Project Details
Biological role of outer membrane vesicle-associated small proteins of the phytopathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Applicant
Dr. Meriyem Aktas, Ph.D.
Subject Area
Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
Term
from 2017 to 2022
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 379643560
Bacterial extracellular membrane vesicles are considered as novel players in various cell communication systems. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are released from the outer membrane of many Gram-negative bacteria. The cargo of these extracellular nanostructures comprises distinct biomolecules such as small compounds, genetic material, proteins and peptides, which are involved in intra- and inter-species communication and pathogenicity.We have recently demonstrated that the phytopathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the causative agent of crown gall disease, releases OMVs into the culture supernatant during growth. A proteome study of the OMV fractions obtained under different growth conditions identified about 60 proteins including the two conserved small proteins Atu2614 and Atu8019 with unknown functions. Both proteins contain a predicted N-terminal signal peptidase II sequence with a C-terminal consensus lipobox, a hallmark of lipoproteins. The mature form of Atu2614 is expected to contain 67 aa and comprises a highly hydrophobic domain with several extended glycine-zipper motifs commonly found in pore-forming membrane proteins. Atu8019 (mature size: 32 aa) shares sequence similarities to entericidin antidote/toxin peptides.In this proposal we aim at elucidating the biological roles of these two OMV-associated small proteins in Agrobacterium by combining genetic and biochemical approaches. With these studies we expect to obtain new valuable insights into the physiological relevance of OMV-associated small lipoproteins in bacteria.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes