Outer cell envelope membrane and shape of Spirillum serpens.

“Ghosts” have been isolated from Spirillum serpens that are free of murein, are surrounded by a unit membrane (derived from the outer membrane of the cell envelope), have lost all intracellular material (except for some poly-β-hydroxybutyrate), and still maintain Spirillum's shape.The ghost membrane contains about 50% protein which is resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into three bands corresponding to apparent molecular weights between 21,000 and 40,000, and the major protein band I (40,000) consists of at least two (Ia and Ib) but not many more polypeptide chains. HP-layer protein (hexagonally packed surface protein) is absent. At least one of the latter polypeptide chains is required for the establishment of the long-range order apparent in ghosts since proteases degrade band I proteins and concomitantly destroy the ghost. The other polypeptides (II and III) do not appear to be required for maintenance of shape of the Spirillum ghost since their amounts can vary widely from preparation to preparation. Ghosts as well as cells can be cross-linked with dimethyl diimidoesters. Such ghosts proved to be cross-linked over their entire surface, and a covalently closed macromolecule of the size of the cell had been created. Under certain conditions of cross-linking these ghosts upon extraction with hot sodium dodecyl sulphate were pure protein. Ammonolysis of this material liberated band I protein.These findings strongly suggest that there is a rather dense packing of the protein in the ghost membrane, and proteins Ia and Ib may be arranged as repeating subunits in the sense that protein-protein interaction exists along the whole membrane. Several observations also suggest that the ghost membrane concerning the arrangement of these proteins does not represent a gross artifact regarding the outer cell envelope membrane. The possibility exists that the assembly of polypeptides Ia and Ib participates in the determination of cellular shape.     

Alterations in the cell wall of Spirillum serpens VHL early in its association with Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109D

In both freeze-etched and critical-point dried preparations examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, respectively, the outer surfaces of the cells of Spirillum serpens VHL assume a wrinkled appearance 10–15 min after challenge by Bdellovibrion bacteriovorus 109D. This wrinkling effect is believed (on circumstantial evidence) to be caused by the bdellovibrio's disruption of the cell wall lipoprotein of the Spirillum. With the exception of those topological changes caused by wrinkling, the outer membrane of the Spirillum cell wall retains a normal appearance as viewed in freeze-etched preparations, even after the Spirillum cell has been converted into a bdelloplast. Although the peptidoglycan layer of the Spirillum cell presumably is weakened somewhat by the invading Bdellovibrio, evidence obtained from freeze-fractured preparations of Spirillum bdelloplasts suggests that the peptidoglycan remains as a discrete cell wall layer, even though the Spirillum cell wall apparently has lost much of its rigidity. That the peptidoglycan backbone remains essentially intact, even after the Spirillum cell has been entered by the Bdellovibrio, is supported by the observation that the soluble amino sugar content of the culture medium, as determined by chemical analysis, does not rise even 5.0 h after the association of the Bdellovibrio with the Spirillum has begun.     

Electron Microscopy of the Major Outer Membrane Protein of Campylobacter jejuni

The surfaces of the disrupted-cell surfaces of the Campylobacter jejuni strains FUM158432 and M1 were examined using the negative-staining technique and electron microscopy. The surfaces of the whole cells and the outer membranes were covered with small dark dots which, in some areas, were arranged in hexagonal patterns. The hexagonal arrangement was more clearly seen in extracted outer membrane. The size of each structure was measured based on a center-to-center distance with the adjacent structure, and was determined to be 9.9±0.9 nm. A profile of the proteins in the outer membrane by SDS-PAGE, performed in 0.1% SDS and at 100 C, showed 42 kDa proteins to comprise the major outer membrane protein of this bacterium. Digestion of the outer membrane materials with proteinase reduced this protein band in the SDS-PAGE, and the amount of dark dots on the electron micrograph indicated the structure to be the major outer membrane protein (porin) of this bacterium. The power spectrogram of a computer-assisted Fourier transformation of the hexagonally arranged porin proteins suggests that the porin has a trimeric structure rather than a monomeric one.     

Ultrastructural aspects of localized membrane damage in Spirillum serpens VHL early in its association with Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109D

The freeze-fracture technique and electron microscopy have been used to demonstrate that localized damage is inflicted upon the cytoplasmic membrane of Spirillum serpens VHL within 20 to 30 min after the start of its association with Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109D. This damage is not observed in uninfected Spirillum cells, nor in infected cells within the first 10 min. This damage takes the form of a “blister” which, when viewed stereoscopically in electron micrographs, is seen to project toward the interior of the Spirillum cell. Shortly after its formation, the blister becomes elaborated into a series of ridges which may assume forms ranging from an elaborate spiral to a series of loops or knots. The formation of a blister is shown to involve both the inner and outer leaves of the membrane bilayer, and evidence is presented to indicate that the blister site corresponds to the site of attachment of the Bdellovibrio cell. The hypothesis is proposed that this ultrastructural damage is the cytological basis for the controlled and localized leakage through the cytoplasmic membrane into the periplasmic space of the Spirillum cell at locations adjacent to the Bdellovibrio cell. It is suggested that this localized membrane damage may be the ultrastructural basis for the high efficiency with which bdellowvibrios are known to incorporate cytoplasmic materials from the other bacteria in whose periplasmic spaces they develop.     

Synthesis and turnover of the regularly arranged surface protein of Acinetobacter sp. relative to the other components of the cell envelope.

The formation of the components of the cell envelope of Acinetobacter sp. 199A was investigated by measuring the incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein, [14C]galactose into lipopolysaccharide, 32P into phospholipid, and [3H]diaminopimelic acid into peptidoglycan. Whereas the lipopolysaccharide and intrinsic protein of the outer membrane were stable, some of the regularly arranged surface protein, the alpha-protein, was lost into the growth medium. Only newly synthesized alpha-protein was lost. The peptidoglycan of the murein layer was also labile. Selective inhibition of the formation of individual components of the cell envelope with penicillin, chloramphenicol, and bacitracin showed that incorporation of protein into the outer membrane required the simultaneous formation of complete lipopolysaccharide. The converse was not true: protein synthesis was not required for lipopolysaccharide incorporation. Formation of the outer membrane and the murein layer proceeded independently.     

Location of the Fracture Faces Within the Cell Envelope of Acinetobacter Species Strain MJT/F5/5

The cell wall of the gram-negative bacterium Acinetobacter species strain MJT/F5/5 shows in thin section an external “additional” layer, an outer membrane, an intermediate layer, and a dense layer. Negatively stained preparations showed that the additional layer is composed of hexagonally arranged subunits. In glycerol-treated preparations, freeze-etching revealed that the cell walls consist of four layers, with the main plane of fracture between layers cw 2 and cw 3. The surface of [Formula: see text] 2 consisted of densely packed particles, whereas [Formula: see text] 3 appeared to be fibrillar. In cell envelopes treated with lysozyme by various methods, the removal of the dense layer has detached the outer membrane and additional layer from the underlying layers, as shown in thin sections. When freeze-etched in the absence of glycerol, these detached outer membranes with additional layers fractured to reveal both the faces [Formula: see text] 2 and [Formula: see text] 3 with their characteristic surface structures, and, in addition, both the external and internal etched surfaces were revealed. This experiment provided conclusive evidence that the main fracture plane in the cell wall lies within the interior of the outer membrane. This and other evidence showed that the corresponding layers in thin sections and freeze-etched preparations are: the additional layer, cw 1; the outer membrane, cw (2 + 3); and the intermediate and dense layers together from cw 4. Because of similarities in structure between this Acinetobacter and other gram-negative bacteria, it seemed probable that the interior of the outer membrane is the plane most liable to fracture in the cell walls of most gram-negative bacteria.     

Structural properties of the outer membrane and the regular surface protein of Comamonas acidovorans

The outer membrane of Comamonas acidovorans, formerly Pseudomonas acidovorans, contains a regularly arrayed surface protein. The tetragonal lattice (p4 symmetry, unit cell dimensions a = B = 10.5 nm is composed of a single type of polypeptide. It forms dimeric morphological complexes as revealed by means of electron microscopy in conjunction with image processing, STEM mass determination, and IR analysis. The surface protein has tightly associated carbohydrates and behaves like a glycoprotein in electrophoresis and IR spectroscopy. The outer membrane proteins Omp21 and Omp32 are not regularly arrayed. Omp32 has the characteristic attributes of an intrinsic outer membrane protein, such as moderate hydrophobicity, a high β-structure content, and a typical solubilization behavior. It forms channels in black lipid membranes and it, therefore, represents the major porin of C. acidovorans.     

Membrane associated components of the bacterial flagellar apparatus

At the position of insertion of the flagellum into the Gram-negative bacterial cell envelope, a specialized membrane differentiation has been observed by electron microscopy. This structure, termed concentric membrane rings, is harboured on the under-side of the outer membrane of Spirillum serpens, and forms a plate-like array of up to seven rings (diameter 90 nm) and an interior supporting collar. The concentric membrane rings are sensitive to proteolytic digestion, but are lysozyme and phospholipase resistant. The structures are disrupted by ionic detergents, yet resistant to the action of non-ionic detergents. A model integrating the basal organelle of the bacterial flagellum and the outer membrane of the cell wall is presented.     

Energy filtering transmission electron microscopy immunocytochemistry and antigen retrieval of surface layer proteins from Tannerella forsythensis using microwave or autoclave heating with citraconic anhydride

Tannerella forsythensis (Bacteroides forsythus), an anaerobic Gram-negative species of bacteria that plays a role in the progression of periodontal disease, has a unique bacterial protein profile. It is characterized by two unique protein bands with molecular weights of more than 200 kDa. It also is known to have a typical surface layer (S-layer) consisting of regularly arrayed subunits outside the outer membrane. We examined the relationship between high molecular weight proteins and the S-layer using electron microscopic immunolabeling with chemical fixation and an antigen retrieval procedure consisting of heating in a microwave oven or autoclave with citraconic anhydride. Immunogold particles were localized clearly at the outermost cell surface. We also used energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) to visualize 3, 3′-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB) reaction products after microwave antigen retrieval with 1% citraconic anhydride. The three-window method for electron spectroscopic images (ESI) of nitrogen by the EFTEM reflected the presence of moieties demonstrated by the DAB reaction with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibodies instead of immunogold particles. The mapping patterns of net nitrogen were restricted to the outermost cell surface.     

Detachment and Chemical Characterization of the Regularly Arranged Subunits from the Surface of an Acinetobacter

Acinetobacter sp. strain MJT/F5/199A carries an array of tetragonally arranged subunits on its outer surface. The subunits can be detached from isolated cell walls by incubation with 1 M urea or by washing with water after treatment with 10 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethylether)N,N'-tetraacetic acid. After removal of the urea, they reaggregate into the same ordered array at air-water interfaces in the presence of MgCl(2). The detached subunits were characterized as an acidic protein of molecular weight 65,000. They represent one-fifth of the total cell wall protein.     

The susceptibility ofSpirillum minus andBorrelia duttoni to streptomycin and penicillin

Summary An investigation into the effect of streptomycin and penicillin onSpirillum minus infections in mice, guinea pigs and hamsters, showed that streptomycin effectively controlledSpirillum infections in guinea pigs, but that this antibiotic was not always efficacious in mice and hamsters. Penicillin, when given in rather high dosages, seemed to be more reliable. Both antibiotics were absolutely inadequate for the control ofBorrelia duttoni infections in mice.     

Analysis of the surface proteins of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</Emphasis> strain SP5/1 and the new,pyrite-oxidizing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acidithiobacillus</Emphasis> isolate HV2/2, and their possible involvement in pyrite oxidation

Two strains of rod-shaped, pyrite-oxidizing acidithiobacilli, their cell envelope structure and their interaction with pyrite were investigated in this study. Cells of both strains, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain SP5/1 and the moderately thermophilic Acidithiobacillus sp. strain HV2/2, were similar in size, with slight variations in length and diameter. Two kinds of cell appendages were observed: flagella and pili. Besides a typical Gram-negative cell architecture with inner and outer membrane, enclosing a periplasm, both strains were covered by a hitherto undescribed, regularly arranged 2-D protein crystal with p2-symmetry. In A. ferrooxidans, this protein forms a stripe-like structure on the surface. A similar surface pattern with almost identical lattice vectors was also seen on the cells of strain HV2/2. For the surface layer of both bacteria, a direct contact to pyrite crystals was observed in ultrathin sections, indicating that the S-layer is involved in maintaining this contact site. Observations on an S-layer-deficient strain show, however, that cell adhesion does not strictly depend on the presence of the S-layer and that this surface protein has an influence on cell shape. Furthermore, the presented data suggest the ability of the S-layer protein to complex Fe³⁺ ions, suggesting a role in the physiology of the microorganisms.     

Molecular and Structural Characterization of the HMP-AB Gene Encoding a Pore-Forming Protein from a Clinical Isolate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acinetobacter baumannii</Emphasis>

The major outer membrane protein of Acinetobacter baumannii is the heat-modifiable protein HMP-AB, a porin with a large pore size allowing the penetration of solutes having a molecular weight of up to approximately 800 Da. Cross-linking experiments with glutardialdehyde failed to show any cross-linking between the monomers, a fact that proves again that this porin protein functions as a monomeric porin. The specific activity of this porin was found to be similar to that of other monomeric porins. Tryptic digestion of the outer membrane yielded a 23-kDa fragment of the HMP-AB protein that was resistant to further trypsin treatment. This observation indicates that HMP-AB is assembled in the membrane in a manner similar to monomeric porins. Cloning of the HMP-AB gene revealed an open reading frame of 1038 bp encoding a protein of 346 amino acids and a calculated molecular mass of 35,636 Da. The amino acid sequence and composition were typical of Gram-negative bacterial porins: a highly negative hydropathy index, absence of hydrophobic residue stretches, a slightly negative total charge, low instability index, high glycine content, and an absence of cysteine residues. Sequence comparison of HMP-AB with other outer membrane proteins revealed a clear homology with the monomeric outer membrane proteins, outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of Enterobacteria, and outer membrane protein F (OprF) of Pseudomonas sp. Secondary structure analysis indicated that HMP-AB has a 172-amino acid N-terminal domain that spans the outer membrane by eight amphiphilic beta strands and a C-terminal domain that apparently serves as an anchoring protein to the peptidoglycan layer. The results also indicate that HMP-AB belongs to the eight transmembrane beta-strand family of outer membrane proteins.     

A Structural Analysis of the Regularly Arranged Porin on the Outer Membrane of Campylobacter jejuni Based on Correlation Averaging

A negatively stained electron micrograph of regularly arranged porin proteins of Campylobacter jejuni on the isolated outer membrane of bacteria was analyzed in detail by the correlation averaging method using a computer-assisted program. The results showed that the porin of C. jejuni had a trimeric structure separated by about 10.4±0.15 nm. In addition, the pores in the trimers were also separated by about 4.3 ±0.1 nm.     

Discovery of a novel periplasmic protein that forms a complex with a trimeric autotransporter adhesin and peptidoglycan

Trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs), fibrous proteins on the cell surface of Gram‐negative bacteria, have attracted attention as virulence factors. However, little is known about the mechanism of their biogenesis. AtaA, a TAA of Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5, confers nonspecific, high adhesiveness to bacterial cells. We identified a new gene, tpgA, which forms a single operon with ataA and encodes a protein comprising two conserved protein domains identified by Pfam: an N‐terminal SmpA/OmlA domain and a C‐terminal OmpA_C‐like domain with a peptidoglycan (PGN)‐binding motif. Cell fractionation and a pull‐down assay showed that TpgA forms a complex with AtaA, anchoring it to the outer membrane (OM). Isolation of total PGN‐associated proteins showed TpgA binding to PGN. Disruption of tpgA significantly decreased the adhesiveness of Tol 5 because of a decrease in surface‐displayed AtaA, suggesting TpgA involvement in AtaA secretion. This is reminiscent of SadB, which functions as a specific chaperone for SadA, a TAA in Salmonella species; however, SadB anchors to the inner membrane, whereas TpgA anchors to the OM through AtaA. The genetic organization encoding the TAA–TpgA‐like protein cassette can be found in diverse Gram‐negative bacteria, suggesting a common contribution of TpgA homologues to TAA biogenesis.     

Borrelia burgdorferi locus BB0795 encodes a BamA orthologue required for growth and efficient localization of outer membrane proteins

The outer membrane (OM) of the pathogenic diderm spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, contains integral β‐barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in addition to its numerous outer surface lipoproteins. Very few OMPs have been identified in B. burgdorferi, and the protein machinery required for OMP assembly and OM localization is currently unknown. Essential OM BamA proteins have recently been characterized in Gram‐negative bacteria that are central components of an OM β‐barrel assembly machine and are required for proper localization and insertion of bacterial OMPs. In the present study, we characterized a putative B. burgdorferi BamA orthologue encoded by open reading frame bb0795. Structural model predictions and cellular localization data indicate that the B. burgdorferi BB0795 protein contains an N‐terminal periplasmic domain and a C‐terminal, surface‐exposed β‐barrel domain. Additionally, assays with an IPTG‐regulatable bb0795 mutant revealed that BB0795 is required for B. burgdorferi growth. Furthermore, depletion of BB0795 results in decreased amounts of detectable OMPs in the B. burgdorferi OM. Interestingly, a decrease in the levels of surface‐exposed lipoproteins was also observed in the mutant OMs. Collectively, our structural, cellular localization and functional data are consistent with the characteristics of other BamA proteins, indicating that BB0795 is a B. burgdorferi BamA orthologue.     

Surface arrays on the cell wall of Spirillum metamorphum.

A complex and easily disrupted arrangement of macromolecules was present on the outer (lipopolysaccharide) membrane of the cell wall of Spirillum metamorphum. Separation of the arrays from the cell and spontaneous reassembly into regularly structured complexes usually occurred during preparation for electron microscopy. Freeze etchings, thin sections, and optical diffraction analysis of negatively stained fragments indicated that they consisted of two sets of a thin layer which was studied with 3-nm particles arranged in a loose (OL). The OSL consisted of a hexagonal arrangement of 8-nm disks and the OL of a thin layer which was studied with 3-nm particles arranged in a loose rectangular manner. The OSL of reassembled fragments displayed numerous broken delta-linkers between units and a center-to-center spacing of half the expected distance, which suggests that an interdigitation of two OSL arrays had occurred. The observations combined with freeze etchings and thin sections of whole cells suggested a possible reassembly mechanism. The normal surface arrangement of these layers on cells was thought to consist of the OL overlying one set of OSL which was loosely adherent to a thin amorphous backing layer.     

Structural determinants of processing and secretion of the Haemophilus influenzae Hap protein

Haemophilus influenzae elaborates a surface protein called Hap, which is associated with the capacity for intimate interaction with cultured epithelial cells. Expression of hap results in the production of three protein species: outer membrane proteins of approximately 155 kDa and 45 kDa and an extracellular protein of approximately 110 kDa. The 155 kDa protein corresponds to full-length mature Hap (without the signal sequence), and the 110 kDa extracellular protein represents the N-terminal portion of mature Hap (designated Hap_s). In the present study, we examined the mechanism of processing and secretion of Hap. Site-directed mutagenesis suggested that Hap is a serine protease that undergoes autoproteolytic cleavage to generate the 110 kDa extracellular protein and the 45 kDa outer membrane protein. Biochemical analysis confirmed this conclusion and established that cleavage occurs on the bacterial cell surface. Determination of N-terminal amino acid sequence and mutagenesis studies revealed that the 45 kDa protein corresponds to the C-terminal portion of Hap, starting at N1037. Analysis of the secondary structure of this protein (designated Hap_β) predicted formation of a β-barrel with an N-terminal transmembrane α-helix followed by 14 transmembrane β-strands. Additional analysis revealed that the final β-strand contains an amino acid motif common to other β-barrel outer membrane proteins. Upon deletion of this entire C-terminal consensus motif, Hap could no longer be detected in the outer membrane, and secretion of Hap_s was abolished. Deletion or complete alteration of the final three amino acid residues had a similar but less dramatic effect, suggesting that this terminal tripeptide is particularly important for outer membrane localization and/or stability of the protein. In contrast, isolated point mutations that disrupted the amphipathic nature of the consensus motif or eliminated the C-terminal tryptophan had no effect on outer membrane localization of Hap or secretion of Hap_s. These results provide insight into a growing family of Gram-negative bacterial exoproteins that are secreted by an IgA1 protease-like mechanism; in addition, they contribute to a better understanding of the structural determinants of targeting of β-barrel proteins to the bacterial outer membrane.     

THE CHITIN SYSTEM

• 1 The view is supported that chitin is not found in Deuterostomia because of the absence of chitin synthetase, and is not found in higher plants because of the absence of glucosamine. In Fungi, control mechanisms are present affecting the synthesis of glucosamine; chitin is often present, but when it is absent this probably results from a failure to synthesize glucosamine.
• 2 A review of conformation maps for cellulose and chitin indicates the possibility of a slightly right-handed twist in small groups of chitin chains.
• 3 The occurrence of α, β and γ-forms of chitin in the peritrophic membranes of various insects is described. Gamma chitin seems to be the commonest form.
• 4 In several beetles, optical and electron-microscope studies trace the formation of chitinous cocoon fibres from larval peritrophic membrane and define the discrete ribbon-like nature of the, β chitin produced in the mid-gut.
• 5 By studying apodemes it is found that orthopteroid insects are most varied, different molecular structures being present in levator, depressor and pretarsal tendons. By contrast, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera show very similar structures in all three apodemes as well as in other parts of the cuticle. Apodemes are regarded as sampling the cuticle at their varying points of origin; they provide especially favour able material for diffraction studies.
• 6 In arthropod cuticles there is evidence for the widespread occurrence of α chitin micelles which are three chains thick in the direction of the c axis. This is compared with the structure of γ chitin where the chains repeat in groups of three along the c axis.
• 7 Changes in the diffraction pattern are related to the series of proteins defined by Hackman. The chitin-protein complex is not affected by water or neutral salt extrac tion, but is disrupted by treatment in urea.
• 8 Electron microscopy defines the unit of structure as a composite microfibril: a core of chitin surrounded by adsorbed proteins. This consists of ‘primary’ protein (often repeating as regular units along the fibrils) and a quantity of ‘satellite’ protein which obscures the imaging of the regularly arranged ‘primary’ protein. There are apparent ‘bridges' between the microfibrils.
• 9 New diffraction data give information about the size and arrangement of micro-fibrils. These fibrils may be arranged in layers of ‘rods’, or as an hexagonal arrange ment of ‘rods’.

     

Ultrastructure and biochemistry of the cell wall of Methanococcus voltae.

The ultrastructure and chemical composition of the cell wall of the marine archaebacterium Methanococcus voltae were studied by negative-staining and freeze-etch electron microscopy and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. M. voltae possesses a single regularly structured (RS) protein layer external to the plasma membrane. Freeze-etch preparations of cells indicated that the protein subunits are hexagonally arranged with a center-to-center spacing of approximately 10 nm. The extracted RS protein had a molecular weight of 76,000. It was present on envelopes prepared by shearing in a French press, osmotic lysis, or sonication, as indicated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. NaCl was not required for attachment of the RS protein to the underlying plasma membrane. The hexagonal array could be demonstrated by platinum shadowing and freeze-etching of envelopes, but negative staining in the abscence of NaCl failed to stabilize the array. The RS protein could be solubilized by urea, guanidine hydrochloride, dithiothreitol, and several detergents, including Nonidet P-40, Triton X-100, and Tween 20. However, the most specific release of the wall protein from envelopes occurred after a heat treatment in HEPES (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid) buffer at 50 to 60 degrees C.