Sequence analysis and confirmation of the type IV pili-associated proteins PilY1, PilW and PilV in Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

Abstract

Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans is an acidophilic chemolithoautotrophic bacterium widely used in the mining industry due to its metabolic sulfur-oxidizing capability. The biooxidation of sulfide minerals is enhanced through the attachment of At. thiooxidans cells to the mineral surface. The Type IV pili (TfP) of At. thiooxidans may play an important role in the bacteria attachment since TfP play a key adhesive role in the attachment and colonization of different surfaces. In this work, we report for the first time the mRNA sequence of three TfP proteins from At. thiooxidans, the adhesin protein PilY1 and the TfP pilins PilW and PilV. The nucleotide sequences of these TfP proteins show changes in some nucleotide positions with respect to the corresponding annotated sequences. The bioinformatic analyses and 3D-modeling of protein structures sustain their classification as TfP proteins, as structural homologs of the corresponding proteins of Ps. aeruginosa, results that sustain the role of PilY1, PilW and PilV in pili assembly. Also, that PilY1 comprises the conserved Neisseria-PilC (superfamily) domain of the tip-associated adhesin, while PilW of the superfamily of putative TfP assembly proteins and PilV belongs to the superfamily of TfP assembly protein. In addition, the analyses suggested the presence of specific functional domains involved in adhesion, energy transduction and signaling functions. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the PilY1 of Acidithiobacillus genus forms a cohesive group linked with iron- and/or sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms from acid mine drainage or mine tailings.

Visible‐light‐driven water‐soluble zinc oxide quantum dots for efficient control of citrus canker

“…We found that 22 genes in ‘cellular community‐prokaryotes’ and all genes related to ‘cell motility’ were downregulated (Fig. 6(d); Supporting Information, Table S9), showing that the virulence of Xcc was suppressed by ZnO QDs 50–55 . In addition, seven of nine genes related to ‘energy metabolism’ were downregulated (Fig.…”

“…6(d); Supporting Information, Table S9), showing that the virulence of Xcc was suppressed by ZnO QDs. [50][51][52][53][54][55] In addition, seven of nine genes related to 'energy metabolism' were downregulated (Fig. 6(d); Supporting Information, Table S10).…”

Sticky bacteria: Combined effect of galactose and high ferric iron concentration on extracellular polymeric substances production and the attachment of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans on a polymetallic sulfide ore surface

“…Although the amount of carbohydrates and lipids maintain biofilm stability, proteins play a fundamental role in the attachment ( Tu et al, 2013 ). During cell attachment, outer membrane proteins from EPS and adhesins (Pili-associated proteins) molecularly interact irreversibly with the functional groups of the mineral, keeping cells attached ( Li et al, 2010 ; Chandraprabha and Natarajan, 2013 ; Alfaro-Saldaña et al, 2019 ). When comparing the composition of the EPS in 0.15% galactose-induced treatments, it is observed that the proteins increased by 60% for the induction with 18 g ⋅ L –1 of iron compared to the induction with 9 g ⋅ L –1 ( Table 2 ), suggesting a positive effect on attachment with protein increase.…”

Understanding a Core Pilin of the Type IVa Pili of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, PilV

“…Various types of pili have been described according to their mechanisms of assembly, pilin structure, and morphology [ 1 ]. The type IV pili (T4P) are the most common filaments or fimbriae [ 15 ] and have been grouped based on the aminoacidic homology of the pilins, which are relatively conserved in Gram-negative bacteria [ 16 , 17 ], including chemolithoautotrophic acidophiles such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans [ 11 , 18 - 20 ]. All T4P share domain structures and preserved sequences such as the conserved N-terminal motif in major and minor pilins, which is a type III signal peptide [ 1 , 6 , 21 ].…”

“…What is interesting is that the PilV of Acidithiobacillus species has been little described and analyzed. PilV of A. thiooxidans shares up to 93% homology with PilV of A. ferrooxidans in its mature form [ 20 ]. Recently we found that PilV is in a cluster fimT-pilW-pilV-pilX-pilY1 similar to the minor-pilins cluster of P. aeruginosa [ 32 ].…”