Crotonylation driving Streptococcus pneumoniae adaption and virulence.

INTRODUCTION

To cope with the host's stressful environment and immune clearance, some drug-resistant bacteria have reduced their virulence. Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are known to regulate numerous critical biological processes; however, their specific role in modulating bacterial virulence remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

This study seeks to elucidate the mechanistic role of lysine crotonylation (Kcr) in modulating Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence and adaptive survival.

METHODS

This study employed quantitative differential proteomics combined with animal models to delineate the critical role of Kcr in the adaptive survival of clinically multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. A crotonyltransferase was identified via knockout/overexpression screening, and its regulatory role was characterized using multi-omics characterization methods, including biochemical and molecular biology assays. Antibody-based enrichment coupled with proteomic techniques was utilized to map the enzyme-substrate network of the crotonyltransferase while comprehensive biochemical analyses-including isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), hemolysis assays, immunoblotting, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and molecular docking, deciphered its mechanism in modulating the virulence effector pneumolysin (PLY).

RESULTS

Our results reveal that mice infected with clinically multidrug-resistant S.pn strains exhibit enhanced invasiveness but attenuated virulence. Quantitative proteomics reveal that Kcr serves as a critical regulator of bacterial virulence and host adaptation. SPD_0839 functions as a crotonyltransferase in S.pn, with Phe93 as its critical catalytic residue. SPD_0839 upregulates 205 Kcr sites on 153 substrates, enhancing the Kcr levels of key enzymes involved in energy metabolism, thereby regulating ATP production. Notably, SPD_0839 modulates the function of the key virulence factor PLY by catalyzing Kcr at Lys171 and Lys442, increases its pore-forming activity and ultimately enhances bacterial hemolysis activity and virulence.

CONCLUSION

Our findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying PLY hemolytic activity regulated by Kcr, revealing its importance in bacterial survival and virulence. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the important biological roles of Kcr in S.pn and offers potential theoretical foundations for developing new antibacterial drugs.