Skip to main content
Log in

Colicins: structures, modes of action, transfer through membranes, and evolution

  • Minireview
  • Published:
Archives of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Akutsu A, Masaki H, Ohta T (1989) Molecular structure and immunity specificity of colicin E6, an evolutionary intermediate between E-group colicins and cloacin DF13. J Bacteriol 171: 6430–6436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baquero F, Moreno F (1984) The microcins. FEMS Microbiol Lett 23: 117–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baty D, Lloubès R, Geli V, Lazdunski C, Howard SP (1987) Extracellular release of colicin A is non-specific. EMBO J 6: 2463–2468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayer A, Freund S, Graeme N, Jung G (1993) Posttranslationale backbone-Modifikationen unter Bildung heteroaromatischer Fünfringe bei der Biosynthese des glycinreichen Antibioticums Microcin B17. Angew Chemie (in press).

  • Bell P, Nau CD, Brown JT, Konisky J, Kadner RJ (1990) Genetic suppression demonstrates interaction of TonB protein with outer membrane transport proteins in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 172: 3826–3829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bénédetti H, Lazdunski C, Loubès R (1991) Protein import into Escherichia coli: colicins A and E1 interact with a component of their translocation system. EMBO J 10: 1989–1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bénédetti H, Lloubès R, Lazdunski C, Letellier L (1992) Colicin A unfolds during its translocation in Escherichia coli cells and spans the whole cell envelope when its pore has formed. EMBO J 11: 441–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdineaud JP, Boulanger P, Lazdunski C, Letellier L (1990) In vivo properties of colicin A: channel activity is voltage dependent but translocation may be voltage independent. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87: 1037–1041.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradbeer C (1993) The proton motive force drives the outer membrane transport of cobalamin in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 175: 3146–3150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley DE, Howard SP (1992) A new colicin that adsorbs to outer membrane protein Tsx but is dependent on the tonB instead of the tolQ membrane transport system. J Gen Microbiol 138: 2721–2724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandis H, Smarda J (1971) Bacteriocine and bacteriocinähnliche Substanzen. VEB Gustav Fischer, Jena.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun V (1975) Covalent lipoprotein from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. Biochim Biophys Acta 415: 335–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun V (1989) The structurally related exbB and tolQ genes are interchangeable in conferring tonB-dependent colicin, bacteriophage, and albomycin sensitivity. J Bacteriol 171: 6387–6390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun V, Herrmann C (1993) Evolutionary relationship of uptake systems for biopolymers in Escherichia coli: cross-complementation between the TonB-ExbB-ExbD and the TolA-TolQ-TolR proteins. Mol Microbiol 8: 261–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun V, Frenz J, Hantke K, Schaller K (1980) Penetration of colicin M into cells of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 142: 162–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavard D, Oudega B (1992) General introduction to the secretion of bacteriocins. In: James R, Lazdunski C, Pattus F (eds) Bacteriocins, microcins and lantibiotics. NATO ASI Series, Series H: Cell biology, vol 65. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 297–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis MD, James R, Coddington A (1989) An evolutionary relationship between the ColE5–099 and the ColE9-J plasmids revealed by nucleotide sequencing. J Gen Microbiol 135: 2783–2788.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf FK, Oudega B (1986) Production and release of cloacin DF13 and related colicins. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 125: 183–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geli V, Lazdunski C (1992) An α-helical hydrophobic hairpin as a specific determinant in protein-protein interaction occurring in Escherichia coli. Colicin A and B immunity systems. J Bacteriol 174: 6432–6437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Günter K, Braun V (1990) In vivo evidence for FhuA outer membrane receptor interaction with the TonB inner membrane protein of Escherichia coli. FEBS Lett 274: 85–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hannavy K, Barr GC, Dorman CJ, Adamson J, Mazengera LR, Gallagher MP, Evans JS, Levine BA, Trayer IP, Higgins CF (1990) TohB protein of Salmonella typhimurium: a model for signal transduction between membranes. J Mol Biol 216: 897–910.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy KG (1975) Colicinogeny and related phenomena. Bacteriol Rev 39: 464–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harkness RE, Braun V (1989a) Colicin M inhibits peptidoglycan biosynthesis by interfering with lipid carrier recycling. J Biol Chem 264: 6177–6182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harkness RE, Braun V (1989b) Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide O-antigen synthesis by colicin M. J Biol Chem 264: 14716–14722.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harkness RE, Braun V (1990) Colicin M is only bactericidal when provided from outside the cell. Mol Gen Genet 222: 37–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harkness RE, Ölschläger T (1991) The biology of colicin M. FEMS Microbiol Rev 88: 27–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller K, Kadner RJ, Günter K (1988) Suppression of the btuB451 mutation by mutations in the tonB gene suggests a direct interaction between TonB and TonB-dependent receptor proteins in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. Gene 64: 147–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • James R, Lazdunski C, Pattus F (eds) (1992) Bacteriocins, microcins and lantibiotics. NATO ASI Series, Series H: Cell biology, vol 65. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kampfenkel K, Braun V (1993) Membrane topologies of the TolQ and TolR proteins of Escherichia coli: inactivation of TolQ by a missense mutation in the proposed first transmembrane segment. J Bacteriol 175: 4485–4491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson M, Hannavy K, Higgins CF (1993) A sequence-specific function for the N-terminal signallike sequence of the TonB protein. Mol Microbiol 8: 379–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Killmann H, Benz R, Braun V (1993) Conversion of the FhuA transport protein into a diffusion channel through the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. EMBO J 12: 3007–3016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koebnik R, Bäumler AJ, Heesemann J, Braun V, Hantke K (1993) The TonB protein of Yersinia enterocolitica and its interactions with TonB-box proteins. Mol Gen Genet 237: 152–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konisky J (1982) Colicins and other bacteriocins with established modes of action. Ann Rev Microbiol 36: 125–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lakey JH, Duché D, Gonzáles-Manas JM, Baty D, Pattus F (1993) Fluorescence energy transfer distance measurements. The hydrophobic helical hairpin of colicin A in the membrane bound state. J Mol Biol 230: 1055–1067.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazdunski C, Baty D, Geli V, Cavard D, Morlon J, Lloubes R, Howard SP, Knibiehler M, Chartier M, Varenne S, Frenette M, Dasseux JL, Pattus F (1988) The membrane channel-forming colicin A: synthesis, secretion, structure, action and immunity. Biochim Biophys Acta 947: 445–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levengood SK, Beyer WF, Webster RE (1991) TolA: a membrane protein involved in colicin uptake contains an extended helical region. Proc Natl. Acad Sci USA 88: 5939–5943.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luirink J, Mol O, Oudega B (1992) Functioning of the pClo DF13 encoded BRP. In: James R, Lazdunski C, Pattus F (eds) Bacteriocins, microcins and lantibiotics. NATO ASI Series, Series H: Cell biology, vol 65. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, New York, pp 307–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mende J, Braun V (1990) Import-defective colicin B derivatives mutated in the TonB box. Mol Microbiol 4: 1523–1533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ölschläger T (1991) A colicin M derivative containing the lipoprotein signal sequence is secreted and renders the colicin M target accessible from inside the cells. Arch Microbiol 156: 449–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ölschläger T, Turba A, Braun V (1991) Binding of the immunity protein inactivates colicin M. Mol Microbiol 5: 1105–1111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker MW, Postma JPM, Pattus F, Tucker AD, Tsernoglou D (1992) Refined structure of the pore-forming domain of colicin A at 2,4 Å resolution. J Mol Biol 224: 639–657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilsl H, Glaser C, Groß P, Killmann H, Ölschläger T, Braun V (1993) Domains of colicin M involved in uptake and activity. Mol Gen Genet 240: 103–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Postle K, Skare JT (1988) Escherichia coli TonB protein is exported from the cytoplasm without proteolytic cleavage of its amino terminus. J Biol Chem 263: 11000–11007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pugsley AP (1984a) The ins and outs of colicins. Part I. Production and translocation across membranes. Microbiol Sci 1: 168–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pugsley AP (1984b) The ins and outs of colicins. Part II. Lethal action, immunity and ecological implications. Microbiol Sci 1: 203–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pugsley AP, Schwartz M (1984) Colicin E2 release: lysis, leakage or secretion? Possible role of a phospholipase. EMBO J 3: 2393–2397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves P (1972) The bacteriocins. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley MA, Gordon DM (1992) A survey of Col plasmids in natural isolates of Escherichia coli and an investigation into the stability of Col-plasmid lineages. J Gen Microbiol 138: 1345–1352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roos U, Harkness RE, Braun V (1989) Assembly of colicin genes from a few DNA fragments. Nucleotide sequence of colicin D. Mol Microbiol 3: 891–902.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutz JM, Liu J, Lyons JA, Goranson J, Armstrong SK, McIntosh MA, Feix JB, Klebba PE (1992) Formation of a gated channel by a ligand-specific transport protein in the bacterial outer membrane. Science 258: 471–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaller K, Dreher R, Braun V (1981a) Structural and functional properties of colicin M. J Bacteriol 146: 54–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaller K, Krauel A, Braun V (1981b) Temperature-sensitive, colicin M-tolerant mutant of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 147: 135–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schöffler H, Braun V (1989) Transport across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli K12 via the FhuA receptor is regulated by the TonB protein of the cytoplasmic membrane. Mol Gen Genet 217: 378–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shin YK, Levinthal C, Levinthal F, Hubbell WL (1993) Colicin E1 binding to membranes: time-resolved studies of spin-labeled mutants. Science 259: 960–963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skare JT, Postle K (1991) Evidence for a TonB-dependent energy transduction complex in Escherichia coli. Mol Microbiol 5: 2883–2890.

    Google Scholar 

  • Song HY, Cramer WA (1991) Membrane topography of ColE1 gene products: the immunity protein. J Bacteriol 173: 2935–2943.

    Google Scholar 

  • Song HY, Cohen FS, Cramer WA (1991) Membrane topography of ColE1 gene products: the hydrophobic anchor of the colicin E1 channel is a helical hairpin. J Bacteriol 173: 2927–2934.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tagg JR, Dajani AS, Wannamaker LW (1976) Bacteriocins of grampositive bacteria. Bacteriol Rev 40: 722–756.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JA, Valvano MA (1993) Role of tol genes in cloacin DF13 susceptibility of Escherichia coli K-12 strains expressing the cloacin DF13-aerobactin receptor IutA. J Bacteriol 175: 548–552.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilby M, Hindenach I, Henning U (1978) Bypass of receptor-mediated resistance to colicin E3 in Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol 136: 1189–1191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traub I, Gaisser S, Braun V (1993) Activity domains of the TonB protein. Mol Microbiol 8: 409–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuckman M, Osburn MS (1992) In vivo inhibition of TonB-dependent processes by a TonB consensus pentapeptide. J Bacteriol 174: 320–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YL, Cramer WA (1993) Intramembrane helix-helix-interactions as the basis of inhibition of the colicin E1 ion channel by its immunity protein. J Biol Chem 268: 10176–10184.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Braun, V., Pilsl, H. & Groß, P. Colicins: structures, modes of action, transfer through membranes, and evolution. Arch. Microbiol. 161, 199–206 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248693

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248693

Navigation