Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT
Conjugation plays a major role in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Following transfer of IncF-like plasmids, recipients become refractory to a second wave of conjugation with the same plasmid via entry (TraS) and surface (TraT) exclusion mechanisms. Here, we show that TraT from the p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Research
2025
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| _version_ | 1824459048658927616 |
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| author | Seddon, C David, S Wong, JLC Ishimoto, N He, S Bradshaw, J Low, WW Frankel, G Beis, K |
| author_facet | Seddon, C David, S Wong, JLC Ishimoto, N He, S Bradshaw, J Low, WW Frankel, G Beis, K |
| author_sort | Seddon, C |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Conjugation plays a major role in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Following transfer of IncF-like plasmids, recipients become refractory to a second wave of conjugation with the same plasmid via entry (TraS) and surface (TraT) exclusion mechanisms. Here, we show that TraT from the pKpQIL and F plasmids (TraTpKpQIL and TraTF) exhibits plasmid surface exclusion specificity. The cryo-EM structures of TraTpKpQIL and TraTF reveal that they oligomerise into decameric champagne bottle cork-like structures, which are anchored to the outer membrane via a diacylglycerol and palmitic acid modified α-helical barrel domain. Unexpectedly, we identify chromosomal TraT homologues from multiple Gram-negative phyla which form numerous divergent lineages in a phylogenetic tree of TraT sequences. Plasmid-associated TraT sequences are found in multiple distinct lineages, including two separate clades incorporating TraT from Enterobacteriaceae IncF/F-like and Legionellaceae F-like plasmids. These findings suggest that different plasmid backbones have acquired and co-opted TraT on independent occasions. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-19T04:35:36Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:ee90c5b3-1fd2-4881-abf1-b79463930fbf |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-19T04:35:36Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Nature Research |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:ee90c5b3-1fd2-4881-abf1-b79463930fbf2025-01-23T20:03:46ZCryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraTJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:ee90c5b3-1fd2-4881-abf1-b79463930fbfEnglishJisc Publications RouterNature Research2025Seddon, CDavid, SWong, JLCIshimoto, NHe, SBradshaw, JLow, WWFrankel, GBeis, KConjugation plays a major role in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Following transfer of IncF-like plasmids, recipients become refractory to a second wave of conjugation with the same plasmid via entry (TraS) and surface (TraT) exclusion mechanisms. Here, we show that TraT from the pKpQIL and F plasmids (TraTpKpQIL and TraTF) exhibits plasmid surface exclusion specificity. The cryo-EM structures of TraTpKpQIL and TraTF reveal that they oligomerise into decameric champagne bottle cork-like structures, which are anchored to the outer membrane via a diacylglycerol and palmitic acid modified α-helical barrel domain. Unexpectedly, we identify chromosomal TraT homologues from multiple Gram-negative phyla which form numerous divergent lineages in a phylogenetic tree of TraT sequences. Plasmid-associated TraT sequences are found in multiple distinct lineages, including two separate clades incorporating TraT from Enterobacteriaceae IncF/F-like and Legionellaceae F-like plasmids. These findings suggest that different plasmid backbones have acquired and co-opted TraT on independent occasions. |
| spellingShingle | Seddon, C David, S Wong, JLC Ishimoto, N He, S Bradshaw, J Low, WW Frankel, G Beis, K Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT |
| title | Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT |
| title_full | Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT |
| title_fullStr | Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT |
| title_short | Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT |
| title_sort | cryo em structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein trat |
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