Functional analysis of cysteine residues of the Hok/Gef type I toxins in Escherichia coli.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
Dorien WilmaertsJan Michiels

Abstract

The Hok/Gef family consists of structurally similar, single-span membrane peptides that all contain a positively charged N-terminal domain, an α-helix and a periplasmic C-terminal domain. Hok/Gef peptides have previously been described to play distinct physiological roles. Indeed, while HokB has been implicated in bacterial persistence, other members of the Hok/Gef family are known to induce cell lysis. However, the generalizability of previously published studies is problematic, as they have all used different expression systems. Therefore, we conducted a systematic study of the nine Hok/Gef peptides of Escherichia coli. We observed rapid cell death following expression of hokA, hokC, hokD, hokE, pndA1, hok or srnB, while expression of hokB or pndA2 does not result in cell lysis. A remarkable feature of Hok/Gef peptides is the presence of conserved periplasmic tyrosine and/or cysteine residues. For the HokB peptide, one of these residues has previously been implicated in intermolecular dimerization, which is essential for HokB to exert its role in persistence. To assess the role of the periplasmic cysteine and tyrosine residues in other Hok/Gef peptides and to decipher whether these residues determine peptide toxicity, an arra...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1991·Molecular Microbiology·L K PoulsenP Andersson
May 1, 1986·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·K GerdesS Molin
Jul 15, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·F XuS N Cohen
Apr 1, 1996·Journal of Bacteriology·D C Pecota, T K Wood
Jan 1, 1997·Annual Review of Genetics·K GerdesN D Mikkelsen
Jun 11, 1999·Molecular Microbiology·K Pedersen, K Gerdes
Apr 12, 2000·Molecular Microbiology·A R Fernández De HenestrosaR Woodgate
Nov 1, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T F Cooper, J A Heinemann
Feb 19, 2005·Nucleic Acids Research·Deo Prakash Pandey, Kenn Gerdes
Jan 7, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Peter C FineranGeorge P C Salmond
Nov 17, 2009·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Younghoon Kim, Thomas K Wood
Jan 29, 2010·Environmental Microbiology·Younghoon KimThomas K Wood
Jan 28, 2015·Microbial Pathogenesis·Chinwe U Chukwudi, Liam Good
Apr 17, 2015·FEMS Microbiology Reviews·Murray P Deutscher
Mar 19, 2016·Nature Chemical Biology·Rebecca Page, Wolfgang Peti
Feb 6, 2018·Molecular Cell·Alexander HarmsKenn Gerdes
Jul 23, 2019·Molecular Cell·Dorien WilmaertsJan Michiels

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.