Identification of genes involved in exoprotein release using a high-throughput exoproteome screening assay in Yersinia entomophaga

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 25;17(1):e0263019. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263019. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Bacterial protein secretion is crucial to the maintenance of viability and pathogenicity. Although many bacterial secretion systems have been identified, the underlying mechanisms regulating their expression are less well explored. Yersinia entomophaga MH96, an entomopathogenic bacterium, releases an abundance of proteins including the Yen-Tc into the growth medium when cultured in Luria Bertani broth at ≤ 25°C. Through the development of a high-throughput exoproteome screening assay (HESA), genes involved in MH96 exoprotein production were identified. Of 4,080 screened transposon mutants, 34 mutants exhibited a decreased exoprotein release, and one mutation located in the intergenic region of the Yen-Tc operon displayed an elevated exoprotein release relative to the wild-type strain MH96. DNA sequencing revealed several transposon insertions clustered in gene regions associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPSI and LPSII), and N-acyl-homoserine lactone synthesis (quorum sensing). Twelve transposon insertions were located within transcriptional regulators or intergenic regions. The HESA will have broad applicability for identifying genes associated with exoproteome production in a range of microorganisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins* / biosynthesis
  • Bacterial Proteins* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Proteome* / genetics
  • Proteome* / metabolism
  • Yersinia* / genetics
  • Yersinia* / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Proteome

Supplementary concepts

  • Yersinia entomophaga

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand (Next Generation Bio-pesticides, grant number C10X1310), Callaghan Innovation R&D fellowship grant and received support from the Bio-Protection Research Centre.