Erin M. Anderson

ARC1 Is an E3 Ubiquitin Ligase and Promotes the Ubiquitination of Proteins during the Rejection of Self-Incompatible Brassica Pollen

ARC1 is a novel U-box protein required in the Brassica pistil for the rejection of self-incompatible pollen; it functions downstream of the S receptor kinase (SRK). Here, we show that ARC1 has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and contains several motifs that influence its subcellular localization. ARC1 can shuttle between the nucleus, cytosol, and proteasome/COP9 signalosome (CSN) when expressed in tobacco BY-2 suspension-cultured cells. However, ARC1 localization to the proteasome/CSN occurs only in the presence of an active SRK. In the pistil, ubiquitinated protein levels increase specifically with incompatible pollinations, but they do not change in ARC1 antisense-suppressed pistils. In addition, inhibition of the proteasomal proteolytic activity disrupts the self-incompatibility response. We propose that ARC1 promotes the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of compatibility factors in the pistil, which in turn leads to pollen rejection.

Genetic and biochemical analyses of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Psl exopolysaccharide reveal overlapping roles for polysaccharide synthesis enzymes in Psl and LPS production

Exopolysaccharides contribute significantly to attachment and biofilm formation in the opportunisitc pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Psl polysaccharide, which is synthesized by the polysaccharide synthesis locus (psl), is required for biofilm formation in non‐mucoid strains that do not rely on alginate as the principal biofilm polysaccharide. In‐frame deletion and complementation studies of individual psl genes revealed that 11 psl genes, pslACDEFGHIJKL, are required for Psl production and surface attachment. We also present the first structural analysis of the psl‐dependent polysaccharide, which consists of a repeating pentasaccharide containing d‐mannose, d‐glucose and l‐rhamnose:

Structural Studies of FlaA1 from Helicobacter pylori Reveal the Mechanism for Inverting 4,6-Dehydratase Activity.

FlaA1 from the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori is an enzyme involved in saccharide biosynthesis that has been shown to be essential for pathogenicity. Here we present five crystal structures of FlaA1 in the presence of substrate, inhibitors, and bound cofactor, with resolutions ranging from 2.8 to 1.9 Å. These structures reveal that the enzyme is a novel member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily. Additional electron microscopy studies show the enzyme to possess a hexameric doughnut-shaped quaternary structure. NMR analyses of “real time” enzyme-substrate reactions indicate that FlaA1 is a UDP-GlcNAc-inverting 4,6-dehydratase, suggesting that the enzyme catalyzes the first step in the biosynthetic pathway of a pseudaminic acid derivative, which is implicated in protein glycosylation. Guided by evidence from site-directed mutagenesis and computational simulations, a three-step reaction mechanism is proposed that involves Lys-133 functioning as both a catalytic acid and base.

Dual conserved periplasmic loops possess essential charge characteristics that support a catch-and-release mechanism of O-antigen polymerization by Wzy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

Heteropolymeric B-band lipopolysaccharide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is synthesized via the so-called Wzy-dependent pathway, requiring a functional Wzy for polymerization of O-antigen repeat units in the periplasm. Wzy is an integral inner membrane protein for which the detailed topology has been mapped in a recent investigation (Islam, S. T., Taylor, V. L., Qi, M., and Lam, J. S. (2010) mBio 1, e00189-10), revealing two principal periplasmic loops (PL), PL3 and PL5, each containing an RX10G motif. Despite considerable sequence conservation between the two loops, the isoelectric point for each peptide displayed marked differences, with PL3 exhibiting a net-positive charge and PL5 showing a net-negative charge. Data from site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids in each PL have led to the identification of several key Arg residues within the two RX10G motifs that are important for Wzy function, of which Arg176, Arg290, and Arg291 could not be functionally substituted with Lys. These observations support the proposed role of each PL in a catch-and-release mechanism for Wzy-mediated O-antigen polymerization.

Flagellin Glycosylation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK Requires the O-antigen Biosynthesis Enzyme WbpO *□

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK (serotype O6) produces a single polar, glycosylated flagellum composed of a-type flagellin. To determine whether or not flagellin glycosylation in this serotype requires O-antigen genes, flagellin was isolated from the wild type, three O-antigen-deficient mutants wbpL, wbpO, and wbpP, and a wbpO mutant complemented with a plasmid containing a wild-type copy of wbpO. Flagellin from the wbpO mutant was smaller (42 kDa) than that of the wild type (45 kDa), or other mutants strains, and exhibited an altered isoelectric point (pI 4.8) when compared with PAK flagellin (pI 4.6). These differences were because of the truncation of the glycan moiety in the wbpO-flagellin. Thus, flagellin glycosylation in P. aeruginosa PAK apparently requires a functional WbpO but not WbpP. Because WbpP was previously proposed to catalyze a metabolic step in the biosynthesis of B-band O-antigen that precedes the action of WbpO, these results prompted us to reevaluate the two-step pathway catalyzed by WbpO and WbpP. Results from WbpO-WbpP-coupled enzymatic assays showed that either WbpO or WbpP is capable of initiating the two-step pathway; however, the kinetic parameters favored the WbpO reaction to occur first, converting UDP-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine to UDP-N-acetyl-d-glucuronic acid prior to the conversion to UDP-N-acetyl-d-galacturonic acid by WbpP. This is the first report to show that a C4 epimerase could utilize UDP-N-acetylhexuronic acid as a substrate.

A cationic lumen in the Wzx flippase mediates anionic O-antigen subunit translocation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

Heteropolymeric B‐band O‐antigen (O‐Ag) biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 follows the Wzy‐dependent pathway, beginning with translocation of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate‐linked anionic O‐Ag subunits (O units) from the inner to the outer leaflets of the inner membrane (IM). This translocation is mediated by the integral IM flippase Wzx. Through experimentally based and unbiased topological mapping, our group previously observed that Wzx possesses many charged and aromatic amino acid residues within its 12 transmembrane segments (TMS). Herein, site‐directed mutagenesis targeting 102 residues was carried out on the TMS and loops of Wzx, followed by assessment of each constructs ability to restore B‐band O‐Ag production, identifying eight residues important for flippase function. The importance of various charged and aromatic residues was highlighted, predominantly within the TMS of the protein, revealing functional ‘hotspots’ within the flippase, particularly within TMS2 and TMS8. Construction of a tertiary structure homology model for Wzx indicated that TMS2 and TMS8 line a central cationic lumen. This is the first report to describe a charged flippase lumen for mediating anionic O‐unit translocation across the hydrophobic IM.

The structural basis for catalytic function of GMD and RMD, two closely related enzymes from the GDP-D-rhamnose biosynthesis pathway.

The rare 6‐deoxysugar d‐rhamnose is a component of bacterial cell surface glycans, including the d‐rhamnose homopolymer produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, called A‐band O polysaccharide. GDP‐d‐rhamnose synthesis from GDP‐d‐mannose is catalyzed by two enzymes. The first is a GDP‐d‐mannose‐4,6‐dehydratase (GMD). The second enzyme, RMD, reduces the GMD product (GDP‐6‐deoxy‐d‐lyxo‐hexos‐4‐ulose) to GDP‐d‐rhamnose. Genes encoding GMD and RMD are present in P. aeruginosa, and genetic evidence indicates they act in A‐band O‐polysaccharide biosynthesis. Details of their enzyme functions have not, however, been previously elucidated. We aimed to characterize these enzymes biochemically, and to determine the structure of RMD to better understand what determines substrate specificity and catalytic activity in these enzymes. We used capillary electrophoresis and NMR analysis of reaction products to precisely define P. aeruginosa GMD and RMD functions. P. aeruginosa GMD is bifunctional, and can catalyze both GDP‐d‐mannose 4,6‐dehydration and the subsequent reduction reaction to produce GDP‐d‐rhamnose. RMD catalyzes the stereospecific reduction of GDP‐6‐deoxy‐d‐lyxo‐hexos‐4‐ulose, as predicted. Reconstitution of GDP‐d‐rhamnose biosynthesis in vitro revealed that the P. aeruginosa pathway may be regulated by feedback inhibition in the cell. We determined the structure of RMD from Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus at 1.8 Å resolution. The structure of A. thermoaerophilus RMD is remarkably similar to that of P. aeruginosa GMD, which explains why P. aeruginosa GMD is also able to catalyze the RMD reaction. Comparison of the active sites and amino acid sequences suggests that a conserved amino acid side chain (Arg185 in P. aeruginosa GMD) may be crucial for orienting substrate and cofactor in GMD enzymes.

Structure of the lipopolysaccharide core of Vibrio vulnificus type strain 27562

The structure of the lipopolysaccharide core of Vibrio vulnificus type strain 27562 is presented. LPS hydrolysis gave two oligosaccharides, OS-1 and OS-2, as well as lipid A. NMR spectroscopic data corresponded to the presence of one Kdo residue, one beta-glucopyranose, three heptoses, one glyceric acid, one acetate, three PEtN, and one 5,7-diacylamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxynonulosonic acid residue (pseudaminic acid, Pse) in OS1. OS2 differed form OS 1 by the absence of glyceric acid, acetate, and Pse residues. Lipid A was analyzed for fatty acid composition and the following fatty acids were found: C14:0, C12:0-3OH, C16:0, C16:1, C14:0-3OH, C18:0, C18:1 in a ratio of 1:3:3:1:2.5:0.6:0.8.

Ssg, a putative glycosyltransferase, functions in lipo- and exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and cell surface-related properties in Pseudomonas alkylphenolia.

In the presence of vaporized p-cresol, Pseudomonas alkylphenolia KL28 forms specialized aerial structures (SAS). A transposon mutant of strain KL28 (C23) incapable of forming mature SAS was isolated. Genetic analysis of the C23 mutant revealed the transposon insertion in a gene (ssg) encoding a putative glycosyltransferase, which is homologous to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 PA5001 gene. Deletion of ssg in KL28 caused the loss of lipopolysaccharide O antigen and altered the composition of the exopolysaccharide. Wild-type KL28 produced a fucose-, glucose- and mannose-rich exopolysaccharide, while the mutant exopolysaccharide completely lacked fucose and mannose, resulting in an exopolysaccharide with glucose as the major component. The mutant strain showed reduced surface spreading, pellicle and biofilm formation, probably due to the cumulative effect of lipopolysaccharide truncation and altered exopolysaccharide composition. Our results show that the ssg gene of KL28 is involved in both lipopolysaccharide and exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and thus plays an important role in cell surface properties and cell-cell interactions of P. alkylphenolia.

Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of RcSUS1, a Cytosolic Sucrose Synthase Phosphorylated in Vivo at Serine 11 in Developing Castor Oil Seeds

Background: The pathways and control of oil seed sugar unloading and metabolism are not well understood. Results: The UDP-specific sucrose synthase isozyme RcSUS1 is the dominant sucrolytic enzyme of developing castor oil seeds. Conclusion: RcSUS1 expression and phosphorylation at Ser-11 are modulated by photosynthate translocated from leaves. Significance: This research may facilitate the development of effective biotechnological strategies for oil seed metabolic engineering. Sucrose synthase (SUS) catalyzes the UDP-dependent cleavage of sucrose into UDP-glucose and fructose and has become an important target for improving seed crops via metabolic engineering. A UDP-specific SUS homotetramer composed of 93-kDa subunits was purified to homogeneity from the triacylglyceride-rich endosperm of developing castor oil seeds (COS) and identified as RcSUS1 by mass spectrometry. RcSUS1 transcripts peaked during early development, whereas levels of SUS activity and immunoreactive 93-kDa SUS polypeptides maximized during mid-development, becoming undetectable in fully mature COS. The cytosolic location of the enzyme was established following transient expression of RcSUS1-enhanced YFP in tobacco suspension cells and fluorescence microscopy. Immunological studies using anti-phosphosite-specific antibodies revealed dynamic and high stoichiometric in vivo phosphorylation of RcSUS1 at its conserved Ser-11 residue during COS development. Incorporation of 32Pi from [γ-32P]ATP into a RcSUS1 peptide substrate, alongside a phosphosite-specific ELISA assay, established the presence of calcium-dependent RcSUS1 (Ser-11) kinase activity. Approximately 10% of RcSUS1 was associated with COS microsomal membranes and was hypophosphorylated relative to the remainder of RcSUS1 that partitioned into the soluble, cytosolic fraction. Elimination of sucrose supply caused by excision of intact pods of developing COS abolished RcSUS1 transcription while triggering the progressive dephosphorylation of RcSUS1 in planta. This did not influence the proportion of RcSUS1 associated with microsomal membranes but instead correlated with a subsequent marked decline in SUS activity and immunoreactive RcSUS1 polypeptides. Phosphorylation at Ser-11 appears to protect RcSUS1 from proteolysis, rather than influence its kinetic properties or partitioning between the soluble cytosol and microsomal membranes.