Spatial organization of Clostridium difficile S-layer biogenesis

Sci Rep. 2020 Aug 24;10(1):14089. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71059-x.

Abstract

Surface layers (S-layers) are protective protein coats which form around all archaea and most bacterial cells. Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive bacterium with an S-layer covering its peptidoglycan cell wall. The S-layer in C. difficile is constructed mainly of S-layer protein A (SlpA), which is a key virulence factor and an absolute requirement for disease. S-layer biogenesis is a complex multi-step process, disruption of which has severe consequences for the bacterium. We examined the subcellular localization of SlpA secretion and S-layer growth; observing formation of S-layer at specific sites that coincide with cell wall synthesis, while the secretion of SlpA from the cell is relatively delocalized. We conclude that this delocalized secretion of SlpA leads to a pool of precursor in the cell wall which is available to repair openings in the S-layer formed during cell growth or following damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Wall / metabolism*
  • Clostridioides difficile / pathogenicity*
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Peptidoglycan / metabolism
  • Protein Transport / physiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Peptidoglycan
  • S-layer proteins
  • surface layer protein A, Bacteria
  • Cwp84 protein, Clostridium difficile
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases