title: S-layer anchoring and localization of an S-layer-associated protease in Caulobacter crescentus.
abstract: The S-layer of the gram-negative bacterium Caulobacter crescentus is composed of a single protein, RsaA, that is secreted and assembled into a hexagonal crystalline array that covers the organism. Despite the widespread occurrence of comparable bacterial S-layers, little is known about S-layer attachment to cell surfaces, especially for gram-negative organisms. Having preliminary indications that the N terminus of RsaA anchors the monomer to the cell surface, we developed an assay to distinguish direct surface attachment from subunit-subunit interactions where small RsaA fragments are incubated with S-layer-negative cells to assess the ability of the fragments to reattach. In doing so, we found that the RsaA anchoring region lies in the first approximately 225 amino acids and that this RsaA anchoring region requires a smooth lipopolysaccharide species found in the outer membrane. By making mutations at six semirandom sites, we learned that relatively minor perturbations within the first approximately 225 amino acids of RsaA caused loss of anchoring. In other studies, we confirmed that only this N-terminal region has a direct role in S-layer anchoring. As a by-product of the anchoring studies, we discovered that Sap, the C. crescentus S-layer-associated protease, recognized a cleavage site in the truncated RsaA fragments that is not detected by Sap in full-length RsaA. This, in turn, led to the discovery that Sap was an extracellular membrane-bound protease, rather than intracellular, as previously proposed. Moreover, Sap was secreted to the cell surface primarily by the S-layer type I secretion apparatus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2509-2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Nomellini
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016935:Caulobacter crescentus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C055764:S-layer proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases