Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal Proteins
Tubulin superfamily (TSF) proteins are widespread, and are known for their multifaceted roles as cytoskeletal proteins underpinning many basic cellular functions, including morphogenesis, division, and motility. In eukaryotes, tubulin assembles into microtubules, a major component of the dynamic cyt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/134 |
| _version_ | 1797445481566044160 |
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| author | Hannah J. Brown Iain G. Duggin |
| author_facet | Hannah J. Brown Iain G. Duggin |
| author_sort | Hannah J. Brown |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tubulin superfamily (TSF) proteins are widespread, and are known for their multifaceted roles as cytoskeletal proteins underpinning many basic cellular functions, including morphogenesis, division, and motility. In eukaryotes, tubulin assembles into microtubules, a major component of the dynamic cytoskeletal network of fibres, whereas the bacterial homolog FtsZ assembles the division ring at midcell. The functions of the lesser-known archaeal TSF proteins are beginning to be identified and show surprising diversity, including homologs of tubulin and FtsZ as well as a third archaea-specific family, CetZ, implicated in the regulation of cell shape and possibly other unknown functions. In this study, we define sequence and structural characteristics of the CetZ family and CetZ1 and CetZ2 subfamilies, identify CetZ groups and diversity amongst archaea, and identify potential functional relationships through analysis of the genomic neighbourhoods of <i>cetZ</i> genes. We identified at least three subfamilies of orthologous CetZ proteins in the archaeal class Halobacteria, including CetZ1 and CetZ2 as well as a novel uncharacterized subfamily. CetZ1 and CetZ2 were correlated to one another as well as to cell shape and motility phenotypes across diverse Halobacteria. Among other known CetZ clusters in orders Archaeoglobales, Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales, and Thermococcales, an additional uncharacterized group from Archaeoglobales and Methanomicrobiales is affiliated strongly with Halobacteria CetZs, suggesting that they originated via horizontal transfer. Subgroups of Halobacteria CetZ2 and Thermococcales CetZ genes were found adjacent to different type IV pili regulons, suggesting potential utilization of CetZs by type IV systems. More broadly conserved <i>cetZ</i> gene neighbourhoods include nucleotide and cofactor biosynthesis (e.g., F<sub>420</sub>) and predicted cell surface sugar epimerase genes. These findings imply that CetZ subfamilies are involved in multiple functions linked to the cell surface, biosynthesis, and motility. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:26:25Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:26:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b6325d1e50747008af7a9bc8fe8c94b2023-11-30T21:23:15ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2023-01-0113113410.3390/biom13010134Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal ProteinsHannah J. Brown0Iain G. Duggin1The Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaThe Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaTubulin superfamily (TSF) proteins are widespread, and are known for their multifaceted roles as cytoskeletal proteins underpinning many basic cellular functions, including morphogenesis, division, and motility. In eukaryotes, tubulin assembles into microtubules, a major component of the dynamic cytoskeletal network of fibres, whereas the bacterial homolog FtsZ assembles the division ring at midcell. The functions of the lesser-known archaeal TSF proteins are beginning to be identified and show surprising diversity, including homologs of tubulin and FtsZ as well as a third archaea-specific family, CetZ, implicated in the regulation of cell shape and possibly other unknown functions. In this study, we define sequence and structural characteristics of the CetZ family and CetZ1 and CetZ2 subfamilies, identify CetZ groups and diversity amongst archaea, and identify potential functional relationships through analysis of the genomic neighbourhoods of <i>cetZ</i> genes. We identified at least three subfamilies of orthologous CetZ proteins in the archaeal class Halobacteria, including CetZ1 and CetZ2 as well as a novel uncharacterized subfamily. CetZ1 and CetZ2 were correlated to one another as well as to cell shape and motility phenotypes across diverse Halobacteria. Among other known CetZ clusters in orders Archaeoglobales, Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales, and Thermococcales, an additional uncharacterized group from Archaeoglobales and Methanomicrobiales is affiliated strongly with Halobacteria CetZs, suggesting that they originated via horizontal transfer. Subgroups of Halobacteria CetZ2 and Thermococcales CetZ genes were found adjacent to different type IV pili regulons, suggesting potential utilization of CetZs by type IV systems. More broadly conserved <i>cetZ</i> gene neighbourhoods include nucleotide and cofactor biosynthesis (e.g., F<sub>420</sub>) and predicted cell surface sugar epimerase genes. These findings imply that CetZ subfamilies are involved in multiple functions linked to the cell surface, biosynthesis, and motility.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/134archaeatubulinFtsZCetZcytoskeleton |
| spellingShingle | Hannah J. Brown Iain G. Duggin Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal Proteins Biomolecules archaea tubulin FtsZ CetZ cytoskeleton |
| title | Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal Proteins |
| title_full | Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal Proteins |
| title_fullStr | Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal Proteins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal Proteins |
| title_short | Diversity and Potential Multifunctionality of Archaeal CetZ Tubulin-like Cytoskeletal Proteins |
| title_sort | diversity and potential multifunctionality of archaeal cetz tubulin like cytoskeletal proteins |
| topic | archaea tubulin FtsZ CetZ cytoskeleton |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/134 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hannahjbrown diversityandpotentialmultifunctionalityofarchaealcetztubulinlikecytoskeletalproteins AT iaingduggin diversityandpotentialmultifunctionalityofarchaealcetztubulinlikecytoskeletalproteins |