PrgB promotes aggregation, biofilm formation, and conjugation through DNA binding and compaction
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Gram-positive bacteria deploy type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) to facilitate horizontal gene transfer. The T4SSs of Gram-positive bacteria rely on surface adhesins as opposed to conjugative pili to facilitate mating. Enterococcus faecalis PrgB is a surface adhesin that promotes mating pair formation and robust biofilm development in an extracellular DNA (eDNA) dependent manner. Here, we report the structure of the adhesin domain of PrgB. The adhesin domain binds and compacts DNA in vitro. In vivo PrgB deleted of its adhesin domain does not support cellular aggregation, biofilm development and conjugative DNA transfer. PrgB also binds lipoteichoic acid (LTA), which competes with DNA binding. We propose that PrgB binding and compaction of eDNA facilitates cell aggregation and plays an important role in establishment of early biofilms in mono- or polyspecies settings. Within these biofilms, PrgB mediates formation and stabilization of direct cell-cell contacts through alternative binding of cell-bound LTA, which in turn promotes establishment of productive mating junctions and efficient intra- or inter-species T4SS-mediated gene transfer.
Source: Molecular Microbiology
DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13980
Institutions: Umeå University, Chalmers University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Lunds Universitet, Karolinska Institutet, Stiftelsen Olle Engkvist Byggmästare, Vetenskapsrådet, Kempestiftelserna, Science for Life Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Awards: Role of type IV secretion-mediated protein translocation in E. faecalis, PDGF ACTIVATION OF NF-K B FACTOR FIBROBLASTS, Structural and functional characterisation of Gram-positive Type 4 Secretion Systems, G3450309983, A Nanofluidic Toolbox for Dynamic Studies of DNA-Protein Interactions, Translocation of DNA across Agrobacterium envelope
OpenAlex ID: W2803227135