Structure and Protein-Protein Interaction Studies on Chlamydia trachomatis Protein CT670 (YscO Homolog)

Comparative genomic studies have identified many proteins that are found only in various Chlamydiae species and exhibit no significant sequence similarity to any protein in organisms that do not belong to this group. The CT670 protein of Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the proteins whose genes are in one of the type III secretion gene clusters but whose cellular functions are not known. CT670 shares several characteristics with the YscO protein of Yersinia pestis, including the neighboring genes, size, charge, and secondary structure, but the structures and/or functions of these proteins remain to be determined. Although a BLAST search with CT670 did not identify YscO as a related protein, our analysis indicated that these two proteins exhibit significant sequence similarity. In this paper, we report that the CT670 crystal, solved at a resolution of 2 Å, consists of a single coiled coil containing just two long helices. Gel filtration and analytical ultracentrifugation studies showed that in solution CT670 exists in both monomeric and dimeric forms and that the monomer predominates at lower protein concentrations. We examined the interaction of CT670 with many type III secretion system-related proteins (viz., CT091, CT665, CT666, CT667, CT668, CT669, CT671, CT672, and CT673) by performing bacterial two-hybrid assays. In these experiments, CT670 was found to interact only with the CT671 protein (YscP homolog), whose gene is immediately downstream of ct670. A specific interaction between CT670 and CT671 was also observed when affinity chromatography pull-down experiments were performed. These results suggest that CT670 and CT671 are putative homologs of the YcoO and YscP proteins, respectively, and that they likely form a chaperone-effector pair.Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that infect a variety of eukaryotes, including humans, animals, insects, and free-living amoebae (8, 31, 51). They are highly pathogenic and cause genital tract, ocular, and respiratory infections in humans (9, 55). A key characteristic of Chlamydiae is their biphasic developmental cycle, in which the bacteria alternate between two morphologies: the elementary body and the reticulate body (1, 31). The Chlamydiae species, like many other Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, contain a type III secretion (T3S) system, which plays a major role in their pathogenicity (4, 7, 44). This key system aids pathogenicity by exporting bacterial proteins, termed effectors, into the host cell via a syringe-like nanomachine called an injectisome (4, 7). Once secreted into the host cell, these effectors may manipulate host cell functions to the advantage of the pathogen (44, 54).Because of the unique chlamydial developmental cycle currently there are no tractable methods for genetic manipulation of these organisms (25, 49). Detailed bioinformatic investigations have identified approximately 200 proteins unique to various taxonomic levels of the Chlamydiae phylum (19, 21). Included in this pool of proteins are proteins whose genes occur in chlamydial T3S system loci (23, 44). Most of the Chlamydiae-specific genes in these loci encode proteins whose functions are unknown or putative and are referred to as Chlamydiae-specific putative T3S-related proteins. These genes include the ct670 and ct671 genes, which are downstream of the gene for the ATPase of the T3S system (ct669) and upstream of yscQ (ct672). CT670 is a Chlamydiales-specific protein with no known homologs (based on BLAST searches) in other species outside this group (21). However, based on similarities in size, charge distribution, and predicted secondary structure, CT670 is thought to be the Chlamydia trachomatis equivalent of YscO, a mobile core component of the T3S system in Yersinia (40). Previous studies of CPn0706, the Chlamydophila pneumoniae homolog of CT670, indicated that this protein was localized in the inclusion in infected cells, but it was not detected in the inclusion membrane or host cytosol, suggesting that it is not a secreted protein (24). Moreover, CT670 is not expected to be a type III secreted effector on the basis of the results obtained by a computational approach that was used to predict type III secreted effectors by comparison of sequences to sequences of known effectors (47). CT671 is a Chlamydiaceae-specific protein with no known homologs in any other species outside this family (21), but it is predicted to be a homolog of YscP, which is the molecular ruler and substrate specificity switch in Yersinia species (2). This protein is secreted by a heterologous T3S system and was predicted to be a T3S effector using the computational approach mentioned above (47, 53). Furthermore, the CCA00037 protein, the CT671 homolog in Chlamydophila caviae, has been visualized in the host cytosol of C. caviae-infected cells using specific antibodies, which provided evidence that it is secreted (53). Although CT670 and CT671 do not appear to be related to YscO and YscP, respectively, on the basis of the results of BLAST searches, it is possible that they have similar roles in the chlamydial T3S system based on their genetic neighborhood and other characteristics noted above. Further, because of their Chlamydiae specificity, they may provide a unique characteristic of the chlamydial T3S system. To examine this possibility, detailed investigations of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of CT670, its self-association properties, and its binding partners were carried out in the present study. Here we report elucidation of the CT670 crystal structure at a resolution of 2.0 Å. CT670 crystallized as a monomer with an elongated two-helix coiled coil. Using analytical ultracentrifugation, CT670 was found to be mostly monomeric in solution, but a dimeric form was also detected. Furthermore, by performing protein-protein interaction studies involving bacterial two-hybrid assays, as well as biochemical experiments, we obtained evidence showing that CT670 interacts specifically with CT671, which would be expected if these proteins have functions similar to those of YscO and YscP, respectively.     

Selective block of tunneling nanotube (TNT) formation inhibits intercellular organelle transfer between PC12 cells

Organelle exchange between cells via tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) is a recently described form of intercellular communication. Here, we show that the selective elimination of filopodia from PC12 cells by 350 nM cytochalasin B (CytoB) blocks TNT formation but has only a weak effect on the stability of existing TNTs. Under these conditions the intercellular organelle transfer was strongly reduced, whereas endocytosis and phagocytosis were not affected. Furthermore, the transfer of organelles significantly correlated with the presence of a TNT-bridge. Thus, our data support that in PC12 cells filopodia-like protrusions are the principal precursors of TNTs and CytoB provides a valuable tool to selectively interfere with TNT-mediated cell-to-cell communication.     

Lithium desensitizes brain mitochondria to calcium, antagonizes permeability transition, and diminishes cytochrome C release

Among the numerous effects of lithium on intracellular targets, its possible action on mitochondria remains poorly explored. In the experiments with suspension of isolated brain mitochondria, replacement of KCl by LiCl suppressed mitochondrial swelling, depolarization, and a release of cytochrome c induced by a single Ca2+ bolus. Li+ robustly protected individual brain mitochondria loaded with rhodamine 123 against Ca2+-induced depolarization. In the experiments with slow calcium infusion, replacement of KCl by LiCl in the incubation medium increased resilience of synaptic and nonsynaptic brain mitochondria as well as resilience of liver and heart mitochondria to the deleterious effect of Ca2+. In LiCl medium, mitochondria accumulated larger amounts of Ca2+ before they lost the ability to sequester Ca2+. However, lithium appeared to be ineffective if mitochondria were challenged by Sr2+ instead of Ca2+. Cyclosporin A, sanglifehrin A, and Mg2+, inhibitors of the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT), increased mitochondrial Ca2+ capacity in KCl medium but failed to do so in LiCl medium. This suggests that the mPT might be a common target for Li+ and mPT inhibitors. In addition, lithium protected mitochondria against high Ca2+ in the presence of ATP, where cyclosporin A was reported to be ineffective. SB216763 and SB415286, inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, which is implicated in regulating reactive oxygen species-induced mPT in cardiac mitochondria, did not increase Ca2+ capacity of brain mitochondria. Altogether, these findings suggest that Li+ desensitizes mitochondria to elevated Ca2+ and diminishes cytochrome c release from brain mitochondria by antagonizing the Ca2+-induced mPT.     

Transfer of transformed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lesquerella fendleri</Emphasis> (Gray) Wats. chloroplasts into <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orychophragmus violaceus</Emphasis> (L.) O.E. Schulz by protoplast fusion

Asymmetric intergeneric hybrid plants were obtained through protoplast fusion between Orychophragmus violaceus (L.) O.E. Schulz and Lesquerella fendleri (Gray) Wats. The latter carried chloroplasts transformed with the fused aadA16gfp gene construct, conferring streptomycin–spectinomycin resistance and UV-induced green fluorescence. The somatic hybrids were selected using the properties of spectinomycin-induced plastid defects in “albino” O. violaceus plants (chloroplast recipient) combined with the γ-irradiation-induced inactivation of nuclei in plastid donor L. fendleri. The morphology and esterase isozyme pattern of the hybrid plant as well as the results of the PCR analysis of internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA proved that the regenerated hybrids carried O. violaceus nuclei, while PCR amplification of the atpB– rbcL spacer and aadA16gfp gene fragments confirmed the presence of the transformed L. fendleri chloroplasts in these plants. Expression of the fused aadA16gfp gene construct was confirmed by sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and the resistance of the obtained plants to both streptomycin and spectinomycin.     

Production of transgenic pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants resistant to the herbicide pursuit

Transgenic pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants containing mutant ahas/als gene were obtained using Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Transformation has been carried out using cocultivation of pea explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain lBA4404 carrying genetic vectors pCB004, pCB006 and pCB007 containing ahas/als and nptII genes. The presence of transferred genes in the genomes of transgenic plants has been confirmed by PCR analysis.     

Characterization of substrate binding and catalysis in the potential antibacterial target N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU)

N-Acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU) catalyzes the first step in peptidoglycan biosynthesis in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The products of the GlmU reaction are essential for bacterial survival, making this enzyme an attractive target for antibiotic drug discovery. A series of Haemophilus influenzae GlmU (hiGlmU) structures were determined by X-ray crystallography in order to provide structural and functional insights into GlmU activity and inhibition. The information derived from these structures was combined with biochemical characterization of the K25A, Q76A, D105A, Y103A, V223A, and E224A hiGlmU mutants in order to map these active-site residues to catalytic activity of the enzyme and refine the mechanistic model of the GlmU uridyltransferase reaction. These studies suggest that GlmU activity follows a sequential substrate-binding order that begins with UTP binding noncovalently to the GlmU enzyme. The uridyltransferase active site then remains in an open apo-like conformation until N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate (GlcNAc-1-P) binds and induces a conformational change at the GlcNAc-binding subsite. Following the binding of GlcNAc-1-P to the UTP-charged uridyltransferase active site, the non-esterified oxygen of GlcNAc-1-P performs a nucleophilic attack on the alpha-phosphate group of UTP. The new data strongly suggest that the mechanism of phosphotransfer in the uridyltransferase reaction in GlmU is primarily through an associative mechanism with a pentavalent phosphate intermediate and an inversion of stereochemistry. Finally, the structural and biochemical characterization of the uridyltransferase active site and catalytic mechanism described herein provides a basis for the structure-guided design of novel antibacterial agents targeting GlmU activity.     

Production of bakuchiol by in vitro systems of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Psoralea drupacea</Emphasis> Bge

In vitro production of the meroterpene bakuchiol by Psoralea drupacea Bge (Fabaceae) has been studied using aseptically-grown plants, callus cultures of different origin, cell suspensions and transgenic hairy root cultures. The effect of phytohormones and methyl jasmonate on bakuchiol production was also investigated. Bakuchiol was not detected in cell suspensions or hairy root preparations of P. drupacea. In contrast, aerial parts of P. drupacea grown in vitro were found to accumulate up to 11% dry weight of bakuchiol and can therefore be regarded as a potentially useful source of this antimicrobial compound.     

Regeneration of cybrid Lycopersicon peruvianum x (Solanum rickii) plants with genetically transformed chloroplasts

The hybrid plants with transformed plastids were regenerated after PEG fusion of chlorophyll-deficient Lycopersicon peruvianum leaf mesophyll protoplasts and leaf mesophyll protoplasts of Solanum rickii, which were previously genetically transformed and as the result were resistant to streptomycine and spectinomycine. The hybrid callus selection was based on the inability of the Lycopersicon peruvianum minicalli to have the green coloration and on the inability of gamma-preirradiated Solanum rickii protoplasts to divide. The hybrids were identified on the base of PCR analyses of nuclear and plastid DNA.     

Stable transformation of Solanum rickii chloroplast DNA

The biolistic method was used for genetic transformation of Solanum rickii chloroplasts with aadA gene encoding resistance to streptomycine and spectinomycine. Selective pressure was applied immediately after microbombardment to avoid appearance of mutant lines. The transplastomic Solanum rickii plants remained green during two years cultivation on the media supplemented with two antibiotics. There were no morphological differences between the transformed and the wild type plants.