Permissive sites and topology of an outer membrane protein with a reporter epitope.

We are developing a genetic approach to study with a single antibody the folding and topology of LamB, an integral outer membrane protein from Escherichia coli K-12. This approach consists of inserting the same reporter foreign antigenic determinant (the C3 epitope from poliovirus) at different sites of LamB so that the resulting hybrid proteins have essentially kept the in vivo biological properties of LamB and therefore its cellular location and structure; the corresponding sites are called permissive sites. A specific monoclonal antibody can then be used to examine the position of the reporter epitope with respect to the protein and the membrane. We present an improved and efficient procedure that led us to identify eight new permissive sites in LamB. These sites appear to be distributed on both sides of the membrane. At one of them (after residue 253), the C3 epitope was detected on intact bacteria, providing the first direct argument for exposure of the corresponding LamB region at the cell surface. At this site as well as at four others (after residues 183, 219, 236, and 352), the C3 epitope could be detected with the C3 monoclonal antibody at the surface of the extracted trimeric LamB-C3 hybrid proteins. We provide a number of convergent arguments showing that the hybrid proteins are not strongly distorted with respect to the wild-type protein so that the conclusions drawn are also valid for this protein. These conclusions are essentially in agreement with the proposed folding model for the LamB protein. They agree, in particular, with the idea that regions 183 and 352 are exposed to the periplasm. In addition, they suggest that region 236 is buried at the external face of the outer membrane and that region 219 is exposed to the periplasm. Including the 3 sites previously determined, 11 permissive sites are now available in LamB, including 3 at the cell surface and most probably at least 3 in the periplasm. We discuss the nature of such sites, the generalization of this approach to other proteins, and possible applications.     

The cellular location of a foreign B cell epitope expressed by recombinant bacteria determines its T cell-independent or T cell-dependent characteristics.

We have targeted two foreign B cell antigenic determinants to different locations in the Escherichia coli cell to examine what effect this had on antibody responses elicited by the recombinant bacteria. The two epitopes were the 132-145 peptide from the PreS2 region of hepatitis B virus and the C3 neutralization epitope of poliovirus type 1. They were each expressed in two forms either on the surface, as part of the outer-membrane protein LamB, or soluble in the periplasm, as part of the periplasmic protein MalE. When live bacteria expressing the foreign epitope at the cell surface were used for immunization of mice, they induced T cell-independent antibody responses characterized by a rapid induction of IgM and IgG antibodies. In contrast, when the same foreign epitope was inserted into the MalE protein, the antibody response was only detectable after 3 wk, belonged only to the IgG class and was strictly T cell dependent. This study has therefore identified two major pathways by which epitopes expressed by bacterial cells can stimulate specific antibody responses. The first pathway is mediated by direct activation of B cells by bacterial cell-surface Ag and does not require T cell help. The second pathway is T cell dependent and concerns Ag that can be released from the bacteria in a soluble form. We have also studied the effect of the exact position of the B cell antigenic determinant within the LamB protein and with respect to the outer membrane by comparing the immunogenicity of the PreS epitope inserted at three different permissive sites of LamB. The data indicated that to obtain an antibody response with intact bacteria, the epitope must be protruding sufficiently from the outside of the outer membrane. In contrast, when semipurified hybrid proteins were used as immunogen, the exact position of the B cell antigenic determinant within solubilized LamB protein does not influence its immunogenicity.     

Monoclonal antibody as a probe for structure and function of an Escherichia coli outer membrane protein

Eight independently derived monoclonal antibodies directed against the LamB protein were produced and characterized. By using these antibodies as probes, we identified four distinct topological and functional regions in the LamB molecule. Four monoclonal antibodies recognize antigenic determinants of the protein exposed on the outer side of the membrane. Two of these have their binding sites located in a region involved in maltose transport. One monoclonal antibody presumably binds to a determinant which is normally hidden in the membrane and three monoclonal antibodies recognize determinants facing the periplasmic space.     

Signal sequence processing is required for the assembly of LamB trimers in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

Proteins destined for either the periplasm or the outer membrane of Escherichia coli are translocated from the cytoplasm by a common mechanism. It is generally assumed that outer membrane proteins, such as LamB (maltoporin or lambda receptor), which are rich in beta-structure, contain additional targeting information that directs proper membrane insertion. During transit to the outer membrane, these proteins may pass, in soluble form, through the periplasm or remain membrane associated and reach their final destination via sites of inner membrane-outer membrane contact (zones of adhesion). We report lamB mutations that slow signal sequence cleavage, delay release of the protein from the inner membrane, and interfere with maltoporin biogenesis. This result is most easily explained by proposing a soluble, periplasmic LamB assembly intermediate. Additionally, we found that such lamB mutations confer several novel phenotypes consistent with an abortive attempt by the cell to target these tethered LamB molecules. These phenotypes may allow isolation of mutants in which the process of outer membrane protein targeting is altered.     

Creation of targets for proteolytic cleavage in the LamB protein of E coli K12 by genetic insertion of foreign sequences: implications for topological studies

LamB, an integral outer membrane protein of E coli K12, is highly resistant to protease digestion. We had previously genetically inserted a foreign sequence corresponding to an epitope from the poliovirus next to amino acids 146, 153, 189, and 374 of LamB. In 3 cases (sites 146, 153, 374), insertion of the foreign peptide did not extensively affect the functions of LamB (and therefore folding). In 2 cases (sites 146 and 374) the polio virus epitope was detectable on the bacterial surface with a specific monoclonal antibody. We show here that the 4 modified proteins are sensitive to trypsin, including on intact cells. The sizes of the major cleavage products is that expected for proteolysis at or near the sequences inserted. In 1 case (site 153), this was directly demonstrated by protein sequencing. The results confirm the cell surface exposure of the regions of residues 153 and 374 and provide information on the regions around residues 146 and 189. Perspectives and limitations of this approach for fine studies on the mode of insertion of membrane proteins are briefly discussed.     

A periplasmic fluorescent reporter protein and its application in high-throughput membrane protein topology analysis

We have developed a periplasmic fluorescent reporter protein suitable for high-throughput membrane protein topology analysis in Escherichia coli. The reporter protein consists of a single chain (scFv) antibody fragment that binds to a fluorescent hapten conjugate with high affinity. Fusion of the scFv to membrane protein sites that are normally exposed in the periplasmic space tethers the scFv onto the inner membrane. Following permealization of the outer membrane to allow diffusion of the fluorescent hapten into the periplasm, binding to the anchored scFv renders the cells fluorescent. We show that cell fluorescence is an accurate and sensitive reporter of the location of residues within periplasmic loops. For topological analysis, a set of nested deletions in the membrane protein gene is employed to construct two libraries of gene fusions, one to the scFvand one to the cytoplasmic reporter green fluorescent protein (GFP). Fluorescent clones are isolated by flow cytometry and the sequence of the fusion junctions is determined to identify amino acid residues within periplasmic and cytoplasmic loops, respectively. We applied this methodology to the topology analysis of E. coli TatC protein for which previous studies had led to conflicting results. The ease of screening libraries of fusions by flow cytometry enabled the rapid identification of almost 90 highly fluorescent scFv and GFP fusions, which, in turn, allowed the fine mapping of TatC membrane topology.     

Novel topological features of FhaC, the outer membrane transporter involved in the secretion of the Bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin

Many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria secrete virulence factors across the cell envelope into the extracellular milieu. The secretion of filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) by Bordetella pertussis depends on the pore-forming outer membrane protein FhaC, which belongs to a growing family of protein transporters. Protein alignment and secondary structure predictions indicated that FhaC is likely to be a beta-barrel protein with an odd number of transmembrane beta-strands connected by large surface loops and short periplasmic turns. The membrane topology of FhaC was investigated by random insertion of the c-Myc epitope and the tobacco etch virus protease-specific cleavage sequence. FhaC was fairly permissive to short linker insertions. Furthermore, FhaC appeared to undergo conformational changes upon FHA secretion. Surface detection of the inserted sequences indicated that several predicted loops in the C-terminal moiety as well as the N terminus of the protein are exposed. However, a large surface-predicted region in the N-terminal moiety of FhaC was inaccessible from the surface. In addition, the activity and the stability of the protein were affected by insertions in that region, indicating that it may have important structural and/or functional roles. The surface exposure of the N terminus and the presence of an odd number of beta-strands are novel features for beta-barrel outer membrane proteins.     

PH-induced collapse of the extracellular loops closes Escherichia coli maltoporin and allows the study of asymmetric sugar binding

LamB (maltoporin) is essential for the uptake of maltose and malto-oligosaccharides across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. Purified LamB was reconstituted in artificial lipid bilayer membranes forming channels in the permanently open configuration at neutral pH. Almost complete channel closure was observed when the pH on both sides of the membrane was lowered to pH 4. When LamB was added to only one side of the membrane, the cis-side, and the pH was lowered at either side of the membrane, the cis- or the trans-side, the response to pH was asymmetric, suggesting preferential orientation of maltoporin channels and pH- dependent closure of only one side of the channel. In experiments with LamB mutants in which major external loops L4, L6, and/or L9 were deleted, we identified the surface-exposed loops L4 and L6 as the cause of pH-mediated closure. The pH dependence of the LamB channel is consistent with the assumption that it inserts in a preferential orientation into the lipid bilayer. About 70-80% of the reconstituted channels are oriented with the extracellular entrance toward the side to which the protein was added (the cis-side) and with the periplasmic opening on the opposite side (the trans-side). The possibility of closing the channels, which are oriented in the reverse direction by low pH at the trans-side, allowed the deduction of channel asymmetry with respect to carbohydrate binding kinetics. Whereas maltose binding was found to be almost symmetric with respect to the channel orientation, the sucrose and trehalose binding to LamB was asymmetric. The results are discussed in respect to possible physiological function of the pH-dependent closure of maltoporin.     

SurA assists the folding of Escherichia coli outer membrane proteins.

Many proteins require enzymatic assistance in order to achieve a functional conformation. One rate-limiting step in protein folding is the cis-trans isomerization of prolyl residues, a reaction catalyzed by prolyl isomerases. SurA, a periplasmic protein of Escherichia coli, has sequence similarity with the prolyl isomerase parvulin. We tested whether SurA was involved in folding periplasmic and outer membrane proteins by using trypsin sensitivity as an assay for protein conformation. We determined that the efficient folding of three outer membrane proteins (OmpA, OmpF, and LamB) requires SurA in vivo, while the folding of four periplasmic proteins was independent of SurA. We conclude that SurA assists in the folding of certain secreted proteins.     

Translational control of exported proteins in Escherichia coli

We recently described the suppression of export of a class of periplasmic proteins of Escherichia coli caused by overproduction of a C-terminal truncated periplasmic enzyme (GlpQ'). This truncated protein was not released into the periplasm but remained attached to the inner membrane and was accessible from the periplasm. The presence of GlpQ' in the membrane strongly reduced the appearance in the periplasm of some periplasmic proteins, including the maltose-binding protein (MBP), but did not affect outer membrane proteins, including the lambda receptor (LamB) (R. Hengge and W. Boos, J. Bacteriol., 162:972-978, 1985). To investigate this phenomenon further we examined the fate of MBP in comparison with the outer membrane protein LamB. We found that not only localization but also synthesis of MBP was impaired, indicating a coupling of translation and export. Synthesis and secretion of LamB were not affected. The possibility that this influence was exerted via the level of cyclic AMP could be excluded. Synthesis of MBP with altered signal sequences was also reduced, demonstrating that export-defective MBP which ultimately remains in the cytoplasm abortively enters the export pathway. When GlpQ' was expressed in a secA51(Ts) strain, the inhibition of MBP synthesis caused by GlpQ' was dominant over the precursor accumulation usually caused by secA51(Ts) at 41 degrees C. Therefore, GlpQ' acts before or at the level of recognition by SecA. For LamB the usual secA51(Ts) phenotype was observed. We propose a mechanism by which GlpQ' blocks an yet unknown membrane protein, the function of which is to couple translation and export of a subclass of periplasmic proteins.     

Insertion of a MalE β-Galactosidase Fusion Protein into the Envelope of Escherichia coli Disrupts Biogenesis of Outer Membrane Proteins and Processing of Inner Membrane Proteins

The synthesis of a membrane-bound MalE β-galactosidase hybrid protein, when induced by growth of Escherichia coli on maltose, leads to inhibition of cell division and eventually a reduced rate of mass increase. In addition, the relative rate of synthesis of outer membrane proteins, but not that of inner membrane proteins, was reduced by about 50%. Kinetic experiments demonstrated that this reduction coincided with the period of maximum synthesis of the hybrid protein (and another maltose-inducible protein, LamB). The accumulation of this abnormal protein in the envelope therefore appeared specifically to inhibit the synthesis, the assembly of outer membrane proteins, or both, indicating that the hybrid protein blocks some export site or causes the sequestration of some limiting factor(s) involved in the export process. Since the MalE protein is normally located in the periplasm, the results also suggest that the synthesis of periplasmic and outer membrane proteins may involve some steps in common. The reduced rate of synthesis of outer membrane proteins was also accompanied by the accumulation in the envelope of at least one outer membrane protein and at least two inner membrane proteins as higher-molecular-weight forms, indicating that processing (removal of the N-terminal signal sequence) was also disrupted by the presence of the hybrid protein. These results may indicate that the assembly of these membrane proteins is blocked at a relatively late step rather than at the level of primary recognition of some site by the signal sequence. In addition, the results suggest that some step common to the biogenesis of quite different kinds of envelope protein is blocked by the presence of the hybrid protein.     

Translational control of exported proteins that results from OmpC porin overexpression.

The regulation of synthesis and export of outer membrane proteins of Escherichia coli was examined by overexpressing ompC in multicopy either from its own promoter or from an inducible promoter in an expression vector. Overexpression of OmpC protein resulted in a nearly complete inhibition of synthesis of the OmpA and LamB outer membrane proteins but had no effect on synthesis of the periplasmic maltose-binding protein. Immunoprecipitation of labeled proteins showed no evidence of accumulation of uncleaved precursor forms of OmpA or maltose-binding protein following induction of OmpC overexpression. The inhibition of OmpA and LamB was tightly coupled to OmpC overexpression and occurred very rapidly, reaching a high level within 2 min after induction. OmpC overexpression did not cause a significant decrease in expression of a LamB-LacZ hybrid protein produced from a lamB-lacZ fusion in which the fusion joint was at the second amino acid of the LamB signal sequence. There was no significant decrease in rate of synthesis of ompA mRNA as measured by filter hybridization of pulse-labeled RNA. These results indicate that the inhibition is at the level of translation. We propose that cells are able to monitor expression of exported proteins by sensing occupancy of some limiting component in the export machinery and use this to regulate translation of these proteins.     

Fedbatch design for periplasmic product retention in Escherichia coli

The feed profile of glucose during fedbatch cultivation could be used to influence the retention of the periplasmic product ZZ-cutinase. An increased feed rate led to a higher production rate but also to an increased specific leakage, which reduced the periplasmic retention. Three growth rates: 0.3, 0.2 and 0.1 h(-1) where studied and resulted in 20, 9 and 6%, respectively, of the total ZZ-cutinase accumulating in the medium. It was also shown that leakage during fedbatch production of a Fab fragment was also influenced by the feed rate in a similar manner to ZZ-cutinase. If intracellular product accumulation is desired the advantage of a high productivity, resulting from a high substrate feed rate, is diminished because of a reduced product retention. Biochemical analysis revealed that the growth rate, resulting from a glucose limited feed, influenced the outer membrane protein compositions with respect to OmpF and LamB, whilst OmpA was largely unaffected. As the feed rate increased the amount of total outer membrane protein decreased. When ZZ-cutinase was produced there were further reductions in outer membrane protein accumulation, by 82, 100 and 22% for OmpF, LamB and OmpA, respectively, and the total reduction was almost 60% with a high product formation rate. We suggest that the reduced titre of the outer membrane proteins, OmpF and LamB, may have contributed to a reduced ability for the cell to retain recombinant protein secreted to the periplasm.     

Antibodies against synthetic peptides and the topology of LamB, an outer membrane protein from Escherichia coli K12

LamB, an outer membrane protein from Escherichia coli K12, is involved in the transport of maltose and maltodextrins across the outer membrane and constitutes a receptor for a number of bacteriophages. A recent folding model proposes that LamB spans the outer membrane through a number of transmembranous segments separated by regions exposed either to the cell exterior or to the periplasm. This model is essentially based on predictions of structure and genetic arguments relying on the hypothesis that the mutations studied did not alter the folding of the protein. In order to obtain direct evidence with the unaltered protein, we elicited polyclonal antibodies against synthetic peptides corresponding to several LamB sequences. We chose four regions. Three of them [aa 147-161 (peptide 2), aa 371-385 (peptide 3), and aa 399-413 (peptide 4)] are predicted to face the outside of the cell, and the fourth (aa 19-33 (peptide 1)] is predicted to be periplasmic. By immunoblotting against extracts of various mutants, these antibodies were shown to be specific for LamB and targeted to the selected regions. In some cases, the recognition sites for antibodies were narrowed down to parts of a region. In vivo, on intact cells, anti-peptides 2, 3, and 4 reacted with LamB in an ELISA; this confirmed that regions of peptide 2 and 3 are located, at least in part, at the cell exterior and provided the first proof for a similar, situation of the region of peptide 4. Under the same conditions, anti-peptide 1 did not react with LamB.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Probing the topology of a bacterial membrane protein by genetic insertion of a foreign epitope; expression at the cell surface.

The LamB protein is a trimeric integral outer membrane protein from Escherichia coli K12 which functions as a pore for maltodextrins and a receptor for bacteriophages. When inserted into two selected sites of LamB, a foreign antigen, the C3 epitope from poliovirus, was exposed at the cell surface with its normal antigenic properties. Since these genetic insertions did not affect in any essential way the routing, activity and folding of the LamB protein, we conclude that the two corresponding LamB sites are at the cell surface as predicted by our recent model. We discuss the implications of our results for the study of protein topology with a single epitope and the direct cloning and cell surface expression of epitopes of interest as well as the development of live vaccines or diagnostic tests.     

Two-dimensional structure of the Opc invasin from Neisseria meningitidis

A two-dimensional structural model was devised for the Opc outer membrane protein invasin which contains 10 transmembrane strands and five surface-exposed loops. One continuous epitope recognized by three monoclonal antibodies was localized to the tip of loop 2 by synthetic peptides and site-directed mutagenesis while a second, discontinuous epitope recognized by a fourth antibody was localized to loops 4 and 5 by insertion mutagenesis. These monoclonal antibodies are bactericidal and inhibit adhesion and invasion. Most of the T-cell epitopes defined by Wiertz et al. (1996) were localized to the transmembrane strands. Oligonucleotides encoding a foreign epitope (∇) from Semliki Forest virus were inserted into Bgl II restriction sites created by site-directed mutagenesis. The ∇ epitopes inserted in all five predicted loops were recognized on the cell surface of live Escherichia coli bacteria by a monoclonal antibody and are exposed while ∇ epitopes in the N-terminus or three predicted turns were not. The results thus confirm important predictions of the model and define five permissive sites within surface-exposed loops which can be used to insert foreign epitopes.     

Aperiplasmic protein (Skp) of Escherichia coli selectively binds a class of outer membrane proteins

A search was performed for a periplasmic molecular chaperone which may assist outer membrane proteins of Escherichia coli on their way from the cytoplasmic to the outer membrane. Proteins of the periplasmic space were fractionated on an affinity column with sepharose-bound outer membrane porin OmpF. A 17kDa polypeptide was the predominant protein retained by this column. The corresponding gene was found in a gene bank; it encodes the periplasmic protein Skp. The protein was isolated and it could be demonstrated that it bound outer membrane proteins, following SDS-PAGE, with high selectivity. Among these were OmpA, OmpC, OmpF and the maltoporin LamB. The chromosomal skp gene was inactivated by a deletion causing removal of most of the signal peptide plus 107 residues of the 141-residue mature protein. The mutant was viable but possessed much-reduced concentrations of outer membrane proteins. This defect was fully restored by a plasmid-borne skp gene which may serve as a periplasmic chaperone.     

Extended sugar slide function for the periplasmic coiled coil domain of ScrY

Several bacterial outer membrane proteins have a periplasmic extension whose structure and function remain elusive. Here, the structure/function relationship of the N-terminal periplasmic domain of the sucrose-specific outer membrane channel ScrY was investigated. Circular dichroism and analytical centrifugation demonstrated that the N-terminal domain formed a parallel, three-stranded coiled coil. When this domain was fused to the maltose-specific channel LamB, permeation of maltooligosaccharides in liposomes increased with increasing sugar chain length whereas wild-type LamB showed the opposite effect. Current fluctuation analysis demonstrated increased off-rates for sugar transport through the fusion protein. Moreover, equilibrium dialysis showed an affinity of sucrose for the isolated N-terminal peptide. Together these results demonstrate a novel function for coiled coil domains, operating as an extended sugar slide.     

A genetic method for exposing a given epitope at the surface of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Perspectives

We describe a genetic method leading to insertion of a defined epitope into certain sites of a protein. This method is applied to LamB, an outer membrane protein from Escherichia coli K12. It allowed us to construct an "exposition vector". The bacterial clone harboring this vector with its passenger exposes the epitope at its surface. We discuss briefly some of the perspectives which are opened by this approach concerning the study of structure and localization of proteins, the development of live vaccines and the direct cloning and exposure of unknown epitopes.     

Heterogeneity in non‐epitope loop sequence and outer membrane protein complexes alters antibody binding to the major porin protein PorB in serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis

PorB is a well‐characterized outer membrane protein that is common among Neisseria species and is required for survival. A vaccine candidate, PorB induces antibody responses that are directed against six variable surface‐exposed loops that differ in sequence depending on serotype. Although Neisseria meningitidis is naturally competent and porB genetic mosaicism provides evidence for strong positive selection, the sequences of PorB serotypes commonly associated with invasive disease are often conserved, calling into question the interaction of specific PorB loop sequences in immune engagement. In this report, we provide evidence that antibody binding to a PorB epitope can be altered by sequence mutations in non‐epitope loops. Through the construction of hybrid PorB types and PorB molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that loops both adjacent and non‐adjacent to the epitope loop can enhance or diminish antibody binding, a phenotype that correlates with serum bactericidal activity. We further examine the interaction of PorB with outer membrane‐associated proteins, including PorA and RmpM. Deletion of these proteins alters the composition of PorB‐containing native complexes and reduces antibody binding and serum killing relative to the parental strain, suggesting that both intramolecular and intermolecular PorB interactions contribute to host adaptive immune evasion.