The accessory Sec system (SecY2A2) in Streptococcus pneumoniae is involved in export of pneumolysin toxin, adhesion and biofilm formation

Bandara, M. , Skehel, J. M., Kadioglu, A., Collinson, I., Nobbs, A. H., Blocker, A. J. and Jenkinson, H. F. (2017) The accessory Sec system (SecY2A2) in Streptococcus pneumoniae is involved in export of pneumolysin toxin, adhesion and biofilm formation. Microbes and Infection, 19(7-8), pp. 402-412. (doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.04.003) (PMID:28456649) (PMCID:PMC5526788)

Abstract

In Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4, genes encoding a SecY2A2 accessory Sec system are present within a locus encoding a serine-rich repeat surface protein PsrP. Mutant strains deleted in secA2 or psrP were deficient in biofilm formation, while the ΔsecA2 mutant was reduced in binding to airway epithelial cells. Cell wall protein (CWP) fractions from the ΔsecA2 mutant, but not from the ΔpsrP mutant, were reduced in haemolytic (pneumolysin) activity. Contact-dependent pneumolysin (Ply) activity of wild type TIGR4 cells was ten-fold greater than that of ΔsecA2 mutant cells suggesting that Ply was not active at the ΔsecA2 cell surface. Ply protein was found to be present in the CWP fraction from the ΔsecA2 mutant, but showed aberrant electrophoretic migration indicative of protein modification. Proteomic analyses led to the discovery that the ΔsecA2 mutant CWP fraction was deficient in two glycosidases as well as other enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Taken collectively the results suggest that positioning of Ply into the cell wall compartment in active form, together with glycosyl hydrolases and adhesins, requires a functional accessory Sec system.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by a Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Grant 2011-G1001606 to M.B.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Jayaweera Bandara, Dr Mikaila
• Authors: Bandara, M., Skehel, J. M., Kadioglu, A., Collinson, I., Nobbs, A. H., Blocker, A. J., and Jenkinson, H. F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Microbes and Infection
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1286-4579
• ISSN (Online): 1769-714X
• Published Online: 27 April 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Microbes and Infection 19(7-8): 402-412
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License