System specificity of the TpsB transporters of coexpressed two-partner secretion systems of Neisseria meningitidis

J Bacteriol. 2013 Feb;195(4):788-97. doi: 10.1128/JB.01355-12. Epub 2012 Dec 7.

Abstract

The two-partner secretion (TPS) systems of Gram-negative bacteria consist of a large secreted exoprotein (TpsA) and a transporter protein (TpsB) located in the outer membrane. TpsA targets TpsB for transport across the membrane via its ∼30-kDa TPS domain located at its N terminus, and this domain is also the minimal secretory unit. Neisseria meningitidis genomes encode up to five TpsAs and two TpsBs. Sequence alignments of TPS domains suggested that these are organized into three systems, while there are two TpsBs, which raised questions on their system specificity. We show here that the TpsB2 transporter of Neisseria meningitidis is able to secrete all types of TPS domains encoded in N. meningitidis and the related species Neisseria lactamica but not domains of Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In contrast, the TpsB1 transporter seemed to be specific for its cognate N. meningitidis system and did not secrete the TPS domains of other meningococcal systems. However, TpsB1 did secrete the TPS2b domain of N. lactamica, which is related to the meningococcal TPS2 domains. Apparently, the secretion depends on specific sequences within the TPS domain rather than the overall TPS domain structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Computer Simulation
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KC182755
  • GENBANK/KC182756