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Vannini A, Pinatel E, Costantini PE, Pelliciari S, Roncarati D, Puccio S, De Bellis G, Scarlato V, Peano C, Danielli A. (Re)-definition of the holo- and apo-Fur direct regulons of Helicobacter pylori. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168573. [PMID: 38626867 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168573] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Iron homeostasis is a critical process for living organisms because this metal is an essential co-factor for fundamental biochemical activities, like energy production and detoxification, albeit its excess quickly leads to cell intoxication. The protein Fur (ferric uptake regulator) controls iron homeostasis in bacteria by switching from its apo- to holo-form as a function of the cytoplasmic level of ferrous ions, thereby modulating gene expression. The Helicobacter pylori HpFur protein has the rare ability to operate as a transcriptional commutator; apo- and holo-HpFur function as two different repressors with distinct DNA binding recognition properties for specific sets of target genes. Although the regulation of apo- and holo-HpFur in this bacterium has been extensively investigated, we propose a genome-wide redefinition of holo-HpFur direct regulon in H. pylori by integration of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data, and a large extension of the apo-HpFur direct regulon. We show that in response to iron availability, new coding sequences, non-coding RNAs, toxin-antitoxin systems, and transcripts within open reading frames are directly regulated by apo- or holo-HpFur. These new targets and the more thorough validation and deeper characterization of those already known provide a complete and updated picture of the direct regulons of this two-faced transcriptional regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vannini
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Eva Pinatel
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies - National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate (MI), Italy.
| | - Paolo Emidio Costantini
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Simone Pelliciari
- Human Genetic Unit, Institute of Genetic and Cancer - University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Davide Roncarati
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Simone Puccio
- Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan - National Research Council, Via Manzoni 113, 20089 Rozzano (MI), Italy; Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano (MI), Italy.
| | - Gianluca De Bellis
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies - National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate (MI), Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Scarlato
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan - National Research Council, Via Manzoni 113, 20089 Rozzano (MI), Italy; Human Technopole, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 1, 20157 Milan, Italy.
| | - Alberto Danielli
- University of Bologna Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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Noszka M, Strzałka A, Muraszko J, Kolenda R, Meng C, Ludwig C, Stingl K, Zawilak-Pawlik A. Profiling of the Helicobacter pylori redox switch HP1021 regulon using a multi-omics approach. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6715. [PMID: 37872172 PMCID: PMC10593804 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42364-6] [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: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The gastric human pathogen Helicobacter pylori has developed mechanisms to combat stress factors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we present a comprehensive study on the redox switch protein HP1021 regulon combining transcriptomic, proteomic and DNA-protein interactions analyses. Our results indicate that HP1021 modulates H. pylori's response to oxidative stress. HP1021 controls the transcription of 497 genes, including 407 genes related to response to oxidative stress. 79 proteins are differently expressed in the HP1021 deletion mutant. HP1021 controls typical ROS response pathways (katA, rocF) and less canonical ones, particularly DNA uptake and central carbohydrate metabolism. HP1021 is a molecular regulator of competence in H. pylori, as HP1021-dependent repression of the comB DNA uptake genes is relieved under oxidative conditions, increasing natural competence. Furthermore, HP1021 controls glucose consumption by directly regulating the gluP transporter and has an important impact on maintaining the energetic balance in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Noszka
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Strzałka
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Jakub Muraszko
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Rafał Kolenda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Chen Meng
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Christina Ludwig
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Kerstin Stingl
- Department of Biological Safety, National Reference Laboratory for Campylobacter, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Zawilak-Pawlik
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
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3
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A Positively Selected fur-R88H Mutation Enhances Helicobacter pylori Fitness in a High-Salt Environment and Alters Fur-Dependent Regulation of Gene Expression. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0042022. [PMID: 36633416 PMCID: PMC9933627 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00420-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Both Helicobacter pylori infection and a high-salt diet are risk factors for gastric cancer. We previously showed that a mutation in fur (encoding the ferric uptake regulator variant Fur-R88H) was positively selected in H. pylori strains isolated from experimentally infected Mongolian gerbils receiving a high-salt diet. In the present study, we report that continuous H. pylori growth in high-salt conditions in vitro also leads to positive selection of the fur-R88H mutation. Competition experiments with strains containing wild-type fur or fur-R88H, each labeled with unique nucleotide barcodes, showed that the fur-R88H mutation enhances H. pylori fitness under high-salt conditions but reduces H. pylori fitness under routine culture conditions. The fitness advantage of the fur-R88H mutant under high-salt conditions was abrogated by the addition of supplemental iron. To test the hypothesis that the fur-R88H mutation alters the regulatory properties of Fur, we compared the transcriptional profiles of strains containing wild-type fur or fur-R88H. Increased transcript levels of fecA2, which encodes a predicted TonB-dependent outer membrane transporter, were detected in the fur-R88H variant compared to those in the strain containing wild-type fur under both high-salt and routine conditions. Competition experiments showed that fecA2 contributes to H. pylori fitness under both high-salt and routine conditions. These results provide new insights into mechanisms by which the fur-R88H mutation confers a selective advantage to H. pylori in high-salt environments.
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Zuo F, Somiah T, Gebremariam HG, Jonsson AB. Lactobacilli Downregulate Transcription Factors in Helicobacter pylori That Affect Motility, Acid Tolerance and Antimicrobial Peptide Survival. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415451. [PMID: 36555092 PMCID: PMC9779568 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infection triggers inflammation that may lead to gastritis, stomach ulcers and cancer. Probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, have been of interest as treatment options, however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of Lactobacillus-mediated inhibition of H. pylori pathogenesis. In this work, we investigated the effect of Lactobacillus culture supernatants, so-called conditioned medium (CM), from two gastric isolates, L. gasseri and L. oris, on the expression of transcriptional regulators in H. pylori. Among the four known two-component systems (TCSs), i.e., ArsRS, FlgRS, CheAY and CrdRS, the flagellar regulator gene flgR and the acid resistance associated arsS gene were down-regulated by L. gasseri CM, whereas expression of the other TCS-genes remained unaffected. L. gasseri CM also reduced the motility of H. pylori, which is in line with reduced flgR expression. Furthermore, among six transcription factors of H. pylori only the ferric uptake regulator gene fur was regulated by L. gasseri CM. Deletion of fur further led to dramatically increased sensitivity to the antimicrobial peptide LL-37. Taken together, the results highlight that released/secreted factors of some lactobacilli, but not all, downregulate transcriptional regulators involved in motility, acid tolerance and LL-37 sensitivity of H. pylori.
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Insights into the Orchestration of Gene Transcription Regulators in Helicobacter pylori. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213688. [PMID: 36430169 PMCID: PMC9696931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens employ a general strategy to overcome host defenses by coordinating the virulence gene expression using dedicated regulatory systems that could raise intricate networks. During the last twenty years, many studies of Helicobacter pylori, a human pathogen responsible for various stomach diseases, have mainly focused on elucidating the mechanisms and functions of virulence factors. In parallel, numerous studies have focused on the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene transcription to attempt to understand the physiological changes of the bacterium during infection and adaptation to the environmental conditions it encounters. The number of regulatory proteins deduced from the genome sequence analyses responsible for the correct orchestration of gene transcription appears limited to 14 regulators and three sigma factors. Furthermore, evidence is accumulating for new and complex circuits regulating gene transcription and H. pylori virulence. Here, we focus on the molecular mechanisms used by H. pylori to control gene transcription as a function of the principal environmental changes.
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Szczepanowski P, Noszka M, Żyła-Uklejewicz D, Pikuła F, Nowaczyk-Cieszewska M, Krężel A, Stingl K, Zawilak-Pawlik A. HP1021 is a redox switch protein identified in Helicobacter pylori. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:6863-6879. [PMID: 34139017 PMCID: PMC8266642 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, microaerophilic, pathogenic bacterium and a widespread colonizer of humans. H. pylori has developed mechanisms that enable it to overcome the harsh environment of the human stomach, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, up to now no typical regulator dedicated to the oxidative-stress response has been discovered. In this work, we reveal that the inhibitor of replication initiation HP1021 functions as a redox switch protein in H. pylori and plays an important role in response to oxidative stress of the gastric pathogen. Each of the two predicted HP1021 domains contains three cysteine residues. We show that the cysteine residues of HP1021 are sensitive to oxidation both in vitro and in vivo, and we demonstrate that HP1021 DNA-binding activity to oriC depends on the redox state of the protein. Moreover, Zn2+ modulates HP1021 affinity towards oriC template DNA. Transcription analysis of selected H. pylori genes by RT-qPCR indicated that HP1021 is directly involved in the oxygen-dependent control of H. pylori fecA3 and gluP genes, which are implicated in response to oxidative stress. In conclusion, HP1021 is a redox switch protein and could be a target for H. pylori control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Szczepanowski
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław 53-114, Poland
| | - Mateusz Noszka
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław 53-114, Poland
| | - Dorota Żyła-Uklejewicz
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław 53-114, Poland
| | - Fabian Pikuła
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław 53-114, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Nowaczyk-Cieszewska
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław 53-114, Poland
| | - Artur Krężel
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław 50-383, Poland
| | - Kerstin Stingl
- Department of Biological Safety, National Reference Laboratory for Campylobacter, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin 12277, Germany
| | - Anna Zawilak-Pawlik
- Department of Microbiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław 53-114, Poland
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7
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Delineation of the pH-Responsive Regulon Controlled by the Helicobacter pylori ArsRS Two-Component System. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00597-20. [PMID: 33526561 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00597-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori encounters a wide range of pH within the human stomach. In a comparison of H. pylori cultured in vitro under neutral or acidic conditions, about 15% of genes are differentially expressed, and corresponding changes are detectable for many of the encoded proteins. The ArsRS two-component system (TCS), comprised of the sensor kinase ArsS and its cognate response regulator ArsR, has an important role in mediating pH-responsive changes in H. pylori gene expression. In this study, we sought to delineate the pH-responsive ArsRS regulon and further define the role of ArsR in pH-responsive gene expression. We compared H. pylori strains containing an intact ArsRS system with an arsS null mutant or strains containing site-specific mutations of a conserved aspartate residue (D52) in ArsR, which is phosphorylated in response to signals relayed by the cognate sensor kinase ArsS. We identified 178 genes that were pH-responsive in strains containing an intact ArsRS system but not in ΔarsS or arsR mutants. These constituents of the pH-responsive ArsRS regulon include genes involved in acid acclimatization (ureAB, amidases), oxidative stress responses (katA, sodB), transcriptional regulation related to iron or nickel homeostasis (fur, nikR), and genes encoding outer membrane proteins (including sabA, alpA, alpB, hopD [labA], and horA). When comparing H. pylori strains containing an intact ArsRS TCS with arsRS mutants, each cultured at neutral pH, relatively few genes are differentially expressed. Collectively, these data suggest that ArsRS-mediated gene regulation has an important role in H. pylori adaptation to changing pH conditions.
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8
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Jaboulay C, Godeux AS, Doublet P, Vianney A. Regulatory Networks of the T4SS Control: From Host Cell Sensing to the Biogenesis and the Activity during the Infection. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166892. [PMID: 33636165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Delivery of effectors, DNA or proteins, that hijack host cell processes to the benefit of bacteria is a mechanism widely used by bacterial pathogens. It is achieved by complex effector injection devices, the secretion systems, among which Type 4 Secretion Systems (T4SSs) play a key role in bacterial virulence of numerous animal and plant pathogens. Considerable progress has recently been made in the structure-function analyses of T4SSs. Nevertheless, the signals and processes that trigger machine assembly and activity during infection, as well as those involved in substrate recognition and transfer, are complex and still poorly understood. In this review, we aim at summarizing the last updates of the knowledge on signaling pathways that regulate the biogenesis and the activity of T4SSs in important bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jaboulay
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, (Team: Legionella pathogenesis), Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, F-69007 Lyon, France.
| | - A S Godeux
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, (Team: Horigene), Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - P Doublet
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, (Team: Legionella pathogenesis), Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - A Vianney
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, (Team: Legionella pathogenesis), Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, F-69007 Lyon, France
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9
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Kelley BR, Lu J, Haley KP, Gaddy JA, Johnson JG. Metal homeostasis in pathogenic Epsilonproteobacteria: mechanisms of acquisition, efflux, and regulation. Metallomics 2021; 13:mfaa002. [PMID: 33570133 PMCID: PMC8043183 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfaa002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epsilonproteobacteria are a diverse class of eubacteria within the Proteobacteria phylum that includes environmental sulfur-reducing bacteria and the human pathogens, Campylobacter jejuni and Helicobacter pylori. These pathogens infect and proliferate within the gastrointestinal tracts of multiple animal hosts, including humans, and cause a variety of disease outcomes. While infection of these hosts provides nutrients for the pathogenic Epsilonproteobacteria, many hosts have evolved a variety of strategies to either sequester metals from the invading pathogen or exploit the toxicity of metals and drive their accumulation as an antimicrobial strategy. As a result, C. jejuni and H. pylori have developed mechanisms to sense changes in metal availability and regulate their physiology in order to respond to either metal limitation or accumulation. In this review, we will discuss the challenges of metal availability at the host-pathogen interface during infection with C. jejuni and H. pylori and describe what is currently known about how these organisms alter their gene expression and/or deploy bacterial virulence factors in response to these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittni R Kelley
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Jacky Lu
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kathryn P Haley
- Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer A Gaddy
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Tennessee Valley Healthcare Systems, Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Zhang F, Li B, Dong H, Chen M, Yao S, Li J, Zhang H, Liu X, Wang H, Song N, Zhang K, Du N, Xu S, Gu L. YdiV regulates Escherichia coli ferric uptake by manipulating the DNA-binding ability of Fur in a SlyD-dependent manner. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:9571-9588. [PMID: 32813023 PMCID: PMC7515728 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron is essential for all bacteria. In most bacteria, intracellular iron homeostasis is tightly regulated by the ferric uptake regulator Fur. However, how Fur activates the iron-uptake system during iron deficiency is not fully elucidated. In this study, we found that YdiV, the flagella gene inhibitor, is involved in iron homeostasis in Escherichia coli. Iron deficiency triggers overexpression of YdiV. High levels of YdiV then transforms Fur into a novel form which does not bind DNA in a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase SlyD dependent manner. Thus, the cooperation of YdiV, SlyD and Fur activates the gene expression of iron-uptake systems under conditions of iron deficiency. Bacterial invasion assays also demonstrated that both ydiV and slyD are necessary for the survival and growth of uropathogenic E. coli in bladder epithelial cells. This reveals a mechanism where YdiV not only represses flagella expression to make E. coli invisible to the host immune system, but it also promotes iron acquisition to help E. coli overcome host nutritional immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Bingqing Li
- Key Laboratory of Rare and Uncommon Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 18877 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250062, P.R. China
| | - Hongjie Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Shun Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Jingwen Li
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Honghai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan 250012, P. R. China
| | - Xiangguo Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Nannan Song
- Key Laboratory of Rare and Uncommon Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 18877 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250062, P.R. China
| | - Kundi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Ning Du
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Sujuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
| | - Lichuan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, P.R. China
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11
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Liu J, Tian Y, Zhao Y, Zeng R, Chen B, Hu B, Walcott RR. Ferric Uptake Regulator (FurA) is Required for Acidovorax citrulli Virulence on Watermelon. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2019; 109:1997-2008. [PMID: 31454303 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-05-19-0172-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch, a serious threat to commercial watermelon and melon crop production worldwide. Ferric uptake regulator (Fur) is a global transcription factor that affects a number of virulence-related functions in phytopathogenic bacteria; however, the role of furA has not been determined for A. citrulli. Hence, we constructed an furA deletion mutant and a corresponding complement in the background of A. citrulli strain xlj12 to investigate the role of the gene in siderophore production, concentration of intracellular Fe2+, bacterial sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide, biofilm formation, swimming motility, hypersensitive response induction, and virulence on melon seedlings. The A. citrulli furA deletion mutant displayed increased siderophore production, intracellular Fe2+ concentration, and increased sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. In contrast, biofilm formation, swimming motility, and virulence on melon seedlings were significantly reduced in the furA mutant. As expected, complementation of the furA deletion mutant restored all phenotypes to wild-type levels. In accordance with the phenotypic results, the expression levels of bfrA and bfrB that encode bacterioferritin, sodB that encodes iron/manganese superoxide dismutase, fliS that encodes a flagellar protein, hrcN that encodes the type III secretion system (T3SS) ATPase, and hrcC that encodes the T3SS outer membrane ring protein were significantly downregulated in the A. citrulli furA deletion mutant. In addition, the expression of feo-related genes and feoA and feoB was significantly upregulated in the furA mutant. Overall, these results indicated that, in A. citrulli, FurA contributes to the regulation of the iron balance system, and affects a variety of virulence-related traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yanli Tian
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yuqiang Zhao
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Rong Zeng
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Baohui Chen
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Baishi Hu
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ron R Walcott
- Department of Plant Pathology, 4315 Miller Plant Sciences, the University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A
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12
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Pepe S, Pinatel E, Fiore E, Puccio S, Peano C, Brignoli T, Vannini A, Danielli A, Scarlato V, Roncarati D. The Helicobacter pylori Heat-Shock Repressor HspR: Definition of Its Direct Regulon and Characterization of the Cooperative DNA-Binding Mechanism on Its Own Promoter. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1887. [PMID: 30154784 PMCID: PMC6102357 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of pathogens to perceive environmental conditions and modulate gene expression accordingly is a crucial feature for bacterial survival. In this respect, the heat-shock response, a universal cellular response, allows cells to adapt to hostile environmental conditions and to survive during stress. In the major human pathogen Helicobacter pylori the expression of chaperone-encoding operons is under control of two auto-regulated transcriptional repressors, HrcA and HspR, with the latter acting as the master regulator of the regulatory circuit. To further characterize the HspR regulon in H. pylori, we used global transcriptome analysis (RNA-sequencing) in combination with Chromatin Immunoprecipitation coupled with deep sequencing (ChIP-sequencing) of HspR genomic binding sites. Intriguingly, these analyses showed that HspR is involved in the regulation of different crucial cellular functions through a limited number of genomic binding sites. Moreover, we further characterized HspR-DNA interactions through hydroxyl-radical footprinting assays. This analysis in combination with a nucleotide sequence alignment of HspR binding sites, revealed a peculiar pattern of DNA protection and highlighted sequence conservation with the HAIR motif (an HspR-associated inverted repeat of Streptomyces spp.). Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the HAIR motif is fundamental for HspR binding and that additional nucleotide determinants flanking the HAIR motif are required for complete binding of HspR to its operator sequence spanning over 70 bp of DNA. This finding is compatible with a model in which possibly a dimer of HspR recognizes the HAIR motif overlapping its promoter for binding and in turn cooperatively recruits two additional dimers on both sides of the HAIR motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Pepe
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Eva Pinatel
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Fiore
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simone Puccio
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Milan, Italy.,Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Milan, Italy.,Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan, Italy.,Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | - Tarcisio Brignoli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Vannini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Scarlato
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Roncarati
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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13
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Sarvan S, Butcher J, Stintzi A, Couture JF. Variation on a theme: investigating the structural repertoires used by ferric uptake regulators to control gene expression. Biometals 2018; 31:681-704. [DOI: 10.1007/s10534-018-0120-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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14
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Lee AY, Kao CY, Wang YK, Lin SY, Lai TY, Sheu BS, Lo CJ, Wu JJ. Inactivation of ferric uptake regulator (Fur) attenuates Helicobacter pylori J99 motility by disturbing the flagellar motor switch and autoinducer-2 production. Helicobacter 2017; 22. [PMID: 28402041 DOI: 10.1111/hel.12388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flagellar motility of Helicobacter pylori has been shown to be important for the bacteria to establish initial colonization. The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) is a global regulator that has been identified in H. pylori which is involved in the processes of iron uptake and establishing colonization. However, the role of Fur in H. pylori motility is still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS Motility of the wild-type, fur mutant, and fur revertant J99 were determined by a soft-agar motility assay and direct video observation. The bacterial shape and flagellar structure were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. Single bacterial motility and flagellar switching were observed by phase-contrast microscopy. Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) production in bacterial culture supernatant was analyzed by a bioluminescence assay. RESULTS The fur mutant showed impaired motility in the soft-agar assay compared with the wild-type J99 and fur revertant. The numbers and lengths of flagellar filaments on the fur mutant cells were similar to those of the wild-type and revertant cells. Phenotypic characterization showed similar swimming speed but reduction in switching rate in the fur mutant. The AI-2 production of the fur mutant was dramatically reduced compared with wild-type J99 in log-phase culture medium. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that Fur positively modulates H. pylori J99 motility through interfering with bacterial flagellar switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Yun Lee
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yen Kao
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Kuan Wang
- Department of Physics and Graduate Institute of Biophysics, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan
| | - Ssu-Yuan Lin
- Department of Physics and Graduate Institute of Biophysics, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan
| | - Tze-Ying Lai
- Department of Physics and Graduate Institute of Biophysics, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan
| | - Bor-Shyang Sheu
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Jung Lo
- Department of Physics and Graduate Institute of Biophysics, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan
| | - Jiunn-Jong Wu
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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15
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Chua EG, Wise MJ, Khosravi Y, Seow SW, Amoyo AA, Pettersson S, Peters F, Tay CY, Perkins TT, Loke MF, Marshall BJ, Vadivelu J. Quantum changes in Helicobacter pylori gene expression accompany host-adaptation. DNA Res 2017; 24:37-49. [PMID: 27803027 PMCID: PMC5381349 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsw046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a highly successful gastric pathogen. High genomic plasticity allows its adaptation to changing host environments. Complete genomes of H. pylori clinical isolate UM032 and its mice-adapted serial derivatives 298 and 299, generated using both PacBio RS and Illumina MiSeq sequencing technologies, were compared to identify novel elements responsible for host-adaptation. The acquisition of a jhp0562-like allele, which encodes for a galactosyltransferase, was identified in the mice-adapted strains. Our analysis implies a new β-1,4-galactosyltransferase role for this enzyme, essential for Ley antigen expression. Intragenomic recombination between babA and babB genes was also observed. Further, we expanded on the list of candidate genes whose expression patterns have been mediated by upstream homopolymer-length alterations to facilitate host adaption. Importantly, greater than four-fold reduction of mRNA levels was demonstrated in five genes. Among the down-regulated genes, three encode for outer membrane proteins, including BabA, BabB and HopD. As expected, a substantial reduction in BabA protein abundance was detected in mice-adapted strains 298 and 299 via Western analysis. Our results suggest that the expression of Ley antigen and reduced outer membrane protein expressions may facilitate H. pylori colonisation of mouse gastric epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eng-Guan Chua
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michael J Wise
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Yalda Khosravi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Sven Pettersson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,LKC School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.,SCELSE Microbiome Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Fanny Peters
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Chin-Yen Tay
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Timothy T Perkins
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mun-Fai Loke
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Barry J Marshall
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,UM Marshall Centre, High Impact Research Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jamuna Vadivelu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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16
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Comprehensive mapping of the Helicobacter pylori NikR regulon provides new insights in bacterial nickel responses. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45458. [PMID: 28393877 PMCID: PMC5385501 DOI: 10.1038/srep45458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nickel homeostasis is important for pathogenic and ureolytic bacteria, which use this metal ion as enzymatic cofactor. For example, in the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori an optimal balance between nickel uptake and incorporation in metallo-enzymes is fundamental for colonization of the host. Nickel is also used as cofactor to modulate DNA binding of the NikR regulator, which controls transcription of genes involved in nickel trafficking or infection in many bacteria. Accordingly, there is much interest in a systematic characterization of NikR regulation. Herein we use H. pylori as a model to integrate RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data demonstrating that NikR not only regulates metal-ion transporters but also virulence factors, non-coding RNAs, as well as toxin-antitoxin systems in response to nickel stimulation. Altogether, results provide new insights into the pathobiology of H. pylori and contribute to understand the responses to nickel in other bacteria.
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17
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De la Cruz MA, Ares MA, von Bargen K, Panunzi LG, Martínez-Cruz J, Valdez-Salazar HA, Jiménez-Galicia C, Torres J. Gene Expression Profiling of Transcription Factors of Helicobacter pylori under Different Environmental Conditions. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:615. [PMID: 28443084 PMCID: PMC5385360 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human gastric mucosa and causes peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma. H. pylori strain 26695 has a small genome (1.67 Mb), which codes for few known transcriptional regulators that control bacterial metabolism and virulence. We analyzed by qRT-PCR the expression of 16 transcriptional regulators in H. pylori 26695, including the three sigma factors under different environmental conditions. When bacteria were exposed to acidic pH, urea, nickel, or iron, the sigma factors were differentially expressed with a particularly strong induction of fliA. The regulatory genes hrcA, hup, and crdR were highly induced in the presence of urea, nickel, and iron. In terms of biofilm formation fliA, flgR, hp1021, fur, nikR, and crdR were induced in sessile bacteria. Transcriptional expression levels of rpoD, flgR, hspR, hp1043, and cheY were increased in contact with AGS epithelial cells. Kanamycin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline increased or decreased expression of regulatory genes, showing that these antibiotics affect the transcription of H. pylori. Our data indicate that environmental cues which may be present in the human stomach modulate H. pylori transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A De la Cruz
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatria, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro SocialMexico City, Mexico
| | - Miguel A Ares
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatria, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro SocialMexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Leonardo G Panunzi
- CNRS UMR7280, Inserm, U1104, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université UM2Marseille, France
| | - Jessica Martínez-Cruz
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatria, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro SocialMexico City, Mexico
| | - Hilda A Valdez-Salazar
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatria, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro SocialMexico City, Mexico
| | - César Jiménez-Galicia
- Laboratorio Clínico, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro SocialMexico City, Mexico
| | - Javier Torres
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatria, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro SocialMexico City, Mexico
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18
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Insight into the essential role of the Helicobacter pylori HP1043 orphan response regulator: genome-wide identification and characterization of the DNA-binding sites. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41063. [PMID: 28112213 PMCID: PMC5253667 DOI: 10.1038/srep41063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial regulatory genes appear to be dispensable, as they can be deleted from the genome without loss of bacterial functionalities. In Helicobacter pylori, the hp1043 gene, also known as hsrA, is one of the transcriptional regulator that is essential for cell viability. This gene could not be deleted, nor the amount of protein modulated, supporting the hypothesis that HP1043 could be involved in the regulation of crucial cellular processes. Even though detailed structural data are available for the HP1043 protein, its targets are still ill-defined. Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq), one of the most powerful approaches to characterize protein-DNA interactions in vivo, we were able to identify genome-wide several new HP1043 binding sites. Moreover, in vitro DNA binding assays enabled precise mapping of the HP1043 binding sites on the new targets, revealing the presence of a conserved nucleotide sequence motif. Intriguingly, a significant fraction of the newly identified binding sites overlaps promoter regions controlling the expression of genes involved in translation. Accordingly, when protein translation was blocked, a significant induction of almost all HP1043 target genes was detected. These observations prompted us to propose HP1043 as a key regulator in H. pylori, likely involved in sensing and in coordinating the response to environmental conditions that provoke an arrest of protein synthesis. The essential role of HP1043 in coordinating central cellular processes is discussed.
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19
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Xia W. Competition for Iron Between Host and Pathogen: A Structural Case Study on Helicobacter pylori. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1535:65-75. [PMID: 27914073 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6673-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a highly successful bacterial pathogen, which colonizes the stomach of more than half of the world's population. To colonize and survive in such an acidic and inhospitable niche, H. pylori cells have evolved complex mechanisms to acquire nutrients from human hosts, including iron, an essential nutrient for both the pathogens and host cells. However, human cells also utilize diverse strategies in withholding of irons to prevent the bacterial outgrowth. The competition for iron is the central battlefield between pathogen and host. This mini-review summarizes the updated scenarios of the battle for iron between H. pylori and human host from a structural biology perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xia
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510275, China.
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20
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Flint A, Stintzi A, Saraiva LM. Oxidative and nitrosative stress defences of Helicobacter and Campylobacter species that counteract mammalian immunity. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 40:938-960. [PMID: 28201757 PMCID: PMC5091033 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter and Campylobacter species are Gram-negative microaerophilic host-associated heterotrophic bacteria that invade the digestive tract of humans and animals. Campylobacter jejuni is the major worldwide cause of foodborne gastroenteritis in humans, while Helicobacter pylori is ubiquitous in over half of the world's population causing gastric and duodenal ulcers. The colonisation of the gastrointestinal system by Helicobacter and Campylobacter relies on numerous cellular defences to sense the host environment and respond to adverse conditions, including those imposed by the host immunity. An important antimicrobial tool of the mammalian innate immune system is the generation of harmful oxidative and nitrosative stresses to which pathogens are exposed during phagocytosis. This review summarises the regulators, detoxifying enzymes and subversion mechanisms of Helicobacter and Campylobacter that ultimately promote the successful infection of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Flint
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Alain Stintzi
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Lígia M. Saraiva
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, NOVA, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
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21
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Servetas SL, Carpenter BM, Haley KP, Gilbreath JJ, Gaddy JA, Merrell DS. Characterization of Key Helicobacter pylori Regulators Identifies a Role for ArsRS in Biofilm Formation. J Bacteriol 2016; 198:2536-48. [PMID: 27432830 PMCID: PMC4999924 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00324-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Helicobacter pylori must be able to rapidly respond to fluctuating conditions within the stomach. Despite this need for constant adaptation, H. pylori encodes few regulatory proteins. Of the identified regulators, the ferric uptake regulator (Fur), the nickel response regulator (NikR), and the two-component acid response system (ArsRS) are each paramount to the success of this pathogen. While numerous studies have individually examined these regulatory proteins, little is known about their combined effect. Therefore, we constructed a series of isogenic mutant strains that contained all possible single, double, and triple regulatory mutations in Fur, NikR, and ArsS. A growth curve analysis revealed minor variation in growth kinetics across the strains; these were most pronounced in the triple mutant and in strains lacking ArsS. Visual analysis showed that strains lacking ArsS formed large aggregates and a biofilm-like matrix at the air-liquid interface. Biofilm quantification using crystal violet assays and visualization via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that all strains lacking ArsS or containing a nonphosphorylatable form of ArsR (ArsR-D52N mutant) formed significantly more biofilm than the wild-type strain. Molecular characterization of biofilm formation showed that strains containing mutations in the ArsRS pathway displayed increased levels of cell aggregation and adherence, both of which are key to biofilm development. Furthermore, SEM analysis revealed prevalent coccoid cells and extracellular matrix formation in the ArsR-D52N, ΔnikR ΔarsS, and Δfur ΔnikR ΔarsS mutant strains, suggesting that these strains may have an exacerbated stress response that further contributes to biofilm formation. Thus, H. pylori ArsRS has a previously unrecognized role in biofilm formation. IMPORTANCE Despite a paucity of regulatory proteins, adaptation is key to the survival of H. pylori within the stomach. While prior studies have focused on individual regulatory proteins, such as Fur, NikR, and ArsRS, few studies have examined the combined effect of these factors. Analysis of isogenic mutant strains that contained all possible single, double, and triple regulatory mutations in Fur, NikR, and ArsS revealed a previously unrecognized role for the acid-responsive two-component system ArsRS in biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Servetas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Beth M Carpenter
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathryn P Haley
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jeremy J Gilbreath
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer A Gaddy
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Tennessee Valley Health Care Systems, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - D Scott Merrell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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22
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Roncarati D, Pelliciari S, Doniselli N, Maggi S, Vannini A, Valzania L, Mazzei L, Zambelli B, Rivetti C, Danielli A. Metal-responsive promoter DNA compaction by the ferric uptake regulator. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12593. [PMID: 27558202 PMCID: PMC5007355 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-range DNA looping has been proposed to affect promoter activity in many bacterial species and operator configurations, but only few examples have been experimentally investigated in molecular detail. Here we present evidence for a metal-responsive DNA condensation mechanism controlled by the Helicobacter pylori ferric uptake regulator (Fur), an orthologue of the widespread Fur family of prokaryotic metal-dependent regulators. H. pylori Fur represses the transcription of the essential arsRS acid acclimation operon through iron-responsive oligomerization and DNA compaction, encasing the arsR transcriptional start site in a repressive macromolecular complex. A second metal-dependent regulator NikR functions as nickel-dependent anti-repressor at this promoter, antagonizing the binding of Fur to the operator elements responsible for the DNA condensation. The results allow unifying H. pylori metal ion homeostasis and acid acclimation in a mechanistically coherent model, and demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of a selective metal-responsive DNA compaction mechanism controlling bacterial transcriptional regulation. The Fur protein regulates transcription of bacterial genes in response to metal ions. Here, the authors show that the Fur protein from Helicobacter pylori represses transcription by iron-responsive oligomerization and DNA compaction, encasing the transcriptional start site in a macromolecular complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Roncarati
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Simone Pelliciari
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicola Doniselli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Maggi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Vannini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Valzania
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Mazzei
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Zambelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Rivetti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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23
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Vannini A, Roncarati D, Danielli A. The cag-pathogenicity island encoded CncR1 sRNA oppositely modulates Helicobacter pylori motility and adhesion to host cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:3151-68. [PMID: 26863876 PMCID: PMC11108448 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2151-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are emerging as key post-transcriptional regulators in many bacteria. In the human pathobiont Helicobacter pylori a plethora of trans- and cis-encoded sRNAs have been pinpointed by a global transcriptome study. However, only two have been studied in depth at the functional level. Here we report the characterization of CncR1, an abundant and conserved sRNA encoded by the virulence-associated cag pathogenicity island (cag-PAI) of H. pylori. Growth-phase dependent transcription of CncR1 is directed by the PcagP promoter, which resulted to be a target of the essential transcriptional regulator HsrA (HP1043). We demonstrate that the 213 nt transcript arising from this promoter ends at an intrinsic terminator, few bases upstream of the annotated cagP open reading frame, establishing CncR1 as the predominant gene product encoded by the cagP (cag15) locus. Interestingly, the deletion of the locus resulted in the deregulation en masse of σ(54)-dependent genes, linking CncR1 to flagellar functions. Accordingly, the enhanced motility recorded for cncR1 deletion mutants was complemented by ectopic reintroduction of the allele in trans. In silico prediction identified fliK, encoding a flagellar checkpoint protein, as likely regulatory target of CncR1. The interaction of CncR1 with the fliK mRNA was thus further investigated in vitro, demonstrating the formation of strand-specific interactions between the two RNA molecules. Accordingly, the full-length translational fusions of fliK with a lux reporter gene were induced in a cncR1 deletion mutant in vivo. These data suggest the involvement of CncR1 in the post-transcriptional modulation of H. pylori motility functions through down-regulation of a critical flagellar checkpoint factor. Concurrently, the cncR1 mutant revealed a decrease of transcript levels for several H. pylori adhesins, resulting in a phenotypically significant impairment of bacterial adhesion to a host gastric cell line. The data presented support a model in which the cag-PAI encoded CncR1 sRNA is able to oppositely modulate bacterial motility and adhesion to host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vannini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Roncarati
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
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24
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Helicobacter pylori adaptation in vivo in response to a high-salt diet. Infect Immun 2015; 83:4871-83. [PMID: 26438795 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00918-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori exhibits a high level of intraspecies genetic diversity. In this study, we investigated whether the diversification of H. pylori is influenced by the composition of the diet. Specifically, we investigated the effect of a high-salt diet (a known risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma) on H. pylori diversification within a host. We analyzed H. pylori strains isolated from Mongolian gerbils fed either a high-salt diet or a regular diet for 4 months by proteomic and whole-genome sequencing methods. Compared to the input strain and output strains from animals fed a regular diet, the output strains from animals fed a high-salt diet produced higher levels of proteins involved in iron acquisition and oxidative-stress resistance. Several of these changes were attributable to a nonsynonymous mutation in fur (fur-R88H). Further experiments indicated that this mutation conferred increased resistance to high-salt conditions and oxidative stress. We propose a model in which a high-salt diet leads to high levels of gastric inflammation and associated oxidative stress in H. pylori-infected animals and that these conditions, along with the high intraluminal concentrations of sodium chloride, lead to selection of H. pylori strains that are most fit for growth in this environment.
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Haley KP, Gaddy JA. Metalloregulation of Helicobacter pylori physiology and pathogenesis. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:911. [PMID: 26388855 PMCID: PMC4557348 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative spiral-shaped bacterium that colonizes over half of the world's population. Chronic H. pylori infection is associated with increased risk for numerous disease outcomes including gastritis, dysplasia, neoplasia, B-cell lymphoma of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma), and invasive adenocarcinoma. The complex interactions that occur between pathogen and host are dynamic and exquisitely regulated, and the relationship between H. pylori and its human host are no exception. To successfully colonize, and subsequently persist, within the human stomach H. pylori must temporally regulate numerous genes to ensure localization to the gastric lumen and coordinated expression of virulence factors to subvert the host's innate and adaptive immune response. H. pylori achieves this precise gene regulation by sensing subtle environmental changes including host-mediated alterations in nutrient availability and responding with dramatic global changes in gene expression. Recent studies revealed that the presence or absence of numerous metal ions encountered in the lumen of the stomach, or within host tissues, including nickel, iron, copper and zinc, can influence regulatory networks to alter gene expression in H. pylori. These expression changes modulate the deployment of bacterial virulence factors that can ultimately influence disease outcome. In this review we will discuss the environmental stimuli that are detected by H. pylori as well as the trans regulatory elements, specifically the transcription regulators and transcription factors, that allow for these significant transcriptional shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn P Haley
- Tennessee Valley Healthcare Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jennifer A Gaddy
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, TN, USA ; Tennessee Valley Healthcare Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Nashville, TN, USA
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Pelliciari S, Vannini A, Roncarati D, Danielli A. The allosteric behavior of Fur mediates oxidative stress signal transduction in Helicobacter pylori. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:840. [PMID: 26347726 PMCID: PMC4541418 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The microaerophilic gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is exposed to oxidative stress originating from the aerobic environment, the oxidative burst of phagocytes and the formation of reactive oxygen species, catalyzed by iron excess. Accordingly, the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress defense have been repeatedly linked to the ferric uptake regulator Fur. Moreover, mutations in the Fur protein affect the resistance to metronidazole, likely due to loss-of-function in the regulation of genes involved in redox control. Although many advances in the molecular understanding of HpFur function were made, little is known about the mechanisms that enable Fur to mediate the responses to oxidative stress. Here we show that iron-inducible, apo-Fur repressed genes, such as pfr and hydA, are induced shortly after oxidative stress, while their oxidative induction is lost in a fur knockout strain. On the contrary, holo-Fur repressed genes, such as frpB1 and fecA1, vary modestly in response to oxidative stress. This indicates that the oxidative stress signal specifically targets apo-Fur repressed genes, rather than impairing indiscriminately the regulatory function of Fur. Footprinting analyses showed that the oxidative signal strongly impairs the binding affinity of Fur toward apo-operators, while the binding toward holo-operators is less affected. Further evidence is presented that a reduced state of Fur is needed to maintain apo-repression, while oxidative conditions shift the preferred binding architecture of Fur toward the holo-operator binding conformation, even in the absence of iron. Together the results demonstrate that the allosteric regulation of Fur enables transduction of oxidative stress signals in H. pylori, supporting the concept that apo-Fur repressed genes can be considered oxidation inducible Fur regulatory targets. These findings may have important implications in the study of H. pylori treatment and resistance to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Pelliciari
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Vannini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Roncarati
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
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Haley KP, Blanz EJ, Gaddy JA. High resolution electron microscopy of the Helicobacter pylori Cag type IV secretion system pili produced in varying conditions of iron availability. J Vis Exp 2014:e52122. [PMID: 25489938 DOI: 10.3791/52122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a helical-shaped, gram negative bacterium that colonizes the human gastric niche of half of the human population. H. pylori is the primary cause of gastric cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. One virulence factor that has been associated with increased risk of gastric disease is the Cag-pathogenicity island, a 40-kb region within the chromosome of H. pylori that encodes a type IV secretion system and the cognate effector molecule, CagA. The Cag-T4SS is responsible for translocating CagA and peptidoglycan into host epithelial cells. The activity of the Cag-T4SS results in numerous changes in host cell biology including upregulation of cytokine expression, activation of proinflammatory pathways, cytoskeletal remodeling, and induction of oncogenic cell-signaling networks. The Cag-T4SS is a macromolecular machine comprised of sub-assembly components spanning the inner and outer membrane and extending outward from the cell into the extracellular space. The extracellular portion of the Cag-T4SS is referred to as the "pilus". Numerous studies have demonstrated that the Cag-T4SS pili are formed at the host-pathogen interface(. However, the environmental features that regulate the biogenesis of this important organelle remain largely obscure. Recently, we reported that conditions of low iron availability increased the Cag-T4SS activity and pilus biogenesis. Here we present an optimized protocol to grow H. pylori in varying conditions of iron availability prior to co-culture with human gastric epithelial cells. Further, we present the comprehensive protocol for visualization of the hyper-piliated phenotype exhibited in iron restricted conditions by high resolution scanning electron microscopy analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Patricia Haley
- Department of Medicine - Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Eric Joshua Blanz
- Department of Medicine - Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Jennifer Angeline Gaddy
- Department of Medicine - Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Tennessee Valley Healthcare Systems, U. S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs;
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Vannini A, Roncarati D, Spinsanti M, Scarlato V, Danielli A. In depth analysis of the Helicobacter pylori cag pathogenicity island transcriptional responses. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98416. [PMID: 24892739 PMCID: PMC4043881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The severity of symptoms elicited by the widespread human pathogen Helicobacter pylori is strongly influenced by the genetic diversity of the infecting strain. Among the most important pathogen factors that carry an increased risk for gastric cancer are specific genotypes of the cag pathogenicity island (cag-PAI), encoding a type IV secretion system (T4SS) responsible for the translocation of the CagA effector oncoprotein. To date, little is known about the regulatory events important for the expression of a functional cag-T4SS. Here we demonstrate that the cag-PAI cistrons are subjected to a complex network of direct and indirect transcriptional regulations. We show that promoters of cag operons encoding structural T4SS components display homogeneous transcript levels, while promoters of cag operons encoding accessory factors vary considerably in their basal transcription levels and responses. Most cag promoters are transcriptionally responsive to growth-phase, pH and other stress-factors, although in many cases in a pleiotropic fashion. Interestingly, transcription from the Pcagζ promoter controlling the expression of transglycolase and T4SS stabilizing factors, is triggered by co-culture with a gastric cell line, providing an explanation for the increased formation of the secretion system observed upon bacterial contact with host cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the highly transcribed cagA oncogene is repressed by iron limitation through a direct apo-Fur regulation mechanism. Together the results shed light on regulatory aspects of the cag-PAI, which may be involved in relevant molecular and etiological aspects of H. pylori pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vannini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Roncarati
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Spinsanti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Scarlato
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- * E-mail: (VS); (AD)
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- * E-mail: (VS); (AD)
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Roncarati D, Danielli A, Scarlato V. The HrcA repressor is the thermosensor of the heat-shock regulatory circuit in the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Mol Microbiol 2014; 92:910-20. [PMID: 24698217 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria exploit different strategies to perceive and rapidly respond to sudden changes of temperature. In Helicobacter pylori the response to thermic stress is transcriptionally controlled by a regulatory circuit that involves two repressors, HspR and HrcA. Here we report that HrcA acts as a protein thermometer. We demonstrate that temperature specifically modulates HrcA binding to DNA, with a complete and irreversible temperature-dependent loss of DNA binding activity at 42°C. Intriguingly, although the reduction of HrcA binding capability is not reversible in vitro, transcriptional analysis showed that HrcA exerts its repressive influence in vivo, even when the de novo repressor synthesis is blocked after the temperature challenge. Accordingly, we demonstrate the central role of the chaperonine GroESL in restoring the HrcA binding activity, lost upon heat challenge. Together our results establish HrcA as a rare example of intrinsic temperature sensing transcriptional regulator, whose activity is post-transcriptionally modulated by the GroESL chaperonine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Roncarati
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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α-fur, an antisense RNA gene to fur in the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Microbiology (Reading) 2014; 160:514-524. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.073171-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A large non-coding RNA, termed α-Fur, of ~1000 nt has been detected in the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans encoded on the antisense strand to the iron-responsive master regulator fur (ferric uptake regulator) gene. A promoter for α-fur was predicted bioinformatically and validated using gene fusion experiments. The promoter is situated within the coding region and in the same sense as proB, potentially encoding a glutamate 5-kinase. The 3′ termination site of the α-fur transcript was determined by 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends to lie 7 nt downstream of the start of transcription of fur. Thus, α-fur is antisense to the complete coding region of fur, including its predicted ribosome-binding site. The genetic context of α-fur is conserved in several members of the genus Acidithiobacillus but not in all acidophiles, indicating that it is monophyletic but not niche specific. It is hypothesized that α-Fur regulates the cellular level of Fur. This is the fourth example of an antisense RNA to fur, although it is the first in an extreme acidophile, and underscores the growing importance of cis-encoded non-coding RNAs as potential regulators involved in the microbial iron-responsive stimulon.
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The iron stimulon and fur regulon of Geobacter sulfurreducens and their role in energy metabolism. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:2918-27. [PMID: 24584254 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03916-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron plays a critical role in the physiology of Geobacter species. It serves as both an essential component for proteins and cofactors and an electron acceptor during anaerobic respiration. Here, we investigated the iron stimulon and ferric uptake regulator (Fur) regulon of Geobacter sulfurreducens to examine the coordination between uptake of Fe(II) and the reduction of Fe(III) at the transcriptional level. Gene expression studies across a variety of different iron concentrations in both the wild type and a Δfur mutant strain were used to determine the iron stimulon. The stimulon consists of a broad range of gene products, ranging from iron-utilizing to central metabolism and iron reduction proteins. Integration of gene expression and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) data sets assisted in the identification of the Fur transcriptional regulatory network and Fur's role as a regulator of the iron stimulon. Additional physiological and transcriptional analyses of G. sulfurreducens grown with various Fe(II) concentrations revealed the depth of Fur's involvement in energy metabolism and the existence of redundancy within the iron-regulatory network represented by IdeR, an alternative iron transcriptional regulator. These characteristics enable G. sulfurreducens to thrive in environments with fluctuating iron concentrations by providing it with a robust mechanism to maintain tight and deliberate control over intracellular iron homeostasis.
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Fillat MF. The FUR (ferric uptake regulator) superfamily: diversity and versatility of key transcriptional regulators. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 546:41-52. [PMID: 24513162 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Control of metal homeostasis is essential for life in all kingdoms. In most prokaryotic organisms the FUR (ferric uptake regulator) family of transcriptional regulators is involved in the regulation of iron and zinc metabolism through control by Fur and Zur proteins. A third member of this family, the peroxide-stress response PerR, is present in most Gram-positives, establishing a tight functional interaction with the global regulator Fur. These proteins play a pivotal role for microbial survival under adverse conditions and in the expression of virulence in most pathogens. In this paper we present the current state of the art in the knowledge of the FUR family, including those members only present in more reduced numbers of bacteria, namely Mur, Nur and Irr. The huge amount of work done in the two last decades shows that FUR proteins present considerable diversity in their regulatory mechanisms and interesting structural differences. However, much work needs to be done to obtain a more complete picture of this family, especially in connection with the roles of some members as gas and redox sensors as well as to fully characterize their participation in bacterial adaptative responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- María F Fillat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
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Raghwan, Chowdhury R. Host cell contact induces fur-dependent expression of virulence factors CagA and VacA in Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter 2014; 19:17-25. [PMID: 24020886 DOI: 10.1111/hel.12087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori, a gram negative bacterium, colonizes the stomach in a majority of the world population. The two major virulence factors of H. pylori VacA and CagA, thought to be associated with chronic inflammation and disease, have been extensively studied, but the regulation of the expression of these virulence genes in H. pylori remains poorly understood. METHODS qRT-PCR was performed to quantify gene expression in unadhered and AGS-adhered H. pylori. Δfur mutant was constructed by splicing by overlap extension PCR and allelic exchange. RESULTS Adherence of H. pylori to the gastric epithelial cell line AGS strongly induces the expression of both cagA and vacA. Induction of cagA and vacA in the AGS cell-adhered H. pylori Δfur mutant strain was consistently lower than in the adhered parent strain. However, expression of the genes was similar between the wild-type and Δfur mutant strains in the unadhered state, suggesting that Fur has a role in the upregulation of cagA and vacA expression, especially in AGS-adhered H. pylori. Consistent with these results, microscopic observations revealed that infection of AGS cells with H. pylori Δfur mutant strain produced much less damage as compared to that produced by the wild-type H. pylori strain. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that cagA and vacA gene expression is upregulated in H. pylori, especially by host cell contact, and Fur has a role in the upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghwan
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
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Agriesti F, Roncarati D, Musiani F, Del Campo C, Iurlaro M, Sparla F, Ciurli S, Danielli A, Scarlato V. FeON-FeOFF: the Helicobacter pylori Fur regulator commutates iron-responsive transcription by discriminative readout of opposed DNA grooves. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:3138-51. [PMID: 24322295 PMCID: PMC3950669 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Most transcriptional regulators bind nucleotide motifs in the major groove, although some are able to recognize molecular determinants conferred by the minor groove of DNA. Here we report a transcriptional commutator switch that exploits the alternative readout of grooves to mediate opposite output regulation for the same input signal. This mechanism accounts for the ability of the Helicobacter pylori Fur regulator to repress the expression of both iron-inducible and iron-repressible genes. When iron is scarce, Fur binds to DNA as a dimer, through the readout of thymine pairs in the major groove, repressing iron-inducible transcription (FeON). Conversely, on iron-repressible elements the metal ion acts as corepressor, inducing Fur multimerization with consequent minor groove readout of AT-rich inverted repeats (FeOFF). Our results provide first evidence for a novel regulatory paradigm, in which the discriminative readout of DNA grooves enables to toggle between the repression of genes in a mutually exclusive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Agriesti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Response to metronidazole and oxidative stress is mediated through homeostatic regulator HsrA (HP1043) in Helicobacter pylori. J Bacteriol 2013; 196:729-39. [PMID: 24296668 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01047-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Metronidazole (MTZ) is often used in combination therapies to treat infections caused by the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Resistance to MTZ results from loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding RdxA and FrxA nitroreductases. MTZ-resistant strains, when cultured at sub-MICs of MTZ (5 to 20 μg/ml), show dose-dependent defects in bacterial growth; depressed activities of many Krebs cycle enzymes, including pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR); and low transcript levels of porGDAB (primer extension), phenotypes consistent with an involvement of a transcriptional regulator. Using a combination of protein purification steps, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs), and mass spectrometry analyses of proteins bound to porG promoter sequences, we identified HP1043, an essential homeostatic global regulator (HsrA [for homeostatic stress regulator]). Competition EMSAs and supershift analyses with HsrA-enriched protein fractions confirmed specific binding to porGDAB and hsrA promoter sequences. Exposure to MTZ resulted in >10-fold decreases in levels of HsrA and in levels of the HsrA-regulated gene products PFOR and TlpB. Exposure to paraquat (PQ), hydrogen peroxide, or organic peroxides showed near equivalence with MTZ, revealing a common oxidative stress response pathway. Finally, direct superoxide dismutase (SOD) assays showed an inverse relationship between HsrA levels and SOD activity, suggesting that HsrA may serve as a repressor of sodB. As a homeostatic sentinel, HsrA appears to be ideally positioned to enable rapid shutdown of genes associated with metabolism and growth while activating (directly or indirectly) oxidative defense genes in response to low levels of toxic metabolites (MTZ or oxygen) before they reach DNA-damaging levels.
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Identification and characterization of novel Helicobacter pylori apo-fur-regulated target genes. J Bacteriol 2013; 195:5526-39. [PMID: 24097951 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01026-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In Helicobacter pylori, the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) has evolved additional regulatory functions not seen in other bacteria; it can repress and activate different groups of genes in both its iron-bound and apo forms. Because little is understood about the process of apo-Fur repression and because only two apo-Fur-repressed genes (pfr and sodB) have previously been identified, we sought to expand our understanding of this type of regulation. Utilizing published genomic studies, we selected three potential new apo-Fur-regulated gene targets: serB, hydA, and the cytochrome c553 gene. Transcriptional analyses confirmed Fur-dependent repression of these genes in the absence of iron, as well as derepression in the absence of Fur. Binding studies showed that apo-Fur directly interacted with the suspected hydA and cytochrome c553 promoters but not that of serB, which was subsequently shown to be cotranscribed with pfr; apo-Fur-dependent regulation occurred at the pfr promoter. Alignments of apo-regulated promoter regions revealed a conserved, 6-bp consensus sequence (AAATGA). DNase I footprinting showed that this sequence lies within the protected regions of the pfr and hydA promoters. Moreover, mutation of the sequence in the pfr promoter abrogated Fur binding and DNase protection. Likewise, fluorescence anisotropy studies and binding studies with mutated consensus sequences showed that the sequence was important for apo-Fur binding to the pfr promoter. Together these studies expand the known apo-Fur regulon in H. pylori and characterize the first reported apo-Fur box sequence.
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Bélanger L, Charles TC. Members of the Sinorhizobium meliloti ChvI regulon identified by a DNA binding screen. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:132. [PMID: 23758731 PMCID: PMC3687685 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Sinorhizobium meliloti ExoS/ChvI two component regulatory system is required for N2-fixing symbiosis and exopolysaccharide synthesis. Orthologous systems are present in other Alphaproteobacteria, and in many instances have been shown to be necessary for normal interactions with corresponding eukaryotic hosts. Only a few transcriptional regulation targets have been determined, and as a result there is limited understanding of the mechanisms that are controlled by the system. Results In an attempt to better define the members of the regulon, we have applied a simple in vitro electrophoretic screen for DNA fragments that are bound by the ChvI response regulator protein. Several putative transcriptional targets were identified and three were further examined by reporter gene fusion experiments for transcriptional regulation. Two were confirmed to be repressed by ChvI, while one was activated by ChvI. Conclusions Our results suggest a role for ChvI as both a direct activator and repressor of transcription. The identities and functions of many of these genes suggest explanations for some aspects of the pleiotropic phenotype of exoS and chvI mutants. This work paves the way for in depth characterization of the ExoS/ChvI regulon and its potential role in directing bacteria-host relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Bélanger
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Bonocora RP, Fitzgerald DM, Stringer AM, Wade JT. Non-canonical protein-DNA interactions identified by ChIP are not artifacts. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:254. [PMID: 23586855 PMCID: PMC3738151 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2012] [Accepted: 04/01/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background ChIP-chip and ChIP-seq are widely used methods to map protein-DNA interactions on a genomic scale in vivo. Waldminghaus and Skarstad recently reported, in this journal, a modified method for ChIP-chip. Based on a comparison of our previously-published ChIP-chip data for Escherichia coli σ32 with their own data, Waldminghaus and Skarstad concluded that many of the σ32 targets identified in our earlier work are false positives. In particular, we identified many non-canonical σ32 targets that are located inside genes or are associated with genes that show no detectable regulation by σ32. Waldminghaus and Skarstad propose that such non-canonical sites are artifacts, identified due to flaws in the standard ChIP methodology. Waldminghaus and Skarstad suggest specific changes to the standard ChIP procedure that reportedly eliminate the claimed artifacts. Results We reanalyzed our published ChIP-chip datasets for σ32 and the datasets generated by Waldminghaus and Skarstad to assess data quality and reproducibility. We also performed targeted ChIP/qPCR for σ32 and an unrelated transcription factor, AraC, using the standard ChIP method and the modified ChIP method proposed by Waldminghaus and Skarstad. Furthermore, we determined the association of core RNA polymerase with disputed σ32 promoters, with and without overexpression of σ32. We show that (i) our published σ32 ChIP-chip datasets have a consistently higher dynamic range than those of Waldminghaus and Skarstad, (ii) our published σ32 ChIP-chip datasets are highly reproducible, whereas those of Waldminghaus and Skarstad are not, (iii) non-canonical σ32 target regions are enriched in a σ32 ChIP in a heat shock-dependent manner, regardless of the ChIP method used, (iv) association of core RNA polymerase with some disputed σ32 target genes is induced by overexpression of σ32, (v) σ32 targets disputed by Waldminghaus and Skarstad are predominantly those that are most weakly bound, and (vi) the modifications to the ChIP method proposed by Waldminghaus and Skarstad reduce enrichment of all protein-bound genomic regions. Conclusions The modifications to the ChIP-chip method suggested by Waldminghaus and Skarstad reduce rather than increase the quality of ChIP data. Hence, the non-canonical σ32 targets identified in our previous study are likely to be genuine. We propose that the failure of Waldminghaus and Skarstad to identify many of these σ32 targets is due predominantly to the lower data quality in their study. We conclude that surprising ChIP-chip results are not artifacts to be ignored, but rather indications that our understanding of DNA-binding proteins is incomplete.
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Sridhar J, Sabarinathan R, Gunasekaran P, Sekar K. Comparative genomics reveals ‘novel’ Fur regulated sRNAs and coding genes in diverse proteobacteria. Gene 2013; 516:335-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.12.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Andrews S, Norton I, Salunkhe AS, Goodluck H, Aly WSM, Mourad-Agha H, Cornelis P. Control of iron metabolism in bacteria. Met Ions Life Sci 2013; 12:203-39. [PMID: 23595674 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-5561-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria depend upon iron as a vital cofactor that enables a wide range of key metabolic activities. Bacteria must therefore ensure a balanced supply of this essential metal. To do so, they invest considerable resourse into its acquisition and employ elaborate control mechanisms to eleviate both iron-induced toxitiy as well as iron deficiency. This chapter describes the processes that bacteria engage in maintaining iron homeostasis. The focus is Escherichia coli, as this bacterium provides a well studied example. A summary of the current status of understanding of iron management at the 'omics' level is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Andrews
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AJ, UK,
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41
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Noto JM, Gaddy JA, Lee JY, Piazuelo MB, Friedman DB, Colvin DC, Romero-Gallo J, Suarez G, Loh J, Slaughter JC, Tan S, Morgan DR, Wilson KT, Bravo LE, Correa P, Cover TL, Amieva MR, Peek RM. Iron deficiency accelerates Helicobacter pylori-induced carcinogenesis in rodents and humans. J Clin Invest 2012; 123:479-92. [PMID: 23257361 DOI: 10.1172/jci64373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2012] [Accepted: 09/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric adenocarcinoma is strongly associated with Helicobacter pylori infection; however, most infected persons never develop this malignancy. H. pylori strains harboring the cag pathogenicity island (cag+), which encodes CagA and a type IV secretion system (T4SS), induce more severe disease outcomes. H. pylori infection is also associated with iron deficiency, which similarly augments gastric cancer risk. To define the influence of iron deficiency on microbial virulence in gastric carcinogenesis, Mongolian gerbils were maintained on iron-depleted diets and infected with an oncogenic H. pylori cag+ strain. Iron depletion accelerated the development of H. pylori-induced premalignant and malignant lesions in a cagA-dependent manner. H. pylori strains harvested from iron-depleted gerbils or grown under iron-limiting conditions exhibited enhanced virulence and induction of inflammatory factors. Further, in a human population at high risk for gastric cancer, H. pylori strains isolated from patients with the lowest ferritin levels induced more robust proinflammatory responses compared with strains isolated from patients with the highest ferritin levels, irrespective of histologic status. These data demonstrate that iron deficiency enhances H. pylori virulence and represents a measurable biomarker to identify populations of infected persons at high risk for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Noto
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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Noto JM, Gaddy JA, Lee JY, Piazuelo MB, Friedman DB, Colvin DC, Romero-Gallo J, Suarez G, Loh J, Slaughter JC, Tan S, Morgan DR, Wilson KT, Bravo LE, Correa P, Cover TL, Amieva MR, Peek RM. Iron deficiency accelerates Helicobacter pylori-induced carcinogenesis in rodents and humans. J Clin Invest 2012. [PMID: 23257361 DOI: 10.1172/jci6437364373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric adenocarcinoma is strongly associated with Helicobacter pylori infection; however, most infected persons never develop this malignancy. H. pylori strains harboring the cag pathogenicity island (cag+), which encodes CagA and a type IV secretion system (T4SS), induce more severe disease outcomes. H. pylori infection is also associated with iron deficiency, which similarly augments gastric cancer risk. To define the influence of iron deficiency on microbial virulence in gastric carcinogenesis, Mongolian gerbils were maintained on iron-depleted diets and infected with an oncogenic H. pylori cag+ strain. Iron depletion accelerated the development of H. pylori-induced premalignant and malignant lesions in a cagA-dependent manner. H. pylori strains harvested from iron-depleted gerbils or grown under iron-limiting conditions exhibited enhanced virulence and induction of inflammatory factors. Further, in a human population at high risk for gastric cancer, H. pylori strains isolated from patients with the lowest ferritin levels induced more robust proinflammatory responses compared with strains isolated from patients with the highest ferritin levels, irrespective of histologic status. These data demonstrate that iron deficiency enhances H. pylori virulence and represents a measurable biomarker to identify populations of infected persons at high risk for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Noto
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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Effect of the amino acid substitution in the DNA-binding domain of the Fur regulator on production of pyoverdine. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2012. [PMID: 23180123 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-012-0210-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The ferric uptake regulator gene (fur), its promoter region and Fur box of pvdS gene involved in siderophore-mediated iron uptake system were sequenced in the parent strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and in the fur mutant FPA121 derived from the strain PAO1. We identified the gene fur 179 bearing a novel, single-point mutation that changed the amino acid residue Gln60Pro in the DNA-binding domain of the Fur protein. The synthesis of pyoverdine was studied in cultures of the strains PAO1 and FPA121 grown in iron-deplete and iron-replete (60 μmol/L FeIII) medium. The amino acid replacement in the regulatory Fur protein is responsible for the overproduction of pyoverdine in iron-deplete and iron-replete medium. No mutation was identified in the Fur box of the gene pvdS.
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Fur activates expression of the 2-oxoglutarate oxidoreductase genes (oorDABC) in Helicobacter pylori. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:6490-7. [PMID: 23002221 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01226-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a highly successful pathogen that colonizes the gastric mucosa of ∼50% of the world's population. Within this colonization niche, the bacteria encounter large fluctuations in nutrient availability. As such, it is critical that this organism regulate expression of key metabolic enzymes so that they are present when environmental conditions are optimal for growth. One such enzyme is the 2-oxoglutarate (α-ketoglutarate) oxidoreductase (OOR), which catalyzes the conversion of α-ketoglutarate to succinyl coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA) and CO(2). Previous studies from our group suggested that the genes that encode the OOR are activated by iron-bound Fur (Fe-Fur); microarray analysis showed that expression of oorD, oorA, and oorC was altered in a fur mutant strain of H. pylori. The goal of the present work was to more thoroughly characterize expression of the oorDABC genes in H. pylori as well as to define the role of Fe-Fur in this process. Here we show that these four genes are cotranscribed as an operon and that expression of the operon is decreased in a fur mutant strain. Transcriptional start site mapping and promoter analysis revealed the presence of a canonical extended -10 element but a poorly conserved -35 element upstream of the +1. Additionally, we identified a conserved Fur binding sequence ∼130 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site. Transcriptional analysis using promoter fusions revealed that this binding sequence was required for Fe-Fur-mediated activation. Finally, fluorescence anisotropy assays indicate that Fe-Fur specifically bound this Fur box with a relatively high affinity (dissociation constant [K(d)] = 200 nM). These findings provide novel insight into the genetic regulation of a key metabolic enzyme and add to our understanding of the diverse roles Fur plays in gene regulation in H. pylori.
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Structure and regulon of Campylobacter jejuni ferric uptake regulator Fur define apo-Fur regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:10047-52. [PMID: 22665794 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1118321109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The full regulatory potential of the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) family of proteins remains undefined despite over 20 years of study. We report herein an integrated approach that combines both genome-wide technologies and structural studies to define the role of Fur in Campylobacter jejuni (Cj). CjFur ChIP-chip assays identified 95 genomic loci bound by CjFur associated with functions as diverse as iron acquisition, flagellar biogenesis, and non-iron ion transport. Comparative analysis with transcriptomic data revealed that CjFur regulation extends beyond solely repression and also includes both gene activation and iron-independent regulation. Computational analysis revealed the presence of an elongated holo-Fur repression motif along with a divergent holo-Fur activation motif. This diversity of CjFur DNA-binding elements is supported by the crystal structure of CjFur, which revealed a unique conformation of its DNA-binding domain and the absence of metal in the regulatory site. Strikingly, our results indicate that the apo-CjFur structure retains the canonical V-shaped dimer reminiscent of previously characterized holo-Fur proteins enabling DNA interaction. This conformation stems from a structurally unique hinge domain that is poised to further contribute to CjFur's regulatory functions by modulating the orientation of the DNA-binding domain upon binding of iron. The unique features of the CjFur crystal structure rationalize the binding sequence diversity that was uncovered during ChIP-chip analysis and defines apo-Fur regulation.
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Pich OQ, Carpenter BM, Gilbreath JJ, Merrell DS. Detailed analysis of Helicobacter pylori Fur-regulated promoters reveals a Fur box core sequence and novel Fur-regulated genes. Mol Microbiol 2012; 84:921-41. [PMID: 22507395 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.08066.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In Helicobacter pylori, iron balance is controlled by the Ferric uptake regulator (Fur), an iron-sensing repressor protein that typically regulates expression of genes implicated in iron transport and storage. Herein, we carried out extensive analysis of Fur-regulated promoters and identified a 7-1-7 motif with dyad symmetry (5'-TAATAATnATTATTA-3'), which functions as the Fur box core sequence of H. pylori. Addition of this sequence to the promoter region of a typically non-Fur regulated gene was sufficient to impose Fur-dependent regulation in vivo. Moreover, mutation of this sequence within Fur-controlled promoters negated regulation. Analysis of the H. pylori chromosome for the occurrence of the Fur box established the existence of well-conserved Fur boxes in the promoters of numerous known Fur-regulated genes, and revealed novel putative Fur targets. Transcriptional analysis of the new candidate genes demonstrated Fur-dependent repression of HPG27_51, HPG27_52, HPG27_199, HPG27_445, HPG27_825 and HPG27_1063, as well as Fur-mediated activation of the cytotoxin associated gene A, cagA (HPG27_507). Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed specific binding of Fur to the promoters of each of these genes. Future experiments will determine whether loss of Fur regulation of any of these particular genes contributes to the defects in colonization exhibited by the H. pylori fur mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Q Pich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Heath Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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Fur-mediated activation of gene transcription in the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:1730-42. [PMID: 22287521 DOI: 10.1128/jb.06176-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that the ferric uptake regulatory protein (Fur) functions as a transcriptional repressor in diverse microorganisms. Recent studies demonstrated that Fur also functions as a transcriptional activator. In this study we defined Fur-mediated activation of gene transcription in the sexually transmitted disease pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Analysis of 37 genes which were previously determined to be iron induced and which contained putative Fur boxes revealed that only 30 of these genes exhibited reduced transcription in a gonococcal fur mutant strain. Fur-mediated activation was established by examining binding of Fur to the putative promoter regions of 16 Fur-activated genes with variable binding affinities observed. Only ∼50% of the newly identified Fur-regulated genes bound Fur in vitro, suggesting that additional regulatory circuits exist which may function through a Fur-mediated indirect mechanism. The gonococcal Fur-activated genes displayed variable transcription patterns in a fur mutant strain, which correlated with the position of the Fur box in each (promoter) region. These results suggest that Fur-mediated direct transcriptional activation is fulfilled by multiple mechanisms involving either competing with a repressor or recruiting RNA polymerase. Collectively, our studies have established that gonococcal Fur functions as an activator of gene transcription through both direct and indirect mechanisms.
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48
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Merchant SS, Helmann JD. Elemental economy: microbial strategies for optimizing growth in the face of nutrient limitation. Adv Microb Physiol 2012; 60:91-210. [PMID: 22633059 PMCID: PMC4100946 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398264-3.00002-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms play a dominant role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. They are rightly praised for their facility for fixing both carbon and nitrogen into organic matter, and microbial driven processes have tangibly altered the chemical composition of the biosphere and its surrounding atmosphere. Despite their prodigious capacity for molecular transformations, microorganisms are powerless in the face of the immutability of the elements. Limitations for specific elements, either fleeting or persisting over eons, have left an indelible trace on microbial genomes, physiology, and their very atomic composition. We here review the impact of elemental limitation on microbes, with a focus on selected genetic model systems and representative microbes from the ocean ecosystem. Evolutionary adaptations that enhance growth in the face of persistent or recurrent elemental limitations are evident from genome and proteome analyses. These range from the extreme (such as dispensing with a requirement for a hard to obtain element) to the extremely subtle (changes in protein amino acid sequences that slightly, but significantly, reduce cellular carbon, nitrogen, or sulfur demand). One near-universal adaptation is the development of sophisticated acclimation programs by which cells adjust their chemical composition in response to a changing environment. When specific elements become limiting, acclimation typically begins with an increased commitment to acquisition and a concomitant mobilization of stored resources. If elemental limitation persists, the cell implements austerity measures including elemental sparing and elemental recycling. Insights into these fundamental cellular properties have emerged from studies at many different levels, including ecology, biological oceanography, biogeochemistry, molecular genetics, genomics, and microbial physiology. Here, we present a synthesis of these diverse studies and attempt to discern some overarching themes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabeeha S. Merchant
- Institute for Genomics and Proteomics and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - John D. Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853-8101
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Abstract
The dramatic changes in the environmental conditions that organisms encountered during evolution and adaptation to life in specific niches, have influenced intracellular and extracellular metal ion contents and, as a consequence, the cellular ability to sense and utilize different metal ions. This metal-driven differentiation is reflected in the specific panels of metal-responsive transcriptional regulators found in different organisms, which finely tune the intracellular metal ion content and all metal-dependent processes. In order to understand the processes underlying this complex metal homeostasis network, the study of the molecular processes that determine the protein-metal ion recognition, as well as how this event is transduced into a transcriptional output, is necessary. This chapter describes how metal ion binding to specific proteins influences protein interaction with DNA and how this event can influence the fate of genetic expression, leading to specific transcriptional outputs. The features of representative metal-responsive transcriptional regulators, as well as the molecular basis of metal-protein and protein-DNA interactions, are discussed on the basis of the structural information available. An overview of the recent advances in the understanding of how these proteins choose specific metal ions among the intracellular metal ion pool, as well as how they allosterically respond to their effector binding, is given.
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Cho BK, Palsson B, Zengler K. Deciphering the regulatory codes in bacterial genomes. Biotechnol J 2011; 6:1052-63. [PMID: 21845736 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201000349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2011] [Revised: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between cis-regulatory elements and trans-acting factors are fundamental for cellular functions such as transcription. With the revolution in microarrays and sequencing technologies, genome-wide binding locations of trans-acting factors are being determined in large numbers. The richness of the genome-scale information has revealed that the nature of the bacterial transcriptome and regulome are considerably more complex than previously expected. In addition, the emerging view of the bacterial transcriptome is revising the concept of the operon organization of the genome. This review describes current advances in the genome-scale analysis of the interaction between cis-regulatory elements and trans-acting factors in microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung-Kwan Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea.
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