Structure of dual-BON domain protein DolP identifies phospholipid binding as a new mechanism for protein localization
Abstract
The Gram-negative outer membrane envelops the bacterium and functions as a permeability barrier against antibiotics, detergents and environmental stresses. Some virulence factors serve to maintain the integrity of the outer membrane, including DolP (formerly YraP) a protein of unresolved structure and function. Here we reveal DolP is a lipoprotein functionally conserved among Gram-negative bacteria and that loss of DolP increases membrane fluidity. We present the NMR solution structure for Escherichia coli DolP, which is composed of two BON domains that form an interconnected opposing pair. The C-terminal BON domain binds anionic phospholipids through an extensive membrane:protein interface. This interaction is essential for DolP function and is required for sub-cellular localization of the protein to the cell division site, providing evidence of subcellular localization of these phospholipids within the outer membrane. The structure of DolP provides a new target for developing therapies that disrupt the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope.
Data availability
Structural data have been deposited in PDB under the accession code 7A2D and the BMRB 19760.All data generated or analysed during this study are included in the manuscript and supporting files. We have supplied original images for Figures 1, 4, S1, S5, S9, and S10 in Additional Data File 1. We have also supplied raw data for Figure S10 in Additional Data File 2.
Article and author information
Author details
Funding
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M00810X/1)
- Michael Overduin
- Ian R Henderson
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/L00335X/1)
- Michael Overduin
- Ian R Henderson
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/P009840/1)
- Timothy J Knowles
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RCP-12-002C)
- Michael Overduin
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Reviewing Editor
- Sonja V Albers, University of Freiburg, Germany
Version history
- Received: August 31, 2020
- Accepted: December 11, 2020
- Accepted Manuscript published: December 14, 2020 (version 1)
- Version of Record published: January 13, 2021 (version 2)
Copyright
© 2020, Bryant et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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