Lighting Up Clostridium Difficile: Reporting Gene Expression Using Fluorescent Lov Domains

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 21:6:23463. doi: 10.1038/srep23463.

Abstract

The uses of fluorescent reporters derived from green fluorescent protein have proved invaluable for the visualisation of biological processes in bacteria grown under aerobic conditions. However, their requirement for oxygen has limited their application in obligate anaerobes such as Clostridium difficile. Fluorescent proteins derived from Light, Oxygen or Voltage sensing (LOV) domains have been shown to bridge this limitation, but their utility as translational fusions to monitor protein expression and localisation in a strict anaerobic bacterium has not been reported. Here we demonstrate the utility of phiLOV in three species of Clostridium and its application as a marker of real-time protein translation and dynamics through genetic fusion with the cell division protein, FtsZ. Time lapse microscopy of dividing cells suggests that Z ring assembly arises through the extension of the FtsZ arc starting from one point on the circumference. Furthermore, through incorporation of phiLOV into the flagella subunit, FliC, we show the potential of bacterial LOV-based fusion proteins to be successfully exported to the extracellular environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Clostridioides difficile / genetics*
  • Clostridioides difficile / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Optical Imaging / methods*
  • Protein Biosynthesis*
  • Protein Transport

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • FtsZ protein, Bacteria
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins