D-Alanylation of teichoic acids contributes to Lactobacillus plantarum-mediated Drosophila growth during chronic undernutrition. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matos, Renata; Schwarzer, Martin; Gervais, Hugo; Courtin, Pascal; Joncour, Pauline; Gillet, Benjamin; Ma, Dali; Bulteau, Anne-Laure; Martino, Maria; Hughes, Sandrine; Chapot-Chartier, Marie-Pierre; Leulier, François
• Is Part Of: Nature microbiology. Volume 2:Number 12(2017)
• Page Start: 1635
• Page End: 1647
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.05
• DOI: 10.1038/s41564-017-0038-x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2058-5276

Abstract

Abstract The microbial environment influences animal physiology. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of such functional interactions are largely undefined. Previously, we showed that during chronic undernutrition, strains ofLactobacillus plantarum, a major commensal partner ofDrosophila, promote host juvenile growth and maturation partly through enhanced expression of intestinal peptidases. By screening a transposon insertion library ofLactobacillus plantarum in gnotobioticDrosophila larvae, we identify a bacterial cell-wall-modifying machinery encoded by thepbpX2-dlt operon that is critical to enhance host digestive capabilities and promote animal growth and maturation. Deletion of this operon leads to bacterial cell wall alteration with a complete loss ofd -alanylation of teichoic acids. We show thatL .plantarum cell walls bearingd -alanylated teichoic acids are directly sensed byDrosophila enterocytes to ensure optimal intestinal peptidase expression and activity, juvenile growth and maturation during chronic undernutrition. We thus conclude that besides peptidoglycan, teichoic acid modifications participate in the host–commensal bacteria molecular dialogue occurring in the intestine. Under nutritional limitation, modification of theLactobacillus plantarum cell wall byd -alanylation of teichoic acids is important for host intestinal peptidase expression and consequently growth of theDrosophila host, providing further insights into host–commensal interactions.