James W. Coulton

TonB-dependent iron acquisition: mechanisms of siderophore-mediated active transport.

Cells growing in aerobic environments have developed intricate strategies to overcome the scarcity of iron, an essential nutrient. In Gram‐negative bacteria, high‐affinity iron acquisition requires outer membrane‐localized proteins that bind iron chelates at the cell surface and promote their uptake. Transport of bound chelates across the outer membrane depends upon TonB–ExbB–ExbD, a cytoplasmic membrane‐localized complex that transduces energy from the proton motive force to high‐affinity receptors in the outer membrane. Upon ligand binding to iron chelate receptors, conformational changes are induced, some of which are detected in the periplasm. These structural alterations signal the ligand‐loaded status of the receptor and, therefore, the requirement for TonB‐dependent energy transduction. Thus, TonB interacts preferentially and directly with ligand‐loaded receptors. Such a mechanism ensures the productive use of cellular energy to drive active transport at the outer membrane.

Identification of the gene responsible for methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria, cblC type

Methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria, cblC type (OMIM 277400), is the most common inborn error of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) metabolism, with about 250 known cases. Affected individuals have developmental, hematological, neurological, metabolic, ophthalmologic and dermatologic clinical findings. Although considered a disease of infancy or childhood, some individuals develop symptoms in adulthood. The cblC locus was mapped to chromosome region 1p by linkage analysis. We refined the chromosomal interval using homozygosity mapping and haplotype analyses and identified the MMACHC gene. In 204 individuals, 42 different mutations were identified, many consistent with a loss of function of the protein product. One mutation, 271dupA, accounted for 40% of all disease alleles. Transduction of wild-type MMACHC into immortalized cblC fibroblast cell lines corrected the cellular phenotype. Molecular modeling predicts that the C-terminal region of the gene product folds similarly to TonB, a bacterial protein involved in energy transduction for cobalamin uptake.

Structure of TonB in Complex with FhuA, E. coli Outer Membrane Receptor

The cytoplasmic membrane protein TonB spans the periplasm of the Gram-negative bacterial cell envelope, contacts cognate outer membrane receptors, and facilitates siderophore transport. The outer membrane receptor FhuA from Escherichia coli mediates TonB-dependent import of ferrichrome. We report the 3.3 angstrom resolution crystal structure of the TonB carboxyl-terminal domain in complex with FhuA. TonB contacts stabilize FhuAs amino-terminal residues, including those of the consensus Ton box sequence that form an interprotein β sheet with TonB through strand exchange. The highly conserved TonB residue arginine-166 is oriented to form multiple contacts with the FhuA cork, the globular domain enclosed by the β barrel.

A conserved structural motif for lipopolysaccharide recognition by procaryotic and eucaryotic proteins

BACKGROUND Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a lipoglycan from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is an immunomodulatory molecule that stimulates the innate immune response. High levels of LPS cause excessive release of inflammatory mediators and are responsible for the septic shock syndrome. The interaction of LPS with its cognate binding proteins has not, as yet, been structurally elucidated. RESULTS The X-ray crystallographic structure of LPS in complex with the integral outer membrane protein FhuA from Escherichia coli K-12 is reported. It is in accord with data obtained using mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Most of the important hydrogen-bonding or electrostatic interactions with LPS are provided by eight positively charged residues of FhuA. Residues in a similar three-dimensional arrangement were searched for in all structurally known proteins using a fast template-matching algorithm, and a subset of four residues was identified that is common to known LPS-binding proteins. CONCLUSIONS These four residues, three of which form specific interactions with lipid A, appear to provide the structural basis of pattern recognition in the innate immune response. Their arrangement can serve to identify LPS-binding sites on proteins known to interact with LPS, and could serve as a template for molecular modeling of a LPS scavenger designed to reduce the septic shock syndrome.

Active transport of an antibiotic rifamycin derivative by the outer-membrane protein FhuA.

BACKGROUND FhuA, an integral membrane protein of Escherichia coli, actively transports ferrichrome and the structurally related antibiotic albomycin across the outer membrane. The transport is coupled to the proton motive force, which energizes FhuA through the inner-membrane protein TonB. FhuA also transports the semisynthetic rifamycin derivative CGP 4832, although the chemical structure of this antibiotic differs markedly from that of ferric hydroxamates. RESULTS X-ray crystallography revealed that rifamycin CGP 4832 occupies the same ligand binding site as ferrichrome and albomycin, thus demonstrating a surprising lack of selectivity. However, the binding of rifamycin CGP 4832 is deviant from the complexes of FhuA with hydroxamate-type ligands in that it does not result in the unwinding of the switch helix but only in its destabilization, as reflected by increased B factors. Unwinding of the switch helix is proposed to be required for efficient binding of TonB to FhuA and for coupling the proton motive force of the cytoplasmic membrane with energy-dependent ligand transport. The transport data from cells expressing mutant FhuA proteins indicated conserved structural and mechanistic requirements for the transport of both types of compounds. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the binding of rifamycin CGP 4832 destabilizes the switch helix and promotes the formation of a transport-competent FhuA-TonB complex, albeit with lower efficiency than ferrichrome. Active transport of this rifamycin derivative explains the 200-fold increase in potency as compared to rifamycin, which is not a FhuA-specific ligand and permeates across the cell envelope by passive diffusion only.

Ligand‐induced conformational change in the ferrichrome–iron receptor of Escherichia coli K‐12

Ferrichrome–iron is actively transported across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli by the TonB‐dependent receptor FhuA. To obtain FhuA in a form suitable for secondary‐structure analyses, a hexahistidine tag was inserted into a surface‐located site and the recombinant protein was purified by metal chelate chromatography. Functional studies indicated that the presence of the hexahistidine tag did not interfere with FhuA localization or with ligand‐binding activity. Ferrichrome protected lysine 67 but not lysine 5 of purified recombinant FhuA from trypsinolysis. Results from trypsin digestion were interpreted as a conformational change in FhuA which had occurred upon ferrichrome binding, thereby preventing access of trypsin to lysine 67. Circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed a predominance of ‐sheet structure for the purified protein. In the presence of ferrichrome, FhuA exhibited a secondary structure and a thermostability which were similar to FhuA without ligand. The addition of ferrichrome to purified FhuA reduced the ability of certain anti‐FhuA monoclonal antibodies to bind to the receptor. All antibodies which could in this manner discriminate between FhuA and FhuA bound to ferrichrome had their determinants within a loop which is toward the N‐terminus and which is exposed to the periplasm. These data indicate that the binding of ferrichrome induces a structural change that is propogated across the outer membrane and results in an altered conformation of a periplasmically exposed loop of FhuA. It is proposed that by such an alteration of FhuA conformation, TonB is triggered to energize the active transport of the bound ligand across the outer membrane.

Transcriptional profiling of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae under iron-restricted conditions

BackgroundTo better understand effects of iron restriction on Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and to identify new potential vaccine targets, we conducted transcript profiling studies using a DNA microarray containing all 2025 ORFs of the genome of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5b strain L20. This is the first study involving the use of microarray technology to monitor the transcriptome of A. pleuropneumoniae grown under iron restriction.ResultsUpon comparing growth of this pathogen in iron-sufficient versus iron-depleted medium, 210 genes were identified as being differentially expressed. Some genes (92) were identified as being up-regulated; many have confirmed or putative roles in iron acquisition, such as the genes coding for two TonB energy-transducing proteins and the hemoglobin receptor HgbA. Transcript profiling also led to identification of some new iron acquisition systems of A. pleuropneumoniae. Genes coding for a possible Yfe system (yfeABCD), implicated in the acquisition of chelated iron, were detected, as well as genes coding for a putative enterobactin-type siderophore receptor system. ORFs for homologs of the HmbR system of Neisseria meningitidis involved in iron acquisition from hemoglobin were significantly up-regulated. Down-regulated genes included many that encode proteins containing Fe-S clusters or that use heme as a cofactor. Supplementation of the culture medium with exogenous iron re-established the expression level of these genes.ConclusionWe have used transcriptional profiling to generate a list of genes showing differential expression during iron restriction. This strategy enabled us to gain a better understanding of the metabolic changes occurring in response to this stress. Many new potential iron acquisition systems were identified, and further studies will have to be conducted to establish their role during iron restriction.

Siderophore Transport through Escherichia coli Outer Membrane Receptor FhuA with Disulfide-tethered Cork and Barrel Domains*

The hydroxamate siderophore receptor FhuA is a TonB-dependent outer membrane protein of Escherichia coli composed of a C-terminal 22-stranded β-barrel occluded by an N-terminal globular cork domain. During siderophore transport into the periplasm, the FhuA cork domain has been proposed to undergo conformational changes that allow transport through the barrel lumen; alternatively, the cork may be completely displaced from the barrel. To probe such changes, site-directed cysteine mutants in the cork domain (L109C and Q112C) and in the barrel domain (S356C and M383C) were created within the putative siderophore transport pathway. Molecular modeling predicted that the double cysteine mutants L109C/S356C and Q112C/M383C would form disulfide bonds, thereby tethering the cork and barrel domains. The double cysteine FhuA mutants were denatured under nonreducing conditions and fluorescently labeled with thiol-specific Oregon Green maleimide. Subsequent SDS-PAGE analysis revealed two distinct species: FhuA containing a disulfide bond and FhuA with free sulfhydryl groups. To address the role of the putative siderophore transport pathway and to evaluate possible rearrangements of the cork domain during ferricrocin transport, disulfide bond formation was enhanced by an oxidative catalyst. Cells containing double cysteine FhuA mutants that were subjected to oxidation during ferricrocin transport exhibited disulfide bond formation to near completion. After disulfide tethering of the cork to the barrel, ferricrocin transport was equivalent to transport by untreated cells. These results demonstrate that blocking the putative siderophore transport pathway does not abrogate ferricrocin uptake. We propose that, during siderophore transport through FhuA, the cork domain remains within the barrel rather than being displaced.

Interactions between TonB from Escherichia coli and the Periplasmic Protein FhuD

For uptake of ferrichrome into bacterial cells, FhuA, a TonB-dependent outer membrane receptor of Escherichia coli, is required. The periplasmic protein FhuD binds and transfers ferrichrome to the cytoplasmic membrane-associated permease FhuB/C. We exploited phage display to map protein-protein interactions in the E. coli cell envelope that contribute to ferrichrome transport. By panning random phage libraries against TonB and against FhuD, we identified interaction surfaces on each of these two proteins. Their interactions were detected in vitro by dynamic light scattering and indicated a 1:1 TonB-FhuD complex. FhuD residue Thr-181, located within the siderophorebinding site and mapping to a predicted TonB-interaction surface, was mutated to cysteine. FhuD T181C was reacted with two thiol-specific fluorescent probes; addition of the siderophore ferricrocin quenched fluorescence emissions of these conjugates. Similarly, quenching of fluorescence from both probes confirmed binding of TonB and established an apparent KD of ∼300 nm. Prior saturation of the siderophorebinding site of FhuD with ferricrocin did not alter affinity of TonB for FhuD. Binding, further characterized with surface plasmon resonance, indicated a higher affinity complex with KD values in the low nanomolar range. Addition of FhuD to a preformed TonB-FhuA complex resulted in formation of a ternary complex. These observations led us to propose a novel mechanism in which TonB acts as a scaffold, directing FhuD to regions within the periplasm where it is poised to accept and deliver siderophore.

Transport of hemin byHaemophilus influenzae type b

Haemophilus influenzae may be distinguished from other gram-negative bacteria by its growth requirement for hemin. The ability of this bacterium to accumulate hemin while growing in a fully defined medium has been partially characterized.Haemophilus influenzae type b ATCC 9795 transported hemin at a rate of 1.2 pmol/min/109 cells during logarithmic growth. The kinetics of active transport of doubly radiolabeled hemin indicated that both iron and the porphyrin ring were taken up at the same rate. Hemin satisfied some of the total iron requirement ofHaemophilus as determined by starving the cells for iron with the addition of ethylenediamine-di-(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (EDDA) and by limiting the porphyrin supply. Outer membrane proteins were compared from cells grown under hemin sufficiency versus cells grown under hemin starvation: in the latter case, a protein of molecular weight 43,000 was present in enhanced amounts; this protein may play a role in the permeability of hemin across the cell envelope ofH. influenzae type b.