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Updated: Jun 7, 2025
07:10
A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues
Published on: February 19, 2019
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Post-translational toxin modification by lactate controls Staphylococcus aureus virulence.
Yanan Wang1,2, Yanfeng Liu3, Guoxiu Xiang1
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Nature Communications
|November 13, 2024
Summary
Bacterial protein lactylation, a novel post-translational modification, enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence. This modification of alpha-toxin is crucial for pathogen activity during infection.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- Post-translational modifications regulate protein function in eukaryotes.
- Bacterial post-translational modifications, especially in pathogenesis, are less understood.
- Lactate, a metabolite, can be involved in bacterial processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate novel post-translational modifications in bacteria.
- To explore the role of lactylation in Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis.
- To determine the impact of lactylation on bacterial toxin activity.
Main Methods:
- Demonstration of post-translational protein lactylation in Staphylococcus aureus.
- Analysis of lactylation's dependence on lactate concentration.
- Assessment of lactylated alpha-toxin's role in virulence using infection models.
Main Results:
- Post-translational lactylation of proteins was identified in Staphylococcus aureus.
- Lactylation specifically modifies alpha-toxin, requiring a single lactylated lysine for full activity.
- A direct correlation between lactate concentration and lactylation was observed.
Conclusions:
- Protein lactylation is a newly identified post-translational modification in bacteria.
- Lactylation of alpha-toxin is essential for Staphylococcus aureus virulence.
- Increasing lactate levels during infection may enhance pathogen virulence through protein lactylation.
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