Novel Colicin F[gamma] of Yersinia frederiksenii Inhibits Pathogenic Yersinia Strains via YiuR-Mediated Reception, TonB Import, and Cell Membrane Pore Formation

• Published in: Journal of bacteriology Vol. 194; no. 8; p. 1950
• Main Authors: Bosák, Juraj, Laiblova, Petra, Smarda, Jan, Dedicova, Daniela, Smajs, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington American Society for Microbiology 01-04-2012
• Subjects: Amino acids; Bacteriology; E coli; Membranes; Mutagenesis; Proteins
• ISSN: 0021-9193; 1098-5530

A novel colicin type, designated colicin F..., was found to be encoded and produced by the strain Yersinia frederiksenii Y27601. Colicin F... was active against both pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of the genus Yersinia. Plasmid YF27601 (5,574 bp) of Y. frederiksenii Y27601 was completely sequenced. The colicin FY activity gene (cfyA) and the colicin FY immunity gene (cfyI) were identified. The deduced amino acid sequence of colicin F... was very similar in its C-terminal pore-forming domain to colicin Ib (69% identity in the last 178 amino acid residues), indicating pore forming as its lethal mode of action. Transposon mutagenesis of the colicin F...-susceptible strain Yersinia kristensenii Y276 revealed the yiuR gene (ykris001_4440), which encodes the YiuR outer membrane protein with unknown function, as the colicin F... receptor molecule. Introduction of the yiuR gene into the colicin F...-resistant strain Y. kristensenii Y104 restored its susceptibility to colicin F... In contrast, the colicin F...-resistant strain Escherichia coli TOP10F' acquired susceptibility to colicin F... only when both the yiuR and tonB genes from Y. kristensenii Y276 were introduced. Similarities between colicins F... and Ib, similarities between the Cir and YiuR receptors, and the detected partial cross-immunity of colicin FY and colicin Ib producers suggest a common evolutionary origin of the colicin F...-YiuR and colicin Ib-Cir systems. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)