Abstract
The cell wall envelope of Gram-positive pathogens functions as a scaffold for the attachment of virulence factors and as a sieve that prevents diffusion of molecules. Here the isd genes (iron-regulated surface determinant) of Staphylococcus aureus were found to encode factors responsible for hemoglobin binding and passage of heme-iron to the cytoplasm, where it acts as an essential nutrient. Heme-iron passage required two sortases that tether Isd proteins to unique locations within the cell wall. Thus, Isd appears to act as an import apparatus that uses cell wall-anchored proteins to relay heme-iron across the bacterial envelope.
Publication types
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Aminoacyltransferases / genetics
-
Aminoacyltransferases / metabolism
-
Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
-
Bacterial Proteins / genetics
-
Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
-
Biological Transport
-
Cell Membrane / metabolism*
-
Cell Wall / metabolism*
-
Cysteine Endopeptidases
-
Cytoplasm / metabolism
-
Endopeptidases / metabolism
-
Genes, Bacterial
-
Heme / metabolism*
-
Hemoglobins / metabolism
-
Iron / metabolism*
-
Lysostaphin / metabolism
-
N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase / metabolism
-
Protein Sorting Signals
-
Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
-
Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
-
Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
-
Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*
Substances
-
Bacterial Proteins
-
Hemoglobins
-
Protein Sorting Signals
-
Recombinant Fusion Proteins
-
Heme
-
Iron
-
Aminoacyltransferases
-
sortase A
-
Endopeptidases
-
Cysteine Endopeptidases
-
Lysostaphin
-
mutanolysin
-
N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase