Substrate recognition of a structure motif for phosphorylcholine post-translational modification in Neisseria meningitidis

Neisseria meningitidis is a human pathogen that can cause life threatening meningitis and sepsis. Pili of Neisseria are one of the major virulence factors in host–pathogen interaction. Pilin of N.meningitidis is post-translationally modified by a glycan and two phosphorylcholines (ChoP). ChoP modifications have been found to have an important role in bacterial colonisation and invasion. Unlike N. gonorrhoeae, ChoP modifications on pili seem to be restricted to the C-terminus of pilin protein in N. meningitidis. In this study, we investigate the substrate recognition of phosphorylcholine transferase. We found that a single sequence of D–A–S after the disulphide bond of pilin protein is able to form a motif for ChoP modifications and the charge residue in this motif and the local structure are essential for the substrate recognition.

► Phosphorylcholine biosynthesis does not require exogenous choline in Neisseria meningitidis.
► Pilin is the only substrate for phosphorylcholine modification in N. meningitidis.
► The sequence requirement for phosphorylcholine is D–A–S.
► Structural features and charge residues in the sequence are important for substrate recognition.