The two-component cell lysis genes holWMY and lysWMY of the Staphylococcus warneri M phage ϕWMY: Cloning, sequencing, expression, and mutational analysis in Escherichia coli

From the genome library of Staphylococcus warneri M, the two successive cell-lysis genes (holWMY and lytWMY) were cloned and characterized. The lytWMY gene encoded a protein (LysWMY), whose calculated molecular mass and pI were 54 kDa and 8.95, respectively. When overproduced in Escherichia coli, lysWMY directed a protein of 45 kDa (smaller than the predicted molecular mass), having N-terminal 13 residues identical with those predicted from DNA. Comparative analysis revealed that LysWMY significantly resembles the putative N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidases encoded by the staphylococcal phages ϕ11, 80 alpha, and Twort. Examination of modular organization of LysWMY identified three putative domains CHAP (for d-alanyl-glycyl endopeptidase), amidase (l-muramoyl-l-alanine amidase), and SH3 (cell wall recognition). Gene knockout analysis revealed that each of the two domains of CHAP and amidase was responsible for cell-lytic activity on a zymogram gel. Site-directed mutation of Cys29Ala, His92Ala, or Asn114Ala in the CHAP domain substantially reduced cell-lytic activity, suggesting that this Cys-His-Asn triad is crucial for the enzymatic function. On the other hand, the holWMY gene encoded a protein (HolWMY) with molecular mass and pI of 16 kDa and 4.36; this protein contained two potential transmembrane helices, resembling other predicted holins (a cytoplasmic membrane-disrupting protein) encoded by the S. aureus phage, ϕ11, 80 alpha, and Twort. Upon mitomycin C exposure of S. warneri M, a prophage (ϕWMY) was induced and the virion was examined under electron microscopy. PCR amplification and sequencing revealed the presence of the holWMY-lysWMY genes in the phage genome.