<i>Chlamydia</i> co‐opts the rod shape‐determining proteins MreB and Pbp2 for cell division

Ouellette, Scot P.; Karimova, Gouzel; Subtil, Agathe; Ladant, Daniel

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.08100.x

Cited by 99 publications

(178 citation statements)

References 51 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

159

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, recent studies using electron cryotomography, mass spectrometry as well as in situ fluorescent labeling demonstrated that some species synthesize a unique type of PG which localizes to the division site (Pilhofer et al, 2013; Liechti et al, 2014). Further, it was shown that PBP2 and PBP3 (FtsI), which are involved in PG synthesis in other bacteria, are required for cell division in an MreB (bacterial actin homolog)-dependent manner in Chlamydia trachmotis (Ouellette et al, 2012). In the Chlamydiae Waddlia chondrophila , RodZ (a regulator of MreB) and MreB localize at the division site, and biosynthesis of PG precursor lipid II is required for the recruitment of RodZ to the division site (Jacquier et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FtsZ-less prokaryotic cell division as well as FtsZ- and dynamin-less chloroplast and non-photosynthetic plastid division

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The chloroplast division machinery is a mixture of a stromal FtsZ-based complex descended from a cyanobacterial ancestor of chloroplasts and a cytosolic dynamin-related protein (DRP) 5B-based complex derived from the eukaryotic host. Molecular genetic studies have shown that each component of the division machinery is normally essential for normal chloroplast division. However, several exceptions have been found. In the absence of the FtsZ ring, non-photosynthetic plastids are able to proliferate, likely by elongation and budding. Depletion of DRP5B impairs, but does not stop chloroplast division. Chloroplasts in glaucophytes, which possesses a peptidoglycan (PG) layer, divide without DRP5B. Certain parasitic eukaryotes possess non-photosynthetic plastids of secondary endosymbiotic origin, but neither FtsZ nor DRP5B is encoded in their genomes. Elucidation of the FtsZ- and/or DRP5B-less chloroplast division mechanism will lead to a better understanding of the function and evolution of the chloroplast division machinery and the finding of the as-yet-unknown mechanism that is likely involved in chloroplast division. Recent studies have shown that FtsZ was lost from a variety of prokaryotes, many of which lost PG by regressive evolution. In addition, even some of the FtsZ-bearing bacteria are able to divide when FtsZ and PG are depleted experimentally. In some cases, alternative mechanisms for cell division, such as budding by an increase of the cell surface-to-volume ratio, are proposed. Although PG is believed to have been lost from chloroplasts other than in glaucophytes, there is some indirect evidence for the existence of PG in chloroplasts. Such information is also useful for understanding how non-photosynthetic plastids are able to divide in FtsZ-depleted cells and the reason for the retention of FtsZ in chloroplast division. Here we summarize information to facilitate analyses of FtsZ- and/or DRP5B-less chloroplast and non-photosynthetic plastid division.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FtsZ-less prokaryotic cell division as well as FtsZ- and dynamin-less chloroplast and non-photosynthetic plastid division

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…One class of genes for which the bacterium has few annotated examples is cell division, and Chlamydia lacks FtsZ, a central coordinator of the division apparatus. We have previously implicated MreB as a potential substitute for FtsZ in Chlamydia (Ouellette et al, 2012). Thus, to identify new chlamydial cell division components, we searched for proteins that interacted with MreB.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Analysis of MreB interactors in Chlamydia reveals a RodZ homolog but fails to detect an interaction with MraY

et al. 2014

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that has significantly reduced its genome in adapting to the intracellular environment. One class of genes for which the bacterium has few annotated examples is cell division, and Chlamydia lacks FtsZ, a central coordinator of the division apparatus. We have previously implicated MreB as a potential substitute for FtsZ in Chlamydia (Ouellette et al., 2012). Thus, to identify new chlamydial cell division components, we searched for proteins that interacted with MreB. We performed a small-scale screen using a Gateway® compatible version of the Bacterial Adenylate Cyclase Two Hybrid (BACTH) system, BACTHGW, to detect proteins interacting with chlamydial MreB and identified a RodZ (YfgA) homolog. The chlamydial RodZ aligns well with the cytoplasmic domain of E. coli RodZ but lacks the periplasmic domain that is dispensable for rod cell shape maintenance in E. coli. The expression pattern of yfgA/rodZ was similar to that of mreB and ftsI, suggesting that these genes may operate in a common functional pathway. The chlamydial RodZ correctly localized to the membrane of E. coli but was unable to complement an E. coli rodZ mutant strain, likely because of the inability of chlamydial RodZ to interact with the native E. coli MreB. Finally, we also tested whether chlamydial MreB could interact with MraY, as suggested by Gaballah et al. (2011). However, we did not detect an interaction between these proteins even when using an implementation of the BACTH system to allow native orientation of the N- and C-termini of MraY in the periplasm. Thus, further work will be needed to establish this proposed interaction. In sum, we have added to the repertoire of potential cell division proteins of Chlamydia.

show abstract

“…Interestingly, euo contains three Trp residues in C. pneumoniae (versus two in C. trachomatis), and its transcript levels are highly elevated during IFN-␥-mediated persistence. To begin testing our hypothesis that chlamydial transcription during IFN-␥-mediated Trp limitation is dependent on the Trp codon content of the gene being transcribed, we measured the transcript levels of eight genes, with various Trp codon contents, representing diverse functions from cell division (mreB and rodZ) (50,51), to transcription (nusA, nusG, dksA, and rho), to translation (obg) (52), to metabolism (ubiA). MreB, DksA, NusA, and Rho contain no Trp.…”

Section: Chlamydial Transcriptional Responses Are Highly Reproduciblementioning

confidence: 99%

Tryptophan Codon-Dependent Transcription in Chlamydia pneumoniae during Gamma Interferon-Mediated Tryptophan Limitation

2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In evolving to an obligate intracellular niche, Chlamydia has streamlined its genome by eliminating superfluous genes as it relies on the host cell for a variety of nutritional needs like amino acids. However, Chlamydia can experience amino acid starvation when the human host cell in which the bacteria reside is exposed to interferon gamma (IFN-␥), which leads to a tryptophan (Trp)-limiting environment via induction of the enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). The stringent response is used to respond to amino acid starvation in most bacteria but is missing from Chlamydia. Thus, how Chlamydia, a Trp auxotroph, responds to Trp starvation in the absence of a stringent response is an intriguing question. We previously observed that C. pneumoniae responds to this stress by globally increasing transcription while globally decreasing translation, an unusual response. Here, we sought to understand this and hypothesized that the Trp codon content of a given gene would determine its transcription level. We quantified transcripts from C. pneumoniae genes that were either rich or poor in Trp codons and found that Trp codon-rich transcripts were increased, whereas those that lacked Trp codons were unchanged or even decreased. There were exceptions, and these involved operons or large genes with multiple Trp codons: downstream transcripts were less abundant after Trp codon-rich sequences. These data suggest that ribosome stalling on Trp codons causes a negative polar effect on downstream sequences. Finally, reassessing previous C. pneumoniae microarray data based on codon content, we found that upregulated transcripts were enriched in Trp codons, thus supporting our hypothesis. Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes a range of illnesses in humans and animals (1-4). It alternates between functionally and morphologically distinct forms during its developmental cycle (see reference 5 for review). The elementary body (EB) mediates attachment and internalization into a susceptible host cell, whereas the reticulate body (RB) grows and divides within a membrane-bound pathogen-specified parasitic organelle termed an inclusion (6). In evolving to obligate intracellular parasitism, Chlamydia has streamlined its genome by eliminating superfluous pathways and genes (7). Conversely, if Chlamydia has maintained a set of genes, then it is likely important for the bacterium.There are two primary species of Chlamydia that cause significant disease in humans: C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis. Many chlamydial infections are often unrecognized and asymptomatic, and failure to treat these infections can lead to chronic sequelae. For C. trachomatis, these sequelae can include pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal factor infertility, and reactive arthritis (8, 9). C. pneumoniae has been associated with a number of chronic conditions, including atherosclerosis and adult-onset asthma among others (10, 11). One possible explanation for asymptomatic chlamydial infections may be due to the ability of the organism to ente...

show abstract

Chlamydia co‐opts the rod shape‐determining proteins MreB and Pbp2 for cell division

Cited by 99 publications

References 51 publications

FtsZ-less prokaryotic cell division as well as FtsZ- and dynamin-less chloroplast and non-photosynthetic plastid division

FtsZ-less prokaryotic cell division as well as FtsZ- and dynamin-less chloroplast and non-photosynthetic plastid division

Analysis of MreB interactors in Chlamydia reveals a RodZ homolog but fails to detect an interaction with MraY

Tryptophan Codon-Dependent Transcription in Chlamydia pneumoniae during Gamma Interferon-Mediated Tryptophan Limitation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About