Matrix plasticity and the molecular basis of extracellular filament assembly in <i>Bacillus cereus</i>
that governs the polymerization of filaments within the extracellular matrix (ECM). This tripartite system comprises CapP, a chaperone-like protein, and the structural subunits TasA and CalY. CapP modulates filament formation in a concentration- and domain-dependent manner, promoting ordered heteropolymer assembly while preventing uncontrolled aggregation. Disrupting this pathway leads to distinct compensatory changes in matrix composition-including exopolysaccharide expression, extracellular DNA release, and flagellar regulation-revealing an unexpected level of matrix plasticity. Our findings uncover a unique mechanism of ECM biogenesis in Gram-positive bacteria and suggest that plasticity in matrix organization may be a widespread adaptive strategy across bacterial lineages.
Authors
- Muhammed Bilal Abdul-Shukkoor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5047-4265)
- Antoine Loquet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7176-7813)
- María Luisa Antequera‐Gómez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8920-2028)
- Joaquín Caro‐Astorga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4650-6376)
- Mélanie Berbon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3235-253X)
- Axelle Grélard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6708-2253)
- Kuipers Oscar P.
- Brice Kauffmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2932-3255)
- Birgit Habenstein (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3723-9552)
- Antonio de Vicente (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2716-9861)
- Montserrat Grifé-Ruiz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9090-5975)
- Ana Alvarez-Mena
- Diego Romero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2052-6515)
- Estelle Morvan
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- University of Groningen (NL)
- Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora" (ES)
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie (FR)
- Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (FR)
- Universidad de Málaga (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science Advances
- Published
- 2026-04-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea1826
- Primary Topic
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Molecular Biology Organization
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
- Junta de Andalucía
- European Research Council
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación