click-chemistry-based-fluorometric-assay-for-apolipoprotein-n

Click-Chemistry Based Fluorometric Assay for Apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase from Enzyme Characterization to High-Throughput Screening

Lipoproteins from proteobacteria are posttranslationally modified by fatty acids derived from membrane phospholipids by the action of three integral ...

Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et génétique de la paroi bactérienne, Paris, France ; CNRS, UMR 2001 « Microbiologie intégrative et Moléculaire », Paris, France ; INSERM, Équipe Avenir, Paris, France

Posttranslational modification of proteins by lipidation is a common process in biological systems. Lipids provide protein stability, interaction with other membrane components, and in some cases, due to reversibility of the process, a mechanism for regulating protein localization and function. Bacterial lipoproteins possess fatty acids at their amino-termini that are derived from phospholipids, and this lipid moiety anchors the proteins into the membrane. These lipids, as is the case for lipopolysaccharides and lipoteichoic acids, play an important role in signaling of the innate immune system through the interaction with Toll-like receptors. Over the past three years, tremendous progress has been made in understanding the mechanism by which lipoproteins become lipidated. Advanced methodology in mass spectrometry, proteomics and genome-wide analyses allowed precise characterization of lipoprotein modifications and the identification of the enzymes catalyzing the reactions in diverse bacterial species. This review will highlight new findings on bacterial lipoprotein modification with focus on the reaction mechanisms and the role of lipoproteins in cell envelope homeostasis. 

The molecular mechanism of bacterial lipoprotein modification--how, when and why?

Bacterial lipoproteins are characterized by fatty acids that are covalently attached to their amino terminus via posttranslational modification in the cytoplasmic membrane. Three enzymatic steps are involved in the synthesis of mature triacylated lipoprotein: prolipoprotein converts into diacylglyceryl-prolipoprotein that in turn converts into apolipoprotein, which is finally converted into mature triacylated lipoprotein. Here we describe the detection of one of these intermediate forms of lipoprotein, diacylglyceryl-prolipoprotein, using H-palmitate labeling and inhibition by globomycin and detection by fluorography.

Identification of Lipoproteins Using Globomycin and Radioactive Palmitate.

Lipoprotein modification is an essential process in Gram-negative bacteria. The action of three integral membrane proteins that catalyze the transfer of fatty acids derived from membrane phospholipids or cleave the signal peptide of the lipoprotein substrate result in the formation of mature triacylated proteins. Inactivation of the enzymes leads to mis-localization of immature lipoproteins and consequently cell death. Biochemical studies and the development of in vitro assays are challenging due to the fact that the enzymes and substrates are all membrane-embedded proteins difficult to overproduce and purify. Here we describe a sensitive fluorescence-based assay to monitor bacterial apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase activity.

Nienke Buddelmeijer

Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et génétique de la paroi bactérienne, Paris, France ; CNRS, UMR 2001 « Microbiologie intégrative et Moléculaire », Paris, France ; INSERM, Équipe Avenir, Paris, France

Click-Chemistry Based Fluorometric Assay for Apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase from Enzyme Characterization to High-Throughput Screening