Download MendeleyControl of Bacterial Virulence through the Peptide Signature of the Habitat.
Krypotou, E., Scortti, M., Grundstrom, C., Oelker, M., Luisi, B.F., Sauer-Eriksson, A.E., Vazquez-Boland, J.(2019) Cell Rep 26: 1815-1827.e5
- PubMed: 30759392
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.01.073
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
6HCK - PubMed Abstract:
To optimize fitness, pathogens selectively activate their virulence program upon host entry. Here, we report that the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes exploits exogenous oligopeptides, a ubiquitous organic N source, to sense the environment and control the activity of its virulence transcriptional activator, PrfA. Using a genetic screen in adsorbent-treated (PrfA-inducing) medium, we found that PrfA is functionally regulated by the balance between activating and inhibitory nutritional peptides scavenged via the Opp transport system. Activating peptides provide essential cysteine precursor for the PrfA-inducing cofactor glutathione (GSH). Non-cysteine-containing peptides cause promiscuous PrfA inhibition. Biophysical and co-crystallization studies reveal that peptides inhibit PrfA through steric blockade of the GSH binding site, a regulation mechanism directly linking bacterial virulence and metabolism. L. monocytogenes mutant analysis in macrophages and our functional data support a model in which changes in the balance of antagonistic Opp-imported oligopeptides promote PrfA induction intracellularly and PrfA repression outside the host.
Organizational Affiliation:
Microbial Pathogenesis Group, Infection Medicine, Edinburgh Medical School (Biomedical Sciences) and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK.
