Bacterial TonB-dependent transducers interact with the anti-σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis.

Competitive bacteria like the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can acquire iron from different iron carriers, which are usually internalized via outer membrane TonB-dependent receptors (TBDRs). Production of TBDRs is promoted by the presence of the substrate. This regulation often entails a sig...

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Main Authors: Sarah Wettstadt, Francisco J Marcos-Torres, Joaquín R Otero-Asman, Alicia García-Puente, Álvaro Ortega, María A Llamas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-12-01
Series:PLoS Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002920
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author Sarah Wettstadt
Francisco J Marcos-Torres
Joaquín R Otero-Asman
Alicia García-Puente
Álvaro Ortega
María A Llamas
author_facet Sarah Wettstadt
Francisco J Marcos-Torres
Joaquín R Otero-Asman
Alicia García-Puente
Álvaro Ortega
María A Llamas
author_sort Sarah Wettstadt
collection DOAJ
description Competitive bacteria like the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can acquire iron from different iron carriers, which are usually internalized via outer membrane TonB-dependent receptors (TBDRs). Production of TBDRs is promoted by the presence of the substrate. This regulation often entails a signal transfer pathway known as cell-surface signaling (CSS) that involves the TBDR itself that also functions as transducer (and is thus referred to as TBDT), a cytoplasmic membrane-bound anti-σ factor, and an extracytoplasmic function σ (σECF) factor. TBDTs contain an extra N-terminal domain known as signaling domain (SD) required for the signal transfer activity of these receptors. In the current CSS model, presence of the signal allows the interaction between the TBDT and the anti-σ factor in the periplasm, promoting the proteolysis of the anti-σ factor and in turn the σECF-dependent transcription of response genes, including the TBDT gene. However, recent evidence shows that σECF activity does not depend on this interaction, suggesting that the contact between these 2 proteins fulfills a different role. Using the P. aeruginosa Fox CSS system as model, we show here that the SD of the FoxA TBDT already interacts with the C-terminal domain of the FoxR anti-σ factor in absence of the signal. This interaction protects FoxR from proteolysis in turn preventing transcription of σFoxI-dependent genes. By structural modeling of the FoxR/FoxASD interaction, we have identified the interaction sites between these 2 proteins and provide the molecular details of this interaction. We furthermore show that to exert this protective role, FoxA undergoes proteolytic cleavage, denoting a change in the paradigm of the current CSS model.
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spelling doaj-art-761862bb497a42e4956e825b66b91fa82025-08-20T01:58:24ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Biology1544-91731545-78852024-12-012212e300292010.1371/journal.pbio.3002920Bacterial TonB-dependent transducers interact with the anti-σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis.Sarah WettstadtFrancisco J Marcos-TorresJoaquín R Otero-AsmanAlicia García-PuenteÁlvaro OrtegaMaría A LlamasCompetitive bacteria like the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can acquire iron from different iron carriers, which are usually internalized via outer membrane TonB-dependent receptors (TBDRs). Production of TBDRs is promoted by the presence of the substrate. This regulation often entails a signal transfer pathway known as cell-surface signaling (CSS) that involves the TBDR itself that also functions as transducer (and is thus referred to as TBDT), a cytoplasmic membrane-bound anti-σ factor, and an extracytoplasmic function σ (σECF) factor. TBDTs contain an extra N-terminal domain known as signaling domain (SD) required for the signal transfer activity of these receptors. In the current CSS model, presence of the signal allows the interaction between the TBDT and the anti-σ factor in the periplasm, promoting the proteolysis of the anti-σ factor and in turn the σECF-dependent transcription of response genes, including the TBDT gene. However, recent evidence shows that σECF activity does not depend on this interaction, suggesting that the contact between these 2 proteins fulfills a different role. Using the P. aeruginosa Fox CSS system as model, we show here that the SD of the FoxA TBDT already interacts with the C-terminal domain of the FoxR anti-σ factor in absence of the signal. This interaction protects FoxR from proteolysis in turn preventing transcription of σFoxI-dependent genes. By structural modeling of the FoxR/FoxASD interaction, we have identified the interaction sites between these 2 proteins and provide the molecular details of this interaction. We furthermore show that to exert this protective role, FoxA undergoes proteolytic cleavage, denoting a change in the paradigm of the current CSS model.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002920
spellingShingle Sarah Wettstadt
Francisco J Marcos-Torres
Joaquín R Otero-Asman
Alicia García-Puente
Álvaro Ortega
María A Llamas
Bacterial TonB-dependent transducers interact with the anti-σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis.
PLoS Biology
title Bacterial TonB-dependent transducers interact with the anti-σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis.
title_full Bacterial TonB-dependent transducers interact with the anti-σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis.
title_fullStr Bacterial TonB-dependent transducers interact with the anti-σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis.
title_full_unstemmed Bacterial TonB-dependent transducers interact with the anti-σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis.
title_short Bacterial TonB-dependent transducers interact with the anti-σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis.
title_sort bacterial tonb dependent transducers interact with the anti σ factor in absence of the inducing signal protecting it from proteolysis
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002920
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