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Detection of the pH-dependent Activity of Escherichia coli Chaperone HdeB In Vitro and In Vivo

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Archaeal-like chaperonins in bacteria.

Stephen M Techtmann¹, Frank T Robb

¹Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Program in the Biology of Model Systems, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|November 9, 2010

Summary

Researchers discovered a new bacterial chaperonin (CPN) group, Group III CPNs, distinct from known Group I and II CPNs. This finding offers insights into protein folding evolution and ancient gene transfer events.

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Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Chaperonins (CPN) are essential protein machines involved in ATP-dependent protein folding.
CPNs are traditionally classified into Group I (e.g., bacterial GroEL/ES) and Group II (archaeal/eukaryotic cytosol).
CPNs play roles in cellular stress responses, housekeeping, and human diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

To report the discovery of a novel, divergent group of chaperonins in bacteria.
To characterize the structure, function, and genomic context of this new CPN group.
To explore the evolutionary implications of this finding for CPN family history.

Main Methods:

Genomic analysis to identify novel CPNs.
Biochemical assays to assess ATP-dependent protein refolding activity.
Structural analysis of the prototype Group III CPN (Ch-CPN).

Main Results:

Identification of a third distinct group of bacterial chaperonins, designated Group III CPNs.
The prototype, Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans chaperonin (Ch-CPN), functions in an ATP-dependent manner.
Group III CPNs exhibit structural similarity to Group II CPNs, forming a 16-mer with flexible lid domains.
Group III CPNs are found in a unique genomic context within the hsp70 operon.

Conclusions:

Group III CPNs represent a novel lineage of bacterial chaperonins, distinct from the ubiquitous GroEL/ES type.
The discovery challenges the traditional two-group classification of chaperonins.
This lineage may have arisen from ancient horizontal gene transfer from archaea to bacteria.
Studying Group III CPNs provides crucial insights into the early evolution of the chaperonin superfamily.