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Cryo-EM structures of pentameric autoinducer-2 exporter from Escherichia coli reveal its transport mechanism.

<div class='caption-title'>Schematic overview of AI‐2‐mediated quorum sensing in Escherichia coli</div>
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Khera R, Mehdipour AR, Bolla JR, Kahnt J, Welsch S, Ermler U, Muenke C, Robinson CV, Hummer G, Xie H, Michel H
OpenAccess logo EMBO J e109990 (2022)
Cited: 6 times
EuropePMC logo PMID: 35698912

Abstract

Bacteria utilize small extracellular molecules to communicate in order to collectively coordinate their behaviors in response to the population density. Autoinducer-2 (AI-2), a universal molecule for both intra- and inter-species communication, is involved in the regulation of biofilm formation, virulence, motility, chemotaxis, and antibiotic resistance. While many studies have been devoted to understanding the biosynthesis and sensing of AI-2, very little information is available on its export. The protein TqsA from Escherichia coli, which belongs to the AI-2 exporter superfamily, has been shown to export AI-2. Here, we report the cryogenic electron microscopic structures of two AI-2 exporters (TqsA and YdiK) from E. coli at 3.35 Å and 2.80 Å resolutions, respectively. Our structures suggest that the AI-2 exporter exists as a homo-pentameric complex. In silico molecular docking and native mass spectrometry experiments were employed to demonstrate the interaction between AI-2 and TqsA, and the results highlight the functional importance of two helical hairpins in substrate binding. We propose that each monomer works as an independent functional unit utilizing an elevator-type transport mechanism.

Articles - 7nb6 mentioned but not cited (2)

  1. Modulation of gene expression in contextual fear conditioning in the rat. Federighi G, Traina G, Macchi M, Ciampini C, Bernardi R, Baldi E, Bucherelli C, Brunelli M, Scuri R. PLoS One 8 e80037 (2013)
  2. Cryo-EM structures of pentameric autoinducer-2 exporter from Escherichia coli reveal its transport mechanism. Khera R, Mehdipour AR, Bolla JR, Kahnt J, Welsch S, Ermler U, Muenke C, Robinson CV, Hummer G, Xie H, Michel H. EMBO J 41 e109990 (2022)


Reviews citing this publication (2)

  1. Mass spectrometry of intact membrane proteins: shifting towards a more native-like context. Oluwole A, Shutin D, Bolla JR. Essays Biochem 67 201-213 (2023)
  2. Campylobacter jejuni virulence factors: update on emerging issues and trends. Tikhomirova A, McNabb ER, Petterlin L, Bellamy GL, Lin KH, Santoso CA, Daye ES, Alhaddad FM, Lee KP, Roujeinikova A. J Biomed Sci 31 45 (2024)

Articles citing this publication (2)

  1. Quorum sensing componentry opens new lines of communication. Wang S, Payne GF, Bentley WE. EMBO J 41 e112162 (2022)
  2. Discovery of AI-2 Quorum Sensing Inhibitors Targeting the LsrK/HPr Protein-Protein Interaction Site by Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Virtual Screening, and Bioassay Evaluation. Xu Y, Zeng C, Wen H, Shi Q, Zhao X, Meng Q, Li X, Xiao J. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 16 737 (2023)


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