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Glutamic acid-65 is an essential residue for catalysis in Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1.

The functional role of three conserved amino acid residues in Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1 (PmGST B1-1) has been investigated by site-directed mutagenesis. Crystallographic analyses indicated that Glu(65), Ser(103) and Glu(104) are in hydrogen-bonding distance of the N-terminal amino group of the gamma-glutamyl moiety of the co-substrate, GSH. Glu(65) was mutated to either aspartic acid or leucine, and Ser(103) and Glu(104) were both mutated to alanine. Glu(65) mutants (Glu(65)-->Asp and Glu(65)-->Leu) lost all enzyme activity, and a drastic decrease in catalytic efficiency was observed for Ser(103)-->Ala and Glu(104)-->Ala mutants toward both 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and GSH. On the other hand, all mutants displayed similar intrinsic fluorescence, CD spectra and thermal stability, indicating that the mutations did not affect the structural integrity of the enzyme. Taken together, these results indicate that Ser(103) and Glu(104) are significantly involved in the interaction with GSH at the active site of PmGST B1-1, whereas Glu(65) is crucial for catalysis.

Aspartic Acid↗

An enzyme degrading reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in Proteus vulgaris.

Cell-free extracts of a strain of Proteus vulgaris degrade NADH to reduced nicotinamide riboside, adenosine and two molecules of phosphate. The system is weakly active in fresh cell extracts, but activity is increased about 10-fold on rapid heating to 70-100 degrees C. On returning to room temperature, the activity returns rapidly to its initial low value but can be re-activated by again heating to 70-100 degrees C. Reversible activation can also be effected by extremes of pH or by teatment with 8M-urea. Activation appears to be due to reversible changes in conformation of the protein of the enzyme rather than to combination of the enzyme with a heat-labile inhibitor. The active form can be stabilized by addition of PPi. The system, which also possesses 5'-nucleotidase activity not separable from the NADH pyrophosphatase, requires Co2+ (0.4mM) for maximum activity. Although activated at relatively high temperatures, it is not enzymically active until cooled to 50-60 degrees C. It may be purified by affinity chromatography (with NAD+ as ligand) to an activity over 400 times that of the crude cell extract, and yields only one major band on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.

Cations↗

Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1 is involved in protective mechanisms against oxidative and chemical stresses.

We investigated the effects of several xenobiotics, including antimicrobial agents and general stress factors such as starvation, heat and osmotic shock, on the modulation of expression of Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1 (PmGST B1-1). The level of expression of PmGST B1-1 was established by both Western- and Northern-blot experiments. Our results show that several compounds can modulate expression of PmGST B1-1. The level of PmGST B1-1 increased when bacterial cells were exposed to a variety of stresses such as 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, H(2)O(2), fosfomycin or tetracycline. A knock-out gst B gene was also constructed using the suicide vector pKNOCKlox-Ap. Successful inactivation of the wild-type gene was confirmed by PCR, DNA sequence analysis and Western blotting. Under normal culture conditions, this mutant was viable and displayed no significant phenotypic differences compared with the wild-type. However, viability tests revealed that the null mutant was more sensitive to oxidative stress in the form of H(2)O(2) and to several antimicrobial drugs when compared with the wild-type. These results suggest that PmGST B1-1 has an active role in the protection against oxidative stress generated by H(2)O(2) and it appears to be involved in the detoxification of antimicrobial agents.

Base Sequence↗

Contribution of the two conserved tryptophan residues to the catalytic and structural properties of Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1.

PmGSTB1-1 (Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1) has two tryptophan residues at positions 97 and 164 in each monomer. Structural data for this bacterial enzyme indicated that Trp97 is positioned in the helix a4, whereas Trp164 is located at the bottom of the helix a6 in the xenobiotic-binding site. To elucidate the role of the two tryptophan residues they were replaced by site-directed mutagenesis. Trp97 and Trp164 were mutated to either phenylalanine or alanine. A double mutant was also constructed. The effects of the replacement on the activity, structural properties and antibiotic-binding capacity of the enzymes were examined. On the basis of the results obtained, Trp97 does not seem to be involved in the enzyme active site and structural stabilization. In contrast, different results were achieved for Trp164 mutants. Conservative substitution of the Trp164 with phenylalanine enhanced enzyme activity 10-fold, whereas replacement with alanine enhanced enzyme activity 17-fold. Moreover, the catalytic efficiency for both GSH and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene substrates improved. In particular, the catalytic efficiency for 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene improved for both W164F (Trp164-->Phe) and W164A by factors of 7- and 22-fold respectively. These results are supported by molecular graphic analysis. In fact, W164A presented a more extensive substrate-binding pocket that could allow the substrates to be better accommodated. Furthermore, both Trp164 mutants were significantly more thermolabile than wild-type, suggesting that the substitution of this residue affects the overall stability of the enzyme. Taken together, these results indicate that Trp164 is an important residue of PmGSTB1-1 in the catalytic process as well as for protein stability.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Chondroitinase ABC I from Proteus vulgaris: cloning, recombinant expression and active site identification.

GalAGs (galactosaminoglycans) are one subset of the GAG (glycosaminoglycan) family of chemically heterogeneous polysaccharides that are involved in a wide range of biological processes. These complex biomacromolecules are believed to be responsible for the inhibition of nerve regeneration following injury to the central nervous system. The enzymic degradation of GAG chains in damaged nervous tissue by cABC I (chondroitinase ABC I), a broad-specificity lyase that degrades GalAGs, promotes neural recovery. In the present paper, we report the subcloning of cABC I from Proteus vulgaris, and discuss a simple methodology for the recombinant expression and purification of this enzyme. The originally expressed cABC I clone resulted in an enzyme with negligible activity against a variety of GalAG substrates. Sequencing of the cABC I clone revealed four point mutations at issue with the electron-density data of the cABC I crystal structure. Site-directed mutagenesis produced a clone with restored GalAG-degrading function. We have characterized this enzyme biochemically, including an analysis of its substrate specificity. By coupling structural inspections of cABC I and an evaluation of sequence homology against other GAG-degrading lyases, a set of amino acids was chosen for further study. Mutagenesis studies of these residues resulted in the first experimental evidence of cABC I's active site. This work will facilitate the structure-function characterization of biomedically relevant GalAGs and further the development of therapeutics for nerve regeneration.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Proteus mirabilis urease. Partial purification and inhibition by boric acid and boronic acids.

Urease was purified 800-fold and partially characterized from Proteus mirabilis, the predominant microorganism associated with urinary stones. Boric acid is a rapid reversible competitive inhibitor of urease. The pH-dependence of inhibition exhibited pKa values of 6.25 and 9.3, where the latter value is probably due to the inherent pKa of boric acid. Three boronic acids also were shown to inhibit urease competitively.

Boric Acids↗

Purification and characterization of three forms of glutathione transferase from Proteus mirabilis.

Three forms of glutathione transferase (GST) with pI values of 6.0, 6.4 and 7.3 were isolated from Proteus mirabilis AF 2924 by glutathione-affinity chromatography followed by isoelectric focusing, and their structural, kinetic and immunological properties were investigated. Upon SDS/polyacrylamide-slab-gel electrophoresis, all forms proved to be composed of two subunits of identical (22,500) Mr. GST-6.0 and GST-6.4 together account for about 95% of the total activity, whereas GST-7.3 is present only in trace amounts. Extensive similarities have been found between GST-6.0 and GST-6.4. These include subunit molecular mass, amino acid composition, substrate specificities and immunological characteristics. GST-7.3 also cross-reacted (non-identity) with antisera raised against bacterial GST-6.0. None of the antisera raised against a number of human, rat and mouse GSTs cross-reacted with the bacterial enzymes, indicating major structural differences between them and the mammalian GSTs. This conclusion is further supported by c.d. spectra.

Amino Acids↗

Molecular cloning and overexpression of a glutathione transferase gene from Proteus mirabilis.

The structural gene of the Proteus mirabilis glutathione transferase GSTB1-1 (gstB) has been isolated from genomic DNA. A nucleotide sequence determination of gstB predicted a translational product of 203 amino acid residues, perfectly matching the sequence of the previously purified protein [Mignogna, Allocati, Aceto, Piccolomini, Di Ilio, Barra and Martini (1993) Eur. J. Biochem. 211, 421-425]. The P. mirabilis GST sequence revealed 56% identity with the Escherichia coli GST at DNA level and 54% amino acid identity. Similarity has been revealed also with the translation products of the recently cloned gene bphH from Haemophilus influenzae (28% identity) and ORF3 of Burkholderia cepacia (27% identity). Putative promoter sequences with high similarity to the E. coli sigma 70 consensus promoter and to promoters of P. mirabilis cat and glnA genes preceded the ATG of the gstB open reading frame (ORF). gstB was brought under control of the tac promoter and overexpressed in E. coli by induction with isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside and growth at 37 degrees C. The physicochemical and catalytic properties of overexpressed protein were indistinguishable from those of the enzyme purified from P. mirabilis extract. Unlike the GST belonging to Mu and Theta classes, GSTB1-1 was unable to metabolize dichloromethane. The study of the interaction of cloned GSTB1-1 with a number of antibiotics indicates that this enzyme actively participates in the binding of tetracyclines and rifamycin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Proteus syndrome: diagnosis in adulthood.

We describe a 24-year-old woman with many of the classical features of the Proteus syndrome. In childhood she had undergone bilateral forefoot amputations because of massive bilateral cerebriform hypertrophy of the feet. Other features include abnormally large fingers on one hand, a lymphangioma circumscriptum, an epidermal naevus, prominent venous varicosities and scattered lipomas. The disorder occurs sporadically and is thought to be secondary to a postzygotic mutation that survives by mosaicism.

Adult↗

Carbenicillin-hydrolysing penicillinase mediated by a plasmid of Proteus mirabilis and its relationship to the PSE-type enzymes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The nucleotide sequence of a carbenicillin-hydrolysing (carbenicillinase) gene occurring in an endogenous plasmid, pCS229, of Proteus mirabilis was determined. The amino acid sequence of the mature enzyme, comprising 271 amino acids with a molecular mass of 29,506 Da, was deduced. The pCS229 carbenicillinase showed only 46.4% similarity, in the overall amino acid sequence, to the chromosomal carbenicillinase of Pr. mirabilis GN79; however, the enzyme showed about 98% similarity to a Pseudomonas-specific plasmid-encoded carbenicillinase, PSE-4, that was isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Only five of 271 amino acids differed from those of PSE-4. This study proved the close relationship between the carbenicillinase genes distributed in Pr. mirabilis and Ps. aeruginosa.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genomic rearrangements in the flagellin genes of Proteus mirabilis.

Molecular analyses have revealed that Proteus mirabilis possesses two genes, flaA and flaB, that are homologous to each other and to flagellin genes of many other species. Both swimmer and swarmer cells transcribe flaA, but not flaB. FlaA- mutants are non-motile and do not differentiate showing the essential role of flaA in swarmer cell differentiation and behaviour. At a low frequency, motile, differentiation-proficient revertants have been found in FlaA-populations. These revertants produce an antigenically and biochemically distinct flagellin protein. The revertant flagellin is the result of a genetic fusion between highly homologous regions of flaA and flaB that places the active flaA promoter and the 5' coding region of flaA adjacent to previously silent regions of flaB generating a hybrid flagellin protein. Analysis of the flaA-flaB region of two such revertants reveals that a portion of this locus has undergone a rearrangement and deletion event that is unique to each revertant. Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the falA-flaB locus from wild-type swimmer cells, swarmer cells and cells obtained after urinary tract infection, we uncover at least six general classes of rearrangements between flaA and flaB. Each class of rearrangement occurs within one of nine domains of homology between flaA and flaB. Rearrangement of flaA and flaB results in a hybrid flagellin protein of nearly identical size and biochemical properties, suggesting a concerted mechanism may be involved in this process. The data also reveal that the frequency and distribution of flaAB rearrangements is predicted on environmental conditions. Thus, rearrangement between flaA and flaB may be a significant virulence component of P. mirabilis in urinary tract infections.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of UreR binding sites in the Enterobacteriaceae plasmid-encoded and Proteus mirabilis urease gene operons.

The closely related Proteus mirabilis and Enterobacterlaceae plasmid-encoded urease genes are positively regulated by the AraC-like transcriptional activator UreR. In the presence of the effector molecule urea, UreR promotes transcription of ureD, the initial gene in the urease operon, and increases transcription of the divergently transcribed ureR. Here, we identify UreR-specific binding sites in the ureRp-ureDp intergenic regions. Recombinant UreR (rUreR) was expressed and purified, and gel shift and DNase I protection assays were performed with this protein. These analyses indicated that there are two distinct rUreR binding sites in both the plasmid-encoded and P. mirabilis ureRp-ureDp intergenic regions. A consensus binding site of TA/GT/CA/TT/GC/TTA/TT/AATTG was predicted from the DNase I protection assays. Although rUreR bound to the specific DNA binding site in both the presence and the absence of urea, the dissociation rate constant k-1 of the rUreR-DNA complex interaction was measurably different when urea was present. In the absence of urea, the dissociation of the protein-DNA complexes, for both ureRp and ureDp, was complete at the earliest time point, and it was not possible to determine a rate. In the presence of urea, dissociation was measurable with a k-1 for the rUreR-ureRp interaction of 1.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(-2) s-1 and a k-1 for the rUreR-ureDp interaction of 2.6 +/- 0.1 x 10(-3) s-1. This corresponds to a half-life of the ureRp-rUreR interaction of 58 s, and a half-life of the ureDp-rUreR interaction of 4 min 26 s. A model describing a potential role for urea in the activation of these promoters is proposed.

Bacterial Proteins↗

ZapA, the IgA-degrading metalloprotease of Proteus mirabilis, is a virulence factor expressed specifically in swarmer cells.

The IgA-degrading metalloprotease, ZapA, of the urinary tract pathogen Proteus mirabilis is co-ordinately expressed along with other proteins and virulence factors during swarmer cell differentiation. In this communication, we have used zapA to monitor IgA protease expression during the differentiation of vegetative swimmer cells to fully differentiated swarmer cells. Northern blot analysis of wild-type cells and beta-galactosidase measurements using a zapA:lacZ fusion strain indicate that zapA is fully expressed only in differentiated swarmer cells. Moreover, the expression of zapA on nutrient agar medium is co-ordinately regulated in concert with the cycles of cellular differentiation, swarm migration and consolidation that produce the bull's-eye colonies typically associated with P. mirabilis. ZapA activity is not required for swarmer cell differentiation or swarming behaviour, as ZapA- strains produce wild-type colony patterns. ZapA- strains fail to degrade IgA and show decreased survival compared with the wild-type cells during infection in a mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection (UTI). These data underscore the importance of the P. mirabilis IgA-degrading metalloprotease in UTI. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences adjacent to zapA reveals four additional genes, zapE, zapB, zapC and zapD, which appear to possess functions required for ZapA activity and IgA proteolysis. Based on homology to other known proteins, these genes encode a second metalloprotease, ZapE, as well as a ZapA-specific ABC transporter system (ZapB, ZapC and ZapD). A model describing the function and interaction of each of these five proteins in the degradation of host IgA during UTI is presented.

Animals↗

Evidence that putrescine acts as an extracellular signal required for swarming in Proteus mirabilis.

In a search for Proteus mirabilis genes that were regulated by cell-to-cell signalling, a lacZ fusion (cmr437::mini-Tn5lacZ) was identified that was repressed 10-fold by a self-produced extracellular signal from wild-type cells. However, the cmr437::mini-Tn5lacZ insertion itself led to a marked reduction in this extracellular repressing signal. The cmr437::mini-Tn5lacZ insertion was mapped to a speA homologue in P. mirabilis. Sequence analysis indicated that a speB homologue was encoded downstream of speA. Products of the SpeA and SpeB enzymes (agmatine and putrescine) were tested for repression of cmr437::lacZ. Agmatine did not have repressing activity. However, putrescine was an effective repressing molecule at concentrations down to 30 microM. A second prominent phenotype of the cmr437 (speA)::mini-Tn5lacZ insertion was a severe defect in swarming motility. This swarming defect was also observed in a strain containing a disruption of the downstream speB gene. Differentiation of the speB mutant to swarmer cells was delayed by two hours relative to wild-type cells. Furthermore, the speB mutant was unable to migrate effectively across agar surfaces and formed very closely spaced swarming rings. Exogenous putrescine restored both the normal timing of swarmer cell differentiation and the ability to migrate to speB mutants.

Base Sequence↗

Structure and serological specificity of a new acidic O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O45.

The following structure of the O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) of Proteus vulgaris O45 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was established using 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional NOESY and H-detected 1H, 13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence ( HMQC) experiments: [structure: see text text] Immunochemical studies, using rabbit polyclonal anti-P. vulgaris O45 serum and LPS, OPS and Smith-degraded OPS of P. vulgaris O45, showed the importance of beta-D-GlcA in manifesting the serological specificity of the O-antigen studied.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Structural and serological studies on the O-antigen of Proteus mirabilis O14, a new polysaccharide containing 2-[(R)-1-carboxyethylamino]ethyl phosphate.

An O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of Proteus mirabilis O14 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and found to contain D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glalactose, phosphate, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-D-alanine (D-AlaEtn), and O-acetyl groups. Studies of the initial and O-deacetylated polysaccharides using one- and two-dimensional 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, H-detected 1H,13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence, and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation experiments, demonstrated the following structure of the repeating unit: [equation: see text] This is the second bacterial polysaccharide reported to contain alpha-D-Galp6PAlaEtn, whereas the first one was the O-antigen of P. mirabilis EU313 taken erroneously as strain PrK 6/57 from the O3 serogroup [Vinogradov, E. V., Kaca, W., Shashkov, A.S., Krajewska-Pietrasik, D., Rozalski, A., Knirel, Y.A. & Kochetkov, N.K. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem., 188, 645-651]. Anti-(P. mirabilis O14) serum cross-reacted with LPS of P. mirabilis EU313 and vice versa in passive hemolysis and ELISA. Absorption of both O-antisera with the heterologous LPS decreased markedly but did not abolish the reaction with the homologous LPS. These and chemical data indicated that both strains have similar but not identical O-antigens. Therefore, we propose that P. mirabilis EU313 should belong to a new subgroup of the O14 serogroup.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Structural analysis of the core region of lipopolysaccharides from Proteus mirabilis serotypes O6, O48 and O57.

The structure of lipid A core region of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Proteus mirabilis serotypes O6, O57 and O48 was determined using NMR, MS and chemical analysis of the oligosaccharides, obtained by mild acid hydrolysis, alkaline deacylation, and deamination of LPS: [see text for structure]. Incomplete substitutions are indicated by bold italic type. All sugars are present in pyranose form, alpha-Hep is the residue of L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-Hep, alpha-DD-Hep is the residue of D-glycero-alpha-D-manno-Hep, L-Ara4N is 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose, Qui4NAlaAla is the residue of 4-N-(L-alanyl-L-alanyl)-4-amino-4,6-dideoxyglucose. All sugars except L-Ara4N have D-configuration. beta-GalA* is partially present in the form of amide with 1,4-diaminobutane (putrescine)-HN(CH2)4NH2 or spermidine-HN(CH2)3NH(CH2)4NH2.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

The migration of Proteus mirabilis and other urinary tract pathogens over Foley catheters.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the ability of organisms that infect the catheterized urinary tract to migrate over the surfaces of Foley catheters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a simple laboratory model, organisms were challenged to migrate across sections of hydrogel-coated latex, hydrogel/silver-coated latex, silicone-coated latex and all-silicone catheters. The sections (1 cm long) were placed as bridges in channels between blocks of agar and the test organisms inoculated onto the agar adjacent to one side of each bridge. The plates were incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 h and examined for growth of the test organisms on the agar on the other side of the bridges. A collection of swarming, swimming and nonmotile species were tested in the model. The relative mobilities of the test organisms were expressed as migration indices, calculated as the percentage of tests in which bacterial migration was observed over each type of catheter bridge. RESULTS: The swarmer cells of Proteus mirabilis and P. vulgaris migrated successfully (migration indices of 73-100) over all four types of catheter. The migration index of Serratia marcescens swarmers was reduced to 33 over the silver-coated catheters, but these cells crossed over the other catheter surfaces with ease (indices of 100). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most mobile of the swimming, non-swarming organisms with indices of 70-22, but this group was less capable of migration than the swarmers. Indices were 0-33 for nonmotile organisms. The mean migration indices for the nine species for each type of catheter were 57 (hydrogel-coated latex), 49 (silver/hydrogel-coated latex), 41 (silicone-coated latex) and 35 (all-silicone). The swarmer cells of P. mirabilis moved through populations of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, and then migrated over sections of hydrogel-coated latex catheters with little or no reduction in migration index. They were also capable of transporting the nonmotile cells of K. pneumoniae and S. aureus over the catheters. The migration index of P. mirabilis swarmers was substantially reduced in the presence of Ps. aeruginosa and S. marcescens. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrogel coatings facilitate the migration of urinary tract pathogens over catheter surfaces. With the exception of S. marcescens, the incorporation of silver into the hydrogel did not inhibit migration. Swarmer cells were particularly effective at moving over catheters and P. mirabilis swarmers were also capable of transporting other species. This suggests that inhibitors of swarming could be useful in controlling catheter-associated infection and the complications resulting from the spread of bacterial biofilm over catheters.

Catheterization↗