained show that the amount of O-PS-containing molecules (LPS1) in the heterogeneous lipopolysaccharide complex of the mutants was smaller than in the SKHM1-188 LPS; this increases the hydrophobicity of the cell surface of the mutant bacteria. This supposedly contributes to their nonspecific adhesion on the roots of the host plant, thus decreasing their nodulation competitiveness.     

Defect in expression of heat-shock proteins at high temperature in xthA mutants.

Escherichia coli mutants lacking exonuclease III (xthA) are defective in the induction of heat-shock proteins upon severe heat-shock treatment (upshift from 30 to 50 degrees C) but not mild heat-shock treatment (upshift from 30 to 42 degrees C). We show that this defect is due to the xthA mutation by complementation. Furthermore, increasing the gene dosage of xthA+ prolongs the synthesis of heat shock proteins seen after a shift to 42 degrees C. Increasing the gene dosage of htpR+ partially suppresses the defect of xthA mutants in the synthesis of heat-shock proteins at 50 degrees C. When an xthA strain was incubated at 42 degrees C before a shift to 50 degrees C, it was then able to carry out the synthesis of heat-shock proteins at 50 degrees C.     

Temperature-sensitive,lipopolysaccharide-deficient mutants of Salmonella typhimurium

Two mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT2, which were temperature-sensitive for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis, were isolated from a galE ^- strain based on their resistance to phage C21 and sensitivity to sodium deoxycholate at 42°C. They produced LPS of chemotype Rc at 30°C and deep-rough LPS at 42°C. P22-mediated transductional analysis showed that the mutations responsible for temperature sensitivity are located in the rfa cluster where several genes involved in the synthesis of the LPS core are mapped. A plasmid, carrying rfaC, D and F genes of Escherichia coli K-12, complemented these mutations. These genes are responsible for the synthesis of the inner-core region of the LPS molecule. This indicates that genetic defects in these temperature-sensitive mutants affect the inner-core region of LPS.     

Cardiolipin Accumulation in the Inner and Outer Membranes of Escherichia coli Mutants Defective in Phosphatidylserine Synthetase

Mutants of Escherichia coli defective in phosphatidylserine synthetase (pss) make less phosphatidylethanolamine than normal cells, and they are temperature sensitive for growth. We have isolated a new mutant, designated RA2021, which is better than previously available strains in that the residual phosphatidylethanolamine level approaches 25% after 4 h at 42 degrees C. The total amount of phospholipid normalized to the density of the culture is about the same in RA2021 (pss-21) as in the isogenic wild-type RA2000 (pss(+)). Consequently, there is a net accumulation of polyglycerophosphatides in the mutant, particularly of cardiolipin. The addition of 10 to 20 mM MgCl(2) to a culture of RA2021 prolongs growth under nonpermissive conditions and prevents loss of cell viability, but it does not eliminate the temperature-sensitive phenotype. Divalent cations, like Mg(2+), do not correct the phospholipid composition of the mutant, but may act indirectly by balancing the negative charges of phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin. To determine the effects of the pss mutation on membrane composition, we have examined the subcellular distribution of the polyglycerophosphatides that accumulate in these strains. All of the excess anionic lipids of RA2021 are associated with the envelope fraction and are distributed equally between the inner and outer membranes. The protein compositions of the isolated membranes do not differ significantly in the mutant and wild type. The fatty acid composition of RA2021 is almost the same as wild type at 30 degrees C, but there is more palmitic and cyclopropane fatty acid at 42 degrees C. These results demonstrate that the modification of the polar lipid composition observed in pss mutants affects both membranes and that cardiolipin, which is not ordinarily present in large quantities, can accumulate in the outer membrane when it is overproduced by the cell. The altered polar headgroup composition of the outer membrane in pss mutants may account, in part, for their hypersensitivity to the aminoglycoside antibiotics.     

Complement attack of altered outer membrane areas synthesized after inhibition of the 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate pathway leads to cell death

Salmonella typhimurium containing specific genes coding for either temperature-sensitive (TS) 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate (KDO) 8-phosphate synthetase or TS cytidine monophosphate-KDO synthetase grow normally when incubated at 30 degrees C and are resistant to C-mediated killing. However, bacteria become avirulent and sensitive to C-mediated killing upon thermal inhibition of TS KDO-8-phosphate synthetase (incubation at 38 degrees C) or TS cytidine monophosphate-KDO synthetase (incubation at 42 degrees C). Such thermal inhibition concurrently causes synthesis of an altered outer membrane which we now show is the site that renders cells susceptible to C-mediated killing. After incubation of cells in serum, the altered outer membrane area contains C9 in a trypsin-resistant state and membrane attack complex (MAC) lesions observable by electron microscopy. Trypsin-resistant C9 and MAC lesions were also observed in the inner membrane fraction from such serum-treated cells. In contrast, little C9 and few MAC lesions were associated with unaltered outer membrane areas present on these same serum treated cells. Control cells, grown at 30 degrees C and treated with serum (1) bound one-fifth as much C9 as was bound to cells incubated at 42 degrees C, (2) contained only a rare MAC lesion in the outer membrane, and (3) no observable MAC lesions in the inner membrane. We conclude that the altered outer membrane area is the site that renders cells susceptible to insertion of the MAC into both the outer and inner membrane resulting in cell death.     

Chemical and biological properties of lipopolysaccharide, lipid A and degraded polysaccharide from Wolinella recta ATCC 33238

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was isolated and purified from Wolinella recta ATCC 33238 by the phenol-water procedure and RNAase treatment. The sugar components of the LPS were rhamnose, mannose, glucose, heptose, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO) (3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate) and glucosamine. The degraded polysaccharide prepared from LPS by mild acid hydrolysis was fractionated by Sephadex G-50 gel chromatography into three fractions: (1) a high-molecular-mass fraction, eluting just behind the void volume, consisting of a long chain of rhamnose (22 mols per 3 mols of heptose residue) with attached core oligosaccharide; (2) a core oligosaccharide containing heptose, glucose and KDO, substituted with a short side chain of rhamnose; (3) a low-molecular-mass fraction containing KDO and phosphate. The main fatty acids of the lipid A were C12:0, C14:0, 3-OH-C14:0 and 3-OH-C16:0. The biological activities of the LPS were similar to those of Salmonella typhimurium LPS in activation of the clotting enzyme of Limulus amoebocytes, the Schwartzman reaction and mitogenicity for murine lymphocytes, although all the biological activities of lipid A were lower than those of intact LPS.     

Phospholipid composition and membrane function in phosphatidylserine decarboxylase mutants of Escherichia coli.

Temperature-sensitive conditional lethal mutants in phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (psd) accumulate large amounts of phosphatidylserine under nonpermissive conditions (42 degrees C) prior to cell death. In addition, the ratio of cardiolipin to phosphatidylglycerol is increased. At an intermediate temperature (37 degrees C), high levels of phosphatidylserine can be maintained with little effect on cell growth or viability. Under these conditions, both the rate of induction and the function of the lactose transport system are normal. At 42 degrees C addition of Mg2+ or Ca2+ to mutant cultures produces a partial phenotypic suppression. Growth is prolonged and the filaments normally present at 42 degrees C do not form. Upon transfer to the nonpermissive temperature, there is a considerable lag before accumulation of phosphatidylserine begins and the growth rate is affected. Based on the kinetics of heat inactivation of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase activity in extracts, in intact nongrowing cells, and in growing cells, it appears that the enzyme newly synthesized at 42 degrees C is more thermolabile in vivo than enzyme molecules previously inserted into the membrane at the lower temperature. Thus, the older, stable enzymatic activity must be diluted during growth before physiological effects are observed.