Enzyme

Proteases

Virus

Gelatinase

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Antibiotics

Bacteria

Escherichia coli

Biology

Microbiology

Gene

Matrix metalloproteinase

Quorum sensing

Lytic cycle

Chromobacterium violaceum

Autolysin

Enterococcus faecalis

Cell biology

Genetics

Biochemistry

Biofilm

Molecular Microbiology

Extracellular DNA (eDNA), a by-product of cell lysis, was recently established as a critical structural component of the Enterococcus faecalis biofilm matrix. Here, we describe fratricide as the governing principle behind gelatinase (GelE)-mediated cell death and eDNA release. GFP reporter assays confirmed that GBAP (gelatinase biosynthesis-activating pheromone) quorum non-responders (GelE-SprE-) were a minority subpopulation of prey cells susceptible to the targeted fratricidal action of the quorum responsive predatorial majority (GelE+SprE+). The killing action is dependent on GelE, and the GelE producer population is protected from self-destruction by the co-production of SprE as an immunity protein. Targeted gene inactivation and protein interaction studies demonstrate that extracellular proteases execute their characteristic effects following downstream interactions with the primary autolysin, AtlA. Finally, we address a mechanism by which GelE and SprE may modify the cell wall affinity of proteolytically processed AtlA resulting in either a pro- or anti-lytic outcome.

A fratricidal mechanism is responsible for eDNA release and contributes to biofilm development of <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>

A fratricidal mechanism is responsible for eDNA release and contributes to biofilm development of Enterococcus faecalis