Autotransporters represent a large superfamily of known and putative virulence factors produced by Gram-negative bacteria. They consist of an N-terminal “passenger domain” responsible for the specific effector functions of the molecule and a C-terminal “β domain” responsible for translocation of the passenger across the bacterial outer membrane. Here we present the 2.5-Å crystal structure of the passenger domain of the extracellular serine protease EspP, produced by the pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 and a member of the serine protease autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs). Like the previously structurally characterized SPATE passenger domains, the EspP passenger domain contains an extended right-handed parallel β-helix preceded by an N-terminal globular domain housing the catalytic function of the protease. Of note, however, is the absence of a second globular domain protruding from this β- helix. We describe the structure of the EspP passenger domain in the context of previous results and provide an alternative hypothesis for the function of the β-helix within SPATEs.
It has been proposed that O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene silencing in premalignant lesions and cancers of the lung might result in the acquisition of a 'mutator' phenotype. Previously, however, we found that Mgmt(-/-) mouse DNA failed to show an increase in spontaneous mutations. We thus hypothesized that only during exposure to specific environmental carcinogens would the consequences of MGMT deficiency become evident. Metabolism of the tobacco-derived nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) generates alkylating species that can react with the O(6) position of deoxyguanine, thereby yielding substrates for MGMT-mediated repair. To investigate how MGMT might regulate the mutational effects of NNK, Mgmt(-/-) mice were crossed with a lacI-based transgenic reporter line (Big Blue) thus enabling an assessment of the in vivo mutagenic effects of this agent. We observed the induction of a complex spectrum of NNK-dependent lacI mutations in both control and Mgmt(-/-) tissues, but only a trend in the mutant frequency increases that could be attributed to MGMT deficiency. The mutational spectra of NNK-treated Mgmt(-/-) lungs revealed an increase in the absolute number of G:C to A:T changes accompanied by a shift in these from CpG to GpG sites, consistent with an S(N)1 alkylation mechanism. In keeping with the high levels of MGMT expressed in the liver, more pronounced mutagenic effects and greater differences in O(6) position of deoxyguanosine adduct levels following NNK were observed in Mgmt(-/-) versus wild-type mice. Extrapolating to humans, MGMT-deficient cells would likely exhibit an increased mutational burden, but only following exposures to specific environmental mutagens such as NNK.
Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs; previously called cellulose-binding domains) make excellent fusion partners for the immobilization or purification of polypeptides. However, their use in eukaryotic hosts has been limited by glycosylation, which interferes with the ability of the CBM to bind to cellulose. We have engineered the C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module from Cellulomonas fimi xylanase 10A such that it lacks N-glycosylation sites. This variant, called CBM2aNgly–, was produced and secreted by the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and found to be O-glycosylated. The O-linked glycans were composed entirely of mannose in a ratio of 1 mol of mannose to 4 mol of protein. The overall distribution of mannose on the O-glycosylated CBM mutant ranged from 1 to 9 mannose residues with the oligosaccharide sizes ranging from Man1 to Man4. MALDI-TOF (all matrix-assisted-laser-desorption time of flight) mass spectrometry (MS) was used to map the O-glycosylation to three regions of the polypeptide, each region having a maximum of 4 mannose residues attached to each. Glycans chemically released from CBM2aNgly– and analyzed by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis were found to contain α-1,2-, α-1,3-, and α-1,6-linkages. Significantly, the O-glycosylation did not influence binding, making CBM2aNgly– a suitable fusion partner for polypeptides produced in P. pastoris and other eukaryotic hosts.
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