Cryo-EM structure of the nonameric CsgG-CsgF complex and its implications for controlling curli biogenesis in Enterobacteriaceae

PLoS Biol. 2020 Jun 19;18(6):e3000748. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000748. eCollection 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Curli play critical roles in biofilm formation, host cell adhesion, and colonization of inert surfaces in many Enterobacteriaceae. In Escherichia coli, curli biogenesis requires 7 curli-specific gene (csg) products-CsgA through G-working in concert. Of them, CsgG and CsgF are 2 outer membrane (OM)-localized components that consists of the core apparatus for secretion and assembly of curli structural subunits, CsgB and CsgA. Here, we report the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of CsgG in complex with CsgF from E. coli. The structure reveals that CsgF forms a stable complex with CsgG via a 1:1 stoichiometry by lining the upper lumen of the nonameric CsgG channel via its N-terminal 27 residues, forming a funnel-like entity plugged in the CsgG channel and creating a unique secretion channel with 2 constriction regions, consistent with the recently reported structure of the CsgG-CsgF complex. Functional studies indicate that export of CsgF to the cell surface requires the CsgG channel, and CsgF not only functions as an adaptor that bridges CsgB with CsgG but also may play important roles in controlling the rates of translocation and/or polymerization for curli structural subunits. Importantly, we found that a series of CsgF-derived peptides are able to efficiently inhibit curli production to E. coli when administrated exogenously, highlighting a potential strategy to interfere biofilm formation in E. coli strains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amyloid / ultrastructure*
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / ultrastructure*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / ultrastructure*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Multiprotein Complexes / ultrastructure*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization*

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Peptides

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology (2019YFA0707001 and 2016YFA0500404 to Y.H.), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB37020201 to Y.H.), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31625009 to Y.H.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.