1. Spatial regulation of protein A in Staphylococcus aureus.
- Author
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Zhang R, Shebes MA, Kho K, Scaffidi SJ, Meredith TC, and Yu W
- Subjects
- Cell Cycle physiology, Cell Membrane metabolism, Cell Wall metabolism, Membrane Proteins metabolism, Protein Domains, Lipopolysaccharides biosynthesis, Peptidoglycan biosynthesis, Protein Sorting Signals physiology, Staphylococcal Protein A metabolism, Staphylococcus aureus metabolism, Teichoic Acids biosynthesis
- Abstract
Surface proteins of Staphylococcus aureus play vital roles in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis. Recent work suggests that surface proteins are spatially regulated by a YSIRK/GXXS signal peptide that promotes cross-wall targeting at the mid-cell, though the mechanisms remain unclear. We previously showed that protein A (SpA), a YSIRK/GXXS protein and key staphylococcal virulence factor, mis-localizes in a ltaS mutant deficient in lipoteichoic acid (LTA) production. Here, we identified that SpA contains another cross-wall targeting signal, the LysM domain, which, in addition to the YSIRK/GXXS signal peptide, significantly enhances SpA cross-wall targeting. We show that LTA synthesis, but not LtaS, is required for SpA septal anchoring and cross-wall deposition. Interestingly, LTA is predominantly found at the peripheral cell membrane and is diminished at the septum of dividing staphylococcal cells, suggesting a restriction mechanism for SpA septal localization. Finally, we show that D-alanylation of LTA abolishes SpA cross-wall deposition by disrupting SpA distribution in the peptidoglycan layer without altering SpA septal anchoring. Our study reveals that multiple factors contribute to the spatial regulation and cross-wall targeting of SpA via different mechanisms, which coordinately ensures efficient incorporation of surface proteins into the growing peptidoglycan during the cell cycle., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Published
- 2021
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