Requirement for peptidoglycan synthesis during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis.

Cultures of Bacillus subtilis were treated during sporulation with antibiotics (bacitracin and vancomycin) that affect peptidoglycan synthesis. The cells were resistant to the effects of the antibiotics only when the drugs were added about 2 h after the beginning of sporulation. This was about 1 h later than the escape time of a temperature-sensitive sporulation mutant that is unable to complete prespore septation. Similar experiments were done with a mutant temperature sensitive for peptidoglycan synthesis. This showed an escape curve similar to that shown by the antibiotics. When sporulating cells were treated with antibiotics, they produced alkaline phosphatase earlier than normal. Enzyme production was unaffected by inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis but was inhibited by chloramphenicol. Sporulation mutants that are unable to make alkaline phosphatase under normal conditions were able to make it in the presence of bacitracin. The alkaline phosphatase made under these conditions was under "sporulation-type" control since its synthesis was repressible by casein hydrolysate and unaffected by inorganic phosphate. When cells were treated with bacitracin in the growth medium as well as in the sporulation medium, alkaline phosphatase synthesis was at the same level as in an untreated control. A number of other antibiotics and surfactants were tested for the ability to cause premature production of the phosphatase of those tested, only taurodeoxycholate whowed this behavior. Moreover, incubation of cells with taurodeoxycholate in the growth medium as well as in the sporulation medium prevented premature enzyme production.     

Topoisomerase I (TopA) Is Recruited to ParB Complexes and Is Required for Proper Chromosome Organization during Streptomyces coelicolor Sporulation

Streptomyces species are bacteria that resemble filamentous fungi in their hyphal mode of growth and sporulation. In Streptomyces coelicolor, the conversion of multigenomic aerial hyphae into chains of unigenomic spores requires synchronized septation accompanied by segregation of tens of chromosomes into prespore compartments. The chromosome segregation is dependent on ParB protein, which assembles into an array of nucleoprotein complexes in the aerial hyphae. Here, we report that nucleoprotein ParB complexes are bound in vitro and in vivo by topoisomerase I, TopA, which is the only topoisomerase I homolog found in S. coelicolor. TopA cannot be eliminated, and its depletion inhibits growth and blocks sporulation. Surprisingly, sporulation in the TopA-depleted strain could be partially restored by deletion of parB. Furthermore, the formation of regularly spaced ParB complexes, which is a prerequisite for proper chromosome segregation and septation during the development of aerial hyphae, has been found to depend on TopA. We hypothesize that TopA is recruited to ParB complexes during sporulation, and its activity is required to resolve segregating chromosomes.     

Mutations in the G-domain of elongation factor G from Thermus thermophilus affect both its interaction with GTP and fusidic acid

Two hypersensitive and two resistant variants of elongation factor-G (EF-G) toward fusidic acid are studied in comparison with the wild type factor. All mutated proteins are active in a cell-free translation system and ribosome-dependent GTP hydrolysis. The EF-G variants with the Thr-84-->Ala or Asp-109-->Lys mutations bring about a strong resistance of EF-G to the antibiotic, whereas the EF-Gs with substitutions Gly-16-->Val or Glu-119-->Lys are the first examples of fusidic acid-hypersensitive factors. A correlation between fusidic acid resistance of EF-G mutants and their affinity to GTP are revealed in this study, although their interactions with GDP are not changed. Thus, fusidic acid-hypersensitive mutants have the high affinity to an uncleavable GTP analog, but the association of resistant mutants with GTP is decreased. The effects of either fusidic acid-sensitive or resistant mutations can be explained by the conformational changes in the EF-G molecule, which influence its GTP-binding center. The results presented in this paper indicate that fusidic acid-sensitive mutant factors have a conformation favorable for GTP binding and subsequent interaction with the ribosomes.     

Isolation and characterization of fusidic acid-resistant, sporulation-defective mutants of Bacillus subtilis.

Fusidic acid-resistant, sporulation-defective mutants were isolated from Bacillus subtilis 168 thy trp. About two-thirds of the fusidic acid-resistant (fusr) mutants were defective in sporulation ability and fell into three classes with respect to sporulation character. The representative mutants FUS426 and FUS429 were characterized in detail. FUS426 [fusr spo (Ts)], a temperature-sensitive sporulation mutant, grew well at 30 and 42 degrees C but did not sporulate at 42 degrees C. FUS429 [fusr spo (Con)], conditional sporulation mutant, grew and sporulated normally in the absence of fusidic acid, but its sporulation and growth rates decreased in the presence of fusidic acid, depending on the concentration of the drug. Although electron microscopic observation showed that both mutants were blocked at stage I of sporulation, the physiological analyses indicate that these mutants belong to the SpoOB class. Both mutants formed a thickened cell wall as compared with that of the parental strain. Genetic and in vitro protein synthesis analyses led to the conclusion that the sporulation-defective character of mutants FUS426 and FUS429 resulted from an alteration in elongation factor G caused by a single lesion in the fus locus. The possible role of elongation factor G in sporulation is discussed.     

Use of asymmetric cell division and spoIIIE mutants to probe chromosome orientation and organization in Bacillus subtilis

Soon after the onset of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis , asymmetric cell division occurs to generate the differentiating prespore and mother cell types. Formation of the septum close to the cell pole initially bisects the nucleoid destined for the prespore, trapping only about one-third of the DNA in the small compartment. The remaining part of the chromosome is then transported through the septum. spoIIIE mutant cells fail to transfer the DNA and arrest with only partially segregated prespore chromosomes. Previous work has shown that the orientation of the chromosome at the time of septation is not random. Here, we use both physical and genetic methods to characterize the trapped DNA. The results show that the chromosome has a very specific orientation at the time of septation, consistent with the action of a centromere-like sequence near oriC . They also demonstrate that the chromosome is folded, or otherwise organized, in a highly ordered manner.     

Teichoic acid and lipid metabolism during sporulation of Bacillus megaterium KM.

The biochemistry of teichoic acid and lipid metabolism has been studied during sporulation of Bacillus megaterium KM. Measurements of cell-wall and membrane teichoic acid have shown that net synthesis of these polymers ceases at the onset of sporulation. Pulse-labelling studies show that the period of asymmetric septation and forespore engulfment is marked by an initiation of turnover of membrane teichoic acid but not of wall teichoic acid. This is reflected in the presence of inner-membrane teichoic acid and the virtual absence of wall teichoic acid in dormant spores. The total amount of lipid phosphorus in the sporulating cell increases by 70% as a result of asymmetric septation and subsequent engulfment of the forespore. The phosphorus requirement for this synthesis is derived from a pool formed during exponential growth, which is not exchangeable with extracellular Pi during sporulation. These results suggest that during sporulation a proportion of the glycerol 3-phosphate produced by preferential degradation of membrane teichoic acid formed during exponential growth is used for phospholipid synthesis during sporulation.     

The Bacillus subtilis soj-spo0J locus is required for a centromere-like function involved in prespore chromosome partitioning

During sporulation in Bacillus subtilis a small prespore cell is formed by an asymmetric cell division. Pre-spore chromosome partitioning occurs by a specialised mechanism in which septation precedes chromosome movement. We show that the spo0J gene is needed to specify the orientation of the chromosome at the time of polar division and to impose directionality on the subsequent transport of the remainder of the chromosome through the septum. Both phenotypes may arise by disruption of a centromere-like apparatus that anchors the oriC region of the prespore chromosome in the pole of the cell.     

Tet(M)-promoted release of tetracycline from ribosomes is GTP dependent.

Tet(M) protein, which displays homology to elongation factor G (EF-G), interacts with the protein biosynthetic machinery to render this process resistant to tetracycline in vivo and in vitro. To clarify the basis of the resistance mechanism, the effects of Tet(M) on several reactions which occur during protein synthesis were examined. The mechanism of action of Tet(M) has been clarified by two observations. The protein relieves tetracycline inhibition of factor-dependent tRNA binding and dramatically reduces the affinity of ribosomes for tetracycline when GTP is present. This reduction in drug affinity appears to be due to a large increase in the rate of tetracycline dissociation. Addition of Tet(M) to ribosome-tetracycline complexes results in displacement of bound drug. And, while Tet(M) and EF-G GTPase activities are tetracycline resistant, the two proteins differ in their sensitivities to fusidic acid, with the latter activity inhibited by the drug. Furthermore, while Tet(M) protects translation from tetracycline inhibition in a defined system, it is unable to substitute for either EF-G or elongation factor Tu.     

Purification and characterization of elongation factor G from bovine liver mitochondria

The mitochondrial protein synthesis translocase elongation factor Gmt (EF-Gmt) from bovine liver has been purified to greater than 90% homogeneity by a combination of conventional gravity and high performance liquid chromatography. The purification scheme results in an approximate overall 14,000-fold purification with 2% total recovery of EF-Gmt activity. Gel filtration chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicate that the mitochondrial factor is a single polypeptide with a molecular weight of 80,000. EF-Gmt displays similar levels of activity on its homologous mitochondrial ribosomes and on Escherichia coli ribosomes. The mitochondrial translocase is sensitive to temperatures above 37 degrees C, but the factor is partially protected from heat inactivation in the presence of GTP or GDP. The activity of EF-Gmt is inhibited by treatment of the factor with N-ethylmaleimide. In contrast to all other translocases tested to date, EF-Gmt is completely resistant to the inhibiting effect of fusidic acid when tested on its homologous ribosomes. It displays weak sensitivity to this antibiotic when assayed in the presence of heterologous E. coli ribosomes.     

Prespore cell fate bias in G1 phase of the cell cycle in Dictyostelium discoideum

By generating a population of Dictyostelium cells that are in the G1 phase of the cell cycle we have examined the influence of cell cycle status on cell fate specification, cell type proportioning and its regulation, and terminal differentiation. The lack of observable mitosis during the development of these cells and the quantification of their cellular DNA content suggests that they remain in G1 throughout development. Furthermore, chromosomal DNA synthesis was not detectable these cells, indicating that no synthesis phase had occurred, although substantial mitochondrial DNA synthesis did occur in prespore cells. The G1-phase cells underwent normal morphological development and sporulation but displayed an elevated prespore/prestalk ratio of 5.7 compared to the 3.0 (or 3:1) ratio normally observed in populations dominated by G2-phase cells. When migrating slugs produced by G1-phase cells were bisected, each half could reestablish the 5.7 (or 5.7:1) prespore/prestalk ratio. These results demonstrate that Dictyostelium cells can carry out the entire developmental cycle in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and that passage from G2 into G1 phase is not required for sporulation. Our results also suggest that the population asymmetry provided by the distribution of cells around the cell cycle at the time of starvation is not strictly required for cell type proportioning. Finally, when developed together with G2-phase cells, G1-phase cells preferentially become prespore cells and exclude G2-phase cells from the prespore-spore cell population, suggesting that G1-phase cells have an advantage over G2-phase cells in executing the spore cell differentiation pathway.     

Single-molecule structural dynamics of EF-G--ribosome interaction during translocation

EF-G catalyzes translocation of mRNA and tRNAs within the ribosome during protein synthesis. Detection of structural states in the reaction sequence that are not highly populated can be facilitated by studying the process one molecule at a time. Here we present single-molecule studies of translocation showing that, for ribosomes engaged in poly(Phe) synthesis, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the G' domain of EF-G and the N-terminal domain of ribosomal protein L11 occurs within two rapidly interconverting states, having FRET efficiencies of 0.3 and 0.6. The antibiotic fusidic acid increases the population of the 0.6 state, indicating that it traps the ribosome.EF-G complex in a preexisting conformation formed during translation. Only the 0.3 state is observed when poly(Phe) synthesis is prevented by omission of EF-Tu, or in studies on vacant ribosomes. These results suggest that the 0.6 state results from the conformational lability of unlocked ribosomes formed during translocation. An idling state, possibly pertinent to regulation of protein synthesis, is detected in some ribosomes in the poly(Phe) system.     

Antibiotic susceptibility of mammalian mitochondrial translation

All medically useful antibiotics should have the potential to distinguish between target microbes (bacteria) and host cells. Although many antibiotics that target bacterial protein synthesis show little effect on the translation machinery of the eukaryotic cytoplasm, it is unclear whether these antibiotics target or not the mitochondrial translation machinery. We employed an in vitro translation system from bovine mitochondria, which consists of mitochondrial ribosomes and mitochondrial elongation factors, to estimate the effect of antibiotics on mitichondrial protein synthesis. Tetracycline and thiostrepton showed similar inhibitory effects on both Escherichia coli and mitochondrial protein synthesis. The mitochondrial system was more resistant to tiamulin, macrolides, virginiamycin, fusidic acid and kirromycin than the E. coli system. The present results, taken together with atomic structure of the ribosome, may provide useful information for the rational design of new antibiotics having less adverse effects in humans and animals.     

Escherichia coli elongation factor G blocks stringent factor

The relationship between the binding domains of elongation factor G(EF-G) and stringent factor (SF) on ribosomes was studied. The binding of highly purified, radioactively labeled, protein factors to ribosomes was monitored with a column system. The data show that binding of EF-G to ribosomes in the presence of fusidic acid and GDP or of the noncleavable analogue GDPCP prevents subsequent binding of SF to ribosomes. In addition, stabilization of the EF-G-ribosome complex by fusidic acid inhibits SF's enzymatic activities. Removal of protein L7/L12 from ribosomes leads to weaker binding of EF-G, while SF's binding and activity are unaffected. In the absence of L7/L12, EF-G-dependent inhibition of SF binding and function is reduced. The data presented in this report suggest that these two factors bind at overlapping, or at least interacting, ribosomal domains.     

Stage-specific synthesis of proteins complexed to ribonucleoprotein particles and ribosomes in zoospores of Blastocladiella emersonii.

In Blastocladiella emersonii zoospores, a set of proteins was found associated with the ribosomes and free ribonucleoprotein particles distinct from the ribosomes and polyribosomes. These proteins were designated P120, P105, P64, P56, and P42 based on their molecular weights determined by gel electrophoresis. Synthesis of these proteins was detected only during late sporulation just before the time polyadenylated ribonucleic acid accumulates in the sporangia. These proteins banded in isopycnic metrizamide gradients at densities of 1.31 and 1.27 g/cm3, which corresponded to the densities of the ribosomes and free ribonucleoprotein particles, respectively. Comparison of the distribution of the proteins in sucrose versus metrizamide gradients suggested that P105 was removed from the free ribonucleoprotein particles before complexing with the ribosomes. During germination, these proteins disappeared from the ribosomal fractions, with kinetics corresponding to the resumption of protein synthesis. Another protein (P178) was observed to bind to the ribosomes before the onset of protein synthesis during germination. Cycloheximide did not block the addition of this protein to the monoribosomes.     

Template-free ribosomal synthesis of polypeptides from aminoacyl-tRNAs

In the present paper it has been demonstrated that Escherichia coli ribosomes in the absence of messenger polynucleotides are capable of synthesizing some polypeptides from aminoacyl-tRNAs as substrates. EF-Tu induced binding of aminoacyl-tRNA, ribosomal peptidyl transferase and EF-G-promoted translocation are strictly required for this template-free elongation.Typical ribosomal inhibitors such as tetracycline, chloramphenicol, phenylboric acid, fusidic acid have been shown to inhibit the template-free synthesis of polypeptides. The synthesis requires GTP cleavage; a non-cleavable analog of GTP, guanyl-5′-yl methylenediphosphonate does not maintain the synthesis.Among sixteen different aminoacyl-tRNAs studied as substrates for the ribosomal template-free synthesis of polypeptides Lys-tRNA, Ser-tRNA, Thr-tRNA and Asp-tRNA were the best. Gly-tRNA, Glu-tRNA, Val-tRNA, Arg-tRNA, Ala-tRNA and Leu-tRNA as substrates gave relatively low levels of the polypeptide synthesis on non-programmed ribosomes. Pro-tRNA, Phe-tRNA, Asn-tRNA, Met-tRNA, Ile-tRNA and Gln-tRNA were practically inactive as substrates for the template-free elongation. No correlation has been found between the abilities of the aminoacyl-tRNAs to serve as substrates for the template-free elongation and their activities in template-free binding to ribosomes.