Proteomic response of Bacillus subtilis to lantibiotics reflects differences in interaction with the cytoplasmic membrane

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2012 Nov;56(11):5749-57. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01380-12. Epub 2012 Aug 27.

Abstract

Mersacidin, gallidermin, and nisin are lantibiotics, antimicrobial peptides containing lanthionine. They show potent antibacterial activity. All three interfere with cell wall biosynthesis by binding lipid II, but they display different levels of interaction with the cytoplasmic membrane. On one end of the spectrum, mersacidin interferes with cell wall biosynthesis by binding lipid II without integrating into bacterial membranes. On the other end of the spectrum, nisin readily integrates into membranes, where it forms large pores. It destroys the membrane potential and causes leakage of nutrients and ions. Gallidermin, in an intermediate position, also readily integrates into membranes. However, pore formation occurs only in some bacteria and depends on membrane composition. In this study, we investigated the impact of nisin, gallidermin, and mersacidin on cell wall integrity, membrane pore formation, and membrane depolarization in Bacillus subtilis. The impact of the lantibiotics on the cell envelope was correlated to the proteomic response they elicit in B. subtilis. By drawing on a proteomic response library, including other envelope-targeting antibiotics such as bacitracin, vancomycin, gramicidin S, or valinomycin, YtrE could be identified as the most reliable marker protein for interfering with membrane-bound steps of cell wall biosynthesis. NadE and PspA were identified as markers for antibiotics interacting with the cytoplasmic membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis / drug effects*
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Bacillus subtilis / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Bacterial Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacteriocins / pharmacology*
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects*
  • Cell Membrane / genetics
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Wall / drug effects*
  • Cell Wall / genetics
  • Cell Wall / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Nisin / pharmacology*
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Potassium / metabolism
  • Proteome / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacteriocins
  • Biomarkers
  • Peptides
  • Proteome
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid
  • muramyl-NAc-(pentapeptide)pyrophosphoryl-undecaprenol
  • gallidermin
  • mersacidin
  • Nisin
  • nisin A
  • Potassium