Staphylococcus aureus Nuc2 is a functional, surface-attached extracellular nuclease. 2014

Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
Department of Microbiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America.

Staphylococcus aureus is a prominent bacterial pathogen that causes a diverse range of acute and chronic infections. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the secreted nuclease (Nuc) enzyme is a virulence factor in multiple models of infection, and in vivo expression of nuc has facilitated the development of an infection imaging approach based on Nuc-activatable probes. Interestingly, S. aureus strains encode a second nuclease (Nuc2) that has received limited attention. With the growing interest in bacterial nucleases, we sought to characterize Nuc2 in more detail through localization, expression, and biochemical studies. Fluorescence microscopy and alkaline phosphatase localization approaches using Nuc2-GFP and Nuc2-PhoA fusions, respectively, demonstrated that Nuc2 is membrane bound with the C-terminus facing the extracellular environment, indicating it is a signal-anchored Type II membrane protein. Nuc2 enzyme activity was detectable on the S. aureus cell surface using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay, and in time courses, both nuc2 transcription and enzyme activity peaked in early logarithmic growth and declined in stationary phase. Using a mouse model of S. aureus pyomyositis, Nuc2 activity was detected with activatable probes in vivo in nuc mutant strains, demonstrating that Nuc2 is produced during infections. To assess Nuc2 biochemical properties, the protein was purified and found to cleave both single- and double-stranded DNA, and it exhibited thermostability and calcium dependence, paralleling the properties of Nuc. Purified Nuc2 prevented biofilm formation in vitro and modestly decreased biomass in dispersal experiments. Altogether, our findings confirm that S. aureus encodes a second, surface-attached and functional DNase that is expressed during infections and displays similar biochemical properties to the secreted Nuc enzyme.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011994 Recombinant Proteins Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology. Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D002462 Cell Membrane The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004720 Endonucleases Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the internal bonds and thereby the formation of polynucleotides or oligonucleotides from ribo- or deoxyribonucleotide chains. EC 3.1.-. Endonuclease
D005110 Extracellular Space Interstitial space between cells, occupied by INTERSTITIAL FLUID as well as amorphous and fibrous substances. For organisms with a CELL WALL, the extracellular space includes everything outside of the CELL MEMBRANE including the PERIPLASM and the cell wall. Intercellular Space,Extracellular Spaces,Intercellular Spaces,Space, Extracellular,Space, Intercellular,Spaces, Extracellular,Spaces, Intercellular
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001426 Bacterial Proteins Proteins found in any species of bacterium. Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D013203 Staphylococcal Infections Infections with bacteria of the genus STAPHYLOCOCCUS. Infections, Staphylococcal,Staphylococcus aureus Infection,Staphylococcal Infection,Staphylococcus aureus Infections
D013211 Staphylococcus aureus Potentially pathogenic bacteria found in nasal membranes, skin, hair follicles, and perineum of warm-blooded animals. They may cause a wide range of infections and intoxications.
D017386 Sequence Homology, Amino Acid The degree of similarity between sequences of amino acids. This information is useful for the analyzing genetic relatedness of proteins and species. Homologous Sequences, Amino Acid,Amino Acid Sequence Homology,Homologs, Amino Acid Sequence,Homologs, Protein Sequence,Homology, Protein Sequence,Protein Sequence Homologs,Protein Sequence Homology,Sequence Homology, Protein,Homolog, Protein Sequence,Homologies, Protein Sequence,Protein Sequence Homolog,Protein Sequence Homologies,Sequence Homolog, Protein,Sequence Homologies, Protein,Sequence Homologs, Protein
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus

Related Publications

Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
October 1966, The Journal of biological chemistry,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
September 1977, The Journal of biological chemistry,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
January 1979, Microbiology and immunology,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
March 1970, Journal of bacteriology,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
January 1969, The Journal of biological chemistry,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
January 2010, Journal of innate immunity,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
April 1967, The Journal of biological chemistry,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
January 1974, Journal of bacteriology,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
November 1999, Gene,
Megan R Kiedrowski, and Heidi A Crosby, and Frank J Hernandez, and Cheryl L Malone, and James O McNamara, and Alexander R Horswill
April 2013, Infection and immunity,
Copied contents to your clipboard!