Genetic approaches to structure-function analysis of the E. coli Tat translocon components
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Dundee
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
Some bacterial proteins operate on the outside of the cell, for example the toxins produced by bacterial pathogens. Since all proteins are made inside the bacterium the extracellular proteins must be moved out of the cell across the normally impermeable cell membrane. This task is carried out by machines termed protein transporters that are located in the cell membrane. One type of transporter moves unfolded proteins, threading them across the membrane like string through the eye of a needle. In contrast, a second type of transporter, which we term the Tat system, moves folded proteins across the membrane. In the bacterium E. coli, the Tat transporter is a large protein complex made up of 3 types of proteins, TatA, TatB and TatC. We wish to understand how each of these proteins functions in the transporter. To do that we want to isolate mutants in the TatA, TatB and TatC proteins that prevent the transporter from functioning. These mutants will give us information about important parts of the Tat protein molecules. We have made mutations throughout the TatA, B and C proteins that introduce an amino acid called cysteine. Cysteine is a special amino acid because if it comes close to a second cysteine residue under certain conditions it can form a covalent bond. This covalent bond locks the proteins and prevents them from moving. Therefore we can examine the parts of the TatA, B and C proteins that need to move in order to allow the Tat system to be active. Finally we believe that part of TatA may need to move across the membrane to allow proteins to be transported. We want to test this by putting special tags on the TatA protein and looking to see if the tag appears or can be labelled at the other side of the membrane when the Tat system is operating.
Technical Summary
The Tat protein transport system functions to export folded proteins across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. TatA, TatB and TatC are the essential components of the bacterial Tat protein export pathway and interact in a dynamic manner to form the membrane-located protein complexes necessary for substrate transport. Building on our recent successful BBSRC-funded work we will now obtain structural, conformational and topological information on the Tat proteins and map the twin arginine signal peptide binding site. We will undertake saturating screens of large libraries of random mutations in tatA, tatB and tatC for substitutions that block Tat function, and which confer recognition of non canonical Tat signal peptides. We will probe conformational changes in Tat proteins during transport by synthetic lethality or synthetic inactivity of co-expressed cysteine variants. Finally we will probe topological changes of TatA associated with protein transport.
Publications
Kneuper H
(2012)
Molecular dissection of TatC defines critical regions essential for protein transport and a TatB-TatC contact site.
in Molecular microbiology
Koch S
(2012)
Escherichia coli TatA and TatB proteins have N-out, C-in topology in intact cells.
in The Journal of biological chemistry
Leake M
(2008)
Variable stoichiometry of the TatA component of the twin-arginine protein transport system observed by in vivo single-molecule imaging
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Orriss GL
(2007)
TatBC, TatB, and TatC form structurally autonomous units within the twin arginine protein transport system of Escherichia coli.
in FEBS letters
Palmer T
(2016)
Spotlight onTracy Palmer.
in FEMS microbiology letters
Tarry MJ
(2009)
Structural analysis of substrate binding by the TatBC component of the twin-arginine protein transport system.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Description | Some bacterial proteins operate on the outside of the cell, for example the toxins produced by bacterial pathogens. Since all proteins are made inside the bacterium, the extracellular proteins must be moved out of the cell across the normally impermeable cell membrane. This task is carried out by machines termed protein transporters that are located in the cell membrane. One type of transporter moves unfolded proteins, threading them across the membrane like string through the eye of a needle. In contrast, a second type of transporter, which we term the Tat system, moves folded proteins across the membrane. In the bacterium E. coli, the Tat transporter is a large protein complex made up of 3 types of proteins, TatA, TatB and TatC. In this work we have: Identified critical regions of Tat proteins involved in protein transport. Mapped the self-interaction domains of TatA and TatB. Assessed whether TatA changes its topology during protein translocation. Generated large mutant libraries of tatA, tatB and tatC. These will be useful to the scientific community. |
Exploitation Route | While the grant proposal is hypothesis the work produced potentially has applied impact: Knowledge of the Tat mechanism will underpin efforts to exploit the Tat pathway for biotechnological purposes e.g. secretion to aid downstream processing of protein products of commercial or therapeutic utility. Knowledge of the Tat mechanism will underpin efforts to use Tat as a pathogen-specific and virulence-determining target for novel antimicrobials. The College of Life Science has a great deal of experience of engaging with industry regarding commercialisation of discoveries. Research and Innovation Services have an office within the CLS research complex and a member of the team attends each formal meeting held by the division. The RIS team have a large number of industrial contacts and close links to Scottish Enterprise. This will help to maximise the impact of all findings of commercial value. The RIS team also have strong links with the Dundee University Incubator, a facility aimed at housing and nurturing spin-out companies in the biosciences. Related to the incubator, is a collaboration between the publicly- and privately-funded biotechnology sectors in Dundee called Bio-Dundee which aims to connect local academics and industries to allow collaboration. This is achieved through both formal and informal events. |
Sectors | Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | No notable impact outside of academia. Science and society activities undertaken by the staff employed on this grant. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | BBSRC Responsive Mode |
Amount | £467,534 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/N014545/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 08/2019 |
Description | BCB |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Biochemistry |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Joint grant holder. |
Collaborator Contribution | Sharing reagents and protocols. Exchange of personnel. Sharing results before publication |
Impact | Many joint papers and joint grant funding. |
Start Year | 2006 |