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Feng Q, Zhou J, Zhang L, Fu Y, Yang L. Insights into the molecular basis of c-di-GMP signalling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:20-38. [PMID: 36539391 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2154140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause severe infections in immunocompromized people or cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Because of its remarkable ability to invade the host and withstand the bacteriocidal effect of most conventional antibiotics, the infection caused by P. aeruginosa has become a major concern for human health. The switch from acute to chronic infection is governed by the second messenger bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine mono-phosphate (c-di-GMP) in P. aeruginosa, and c-di-GMP is now recognized to regulate many important biological processes in pathogenesis. The c-di-GMP signalling mechanisms in P. aeruginosa have been studied extensively in the past decade, revealing complicated c-di-GMP metabolism and signalling network. In this review, the underlying mechanisms of this signalling network will be discussed, mainly focussing on how environmental cues regulate c-di-GMP signalling, protein-protein interaction mediated functional regulation, heterogeneity of c-di-GMP and cross talk between c-di-GMP signalling and other signalling systems. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the complex c-di-GMP signalling network would be beneficial for developing therapeutic approaches and antibacterial agents to combat the threat from P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qishun Feng
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Jianuan Zhou
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Lianhui Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yang Fu
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Liang Yang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, PR China
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Xiong D, Yang Z, He X, He W, Shen D, Wang L, Lin L, Murero A, Minamino T, Shao X, Qian G. Loss of Flagella-Related Genes Enables a Nonflagellated, Fungal-Predating Bacterium To Strengthen the Synthesis of an Antifungal Weapon. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0414922. [PMID: 36629418 PMCID: PMC9927559 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04149-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of flagellar genes causes a nonmotile phenotype. The genus Lysobacter consists of numerous environmentally ubiquitous, nonflagellated bacteria, including Lysobacter enzymogenes, an antifungal bacterium that is beneficial to plants. L. enzymogenes still has many flagellar genes on its genome, although this bacterium does not engage in flagella-driven motility. Here, we report that loss of certain flagellar genes allows L. enzymogenes to strengthen its evolutionarily gained capacity in fungal killing. To clarify why this bacterium loses flagellar genes during the evolutionary process, we cloned several representative flagellar genes from Xanthomonas oryzae, a flagellated, phylogenetically related species of Lysobacter, and introduced them individually into L. enzymogenes to mimic genomic reacquisition of lost flagellar genes. Heterogeneous expression of the three X. oryzae flagellar structural genes (Xo-motA, Xo-motB, Xo-fliE) and one flagellar regulatory gene (Xo-fleQ) remarkably weakened the bacterial capacity to kill fungal pathogens by impairing the synthesis of an antifungal weapon, known as the heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF). We further investigated the underlying mechanism by selecting Xo-FleQ as the representative because it is a master transcription factor responsible for flagellar gene expression. Xo-FleQ inhibited the transcription of operon genes responsible for HSAF synthesis via direct binding of Xo-FleQ to the promoter region, thereby decreasing HSAF biosynthesis by L. enzymogenes. These observations suggest a possible genome and function coevolution event, in which an antifungal bacterium deletes certain flagellar genes in order to enhance its ability to kill fungi. IMPORTANCE It is generally recognized that flagellar genes are commonly responsible for the flagella-driven bacterial motility. Thus, finding nonflagellated bacteria partially or fully lost flagellar genes is not a surprise. However, the present study provides new insights into this common idea. We found that loss of either certain flagellar structural or regulatory genes (such as motA, motB, fliE, and fleQ) allows a nonflagellated, antifungal bacterium (L. enzymogenes) to stimulate its fungal-killing capacity, outlining a genome-function coevolution event, where an antifungal bacterium "smartly" designed its genome to "delete" crucial flagellar genes to coordinate flagellar loss and fungal predation. This unusual finding might trigger bacteriologists to reconsider previously ignored functions of the lost flagellar genes in any nonflagellated, pathogenic, or beneficial bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xiong
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Zixiang Yang
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Xueting He
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Weimei He
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Danyu Shen
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Lu Wang
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Long Lin
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Aprodisia Murero
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Tohru Minamino
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Xiaolong Shao
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Guoliang Qian
- College of Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory of Biological Interactions and Crop Health, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China
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The Wsp chemosensory system modulates c-di-GMP-dependent biofilm formation by integrating DSF quorum sensing through the WspR-RpfG complex in Lysobacter. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:97. [PMID: 36526637 PMCID: PMC9758175 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00365-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous Wsp (wrinkly spreader phenotype) chemosensory system and DSF (diffusible signal factor) quorum sensing are two important chemically associated signaling systems that mediate bacterial communications between the host and environment. Although these two systems individually control biofilm formation in pathogenic bacteria via the ubiquitous second messenger c-di-GMP, their crosstalk mechanisms remain elusive. Here we present a scenario from the plant-beneficial and antifungal bacterium Lysobacter enzymogenes OH11, where biofilm formation favors the colonization of this bacterium in fungal hyphae. We found that the Wsp system regulated biofilm formation via WspR-mediated c-di-GMP signaling, whereas DSF system did not depend on the enzymatic activity of RpfG to regulate biofilm formation. We further found that WspR, a diguanylate cyclase (DGC) responsible for c-di-GMP synthesis, could directly bind to one of the DSF signaling components, RpfG, an active phosphodiesterase (PDE) responsible for c-di-GMP degradation. Thus, the WspR-RpfG complex represents a previously undiscovered molecular linker connecting the Wsp and DSF systems. Mechanistically, RpfG could function as an adaptor protein to bind and inhibit the DGC activity of unphosphorylated WspR independent of its PDE activity. Phosphorylation of WspR impaired its binding affinity to RpfG and also blocked the ability of RpfG to act as an adaptor protein, which enabled the Wsp system to regulate biofilm formation in a c-di-GMP-dependent manner by dynamically integrating the DSF system. Our findings demonstrated a previously uncharacterized mechanism of crosstalk between Wsp and DSF systems in plant-beneficial and antifungal bacteria.
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Li M, Chen Q, Wu C, Li Y, Wang S, Chen X, Qiu B, Li Y, Mao D, Lin H, Yu D, Cao Y, Huang Z, Cui C, Zhong Z. A Novel Module Promotes Horizontal Gene Transfer in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101895. [PMID: 36292780 PMCID: PMC9601964 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 contains an 87.6 kb integrative and conjugative element (ICEAc) that conjugatively transfers symbiosis genes to other rhizobia. Many hypothetical redundant gene fragments (rgfs) are abundant in ICEAc, but their potential function in horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is unknown. Molecular biological methods were employed to delete hypothetical rgfs, expecting to acquire a minimal ICEAc and consider non-functional rgfs as editable regions for inserting genes related to new symbiotic functions. We determined the significance of rgf4 in HGT and identified the physiological function of genes designated rihF1a (AZC_3879), rihF1b (AZC_RS26200), and rihR (AZC_3881). In-frame deletion and complementation assays revealed that rihF1a and rihF1b work as a unit (rihF1) that positively affects HGT frequency. The EMSA assay and lacZ-based reporter system showed that the XRE-family protein RihR is not a regulator of rihF1 but promotes the expression of the integrase (intC) that has been reported to be upregulated by the LysR-family protein, AhaR, through sensing host’s flavonoid. Overall, a conservative module containing rihF1 and rihR was characterized, eliminating the size of ICEAc by 18.5%. We propose the feasibility of constructing a minimal ICEAc element to facilitate the exchange of new genetic components essential for symbiosis or other metabolic functions between soil bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxu Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Chuanhui Wu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yiyang Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Sanle Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xuelian Chen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Bowen Qiu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yuxin Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Dongmei Mao
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hong Lin
- Animal, Plant and Food Inspection Center, Nanjing Customs, No. 39, Chuangzhi Road, Nanjing 210019, China
| | - Daogeng Yu
- Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Danzhou 571737, China
| | - Yajun Cao
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhi Huang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Correspondence: (Z.H.); (C.C.); Tel.: +86-25-84396645 (Z.H.)
| | - Chunhong Cui
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Correspondence: (Z.H.); (C.C.); Tel.: +86-25-84396645 (Z.H.)
| | - Zengtao Zhong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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The Regulatory Network Involving PcoR, RsaL, and MvaT Coordinates the Quorum-Sensing System in Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0062522. [PMID: 35695573 PMCID: PMC9275216 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00625-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24 is a beneficial plant root-associated microorganism capable of suppressing several soilborne plant diseases. The capacity of P. fluorescens to aggressively colonize the rhizosphere is an important requirement for its biocontrol trait. We previously found that the PcoI/PcoR quorum-sensing system (QS) is involved in regulating the rhizosphere colonization of P. fluorescens. Here, we revealed a sophisticated regulatory network that connects PcoR, RsaL, and MvaT proteins to fine-tune the PcoI/PcoR QS system. Our data showed that PcoR could directly bind to the promoter region of pcoI thereby inducing the PcoI/PcoR QS system, whereas RsaL binds simultaneously with PcoR to the promoter region of pcoI and represses the PcoR-dependent activation of pcoI gene. In addition, RsaL indirectly downregulates the expression of pcoR. Furthermore, we showed that disruption of mvaT enhanced the expression of pcoI, pcoR, and rsaL, whereas MvaT controls the PcoI/PcoR QS in a RsaL-independent manner. Overall, this study elucidates that PcoR, RsaL, and MvaT regulate the PcoI/PcoR QS through a multi-tiered regulatory mechanism and that PcoR is necessary in the RsaL- and MvaT-mediated repression on the expression of pcoI. IMPORTANCE The PcoI/PcoR quorum-sensing system of Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24 is important for its effective colonization in the plant rhizosphere. Many regulatory elements appear to directly or indirectly influence the QS system. Here, we found a complex regulatory network employing transcriptional factors PcoR, RsaL, and MvaT to influence the expression of the PcoI/PcoR QS in P. fluorescens 2P24. Our results indicate that PcoR and RsaL directly bind to the promoter region of pcoI and then positively and negatively regulate the expression of pcoI, respectively. Furthermore, the H-NS family protein MvaT negatively controls the PcoI/PcoR QS in a RsaL-independent manner. Taken together, our data provide new insights into the interplays between different regulatory elements that fine-tune the QS system of P. fluorescens.
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The StkSR Two-Component System Influences Colistin Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050985. [PMID: 35630428 PMCID: PMC9146086 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic human pathogen responsible for numerous severe nosocomial infections. Genome analysis on the A. baumannii clinical isolate 04117201 revealed the presence of 13 two-component signal transduction systems (TCS). Of these, we examined the putative TCS named here as StkSR. The stkR response regulator was deleted via homologous recombination and its progeny, ΔstkR, was phenotypically characterized. Antibiogram analyses of ΔstkR cells revealed a two-fold increase in resistance to the clinically relevant polymyxins, colistin and polymyxin B, compared to wildtype. PAGE-separation of silver stained purified lipooligosaccharide isolated from ΔstkR and wildtype cells ruled out the complete loss of lipooligosaccharide as the mechanism of colistin resistance identified for ΔstkR. Hydrophobicity analysis identified a phenotypical change of the bacterial cells when exposed to colistin. Transcriptional profiling revealed a significant up-regulation of the pmrCAB operon in ΔstkR compared to the parent, associating these two TCS and colistin resistance. These results reveal that there are multiple levels of regulation affecting colistin resistance; the suggested ‘cross-talk’ between the StkSR and PmrAB two-component systems highlights the complexity of these systems.
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Li Y, Feng T, Wang Y. The role of bacterial signaling networks in antibiotics response and resistance regulation. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:163-178. [PMID: 37073223 PMCID: PMC10077285 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-022-00126-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Excessive use of antibiotics poses a threat to public health and the environment. In ecosystems, such as the marine environment, antibiotic contamination has led to an increase in bacterial resistance. Therefore, the study of bacterial response to antibiotics and the regulation of resistance formation have become an important research field. Traditionally, the processes related to antibiotic responses and resistance regulation have mainly included the activation of efflux pumps, mutation of antibiotic targets, production of biofilms, and production of inactivated or passivation enzymes. In recent years, studies have shown that bacterial signaling networks can affect antibiotic responses and resistance regulation. Signaling systems mostly alter resistance by regulating biofilms, efflux pumps, and mobile genetic elements. Here we provide an overview of how bacterial intraspecific and interspecific signaling networks affect the response to environmental antibiotics. In doing so, this review provides theoretical support for inhibiting bacterial antibiotic resistance and alleviating health and ecological problems caused by antibiotic contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Li
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Tao Feng
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266071 China
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Yue H, Miller AL, Khetrapal V, Jayaseker V, Wright S, Du L. Biosynthesis, regulation, and engineering of natural products from Lysobacter. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:842-874. [PMID: 35067688 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00063b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Covering: up to August 2021Lysobacter is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria that was classified in 1987. Several Lysobacter species are emerging as new biocontrol agents for crop protection in agriculture. Lysobacter are prolific producers of new bioactive natural products that are largely underexplored. So far, several classes of structurally interesting and biologically active natural products have been isolated from Lysobacter. This article reviews the progress in Lysobacter natural product research over the past ten years, including molecular mechanisms for biosynthesis, regulation and mode of action, genome mining of cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters, and metabolic engineering using synthetic biology tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Yue
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA.
| | - Amanda Lynn Miller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA.
| | - Vimmy Khetrapal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA.
| | - Vishakha Jayaseker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA.
| | - Stephen Wright
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA.
| | - Liangcheng Du
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA.
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Lin L, Xu K, Shen D, Chou SH, Gomelsky M, Qian G. Antifungal weapons of Lysobacter, a mighty biocontrol agent. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:5704-5715. [PMID: 34288318 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria interact with fungi in a variety of ways to inhibit fungal growth, while the underlying mechanisms remain only partially characterized. The plant-beneficial Bacillus and Pseudomonas species are well-known antifungal biocontrol agents, whereas Lysobacter are far less studied. Members of Lysobacter are easy to grow in fermenters and are safe to humans, animals and plants. These environmentally ubiquitous bacteria use a diverse arsenal of weapons to prey on other microorganisms, including fungi and oomycetes. The small molecular toxins secreted by Lysobacter represent long-range weapons effective against filamentous fungi. The secreted hydrolytic enzymes act as intermediate-range weapons against non-filamentous fungi. The contact-dependent killing devices are proposed to work as short-range weapons. We describe here the structure, biosynthetic pathway, action mode and applications of one of the best-characterized long-range weapons, the heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF) produced by Lysobacter enzymogenes. We discuss how the flagellar type III secretion system has evolved into an enzyme secretion machine for the intermediate-range antifungal weapons. We highlight an intricate mechanism coordinating the production of the long-range weapon, HSAF and the proposed contact-dependent killing device, type VI secretion system. We also overview the regulatory mechanisms of HSAF production involving specific transcription factors and the bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Lin
- College of Plant Protection, Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China
| | - Kangwen Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China
| | - Danyu Shen
- College of Plant Protection, Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China
| | - Shan-Ho Chou
- Institute of Biochemistry, and NCHU Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mark Gomelsky
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Guoliang Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China
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Xu K, Lin L, Shen D, Chou SH, Qian G. Clp is a "busy" transcription factor in the bacterial warrior, Lysobacter enzymogenes. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3564-3572. [PMID: 34257836 PMCID: PMC8246147 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) is a well-characterized group of global transcription factors in bacteria. They are known to regulate numerous cellular processes by binding DNA and/or cAMP (a ligand called bacterial second messenger) to control target gene expression. Gram-negative Lysobacter enzymogenes is a soilborne, plant-beneficial bacterium without flagella that can fight against filamentous fungi and oomycete. Driven by the type IV pilus (T4P) system, this bacterium moves to nearby pathogens and uses a “mobile-attack” antifungal strategy to kill them via heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF) and abundant lyases. This strategy is controlled by a unique “busy” transcription factor Clp, which is a CRP-like protein that is inactivated by binding of c-di-GMP, another ubiquitous second messenger of bacteria. In this review, we summarize the current progress in how Clp initiates a “mobile-attack” strategy through a series of previously uncharacterized mechanisms, including binding to DNA in a unique pattern, directly interacting with or responding to various small molecules, and interacting specifically with proteins adopting distinct structure. Together, these characteristics highlight the multifunctional roles of Clp in L. enzymogenes, a powerful bacterial warrior against fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangwen Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
| | - Long Lin
- College of Plant Protection, Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
| | - Danyu Shen
- College of Plant Protection, Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
| | - Shan-Ho Chou
- Institute of Biochemistry, and NCHU Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Guoliang Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
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