Publication
Article Metrics
Citations
Online attention
Ankyrin-mediated self-protection during cell invasion by the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus
DOI:
10.1038/ncomms9884
PMID:
26626559
Authors:
Carey
Lambert
(Nottingham University)
,
Ian T.
Cadby
(University of Birmingham)
,
Rob
Till
(Nottingham University)
,
Nhat Khai
Bui
(Newcastle University)
,
Thomas R.
Lerner
(Nottingham University)
,
William S.
Hughes
(Nottingham University)
,
David J.
Lee
(Nottingham University)
,
Luke J.
Alderwick
(Nottingham University)
,
Waldemar
Vollmer
(Nottingham University)
,
Elizabeth R.
Sockett
(Nottingham University)
,
Andrew L
Lovering
(University of Birmingham)
Co-authored by industrial partner:
No
Type:
Journal Paper
Journal:
Nature Communications
, VOL 6
State:
Published (Approved)
Published:
December 2015
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
8359
,
10369

Abstract: Predatory Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus are natural antimicrobial organisms, killing other bacteria by whole-cell invasion. Self-protection against prey-metabolizing enzymes is important for the evolution of predation. Initial prey entry involves the predator's peptidoglycan DD-endopeptidases, which decrosslink cell walls and prevent wasteful entry by a second predator. Here we identify and characterize a self-protection protein from B. bacteriovorus, Bd3460, which displays an ankyrin-based fold common to intracellular pathogens of eukaryotes. Co-crystal structures reveal Bd3460 complexation of dual targets, binding a conserved epitope of each of the Bd3459 and Bd0816 endopeptidases. Complexation inhibits endopeptidase activity and cell wall decrosslinking in vitro. Self-protection is vital - ΔBd3460 Bdellovibrio deleteriously decrosslink self-peptidoglycan upon invasion, adopt a round morphology, and lose predatory capacity and cellular integrity. Our analysis provides the first mechanistic examination of self-protection in Bdellovibrio, documents protection-multiplicity for products of two different genomic loci, and reveals an important evolutionary adaptation to an invasive predatory bacterial lifestyle
Subject Areas:
Biology and Bio-materials
Instruments:
I02-Macromolecular Crystallography
,
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
,
I04-Macromolecular Crystallography