O-mycoloylated proteins from Corynebacterium: an unprecedented post-translational modification in bacteria

J Biol Chem. 2010 Jul 16;285(29):21908-12. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C110.133033. Epub 2010 May 27.

Abstract

O-acylation of proteins was known only in a few eukaryotic proteins but never in bacteria. We demonstrate, using a combination of protein chemistry and mass spectrometry, the occurrence of three O-acylated polypeptides in Corynebacterium glutamicum, PorA, PorH, and an unknown small protein. The three polypeptides are O-substituted by mycolic acids, long chain alpha-alkyl and beta-hydroxy fatty acids specifically produced by members of the Corynebacterineae suborder. To date these acids were described only as esterifying trehalose and arabinogalactan, and less frequently glycerol, important components of the highly impermeable outer barrier of Corynebacterineae. We show that the post-translational mycoloylation of PorA occurs at Ser-15 and is necessary for the pore-forming activity of C. glutamicum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Corynebacterium / metabolism*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycolic Acids / chemistry
  • Mycolic Acids / metabolism*
  • Porins / chemistry
  • Porins / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Mycolic Acids
  • PorA protein, Corynebacterium glutamicum
  • Porins