Possible participation of acid phospholipids in the translocation of secreted proteins through the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria

The work presents a brief review of data on the interrelation between the biosynthesis and secretion of proteins in bacteria, and between metabolism, composition and physicochemical state of membrane lipids. Based on the analysis of these data in view of the modern ideas of the dynamic character of the membrane lipid structure, a hypothesis concerning the active participation of acid phospholipids in the translocation of protein and phospholipids through the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane is advanced. A new model of the coupled translocation of protein and phospholipids through the membrane is proposed which differs from the previous ones because it accounts not only the role of the secreted protein structure in its translocation through the membrane but assumes an active participation of membranes themselves (specifically phospholipids) in this process. The model assumes the interaction between a signal peptide of the de novo synthesized protein and acid phospholipids of membranes. Such an interaction initiates a transmembrane movement of phospholipids and a coupled translocation of phospholipids and protein, in which phospholipids and proteins secreted favor the movement of each other.     

Anionic phospholipids are determinants of membrane protein topology.

The orientation of many membrane proteins is determined by the asymmetric distribution of positively charged amino acid residues in cytoplasmic and translocated loops. The positive-inside rule states that loops with large amounts of these residues tend to have cytoplasmic locations. Orientations of constructs derived from the inner membrane protein leader peptidase from Escherichia coli were found to depend on the anionic phospholipid content of the membrane. Lowering the contents of anionic phospholipids facilitated membrane passage of positively charged loops. On the other hand, elevated contents of acidic phospholipids in the membrane rendered translocation more sensitive to positively charged residues. The results demonstrate that anionic lipids are determinants of membrane protein topology and suggest that interactions between negatively charged phospholipids and positively charged amino acid residues contribute to the orientation of membrane proteins.     

Stereochemical analysis of interaction of signal peptide with phospholipids at the initiation of protein translocation across the membrane.

Stereochemical analysis of signal peptide interaction with E. coli membrane phospholipids revealed the structural complementarity of N-terminus of signal peptide alpha-helix and acid phospholipids. The formation of their complex leads to neutralization of charges and decrease in hydrophilicity of both components, and promotes insertion of peptide and phospholipid into the membrane, not separately but as a complex. Interaction of acid phospholipids with the E. coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) signal peptide was thoroughly analyzed, and it was shown that in this case a complex of signal peptide alpha-helix with phosphatidylglycerol is inserted into the membrane with the lowest energy expense. On the basis of the results of stereochemical analysis and the available experimental data, a molecular mechanism of protein translocation initiation across the membrane has been proposed, in which the key events are the formation of the complex "signal peptide alpha-helix-acid phospholipid", the coupled insertion of hydrophobic peptide-lipid complex into a nonpolar membrane interior and translocation across the membranes.     

Study of interaction of export initiation domain of Escherichia coli mature alkaline phosphatase with membrane phospholipids during secretion

The efficiency of secretion of alkaline phosphatase from Escherichia coli depending on the primary structure of its N-terminal region and the content of zwitterionic phospholipid phosphatidylethanolamine and anionic phospholipids in membranes has been studied in this work to establish the peculiarities of interaction of mature protein during its secretion with membrane phospholipids. It has been shown that the effect of phosphatidylethanolamine but not anionic phospholipids on the efficiency of alkaline phosphatase secretion is determined by the primary structure of its N-terminal region. The absence of phosphatidylethanolamine appreciably reduces the efficiency of secretion of wild type alkaline phosphatase and its mutant forms with amino acid substitutions in positions +5+6 and +13+14. In contrast, secretion of the protein with amino acid substitutions in positions +2+3, significantly decreased as a result of such mutation, in the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, reaches the level of wild type protein secretion in the absence of phosphatidylethanolamine. The results suggest an interaction of the N-terminal region of the mature protein under its translocation across the membrane with phosphatidylethanolamine.     

Stereochemical Analysis of Interaction of Signal Peptide with Phospholipids at the Initiation of Protein Translocation Across the Membrane

Abstract

Stereochemical analysis of signal peptide interaction with E. coli membrane phospholipids revealed the structural complementarity of N-terminus of signal peptide α-helix and acid phospholipids. The formation of their complex leads to neutralization of charges and decrease in hydrophilicity of both components, and promotes insertion of peptide and phospholipid into the membrane, not separately but as a complex. Interaction of acid phospholipids with the E. coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) signal peptide was thoroughly analyzed, and it was shown that in this case a complex of signal peptide α-helix with phosphatidylglycerol is inserted into the membrane with the lowest energy expense. On the basis of the results of stereochemical analysis and the available experimental data, a molecular mechanism of protein translocation initiation across the membrane has been proposed, in which the key events are the formation of the complex “signal peptide α-helix-acid phospholipid”, the coupled insertion of hydrophobic peptide-lipid complex into a nonpolar membrane interior and translocation across the membranes.     

Reconstitution of translocation activity for secretory proteins from solubilized components of Escherichia coli

The protein translocation system of Escherichia coli was solubilized and reconstituted, using the octylglucoside dilution method, into liposomes prepared from E. coli phospholipids. SecA, ATP, phospholipids and membrane proteins were found to be essential for the translocation of a model secretory protein, uncleavable OmpF-Lpp. Phospholipids were found to play roles not only in liposome formation but also in the stabilization of membrane proteins during the octylglucoside extraction. The effects of IgGs specific to five distinct regions of the SecY molecule on protein translocation into proteoliposomes were examined. IgGs specific to the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions of the SecY molecule strongly inhibited the translocation activity, indicating the participation of SecY in the translocation. Generation of a proton motive force due to the simultaneous reconstitution of F0F1-ATPase was also observed in the presence of ATP. An ATP-generating system consisting of creatine phosphate and creatine kinase significantly enhanced the formation of the proton motive force and the protein translocation activity of the proteoliposomes. Collapse of the proton motive force thus generated partially inhibited the translocation.     

Inhibition of PhoE translocation across Escherichia coli inner-membrane vesicles by synthetic signal peptides suggests an important role of acidic phospholipids in protein translocation

To obtain insight into the mechanism of precursor protein translocation across membranes, the effect of synthetic signal peptides and other relevant (poly)peptides on in vitro PhoE translocation was studied. The PhoE signal peptide, associated with inner membrane vesicles, caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of PhoE translocation, as a result of a specific interaction with the membrane. Using a PhoE signal peptide analog and PhoE signal peptide fragments, it was demonstrated that the hydrophobic part of the peptide caused the inhibitory effect, while the basic amino terminus is most likely important for an optimal interaction with the membrane. A quantitative analysis of our data and the known preferential interaction of synthetic signal peptides with acidic phospholipids in model membranes strongly suggest the involvement of negatively charged phospholipids in the inhibitory interaction of the synthetic PhoE signal peptide with the inner membrane. The important role of acidic phospholipids in protein translocation was further confirmed by the observation that other (poly)peptides, known to have both a high affinity for acidic lipids and hydrophobic interactions with model membranes, also caused strong inhibition of PhoE translocation. The implication of these results with respect to the role of signal peptides in protein translocation is indicated.     

Phospholipids as ionophores.

The ionophoretic capabilities of phospholipids have been examined by direct measurement in a Pressman cell of the phospholipid-mediated translocation of cations across an organic phase separating two aqueous phases. Cardiolipin and phosphatidic acid were the most active inonophores among the phospholipids tested, with activities comparable to that of X537A in respect to the translocation of divalent cations. Cardiolipin translocates both divalent and monovalent cations at approximately equal rates. The ionophoretic activity of cardiolipin could be modulated by other phospholipids (inhibition), by butacaine (stimulation), by complexation with cytochrome c (inhibition), and by ruthenium red and lanthanum (inhibition). The rate of translocation of cations mediated by cardiolipin was independent of pH over a wide pH range (5.4 to 8.3). The same general pattern of properties observed for cardiolipin applied to phosphatidic acid except for stimulation by butacaine. Complexation of phospholipid mixtures, such as asolectin or mitochondrial lipid, with reduced cytochrome c, enhanced the ionophoretic capability of these phospholipids by 1 order of magnitude. The complex thus formed has the properties of a polyionophore. The possible physiological significance of this enormous ionophoretic potential of phospholipids is examined.     

SecA protein needs both acidic phospholipids and SecY/E protein for functional high-affinity binding to the Escherichia coli plasma membrane.

Translocation of preproteins across the Escherichia coli inner membrane requires acidic phospholipids. We have studied the translocation of the precursor protein proOmpA across inverted inner membrane vesicles prepared from cells depleted of phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin. These membranes support neither translocation nor the translocation ATPase activity of the SecA subunit of preprotein translocase. We now report that inner membrane vesicles which are depleted of acidic phospholipids are unable to bind SecA protein with high affinity. These membranes can be restored to translocation competence by fusion with liposomes containing phosphatidylglycerol, suggesting that the defect in SecA binding is a direct effect of phospholipid depletion rather than a general derangement of inner membrane structure. Reconstitution of SecY/E, the membrane-embedded domain of translocase, into proteoliposomes containing predominantly a single synthetic acidic lipid, dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol, allows efficient catalysis of preprotein translocation.     

Complex behavior in solution of homodimeric SecA

SecA, a homodimeric protein involved in protein export in Escherichia coli, exists in the cell both associated with the membrane translocation apparatus and free in the cytosol. SecA is a multifunctional protein involved in protein localization and regulation of its own expression. To carry out these functions, SecA interacts with a variety of proteins, phospholipids, nucleotides, and nucleic acid and shows two enzymic activities. It is an ATPase and a helicase. Its role during protein localization involves interaction with the precursor polypeptides to be exported, the cytosolic chaperone SecB, and the SecY subunit of the membrane-associated translocase, as well as with acidic phospholipids. At the membrane, SecA undergoes a cycle of binding and hydrolysis of ATP coupled to conformational changes that result in translocation of precursors through the cytoplasmic membrane. The helicase activity of SecA and its affinity for its mRNA are involved in regulation of its own expression. SecA has been reported to exist in at least two conformational states during its functional cycle. Here we have used analytical centrifugation, as well as column chromatography coupled with multi-angle light scatter, to show that in solution SecA undergoes at least two monomer-dimer equilibrium reactions that are sensitive to temperature and to concentration of salt.     

Phospholipids as a possible instrument for translocation of nascent proteins across biological membranes

The interaction of phospholipids with precursor proteins, particularly with the mitochondrial precursor protein apocytochromec is reviewed and integrated with other aspects of protein insertion and translocation, leading to a model for (apo)cytochrome c import into mitochondria, in which phospholipids play a dominant role.     

Inositol phospholipid turnover and protein kinase C translocation are stimulated by poly(I).poly(C) in human amnion cells (UAC)

Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, a potent inducer of inducer of interferon (IFN) production and activator of some IFN-induced enzymes, inhibits [3H]uridine incorporation into the RNA of vesicular stomatitis virus even in the absence of IFN synthesis, transiently triggers the breakdown of inositol phospholipids and activates the translocation of protein kinase C. Since IFNs also have similar activities these results suggest that IFN induction and IFN function are realised through common biochemical pathways.     

Inhibition and stimulation of phospholipid scrambling activity. Consequences for lipid asymmetry, echinocytosis, and microvesiculation of erythrocytes

An increase of the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in erythrocytes is known to activate rapid nonspecific bidirectional translocation of membrane-inserted phospholipid probes and to decrease the asymmetric distribution of endogenous membrane phospholipids. These scrambling effects are now shown to be suppressed by pretreatment of cells with the essentially impermeable reagents 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate. The inhibitory effects are no longer observed during renewed activation of scrambling following a first transient activation by Ca(2+). Assuming the involvement of the human scramblase, this suggests a conformational alteration of this protein during activation by Ca(2+). Marked suppression of scrambling activity is also observed in cells pretreated with the disulfide reducing agent dithioerythritol which can be reverted by the SH oxidizing agent diamide. This indicates the importance of intramolecular and/or intersubunit disulfide bonds for the function of the scramblase. On the other hand, treatment of cells with the SH reagents N-ethylmaleimide and phenylarsine oxide enhances Ca(2+)-activated scrambling and diminution of asymmetry of membrane phospholipids. This suggests an allosteric connection of several protein SH groups to the translocation mechanism. The inhibitors retain their strong suppressive effects. Besides covalent modification, addition of oligomycin highly stimulates and addition of clotrimazole suppresses the Ca(2+)-activated translocation. No evidence for a role of the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1 in the Ca(2+)-activated outward translocation is obtained. Suppression of phospholipid scrambling by dithioerythritol inhibits Ca(2+)-induced spheroechinocytosis and reduces the extent of subsequent microvesiculation. Scrambling of endogenous phospholipids is proposed to induce echinocytosis and to have only a stimulatory effect on microvesiculation.     

Mitochondrial importation of lipids and liponucleotides from microsomes independent of and facilitated by purified cytosol proteins

The mitochondrial importation of microsomal lipids and liponucleotides in the presence and in the absence of partially purified cytosol protein(s) isolated from guinea pig liver was studied by the aid of isomeric (5-, 12-, and 16-(N-oxyl-4',4'-dimethyloxazolidine)stearoyl) spin-labelled radioactive phosphatide acid, phosphatidylcholine, neutral lipids, and CDP-diglycerides. Using a conventional procedure for the protein purification, cytosol protein(s) was purified approximately 1000-fold in respect to its ability to catalyze the translocation of isomeric spin-labelled lipids and liponucleotides from the microsomal to mitochondrial membranes. The highest activity of this protein was exhibited with biosynthesized spin-labelled lipids and liponucleotides bound to the microsomal membranes as substrates and the lowest, with the synthetic liponucleotides and derived lipids bound to the microsomal membranes. The partially purified protein was active in catalyzing the mitochondrial import of phospholipids from microsomes after heat treatment up to 90 degrees C. In addition to the cytosol protein catalyzing mechanism of mitochondrial import of lipids and liponucleotides from microsomal membranes, another cytosol protein independent mechanism of the mitochondrial importation of the same lipids and liponucleotides was also demonstrated in an agreement with our previous reports on the existence of cytosol protein independent intermembranous translocation of phospholipids. These experimental findings are discussed in terms of possible physiological significance and reaction mechanisms involved in the mitochondrial import of lipids and liponucleotides from the microsomal membranes of guinea pig liver.     

Temperature-dependent insertion of prolipoprotein into Escherichia coli membrane vesicles and requirements for ATP, soluble factors, and functional SecY protein for the overall translocation process.

The requirements for the translocation of prolipoprotein into membrane vesicles were examined in an in vitro system. As measured by the eventual modification and processing of the prolipoprotein to form mature lipoprotein, the overall translocation process was found to require ATP hydrolysis, the presence of some heat-labile soluble cytoplasmic translocation factors, and the function of a cytoplasmic membrane protein, SecY/PrlA. However, the initial step of complete insertion of prolipoprotein into the membrane vesicles occurred without apparent requirements of a nucleotide, cytoplasmic translocation factors, or a functional SecY/PrlA membrane protein. Immunopurified prolipoprotein spontaneously inserted into membrane vesicles at elevated temperatures and required ATP and cytoplasmic translocation factors to form mature lipoprotein. The prolipoprotein inserted most efficiently into liposomes made of negatively charged phospholipids, indicating the importance of phospholipids in protein translocation. These results suggest that ATP hydrolysis and the actions of both cytoplasmic translocation factors and a functional SecY/PrlA membrane protein occur at a step(s) after the insertion of the precursors into membrane vesicles. The initial step of spontaneous insertion of prolipoprotein into membranes is in good agreement with membrane trigger hypothesis proposed by W. Wickner (Annu. Rev. Biochem. 48:23-45, 1979) and the helical hairpin hypothesis proposed by D. M. Engleman and T. A. Steitz (Cell 23:411-422, 1981).     

Structural mechanism of phospholipids translocation by MlaFEDB complex

In Gram-negative bacteria, phospholipids are major components of the inner membrane and the inner leaflet of the outer membrane, playing an essential role in forming the unique dual-membrane barrier to exclude the entry of most antibiotics. Understanding the mechanisms of phospholipid translocation between the inner and outer membrane represents one of the major challenges surrounding bacterial phospholipid homeostasis. The conserved MlaFEDB complex in the inner membrane functions as an ABC transporter to drive the translocation of phospholipids between the inner membrane and the periplasmic protein MlaC. However, the mechanism of phospholipid translocation remains elusive. Here we determined three cryo-EM structures of MlaFEDB from Escherichia coli in its nucleotide-free and ATP-bound conformations, and performed extensive functional studies to verify and extend our findings from structural analyses. Our work reveals unique structural features of the entire MlaFEDB complex, six well-resolved phospholipids in three distinct cavities, and large-scale conformational changes upon ATP binding. Together, these findings define the cycle of structural rearrangement of MlaFEDB in action, and suggest that MlaFEDB uses an extrusion mechanism to extract and release phospholipids through the central translocation cavity.Subject terms: Electron microscopy, Membrane trafficking     

Ca2+-translocation activities of phosphatidylinositol, diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid inferred by quin-2 in artificial membrane systems

Ca2+-translocating activities of phosphatidylinositol, diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid were investigated in phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Using a fluorescent indicator of Ca2+ concentration, quin-2, release of encapsulated Ca2+ from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine liposomes containing 2 mol% of one of these lipids was measured at 37 degrees C. The rate of Ca2+ translocation across the liposomal membrane mediated by phosphatidic acid was about 3-fold larger than those mediated by phosphatidylinositol and diacylglycerol. The result implies that phosphatidic acid has Ca2+-ionophore activity in the agonist dependent metabolism of inositol phospholipids. The ionophoretic activity depended on the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acyl chains. The Ca2+ translocation rate was smallest in dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid, and it increased in the order of dioleoyl-, dilinoleoyl- and dilinolenoyl-phosphatidic acid. Ca2+ mobilization of a stimulated cell is discussed in the light of Ca2+-ionophore activity of phosphatidic acid converted from inositol phospholipids.     

Prediction of Lipid-Binding Regions in Cytoplasmic and Extracellular Loops of Membrane Proteins as Exemplified by Protein Translocation Membrane Proteins

The presence of possible lipid-binding regions in the cytoplasmic or extracellular loops of membrane proteins with an emphasis on protein translocation membrane proteins was investigated in this study using bioinformatics. Recent developments in approaches recognizing lipid-binding regions in proteins were found to be promising. In this study a total bioinformatics approach specialized in identifying lipid-binding helical regions in proteins was explored. Two features of the protein translocation membrane proteins, the position of the transmembrane regions and the identification of additional lipid-binding regions, were analyzed. A number of well-studied protein translocation membrane protein structures were checked in order to demonstrate the predictive value of the bioinformatics approach. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that lipid-binding regions in the cytoplasmic and extracellular loops in protein translocation membrane proteins can be predicted, and it is proposed that the interaction of these regions with phospholipids is important for proper functioning during protein translocation.     

Two distinct anionic phospholipid-dependent events involved in SecA-mediated protein translocation

Protein translocation across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane is an essential process catalyzed by the Sec translocase, which in its minimal form consists of the protein-conducting channel SecYEG, and the motor ATPase SecA. SecA binds via its positively charged N-terminus to membranes containing anionic phospholipids, leading to a lipid-bound intermediate. This interaction induces a conformational change in SecA, resulting in a high-affinity association with SecYEG, which initiates protein translocation. Here, we examined the effect of anionic lipids on the SecA-SecYEG interaction in more detail, and discovered a second, yet unknown, anionic lipid-dependent event that stimulates protein translocation. Based on molecular dynamics simulations we identified an anionic lipid-enriched region in vicinity of the lateral gate of SecY. Here, the anionic lipid headgroup accesses the lateral gate, thereby stabilizing the pre-open state of the channel. The simulations suggest flip-flop movement of phospholipid along the lateral gate. Electrostatic contribution of the anionic phospholipids at the lateral gate may directly stabilize positively charged residues of the signal sequence of an incoming preprotein. Such a mechanism allows for the correct positioning of the entrant peptide, thereby providing a long-sought explanation for the role of anionic lipids in signal sequence folding during protein translocation.     

Hypotonic cell swelling induces translocation of the alpha isoform of cytosolic phospholipase A2 but not the gamma isoform in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

We demonstrate that two isoforms of the cytosolic phospholipase A2, cPLA2alpha and cPLA2gamma, are present in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Both enzymes are almost uniformly distributed throughout the cells under control conditions, as visualized by laser-scanning confocal microscopy. Stimulation by either hypotonic cell swelling or addition of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 results in translocation of cPLA2alpha, but not cPLA2gamma, to the nucleus, where it forms hot-spot-like clusters. Our group previously showed that release of radioactively labeled arachidonic acid, incorporated into the phospholipids of Ehrlich cells, was immediately and transiently increased on hypotonic cell swelling [Thoroed, S.M., Lauritzen, L., Lambert, I.H., Hansen, H.S. & Hoffmann, E.K. (1997) J. Membr. Biol. 160, 47-58]. We now demonstrate that arachidonic acid is released from the nuclear fraction following hypotonic exposure. Stimulation of Ehrlich cells with A23187 also leads to an increase in arachidonic acid release from the nucleus. However, as hypotonic cell swelling is not accompanied by any detectable increase in intracellular concentration of free cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), stimulus-induced translocation of cPLA2alpha can also occur without elevation of [Ca2+]i. The stimulus-induced translocation of cPLA2alpha appears not to be prevented by inhibition of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation, p38 MAP kinase, tyrosine kinases and protein kinase C, hence, phosphorylation is not crucial for the stimulus-induced translocation of cPLA2alpha. Disruption of F-actin did not affect the translocation process, thus, an intact F-actin cytoskeleton does not seem to be required for translocation of cPLA2alpha.