Permethylation as a strategy for high-molecular-weight polysaccharide structure analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance-Case study of Xylella fastidiosa extracellular polysaccharide.

Current practices for structural analysis of extremely large-molecular-weight polysaccharides via solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy incorporate partial depolymerization protocols that enable polysaccharide solubilization in suitable solvents. Non-specific depolymerization techniques utilized for glycosidic bond cleavage, such as chemical degradation or ultrasonication, potentially generate structural fragments that can complicate complete and accurate characterization of polysaccharide structures. Utilization of appropriate enzymes for polysaccharide degradation, on the other hand, requires prior structural knowledge and optimal enzyme activity conditions that are not available to an analyst working with novel or unknown compounds. Herein, we describe an application of a permethylation strategy that allows the complete dissolution of intact polysaccharides for NMR structural characterization. This approach is utilized for NMR analysis of Xylella fastidiosa extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), which is essential for the virulence of the plant pathogen that affects multiple commercial crops and is responsible for multibillion dollar losses each year.

Enzymatic characterization and functional implication of two structurally different isocitrate dehydrogenases from Xylella fastidiosa.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) is a key enzyme at the critical junction between the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the glyoxylate cycle. Most bacteria have only one IDH, while a few contain two IDH isozymes. The coexistence of two different type IDHs in one organism was little known. Xylella fastidiosa is a nutritionally fastidious plant pathogen that contains two structurally different IDHs, an NAD+ -dependent homodimeric IDH (diXfIDH) and an NADP+ -dependent monomeric IDH (monoXfIDH). Kinetic characterization showed that diXfIDH displayed 206-fold preferences for NAD+ over NADP+ , while monoXfIDH showed 13,800-fold preferences for NADP+ over NAD+ . The putative coenzyme crucial amino acids (Asp-268, Ile-269, and Ala-275 in diXfIDH, and Lys-589, His-590, and Arg-601 in monoXfIDH) were studied by site-directed mutagenesis. The coenzyme specificities of the three diXfIDH mutants (D268K, D268K/I269Y, and D268K/I269Y/A275V) were switched successfully from NAD+ to NADP+ . Meanwhile, the mutant monoXfIDHs (H590L/R601L and K589T/H590L/R601L) greatly reduced the affinity for NADP+ , but failed to improve the ability to use NAD+ and had similar affinity to NADP+ and NAD+ . The biochemical properties of diXfIDH and monoXfIDH were investigated in detail. This study gives a further insight into the determinants of the coenzyme specificity in both monomeric and dimeric forms of IDHs.

Conformational variability of the stationary phase survival protein E from Xylella fastidiosa revealed by X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray scattering studies, and normal mode analysis.

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited bacterium that infects a wide variety of plants. Stationary phase survival protein E is classified as a nucleotidase, which is expressed when bacterial cells are in the stationary growth phase and subjected to environmental stresses. Here, we report four refined X-ray structures of this protein from X. fastidiosa in four different crystal forms in the presence and/or absence of the substrate 3'-AMP. In all chains, the conserved loop verified in family members assumes a closed conformation in either condition. Therefore, the enzymatic mechanism for the target protein might be different of its homologs. Two crystal forms exhibit two monomers whereas the other two show four monomers in the asymmetric unit. While the biological unit has been characterized as a tetramer, differences of their sizes and symmetry are remarkable. Four conformers identified by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) in a ligand-free solution are related to the low frequency normal modes of the crystallographic structures associated with rigid body-like protomer arrangements responsible for the longitudinal and symmetric adjustments between tetramers. When the substrate is present in solution, only two conformers are selected. The most prominent conformer for each case is associated to a normal mode able to elongate the protein by moving apart two dimers. To our knowledge, this work was the first investigation based on the normal modes that analyzed the quaternary structure variability for an enzyme of the SurE family followed by crystallography and SAXS validation. The combined results raise new directions to study allosteric features of XfSurE protein.

Crystal structure of a small heat-shock protein from Xylella fastidiosa reveals a distinct high-order structure.

Citrus variegated chlorosis is a disease that attacks economically important citrus plantations and is caused by the plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. In this work, the structure of a small heat-shock protein from X. fastidiosa (XfsHSP17.9) is reported. The high-order structures of small heat-shock proteins from other organisms are arranged in the forms of double-disc, hollow-sphere or spherical assemblies. Unexpectedly, the structure reported here reveals a high-order architecture forming a nearly square cavity.

Caracterização do secretoma de cepas de Xylella fastidiosa / Characterization of the secretome Xylella fastidiosa strains

As doenças causadas pelo fitopatógeno Xylella fastidiosa, uma bactéria Gram-negativa, devem-se aos seus múltiplos fatores de virulência, tais como formação de biofilme, secreção de enzimas de degradação da parede celular do xilema (CWDE), expressão de proteínas de adesão e produção de vesículas de membrana externa (OMVs). Esses fatores de virulência são controlados por uma via de sinalização mediada por DSF (fatores de sinalização difusíveis de natureza lipídica) e relacionada com percepção de quórum. Nesse trabalho, tivemos como objetivo ampliar a caracterização do secretoma de cepas selvagens e mutantes de X. fastidiosa para evidenciar proteínas e metabólitos potencialmente associados à adaptação ao hospedeiro, virulência e patogenicidade. Desenvolvemos, paralelamente, três estudos empregando como abordagens metodológicas a proteômica, a metabolômica e a transcritômica. No primeiro estudo, comparamos o secretoma (exoproteoma) da cepa Temecula1 selvagem (WT) e do mutante no gene da sintase de DSF (ΔrpfF), o qual exibe fenótipo de hipervirulência em videiras. A este estudo associamos a comparação dos transcritomas dessas cepas. Os resultados mostraram que, mesmo no cultivo in vitro, X. fastidiosa expressa e secreta fatores de virulência previamente conhecidos (lipases-esterases e proteases), além de toxinas (microcinas) que, supostamente, teriam papel de controlar bactérias competidoras pelo mesmo nicho. No segundo estudo caracterizamos a composição de OMVs secretadas no cultivo in vitro por X. fastidiosa Fb7 e 9a5c (cepas isoladas de laranjeiras) e Temecula1 (cepa isolada de videira). Demonstramos que Fb7 produz até 57% mais OMVs que 9a5c e Temecula1 e identificamos um total de 202 proteínas distintas nas OMVs produzidas pelas 3 cepas, ampliando consideravelmente o número de proteínas secretadas por meio de OMVs descrito, até então, para X. fastidiosa. Entre as proteínas enriquecidas, citamos adesinas afimbriais, porinas, lipoproteínas, hidrolases (lipases/esterases, proteases e peptidases) e uma pectina-liase putativa. Destacamos a detecção da enzima L-ascorbato oxidase nas OMVs e sugerimos que esta enzima poderia atuar na depleção do ascorbato produzido pelo hospedeiro vegetal. Além disso, demonstramos, pela primeira vez, que OMVs de X. fastidiosa transportam ácidos graxos da família DSF, sugerindo um papel adicional para OMVs nesse fitopatógeno. Finalmente, no terceiro estudo verificamos alterações relevantes no perfil de metabólitos secretados por X. fastidiosa em resposta a sua interação com metabólitos secretados por Burkholderia phytofirmans, proposta como uma cepa para o biocontrole da doença de Pierce de videiras. Confirmamos que o sobrenadante de B. phytofirmans possui um composto de natureza apolar que induz a formação de biofilme em X. fastidiosa, contudo ainda não foi possível decifrar a natureza química deste composto

The diseases caused by the phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa, a Gram-negative bacterium, are due to multiple virulence factors, such as biofilm formation, secretion of xylem cell wall degradation enzymes (CWDE), expression of adhesion proteins and production of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). These virulence factors are controlled by a DSF (diffusible signaling factors of a lipidic nature) mediating signaling pathway and related to quorum sensing perception. In this work, we aimed to extend the characterization of the secretoma of wild type and mutants strains of X. fastidiosa to uncover proteins and metabolites potentially associated to host adaptation, virulence and pathogenicity. We developed three studies in parallel using proteomics, metabolomics and transcriptomics as methodological approaches. In the first study, we compared the secretome (exoproteome) of the wild type strain Temecula1 (WT) and of DSF synthase mutant (ΔrpfF) which exhibits hypervirulence phenotype in grapevines. We also compared the transcriptomes of these strains. Our results showed that, even in in vitro culture, X. fastidiosa expresses and secretes previously known virulence factors (lipasesesterases and proteases), as well as toxins (microcins) that might play a role in controlling competing bacteria in the same niche. In the second study, we characterized the composition of OMVs secreted by in vitro cultures of X. fastidiosa Fb7 and 9a5c (strains isolated from orange trees) and Temecula1 (strain isolated from grapevine). We have shown that Fb7 produces up to 57% more OMVs than the 9a5c and Temecula1. Moreover we identified a total of 202 distinct proteins in the OMVs produced by these three strains, increasing considerably the number of OMVs secreted proteins so far described for X. fastidiosa. Among the proteins enriched in OMVs, we point out afimbrial adhesins, porins, lipoproteins, hydrolases (lipases/esterases, proteases and peptidases) and a putative pectin-lyase. We highlight the detection of the enzyme L-ascorbate oxidase in the OMVs and we suggest that this enzyme could act in the depletion of ascorbate produced by the plant host. In addition, we have demonstrated, for the first time, that X. fastidiosa OMVs transport fatty acids from the DSF family, suggesting an additional role for OMVs in this phytopathogen. Finally, in the third study we verified relevant changes in the profile of metabolites secreted by X. fastidiosa in response to the interaction with metabolites secreted by Burkholderia phytofirmans that has been sugested as a biocontrol strain for Pierce's disease in grapevines. We confirm that the B. phytofirmans supernatant has a non-polar compound that induces biofilm formation in X. fastidiosa, but it has not yet been possible to elucidate the chemical nature of this compound

Xylella fastidiosa esterase rather than hydroxynitrile lyase.

In 2009, we reported that the product of the gene SCJ21.16 (XFa0032) from Xylella fastidiosa, a xylem-restricted plant pathogen that causes a range of diseases in several important crops, encodes a protein (XfHNL) with putative hydroxynitrile lyase activity. Sequence analysis and activity tests indicated that XfHNL exhibits an α/ß-hydrolase fold and could be classified as a member of the family of FAD-independent HNLs. Here we provide a more detailed sequence analysis and new experimental data. Using pure heterologously expressed XfHNL we show that this enzyme cannot catalyse the cleavage/synthesis of mandelonitrile and that this protein is in fact a non-enantioselective esterase. Homology modelling and ligand docking simulations were used to study the active site and support these results. This finding could help elucidate the common ancestor of esterases and hydroxynitrile lyases with an α/ß -hydrolase fold.

Zinc Detoxification Is Required for Full Virulence and Modification of the Host Leaf Ionome by Xylella fastidiosa.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential element for all forms of life because it is a structural or catalytic cofactor of many proteins, but it can have toxic effects at high concentrations; thus, microorganisms must tightly regulate its levels. Here, we evaluated the role of Zn homeostasis proteins in the virulence of the xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, causal agent of Pierce's disease of grapevine, among other diseases. Two mutants of X. fastidiosa 'Temecula' affected in genes which regulate Zn homeostasis (zur) and Zn detoxification (czcD) were constructed. Both knockouts showed increased sensitivity to Zn at physiologically relevant concentrations and increased intracellular accumulation of this metal compared with the wild type. Increased Zn sensitivity was correlated with decreased growth in grapevine xylem sap, reduced twitching motility, and downregulation of exopolysaccharide biosynthetic genes. Tobacco plants inoculated with either knockout mutant showed reduced foliar symptoms and a much reduced (czcD) or absent (zur) modification of the leaf ionome (i.e., the mineral nutrient and trace element composition), as well as reduced bacterial populations. The results show that detoxification of Zn is crucial for the virulence of X. fastidiosa and verifies our previous findings that modification of the host leaf ionome correlates with bacterial virulence.

The exopolysaccharide of Xylella fastidiosa is essential for biofilm formation, plant virulence, and vector transmission.

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) synthesized by plant-pathogenic bacteria are generally essential for virulence. The role of EPS produced by the vector-transmitted bacterium Xylella fastidiosa was investigated by knocking out two genes implicated in the EPS biosynthesis, gumD and gumH. Mutant strains were affected in growth characteristics in vitro, including adhesion to surfaces and biofilm formation. In addition, different assays were used to demonstrate that the mutant strains produced significantly less EPS compared with the wild type. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that both mutant strains did not produce oligosaccharides. Biologically, the mutants were deficient in movement within plants, resulting in an avirulent phenotype. Additionally, mutant strains were affected in transmission by insects: they were very poorly transmitted by and retained within vectors. The gene expression profile indicated upregulation of genes implicated in cell-to-cell signaling and adhesins while downregulation in genes was required for within-plant movement in EPS-deficient strains. These results suggest an essential role for EPS in X. fastidiosa interactions with both plants and insects.

Initial crystallographic studies of a small heat-shock protein from Xylella fastidiosa.

The ORF XF2234 in the Xylella fastidiosa genome was identified as encoding a small heat-shock protein of 17.9 kDa (HSP17.9). HSP17.9 was found as one of the proteins that are induced during X. fastidiosa proliferation and infection in citrus culture. Recombinant HSP17.9 was crystallized and surface atomic force microscopy experiments were conducted with the aim of better characterizing the HSP17.9 crystals. X-ray diffraction data were collected at 2.7 Šresolution. The crystal belonged to space group P4(3)22, with unit-cell parameters a = 68.90, b = 68.90, c = 72.51 Å, and is the first small heat-shock protein to crystallize in this space group.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of stationary phase survival protein E (SurE) from Xylella fastidiosa in two crystal forms.

The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is a phytopathogenic organism that causes citrus variegated chlorosis, a disease which attacks economically important crops, mainly oranges. In this communication, the crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of XfSurE, a survival protein E from X. fastidiosa, are reported. Data were collected for two crystal forms, I and II, to 1.93 and 2.9 Å resolution, respectively. Crystal form I belonged to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 172.36, b = 84.18, c = 87.24 Å, α = γ = 90, ß = 96.59°, whereas crystal form II belonged to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 88.05, b = 81.26, c = 72.84 Å, α = γ = 90, ß = 94.76°.

The role of conditioning film formation and surface chemical changes on Xylella fastidiosa adhesion and biofilm evolution.

Biofilms are complex microbial communities with important biological functions including enhanced resistance against external factors like antimicrobial agents. The formation of a biofilm is known to be strongly dependent on substrate properties including hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, structure, and roughness. The adsorption of (macro)molecules on the substrate, also known as conditioning film, changes the physicochemical properties of the surface and affects the bacterial adhesion. In this study, we investigate the physicochemical changes caused by Periwinkle wilt (PW) culture medium conditioning film formation on different surfaces (glass and silicon) and their effect on X. fastidiosa biofilm formation. Contact angle measurements have shown that the film formation decreases the surface hydrophilicity degree of both glass and silicon after few hours. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show the glass surface roughness is drastically reduced with conditioning film formation. First-layer X. fastidiosa biofilm on glass was observed in the AFM liquid cell after a period of time similar to that determined for the hydrophilicity changes. In addition, attenuation total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy supports the AFM observation, since the PW absorption spectra increases with time showing a stronger contribution from the phosphate groups. Although hydrophobic and rough surfaces are commonly considered to increase bacteria cell attachment, our results suggest that these properties are not as important as the surface functional groups resulting from PW conditioning film formation for X. fastidiosa adhesion and biofilm development.

Global gene expression under nitrogen starvation in Xylella fastidiosa: contribution of the σ54 regulon.

BACKGROUND: Xylella fastidiosa, a Gram-negative fastidious bacterium, grows in the xylem of several plants causing diseases such as citrus variegated chlorosis. As the xylem sap contains low concentrations of amino acids and other compounds, X. fastidiosa needs to cope with nitrogen limitation in its natural habitat. RESULTS: In this work, we performed a whole-genome microarray analysis of the X. fastidiosa nitrogen starvation response. A time course experiment (2, 8 and 12 hours) of cultures grown in defined medium under nitrogen starvation revealed many differentially expressed genes, such as those related to transport, nitrogen assimilation, amino acid biosynthesis, transcriptional regulation, and many genes encoding hypothetical proteins. In addition, a decrease in the expression levels of many genes involved in carbon metabolism and energy generation pathways was also observed. Comparison of gene expression profiles between the wild type strain and the rpoN null mutant allowed the identification of genes directly or indirectly induced by nitrogen starvation in a σ54-dependent manner. A more complete picture of the σ54 regulon was achieved by combining the transcriptome data with an in silico search for potential σ54-dependent promoters, using a position weight matrix approach. One of these σ54-predicted binding sites, located upstream of the glnA gene (encoding glutamine synthetase), was validated by primer extension assays, confirming that this gene has a σ54-dependent promoter. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these results show that nitrogen starvation causes intense changes in the X. fastidiosa transcriptome and some of these differentially expressed genes belong to the σ54 regulon.

Localization and characterization of Xylella fastidiosa haemagglutinin adhesins.

Xylella fastidiosa is a gram-negative, xylem-inhabiting, plant-pathogenic bacterium responsible for several important diseases including Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevines. The bacteria form biofilms in grapevine xylem that contribute to the occlusion of the xylem vessels. X. fastidiosa haemagglutinin (HA) proteins are large afimbrial adhesins that have been shown to be crucial for biofilm formation. Little is known about the mechanism of X. fastidiosa HA-mediated cell-cell aggregation or the localization of the adhesins on the cell. We generated anti-HA antibodies and show that X. fastidiosa HAs are present in the outer membrane and secreted both as soluble proteins and in membrane vesicles. Furthermore, the HA pre-proteins are processed from the predicted molecular mass of 360 kDa to a mature 220 kDa protein. Based on this information, we are evaluating a novel form of potential resistance against PD by generating HA-expressing transgenic grapevines.

alpha-Hydroxynitrile lyase protein from Xylella fastidiosa: Cloning, expression, and characterization.

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-restricted plant pathogen that causes a range of diseases in several and important crops. Through comparative genomic sequence analysis many genes were identified and, among them, several potentially involved in plant-pathogen interaction. The experimental determination of the primary sequence of some markedly expressed proteins for X. fastidiosa and the comparison with the nucleic acids sequence of genome identified one of them as being SCJ21.16 (XFa0032) gene product. The comparative analysis of this protein against SWISSPROT database, in special, resulted in similarity with alpha-hydroxynitrile lyase enzyme (HNL) from Arabidopsis thaliana, causing interest for being one of the most abundant proteins both in the whole cell extract as well as in the extracellular protein fraction. It is known that HNL enzyme are involved in a process termed "cyanogenesis", which catalyzes the dissociation of alpha-hydroxinitrile into carbonyle and HCN when plant tissue is damaged. Although the complete genome sequences of X. fastidiosa are available and the cyanogenesis process is well known, the biological role of this protein in this organism is not yet functionally characterized. In this study we presented the cloning, expression, characterization of recombinant HNL from X. fastidiosa, and its probable function in the cellular metabolism. The successful cloning and heterologous expression in Escherichia coli resulted in a satisfactory amount of the recombinant HNL expressed in a soluble, and active form giving convenient access to pure enzyme for biochemical and structural studies. Finally, our results confirmed that the product of the gene XFa0032 can be positively assigned as FAD-independent HNLs.

Characterization of a putative Xylella fastidiosa diffusible signal factor by HRGC-EI-MS.

Xylella fastidiosa (X.f.) is a plant pathogen with high levels of genomic similarity to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (X.c.c.). It has been shown that X. fastidiosa synthesizes a putative diffusible signal factor (X.f.-DSF) that activates regulation of pathogenicity factor (rpf) genes in a X.c.c. reporter system, which might be involved in the regulation of pathogenesis associated genes as in X.c.c., as well as in quorum-sensing. The nature of the X.f.-DSF is not known, whereas the X.c.c.-DSF has been identified as cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid. In this work, the chemical nature of a putative X.f.-DSF molecule, able to restore endoglucanase activity in a X.c.c. rpfF mutant, was investigated as if it was a fatty acid derivative. Bioassays with X.c.c. reporter bacterium and X.f. culture extracts, based on endoglucanase restoration activity, were also carried out in order to confirm the DSFs molecules similarities. For this reason, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed with standard fatty acids methyl esters mixtures. The retention time, as well as the fragmentation patterns, of each standard was used to identify the DSF molecule synthesized by X.f. in the culture medium. Typical ester fragmentation patterns (the derivatized analyte) were observed, such as: McLafferty rearrangement and migration of the Hdelta followed by 1,4-hydrogen shift and cleavage of the bond Cbeta--Cgamma, confirming the nature of this molecule. This confirmation was corroborated by the common peaks in both spectra. Besides, the observed retention time reinforces our conclusion since it corresponds to a methyl ester with 15 carbons. Since the X.f.-DSF molecule was tentatively identified as 12-methyl-tetradecanoic acid (by mass spectra library comparison), this standard compound was also analyzed, strongly suggesting that this is the identification of such a molecule. To our knowledge, this is the first time a DSF produced by X.f. has been characterized.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of BigR, a transcription repressor from Xylella fastidiosa involved in biofilm formation.

BigR (biofilm growth-associated repressor) is a novel repressor protein that regulates the transcription of an operon implicated in biofilm growth in both Xylella fastidiosa and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This protein binds to a palindromic TA-rich element located in the promoter of the BigR operon and strongly represses transcription of the operon. BigR contains a helix-turn-helix (HTH) domain that is found in some members of the ArsR/SmtB family of metal sensors, which control metal resistance in bacteria. Although functional studies have suggested that BigR does not act as a metal sensor, the presence of two cysteines and a methionine in its primary structure raised the possibility of BigR being a metal-ligand protein. In order to gain new insights into the protein structure and its possible interaction with a metal ion or effector ligand, BigR from X. fastidiosa was crystallized in native and selenomethionine (SeMet) labelled forms using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. X-ray diffraction data were collected from native and SeMet crystals to resolutions of 1.95 and 2.2 A, respectively. Both crystals belong to space group P321 and contain one molecule per asymmetric unit.

Characterization of a putative Xylella fastidiosa diffusible signal factor by HRGC-EI-MS.

Xylella fastidiosa (X.f.) is a plant pathogen with high levels of genomic similarity to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (X.c.c.). It has been shown that X. fastidiosa synthesizes a putative diffusible signal factor (X.f.-DSF) that activates regulation of pathogenicity factor (rpf) genes in a X.c.c. reporter system, which might be involved in the regulation of pathogenesis associated genes as in X.c.c., as well as in quorum-sensing. The nature of the X.f.-DSF is not known, whereas the X.c.c.-DSF has been identified as cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid. In this work, the chemical nature of a putative X.f.-DSF molecule, able to restore endoglucanase activity in a X.c.c. rpfF mutant, was investigated as if it was a fatty acid derivative. Bioassays with X.c.c. reporter bacterium and X.f. culture extracts, based on endoglucanase restoration activity, were also carried out in order to confirm the DSFs molecules similarities. For this reason, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed with standard fatty acids methyl esters mixtures. The retention time, as well as the fragmentation patterns, of each standard was used to identify the DSF molecule synthesized by X.f. in the culture medium. Typical ester fragmentation patterns (the derivatized analyte) were observed, such as: McLafferty rearrangement and migration of the Hdelta followed by 1,4-hydrogen shift and cleavage of the bond Cbeta-Cgamma, confirming the nature of this molecule. This confirmation was corroborated by the common peaks in both spectra. Besides, the observed retention time reinforces our conclusion since it corresponds to a methyl ester with 15 carbons. Since the X.f.-DSF molecule was tentatively identified as 12-methyl-tetradecanoic acid (by mass spectra library comparison), this standard compound was also analyzed, strongly suggesting that this is the identification of such a molecule. To our knowledge, this is the first time a DSF produced by X.f. has been characterized.

Structural insights into enzyme-substrate interaction and characterization of enzymatic intermediates of organic hydroperoxide resistance protein from Xylella fastidiosa.

Organic hydroperoxide resistance proteins (Ohr) belong to a family of proteins that possess thiol-dependent peroxidase activity endowed by reactive cysteine residues able to reduce peroxides. The crystal structure of Ohr from Xylella fastidiosa in complex with polyethylene glycol, providing insights into enzyme-substrate interactions is described herein. In addition, crystallographic studies, molecular modeling and biochemical assays also indicated that peroxides derived from long chain fatty acids could be the biological substrates of Ohr. Because different oxidation states of the reactive cysteine were present in the Ohr structures from X. fastidiosa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Deinococcus radiodurans it was possible to envisage a set of snapshots along the coordinate of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The redox intermediates of X. fastidiosa Ohr observed in the crystals were further characterized in solution by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and by biochemical approaches. In this study, the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bond and oxidative inactivation through the formation of a sulfonic acid derivative was unequivocally demonstrated for the first time. Because Ohr proteins are exclusively present in bacteria, they may represent promising targets for therapeutical drugs. In this regard, the structural and functional analyses of Ohr presented here might be very useful.

Prediction of potential thermostable proteins in Xylella fastidiosa.

The average protein (E+K)/(Q+H) ratio in organisms has already been demonstrated to have a strong correlation with their optimal growth temperature. Employing the Thermo-Search web tool, we used this ratio as a basis to look for thermostable proteins in a mesophile, Xylella fastidiosa. Nine proteins were chosen to have their three-dimensional structures modeled by homology, using mainly proteins from mesophiles as templates. Resulting models featured a high number of hydrophobic interactions, a property that has been previously associated with thermostability. These results demonstrate the interesting possibility of using the (E+K)/(Q+H) ratio to find individual thermostable proteins in mesophilic organisms.

Overexpression, purification, and biochemical characterization of GumC, an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharide by Xylella fastidiosa.

GumC is one of nine enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of fastidian gum, an exopolysaccharide produced by Xylella fastidiosa that may be linked directly to the pathogenicity of the microorganism. GumC may be responsible for gum polymerization or secretion through the membrane of X. fastidiosa. To perform structure and functions studies, we developed an expression system for the production of GumC as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein (MBP) using pMAL-c2x vector. The GumC-MBP fusion protein was expressed as a 94 kDa protein, which strongly reacts with anti-MBP antibodies. GumC-MBP was isolated by affinity chromatography through an amylose column and used to produce antibodies against the fusion protein. After the enzymatic cleavage of MBP, GumC was purified on a Q Sepharose Fast Flow column. GumC showed a molecular weight corresponding to the expected one (52 kDa) and its N-terminal sequence was identical to that deduced from the DNA. The shape of the circular dichroism spectrum was compatible with a folded protein that contains alpha-helical regions in its structure. Therefore, in this study we describe, for the first time, the production of GumC recombinant protein.