Use of oligonucleotide probes to identify members of two-component regulatory systems in Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris

Genome-Wide Screening for Novel Candidate Virulence Related Response Regulator Genes in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola

Two-component regulatory system (TCS), a major type of cellular signal transduction system, is widely used by bacteria to adapt to different conditions and to colonize certain ecological niches in response to environmental stimuli. TCSs are of distinct functional diversity, genetic diversity, and species specificity (pathovar specificity, even strain specificity) across bacterial groups. Although TCSs have been demonstrated to be crucial to the virulence of Xanthomonas, only a few researches have been reported about the studies of TCSs in Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzicola (hereafter Xoc), the pathogen of rice bacterial streak disease. In the genome of Xoc strain GX01, it has been annotated 110 TCSs genes encoding 54 response regulators (RRs), 36 orthodox histidine kinase (HKs) and 20 hybrid histidine kinase (HyHKs). To evaluate the involvement of TCSs in the stress adaptation and virulence of Xoc, we mutated 50 annotated RR genes in Xoc GX01 by homologous vector integration mutagenesis and assessed their phenotypes in given conditions and tested their virulence on host rice. 17 RR genes were identified to be likely involved in virulence of Xoc, of which 10 RR genes are novel virulence genes in Xanthomonas, including three novel virulence genes for bacteria. Of the novel candidate virulence genes, some of which may be involved in the general stress adaptation, exopolysaccharide production, extracellular protease secretion and swarming motility of Xoc. Our results will facilitate further studies on revealing the biological functions of TCS genes in this phytopathogenic bacterium.

Temperature shift-induced reactive oxygen species enhanced validamycin A production in fermentation of Streptomyces hygroscopicus 5008

In order to enhance the production of validamycin A (VAL-A), a widely used agricultural antibiotic, a temperature shift strategy was developed in the fermentation of Streptomyces hygroscopicus 5008. VAL-A production and the transcriptional levels of its structural genes were enhanced in the optimal temperature shift condition. The addition of diphenyleneiodonium [DPI, reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitor] inhibited intracellular ROS level and VAL-A production, which indicated that ROS signal might contribute to the enhancement of VAL-A production in the temperature shift process. The transcriptional levels of stress response sigma factors SigmaB and SigmaH as well as global regulator PhoRP were enhanced, which suggested that these regulators might participate in the signal pathway. This study developed a useful strategy for VAL-A production. It will help to further understand the regulation mechanism of ROS on VAL-A synthesis. The involvement of ROS in this process will encourage researchers to develop new ROS induction strategies to enhance VAL-A production.

Genome-scale mutagenesis and phenotypic characterization of two-component signal transduction systems in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris ATCC 33913

The gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is the causal agent of black rot disease of cruciferous plants. Its genome encodes a large repertoire of two-component signal transduction systems (TCSTSs), which consist of histidine kinases and response regulators (RR) to monitor and respond to environmental stimuli. To investigate the biological functions of these TCSTS genes, we aimed to inactivate all 54 RR genes in X. campestris pv. campestris ATCC 33913, and successfully generated 51 viable mutants using the insertion inactivation method. Plant inoculation identified two novel response regulator genes (XCC1958 and XCC3107) that are involved in virulence of this strain. Genetic complementation demonstrated that XCC3107, designated as vgrR (virulence and growth regulator), also affects bacterial growth and activity of extracellular proteases. In addition, we assessed the survival of these mutants under various stresses, including osmotic stress, high sodium concentration, heat shock, and sodium dodecyl sulfate exposure, and identified a number of genes that may be involved in the general stress response of X. campestris pv. campestris. Mutagenesis and phenotypic characterization of RR genes in this study will facilitate future studies on signaling networks in this important phytopathogenic bacterium.

The molecular genetics of virulence of Xanthomonas campestris

Bacteria belonging to the genus Xanthomonas are important pathogens of many plants, and their virulence appears to be due primarily to secreted and surface compounds that could increase host nutrient loss, or avoid or suppress unfavorable conditions in the host. Type II and III secretory pathways are essential for virulence. Some individual extracellular enzymes (type II-secretion dependent) affect final bacterial population levels, whereas some avirulence gene products (type III-secretion dependent) affect virulence by altering host metabolism. Avr proteins, probably secreted via a pilus, can also be recognized by host resistance gene products. Virulence is also associated with bacterial surface polysaccharides, which may help to avoid host defense responses, and regulatory gene systems, which can control virulence gene expression.

Improvement in bioreactor productivities using free radicals: HOCl-induced overproduction of xanthan gum from Xanthomonas campestris and its mechanism

Free-radical induction has been employed as a novel strategy to improve bioreactor productivity and, more specifically, the quality and productivity of xanthan gum from Xanthomonas campestris cultures. A 210% increase in xanthan yield and a 20% increase in viscosity (quality) resulted from HOCl (oxidant) treatment. The acetate mass fraction in xanthan gum decreased by 42% and its pyruvate mass fraction increased by 63% as a result of HOCl treatment. The growth rate was almost unaffected by HOCl treatment. A hypothesis to explain the mechanism of xanthan gum overproduction by free-radical induction has been formulated. The significant aspects of the hypothesis, such as SoxS protein binding to the promoter region of the gum gene and the consequent increase in mRNA concentrations, have been experimentally verified.

Cloning and sequence analysis of putative histidine protein kinases isolated from Lactococcus lactis MG1363

Eight recombinant plasmids harboring chromosomal fragments of Lactococcus lactis MG1363 were shown to phenotypically suppress a histidine protein kinase (HPK) deficiency in either of two different E. coli strains. Sequence analysis of the plasmid inserts revealed five different complete or partial open reading frames (ORFs) specifying proteins with high similarity to HPKs. One of the plasmids also harbored an additional ORF, unrelated to HPKs, with suppressing activity.

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the rpoD gene encoding the primary sigma factor of Xanthomonas campestris

A DNA fragment encoding the primary sigma factor from Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris was cloned and sequenced. The gene (rpoD) encodes a polypeptide of 622 amino acids with a calculated MW of 70,700. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits extensive sequence homology to the conserved regions of the primary sigma factors from bacteria. The gene product expressed in Escherichia coli, detected by Western blot analysis, had a MW similar to that estimated for the purified protein in SDS-PAGE. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence determined chemically matched with that deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the rpoD gene. The calculated pI value (9.31) for the X. campestris primary sigma factor is much higher than the values observed for the analogous proteins from other bacteria.

The Myxococcus xanthus asgA gene encodes a novel signal transduction protein required for multicellular development

The Myxococcus xanthus asgA gene is one of three known genes necessary for the production of extracellular A-signal, a cell density signal required early in fruiting body development. We determined the DNA sequence of asgA. The deduced 385-amino-acid sequence of AsgA was found to contain two domains: one homologous to the receiver domain of response regulators and the other homologous to the transmitter domain of histidine protein kinases. A kanamycin resistance (Kmr) gene was inserted at various positions within or near the asgA gene to determine the null phenotype. Those strains with the Kmr gene inserted upstream or downstream of asgA are able to form fruiting bodies, while strains containing the Kmr gene inserted within asgA fail to develop. The nature and location of the asgA476 mutation were determined. This mutation causes a leucine-to-proline substitution within a conserved stretch of hydrophobic residues in the N-terminal receiver domain. Cells containing the insertion within asgA and cells containing the asgA476 substitution have similar phenotypes with respect to development, colony color, and expression of an asg-dependent gene. An analysis of expression of a translational asgA-lacZ fusion confirms that asgA is expressed during growth and early development. Finally, we propose that AsgA functions within a signal transduction pathway that is required to sense starvation and to respond with the production of extracellular A-signal.

Differential expression of conserved protease genes in crucifer-attacking pathovars of Xanthomonas campestris

Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pathovars armoraciae and raphani, which cause leaf spotting diseases in brassicas, produce a major extracellular protease in liquid culture which was partially purified. The protease (PRT 3) was a zinc-requiring metalloenzyme and was readily distinguishable from the two previously characterized proteases (PRT 1 and PRT 2) of X. campestris pv. campestris by the pattern of degradation of beta-casein and sensitivity to inhibitors. PRT 3 was produced at a low level in the vascular brassica pathogen X. campestris pv. campestris (five strains tested), in which PRT 1 and PRT 2 predominate. In contrast, expression of PRT 1, a serine protease, could not be detected in the six tested strains of the leaf spotting mesophyll pathogens. However, all these strains had DNA fragments which hybridized to a prtA probe and which probably carry a functional prtA (the structural gene for PRT 1). The structural gene for PRT 3 (prtC) was cloned by screening a genomic library of X. campestris pv. raphani in a protease-deficient X. campestris pv. campestris strain. Subcloning and Tn5 mutagenesis located the structural gene to 1.2 kb of DNA. DNA fragments which hybridized to the structural gene were found in all strains of the crucifer-attacking X. campestris pathovars tested as well as in a number of other pathovars. Experiments in which the pattern of protease production of the pathovars was manipulated by introduction of cloned genes into heterologous pathovars suggested that no determinative relationship exists between the pattern of protease gene expression and the (vascular or mesophyllic) mode of pathogenesis.

The opsX locus of Xanthomonas campestris affects host range and biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide and extracellular polysaccharide

Xanthomonas campestris pv. citrumelo strain 3048 is the causal agent of citrus bacterial leaf spot disease and has a wide host range that includes rutaceous and leguminous plants. A spontaneous prototrophic mutant of strain 3048 (strain M28) that had lost virulence on citrus but retained virulence on bean plants was recovered. Growth studies in planta showed that M28 cells died rapidly in citrus leaves but grew normally in bean leaves. In addition to the loss of citrus-specific virulence, M28 displayed the following mutant phenotypes in culture: decreased growth rate, reduction of the amount of exopolysaccharide (to ca. 25% of the amount in 3048), loss of capsules, and significant alterations of the two 3048 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) bands visualized by silver stain on polyacrylamide gels, consistent with a defect(s) in LPS assembly. A 38-kb DNA fragment from a 3048 total DNA library that complemented the mutant phenotypes of M28 was identified. The 38-kb fragment did not hybridize to two similarly sized fragments carrying different hrp (hypersensitive response and pathogenicity) genes cloned from 3048. Subcloning, DNA sequence analyses, and gene disruption experiments were used to identify a single gene, opsX (for outer-membrane polysaccharide), responsible for the mutant phenotypes of M28. At least one other gene downstream from opsX also affected the same phenotypes and may be part of a gene cluster. We report here the DNA sequence and transcriptional start site of opsX. A search of protein sequence data bases with the predicted 31.3-kDa OpsX sequence found strong similarity to Lsi-1 of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and RfaQ of Escherichia coli (both are involved in LPS core assembly). The host-specific virulence function of opsX appears to involve biosynthesis of the extracellular polysaccharide and a complete LPS. Both may be needed in normal amounts for protection from citrus, but not bean, defense compounds.

Genetic and molecular analysis of a cluster of rpf genes involved in positive regulation of synthesis of extracellular enzymes and polysaccharide in Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris

The cosmid clone pIJ3020 containing DNA from the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris has previously been shown to complement a non-pathogenic mutant defective in synthesis of extracellular enzymes. The DNA cloned in pIJ3020 was analysed by mutagenesis with Tn5 and Tn5lac and by nucleotide sequencing. The results indicate that this region of the genome contains a cluster of genes, mutation in any of which results in failure of the enzymes and extracellular polysaccharide to be synthesized. The designation rpf (regulation of pathogenicity factors) is proposed for these genes. The nucleotide sequence of one gene (rpfC) predicts a protein product with homology to conserved domains of both sensor and regulator proteins of prokaryotic two-component regulatory systems, which are usually involved in regulating gene expression in response to environmental stimuli.