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Formation of functional, non-amyloidogenic fibres by recombinant Bacillus subtilis TasA

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Version 2 2023-06-12, 08:52
Version 1 2023-06-09, 13:08
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 08:52 authored by Elliot Erskine, Ryan J Morris, Marieke Schor, Chris Earl, Rachel M C Gillespie, Keith Bromley, Tetyana Sukhodub, Lauren Clark, Paul Fyfe, Louise SerpellLouise Serpell, Nicola R Stanley-Wall, Cait E MacPhee
Bacterial biofilms are communities of microbial cells encased within a self-produced polymeric matrix. In the Bacillus subtilis biofilm matrix the extracellular fibres of TasA are essential. Here a recombinant expression system allows interrogation of TasA, revealing that monomeric and fibre forms of TasA have identical secondary structure, suggesting that fibrous TasA is a linear assembly of globular units. Recombinant TasA fibres form spontaneously, and share the biological activity of TasA fibres extracted from B. subtilis, whereas a TasA variant restricted to a monomeric form is inactive and subjected to extracellular proteolysis. The biophysical properties of both native and recombinant TasA fibres indicate that they are not functional amyloid-like fibres. A gel formed by TasA fibres can recover after physical shear force, suggesting that the biofilm matrix is not static and that these properties may enable B. subtilis to remodel its local environment in response to external cues. Using recombinant fibres formed by TasA orthologues we uncover species variability in the ability of heterologous fibres to cross-complement the B. subtilis tasA deletion. These findings are indicative of specificity in the biophysical requirements of the TasA fibres across different species and/or reflect the precise molecular interactions needed for biofilm matrix assembly.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Molecular Microbiology

ISSN

0950-382X

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

6

Volume

110

Page range

897-913

Department affiliated with

  • Biochemistry Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Dementia Research Group Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-05-03

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2019-05-26

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-05-03

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