Maltose Transport System Research Articles

Maltose-Derivatized Fluorescence Turn-On Imaging Probe for Bacteria Detection.

We report a maltose-derivatized fluorescence turn-on imaging probe, Mal-Cz, to detect E. coli and Staphylococci. The fluorescence turn-on is achieved through an intramolecular C-H insertion reaction of the perfluoroaryl azide-functionalized carbazole to give a fluorescent product. Confocal fluorescence microscopy confirmed the successful uptake of Mal-Cz by E. coli and Staphylococci upon photoactivation. The Mal-Cz probe could selectively detect E. coli and S. epidermidis in the presence of P. aeruginosa and M. smegmatis without interference from these bacteria. Both the photoactivation and bacteria detection can be accomplished using a hand-held UV lamp at 365 nm, with the limit of detection of 103 CFU/mL by the naked eye. Mal-Cz could also be used to detect E. coli and S. epidermidis spiked in milk by the naked eye under a hand-held UV lamp. The uptake of Mal-Cz requires metabolically active bacteria: the uptake was reduced in stationary phase bacteria and was diminished in bacteria that were killed by heating or treating with antibiotics or sodium azide. The uptake decreased with increasing concentration of added free maltose, indicating that Mal-Cz hijacked the maltose uptake pathways. In E. coli, the maltose transport systems, including maltoporin LamB, maltose binding protein MBP, and the maltose ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter MalFGK2, are all critical for the transport of Mal-Cz. The uptake was diminished in the deletion mutants ΔLamB, ΔMalE, ΔMalF, and ΔMalK.

Identification of functionally key residues in maltose transporter with an elastic network model-based thermodynamic method

ABSTRACTPeriplasmic binding protein-dependent maltose transport system (MBP-MalFGK2) of Escherichia coli, an important member of the Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter superfamily, is in charge of the transportation of maltoses across cellular membrane. Studies have shown that this transport processes are activated by the binding of maltose and are accompanied by large-scale cooperative movements between different domains which are mediated by a network of important residues related to signal transduction and allosteric regulation. In this paper, the functionally crucial residues and long-range allosteric pathway of the regulation of the system by substrate were identified by utilising a coarse-grained thermodynamic method proposed by our group. The residues whose perturbations markedly change the binding free energy between maltoses and MBP-MalFGK2 were considered to be key residues. In result, the key residues in 62 clusters distributed in different subdomains were identified successfully, and the results from our calculation are highly consistent with experimental and theoretical observations. Furthermore, we explored the long-range cooperation within the transporter. These studies will help us better understand the physical mechanism of the effects of the maltose on MBP-MalFGK2 by long-range allosteric modulation.

Allele mining in Indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) for ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene family for aluminum tolerance

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major factor limiting crop potentials in acidic soils. Phenotypic as well as allelic variations in nucleotide sequence within STAR2 gene in different rice cultivars was investigated. On the basis of morphological screening, six rice cultivars, viz., ‘Subhadra’, ‘Sankar’, ‘Rudra’, ‘Udaygiri’, ‘Lalitagiri’ and ‘Ghanteshwari’ showed tolerance to aluminum and other four cultivars were susceptible to Al. Both STAR1 (for sensitive to Al rhizotoxicity1) and STAR2 genes were identified in Indica rice demonstrating the Al toxicity/tolerance. The present study indicate that STAR2 encodes a transmembrane domain of a bacterial-type ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter methyltransferaseI (metI) like protein, sulfate/molybdate abc transporter/permease (transport protein), maltose transport system permease protein malf (hydrolase/transport protein) present in 13-α-helices and 14-coils, which signifies the role in Al tolerance. Based on phenotypic and genotypic observations, the cultivars like ‘Lalat’ and ‘Jyotirmayee’ were found susceptible to aluminum. In summary, both Oryzasativa, indica group and Oryzasativa, japonica group were genotypically similar and coevolved to confer the tolerance against aluminum stress, which helps in crop improvement programme.

Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein (MBP) directly induces mouse Th1 activation through upregulating TLR2 and downregulating TLR4 expressions

Maltose-binding protein (MBP), a component of the maltose transport system of Escherichia coli, has been commonly thought to have minimal bioactivity. Our previous studies demonstrated that MBP could significantly enhance Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG)-induced T helper 1 (Th1) cell activation in mice. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of MBP on mouse T cells and found that MBP promoted the proliferation and IFN-γ production of CD4+ T cells, suggesting that MBP directly induces Th1 activation. To explore the mechanism of Th1 activation, the expression of Toll-like receptor 2/4 (TLR2/4) on purified mouse CD4+ T cells was detected. The results showed that MBP up-regulated TLR2 while down-regulated TLR4 expression, accompanied by a clear increase in MyD88 expression and IκB phosphorylation. Notably, the addition of anti-TLR2 antibody abrogated the MBP-induced CD4+ T cells proliferation, IFN-γ secretion and MyD88 expression, whereas the addition of anti-TLR4 antibody exhibited a contradictive effect. Besides, the block of either TLR2 or TLR4 both reduced IκB phosphorylation. These results above suggest that TLR2-mediated MyD88-dependent pathway contributes to MBP-induced Th1 activation, while TLR4 appears to counteract this effect via MyD88-independent pathway.

Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein activates mouse peritoneal macrophages and induces M1 polarization via TLR2/4 in vivo and in vitro.

Maltose-binding protein (MBP) is a component of the maltose transport system of Escherichia coli. Our previous study found that MBP combined with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) increases the percentage of activated macrophages in the spleen and the pinocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in vivo. However, the effect of MBP alone on macrophages remains unclear. In the present study, the results showed that MBP enhanced LPS-stimulated macrophage activity in vivo. Subsequently, we investigated the regulatory effect of MBP on mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro and the possible underlying mechanism. The results showed that MBP directly promoted macrophage phagocytic activity and increased the production of NO, IL-1β and IL-6. Notably, macrophage phenotypic analysis showed that MBP significantly increased iNOS, IL-12p70 and CD16/32. In contrast, MBP decreased the secretion of IL-10 and slightly decreased Arg-1 mRNA and CD206 protein expression. These results suggested that MBP activated macrophages and polarized them into M1 macrophages. Further study found that MBP directly bound to macrophages and upregulated TLR2 mRNA expression. This process was accompanied by a clear increase in MyD88 expression and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and IκB-α, but these effects were largely abrogated by pretreatment with anti-TLR2 or anti-TLR4 antibodies. The effects of MBP on macrophage NO production were also partially inhibited by anti-TLR2 and/or anti-TLR4 antibodies. Furthermore, the effect of MBP on IL-12 and IL-10 secretion was largely influenced by the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC and the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. These results suggest that MBP directly activates macrophages and induces M1 polarization through a process that may involve TLR2 and TLR4.

Abstract P6-09-04: M2 macrophages induced by mammary carcinoma are switched to M1 macrophages by Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein

Abstract Background: The maltose-binding protein (MBP) is a component of the maltose transport system in the Escherichia coli. It is used to increase the stability and solubility of proteins in bacterial protein expression systems and is increasingly being used to facilitate the production and delivery of subunit vaccine. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are alternatively activated macrophages (M2) within the tumor microenvironment, which directly promoting tumor cell growth, extracellular matrix remodeling, and angiogenesis. Our previous studies revealed that MBP could nonspecifically induce Th1 cells activation and classically activate macrophages (M1). In the present study, we investigated the effect of MBP on re-polarization of mammary carcinoma induced M2 macrophage to pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, in order to develop a novel antitumor immune adjuvant. Methods: We mimicked a tumor microenvironment by in vitro coculturing RAW264.7 macrophages with conditioned media (CM) from two different kinds of mammary carcinoma cell lines EMT6 and 4T1. In the absence or presence of MBP, the mammary carcinoma CM-induced macrophages were tested for their polarization types. The production of IL-12 and IL-10 were assessed by ELISA, the mRNA expression of iNOS and Arg-1 were detected by RT-PCR, and the expression of CD206 and CD16/32 were determined by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. All of these important factors were taken as criteria for M1 and M2 polarization. The expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4 on the surface of RAW264.7 cells were determined by flow cytometry. By the addition of TLR2 or TLR4 blocking antibody, the ratio of IL-12 and IL-10 production was used to distinguish M1 and M2 macrophages in the absence or presence of MBP. For the investigation of the signal transduction pathways, the expression level of MyD88 and the phosphorylation levels of IκB-α, NF-κB, PI3K, Akt, MAPKs, JNK were analyzed by western blotting. Results: The mammary carcinoma CM induced the RAW264.7 macrophage to polarize to M2 macrophages. In the mammary carcinoma CM-induced macrophages, the expression level of CD206 was increased, the ratio of IL-12/IL-10 production was decreased, and the gene expression of Arg-1 was increased. In the presence of MBP, M2 polarization was attenuated as shown by the increase of CD16/32 and iNOS, the decrease of CD206 and Arg-1, an altered ratio of IL-12/IL-10, and accompanied with the up-regulation of TLR2 and TLR4 expressions. The effect of MBP on mammary carcinoma CM-induced macrophages was blocked by anti-TLR2 antibody, but not anti-TLR4 antibody or TLR4 inhibitor polymyxin B. Further studies confirmed that the effects of MBP on switching mammary carcinoma induced M2 macrophages to M1 depended on the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Conclusion: Our results provide new insights into the modulation of TAM polarization. MBP can be used as a novel antitumor adjuvant, which may stimulate a tumor-rejecting environment by switching M2 macrophages to classical pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages through TLR2 signaling and a combination of transcription factors including NK-κB and MAPKs. Accordingly, MBP may have the therapeutic potential in mammary carcinoma. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P6-09-04.

Mapping the Conformational Stability of Maltose Binding Protein at the Residue Scale Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Hydrogen Exchange Experiments

Being able to differentiate local fluctuations from global folding-unfolding dynamics of a protein is of major interest for improving our understanding of structure-function determinants. The maltose binding protein (MBP), a protein that belongs to the maltose transport system, has a structure composed of two globular domains separated by a rigid-body "hinge bending". Here we determined, by using hydrogen exchange (HX) nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, the apparent stabilization free energies of 101 residues of MBP bound to β-cyclodextrin (MBP-βCD) under native conditions. We observed that the last helix of MBP (helix α14) has a lower protection factor than the rest of the protein. Further, HX experiments were performed using guanidine hydrochloride under subdenaturing conditions to discriminate between local fluctuations and global unfolding events and to determine the MBP-βCD energy landscape. The results show that helix α4 and a part of helices α5 and α6 are clearly grouped into a subdenaturing folding unit and represent a partially folded intermediate under native conditions. In addition, we observed that amide protons located in the hinge between the two globular domains share similar ΔG(gu)(app) and m values and should unfold simultaneously. These observations provide new points of view for improving our understanding of the thermodynamic stability and the mechanisms that drive folding-unfolding dynamics of proteins.

Competition between pentoses and glucose during uptake and catabolism in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BackgroundIn mixed sugar fermentations with recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains able to ferment D-xylose and L-arabinose the pentose sugars are normally only utilized after depletion of D-glucose. This has been attributed to competitive inhibition of pentose uptake by D-glucose as pentose sugars are taken up into yeast cells by individual members of the yeast hexose transporter family. We wanted to investigate whether D-glucose inhibits pentose utilization only by blocking its uptake or also by interfering with its further metabolism.ResultsTo distinguish between inhibitory effects of D-glucose on pentose uptake and pentose catabolism, maltose was used as an alternative carbon source in maltose-pentose co-consumption experiments. Maltose is taken up by a specific maltose transport system and hydrolyzed only intracellularly into two D-glucose molecules. Pentose consumption decreased by about 20 - 30% during the simultaneous utilization of maltose indicating that hexose catabolism can impede pentose utilization. To test whether intracellular D-glucose might impair pentose utilization, hexo-/glucokinase deletion mutants were constructed. Those mutants are known to accumulate intracellular D-glucose when incubated with maltose. However, pentose utilization was not effected in the presence of maltose. Addition of increasing concentrations of D-glucose to the hexo-/glucokinase mutants finally completely blocked D-xylose as well as L-arabinose consumption, indicating a pronounced inhibitory effect of D-glucose on pentose uptake. Nevertheless, constitutive overexpression of pentose-transporting hexose transporters like Hxt7 and Gal2 could improve pentose consumption in the presence of D-glucose.ConclusionOur results confirm that D-glucose impairs the simultaneous utilization of pentoses mainly due to inhibition of pentose uptake. Whereas intracellular D-glucose does not seem to have an inhibitory effect on pentose utilization, further catabolism of D-glucose can also impede pentose utilization. Nevertheless, the results suggest that co-fermentation of pentoses in the presence of D-glucose can significantly be improved by the overexpression of pentose transporters, especially if they are not inhibited by D-glucose.

Binding Protein-Dependent Uptake of Maltose into Cells via an ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter.

Maltose and maltodextrins are actively transported across the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli and Salmonella by a periplasmic binding protein (BP)- dependent transport system. Since 1996, there have been many advances in the understanding of the structure and mechanism of the maltose transporter, in the assembly of the membrane-associated transporter complex, and in the mechanism of regulation of transport both at the DNA and the protein level. The transporter has been studied in detergent and reconstituted in liposome vesicles, and while many features, including the ability of maltose-binding protein (MBP) to stimulate ATPase activity, are retained in detergent, it has been noted that the basal ATPase activity of the transporter is elevated in detergent compared with liposomes. This review focuses on these recent developments, which have culminated in a high resolution structure of MBP in a complex with the MalFGK2 transporter. While this review focuses on the maltose system, complementary work has been carried out on many different ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, all of which has contributed in important ways to the understanding of the maltose transport system. The regulation of the maltose transport system, at the DNA level, is implemented by the synergistic action of MalT and cAMP/CAP complex and, at the protein level, by interactions of MalK with unphosphorylated EIIAglc, a signal-transducing component of the phosphoenolpyruvate-glucose phosphotransferase system.

Synergistic antitumor effects of Escherichia coli maltose binding protein and Bacillus Calmette–Guerin in a mouse lung carcinoma model

Maltose binding protein (MBP) is a component of the maltose transport system in the periplasm of Escherichia coli. It is commonly believed that MBP has minimal effects on the bioactivity, thus, it is widely used in the purification of recombinant proteins. Here, we found that the combined immunization with MBP and Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) significantly inhibited tumor growth compared with MBP or BCG immunization alone in a mouse lung carcinoma model. Further studies showed that MBP nonspecifically activated T helper 1 (Th1) cells and enhanced the BCG-induced Th1 cell activation. Moreover, MBP or BCG immunization alone increased the activities of natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages, and the combined immunization with MBP and BCG induced a synergistic effect on the activities of NK cells and macrophages. These results suggest that MBP possesses potent immune enhancement activities, and that the combination of MBP and BCG-induced synergistic antitumor effects might be mediated mainly through the activation of Th1 cells, NK cells and macrophages.

Identification and Functions of Amino Acid Residues in PotB and PotC Involved in Spermidine Uptake Activity

Amino acid residues on PotB and PotC involved in spermidine uptake were identified by random and site-directed mutagenesis. It was found that Trp(8), Tyr(43), Trp(100), Leu(110), and Tyr(261) in PotB and Trp(46), Asp(108), Glu(169), Ser(196), Asp(198), and Asp(199) in PotC were strongly involved in spermidine uptake and that Tyr(160), Glu(172), and Leu(274) in PotB and Tyr(19), Tyr(88), Tyr(148), Glu(160), Leu(195), and Tyr(211) in PotC were moderately involved in spermidine uptake. Among 11 amino acid residues that were strongly involved in spermidine uptake, Trp(8) in PotB was important for insertion of PotB and PotC into membranes. Tyr(43), Trp(100), and Leu(110) in PotB and Trp(46), Asp(108), Ser(196), and Asp(198) in PotC were found to be involved in the interaction with PotD. Leu(110) and Tyr(261) in PotB and Asp(108), Asp(198), and Asp(199) in PotC were involved in the recognition of spermidine, and Trp(100) and Tyr(261) in PotB and Asp(108), Glu(169), and Asp(198) in PotC were involved in ATPase activity of PotA. Accordingly, Trp(100) in PotB was involved in both PotD recognition and ATPase activity, Leu(110) in PotB was involved in both PotD and spermidine recognition, and Tyr(261) in PotB was involved in both spermidine recognition and ATPase activity. Asp(108) and Asp(198) in PotC were involved in PotD and spermidine recognition as well as ATPase activity. These results suggest that spermidine passage from PotD to the cytoplasm is coupled to the ATPase activity of PotA through a structural change of PotA by its ATPase activity.

Transcriptome Analysis of the Brucella abortus BvrR/BvrS Two-Component Regulatory System

BackgroundThe two-component BvrR/BvrS system is essential for Brucella abortus virulence. It was shown previously that its dysfunction alters the expression of some major outer membrane proteins and the pattern of lipid A acylation. To determine the genes regulated by BvrR/BvrS, we performed a whole-genome microarray analysis using B. abortus RNA obtained from wild type and bvrR mutant cells grown in the same conditions.Methodology/Principal FindingsA total of 127 differentially expressed genes were found: 83 were over expressed and 44 were less expressed in the bvrR mutant. Two operons, the phosphotransferase system and the maltose transport system, were down-regulated. Several genes involved in cell envelope or outer membrane biogenesis were differentially expressed: genes for outer membrane proteins (omp25a, omp25d), lipoproteins, LPS and fatty acid biosynthesis, stress response proteins, chaperones, flagellar genes, and twelve genes encoding ABC transport systems. Ten genes related with carbon metabolism (pckA and fumB among others) were up-regulated in the bvrR mutant, and denitrification genes (nirK, norC and nosZ) were also regulated. Notably, seven transcriptional regulators were affected, including VjbR, ExoR and OmpR that were less expressed in the bvrR mutant. Finally, the expression of eleven genes which have been previously related with Brucella virulence was also altered.Conclusions/SignificanceAll these data corroborate the impact of BvrR/BvrS on cell envelope modulation, confirm that this system controls the carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and suggest a cross-talk among some regulators to adjust the Brucella physiology to the shift expected to occur during the transit from the extracellular to the intracellular niche.

Studies of the Maltose Transport System Reveal a Mechanism for Coupling ATP Hydrolysis to Substrate Translocation without Direct Recognition of Substrate

The ATPase activity of the maltose transporter (MalFGK(2)) is dependent on interactions with the maltose-binding protein (MBP). To determine whether direct interactions between the translocated sugar and MalFGK(2) are important for the regulation of ATP hydrolysis, we used an MBP mutant (sMBP) that is able to bind either maltose or sucrose. We observed that maltose- and sucrose-bound sMBP stimulate equal levels of MalFGK(2) ATPase activity. Therefore, the ATPase activity of MalFGK(2) is coupled to translocation of maltose solely by interactions between MalFGK(2) and MBP. For both maltose and sucrose, the ability of sMBP to stimulate the MalFGK(2) ATPase was greatly reduced compared with wild-type MBP, indicating that the mutations in sMBP have interfered with important interactions between MBP and MalFGK(2). High resolution crystal structure analysis of sMBP shows that in the closed conformation with bound sucrose, three of four mutations are buried, and the fourth causes only a minor change in the accessible surface. In contrast, in the open form of sMBP, all of the mutations are accessible, and the main chain of Tyr(62)-Gly(69) is destabilized and occupies an alternative conformation due to the W62Y mutation. On this basis, the compromised ability of sMBP to stimulate ATP hydrolysis by MalFGK(2) is most likely due to a disruption of interactions between MalFGK(2) and the open, rather than the closed, conformation of sMBP. Modeling the open sMBP structure bound to MalFGK(2) in the transition state for ATP hydrolysis points to an important site of interaction and suggests a mechanism for coupling ATP hydrolysis to substrate translocation that is independent of the exact structure of the substrate.

A distinct mechanism for the ABC transporter BtuCD–BtuF revealed by the dynamics of complex formation

ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are integral membrane proteins that translocate a diverse array of substrates across cell membranes. We present here the dynamics of complex formation of three structurally characterized ABC transporters: the BtuCD vitamin B12 importer and MetNI D/L-methionine importer from Escherichia coli, and the Haemophilus influenzae Hi1470/1 metal-chelate importer, with their cognate binding proteins. Similar to other ABC importers, MetNI interacts with its binding protein with low affinity (Kd ~ 10-4 M). In contrast, BtuCD-F and Hi1470/1-2 form stable, high affinity complexes (Kd ~ 10-13 and 10-9 M, respectively). In BtuCD-F, vitamin B12 accelerates complex dissociation rate ~107-fold, with ATP having an additional destabilizing effect. The findings presented here highlight substantial mechanistic differences between BtuCD-F, and likely Hi1470/1-2, and the better characterized maltose and related ABC transport systems, indicating considerable mechanistic diversity within this large protein super-family.

Isolation of Citrobacter sp. mutants defective in decolorizing malachite green.

To identify genes involved in the decolorization of malachite green, random mutants generated by transposon insertion in the malachite green-decolorizing bacterium, Citrobacter sp. were isolated. The resulting mutant bank yielded 24 mutants with complete defects in their abilities to decolorize malachite green. Southern hybridization with a Tn5 fragment as a probe showed a single hybridized band in 7 mutants, which appeared to have insertions at different sites of the chromosome. The Tn5-inserted genes were isolated and the DNA sequence flanking Tn5 was determined. Based on a sequence database, the putative protein products encoded by the mg genes were identified as follows. mg3, an ABC transporter homolog; mg6, a LysR-type regulatory protein; m11, an oxidoreductase; mg17, a MalG protein in the maltose transport system; and mg21, a sugar kinase. The deduced sequences from two mg genes (mg7 and mg18) showed no significant similarity to any protein with a known function, suggesting that these two mg genes encode unidentified proteins that are responsible for the decolorization of malachite green.

Citrobacter sp.에서 crystal violet와 malachite green 색소분해에 관여하는 유전자들의 동정

Crystal violet와 malachite green색소 분해에 관여하는 유전자들을 규명하기 위하여 색소분해능을 가진 Citrobacter sp.의 염색체 DNA속에의 transposon 도입에 의해 생성된 무작위 변이주들이 분리되었다. 이들 변이 주들로부터 두가지 색소분해능을 소실한 14개의 변이주들이 선별되었고, 이들로부터 염색체 DNA를 분리하여 EcoRl으로 절단한 후 Tn5 단편을 probe로하여 Southern hybridization을 행한 결과, 염색체 DNA상의 각각 다른 부위에 Transposon이 Single 삽입된 5개의 변이주 (Cmg2, Cmg6, Cmg8, Cmgll, Cmg12)가 최종적으로 분리되었다. 이들 변이주들의 Transposon 삽입부위 주위의 염기서열과 이로부터 유추되는 아미노산서열을 database상에 등록되어 있는 유전자의 염기서열과 단백질의 아미노산 서열에 대한 상동성을 비교한 결과, Cmg2는 대장균 maltose trnasporter (Mal C)이고, Cmg6은 LysR-type 전사조절 단백질이며, Cmg12는 산화환원효소를 코드하는 유전자인 것으로 알려졌고, 나머지 Cmg8과 Cmg11은 아직까지 기능이 알려져 있지 않은 단백질을 코드하는 유전자인 것으로임이 판명되었다. To identify genes involved in the decolorization of both crystal violet and malachite green, we isolated random mutants generated by transposon insertion in triphenylmethane-decolorizing bacterium, Citrobacter sp. The resulting mutant bank yielded 14 mutants with complete defect in color removal capability of both crystal violet and malachite green. Southern hybridization with a Tn5 fragment as a probe showed a single hybridized band in 5 mutants and these mutants appeared to have insertions at different sites of the chromosome. Tn5-inserted genes were isolated and the DNA sequence flanking Tn5 was determined. From comparison with a sequence database, putative protein products encoded by cmg genes were identified as follows. cmg 2 is MaIC protein in maltose transport system; cmg 6 is transcriptional regulator (LysR-type): cmg 12 is a putative oxidoreductase. The sequences deduced from two cmg genes, cmg 8 and cmg 11, showed no significant similarity to any protein with a known function. Therefore, these results indicate that these two cmg genes encode unidentified proteins responsible for decolorization of both crystal violet and malachite green.

Characterization of a maltose transport system in Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824.

The utilization of maltose by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 was investigated. Glucose was used preferentially to maltose, when both substrates were present in the medium. Maltose phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) activity was detected in extracts prepared from cultures grown on maltose, but not glucose or sucrose, as the sole carbon source. Extract fractionation and PTS reconstitution experiments revealed that the specificity for maltose is contained entirely within the membrane in this organism. A putative gene system for the maltose PTS was identified (from the C. acetobutylicum ATCC 824 genome sequence), encoding an enzyme II(Mal) and a maltose 6-phosphate hydrolase.

Regulation of maltose transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Solute transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be regulated through mechanisms such as trans-inhibition and/or catabolite inactivation by nitrogen or carbon sources. Studies in hybrid membranes of S. cerevisiae suggested that the maltose transport system Mal61p is fully reversible and capable of catalyzing both influx and efflux transport. This conclusion has now been confirmed by studies in a S. cerevisiae strain lacking the maltase enzyme. Whole cells of this strain, wherein the orientation of the maltose transporter is fully preserved, catalyze fully reversible maltose transport. Catabolite inactivation of the maltose transporter Mal61p was studied in the presence and absence of maltose metabolism and by the use of different glucose analogues. Catabolite inactivation of Mal61p could be triggered by maltose, provided the sugar was metabolized, and the rate of inactivation correlated with the rate of maltose influx. We also show that 2-deoxyglucose, unlike 6-deoxyglucose, can trigger catabolite inactivation of the maltose transporter. This suggests a role for early glycolytic intermediates in catabolite inactivation of the Mal61 protein. However, there was no correlation between intracellular glucose-6-phosphate or ATP levels and the rate of catabolite inactivation of Mal61p. On the basis of their identification in cell extracts, we speculate that (dideoxy)-trehalose and/or (deoxy)-trehalose-6-phosphate trigger catabolite inactivation of the maltose transporter.

Trapping the transition state of an ATP-binding cassette transporter: Evidence for a concerted mechanism of maltose transport

High-affinity uptake into bacterial cells is mediated by a large class of periplasmic binding protein-dependent transport systems, members of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily. In the maltose transport system of Escherichia coli, the periplasmic maltose-binding protein binds its substrate maltose with high affinity and, in addition, stimulates the ATPase activity of the membrane-associated transporter when maltose is present. Vanadate inhibits maltose transport by trapping ADP in one of the two nucleotide-binding sites of the membrane transporter immediately after ATP hydrolysis, consistent with its ability to mimic the transition state of the gamma-phosphate of ATP during hydrolysis. Here we report that the maltose-binding protein becomes tightly associated with the membrane transporter in the presence of vanadate and simultaneously loses its high affinity for maltose. These results suggest a general model explaining how ATP hydrolysis is coupled to substrate transport in which a binding protein stimulates the ATPase activity of its cognate transporter by stabilizing the transition state.

Trapping the transition state of an ATP-binding cassette transporter: evidence for a concerted mechanism of maltose transport.

High-affinity uptake into bacterial cells is mediated by a large class of periplasmic binding protein-dependent transport systems, members of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily. In the maltose transport system of Escherichia coli, the periplasmic maltose-binding protein binds its substrate maltose with high affinity and, in addition, stimulates the ATPase activity of the membrane-associated transporter when maltose is present. Vanadate inhibits maltose transport by trapping ADP in one of the two nucleotide-binding sites of the membrane transporter immediately after ATP hydrolysis, consistent with its ability to mimic the transition state of the gamma-phosphate of ATP during hydrolysis. Here we report that the maltose-binding protein becomes tightly associated with the membrane transporter in the presence of vanadate and simultaneously loses its high affinity for maltose. These results suggest a general model explaining how ATP hydrolysis is coupled to substrate transport in which a binding protein stimulates the ATPase activity of its cognate transporter by stabilizing the transition state.