title: Structure and mechanism of the PilF DNA transformation ATPase from Thermus thermophilus.
abstract: Many Gram-negative bacteria contain specific systems for uptake of foreign DNA, which play a critical role in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance. The TtPilF (PilF ATPase from Thermus thermophilus) is required for high transformation efficiency, but its mechanism of action is unknown. In the present study, we show that TtPilF is able to bind to both DNA and RNA. The structure of TtPilF was determined by cryoelectron microscopy in the presence and absence of the ATP analogue p[NH]ppA (adenosine 5'-[β,γ-imido]triphosphate), at 10 and 12 Å (1 Å=0.1 nm) resolutions respectively. It consists of two distinct N- and C-terminal regions, separated by a short stem-like structure. Binding of p[NH]ppA induces structural changes in the C-terminal domains, which are transmitted via the stem to the N-terminal domains. Molecular models were generated for the apoenzyme and p[NH]ppA-bound states in the C-terminal regions by docking of a model based on a crystal structure from a closely related enzyme. Analysis of DNA binding by electron microscopy, using gold labelling, localized the binding site to the N-terminal domains. The results suggest a model in which DNA uptake by TtPilF is powered by ATP hydrolysis, causing conformational changes in the C-terminal domains, which are transmitted via the stem to take up DNA into the cell.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Darin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Vijaykumar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karuppiah
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thistlethwaite
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Derrick
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D016963:Thermus thermophilus / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004247:DNA; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases