Characterization of unique modification of flagellar rod protein FlgG by Campylobacter jejuni lipid A phosphoethanolamine transferase, linking bacterial locomotion and antimicrobial peptide resistance

J Biol Chem. 2012 Jan 27;287(5):3326-36. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.321737. Epub 2011 Dec 9.

Abstract

Gram-negative bacteria assemble complex surface structures that interface with the surrounding environment and are involved in pathogenesis. Recent work in Campylobacter jejuni identified a gene encoding a novel phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) transferase Cj0256, renamed EptC, that serves a dual role in modifying the flagellar rod protein, FlgG, and the lipid A domain of C. jejuni lipooligosaccharide with a pEtN residue. In this work, we characterize the unique post-translational pEtN modification of FlgG using collision-induced and electron transfer dissociation mass spectrometry, as well as a genetic approach using site-directed mutagenesis to determine the site of modification. Specifically, we show that FlgG is modified with pEtN at a single site (Thr(75)) by EptC and demonstrate enzyme specificity by showing that EptC is unable to modify other amino acids (e.g. serine and tyrosine). Using Campylobacter strains expressing site-directed FlgG mutants, we also show that defects in motility arise directly from the loss of pEtN modification of FlgG. Interestingly, alignments of FlgG from most epsilon proteobacteria reveal a conserved site of modification. Characterization of EptC and its enzymatic targets expands on the increasingly important field of prokaryotic post-translational modification of bacterial surface structures and the unidentified role they may play in pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Campylobacter jejuni / genetics
  • Campylobacter jejuni / metabolism*
  • Campylobacter jejuni / pathogenicity
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Ethanolaminephosphotransferase / genetics
  • Ethanolaminephosphotransferase / metabolism*
  • Flagella / genetics
  • Flagella / metabolism*
  • Lipid A / genetics
  • Lipid A / metabolism*
  • Lipoproteins / genetics
  • Lipoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / physiology*

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Lipid A
  • Lipoproteins
  • Ethanolaminephosphotransferase