ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells.
The DNA uptake of naturally competent bacteria has been attributed to the action of DNA uptake machineries resembling type IV pilus complexes. However, the protein(s) for pulling the DNA across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria remain speculative. Here we show that the competence protein...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2014-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS Genetics |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3879209?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818156359220199424 |
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| author | Patrick Seitz Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres Sandrine Borgeaud Roman D Bulushev Lorenz J Steinbock Aleksandra Radenovic Matteo Dal Peraro Melanie Blokesch |
| author_facet | Patrick Seitz Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres Sandrine Borgeaud Roman D Bulushev Lorenz J Steinbock Aleksandra Radenovic Matteo Dal Peraro Melanie Blokesch |
| author_sort | Patrick Seitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The DNA uptake of naturally competent bacteria has been attributed to the action of DNA uptake machineries resembling type IV pilus complexes. However, the protein(s) for pulling the DNA across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria remain speculative. Here we show that the competence protein ComEA binds incoming DNA in the periplasm of naturally competent Vibrio cholerae cells thereby promoting DNA uptake, possibly through ratcheting and entropic forces associated with ComEA binding. Using comparative modeling and molecular simulations, we projected the 3D structure and DNA-binding site of ComEA. These in silico predictions, combined with in vivo and in vitro validations of wild-type and site-directed modified variants of ComEA, suggested that ComEA is not solely a DNA receptor protein but plays a direct role in the DNA uptake process. Furthermore, we uncovered that ComEA homologs of other bacteria (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative) efficiently compensated for the absence of ComEA in V. cholerae, suggesting that the contribution of ComEA in the DNA uptake process might be conserved among naturally competent bacteria. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:57:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bccbebfd6d0e431084350bb5b1452c3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1553-7390 1553-7404 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:57:02Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-bccbebfd6d0e431084350bb5b1452c3e2022-12-22T01:01:18ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042014-01-01101e100406610.1371/journal.pgen.1004066ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells.Patrick SeitzHassan Pezeshgi ModarresSandrine BorgeaudRoman D BulushevLorenz J SteinbockAleksandra RadenovicMatteo Dal PeraroMelanie BlokeschThe DNA uptake of naturally competent bacteria has been attributed to the action of DNA uptake machineries resembling type IV pilus complexes. However, the protein(s) for pulling the DNA across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria remain speculative. Here we show that the competence protein ComEA binds incoming DNA in the periplasm of naturally competent Vibrio cholerae cells thereby promoting DNA uptake, possibly through ratcheting and entropic forces associated with ComEA binding. Using comparative modeling and molecular simulations, we projected the 3D structure and DNA-binding site of ComEA. These in silico predictions, combined with in vivo and in vitro validations of wild-type and site-directed modified variants of ComEA, suggested that ComEA is not solely a DNA receptor protein but plays a direct role in the DNA uptake process. Furthermore, we uncovered that ComEA homologs of other bacteria (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative) efficiently compensated for the absence of ComEA in V. cholerae, suggesting that the contribution of ComEA in the DNA uptake process might be conserved among naturally competent bacteria.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3879209?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Seitz Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres Sandrine Borgeaud Roman D Bulushev Lorenz J Steinbock Aleksandra Radenovic Matteo Dal Peraro Melanie Blokesch ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells. PLoS Genetics |
| title | ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells. |
| title_full | ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells. |
| title_fullStr | ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells. |
| title_full_unstemmed | ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells. |
| title_short | ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells. |
| title_sort | comea is essential for the transfer of external dna into the periplasm in naturally transformable vibrio cholerae cells |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3879209?pdf=render |
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