A reassessment of the FNR regulon and transcriptomic analysis of the effects of nitrate, nitrite, NarXL, and NarQP as Escherichia coli K12 adapts from aerobic to anaerobic growth

Reassessing the Structure and Function Relationship of the O2 Sensing Transcription Factor FNR

SIGNIFICANCE

The Escherichia coli regulatory protein fumarate nitrate reduction (FNR) mediates a global transcriptional response upon O₂ deprivation. Spanning nearly 40 years of research investigations, our understanding of how FNR senses and responds to O₂ has considerably progressed despite a lack of structural information for most of that period. This knowledge has established the paradigm for how facultative anaerobic bacteria sense changes in O₂ tension. Recent Advances: Recently, the X-ray crystal structure of Aliivibrio fischeri FNR with its [4Fe-4S] cluster cofactor was solved and has provided valuable new insight into FNR structure and function. These findings have alluded to the conformational changes that may occur to alter FNR activity in response to O₂.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Here, we review the major features of this structure in context of previously acquired data. In doing so, we discuss additional mechanistic aspects of FNR function that warrant further investigation.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

To complement the [4Fe-4S]-FNR structure, the structures of apo-FNR and FNR bound to DNA or RNA polymerase are needed. Together, these structures would elevate our understanding of how ligation of its [4Fe-4S] cluster allows FNR to regulate transcription according to the level of environmental O₂.

Dynamic control of endogenous metabolism with combinatorial logic circuits

Controlling gene expression during a bioprocess enables real-time metabolic control, coordinated cellular responses, and staging order-of-operations. Achieving this with small molecule inducers is impractical at scale and dynamic circuits are difficult to design. Here, we show that the same set of sensors can be integrated by different combinatorial logic circuits to vary when genes are turned on and off during growth. Three Escherichia coli sensors that respond to the consumption of feedstock (glucose), dissolved oxygen, and by-product accumulation (acetate) are constructed and optimized. By integrating these sensors, logic circuits implement temporal control over an 18-h period. The circuit outputs are used to regulate endogenous enzymes at the transcriptional and post-translational level using CRISPRi and targeted proteolysis, respectively. As a demonstration, two circuits are designed to control acetate production by matching their dynamics to when endogenous genes are expressed (pta or poxB) and respond by turning off the corresponding gene. This work demonstrates how simple circuits can be implemented to enable customizable dynamic gene regulation.

Anaerobic Bacterial Response to Nitrosative Stress

This chapter provides an overview of current knowledge of how anaerobic bacteria protect themselves against nitrosative stress. Nitric oxide (NO) is the primary source of this stress. Aerobically its removal is an oxidative process, whereas reduction is required anaerobically. Mechanisms required to protect aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are therefore different. Several themes recur in the review. First, how gene expression is regulated often provides clues to the physiological function of the gene products. Second, the physiological significance of reports based upon experiments under extreme conditions that bacteria do not encounter in their natural environment requires reassessment. Third, responses to the primary source of stress need to be distinguished from secondary consequences of chemical damage due to failure of repair mechanisms to cope with extreme conditions. NO is generated by many mechanisms, some of which remain undefined. An example is the recent demonstration that the hybrid cluster protein combines with YtfE (or RIC protein, for repair of iron centres damaged by nitrosative stress) in a new pathway to repair key iron-sulphur proteins damaged by nitrosative stress. The functions of many genes expressed in response to nitrosative stress remain either controversial or are completely unknown. The concentration of NO that accumulates in the bacterial cytoplasm is essentially unknown, so dogmatic statements cannot be made that damage to transcription factors (Fur, FNR, SoxRS, MelR, OxyR) occurs naturally as part of a physiologically relevant signalling mechanism. Such doubts can be resolved by simple experiments to meet six proposed criteria.

Carbohydrate Utilization in Bacteria: Making the Most Out of Sugars with the Help of Small Regulatory RNAs

Survival of bacteria in ever-changing habitats with fluctuating nutrient supplies requires rapid adaptation of their metabolic capabilities. To this end, carbohydrate metabolism is governed by complex regulatory networks including posttranscriptional mechanisms that involve small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins. sRNAs limit the response to substrate availability and set the threshold or time required for induction and repression of carbohydrate utilization systems. Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) also involves sRNAs. In Enterobacteriaceae, sRNA Spot 42 cooperates with the transcriptional regulator cyclic AMP (cAMP)-receptor protein (CRP) to repress secondary carbohydrate utilization genes when a preferred sugar is consumed. In pseudomonads, CCR operates entirely at the posttranscriptional level, involving RNA-binding protein Hfq and decoy sRNA CrcZ. Moreover, sRNAs coordinate fluxes through central carbohydrate metabolic pathways with carbohydrate availability. In Gram-negative bacteria, the interplay between RNA-binding protein CsrA and its cognate sRNAs regulates glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in response to signals derived from metabolism. Spot 42 and cAMP-CRP jointly downregulate tricarboxylic acid cycle activity when glycolytic carbon sources are ample. In addition, bacteria use sRNAs to reprogram carbohydrate metabolism in response to anaerobiosis and iron limitation. Finally, sRNAs also provide homeostasis of essential anabolic pathways, as exemplified by the hexosamine pathway providing cell envelope precursors. In this review, we discuss the manifold roles of bacterial sRNAs in regulation of carbon source uptake and utilization, substrate prioritization, and metabolism.

Tuning the modular Paracoccus denitrificans respirome to adapt from aerobic respiration to anaerobic denitrification

Bacterial denitrification is a respiratory process that is a major source and sink of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Many denitrifying bacteria can adjust to life in both oxic and anoxic environments through differential expression of their respiromes in response to environmental signals such as oxygen, nitrate and nitric oxide. We used steady-state oxic and anoxic chemostat cultures to demonstrate that the switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism is brought about by changes in the levels of expression of relatively few genes, but this is sufficient to adjust the configuration of the respirome to allow the organism to efficiently respire nitrate without the significant release of intermediates, such as nitrous oxide. The regulation of the denitrification respirome in strains deficient in the transcription factors FnrP, Nnr and NarR was explored and revealed that these have both inducer and repressor activities, possibly due to competitive binding at similar DNA binding sites. This may contribute to the fine tuning of expression of the denitrification respirome and so adds to the understanding of the regulation of nitrous oxide emission by denitrifying bacteria in response to different environmental signals.

Coordinated response of the Desulfovibrio desulfuricans 27774 transcriptome to nitrate, nitrite and nitric oxide

The sulfate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans inhabits both the human gut and external environments. It can reduce nitrate and nitrite as alternative electron acceptors to sulfate to support growth. Like other sulphate reducing bacteria, it can also protect itself against nitrosative stress caused by NO generated when nitrite accumulates. By combining in vitro experiments with bioinformatic and RNA-seq data, metabolic responses to nitrate or NO and how nitrate and nitrite reduction are coordinated with the response to nitrosative stress were revealed. Although nitrate and nitrite reduction are tightly regulated in response to substrate availability, the global responses to nitrate or NO were largely regulated independently. Multiple NADH dehydrogenases, transcription factors of unknown function and genes for iron uptake were differentially expressed in response to electron acceptor availability or nitrosative stress. Amongst many fascinating problems for future research, the data revealed a YtfE orthologue, Ddes_1165, that is implicated in the repair of nitrosative damage. The combined data suggest that three transcription factors coordinate this regulation in which NrfS-NrfR coordinates nitrate and nitrite reduction to minimize toxicity due to nitrite accumulation, HcpR1 serves a global role in regulating the response to nitrate, and HcpR2 regulates the response to nitrosative stress.

Acid Evolution of Escherichia coli K-12 Eliminates Amino Acid Decarboxylases and Reregulates Catabolism

Acid-adapted strains of Escherichia coli K-12 W3110 were obtained by serial culture in medium buffered at pH 4.6 (M. M. Harden, A. He, K. Creamer, M. W. Clark, I. Hamdallah, K. A. Martinez, R. L. Kresslein, S. P. Bush, and J. L. Slonczewski, Appl Environ Microbiol 81:1932-1941, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.03494-14). Revised genomic analysis of these strains revealed insertion sequence (IS)-driven insertions and deletions that knocked out regulators CadC (acid induction of lysine decarboxylase), GadX (acid induction of glutamate decarboxylase), and FNR (anaerobic regulator). Each acid-evolved strain showed loss of one or more amino acid decarboxylase systems, which normally help neutralize external acid (pH 5 to 6) and increase survival in extreme acid (pH 2). Strains from populations B11, H9, and F11 had an IS5 insertion or IS-mediated deletion in cadC, while population B11 had a point mutation affecting the arginine activator adiY The cadC and adiY mutants failed to neutralize acid in the presence of exogenous lysine or arginine. In strain B11-1, reversion of an rpoC (RNA polymerase) mutation partly restored arginine-dependent neutralization. All eight strains showed deletion or downregulation of the Gad acid fitness island. Strains with the Gad deletion lost the ability to produce GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and failed to survive extreme acid. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of strain B11-1 showed upregulated genes for catabolism of diverse substrates but downregulated acid stress genes (the biofilm regulator ariR, yhiM, and Gad). Other strains showed downregulation of H₂ consumption mediated by hydrogenases (hya and hyb) which release acid. Strains F9-2 and F9-3 had a deletion of fnr and showed downregulation of FNR-dependent genes (dmsABC, frdABCD, hybABO, nikABCDE, and nrfAC). Overall, strains that had evolved in buffered acid showed loss or downregulation of systems that neutralize unbuffered acid and showed altered regulation of catabolism.IMPORTANCE Experimental evolution of an enteric bacterium under a narrow buffered range of acid pH leads to loss of genes that enhance fitness above or below the buffered pH range, including loss of enzymes that may raise external pH in the absence of buffer. Prominent modes of evolutionary change involve IS-mediated insertions and deletions that knock out key regulators. Over generations of acid stress, catabolism undergoes reregulation in ways that differ for each evolving strain.

Regulation of the Escherichia coli ydhY-T operon in the presence of alternative electron acceptors

The Escherichia coli K-12 ydhY-T operon, coding for a predicted oxidoreductase complex, is activated under anaerobic conditions and repressed in the presence of nitrate or nitrite. Anaerobic activation is mediated by the transcription factor FNR, and nitrate/nitrite repression is mediated by NarXL and NarQP. In vitro transcription reactions revealed that the DNA upstream of ydhY-T contains sufficient information for RNA polymerase alone to initiate transcription from five locations. FNR severely inhibited synthesis of two of these transcripts (located upstream of, and within, the FNR binding site) and activated the FNR-dependent promoter previously identified in vivo. Enhanced expression of ydhY-T in an hns mutant was consistent with the location of ydhY-T within a promoter island and the FNR-independent transcription observed in vitro. FNR-dependent transcription in vitro was decreased in the presence of NarL~P. DNaseI footprinting indicated that FNR and NarL~P simultaneously bound at the ydhY-T promoter region and that NarL~P-mediated repression was due to occupation of the 7-2-7 site located downstream of the FNR-dependent promoter. Expression of ydhY-T during the anaerobic growth cycle was repressed when nitrate was present but less so in the presence of nitrite. In vivo transcription measurements indicated that the alternative electron acceptors, DMSO and fumarate, could also lower ydhY-T expression, whereas trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) permitted high expression. Therefore, expression of ydhY-T is subject to complex regulation in response to electron acceptor availability that involves at least three transcription factors, FNR (anaerobic activation), NarL~P (nitrate repression) and H-NS (repression in the absence of an antagonist; e.g. FNR).

The RicAFT (YmcA-YlbF-YaaT) complex carries two [4Fe-4S]2+ clusters and may respond to redox changes

During times of environmental insult, Bacillus subtilis undergoes developmental changes leading to biofilm formation, sporulation and competence. Each of these states is regulated in part by the phosphorylated form of the master response regulator Spo0A (Spo0A∼P). The phosphorylation state of Spo0A is controlled by a multi-component phosphorelay. RicA, RicF and RicT (previously YmcA, YlbF and YaaT) have been shown to be important regulatory proteins for multiple developmental fates. These proteins directly interact and form a stable complex, which has been proposed to accelerate the phosphorelay. Indeed, this complex is sufficient to stimulate the rate of phosphotransfer amongst the phosphorelay proteins in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that two [4Fe-4S]²⁺ clusters can be assembled on the complex. As with other iron-sulfur cluster-binding proteins, the complex was also found to bind FAD, hinting that these cofactors may be involved in sensing the cellular redox state. This work provides the first comprehensive characterization of an iron-sulfur protein complex that regulates Spo0A∼P levels. Phylogenetic and genetic evidence suggests that the complex plays a broader role beyond stimulation of the phosphorelay.

Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health

Recent insights into the bioactivation and signaling actions of inorganic, dietary nitrate and nitrite now suggest a critical role for the microbiome in the development of cardiac and pulmonary vascular diseases. Once thought to be the inert, end-products of endothelial-derived nitric oxide (NO) heme-oxidation, nitrate and nitrite are now considered major sources of exogenous NO that exhibit enhanced vasoactive signaling activity under conditions of hypoxia and stress. The bioavailability of nitrate and nitrite depend on the enzymatic reduction of nitrate to nitrite by a unique set of bacterial nitrate reductase enzymes possessed by specific bacterial populations in the mammalian mouth and gut. The pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), obesity, hypertension and CVD are linked to defects in NO signaling, suggesting a role for commensal oral bacteria to shape the development of PH through the formation of nitrite, NO and other bioactive nitrogen oxides. Oral supplementation with inorganic nitrate or nitrate-containing foods exert pleiotropic, beneficial vascular effects in the setting of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, ischemia-reperfusion injury and in pre-clinical models of PH, while traditional high-nitrate dietary patterns are associated with beneficial outcomes in hypertension, obesity and CVD. These observations highlight the potential of the microbiome in the development of novel nitrate- and nitrite-based therapeutics for PH, CVD and their risk factors.

Transcriptional Control of Dual Transporters Involved in α-Ketoglutarate Utilization Reveals Their Distinct Roles in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the primary causative agents of urinary tract infections. Some UPEC isolates are able to infect renal proximal tubule cells, and can potentially cause pyelonephritis. We have previously shown that to fulfill their physiological roles renal proximal tubule cells accumulate high concentrations of α-ketoglutarate (KG) and that gene cluster c5032–c5039 contribute to anaerobic utilization of KG by UPEC str. CFT073, thereby promoting its in vivo fitness. Given the importance of utilizing KG for UPEC, this study is designed to investigate the roles of two transporters KgtP and C5038 in KG utilization, their transcriptional regulation, and their contributions to UPEC fitness in vivo. Our phylogenetic analyses support that kgtP is a widely conserved locus in commensal and pathogenic E. coli, while UPEC-associated c5038 was acquired through horizontal gene transfer. Global anaerobic transcriptional regulators Fumarate and nitrate reduction (FNR) and ArcA induced c5038 expression in anaerobiosis, and C5038 played a major role in anaerobic growth on KG. KgtP was required for aerobic growth on KG, and its expression was repressed by FNR and ArcA under anaerobic conditions. Analyses of FNR and ArcA binding sites and results of EMS assays suggest that FNR and ArcA likely inhibit kgtP expression through binding to the –35 region of kgtP promoter and occluding the occupancy of RNA polymerases. Gene c5038 can be specifically induced by KG, whereas the expression of kgtP does not respond to KG, yet can be stimulated during growth on glycerol. In addition, c5038 and kgtP expression were further shown to be controlled by different alternative sigma factors RpoN and RpoS, respectively. Furthermore, dual-strain competition assays in a murine model showed that c5038 mutant but not kgtP mutant was outcompeted by the wild-type strain during the colonization of murine bladders and kidneys, highlighting the importance of C5038 under in vivo conditions. Therefore, different transcriptional regulation led to distinct roles played by C5038 and KgtP in KG utilization and fitness in vivo. This study thus potentially expanded our understanding of UPEC pathobiology.

PerC Manipulates Metabolism and Surface Antigens in Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is an important cause of profuse, watery diarrhea in infants living in developing regions of the world. Typical strains of EPEC (tEPEC) possess a virulence plasmid, while related clinical isolates that lack the pEAF plasmid are termed atypical EPEC (aEPEC). tEPEC and aEPEC tend to cause acute vs. more chronic type infections, respectively. The pEAF plasmid encodes an attachment factor as well as a regulatory operon, perABC. PerC, a poorly understood regulator, was previously shown to regulate expression of the type III secretion system through Ler. Here we elucidate the regulon of PerC using RNA sequencing analysis to better our understanding of the role of the pEAF in tEPEC infection. We demonstrate that PerC controls anaerobic metabolism by increasing expression of genes necessary for nitrate reduction. A tEPEC strain overexpressing PerC exhibited a growth advantage compared to a strain lacking this regulator, when grown anaerobically in the presence of nitrate, conditions mimicking the human intestine. We show that PerC strongly down-regulates type I fimbriae expression by manipulating fim phase variation. The quantities of a number of non-coding RNA molecules were altered by PerC. In sum, this protein controls niche adaptation, and could help to explain the function of the PerC homologs (Pch), many of which are encoded within prophages in related, Gram-negative pathogens.

Insertion sequence-caused large-scale rearrangements in the genome of Escherichia coli

A majority of large-scale bacterial genome rearrangements involve mobile genetic elements such as insertion sequence (IS) elements. Here we report novel insertions and excisions of IS elements and recombination between homologous IS elements identified in a large collection of Escherichia coli mutation accumulation lines by analysis of whole genome shotgun sequencing data. Based on 857 identified events (758 IS insertions, 98 recombinations and 1 excision), we estimate that the rate of IS insertion is 3.5 × 10(-4) insertions per genome per generation and the rate of IS homologous recombination is 4.5 × 10(-5) recombinations per genome per generation. These events are mostly contributed by the IS elements IS1, IS2, IS5 and IS186 Spatial analysis of new insertions suggest that transposition is biased to proximal insertions, and the length spectrum of IS-caused deletions is largely explained by local hopping. For any of the ISs studied there is no region of the circular genome that is favored or disfavored for new insertions but there are notable hotspots for deletions. Some elements have preferences for non-coding sequence or for the beginning and end of coding regions, largely explained by target site motifs. Interestingly, transposition and deletion rates remain constant across the wild-type and 12 mutant E. coli lines, each deficient in a distinct DNA repair pathway. Finally, we characterized the target sites of four IS families, confirming previous results and characterizing a highly specific pattern at IS186 target-sites, 5'-GGGG(N6/N7)CCCC-3'. We also detected 48 long deletions not involving IS elements.

O-antigen chain-length distribution in Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is regulated by oxygen availability

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) consists of three covalently linked domains: the lipid A, the core region and the O antigen (OAg), consisting of repeats of an oligosaccharide. Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) produces a LPS with two OAg preferred chain lengths: a long (L)-OAg controlled by WzzSE and a very long (VL)-OAg controlled by WzzfepE. In this work, we show that OAg produced by S. Enteritidis grown in E minimal medium also presented two preferred chain-lengths. However, a simultaneous and opposing change in the production of L-OAg and VL-OAg was observed in response to oxygen availability. Biochemical and genetics analyses indicate that this process is regulated by transcriptional factors Fnr and ArcA by means of controlling the transcription of genes encoding WzzSE and WzzfepE in response to oxygen availability. Thus, our results revealed a sophisticated regulatory mechanism involved in the adaptation of S. Enteritidis to one of the main environmental cues faced by this pathogen during infection.

Transcriptional Regulation of the Outer Membrane Porin Gene ompW Reveals its Physiological Role during the Transition from the Aerobic to the Anaerobic Lifestyle of Escherichia coli

Understanding bacterial physiology relies on elucidating the regulatory mechanisms and cellular functions of those differentially expressed genes in response to environmental changes. A widespread Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane protein OmpW has been implicated in the adaptation to stresses in various species. It is recently found to be present in the regulon of the global anaerobic transcription factor FNR and ArcA in Escherichia coli. However, little is known about the physiological implications of this regulatory disposition. In this study, we demonstrate that transcription of ompW is indeed mediated by a series of global regulators involved in the anaerobiosis of E. coli. We show that FNR can both activate and repress the expression of ompW through its direct binding to two distinctive sites, -81.5 and -126.5 bp respectively, on ompW promoter. ArcA also participates in repression of ompW under anaerobic condition, but in an FNR dependent manner. Additionally, ompW is also subject to the regulation by CRP and NarL which senses the availability and types of carbon sources and respiration electron acceptors in the environment respectively, implying a role of OmpW in the carbon and energy metabolism of E. coli during its anaerobic adaptation. Molecular docking reveals that OmpW can bind fumarate, an alternative electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration, with sufficient affinity. Moreover, supplement of fumarate or succinate which belongs to the C₄-dicarboxylates family of metabolite, to E. coli culture rescues OmpW-mediated colicin S4 killing. Taken together, we propose that OmpW is involved in anaerobic carbon and energy metabolism to mediate the transition from aerobic to anaerobic lifestyle in E. coli.

Living with Stress: A Lesson from the Enteric Pathogen Salmonella enterica

The ability to sense and respond to the environment is essential for the survival of all living organisms. Bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella enterica are of particular interest due to their ability to sense and adapt to the diverse range of conditions they encounter, both in vivo and in environmental reservoirs. During this cycling from host to non-host environments, Salmonella encounter a variety of environmental insults ranging from temperature fluctuations, nutrient availability and changes in osmolarity, to the presence of antimicrobial peptides and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Such fluctuating conditions impact on various areas of bacterial physiology including virulence, growth and antimicrobial resistance. A key component of the success of any bacterial pathogen is the ability to recognize and mount a suitable response to the discrete chemical and physical stresses elicited by the host. Such responses occur through a coordinated and complex programme of gene expression and protein activity, involving a range of transcriptional regulators, sigma factors and two component regulatory systems. This review briefly outlines the various stresses encountered throughout the Salmonella life cycle and the repertoire of regulatory responses with which Salmonella counters. In particular, how these Gram-negative bacteria are able to alleviate disruption in periplasmic envelope homeostasis through a group of stress responses, known collectively as the Envelope Stress Responses, alongside the mechanisms used to overcome nitrosative stress, will be examined in more detail.

The opgC gene is required for OPGs succinylation and is osmoregulated through RcsCDB and EnvZ/OmpR in the phytopathogen Dickeya dadantii

Osmoregulated periplasmic glucans (OPGs) are a family of periplasmic oligosaccharides found in the envelope of most Proteobacteria. They are required for virulence of zoo- and phyto-pathogens. The glucose backbone of OPGs is substituted by various kinds of molecules depending on the species, O-succinyl residues being the most widely distributed. In our model, Dickeya dadantii, a phytopathogenic bacteria causing soft rot disease in a wide range of plant species, the backbone of OPGs is substituted by O-succinyl residues in media of high osmolarity and by O-acetyl residues whatever the osmolarity. The opgC gene encoding a transmembrane protein required for the succinylation of the OPGs in D. dadantii was found after an in silico search of a gene encoding a protein with the main characteristics recovered in the two previously characterized OpgC of E. coli and R. sphaeroides, i.e. 10 transmembrane segments and one acyl-transferase domain. Characterization of the opgC gene revealed that high osmolarity expression of the succinyl transferase is controlled by both the EnvZ-OmpR and RcsCDB phosphorelay systems. The loss of O-succinyl residue did not affect the virulence of D. dadantii, suggesting that only the glucose backbone of OPGs is required for virulence.

Anaerobic Growth of Haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii by Denitrification Is Controlled by the Transcription Regulator NarO

The extremely halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii grows anaerobically by denitrification. A putative DNA-binding protein, NarO, is encoded upstream of the respiratory nitrate reductase gene of H. volcanii. Disruption of the narO gene resulted in a loss of denitrifying growth of H. volcanii, and the expression of the recombinant NarO recovered the denitrification capacity. A novel CXnCXCX7C motif showing no remarkable similarities with known sequences was conserved in the N terminus of the NarO homologous proteins found in the haloarchaea. Restoration of the denitrifying growth was not achieved by expression of any mutant NarO in which any one of the four conserved cysteines was individually replaced by serine. A promoter assay experiment indicated that the narO gene was usually transcribed, regardless of whether it was cultivated under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Transcription of the genes encoding the denitrifying enzymes nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase was activated under anaerobic conditions. A putative cis element was identified in the promoter sequence of haloarchaeal denitrifying genes. These results demonstrated a significant effect of NarO, probably due to its oxygen-sensing function, on the transcriptional activation of haloarchaeal denitrifying genes.

IMPORTANCE

H. volcanii is an extremely halophilic archaeon capable of anaerobic growth by denitrification. The regulatory mechanism of denitrification has been well understood in bacteria but remains unknown in archaea. In this work, we show that the helix-turn-helix (HTH)-type regulator NarO activates transcription of the denitrifying genes of H. volcanii under anaerobic conditions. A novel cysteine-rich motif, which is critical for transcriptional regulation, is present in NarO. A putative cis element was also identified in the promoter sequence of the haloarchaeal denitrifying genes.

Nitrous Oxide Metabolism in Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria: Physiology and Regulatory Mechanisms

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas (GHG) with substantial global warming potential and also contributes to ozone depletion through photochemical nitric oxide (NO) production in the stratosphere. The negative effects of N2O on climate and stratospheric ozone make N2O mitigation an international challenge. More than 60% of global N2O emissions are emitted from agricultural soils mainly due to the application of synthetic nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Thus, mitigation strategies must be developed which increase (or at least do not negatively impact) on agricultural efficiency whilst decrease the levels of N2O released. This aim is particularly important in the context of the ever expanding population and subsequent increased burden on the food chain. More than two-thirds of N2O emissions from soils can be attributed to bacterial and fungal denitrification and nitrification processes. In ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, N2O is formed through the oxidation of hydroxylamine to nitrite. In denitrifiers, nitrate is reduced to N2 via nitrite, NO and N2O production. In addition to denitrification, respiratory nitrate ammonification (also termed dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium) is another important nitrate-reducing mechanism in soil, responsible for the loss of nitrate and production of N2O from reduction of NO that is formed as a by-product of the reduction process. This review will synthesize our current understanding of the environmental, regulatory and biochemical control of N2O emissions by nitrate-reducing bacteria and point to new solutions for agricultural GHG mitigation.

Impact of Anaerobiosis on Expression of the Iron-Responsive Fur and RyhB Regulons

Iron, a major protein cofactor, is essential for most organisms. Despite the well-known effects of O₂ on the oxidation state and solubility of iron, the impact of O₂ on cellular iron homeostasis is not well understood. Here we report that in Escherichia coli K-12, the lack of O₂ dramatically changes expression of genes controlled by the global regulators of iron homeostasis, the transcription factor Fur and the small RNA RyhB. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), we found anaerobic conditions promote Fur binding to more locations across the genome. However, by expression profiling, we discovered that the major effect of anaerobiosis was to increase the magnitude of Fur regulation, leading to increased expression of iron storage proteins and decreased expression of most iron uptake pathways and several Mn-binding proteins. This change in the pattern of gene expression also correlated with an unanticipated decrease in Mn in anaerobic cells. Changes in the genes posttranscriptionally regulated by RyhB under aerobic and anaerobic conditions could be attributed to O₂-dependent changes in transcription of the target genes: aerobic RyhB targets were enriched in iron-containing proteins associated with aerobic energy metabolism, whereas anaerobic RyhB targets were enriched in iron-containing anaerobic respiratory functions. Overall, these studies showed that anaerobiosis has a larger impact on iron homeostasis than previously anticipated, both by expanding the number of direct Fur target genes and the magnitude of their regulation and by altering the expression of genes predicted to be posttranscriptionally regulated by the small RNA RyhB under iron-limiting conditions.

Microbes and host cells engage in an “arms race” for iron, an essential nutrient that is often scarce in the environment. Studies of iron homeostasis have been key to understanding the control of iron acquisition and the downstream pathways that enable microbes to compete for this valuable resource. Here we report that O₂ availability affects the gene expression programs of two Escherichia coli master regulators that function in iron homeostasis: the transcription factor Fur and the small RNA regulator RyhB. Fur appeared to be more active under anaerobic conditions, suggesting a change in the set point for iron homeostasis. RyhB preferentially targeted iron-containing proteins of respiration-linked pathways, which are differentially expressed under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Such findings may be relevant to the success of bacteria within their hosts since zones of reduced O₂ may actually reduce bacterial iron demands, making it easier to win the arms race for iron.

Arsenic rich Himalayan hot spring metagenomics reveal genetically novel predator-prey genotypes

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus are small Deltaproteobacteria that invade, kill and assimilate their prey. Metagenomic assembly analysis of the microbial mats of an arsenic rich, hot spring was performed to describe the genotypes of the predator Bdellovibrio and the ecogenetically adapted taxa Enterobacter. The microbial mats were enriched with Bdellovibrio (1.3%) and several Gram-negative bacteria including Bordetella (16%), Enterobacter (6.8%), Burkholderia (4.8%), Acinetobacter (2.3%) and Yersinia (1%). A high-quality (47 contigs, 25X coverage; 3.5 Mbp) draft genome of Bdellovibrio (strain ArHS; Arsenic Hot Spring) was reassembled, which lacked the marker gene Bd0108 associated with the usual method of prey interaction and invasion for this genus, while maintaining genes coding for the hydrolytic enzymes necessary for prey assimilation. By filtering microbial mat samples (< 0.45 μm) to enrich for small predatory cell sizes, we observed Bdellovibrio-like cells attached side-on to E. coli through electron microscopy. Furthermore, a draft pan-genome of the dominant potential host taxon, Enterobacter cloacae ArHS (4.8 Mb), along with three of its viral genotypes (n = 3; 42 kb, 49 kb and 50 kb), was assembled. These data were further used to analyse the population level evolutionary dynamics (taxonomical and functional) of reconstructed genotypes.

Global Regulator of Virulence A (GrvA) Coordinates Expression of Discrete Pathogenic Mechanisms in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli through Interactions with GadW-GadE

Global regulator of virulence A (GrvA) is a ToxR-family transcriptional regulator that activates locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE)-dependent adherence in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). LEE activation by GrvA requires the Rcs phosphorelay response regulator RcsB and is sensitive to physiologically relevant concentrations of bicarbonate, a known stimulant of virulence systems in intestinal pathogens. This study determines the genomic scale of GrvA-dependent regulation and uncovers details of the molecular mechanism underlying GrvA-dependent regulation of pathogenic mechanisms in EHEC. In a grvA-null background of EHEC strain TW14359, RNA sequencing analysis revealed the altered expression of over 700 genes, including the downregulation of LEE- and non-LEE-encoded effectors and the upregulation of genes for glutamate-dependent acid resistance (GDAR). Upregulation of GDAR genes corresponded with a marked increase in acid resistance. GrvA-dependent regulation of GDAR and the LEE required gadE, the central activator of GDAR genes and a direct repressor of the LEE. Control of gadE by GrvA was further determined to occur through downregulation of the gadE activator GadW. This interaction of GrvA with GadW-GadE represses the acid resistance phenotype, while it concomitantly activates the LEE-dependent adherence and secretion of immune subversion effectors. The results of this study significantly broaden the scope of GrvA-dependent regulation and its role in EHEC pathogenesis.

IMPORTANCE

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is an intestinal human pathogen causing acute hemorrhagic colitis and life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome. For successful transmission and gut colonization, EHEC relies on the glutamate-dependent acid resistance (GDAR) system and a type III secretion apparatus, encoded on the LEE pathogenicity island. This study investigates the mechanism whereby the DNA-binding regulator GrvA coordinates activation of the LEE with repression of GDAR. Investigating how these systems are regulated leads to an understanding of pathogenic behavior and novel strategies aimed at disease prevention and control.

Respiration of Nitrate and Nitrite

Nitrate reduction to ammonia via nitrite occurs widely as an anabolic process through which bacteria, archaea, and plants can assimilate nitrate into cellular biomass. Escherichia coli and related enteric bacteria can couple the eight-electron reduction of nitrate to ammonium to growth by coupling the nitrate and nitrite reductases involved to energy-conserving respiratory electron transport systems. In global terms, the respiratory reduction of nitrate to ammonium dominates nitrate and nitrite reduction in many electron-rich environments such as anoxic marine sediments and sulfide-rich thermal vents, the human gastrointestinal tract, and the bodies of warm-blooded animals. This review reviews the regulation and enzymology of this process in E. coli and, where relevant detail is available, also in Salmonella and draws comparisons with and implications for the process in other bacteria where it is pertinent to do so. Fatty acids may be present in high levels in many of the natural environments of E. coli and Salmonella in which oxygen is limited but nitrate is available to support respiration. In E. coli, nitrate reduction in the periplasm involves the products of two seven-gene operons, napFDAGHBC, encoding the periplasmic nitrate reductase, and nrfABCDEFG, encoding the periplasmic nitrite reductase. No bacterium has yet been shown to couple a periplasmic nitrate reductase solely to the cytoplasmic nitrite reductase NirB. The cytoplasmic pathway for nitrate reduction to ammonia is restricted almost exclusively to a few groups of facultative anaerobic bacteria that encounter high concentrations of environmental nitrate.

Genome-wide analysis of the response to nitric oxide in uropathogenic Escherichia coli CFT073

Uropathogenic Escherchia coli (UPEC) is the causative agent of urinary tract infections. Nitric oxide (NO) is a toxic water-soluble gas that is encountered by UPEC in the urinary tract. Therefore, UPEC probably requires mechanisms to detoxify NO in the host environment. Thus far, flavohaemoglobin (Hmp), an NO denitrosylase, is the only demonstrated NO detoxification system in UPEC. Here we show that, in E. coli strain CFT073, the NADH-dependent NO reductase flavorubredoxin (FlRd) also plays a major role in NO scavenging. We generated a mutant that lacks all known and candidate NO detoxification pathways (Hmp, FlRd and the respiratory nitrite reductase, NrfA). When grown and assayed anaerobically, this mutant expresses an NO-inducible NO scavenging activity, pointing to the existence of a novel detoxification mechanism. Expression of this activity is inducible by both NO and nitrate, and the enzyme is membrane-associated. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling of UPEC grown under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate (as a source of NO) highlighted various aspects of the response of the pathogen to nitrate and NO. Several virulence-associated genes are upregulated, suggesting that host-derived NO is a potential regulator of UPEC virulence. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing was used to evaluate the NsrR regulon in CFT073. We identified 49 NsrR binding sites in promoter regions in the CFT073 genome, 29 of which were not previously identified in E. coli K-12. NsrR may regulate some CFT073 genes that do not have homologues in E. coli K-12.

The Escherichia coli NarL receiver domain regulates transcription through promoter specific functions

Background

The Escherichia coli response regulator NarL controls transcription of genes involved in nitrate respiration during anaerobiosis. NarL consists of two domains joined by a linker that wraps around the interdomain interface. Phosphorylation of the NarL N-terminal receiver domain (RD) releases the, otherwise sequestered, C-terminal output domain (OD) that subsequently binds specific DNA promoter sites to repress or activate gene expression. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which the NarL OD and RD function independently to regulate transcription, and the affect of the linker on OD function.

Results

NarL OD constructs containing different linker segments were examined for their ability to repress frdA-lacZ or activate narG-lacZ reporter fusion genes. These in vivo expression assays revealed that the NarL OD, in the absence or presence of linker helix α6, constitutively repressed frdA-lacZ expression regardless of nitrate availability. However, the presence of the linker loop α5-α6 reversed this repression and also showed impaired DNA binding in vitro. The OD alone could not activate narG-lacZ expression; this activity required the presence of the NarL RD. A footprint assay demonstrated that the NarL OD only partially bound recognition sites at the narG promoter, and the binding affinity was increased by the presence of the phosphorylated RD. Analytical ultracentrifugation used to examine domain oligomerization showed that the NarL RD forms dimers in solution while the OD is monomeric.

Conclusions

The NarL RD operates as an on-off switch to occlude or release the OD in a nitrate-responsive manner, but has additional roles to directly stimulate transcription at promoters for which the OD lacks independent function. One such role of the RD is to enhance the DNA binding affinity of the OD to target promoter sites. The data also imply that NarL phosphorylation results in RD dimerization and in the separation of the entire linker region from the OD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-015-0502-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Cross talk in promoter recognition between six NarL-family response regulators of Escherichia coli two-component system

Bacterial two-component system (TCS) is composed of the sensor kinase (SK) and the response regulator (RR). After monitoring an environmental signal or condition, SK activates RR through phosphorylation, ultimately leading to the signal-dependent regulation of genome transcription. In Escherichia coli, a total of more than 30 SK-RR pairs exist, each forming a cognate signal transduction system. Cross talk of the signal transduction takes place at three stages: signal recognition by SK (stage 1); RR phosphorylation by SK (stage 2); and target recognition by RR (stage 3). Previously, we analyzed the stage 2 cross talk between the whole set of E. coli SK-RR pairs and found that the cross talk takes place for certain combinations. As an initial attempt to identify the stage 3 cross talk at the step of target promoter recognition by RR, we analyzed in this study the cross-recognition of target promoters by six NarL-family RRs, EvgA, NarL, NarP, RcsB, UhpA, and UvrY. Results of both in vivo and in vitro studies indicated that the stage 3 cross talk takes place for limited combinations, in particular, including a multifactor-regulated ydeP promoter.

Three Pseudomonas putida FNR Family Proteins with Different Sensitivities to O2

The Escherichia coli fumarate-nitrate reduction regulator (FNR) protein is the paradigm for bacterial O₂-sensing transcription factors. However, unlike E. coli, some bacterial species possess multiple FNR proteins that presumably have evolved to fulfill distinct roles. Here, three FNR proteins (ANR, PP_3233, and PP_3287) from a single bacterial species, Pseudomonas putida KT2440, have been analyzed. Under anaerobic conditions, all three proteins had spectral properties resembling those of [4Fe-4S] proteins. The reactivity of the ANR [4Fe-4S] cluster with O₂ was similar to that of E. coli FNR, and during conversion to the apo-protein, via a [2Fe-2S] intermediate, cluster sulfur was retained. Like ANR, reconstituted PP_3233 and PP_3287 were converted to [2Fe-2S] forms when exposed to O₂, but their [4Fe-4S] clusters reacted more slowly. Transcription from an FNR-dependent promoter with a consensus FNR-binding site in P. putida and E. coli strains expressing only one FNR protein was consistent with the in vitro responses to O₂. Taken together, the experimental results suggest that the local environments of the iron-sulfur clusters in the different P. putida FNR proteins influence their reactivity with O₂, such that ANR resembles E. coli FNR and is highly responsive to low concentrations of O₂, whereas PP_3233 and PP_3287 have evolved to be less sensitive to O₂.

A constitutive expression system for cellulase secretion in Escherichia coli and its use in bioethanol production

The production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass appears to be attractive and viable due to the abundance and availability of this biomass. The hydrolysis of this biomass, however, is challenging because of the complex lignocellulosic structure. The ability to produce hydrolytic cellulase enzymes in a cost-effective manner will certainly accelerate the process of making lignocellulosic ethanol production a commercial reality. These cellulases may need to be produced aerobically to generate large amounts of protein in a short time or anaerobically to produce biofuels from cellulose via consolidated bioprocessing. Therefore, it is important to identify a promoter that can constitutively drive the expression of cellulases under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions without the need for an inducer. Using lacZ as reporter gene, we analyzed the strength of the promoters of four genes, namely lacZ, gapA, ldhA and pflB, and found that the gapA promoter yielded the maximum expression of the β-galactosidase enzyme under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We further cloned the genes for two cellulolytic enzymes, β-1,4-endoglucanase and β-1,4-glucosidase, under the control of the gapA promoter, and we expressed these genes in Escherichia coli, which secreted the products into the extracellular medium. An ethanologenic E. colistrain transformed with the secretory β-glucosidase gene construct fermented cellobiose in both defined and complex medium. This recombinant strain also fermented wheat straw hydrolysate containing glucose, xylose and cellobiose into ethanol with an 85% efficiency of biotransformation. An ethanologenic strain that constitutively secretes a cellulolytic enzyme is a promising platform for producing lignocellulosic ethanol.

Genome rearrangements can make and break small RNA genes

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are short, transcribed regulatory elements that are typically encoded in the intergenic regions (IGRs) of bacterial genomes. Several sRNAs, first recognized in Escherichia coli, are conserved among enteric bacteria, but because of the regulatory roles of sRNAs, differences in sRNA repertoires might be responsible for features that differentiate closely related species. We scanned the E. coli MG1655 and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium genomes for nonsyntenic IGRs as a potential source of uncharacterized, species-specific sRNAs and found that genome rearrangements have reconfigured several IGRs causing the disruption and formation of sRNAs. Within an IGR that is present in E. coli but was disrupted in Salmonella by a translocation event is an sRNA that is associated with the FNR/CRP global regulators and influences E. coli biofilm formation. A Salmonella-specific sRNA evolved de novo through point mutations that generated a σ⁷⁰ promoter sequence in an IGR that arose through genome rearrangement events. The differences in the sRNA pools among bacterial species have previously been ascribed to duplication, deletion, or horizontal acquisition. Here, we show that genomic rearrangements also contribute to this process by either disrupting sRNA-containing IGRs or creating IGRs in which novel sRNAs may evolve.

Metabolic Regulation and Coordination of the Metabolism in Bacteria in Response to a Variety of Growth Conditions

Living organisms have sophisticated but well-organized regulation system. It is important to understand the metabolic regulation mechanisms in relation to growth environment for the efficient design of cell factories for biofuels and biochemicals production. Here, an overview is given for carbon catabolite regulation, nitrogen regulation, ion, sulfur, and phosphate regulations, stringent response under nutrient starvation as well as oxidative stress regulation, redox state regulation, acid-shock, heat- and cold-shock regulations, solvent stress regulation, osmoregulation, and biofilm formation, and quorum sensing focusing on Escherichia coli metabolism and others. The coordinated regulation mechanisms are of particular interest in getting insight into the principle which governs the cell metabolism. The metabolism is controlled by both enzyme-level regulation and transcriptional regulation via transcription factors such as cAMP-Crp, Cra, Csr, Fis, P(II)(GlnB), NtrBC, CysB, PhoR/B, SoxR/S, Fur, MarR, ArcA/B, Fnr, NarX/L, RpoS, and (p)ppGpp for stringent response, where the timescales for enzyme-level and gene-level regulations are different. Moreover, multiple regulations are coordinated by the intracellular metabolites, where fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), and acetyl-CoA (AcCoA) play important roles for enzyme-level regulation as well as transcriptional control, while α-ketoacids such as α-ketoglutaric acid (αKG), pyruvate (PYR), and oxaloacetate (OAA) play important roles for the coordinated regulation between carbon source uptake rate and other nutrient uptake rate such as nitrogen or sulfur uptake rate by modulation of cAMP via Cya.

Neisserial Molecular Adaptations to the Nasopharyngeal Niche

The exclusive reservoir of the genus Neisseria is the human. Of the broad range of species that comprise the Neisseria, only two are frequently pathogenic, and only one of those is a resident of the nasopharynx. Although Neisseria meningitidis can cause severe disease if it invades the bloodstream, the vast majority of interactions between humans and Neisseria are benign, with the bacteria inhabiting its mucosal niche as a non-invasive commensal. Understandably, with the exception of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which preferentially colonises the urogenital tract, the neisseriae are extremely well adapted to survival in the human nasopharynx, their sole biological niche. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms evolved by Neisseria to facilitate colonisation and survival within the nasopharynx, focussing on N. meningitidis. The organism has adapted to survive in aerosolised transmission and to attach to mucosal surfaces. It then has to replicate in a nutrition-poor environment and resist immune and competitive pressure within a polymicrobial complex. Temperature and relative gas concentrations (nitric oxide and oxygen) are likely to be potent initial signals of arrival within the nasopharyngeal environment, and this review will focus on how N. meningitidis responds to these to increase the likelihood of its survival.

Towards a systems level understanding of the oxygen response of Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is a facultatively anaerobic bacterium. With glucose if no external electron acceptors are available, ATP is produced by substrate level phosphorylation. The intracellular redox balance is maintained by mixed-acid fermentation, that is, the production and excretion of several organic acids. When oxygen is available, E. coli switches to aerobic respiration to achieve redox balance and optimal energy conservation by proton translocation linked to electron transfer. The switch between fermentative and aerobic respiratory growth is driven by extensive changes in gene expression and protein synthesis, resulting in global changes in metabolic fluxes and metabolite concentrations. This oxygen response is determined by the interaction of global and local genetic regulatory mechanisms, as well as by enzymatic regulation. The response is affected by basic physical constraints such as diffusion, thermodynamics and the requirement for a balance of carbon, electrons and energy (predominantly the proton motive force and the ATP pool). A comprehensive systems level understanding of the oxygen response of E. coli requires the integrated interpretation of experimental data that are pertinent to the multiple levels of organization that mediate the response. In the pan-European venture, Systems Biology of Microorganisms (SysMO) and specifically within the project Systems Understanding of Microbial Oxygen Metabolism (SUMO), regulator activities, gene expression, metabolite levels and metabolic flux datasets were obtained using a standardized and reproducible chemostat-based experimental system. These different types and qualities of data were integrated using mathematical models. The approach described here has revealed a much more detailed picture of the aerobic-anaerobic response, especially for the environmentally critical microaerobic range that is located between unlimited oxygen availability and anaerobiosis.

Influence of the major nitrite transporter NirC on the virulence of a Swollen Head Syndrome avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strain

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strains are extra-intestinal E. coli that infect poultry and cause diseases. Nitrite is a central branch-point in bacterial nitrogen metabolism and is used as a cytotoxin by macrophages. Unlike nitric oxide (NO), nitrite cannot diffuse across bacterial membrane cells. The NirC protein acts as a specific channel to facilitate the transport of nitrite into Salmonella and E. coli cells for nitrogen metabolism and cytoplasmic detoxification. NirC is also required for the pathogenicity of Salmonella by downregulating the production of NO by the host macrophages. Based on an in vitro microarray that revealed the overexpression of the nirC gene in APEC strain SCI-07, we constructed a nirC-deficient SCI-07 strain (ΔnirC) and evaluated its virulence potential using in vivo and in vitro assays. The final cumulative mortalities caused by mutant and wild-type (WT) were similar; while the ΔnirC caused a gradual increase in the mortality rate during the seven days recorded, the WT caused mortality up to 24h post-infection (hpi). Counts of the ΔnirC cells in the spleen, lung and liver were higher than those of the WT after 48 hpi but similar at 24 hpi. Although similar number of ΔnirC and WT cells was observed in macrophages at 3 hpi, there was higher number of ΔnirC cells at 16 hpi. The cell adhesion ability of the ΔnirC strain was about half the WT level in the presence and absence of alpha-D-mannopyranoside. These results indicate that the nirC gene influences the pathogenicity of SCI-07 strain.

Fe-S proteins that regulate gene expression

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster containing proteins that regulate gene expression are present in most organisms. The innate chemistry of their Fe-S cofactors makes these regulatory proteins ideal for sensing environmental signals, such as gases (e.g. O2 and NO), levels of Fe and Fe-S clusters, reactive oxygen species, and redox cycling compounds, to subsequently mediate an adaptive response. Here we review the recent findings that have provided invaluable insight into the mechanism and function of these highly significant Fe-S regulatory proteins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases.

Inference of expanded Lrp-like feast/famine transcription factor targets in a non-model organism using protein structure-based prediction

Widespread microbial genome sequencing presents an opportunity to understand the gene regulatory networks of non-model organisms. This requires knowledge of the binding sites for transcription factors whose DNA-binding properties are unknown or difficult to infer. We adapted a protein structure-based method to predict the specificities and putative regulons of homologous transcription factors across diverse species. As a proof-of-concept we predicted the specificities and transcriptional target genes of divergent archaeal feast/famine regulatory proteins, several of which are encoded in the genome of Halobacterium salinarum. This was validated by comparison to experimentally determined specificities for transcription factors in distantly related extremophiles, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, and cis-regulatory sequence conservation across eighteen related species of halobacteria. Through this analysis we were able to infer that Halobacterium salinarum employs a divergent local trans-regulatory strategy to regulate genes (carA and carB) involved in arginine and pyrimidine metabolism, whereas Escherichia coli employs an operon. The prediction of gene regulatory binding sites using structure-based methods is useful for the inference of gene regulatory relationships in new species that are otherwise difficult to infer.

Expression of csp genes in E. coli K-12 in defined rich and defined minimal media during normal growth, and after cold-shock

Cold-shock proteins (Csps) are a family of small nucleic acid-binding proteins found in 72% of sequenced bacterial genomes. Where it has been examined, at least one csp gene is required for cell viability. In Escherichia coli K-12, there are nine homologous csp genes named A-I. Regulation studies performed on individual members of this family have suggested that cspA, cspB, cspG, and cspI are cold-induced, cspC and cspE are constitutively expressed, cspD is stationary phase induced, and the induction patterns for cspF and cspH have yet to be determined. Aside from microarray studies, transcript levels from all nine csp genes have never been assayed using the same technique or in the same cells. The purpose of this study was to use quantitative RT-PCR to establish csp expression patterns for all nine csp genes at 37°C in defined rich and defined minimal media, and after a shift to 15°C for either 1h or 4h. We found that transcript levels for each of the csp genes changed throughout the growth curve. Transcripts for cspA, -B, and -E were more abundant than those detected for the other csp genes in defined rich medium. cspE mRNA levels in defined minimal medium were drastically higher than mRNA for the other csp genes. Of the nine csp genes, only cspI showed a significant increase in mRNA accumulation after cold-shock in defined rich medium. When mRNA accumulation was compared across the nine csp genes, there were more cspE transcripts in the cell than cspA, -B, -G, or -I transcripts after 1h cold-shock in either defined rich or defined minimal media. In defined minimal medium, transcription of cspA, -B, -G, and -I was induced after cold-shock.

RNA-seq analysis of the influence of anaerobiosis and FNR on Shigella flexneri

Background

Shigella flexneri is an important human pathogen that has to adapt to the anaerobic environment in the gastrointestinal tract to cause dysentery. To define the influence of anaerobiosis on the virulence of Shigella, we performed deep RNA sequencing to identify transcriptomic differences that are induced by anaerobiosis and modulated by the anaerobic Fumarate and Nitrate Reduction regulator, FNR.

Results

We found that 528 chromosomal genes were differentially expressed in response to anaerobic conditions; of these, 228 genes were also influenced by FNR. Genes that were up-regulated in anaerobic conditions are involved in carbon transport and metabolism (e.g. ptsG, manX, murQ, cysP, cra), DNA topology and regulation (e.g. ygiP, stpA, hns), host interactions (e.g. yciD, nmpC, slyB, gapA, shf, msbB) and survival within the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. shiA, ospI, adiY, cysP). Interestingly, there was a marked effect of available oxygen on genes involved in Type III secretion system (T3SS), which is required for host cell invasion and pathogenesis. These genes, located on the large Shigella virulence plasmid, were down regulated in anaerobiosis in an FNR-dependent manner. We also confirmed anaerobic induction of csrB and csrC small RNAs in an FNR-independent manner.

Conclusions

Anaerobiosis promotes survival and adaption strategies of Shigella, while modulating virulence plasmid genes involved in T3SS-mediated host cell invasion. The influence of FNR on this process is more extensive than previously appreciated, although aside from the virulence plasmid, this transcriptional regulator does not govern expression of genes on other horizontally acquired sequences on the chromosome such as pathogenicity islands.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-438) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Metabolic Engineering of Escherichia coli for Production of Mixed-Acid Fermentation End Products

Mixed-acid fermentation end products have numerous applications in biotechnology. This is probably the main driving force for the development of multiple strains that are supposed to produce individual end products with high yields. The process of engineering Escherichia coli strains for applied production of ethanol, lactate, succinate, or acetate was initiated several decades ago and is still ongoing. This review follows the path of strain development from the general characteristics of aerobic versus anaerobic metabolism over the regulatory machinery that enables the different metabolic routes. Thereafter, major improvements for broadening the substrate spectrum of E. coli toward cheap carbon sources like molasses or lignocellulose are highlighted before major routes of strain development for the production of ethanol, acetate, lactate, and succinate are presented.

Agent-based modeling of oxygen-responsive transcription factors in Escherichia coli

In the presence of oxygen (O₂) the model bacterium Escherichia coli is able to conserve energy by aerobic respiration. Two major terminal oxidases are involved in this process - Cyo has a relatively low affinity for O₂ but is able to pump protons and hence is energetically efficient; Cyd has a high affinity for O₂ but does not pump protons. When E. coli encounters environments with different O₂ availabilities, the expression of the genes encoding the alternative terminal oxidases, the cydAB and cyoABCDE operons, are regulated by two O₂-responsive transcription factors, ArcA (an indirect O₂ sensor) and FNR (a direct O₂ sensor). It has been suggested that O₂-consumption by the terminal oxidases located at the cytoplasmic membrane significantly affects the activities of ArcA and FNR in the bacterial nucleoid. In this study, an agent-based modeling approach has been taken to spatially simulate the uptake and consumption of O₂ by E. coli and the consequent modulation of ArcA and FNR activities based on experimental data obtained from highly controlled chemostat cultures. The molecules of O₂, transcription factors and terminal oxidases are treated as individual agents and their behaviors and interactions are imitated in a simulated 3-D E. coli cell. The model implies that there are two barriers that dampen the response of FNR to O₂, i.e. consumption of O₂ at the membrane by the terminal oxidases and reaction of O₂ with cytoplasmic FNR. Analysis of FNR variants suggested that the monomer-dimer transition is the key step in FNR-mediated repression of gene expression.

The model bacterium Escherichia coli has a modular electron transport chain that allows it to successfully compete in environments with differing oxygen (O₂) availabilities. It has two well-characterized terminal oxidases, Cyd and Cyo. Cyd has a very high affinity for O₂, whereas Cyo has a lower affinity, but is energetically more efficient. Expression of the genes encoding Cyd and Cyo is controlled by two O₂-responsive regulators, ArcBA and FNR. However, it is not clear how O₂ molecules enter the E. coli cell and how the locations of the terminal oxidases and the regulators influence the system. An agent-based model is presented that simulates the interactions of O₂ with the regulators and the oxidases in an E. coli cell. The model suggests that O₂ consumption by the oxidases at the cytoplasmic membrane and by FNR in the cytoplasm protects FNR bound to DNA in the nucleoid from inactivation and that dimerization of FNR in response to O₂ depletion is the key step in FNR-mediated repression. Thus, the focus of the agent-based model on spatial events provides information and new insight, allowing the effects of dysregulation of system components to be explored by facile addition or removal of agents.

Physiological roles of small RNA molecules

Unlike proteins, RNA molecules have emerged lately as key players in regulation in bacteria. Most reviews hitherto focused on the experimental and/or in silico methods used to identify genes encoding small RNAs (sRNAs) or on the diverse mechanisms of these RNA regulators to modulate expression of their targets. However, less is known about their biological functions and their implications in various physiological responses. This review aims to compile what is known presently about the diverse roles of sRNA transcripts in the regulation of metabolic processes, in different growth conditions, in adaptation to stress and in microbial pathogenesis. Several recent studies revealed that sRNA molecules are implicated in carbon metabolism and transport, amino acid metabolism or metal sensing. Moreover, regulatory RNAs participate in cellular adaptation to environmental changes, e.g. through quorum sensing systems or development of biofilms, and analyses of several sRNAs under various physiological stresses and culture conditions have already been performed. In addition, recent experiments performed with Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens showed that regulatory RNAs play important roles in microbial virulence and during infection. The combined results show the diversity of regulation mechanisms and physiological processes in which sRNA molecules are key actors.

Determining the control circuitry of redox metabolism at the genome-scale

Determining how facultative anaerobic organisms sense and direct cellular responses to electron acceptor availability has been a subject of intense study. However, even in the model organism Escherichia coli, established mechanisms only explain a small fraction of the hundreds of genes that are regulated during electron acceptor shifts. Here we propose a qualitative model that accounts for the full breadth of regulated genes by detailing how two global transcription factors (TFs), ArcA and Fnr of E. coli, sense key metabolic redox ratios and act on a genome-wide basis to regulate anabolic, catabolic, and energy generation pathways. We first fill gaps in our knowledge of this transcriptional regulatory network by carrying out ChIP-chip and gene expression experiments to identify 463 regulatory events. We then interfaced this reconstructed regulatory network with a highly curated genome-scale metabolic model to show that ArcA and Fnr regulate >80% of total metabolic flux and 96% of differential gene expression across fermentative and nitrate respiratory conditions. Based on the data, we propose a feedforward with feedback trim regulatory scheme, given the extensive repression of catabolic genes by ArcA and extensive activation of chemiosmotic genes by Fnr. We further corroborated this regulatory scheme by showing a 0.71 r(2) (p<1e-6) correlation between changes in metabolic flux and changes in regulatory activity across fermentative and nitrate respiratory conditions. Finally, we are able to relate the proposed model to a wealth of previously generated data by contextualizing the existing transcriptional regulatory network.

An introduction to nitric oxide sensing and response in bacteria

Nitric oxide (NO) is a radical gas that has been intensively studied for its role as a bacteriostatic agent. NO reacts in complex ways with biological molecules, especially metal centers and other radicals, to generate other bioactive compounds that inhibit enzymes, oxidize macromolecules, and arrest bacterial growth. Bacteria encounter not only NO derived from the host during infection but also NO derived from other bacteria and inorganic sources. The transcriptional responses used by bacteria to respond to NO are diverse but usually involve an iron-containing transcription factor that binds NO and alters its affinity for either DNA or factors involved in transcription, leading to the production of enzymatic tolerance systems. Some of these systems, such as flavohemoglobin and flavorubredoxin, directly remove NO. Some do not but are still important for NO tolerance through other mechanisms. The targets of NO that are protected by these systems include many metabolic pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle and branched chain amino acid synthesis. This chapter discusses these topics and others and serves as a general introduction to microbial NO biology.

Nitrogen assimilation in Escherichia coli: putting molecular data into a systems perspective

We present a comprehensive overview of the hierarchical network of intracellular processes revolving around central nitrogen metabolism in Escherichia coli. The hierarchy intertwines transport, metabolism, signaling leading to posttranslational modification, and transcription. The protein components of the network include an ammonium transporter (AmtB), a glutamine transporter (GlnHPQ), two ammonium assimilation pathways (glutamine synthetase [GS]-glutamate synthase [glutamine 2-oxoglutarate amidotransferase {GOGAT}] and glutamate dehydrogenase [GDH]), the two bifunctional enzymes adenylyl transferase/adenylyl-removing enzyme (ATase) and uridylyl transferase/uridylyl-removing enzyme (UTase), the two trimeric signal transduction proteins (GlnB and GlnK), the two-component regulatory system composed of the histidine protein kinase nitrogen regulator II (NRII) and the response nitrogen regulator I (NRI), three global transcriptional regulators called nitrogen assimilation control (Nac) protein, leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp), and cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (Crp), the glutaminases, and the nitrogen-phosphotransferase system. First, the structural and molecular knowledge on these proteins is reviewed. Thereafter, the activities of the components as they engage together in transport, metabolism, signal transduction, and transcription and their regulation are discussed. Next, old and new molecular data and physiological data are put into a common perspective on integral cellular functioning, especially with the aim of resolving counterintuitive or paradoxical processes featured in nitrogen assimilation. Finally, we articulate what still remains to be discovered and what general lessons can be learned from the vast amounts of data that are available now.

The challenge of constructing, classifying, and representing metabolic pathways

Scientists, educators, and students benefit from having free and centralized access to the wealth of metabolic information that has been gathered over the decades. Curators of the MetaCyc database work to present this information in an easily understandable pathway-based framework. MetaCyc is used not only as an encyclopedic resource for metabolic information but also as a template for the pathway prediction software that generates pathway/genome databases for thousands of organisms with sequenced genomes (available at www.biocyc.org). Curators need to define pathway boundaries and classify pathways within a broader pathway ontology to maximize the utility of the pathways to both users and the pathway prediction software. These seemingly simple tasks pose several challenges. This review describes these challenges as well as the criteria that need to be considered, and the rules that have been developed by MetaCyc curators as they make decisions regarding the representation and classification of metabolic pathway information in MetaCyc. The functional consequences of these decisions in regard to pathway prediction in new species are also discussed.

Genome-scale analysis of escherichia coli FNR reveals complex features of transcription factor binding

FNR is a well-studied global regulator of anaerobiosis, which is widely conserved across bacteria. Despite the importance of FNR and anaerobiosis in microbial lifestyles, the factors that influence its function on a genome-wide scale are poorly understood. Here, we report a functional genomic analysis of FNR action. We find that FNR occupancy at many target sites is strongly influenced by nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) that restrict access to many FNR binding sites. At a genome-wide level, only a subset of predicted FNR binding sites were bound under anaerobic fermentative conditions and many appeared to be masked by the NAPs H-NS, IHF and Fis. Similar assays in cells lacking H-NS and its paralog StpA showed increased FNR occupancy at sites bound by H-NS in WT strains, indicating that large regions of the genome are not readily accessible for FNR binding. Genome accessibility may also explain our finding that genome-wide FNR occupancy did not correlate with the match to consensus at binding sites, suggesting that significant variation in ChIP signal was attributable to cross-linking or immunoprecipitation efficiency rather than differences in binding affinities for FNR sites. Correlation of FNR ChIP-seq peaks with transcriptomic data showed that less than half of the FNR-regulated operons could be attributed to direct FNR binding. Conversely, FNR bound some promoters without regulating expression presumably requiring changes in activity of condition-specific transcription factors. Such combinatorial regulation may allow Escherichia coli to respond rapidly to environmental changes and confer an ecological advantage in the anaerobic but nutrient-fluctuating environment of the mammalian gut.

Regulation of gene expression by transcription factors (TFs) is key to adaptation to environmental changes. Our comprehensive, genome-scale analysis of a prototypical global TF, the anaerobic regulator FNR from Escherichia coli, leads to several novel and unanticipated insights into the influences on FNR binding genome-wide and the complex structure of bacterial regulons. We found that binding of NAPs restricts FNR binding at a subset of sites, suggesting that the bacterial genome is not freely accessible for FNR binding. Our finding that less than half of the predicted FNR binding sites were occupied in vivo further challenges the utility of using bioinformatic searches alone to predict regulon structure, reinforcing the need for experimental determination of TF binding. By correlating the occupancy data with transcriptomic data, we confirm that FNR serves as a global signal of anaerobiosis but expression of some operons in the FNR regulon require other regulators sensitive to alternative environmental stimuli. Thus, FNR binding and regulation appear to depend on both the nucleoprotein structure of the chromosome and on combinatorial binding of FNR with other regulators. Both of these phenomena are typical of TF binding in eukaryotes; our results establish that they are also features of bacterial TF binding.