Acylated domains (ADs), like that of the Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA), are structures found in all pore-forming toxins from the family of Repeat-in-ToXin (RTX) proteins. These AD segments are fatty-acylated on ε-amino groups of conserved lysine residues, such as the K860 and K983 residues of CyaA. The ε-amide-linked acyl chains are essential for toxin activity and promote irreversible membrane insertion of the CyaA molecule, thus enabling the toxin to translocate its N-terminal adenyl cyclase enzyme domain into the host cell cytoplasm. In parallel, the membrane-inserted CyaA molecules can oligomerize into cation-selective pores in the plasma membrane. Here, we show that the attached acyl chains are not only crucial for membrane insertion of the toxin but also play an important role in CyaA folding. We demonstrate that assembly of the noncanonical β-roll structure in the C-terminal segment of the AD of CyaA is cooperatively directed by the Ca2+-driven folding of the adjacent RTX domain. In contrast, the N-terminal AD segment consists of an α-helical structure that folds independently of Ca2+ ion binding and may form one or two acyl binding site(s) accommodating the acyl chains protruding from the C-terminal AD segment. This acyl-mediated interaction between the N- and C-terminal segments promotes local structural rearrangements within the AD that significantly enhances the stability of the toxin molecule. These findings highlight the critical role of the acyl modification in membrane interaction capacity and structural stability of the CyaA toxin.

• Klíčová slova
• Bordetella pertussis, RTX toxin, acylation, adenylate cyclase toxin, protein folding,
• MeSH
• acylace MeSH
• adenylátcyklasový toxin * metabolismus   chemie   genetika   MeSH
• Bordetella pertussis * metabolismus   enzymologie   genetika   MeSH
• buněčná membrána * metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• sbalování proteinů MeSH
• vápník metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenylátcyklasový toxin * MeSH
• vápník MeSH

Folding of the Repeats-in-toxin (RTX) domain of the bacterial adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA) is critical to its toxin activities and the virulence of the whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis. The RTX domain (RD) contains five RTX blocks (RTX-i to RTX-v) and their folding is driven by the binding of calcium. However, the detailed molecular mechanism via which the folding signal transmits within the five RTX blocks remains unknown. By combining single molecule optical tweezers, protein engineering, and toxin activity assays, here we demonstrate that the folding of the RD follows a strict hierarchy, with the folding starting from its C-terminal block RTX-v and proceeding towards the N-terminal RTX-i block sequentially. Our results reveal a strict series, templated folding mechanism, where the folding signal is transmitted along the RD in a series fashion from its C terminus continuously to the N terminus. Due to the series nature of this folding signal transmission pathway, the folding of RD can be disrupted at any given RTX block, rendering the RTX blocks located N-terminally to the disruption site and the acylation region of CyaA unfolded and abolishing CyaA's toxin activities. Our results reveal key mechanistic insights into the secretion and folding process of CyaA and may open up new potential avenues towards designing new therapeutics to abolish toxin activity of CyaA and combat B. pertussis.

• Klíčová slova
• adenylate cyclase, bacterial toxin, optical tweezers, protein folding, single-molecule biophysics,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The acylated Repeats in ToXins (RTX) leukotoxins, the adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) or α-hemolysin (HlyA), bind β2 integrins of leukocytes but also penetrate cells lacking these receptors. We show that the indoles of conserved tryptophans in the acylated segments, W876 of CyaA and W579 of HlyA, are crucial for β2 integrin-independent membrane penetration. Substitutions of W876 by aliphatic or aromatic residues did not affect acylation, folding, or the activities of CyaA W876L/F/Y variants on cells expressing high amounts of the β2 integrin CR3. However, toxin activity of CyaA W876L/F/Y on cells lacking CR3 was strongly impaired. Similarly, a W579L substitution selectively reduced HlyA W579L cytotoxicity towards cells lacking β2 integrins. Intriguingly, the W876L/F/Y substitutions increased the thermal stability (Tm) of CyaA by 4 to 8 °C but locally enhanced the accessibility to deuteration of the hydrophobic segment and of the interface of the two acylated loops. W876Q substitution (showing no increase in Tm), or combination of W876F with a cavity-filling V822M substitution (this combination decreasing the Tm closer to that of CyaA), yielded a milder defect of toxin activity on erythrocytes lacking CR3. Furthermore, the activity of CyaA on erythrocytes was also selectively impaired when the interaction of the pyrrolidine of P848 with the indole of W876 was ablated. Hence, the bulky indoles of residues W876 of CyaA, or W579 of HlyA, rule the local positioning of the acylated loops and enable a membrane-penetrating conformation in the absence of RTX toxin docking onto the cell membrane by β2 integrins.

• Klíčová slova
• RTX toxin, acylated segment, adenylate cyclase toxin, cytotoxicity, hydrogen/deuterium exchange, thermal stability, tryptophan residue, α-hemolysin, β(2) integrins,
• MeSH
• adenylátcyklasový toxin * chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• antigeny CD18 * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Bordetella pertussis MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• erytrocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• konzervovaná sekvence MeSH
• tryptofan * chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenylátcyklasový toxin * MeSH
• antigeny CD18 * MeSH
• tryptofan * MeSH

The Gram-negative bacterium Kingella kingae is part of the commensal oropharyngeal flora of young children. As detection methods have improved, K. kingae has been increasingly recognized as an emerging invasive pathogen that frequently causes skeletal system infections, bacteremia, and severe forms of infective endocarditis. K. kingae secretes an RtxA cytotoxin, which is involved in the development of clinical infection and belongs to an ever-growing family of cytolytic RTX (Repeats in ToXin) toxins secreted by Gram-negative pathogens. All RTX cytolysins share several characteristic structural features: (i) a hydrophobic pore-forming domain in the N-terminal part of the molecule; (ii) an acylated segment where the activation of the inactive protoxin to the toxin occurs by a co-expressed toxin-activating acyltransferase; (iii) a typical calcium-binding RTX domain in the C-terminal portion of the molecule with the characteristic glycine- and aspartate-rich nonapeptide repeats; and (iv) a C-proximal secretion signal recognized by the type I secretion system. RTX toxins, including RtxA from K. kingae, have been shown to act as highly efficient 'contact weapons' that penetrate and permeabilize host cell membranes and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of bacterial infections. RtxA was discovered relatively recently and the knowledge of its biological role remains limited. This review describes the structure and function of RtxA in the context of the most studied RTX toxins, the knowledge of which may contribute to a better understanding of the action of RtxA in the pathogenesis of K. kingae infections.

• Klíčová slova
• Kingella kingae, RTX toxin, RtxA, membrane, pore-forming, β2 integrins,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Pore-forming repeats in toxins (RTX) are key virulence factors of many Gram-negative pathogens. We have recently shown that the aromatic side chain of the conserved tyrosine residue 940 within the acylated segment of the RTX adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA, ACT or AC-Hly) plays a key role in target cell membrane interaction of the toxin. Therefore, we used a truncated CyaA-derived RTX719 construct to analyze the impact of Y940 substitutions on functional folding of the acylated segment of CyaA. Size exclusion chromatography combined with CD spectroscopy revealed that replacement of the aromatic side chain of Y940 by the side chains of alanine or proline residues disrupted the calcium-dependent folding of RTX719 and led to self-aggregation of the otherwise soluble and monomeric protein. Intriguingly, corresponding alanine substitutions of the conserved Y642, Y643 and Y639 residues in the homologous RtxA, HlyA and ApxIA hemolysins from Kingella kingae, Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, affected the membrane insertion, pore-forming (hemolytic) and cytotoxic capacities of these toxins only marginally. Activities of these toxins were impaired only upon replacement of the conserved tyrosines by proline residues. It appears, hence, that the critical role of the aromatic side chain of the Y940 residue is highly specific for the functional folding of the acylated domain of CyaA and determines its capacity to penetrate target cell membrane.

• MeSH
• adenylátcyklasový toxin genetika   MeSH
• Bordetella bronchiseptica * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Bordetella pertussis * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• hemolýza MeSH
• infekce bakteriemi rodu Bordetella mikrobiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši MeSH
• THP-1 buňky MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenylátcyklasový toxin MeSH

In a wide range of organisms, from bacteria to humans, numerous proteins have to be posttranslationally acylated to become biologically active. Bacterial repeats in toxin (RTX) cytolysins form a prominent group of proteins that are synthesized as inactive protoxins and undergo posttranslational acylation on ε-amino groups of two internal conserved lysine residues by co-expressed toxin-activating acyltransferases. Here, we investigated how the chemical nature, position, and number of bound acyl chains govern the activities of Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA), Escherichia coli α-hemolysin (HlyA), and Kingella kingae cytotoxin (RtxA). We found that the three protoxins are acylated in the same E. coli cell background by each of the CyaC, HlyC, and RtxC acyltransferases. We also noted that the acyltransferase selects from the bacterial pool of acyl-acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) an acyl chain of a specific length for covalent linkage to the protoxin. The acyltransferase also selects whether both or only one of two conserved lysine residues of the protoxin will be posttranslationally acylated. Functional assays revealed that RtxA has to be modified by 14-carbon fatty acyl chains to be biologically active, that HlyA remains active also when modified by 16-carbon acyl chains, and that CyaA is activated exclusively by 16-carbon acyl chains. These results suggest that the RTX toxin molecules are structurally adapted to the length of the acyl chains used for modification of their acylated lysine residue in the second, more conserved acylation site.

• Klíčová slova
• RTX toxin, acylation, acyltransferase, adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA), bacterial toxin, cytotoxicity, cytotoxin (RtxA), fatty acid, fatty acyl, posttranslational modification, protein acylation, protein translocation, protoxin, α-hemolysin (HlyA),
• MeSH
• acyltransferasy metabolismus   MeSH
• Bacteria metabolismus   MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• hemolyziny metabolismus   MeSH
• mastné kyseliny metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• acyltransferasy MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny MeSH
• hemolyziny MeSH
• mastné kyseliny MeSH

The Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA) and the α-hemolysin (HlyA) of Escherichia coli belong to the family of cytolytic pore-forming Repeats in ToXin (RTX) cytotoxins. HlyA preferentially binds the αLβ2 integrin LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) of leukocytes and can promiscuously bind and also permeabilize many other cells. CyaA bears an N-terminal adenylyl cyclase (AC) domain linked to a pore-forming RTX cytolysin (Hly) moiety, binds the complement receptor 3 (CR3, αMβ2, CD11b/CD18, or Mac-1) of myeloid phagocytes, penetrates their plasma membrane, and delivers the AC enzyme into the cytosol. We constructed a set of CyaA/HlyA chimeras and show that the CyaC-acylated segment and the CR3-binding RTX domain of CyaA can be functionally replaced by the HlyC-acylated segment and the much shorter RTX domain of HlyA. Instead of binding CR3, a CyaA1-710/HlyA411-1024 chimera bound the LFA-1 receptor and effectively delivered AC into Jurkat T cells. At high chimera concentrations (25 nm), the interaction with LFA-1 was not required for CyaA1-710/HlyA411-1024 binding to CHO cells. However, interaction with the LFA-1 receptor strongly enhanced the specific capacity of the bound CyaA1-710/HlyA411-1024 chimera to penetrate cells and deliver the AC enzyme into their cytosol. Hence, interaction of the acylated segment and/or the RTX domain of HlyA with LFA-1 promoted a productive membrane interaction of the chimera. These results help delimit residues 400-710 of CyaA as an "AC translocon" sufficient for translocation of the AC polypeptide across the plasma membrane of target cells.

• Klíčová slova
• AC domain translocation, AC translocon, Bordetella pertussis, CyaA, Escherichia coli (E. coli), HlyA, RTX toxin, acylation, acyltransferase, bacterial toxin, complement receptor 3 (CR3,), fatty acid, fatty acyl, integrin, protein acylation, protein translocation,
• MeSH
• adenylátcyklasový toxin metabolismus   MeSH
• antigen-1 spojený s lymfocytární funkcí metabolismus   MeSH
• Bordetella * MeSH
• CHO buňky MeSH
• Cricetulus MeSH
• cytosol metabolismus   MeSH
• Jurkat buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• makrofágový antigen 1 metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši MeSH
• THP-1 buňky MeSH
• transport proteinů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenylátcyklasový toxin MeSH
• antigen-1 spojený s lymfocytární funkcí MeSH
• makrofágový antigen 1 MeSH

Kingella kingae is a member of the commensal oropharyngeal flora of young children. Improvements in detection methods have led to the recognition of K. kingae as an emerging pathogen that frequently causes osteoarticular infections in children and a severe form of infective endocarditis in children and adults. Kingella kingae secretes a membrane-damaging RTX (Repeat in ToXin) toxin, RtxA, which is implicated in the development of clinical infections. However, the mechanism by which RtxA recognizes and kills host cells is largely unexplored. To facilitate structure-function studies of RtxA, we have developed a procedure for the overproduction and purification of milligram amounts of biologically active recombinant RtxA. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed the activation of RtxA by post-translational fatty acyl modification on the lysine residues 558 and/or 689 by the fatty-acyltransferase RtxC. Acylated RtxA was toxic to various human cells in a calcium-dependent manner and possessed pore-forming activity in planar lipid bilayers. Using various biochemical and biophysical approaches, we demonstrated that cholesterol facilitates the interaction of RtxA with artificial and cell membranes. The results of analyses using RtxA mutant variants suggested that the interaction between the toxin and cholesterol occurs via two cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus motifs located in the C-terminal portion of the pore-forming domain of the toxin. Based on our observations, we conclude that the cytotoxic activity of RtxA depends on post-translational acylation of the K558 and/or K689 residues and on the toxin binding to cholesterol in the membrane.

• MeSH
• acylace MeSH
• bakteriální toxiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• cholesterol metabolismus   MeSH
• Kingella kingae enzymologie   genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lysin chemie   MeSH
• posttranslační úpravy proteinů * MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• transaminasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bakteriální toxiny MeSH
• cholesterol MeSH
• lysin MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny MeSH
• transaminasy MeSH

Bordetellae, pathogenic to mammals, produce an immunomodulatory adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA, ACT or AC-Hly) that enables them to overcome the innate immune defense of the host. CyaA subverts host phagocytic cells by an orchestrated action of its functional domains, where an extremely catalytically active adenylyl cyclase enzyme is delivered into phagocyte cytosol by a pore-forming repeat-in-toxin (RTX) cytolysin moiety. By targeting sentinel cells expressing the complement receptor 3, known as the CD11b/CD18 (αMβ₂) integrin, CyaA compromises the bactericidal functions of host phagocytes and supports infection of host airways by Bordetellae. Here, we review the state of knowledge on structural and functional aspects of CyaA toxin action, placing particular emphasis on signaling mechanisms by which the toxin-produced 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) subverts the physiology of phagocytic cells.

• Klíčová slova
• Bordetella, CD11b/CD18, adenylate cyclase toxin, cAMP, cell signaling, complement receptor 3, innate immunity, membrane pores, repeats-in-toxin, β2 integrins,
• MeSH
• adenylátcyklasový toxin chemie   MeSH
• alveolární makrofágy cytologie   MeSH
• AMP cyklický chemie   MeSH
• Bordetella pertussis MeSH
• dendritické buňky cytologie   MeSH
• fagocyty chemie   MeSH
• kinasa Syk MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• makrofágový antigen 1 MeSH
• neutrofily cytologie   MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• signální transdukce * MeSH
• terciární struktura proteinů MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenylátcyklasový toxin MeSH
• AMP cyklický MeSH
• kinasa Syk MeSH
• makrofágový antigen 1 MeSH
• SYK protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč

The adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA, ACT or AC-Hly) translocates its adenylate cyclase (AC) enzyme domain into target cells in a step that depends on membrane cholesterol content. We thus examined what role in toxin activities is played by the five putative cholesterol recognition amino acid consensus (CRAC) motifs predicted in CyaA hemolysin moiety. CRAC-disrupting phenylalanine substitutions had no impact on toxin activities and these were not inhibited by free cholesterol, showing that the putative CRAC motifs are not involved in cholesterol binding. However, helix-breaking proline substitutions in these segments uncovered a structural role of the Y632, Y658, Y725 and Y738 residues in AC domain delivery and pore formation by CyaA. Substitutions of Y940 of the fifth motif, conserved in the acylated domains of related RTX toxins, did not impact on fatty-acylation of CyaA by CyaC and the CyaA-Y940F mutant was intact for toxin activities on erythrocytes and myeloid cells. However, the Y940A or Y940P substitutions disrupted the capacity of CyaA to insert into artificial lipid bilayers or target cell membranes. The aromatic ring of tyrosine 940 side chain thus appears to play a key structural role in molecular interactions that initiate CyaA penetration into target membranes.

• MeSH
• adenylátcyklasový toxin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• aminokyselinové motivy MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• cholesterol metabolismus   MeSH
• erytrocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• makrofágy metabolismus   MeSH
• mutační analýza DNA MeSH
• myši MeSH
• substituce aminokyselin MeSH
• transport proteinů MeSH
• tyrosin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenylátcyklasový toxin MeSH
• cholesterol MeSH
• tyrosin MeSH