Laboratories

Grażyna Jagura-Burdzy, PhD, DSc, Prof.

Laboratory of DNA Segregation and Life Cycle of Proteobacteria

Research Scope

Our laboratory is interested in mechanisms of DNA segregation, control of the cell cycle, the regulation of gene expression, and the virulence of Pseudomonas pathogens. The role of partition proteins in chromosome topology and the modulation of transcriptome is studied. Deciphering the biological function of the Nudix hydrolases is supervised by dr. hab. Elżbieta Kraszewska who has recently joined our group. Our long-term goal is to identify potential targets that, when inactivated, limit the survival of these pathogens.

Research

Main Scientific Achievements

  • We revealed the ability of ParB to act as a nucleoid-associated protein that specifically binds to multiple, short sequences in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome, indicating that ParB may play a role in genome topology.
  • We revealed that ParA and ParB directly and indirectly act as global transcriptional regulators in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • We proved that a single, palindromic, high-affinity parS binding site in the proximity of the replication origin oriC is required and sufficient for accurate chromosome segregation in Proteobacteria.
  • We deciphered three backbone functions of a modular RA3 plasmid and its efficient multilevel regulatory network. We discovered a new type of relaxase and showed that the alpha-helical rod-like KfrA protein is a new player in the active partition process of low copy number, broad-host-range conjugative plasmids.
  • We revealed participation of Nudix hydrolases in intracellular redox balance and in response to oxidative stress, resistance to β-lactam antibiotics and virulence of Pseudomonas spp.

Research Description

We are mainly interested in the mechanisms of DNA segregation in bacterial cells. Bacteria have multipartite genomes that are built of single or multiple chromosomes and various plasmids. To obtain a more complete picture of DNA segregation between progeny cells, we study two different aspects: active partitioning systems of broad-host-range (BHR), low-copy-number plasmids and the chromosome segregation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important human opportunistic pathogen. We first studied RK2 and R751 plasmids of the IncP group as the plasmid models and then initiated an analysis of a BHR, conjugative RA3 plasmid, an archetype of the IncU group, which is an environmentally important vehicle that drives horizontal-gene transfer (HGT). We sequenced the RA3 plasmid genome (49.5 kb) and analyzed in detail its replication, stable maintenance, and conjugative functions and its regulatory network and adaptability to various hosts. The comparative analysis helped us understand the mechanisms that plasmids use to accomplish their state-of-art adaptation to phylogenetically distant hosts. Knowledge of the mechanisms that are involved in the stable maintenance and spread of plasmids allowed us to construct convenient vectors, based on RA3 and RK2 replicons, that can be used for the cloning and shuffling of gene cassettes or studying plasmid stability functions in various bacterial strains.

Our second line of research focuses on P. aeruginosa with a single, circular chromosome and a simple cell cycle. P. aeruginosa represents the majority of bacterial species that encode an active partition system that is homologous to plasmidic Class IA systems, with two proteic components: ParA (a Walker-type adenosine triphosphatase) and ParB (a DNA binding protein) and parSs, centromere-like sequences. We dissected domain structures of ParA and ParB, constructed P. aeruginosa mutants that were deficient in par genes, and various combinations of parS sites and analyzed the consequences of these defects on cell biology. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated the alteration of expression of more than 600 and 1000 genes in the parA-deficient and parB-deficient strains, respectively, indicating the role of both Par proteins in global gene expression regulation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis demonstrated ParB binding not only to the nine highly conserved, palindromic 16 nt parS sequences but also to 7 nt motifs (half-parS sites) that occurred in more than 1000 positions in the genome. The occupation of these sites depends on the availability of ParB (likely reflecting natural fluctuations during the cell cycle) and number of parSs, especially the four highest affinity binding sites adjacent to oriC. We demonstrated the ability of ParB to directly repress the expression of certain operons and postulated an indirect role for ParB in gene regulation through changes in genome topology (project underway), interactions with partners, and control over the synthesis of distinct transcriptional regulators. Various ParA and ParB partners that are involved in the cell cycle, cell division, metabolism, motility, antibiotic resistance, and virulence were identified by pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation, the construction of a P. aeruginosa genomic library in the BACTH vector, and its screening. In parallel, an extensive analysis of six previously uncharacterized transcriptional regulators whose expression was altered in parA and parB mutants was conducted. Their regulons have been established (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq), indicating their involvement in vital cellular processes, including the TCA cycle, glycerolipid and amino acid metabolism, and transport or osmoprotection functions. Further studies are planned to decipher the role of the interplay between ParA and ParB with partners and chosen transcriptional regulators and their targets in the biology of P. aeruginosa. The research hypothesis envisions the existence of a multilayered regulatory network in P. aeruginosa, in which ParA and ParB proteins may play superior roles in the coordination of chromosome segregation with the cell cycle process by directly or indirectly modulating functions of transcriptional regulators or other important players.

The genome sequence of the laboratory strain P. aeruginosa PAO1161 that is used in our research was established, providing the opportunity of comparative genomic studies and investigations of horizontal gene transfer. The strain was found to carry ICEPae1161, a functional PAPI-1 family integrative conjugative element and prophage, thus paving the way for future investigations of horizontal gene transfer that is mediated by these elements.

Our current research focuses on four aspects: (1) role of ParB in the organization of bacterial chromosome topology, (2) detailed characterization of ParA and ParB partners and identification of novel players that are involved in the segregation of DNA in bacterial cells and bacterial cell division, (3) role of ParB in the modulation of gene expression (i.e., physiology of bacterial cells), (4) role of various Nudix proteins in Pseudomonas virulence and metabolism. A long-term goal is to identify key proteins that may be potential targets for antibacterial therapy.

  • Bibliography
  1. Lewicka et al., Appl Environ Microbiol. 2021. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01771-20
  2. Lewicka et al., Appl Environ Microbiol. 2020. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00847-20
  3. Kawalek et al., Microorganisms. 2020. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8010105
  4. Kawalek et al., BMC Genomics. 2020. doi: 10.1186/s12864-019-6378-6
  5. Kraszewska and Drabinska, Microbiology SGM (Reading). 2020. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.000993.
  6. Kawalek et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 2018. doi: 10.1093/nar/gky257
  7. Godziszewska et al., Mol Microbiol. doi: 10.1111/mmi.13401
  8. Jecz et al., PLoS One. 2015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120867
  9. Bartosik et al., PLoS One. 2014. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087276
  10. Kusiak et al., J Bacteriol. 2011. doi: 10.1128/JB.00328-11

Methodology

We are experts in molecular biology techniques, including genetic manipulations that lead to deletion or substitution mutants in plasmids and chromosomes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR), real-time PCR, chemical mutagenesis, PCR site-directed mutagenesis, cloning by Gibson assembly, the analysis of protein-protein interactions by BACTH, the preparation of genome libraries in BACTH vectors, protein purification, co-immunoprecipitation, pull down with tagged protein as bait, two-dimensional protein electrophoresis, Western blot, fluorescence, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-based immunofluorescence microscopy. We are experts in DNA-protein analysis using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, pull-down with biotinylated DNA, DNaseI footprinting, and Northern analysis and transcription-translation in vitro. We specialize in transcriptomic analysis using RT-qPCR and RNA sequencing. We have mastered library preparations and data analysis using ChIP-seq and 3C seq and are currently adapting HiC and HiC-ChIP for genome topology analyses. Our laboratory is equipped with a LightCycler480 (Roche) system for qPCR analysis and a multimode VarioskanLUX (ThermoFisher Scientific) microplate reader, which allows various measurements of absorbance, fluorescence intensity, and luminescence.

Selected Publications

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa partitioning protein ParB acts as a nucleoid-associated protein binding to multiple copies of a parS-related motif. Kawalek A, Bartosik AA, Glabski K, Jagura-Burdzy G. Nucleic Acids Res. 2018. doi: 10.1093/nar/gky257.
  • Transcriptional profiling of ParA and ParB mutants in actively dividing cells of an opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bartosik AA, Glabski K, Jecz P, Mikulska S, Fogtman A, Koblowska M, Jagura-Burdzy G. PLoS One. 2014. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087276.
  • Binding and spreading of ParB on DNA determine its biological function in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Kusiak M, Gapczynska A, Plochocka D, Thomas CM, Jagura-Burdzy G. J Bacteriol. 2011 doi: 10.1128/JB.00328-11.
  • Unique properties of alpha-helical DNA-binding KfrA protein of RA3 plasmid from IncU incompatibility group and its host-dependent role in plasmid maintenance. Lewicka E., Mitura M., Steczkiewicz K., Kieracinska J., Skrzynska K., Adamczyk M., Jagura-Burdzy G. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01771-20
  • Nudix-type RNA pyrophosphohydrolase provides homeostasis of virulence factor pyocyanin and functions as a global regulator in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Kujawa M, Lirski M, Ziecina M, Drabinska J, Modzelan M,Kraszewska E. Mol. Microbiol. 2017. doi: 10.1111/mmi.13771.

Collaborations

  • Christopher M. Thomas, School of Biological Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
  • Finbarr Hayes Faculty of Life Sciences and Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, The University of Manchester, Manchester UK
  • Fernando de la Cruz, Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnologia de Cantabria (IBBTEC), Santander, Spain
  • Hwan You Chang, Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, ROC
  • Dariusz Bartosik, Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw
  • Jolanta Mierzejewska, Chair of Drug and Cosmetics Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
  • Małgorzata Adamczyk, Chair of Drug and Cosmetics Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland

Publications (IBB PAS affiliated)

BARTOSIK A.A., GŁĄBSKI K., JĘCZ P., LASOCKI K.W., MIKOSA M., PLOCHOCKA D., THOMAS CH.M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Dissection of the region of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ParA that is important for dimerization and interactions with its partner ParB. Microbiology (2014) 160(11): 2406-2420 IF 2.835
MODZELAN M., KUJAWA M., GŁĄBSKI K., JAGURA-BURDZY G., KRASZEWSKA E., NudC Nudix hydrolase from Pseudomonas syringae, but not its counterpart from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is a novel regulator of intracellular redox balance required for growth, motility and biofilm formation. Molecular Microbiology (2014) 93(5): 867–882 IF 5.026
BARTOSIK A.A., GŁĄBSKI K., JĘCZ P., MIKULSKA S., FOGTMAN A., KOBLOWSKA M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Transcriptional profiling of ParA and ParB mutants in actively dividing cells of an opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PLOS ONE (2014) 9(1): e87276 (16p.) IF 3.534
KUJDA M., ADAMCZYK Z., JAGURA-BURDZY G., ADAMCZYK M.A., KfrA plasmid protein monolayers on latex particles-electrokinetic. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (2013) 112: 165-170 IF 3.554
LUDWICZAK M., DOLOWY P., MARKOWSKA A., SZARLAK J., KULINSKA A., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Global transcriptional regulator KorC coordinates expression of three backbone modules of the broad-host-range RA3 plasmid from IncU incompatibility group. Plasmid (2013) 70(1): 131-145 IF 1.276
ADAMCZYK Z., KUJDA M., NATTICH-RAK M., LUDWICZAK M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., ADAMCZYK M.A., Revealing properties of the KfrA plasmid protein via combined DLS, AFM and electrokinetic measurements. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (2013) 103: 635–641 IF 3.554
DMOWSKI M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Active stable maintenance functions in low copy-number plasmids of Gram-positive bacteria. II. Post-segregational kiling systems. Polish Journal of Microbiology (2013) 62(1): 17-22 IF 0.768
DMOWSKI M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Active stable maintenance functions in low copy-number plasmids of Gram-positive bacteria. I. Partition systems. Polish Journal of Microbiology (2013) 62(1): 3-16 IF 0.768
MIERZEJEWSKA J., BARTOSIK A.A., MACIOSZEK M., PLOCHOCKA D., THOMAS C.M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Identification of C-terminal hydrophobic residues important for dimerization and all known functions of ParB of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiology SGM (2012) 158(5) : 1183-1195 IF 3.061
MIERZEJEWSKA J., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Prokaryotic ParA–ParB–parS system links bacterial chromosome segregation with the cell cycle. Plasmid (2012) 67(1): 1-14 IF 1.516
BARTOSIK A.A., MARKOWSKA A., SZARLAK J., KULINSKA A., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Novel broad-host-range vehicles for cloning and shuffling of gene cassettes. Journal of Microbiological Methods (2012) 88(1): 53-62 IF 2.086
KUSIAK M.B., GAPCZYŃSKA A., PLOCHOCKA D., THOMAS CH.M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Binding and spreading of ParB on DNA determine its biological function in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Bacteriology (2011) 193(13): 3342-3355 IF 3.726
DMOWSKI M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Mapping of interactions between partition proteins Delta and Omega of plasmid pSM19035 from Streptococcus pyogenes. Microbiology-SGM (2011) 157: 1009-1020 IF 2.957
KULINSKA A., CAO Y., MACIOSZEK M., HAYES F., JAGURA-BURDZY G., The centromere site of the segregation cassette of broad-host-range plasmid RA3 is located at the border of the maintenance and conjugative transfer modules. Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2011) 77(7) : 2414-2427 IF 3.778
BARTOSIK A.A., MIERZEJEWSKA J., THOMAS C.M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., ParB deficiency in Pseudomonas aeruginosa destabilizes the partner protein ParA and affects a variety of physiological parameters. Microbiology (2009) 155: 1080-1092 IF 2,841
KULINSKA A., CZEREDYS M., HAYES F., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Genomic and functional characterization of the modular broad-host-range RA3 plasmid, the archetype of the IncU group. Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2008) 74(3): 4119-4132 IF 4,004
LASOCKI K.W., BARTOSIK A.A., MIERZEJEWSKA J., THOMAS CH.M., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Deletion of the parA (soj) homologue in Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes ParB instability and affects growth rate, chromosome segregation, and motility. Journal of Bacteriology (2007) 189(15): 5762-5772 IF 3,993
MIERZEJEWSKA J., KULINSKA A., JAGURA-BURDZY G., Functional analysis of replication and stability regions of broad-host-range conjugative plasmid CTX-M3 from the IncL/M incompatibility group. Plasmid (2007) 57: 95-107 IF 1,956

Leader

GRAŻYNA JAGURA-BURDZY, PhD, DSc, Prof.

  • PERSONAL BACKGROUND

I have graduated from Warsaw University, Faculty of Biology. My interests in bacterial genetics were ignited by prof. Wacław Gajewski, the superb mentor and fascinating scientific enthusiast. My research career has initiated in 1976 at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw where I worked on PhD degree under supervision of prof. Danuta M. Hulanicka. It gave me an opportunity to work with the great researchers and wonderful people, e.g. prof Nicholas M. Kredich from Duke University Medical Center in Durham North Carolina, in whose group I spent almost three years digging in the sulphur metabolism of Enterobacteriaceae and prof. Christopher M. Thomas from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom with whom I worked for nine years on bacterial plasmid genetics. During these years I had a privilege to get to know the famous founding fathers of Biotechnology, Molecular Biology and Plasmidology. They convinced me that the way I had chosen was the right and fascinating one. After getting back to Poland in 1997 I was offered the position in the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, PAS by prof. Włodzimierz Zagórski. I established my research group in the Department of Microbial Biochemistry with the support of prof. Piotr Cegłowski. I could pursue my love to plasmid biology and in parallel to initiate a new project on the genome segregation in bacteria financed by Wellcome Trust. Since then I was lucky to collaborate with and supervise 15 enthusiastic PhD students, the majority of whom was honored the distinctions for their PhD Thesis.

  • AUTHOR IDENTIFIERS

ORCID: 0000-0002-0794-2565

  • DEGREES

2006 – Professor
1997 – D.Sc. Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, biological sciences
1980 – Ph.D. Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, (Honors), biochemistry
1976 – MSci, University of Warsaw, Biology Faculty, specialization Microbiology and Bacterial genetics

  • PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT/ EXPERIENCE

1980 – 1982 – Research Associate, Department of Medicine and Biochemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
1983 – 1988 – Research Associate, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, PAS, Warsaw
1989 – 1995 – Medical Research Council funded Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
1996 – 1997  – Wellcome Trust funded Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
1998 – 2006 – Associate Professor, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
2006 – present – Professor, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw

  • PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

1998 – present research group leader
1999 – 2022 – Member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences
2004 – present – Member of the American Society of Microbiology

  • DOCTORATES DEFENDED UNDER LAB LEADER’S SUPERVISION

Małgorzata Adamczyk (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction), Aneta A. Bartosik (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction, rewarded by Prime Minister), Krzysztof Lasocki (principal supervision), Anna Kulińska (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction), Patrycja Dołowy (principal supervision), Michał Dmowski (principal supervision), Jolanta Mierzejewska (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction), Magdalena Kusiak (principal supervision), Aleksandra Markowska (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction), Jolanta Godziszewska (Szarlak) (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction), Krzysztof Głąbski (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction), Paulina Jęcz (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction), Marta Ludwiczak (principal supervision; thesis defended with distinction), Ewa Lewicka (principal supervision), Monika Mitura (principal supervision).

Team