Heterologous expression of thuricin CD immunity genes in Listeria monocytogenes.
Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized peptides that can have a narrow or broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Bacteriocin producers typically possess dedicated immunity systems that often consist of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter system and/or a dedicated immunity protein. Here we investigated the genes responsible for immunity to thuricin CD, a narrow-spectrum two-peptide sactibiotic produced by Bacillus thuringiensis DPC6431. Heterologous expression of putative thuricin CD immunity determinants allowed us to identify and investigate the relative importance of the individual genes and gene products that contribute to thuricin CD immunity. We established that TrnF and TrnG are the individual components of an ABC transporter system that provides immunity to thuricin CD. We also identified a hitherto overlooked open reading frame located upstream of trnF predicted to encode a 79-amino-acid transmembrane protein. We designated this newly discovered gene trnI and established that TrnI alone can provide protection against thuricin CD.
School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Harsh
H
Mathur
Moorepark Food Research Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Paula M
PM
O'Connor
Moorepark Food Research Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland c.hill@ucc.ie paul.cotter@teagasc.ie.
Paul D
PD
Cotter
School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland c.hill@ucc.ie paul.cotter@teagasc.ie.
Colin
C
Hill
Moorepark Food Research Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
R Paul
RP
Ross
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015870:Gene Expression; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D019076:Transgenes
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001430:Bacteriocins; C059740:thuricin