An Escherichia coli undecaprenyl-pyrophosphate phosphatase implicated in undecaprenyl phosphate recycling

Undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P) is a universal lipid carrier of glycan biosynthetic intermediates for carbohydrate polymers that are exported to the bacterial cell envelope. Und-P arises from the dephosphorylation of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (Und-PP) molecules produced by de novo synthesis and also from the recycling of released Und-PP after the transfer of the glycan component to other acceptor molecules. The latter reactions take place at the periplasmic side of the plasma membrane, while cytoplasmic enzymes catalyse the de novo synthesis. Four Und-PP pyrophosphatases were recently identified in Escherichia coli. One of these, UppP (formerly BacA), accounts for 75 % of the total cellular Und-PP pyrophosphatase activity and has been suggested to participate in the Und-P de novo synthesis pathway. Unlike UppP, the other three pyrophosphatases (YbjG, YeiU and PgpB) have a typical acid phosphatase motif also found in eukaryotic dolichyl-pyrophosphate-recycling pyrophosphatases. This study shows that double and triple deletion mutants in the genes uppP and ybjG, and uppP, ybjG and yeiU, respectively, are supersensitive to the Und-P de novo biosynthesis inhibitor fosmidomycin. In contrast, single or combined deletions including pgpB have no effect on fosmidomycin supersensitivity. Experimental evidence is also presented that the acid phosphatase motifs of YbjG and YeiU face the periplasmic space. Furthermore, the quadruple deletion mutant DeltauppP-DeltaybjG-DeltayeiU-DeltawaaL has a growth defect and abnormal cell morphology, suggesting that accumulation of unprocessed Und-PP-linked O antigen polysaccharides is toxic for these cells. Together, the results support the notion that YbjG, and to a lesser extent YeiU, exert their enzymic activity on the periplasmic side of the plasma membrane and are implicated in the recycling of periplasmic Und-PP molecules.

The effect of simvastatin on bone formation and ceramic resorption in a peri-implant defect model

Experimental use of statins as stimulators of bone formation suggests they may have widespread applicability in the field of orthopaedics. With their combined effects on osteoblasts and osteoclasts, statins have the potential to enhance resorption of synthetic materials and improve bone ingrowth. In this study, the effect of oral and local administration of simvastatin to a 0 tricalcium phosphate (beta TCP)-filled defect around an implant was compared with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP2). On hundred and sixty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to treatment groups: local application of 0.1, 0.9 or 1.7 mg of simvastatin, oral simvastatin at 5, 10 or 50 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 20 days, local delivery of I or 10 mu g of rhBMP2, or control. At 6 weeks rhBMP2 increased serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b levels and reduced PTCP area fraction, particle size and number compared with control, suggesting increased osteoclast activity. There was reduced stiffness and increased mechanical strength with this treatment. Local simvastatin resulted in a decreased mineral apposition rate at 6 weeks and increased fibrous area fraction, PTCP area fraction, particle size and number at 26 weeks. Oral simvastatin had no effect compared with control. Local application of rhBMP2 increased resorption and improved mechanical strength whereas simvastatin was detrimental to healing. Oral simvastatin was ineffective at promoting either ceramic resorption or bone formation. The effect of statins on the repair of bone defects with graft substitute materials is influenced by its bioavailability. Thus, further studies on the optimal delivery system are needed. (C) 2007 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sorting out mix-ups. The provenance of tissue sections may be confirmed by PCR using microsatellite markers

Standard identification systems usually ensure that biopsy material is correctly associated with a given patient. Sometimes, as when a tumor is unexpectedly found, the provenance (proof of origin) of a tissue sample may be questioned; the tissue may have been mislabelled or contaminated with tissue from another patient. Techniques used to confirm tissue provenance include comparing either tissue markers of gender or ABO blood groups; however, these methods have weak confirmatory power. Recently, the use of DNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques has been reported. Paired, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, 10 microns tissue sections were selected from 17 patients, 8 of whom had carcinoma, either by dividing a biopsy section, using sequential biopsies, or sequential biopsy and autopsy tissue. The resulting 36 samples were coded before analysis. In two additional cases, 1-mm fragments of tumor from one patient were included in the tissue block of benign tissue from another patient, the tumor fragments were identified on hematoxylin-and-eosin-stained sections, separately scraped off the glass slide, and analyzed. Tissue from two clinical cases, one of suspected mislabelling and one with a suspected carry-over of malignant tissue were also investigated. Short tandem repeat sequences (STR) or microsatellites, are 2-5 base pair repeats that vary in their repeat number between individuals. This variation (polymorphism) can be assessed using a PCR. A panel of markers of 3 STRs; ACPP, INT 2, and CYP 19 (on chromosomes 3, 11, and 15, respectively) were used. DNA was isolated from the samples after xylene deparaffinization and proteinase digestion, and was then amplified in a radioactive PCR using primers selected to give a product size ranging from 136-178 bases. Amplified products were electrophoresed on denaturing polyacrylamide gels, dried, and autoradiographed. DNA segments were successfully extracted from all samples but one, which was fixed in Bouin's fluid. By comparing allele sizes from the panel, all tissue pairs (other than the Bouin's pair) were successfully matched, the 1-mm tumor fragments were correctly assigned, and the two clinical problems were solved. STRs are highly informative and robust markers, well suited to PCR of small portions of tissue sections, and are an effective method to confirm the provenance of benign and malignant biopsy and autopsy material.

Membrane Topology and Identification of Critical Amino Acid Residues in the Wzx O-Antigen Translocase from Escherichia coli O157:H4

Wzx belongs to a family of membrane proteins involved in the translocation of isoprenoid lipid-linked glycans, which is loosely related to members of the major facilitator superfamily. Despite Wzx homologs performing a conserved function, it has been difficult to pinpoint specific motifs of functional significance in their amino acid sequences. Here, we elucidate the topology of the Escherichia coli O157 Wzx (Wzx(EcO157)) by a combination of bioinformatics and substituted cysteine scanning mutagenesis, as well as targeted deletion-fusions to green fluorescent protein and alkaline phosphatase. We conclude that Wzx(EcO157) consists of 12 transmembrane (TM) helices and six periplasmic and five cytosolic loops, with N and C termini facing the cytoplasm. Four TM helices (II, IV, X, and XI) contain polar residues (aspartic acid or lysine), and they may form part of a relatively hydrophilic core. Thirty-five amino acid replacements to alanine or serine were targeted to five native cysteines and most of the aspartic acid, arginine, and lysine residues. From these, only replacements of aspartic acid-85, aspartic acid-326, arginine-298, and lysine-419 resulted in a protein unable to support O-antigen production. Aspartic acid-85 and lysine-419 are located in TM helices II and XI, while arginine-298 and aspartic acid-326 are located in periplasmic and cytosolic loops 4, respectively. Further analysis revealed that the charge at these positions is required for Wzx function since conservative substitutions maintaining the same charge polarity resulted in a functional protein, whereas those reversing or eliminating polarity abolished function. We propose that the functional requirement of charged residues at both sides of the membrane and in two TM helices could be important to allow the passage of the Und-PP-linked saccharide substrate across the membrane.

Balteatide: A Novel Antimicrobial Decapeptide from the Skin Secretion of the Purple-Sided Leaf Frog, Phyllomedusa baltea

The skin secretions of Neotropical phyllomedusine leaf frogs have proven to be a rich source of biologically-active peptides, including antimicrobials. The major families of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) reported are the dermaseptins and phylloseptins and the minor families, the dermatoxins, phylloxins, plasticins, distinctins and the medusins. Here, we report a novel AMP of 10 amino acid residues (LRPAILVRIKamide), named balteatide, from the skin secretion of wild Peruvian purple-sided leaf frogs, Phyllomedusa baltea. Balteatide was found to exhibit a 90% sequence identity with sauvatide, a potent myotropic peptide from the skin secretion of Phyllomedusa sauvagei. However, despite both peptides exhibiting only a single amino acid difference (I/T at position 9), sauvatide is devoid of antimicrobial activity and balteatide is devoid of myotropic activity. Balteatide was found to have differential activity against the Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, the Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli and the yeast, Candida albicans, and unusually for phyllomedusine frog skin AMPs, was most potent (MIC 32 mg/L) against the yeast. Balteatide was also devoid of haemolytic activity up to concentrations of 512 mg/L. Phyllomedusine frog skin secretions thus continue to provide novel AMPs, some of which may provide templates for the rational design of new classes of anti-infective therapeutics.