Energy dependence of lipopolysaccharide translocation in Salmonella typhimurium

Energy inhibitors block translocation of pulse-labeled core lipopolysaccharide to outer membrane under conditions which allow maintenance of constant specific radioactivity of intracellular precursor pools throughout the chase period. Under the conditions used, approximately 75% of the total cellular label was membrane-bound at initiation of chase. Translocation of core lipopolysaccharide from inner to outer membrane showed apparent first order kinetics (t1/2 = 1.2 min, 32 degrees C). Translocation was blocked by arsenate (5-10 mM) under conditions where proton motive force was unchanged, while the uncouplers 2,4-dinitrophenol (0.1 mM to 0.8 mM) and carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (12-30 microM) inhibited translocation with no apparent effect on the ATP pool. Therefore, core lipopolysaccharide translocation appears to require maintenance of both proton motive force and high energy phosphate pools. Electron microscopic experiments show no gross disruption of zones of adhesion, the putative sites of lipopolysaccharide translocation, in the presence of arsenate or 2,4-dinitrophenol suggesting that energy is not required simply for maintenance of these structures.     

Activation of EphA2-EGFR signaling in oral epithelial cells by Candida albicans virulence factors

During oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), Candida albicans invades and damages oral epithelial cells, which respond by producing proinflammatory mediators that recruit phagocytes to foci of infection. The ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) detects β-glucan and plays a central role in stimulating epithelial cells to release proinflammatory mediators during OPC. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) also interacts with C. albicans and is known to be activated by the Als3 adhesin/invasin and the candidalysin pore-forming toxin. Here, we investigated the interactions among EphA2, EGFR, Als3 and candidalysin during OPC. We found that EGFR and EphA2 constitutively associate with each other as part of a heteromeric physical complex and are mutually dependent for C. albicans-induced activation. Als3-mediated endocytosis of a C. albicans hypha leads to the formation of an endocytic vacuole where candidalysin accumulates at high concentration. Thus, Als3 potentiates targeting of candidalysin, and both Als3 and candidalysin are required for C. albicans to cause maximal damage to oral epithelial cells, sustain activation of EphA2 and EGFR, and stimulate pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine secretion. In the mouse model of OPC, C. albicans-induced production of CXCL1/KC and CCL20 is dependent on the presence of candidalysin and EGFR, but independent of Als3. The production of IL-1α and IL-17A also requires candidalysin but is independent of Als3 and EGFR. The production of TNFα requires Als1, Als3, and candidalysin. Collectively, these results delineate the complex interplay among host cell receptors EphA2 and EGFR and C. albicans virulence factors Als1, Als3 and candidalysin during the induction of OPC and the resulting oral inflammatory response.     

Dynamics and stability of polymorphic human telomeric G-quadruplex under tension

As critical DNA structures capping the human chromosome ends, the stability and structural polymorphism of human telomeric G-quadruplex (G4) have drawn increasing attention in recent years. This work characterizes the equilibrium transitions of single-molecule telomeric G4 at physiological K⁺ concentration. We report three folded states of telomeric G4 with markedly different lifetime and mechanical stability. Our results show that the kinetically favored folding pathway is through a short-lived intermediate state to a longer-lived state. By examining the force dependence of transition rates, the force-dependent transition free energy landscape for this pathway is determined. In addition, an ultra-long-lived form of telomeric G4 structure with a much stronger mechanical stability is identified.