Secretin PulD: Association with pilot PulS, structure, and ion-conducting channel formation

Wza is a highly conserved multimeric outer membrane protein complex required for the surface expression of the serotype K30 group 1 capsular polysaccharide in Escherichia coli. Here we present the first three-dimensional structure of this type of polysaccharide exporter at a 15.5-Å resolution obtained using single particle averaging on a dataset of cryo-negatively stained protein.Previous structural studies on purified Wza have revealed a homo-oligomeric ring structure that is most probably composed of eight subunits. Symmetry analysis of the three-dimensional structure combined with biochemical two-and three-dimensional crystallographic data strongly suggest that Wza is an octameric complex with a C4 quasi-rotational symmetry and is organized as a tetramer of dimeric subunits. Wza is best described as a stack of two 4-Å high rings with differing diameters providing a mushroom-like aspect from the side. The larger ring has a distinctive square shape with a diameter of 115 Å, whereas the smaller is almost circular with a diameter of 90 Å. In the center of the complex and enclosed by the four symmetrical arms is a small elliptical cagelike cavity of ϳ40 Å in diameter. The central cavity is effectively sealed at the top and bottom of the complex but has small inter-arm holes when viewed from the side. We discuss the structure of this complex and implications in the surface translocation of cell-surface polysaccharide.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Three-dimensional Structure of Wza, the Protein Required for Translocation of Group 1 Capsular Polysaccharide across the Outer Membrane of Escherichia coli

Beis

Collins

Ford

et al. 2004

“…The channels formed by protein export secretins are gated (48,55), and low resolution three-dimensional structures of three secretins suggest an open state for these channel proteins in the OM and a closed state in the periplasm entrance (42,44,49). Gated channels are also formed by TolC, an outer membrane protein involved in type I protein secretion and multidrug efflux (56).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Secretins are multimeric OM proteins in which a conserved C-terminal ␤-barrel rich domain is implicated in forming the multimeric OM channel (39 -42). Typically, 6 -14 identical subunits form the ringlike structure of the secretin (39,(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52). Despite similarities in overall architecture of the secretin and Wza multimers, the respective monomers share no primary sequence similarity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Translocation of Group 1 Capsular Polysaccharide in Escherichia coli Serotype K30

Nesper

Hill

Paiment

et al. 2003

The late steps in assembly of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) and their translocation to the bacterial cell surface are not well understood. The Wza protein was shown previously to be required for the formation of the prototype group 1 capsule structure on the surface of Escherichia coli serotype K30 (Drummelsmith, J., and Whitfield, C. (2000) EMBO J. 19, 57-66). Wza is a conserved outer membrane lipoprotein that forms multimers adopting a ringlike structure, and collective evidence suggests a role for these structures in the export of capsular polymer across the outer membrane. Wza was purified in the native form and with a C-terminal hexahistidine tag. Wza His 6 was acylated and functional in capsule assembly, although its efficiency was slightly reduced in comparison to the native Wza protein. Ordered two-dimensional crystals of Wza His 6 were obtained after reconstitution of purified multimers into lipids. Electron microscopy of negatively stained crystals and Fourier filtering revealed ringlike multimers with an average outer diameter of 8.84 nm and an average central cavity diameter of 2.28 nm. Single particle analysis yielded projection structures at an estimated resolution of 3 nm, favoring a structure for the Wza His 6 containing eight identical subunits. A derivative of Wza (Wza*) in which the original signal sequence was replaced with that from OmpF showed that the native acylated N terminus of Wza is critical for formation of normal multimeric structures and for their competence for CPS assembly, but not for targeting Wza to the outer membrane. In the presence of Wza*, CPS accumulated in the periplasm but was not detected on the cell surface. Chemical cross-linking of intact cells suggested formation of a transmembrane complex minimally containing Wza and the inner membrane tyrosine autokinase Wzc.In Gram-negative bacteria, macromolecules destined for the cell surface or the extracellular environment must cross both the inner (IM) 1 and the outer membrane (OM). In protein export, where the processes are arguably best understood, secretion systems with varying complexity accomplish the translocation steps; all involve multi-enzyme complexes where an outer membrane protein (channel) is linked directly, or via helper proteins, to IM components.Cell-associated capsular polysaccharides (CPS) and their secreted (cell-free) counterparts, exopolysaccharides (EPS), represent another type of macromolecule that must be transported across the cell envelope. The early steps in assembly of these polymers are reasonably well established. However, there is little understanding of the terminal steps, including the mechanism by which they cross the bacterial cell envelope and the machinery involved.In Escherichia coli, more than 80 antigenically distinct capsular (K) polysaccharide structures are recognized. They are divided into four groups based on the organization of their genetic loci, polymerization mechanisms, and regulation (1). Group 1 and 2 capsules have received the most attention, and they involve biosynthet...

“…This observation has lent weight to the hypothesis that the secretins act as a conduit for passage of the secreted substrate. There is also evidence from studies of reconstituted PulD that the channel formed by the secretin is gated, suggesting that the pore formation is regulated (9). The K. oxytoca PulD oligomer was shown to exhibit C12 rotational symmetry, and a three-dimensional model of the structure of the complex produced from face-on and side-on views of the complex has been presented.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure of the Neisseria meningitidis Outer Membrane PilQ Secretin Complex at 12 Å Resolution

Collins

Frye

Kitmitto

et al. 2004

118

123

The bacterial pathogen Neisseria meningitidis expresses long, thin, retractile fibers (called type IV pili) from its cell surface and uses these adhesive structures to mediate primary attachment to epithelial cells during host colonization and invasion. PilQ is an outer membrane protein complex that is essential for the translocation of these pili across the outer membrane. Here, we present the structure of the PilQ complex determined by cryoelectron microscopy to 12 Å resolution. The dominant feature of the structure is a large central cavity, formed by four arm features that spiral upwards from a squared ring base and meet to form a prominent cap region. The cavity, running through the center of the complex, is continuous and is effectively sealed at both the top and bottom. Analysis of the complex using selforientation and by examination of two-dimensional crystals indicates a strong C4 rotational symmetry, with a much weaker C12 rotational symmetry, consistent with PilQ possessing true C4 symmetry with C12 quasisymmetry. We therefore suggest that the complex is a homododecamer, formed by association of 12 PilQ polypeptide chains into a tetramer of trimers. The structure of the PilQ complex, with its large and well defined central chamber, suggests that it may not function solely as a passive portal in the outer membrane, but could be actively involved in mediating pilus assembly or modification.