Production of the cannibalism toxin SDP is a multistep process that requires SdpA and SdpB

Tiara G Pérez Morales; Theresa D Ho; Wei-Ting Liu; Pieter C Dorrestein; Craig D Ellermeier

doi:10.1128/JB.00407-13

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Production of the cannibalism toxin SDP is a multistep process that requires SdpA and SdpB

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Production of the cannibalism toxin SDP is a multistep process that requires SdpA and SdpB

Tiara G Pérez Morales, Theresa D Ho, Wei-Ting Liu, Pieter C Dorrestein and Craig D Ellermeier

Journal of bacteriology, Vol.195(14), pp.3244-3251

07/2013

DOI: 10.1128/JB.00407-13

PMCID: PMC3697648

PMID: 23687264

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Abstract

During the early stages of sporulation, a subpopulation of Bacillus subtilis cells secrete toxins that kill their genetically identical siblings in a process termed cannibalism. One of these toxins is encoded by the sdpC gene of the sdpABC operon. The active form of the SDP toxin is a 42-amino-acid peptide with a disulfide bond which is processed from an internal fragment of pro-SdpC. The factors required for the processing of pro-SdpC into mature SDP are not known. We provide evidence that pro-SdpC is secreted via the general secretory pathway and that signal peptide cleavage is a required step in the production of SDP. We also demonstrate that SdpAB are essential to produce mature SDP, which has toxin activity. Our data indicate that SdpAB are not required for secretion, translation, or stability of SdpC. Thus, SdpAB may participate in a posttranslation step in the production of SDP. The mature form of the SDP toxin contains a disulfide bond. Our data indicate that while the disulfide bond does increase activity of SDP, it is not essential for SDP activity. We demonstrate that the disulfide bond is formed independently of SdpAB. Taken together, our data suggest that SDP production is a multistep process and that SdpAB are required for SDP production likely by controlling, directly or indirectly, cleavage of SDP from the pro-SdpC precursor.

Bacterial Toxins - metabolism

Bacterial Proteins - genetics

Bacterial Proteins - metabolism

Bacterial Toxins - genetics

Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Bacillus subtilis - metabolism

Bacillus subtilis - genetics

Details

Title: Subtitle: Production of the cannibalism toxin SDP is a multistep process that requires SdpA and SdpB
Creators: Tiara G Pérez Morales - Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Theresa D Ho
Wei-Ting Liu
Pieter C Dorrestein
Craig D Ellermeier
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of bacteriology, Vol.195(14), pp.3244-3251
DOI: 10.1128/JB.00407-13
PMID: 23687264
PMCID: PMC3697648
ISSN: 0021-9193
eISSN: 1098-5530
Grant note: R01 AI087834 / NIAID NIH HHS R01AI087834 / NIAID NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 07/2013
Academic Unit: Microbiology and Immunology
Record Identifier: 9984083890302771

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