Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT
Conjugation plays a major role in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Following transfer of IncF-like plasmids, recipients become refractory to a second wave of conjugation with the same plasmid via entry (TraS) and surface (TraT) exclusion mechanisms. Here, we show that TraT from the p...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Nature communications 2025-01, Vol.16 (1), p.659-15, Article 659 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Conjugation plays a major role in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Following transfer of IncF-like plasmids, recipients become refractory to a second wave of conjugation with the same plasmid via entry (TraS) and surface (TraT) exclusion mechanisms. Here, we show that TraT from the pKpQIL and F plasmids (TraT
pKpQIL
and TraT
F
) exhibits plasmid surface exclusion specificity. The cryo-EM structures of TraT
pKpQIL
and TraT
F
reveal that they oligomerise into decameric champagne bottle cork-like structures, which are anchored to the outer membrane via a diacylglycerol and palmitic acid modified α-helical barrel domain. Unexpectedly, we identify chromosomal TraT homologues from multiple Gram-negative phyla which form numerous divergent lineages in a phylogenetic tree of TraT sequences. Plasmid-associated TraT sequences are found in multiple distinct lineages, including two separate clades incorporating TraT from Enterobacteriaceae IncF/F-like and Legionellaceae F-like plasmids. These findings suggest that different plasmid backbones have acquired and co-opted TraT on independent occasions.
Outer membrane protein TraT protects bacteria from secondary F plasmid conjugation. Here, the authors report cryo-EM structure of decameric cork-like TraT and its evolutionary history as a chromosomal gene that has been incorporated into multiple plasmid families. |
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ISSN: | 2041-1723 2041-1723 |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41467-025-55834-w |