The extracellular nuclease gene of Serratia marcescens and its secretion from Escherichia coli

We are studying exoproteins of the enteric bacterium Serratia marcescens as a model system for the release of extracellular proteins from the cell. In this work we report the cloning of the gene for a secreted nuclease from S. marcescens and its complete nucleotide sequence. Following expression of the nuclease gene in both S. marcescens and Escherichia coli we were able to demonstrate the presence of the nuclease extracellularly in both organisms. Cell lysis did not occur and there was no concurrent release of cytoplasmic or periplasmic proteins. No accessory genes appeared to be required for extracellular secretion of the nuclease from E. coli. We can conclude that E. coli is capable of secreting certain proteins extracellularly, and may be a suitable host organism for the genetic analysis of extracellular protein secretion when provided with a suitable protein to export.     

Genetic mapping and characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants defective in the formation of extracellular proteins.

We isolated 15 mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO which were defective in the formation of certain extracellular proteins, such as elastase, staphylolytic enzyme, and lipase ( Xcp mutants). The mutations were mapped on the chromosome by conjugation and transduction. The locations were xcp -1 near 0', with the gene order cys-59- xcp -1- proB , and loci xcp -2, xcp -3, and xcp -31 at 35', with the gene order trpC , D- xcp -3/ xcp -31- xcp -2- argC . Loci xcp -4 and xcp -41 through xcp -44 were cotransducible with proA at 40'; loci xcp -5, xcp -51, xcp -52, and xcp53 were located at 55', with the gene order leu-10- trpF -met-9010- xcp -53- xcp -5/ xcp -51/ xcp+ ++-52, and xcp -6 was located at 65' to 70', between catA and mtu-9002. Nine mutations ( xcp -2, xcp -3, xcp -31, xcp -4, and xcp -41 through xcp -45) caused decreased production of extracellular enzymes. Six strains with mutations xcp -1, xcp -5, xcp -51, xcp -52, xcp -53, and xcp -6 produced cell-bound exoproteins and had defective release mechanisms. The regulation of production of alkaline phosphatase and phospholipase C is different from other exoproteins , such as elastase, but they all seem to share a common release mechanism. Alkaline protease had separate mechanisms for regulation and release, since this protease was found in culture supernatants of all but one of the mutants, and none of the strains had cell-bound enzyme.     

Expression of Serratia marcescens extracellular proteins requires recA.

A previously described regulatory mutation which abolishes expression of the extracellular nuclease of Serratia marcescens is shown to be a mutation of the Serratia recA gene. The defect in nuclease expression could be restored by introducing a plasmid carrying the recA gene of Escherichia coli. The DNA sequence of the Serratia gene is very similar to that of the E. coli gene. The putative LexA-binding site of the Serratia recA gene is almost identical to that of E. coli, along with the promoter. A similar LexA-binding site can also be found upstream of the nuclease gene. As expected from this finding, we show that nuclease expression can be induced by SOS-inducing agents such as mitomycin C. Although inducible in S. marcescens, the nuclease was expressed only at the uninduced levels in E. coli and could not be induced by mitomycin C. The extracellular chitinase and lipase were similarly affected by the mutations altering nuclease expression and were also induced by mitomycin C.     

Characterization of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants with defective secretion of extracellular proteins and comparison with other mutants

We have isolated 2 new pleiotropic mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO with defective secretion of extracellular proteins (Xcp mutants). One of these mutants was compared to 2 different, previously isolated secretion mutants. All had similar phenotypes and were unable to release at least 4 exoproteins (lipase, elastase, alkaline phosphatase, and phospholipase C), whilst alkaline protease was still secreted. The exoproteins appeared to be blocked in the periplasmic space. No difference in molecular weight was detected between cell-bound forms of elastase and alkaline phosphatase in the different mutants and the corresponding extracellular forms from the wild-type strain. Genetic mapping showed that the mutations were located in the 55′ region of the chromosome.     

Isolation and characterization of two protease-producing mutants from Staphylococcus aureus

Two mutants with increased protease production were isolated after nitrosoguanidine treatment of Staphylococcus aureus 8325N. The wild type produces low amounts of extracellular proteolytic activity. The enzyme was inducible and could only be detected if casein or preferably skim milk powder was used as inducer. The optimal pH, salt concentration, and media for enzyme production were determined. The mutants differed from the wild type in several phenotypic characters. The pattern of extracellular deoxyribonuclease and alkaline phosphatase differed between the mutants and the wild type. Several carbohydrates such as lactose, galactose, and mannitol were not utilized by the mutants, probably owing to a block in the uptake. Glucose could, however, be utilized by the mutants. Reversion frequency to wild type with regard to carbohydrate utilization was spontaneously high, and all revertants regained the parental pattern irrespective of the carbohydrate used for selection. The results suggest that a single locus may control the excretion of extracellular enzymes and carbohydrate uptake in S. aureus.     

Genetics of Extracellular Protease Production in SACCHAROMYCOPSIS LIPOLYTICA

Mutants of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica with reduced ability to produce zones of clearing on skim-milk agar plates were isolated and their properties studied. For 18 mutants it was possible to score unambiguously segregants of crosses between these mutants and wild type for extracellular protease production. These mutants all produce reduced levels of extracellular protease in liquid culture. The mutations are recessive and are in nuclear genes. The 18 mutations define 10 or 11 complementation groups, no two of which are closely linked. Mutants in four of the complementation groups also produced reduced levels of extracellular RNAse, and the reduced levels of extracellular protease and RNAse production segregate together. Five of the mutants exhibited reduced mating frequency, and one mutant was osmotic remedial for extracellular protease production. These results demonstrate that many genes can affect extracellular protease production. Besides mutations in the structural gene and in regulatory genes, mutations are likely to be in genes involved in steps common to the production of several extracellular enzymes or in genes coding for cell wall or membrane components necessary for extracellular enzyme production.     

Specific excretion of Serratia marcescens protease through the outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

A DNA fragment of Serratia marcescens directing an extracellular serine protease (Mr, 41,000) was cloned in Escherichia coli. The cloned fragment caused specific excretion of the protease into the extracellular medium through the outer membrane of E. coli host cells in parallel with their growth. No excretion of the periplasmic enzymes of host cells occurred. The cloned fragment contained a single open reading frame of 3,135 base pairs coding a protein of 1,045 amino acids (Mr 112,000). Comparison of the 5' nucleotide sequence with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protease indicated the presence of a typical signal sequence. The C-terminal amino acid of the enzyme was found at position 408, as deduced from the nucleotide sequence. Artificial frameshift mutations introduced into the coding sequence for the assumed distal polypeptide after the C terminus of the protease caused complete loss of the enzyme production. It was concluded that the Serratia serine protease is produced as a 112-kilodalton proenzyme and that its N-terminal signal peptide and a large C-terminal part are processed to cause excretion of the mature protease through the outer membrane of E. coli cells.     

Two-level factorial screening for influence of temperature, pH, and aeration on production of Serratia marcescens nuclease

Two high-nuclease-yielding mutants of Serratia marcescens, derived by chemical mutagenesis (W280, W355), and two strains with the pBR322 plasmid 403-SD2, carrying a nuclease gene and a chloramphenicol resistance gene [Escherichia coli CSH50(403-SD2) and S. marcescens CH30(403-SD2)] were investigated for nuclease production in a factorial shake flask experiment, with temperature (30 and 37 degrees C), pH (with or without CaCO3 tablets), and aeration (with or without baffles) as variable conditions. Yields varied 10-fold depending on the conditions investigated.     

The effect of nuclease on transformation efficiency in Serratia marcescens

No differences in the efficiency of transformation were observed from both plasmid and chromosomal DNA in Serratia marcescens 2170 and an extracellular nuclease defective isogenic strain. The efficiency of transformation was the same for Escherichia coli 5K and E. coli containing a recombinant plasmid conferring the ability to synthesize a S. marcescens nuclease. From these results we conclude that the extracellular nuclease of S. marcescens 2170 is not the main cause of the low efficiency of transformation observed in this bacterium.     

Two-level factorial screening for influence of temperature, pH, and aeration on production of Serratia marcescens nuclease.

Two high-nuclease-yielding mutants of Serratia marcescens, derived by chemical mutagenesis (W280, W355), and two strains with the pBR322 plasmid 403-SD2, carrying a nuclease gene and a chloramphenicol resistance gene [Escherichia coli CSH50(403-SD2) and S. marcescens CH30(403-SD2)] were investigated for nuclease production in a factorial shake flask experiment, with temperature (30 and 37 degrees C), pH (with or without CaCO3 tablets), and aeration (with or without baffles) as variable conditions. Yields varied 10-fold depending on the conditions investigated.     

Mutants of Bacillus subtilis defective in protein export

We have isolated a set of strains with mutations (designated prs) that decrease secretion of alpha-amylase and have a pleiotropic effect on secretion of other exoproteins. The seven mutants were selected in a strain of Bacillus subtilis which overproduces alpha-amylase due to the presence of an alpha-amylase gene on a multicopy plasmid. The mutations were mapped to four different chromosomal loci. The phenotype of the mutants, especially their pleiotropic effects and the accumulation of alpha-amylase precursor, indicated that they have defects in the mechanism of protein export. Double mutants with certain pairwise combinations of mutations in different loci had additive effects on secretion, suggesting that these prs genes encode different components of the secretion pathway.     

Membrane mutations and production of enterotoxin B and alpha hemolysin in Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus strain S-6, which produces enterotoxin type B (SEB), and strain 10-275, a high toxin-producing mutant derived from S-6, display pronounced differences in dye sensitivity, osmotic stability, and bacitracin sensitivity. Such characteristics are consistent with the concept that strain 10-275 is a membrane mutant of strain S-6. Some membrane mutants of S. aureus strain 14458 exhibit about two- to three-fold increases in SEB production whereas other membrane mutants show about twofold increases in alpha-hemolysin production. It is suggested that specific and independent membrane mutations control the secretory processes resulting in the extracellular elaboration of these exoproteins.     

Isolation of Covalently Closed Circular Deoxyribonucleic Acid from Bacteria Which Produce Exocellular Nuclease

Reproducible yields of covalently closed circular (plasmid) deoxyribonucleic acid were obtained from mutants defective for extracellular nuclease but not from the corresponding wild-type strain of Serratia marcescens     

Identification of catalytically relevant amino acids of the extracellular Serratia marcescens endonuclease by alignment-guided mutagenesis.

By sequence alignment of the extracellular Serratia marcescens nuclease with three related nucleases we have identified seven charged amino acid residues which are conserved in all four sequences. Six of these residues together with four other partially conserved His or Asp residues were changed to alanine by site-directed PCR-mediated mutagenesis using a variant of the nuclease gene in which the coding sequence of the signal peptide was replaced by the coding sequence for an N-terminal affinity tag [Met(His)6GlySer]. Four of the mutant proteins showed almost no reduction in nuclease activity but five displayed a 10- to 1000-fold reduction in activity and one (His110Ala) was inactive. Based upon these results it is suggested that the S.marcescens nuclease employs a mechanism in which His110 acts in concert with a Mg2+ ion and three carboxylates (Asp107, Glu148 and Glu232) as well as one or two basic amino acid residues (Arg108, Arg152).     

Secretion of nuclease across the outer membrane of Serratia marcescens and its energy requirements.

Extracellular secretion of Serratia marcescens nuclease occurs as a two-step process via a periplasmic intermediate. Unlike other extracellular proteins secreted by gram-negative bacteria by the general secretory pathway, nuclease accumulates in the periplasm in its active form for an unusually long time before its export into the growth medium. The energy requirements for extracellular secretion of nuclease from the periplasm were investigated. Our results suggest that the second step of secretion across the outer membrane is dependent upon the external pH; acidic pH effectively but reversibly blocks extracellular secretion. However, electrochemical proton gradient, and possibly ATP hydrolysis, are not required for this step. We suggest that nuclease uses a novel mechanism for the second step of secretion in S. marcescens.     

Serratia marcescens S-layer protein is secreted extracellularly via an ATP-binding cassette exporter, the Lip system

The Serratia marcescens Lip exporter belonging to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) exporter is known to be involved in signal peptide-independent extracellular secretion of a lipase and a metalloprotease. Although the genes of secretory proteins and their ABC exporters are usually all reported to be linked in several Gram-negative bacteria, neither the lipase nor the protease gene is located close to the Lip exporter genes, lipBCD . A gene ( slaA ) located upstream of the lipBCD genes was cloned, revealing that it encodes a polypeptide of 100 kDa and is partially similar to the Caulobacter crescentus paracrystalline cell surface layer (S-layer) protein. The Lip exporter-deficient mutants of S . marcescens failed to secrete the SlaA protein. Electron micrography demonstrated the cell surface layer of S . marcescens . The S-layer protein was secreted to the cultured media in Escherichia coli cells carrying the Lip exporter. Three ABC exporters, Prt, Has and Hly systems, could not allow the S-layer secretion, indicating that the S . marcescens S-layer protein is strictly recognized by the Lip system. This is the first report concerning secretion of an S-layer protein via its own secretion system.     

Identification of Genes Involved in Polysaccharide-Independent Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation

Staphylococcus aureus is a potent biofilm former on host tissue and medical implants, and biofilm growth is a critical virulence determinant for chronic infections. Recent studies suggest that many clinical isolates form polysaccharide-independent biofilms. However, a systematic screen for defective mutants has not been performed to identify factors important for biofilm formation in these strains. We created a library of 14,880 mariner transposon mutants in a S. aureus strain that generates a proteinaceous and extracellular DNA based biofilm matrix. The library was screened for biofilm defects and 31 transposon mutants conferred a reproducible phenotype. In the pool, 16 mutants overproduced extracellular proteases and the protease inhibitor α₂-macroglobulin restored biofilm capacity to 13 of these mutants. The other 15 mutants in the pool displayed normal protease levels and had defects in genes involved in autolysis, osmoregulation, or uncharacterized membrane proteins. Two transposon mutants of interest in the GraRS two-component system and a putative inositol monophosphatase were confirmed in a flow cell biofilm model, genetically complemented, and further verified in a community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) isolate. Collectively, our screen for biofilm defective mutants identified novel loci involved in S. aureus biofilm formation and underscored the importance of extracellular protease activity and autolysis in biofilm development.     

Mutational analysis of the starch utilization system in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Seven mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficient in production of extracellular glucoamylase have been analyzed. For each of the seven a monogenic pattern of inheriting the mutant phenotype has been observed. The mutations have been shown to map within five different genetic loci, three independent mutations affecting the STA2 locus and the other four residing in four formerly unidentified genes. As expected, the sta2 mutants recover the wild phenotype when transformed with a STA2-bearing multicopy plasmid. Such reversion has also been observed for the transformed stall mutant. Unlike the others, the sta16 mutant is unable to secrete heterologous alpha-amylase encoded by a plasmid-borne DNA fragment. All the mutants have a moderately reduced ability to secrete the invertase and acid phosphatase.     

Mutational analysis of flagellum-independent surface spreading of Serratia marcescens 274 on a low-agar medium.

In a previous study (J. O'Rear, L. Alberti, and R. M. Harshey, J. Bacteriol. 174:6125-6137, 1992) we reported the isolation of several transposon mutants of Serratia marcescens 274 that were defective either in swarming alone or in both swimming and swarming motility. All the nonflagellate (Fla-) mutants, while defective in both types of motility, were able to spread rapidly on the surface of low-agar (0.35%) media. We show here that some of the swarming-defective mutants are defective in the production of serrawettin W1, an extracellular cyclic lipopeptide produced by S. marcescens 274. When combined with a Fla defect, the serrawettin (Swt) mutants are deficient in spreading on low-agar media. The spreading deficiency can be overcome by serrawettin supplied extracellularly. Introduction of Fla defects into chemotaxis mutants does not affect this mode of surface translocation. These results suggest that spreading may be a passive form of translocation. We also report that swarming defects in all mutants showing a Dps phenotype (able to swarm within the inoculated area but unable to move outward) in the earlier study can be overcome by changing the commercial source of agar.