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Coincubation Assay for Quantifying Competitive Interactions between Vibrio fischeri Isolates
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Rhs proteins from diverse bacteria mediate intercellular competition.

Sanna Koskiniemi1, James G Lamoureux, Kiel C Nikolakakis

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|April 11, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Rearrangement hotspot (Rhs) and wall-associated protein A (WapA) are bacterial toxins mediating intercellular competition. These YD-repeat proteins deliver toxins to inhibit neighboring cells, demonstrating a shared function in contact-dependent growth inhibition.

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Published on: January 18, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial genetics
  • Protein function

Background:

  • Rearrangement hotspot (Rhs) and YD-peptide repeat proteins are widespread in bacteria and eukaryotes, but their functions remain unclear.
  • These proteins are implicated in bacterial interactions, but the mechanisms of action and distribution are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of Gram-negative Rhs proteins and Gram-positive wall-associated protein A (WapA) in bacterial interactions.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which these proteins mediate intercellular competition and growth inhibition.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of Rhs and WapA protein structures and functions.
  • Investigation of toxin delivery mechanisms in Gram-negative (Dickeya dadantii) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) bacteria.
  • Genetic analysis of secretion systems involved in Rhs and WapA deployment.

Main Results:

  • Rhs and WapA proteins possess polymorphic C-terminal toxin domains (Rhs-CT/WapA-CT) that inhibit neighboring cell growth.
  • Sequence-diverse immunity proteins (RhsI/WapI) confer specific protection against cognate toxins.
  • Rhs proteins in D. dadantii function as nucleases degrading target DNA and are likely secreted via type VI secretion systems, while WapA proteins in B. subtilis act as tRNases secreted via the general secretory pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Rhs and WapA proteins mediate contact-dependent growth inhibition, a conserved mechanism for intercellular competition across diverse bacterial species.
  • YD-repeat proteins utilize distinct toxin domains and secretion systems to engage in inter-bacterial warfare.