Structural and functional significance of two conserved lysine residues in acylated sites of Kingella kingae RtxA cytotoxin

Kingella kingae, an emerging pediatric pathogen, secretes the pore-forming toxin RtxA, which has been implicated in the development of various invasive infections. RtxA is synthesized as a protoxin (proRtxA), which gains its biological activity by fatty acylation of two lysine residues (K558 and K689) by the acyltransferase RtxC. The low acylation level of RtxA at K558 (2–23 %) suggests that the complete acylation at K689 is crucial for toxin activity. Using a bacterial two-hybrid system, we show that substitutions of K558, but not K689, partially reduce the interaction of proRtxA with RtxC and that the acyltransferase interacts independently with each acylated site in vivo. While substitutions of K558 had no effect on the acylation of K689, substitutions of K689 resulted in an average 40 % increase in the acylation of K558. RtxA mutants monoacylated at either K558 or K689 irreversibly bound to erythrocyte membranes, with binding efficiency corresponding to the extent of lysine acylation. However, these mutants lysed erythrocytes with similarly low efficiency as nonacylated proRtxA and showed only residual overall membrane activity in planar lipid bilayers. Interestingly, despite forming fewer pores, the monoacylated mutants exhibited single-pore characteristics, such as conductance and lifetime, similar to those of intact RtxA. These findings indicate that the acylation at either K558 or K689 is sufficient for the irreversible insertion of RtxA into the membrane, but not for the efficient formation of membrane pores. Alternatively, K558 and K689 per se may play a crucial structural role in pore formation, regardless of their acylation status. •The conserved lysine residues K558 and K689 of the RtxA toxin were investigated.•Substitutions of K558 reduce the interaction of proRtxA with the acyltransferase RtxC.•The acyltransferase RtxC interacts independently with each acylated site in vivo.•RtxA mutants monoacylated at either K558 or K689 irreversibly bind to membranes.•However, monoacylated RtxA mutants exhibit strongly reduced pore-forming activity.