Identification and characterization of fusolisin, the Fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is an oral anaerobe associated with periodontal disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes and colorectal carcinoma. A serine endopeptidase of 61-65 kDa capable of damaging host tissue and of inactivating immune effectors was detected previously in F. nucleatum. Here we describe the...

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Main Authors: Lior Doron, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Yara Ibrahim, Amir Eini, Ronit Naor, Graciela Rosen, Gilad Bachrach
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4214739?pdf=render
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author Lior Doron
Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer
Yara Ibrahim
Amir Eini
Ronit Naor
Graciela Rosen
Gilad Bachrach
author_facet Lior Doron
Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer
Yara Ibrahim
Amir Eini
Ronit Naor
Graciela Rosen
Gilad Bachrach
author_sort Lior Doron
collection DOAJ
description Fusobacterium nucleatum is an oral anaerobe associated with periodontal disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes and colorectal carcinoma. A serine endopeptidase of 61-65 kDa capable of damaging host tissue and of inactivating immune effectors was detected previously in F. nucleatum. Here we describe the identification of this serine protease, named fusolisin, in three oral F. nucleatum sub-species. Gel zymogram revealed fusobacterial proteolytic activity with molecular masses ranging from 55-101 kDa. All of the detected proteases were inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor PMSF. analysis revealed that all of the detected proteases are encoded by genes encoding an open reading frame (ORF) with a calculated mass of approximately 115 kDa. Bioinformatics analysis of the identified ORFs demonstrated that they consist of three domains characteristic of autotransporters of the type Va secretion system. Our results suggest that the F. nucleatum fusolisins are derived from a precursor of approximately 115 kDa. After crossing the cytoplasmic membrane and cleavage of the leader sequence, the C-terminal autotransporter domain of the remaining 96-113 kDa protein is embedded in the outer membrane and delivers the N-terminal S8 serine protease passenger domain to the outer cell surface. In most strains the N-terminal catalytic 55-65 kDa domain self cleaves and liberates itself from the autotransporter domain after its transfer across the outer cell membrane. In F. nucleatum ATCC 25586 this autocatalytic activity is less efficient resulting in a full length membrane-anchored serine protease. The mature serine protease was found to cleave after Thr, Gly, Ala and Leu residues at the P1 position. Growth of F. nucleatum in complex medium was inhibited when serine protease inhibitors were used. Additional experiments are needed to determine whether fusolisin might be used as a target for controlling fusobacterial infections.
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spelling doaj.art-716a0278136f4131a510347666df44072022-12-21T18:38:26ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-01910e11132910.1371/journal.pone.0111329Identification and characterization of fusolisin, the Fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease.Lior DoronShunit Coppenhagen-GlazerYara IbrahimAmir EiniRonit NaorGraciela RosenGilad BachrachFusobacterium nucleatum is an oral anaerobe associated with periodontal disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes and colorectal carcinoma. A serine endopeptidase of 61-65 kDa capable of damaging host tissue and of inactivating immune effectors was detected previously in F. nucleatum. Here we describe the identification of this serine protease, named fusolisin, in three oral F. nucleatum sub-species. Gel zymogram revealed fusobacterial proteolytic activity with molecular masses ranging from 55-101 kDa. All of the detected proteases were inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor PMSF. analysis revealed that all of the detected proteases are encoded by genes encoding an open reading frame (ORF) with a calculated mass of approximately 115 kDa. Bioinformatics analysis of the identified ORFs demonstrated that they consist of three domains characteristic of autotransporters of the type Va secretion system. Our results suggest that the F. nucleatum fusolisins are derived from a precursor of approximately 115 kDa. After crossing the cytoplasmic membrane and cleavage of the leader sequence, the C-terminal autotransporter domain of the remaining 96-113 kDa protein is embedded in the outer membrane and delivers the N-terminal S8 serine protease passenger domain to the outer cell surface. In most strains the N-terminal catalytic 55-65 kDa domain self cleaves and liberates itself from the autotransporter domain after its transfer across the outer cell membrane. In F. nucleatum ATCC 25586 this autocatalytic activity is less efficient resulting in a full length membrane-anchored serine protease. The mature serine protease was found to cleave after Thr, Gly, Ala and Leu residues at the P1 position. Growth of F. nucleatum in complex medium was inhibited when serine protease inhibitors were used. Additional experiments are needed to determine whether fusolisin might be used as a target for controlling fusobacterial infections.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4214739?pdf=render
spellingShingle Lior Doron
Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer
Yara Ibrahim
Amir Eini
Ronit Naor
Graciela Rosen
Gilad Bachrach
Identification and characterization of fusolisin, the Fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease.
PLoS ONE
title Identification and characterization of fusolisin, the Fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease.
title_full Identification and characterization of fusolisin, the Fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease.
title_fullStr Identification and characterization of fusolisin, the Fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease.
title_full_unstemmed Identification and characterization of fusolisin, the Fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease.
title_short Identification and characterization of fusolisin, the Fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease.
title_sort identification and characterization of fusolisin the fusobacterium nucleatum autotransporter serine protease
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4214739?pdf=render
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