Modification of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pa5196 Type IV Pilins at Multiple Sites with
d
-Ara
f
by a Novel GT-C Family Arabinosyltransferase, TfpW
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abstract
ABSTRACTPseudomonas aeruginosa
Pa5196 produces type IV pilins modified with unusual α1,5-linked
d
-arabinofuranose (α1,5-
d
-Ara
f
) glycans, identical to those in the lipoarabinomannan and arabinogalactan cell wall polymers from
Mycobacterium
spp. In this work, we identify a second strain of
P. aeruginosa
, PA7, capable of expressing arabinosylated pilins and use a combination of site-directed mutagenesis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS), and electron transfer dissociation MS to identify the exact sites and extent of pilin modification in strain Pa5196. Unlike previously characterized type IV pilins that are glycosylated at a single position, those from strain Pa5196 were modified at multiple sites, with modifications of αβ-loop residues Thr64 and Thr66 being important for normal pilus assembly. Trisaccharides of α1,5-
d
-Ara
f
were the principal modifications at Thr64 and Thr66, with additional mono- and disaccharides identified on Ser residues within the antiparallel beta sheet region of the pilin. TfpW was hypothesized to encode the pilin glycosyltransferase based on its genetic linkage to the pilin, weak similarity to membrane-bound GT-C family glycosyltransferases (which include the
Mycobacterium
arabinosyltransferases EmbA/B/C), and the presence of characteristic motifs. Loss of TfpW or mutation of key residues within the signature GT-C glycosyltransferase motif completely abrogated pilin glycosylation, confirming its involvement in this process. A Pa5196
pilA
mutant complemented with other
Pseudomonas
pilins containing potential sites of modification expressed nonglycosylated pilins, showing that TfpW's pilin substrate specificity is restricted. TfpW is the prototype of a new type IV pilin posttranslational modification system and the first reported gram-negative member of the GT-C glycosyltransferase family.
