Biology subjects

Matos, R. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Matos, R. C..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A DltE-DltD-DltX interaction network regulates lipoteichoic acid D-alanylation in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and symbiotic drosophila growth promotion

D-alanylation of teichoic acids is a widespread modification of Gram-positive bacterial cell envelopes that modulates resistance to environmental stresses and host interactions. Although the cytosolic steps of this pathway are well characterized, the extracellular reactions responsible for transferring D-alanine onto teichoic acids remain poorly understood. Here we investigate the role of DltD in the commensal bacterium Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. We determined the 2.3 [A] crystal structure of the extracellular catalytic domain of DltD, which adopts an SGNH-hydrolase fold with a conserved Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad. Docking analyses with lipoteichoic acids (LTA) fragments suggest that the glycerol-phosphate backbone of LTA is accommodated along a surface groove leading to the catalytic serine, with conserved residues contributing to substrate positioning. Biochemical measurements further reveal direct interactions between DltD, the acyl-carrier protein DltX, and the LTA esterase DltE. The conserved C-terminal motif of DltX binds DltD and is required for efficient D-alanylation and for L. plantarum-mediated promotion of Drosophila juvenile growth. Together, these findings support a DltX-dependent acyl-transfer mechanism and reveal an interaction network that coordinates LTA D-alanylation in a symbiotic bacterium.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Symbiosis through lysis: prophage activation underlies Lactiplantibacillus plantarum probiotic function

The release of bacterial bioactive molecules across the gut barrier is a crucial yet poorly understood step in microbe-host molecular dialog. Here we unravel a phage-driven mechanism that enables this process in a symbiont that supports host adaptive growth. In Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NC8 (LpNC8), we identify a stress-inducible prophage, pp2, that undergoes genotoxic-stress-dependent activation in vivo and triggers holin-lysin-mediated lysis. This controlled lytic program produces phage particles together with extracellular vesicles (EVs), enriched in symbiotic cues, including lipoteichoic acids. In a model of beneficial symbiosis, pp2-dependent lysis is strictly required for the ability of LpNC8to support juvenile growth in nutritionally challenged Drosophila melanogaster. Disruption of pp2-dependent lysis abolishes EVs release in vitro and alters the growth-promoting effect in vivo. We show that the acidic region of the Drosophila midgut, but not host antimicrobial peptides nor lysozymes, acts as a physiological trigger of prophage induction: removal of this acidic compartment markedly reduces phage production and impairs LpNC8-mediated growth promotion. These findings demonstrate that host gut physiology regulates prophage activation and reveal prophage-induced lysis as a previously unrecognized mechanism by which a beneficial gut bacterium releases symbiotic cues to support host development during nutritional stress.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Structure-Function analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DltE reveals D-alanylated lipoteichoic acids as direct symbiotic cues supporting Drosophila juvenile growth

Metazoans establish mutually beneficial interactions with their resident microorganisms. However, our understanding of the microbial cues contributing to host physiology remains elusive. Previously, we identified a bacterial machinery encoded by the dlt operon involved in Drosophila melanogasters juvenile growth promotion by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Here, using crystallography combined with biochemical and cellular approaches, we investigate the physiological role of an uncharacterized protein (DltE) encoded by this operon. We show that LTAs but not WTAs are D-alanylated in Lactiplantibacillus plantarumNC8 cell envelope and demonstrate that DltE is a D-Ala carboxyesterase removing D-Ala from LTA. Using the mutualistic association of L. plantarumNC8 and Drosophila melanogaster as a symbiosis model, we establish that D-Ala-LTAs are direct symbiotic cues supporting intestinal peptidase expression and juvenile growth in Drosophila. Our results pave the way to probing the contribution of D-Ala-LTA to host physiology in other symbiotic models.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2017

D-Alanine esterification of teichoic acids contributes to Lactobacillus plantarum mediated intestinal peptidase expression and Drosophila growth promotion upon chronic undernutrition

The microbial environment influence animal physiology. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of such functional interactions are largely undefined. Previously, we showed that upon chronic undernutrition, strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, a dominant commensal partner of Drosophila, promote host juvenile growth and maturation partly via enhanced expression of intestinal peptidases. By screening a transposon insertion library of Lactobacillus plantarum in gnotobiotic Drosophila larvae, we identify a bacterial cell wall modifying machinery encoded by the pbpX2-dltXABCD operon that is critical to enhance host digestive capabilities and promote growth and maturation. Deletion of this operon leads to bacterial cell wall alteration with a complete loss of teichoic acids D-alanylation. We thus conclude that teichoic acids modifications participate in commensal-host interactions and specifically, D-alanine esterification of teichoic acids contributes to optimal L. plantarum mediated intestinal peptidase expression and Drosophila juvenile growth upon chronic undernutrition.\n\nHighlights- LpNC8 mutant library screening identifies genes affecting Drosophila growth promotion.\n- pbpX2-dlt operon is required for D-alanylation of teichoic acids and Drosophila growth.\n- Deleting the pbpX2-dlt operon alters host intestinal peptidase expression.\n- Peptidoglycan and pbpX2-dlt dependent signals are required for LpNC8 mediated growth promotion.\n\n\neTOC blurbAnimals establish interactions with their microbial communities that shape many aspects of their physiology including juvenile growth. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely undefined. Matos et al. reveal that bacterial teichoic acids modifications contribute to host juvenile growth promotion.

microbiology↗