8QHS

Cryo-EM structure of the monocin tail-tube, MttP.

This is a non-PDB format compatible entry.

Summary for 8QHS

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb8qhs/pdb
• EMDB information: 18416
• Descriptor: Antigen A (2 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: listeria, monocytogenes, tailocins, toxin
• Biological source: Listeria monocytogenes 10403S
• Total number of polymer chains: 5
• Total formula weight: 90051.30

Authors

Nadejda, S.,Lichtenstein, R.,Schlussel, S.,Azulay, G.,Borovok, I.,Holdengraber, V.,Elad, N.,Wolf, S.G.,Zalk, R.,Zarivach, R.,Frank, G.A.,Herskovits, A.A. (deposition date: 2023-09-10, release date: 2024-06-19, Last modification date: 2025-07-02)

Primary citation

Sigal, N.,Lichtenstein-Wolfheim, R.,Schlussel, S.,Azulay, G.,Borovok, I.,Holdengraber, V.,Elad, N.,Wolf, S.G.,Zalk, R.,Zarivach, R.,Frank, G.A.,Herskovits, A.A.
Specialized Listeria monocytogenes produce tailocins to provide a population-level competitive growth advantage.
Nat Microbiol, 9:2727-2737, 2024

PubMed Abstract: Tailocins are phage tail-like bacteriocins produced by various bacterial species to kill kin competitors. Given that tailocin release is dependent upon cell lysis, regulation of tailocin production at the single-cell and population level remains unclear. Here we used flow cytometry, competition assays and structural characterization of tailocin production in a human bacterial pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes. We revealed that a specialized subpopulation, constituting less than 1% of the total bacterial population, differentiates to produce, assemble and store thousands of tailocin particles. Tailocins are packed in a highly ordered manner, clustered in a liquid crystalline phase that occupies a substantial volume of the cell. Tailocin production confers a competitive growth advantage for the rest of the population. This study provides molecular insights into tailocin production as a form of altruism, showing how cell specialization within bacterial populations can confer competitive advantages at the population level.

PubMed: 39300324
DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01793-9

Experimental method

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (2.3 Å)