Genetic and biochemical analysis of the interaction of Bacillus subtilis CodY with branched-chain amino acids

Bacterial cell volume regulation and the importance of cyclic di-AMP

SUMMARYNucleotide-derived second messengers are present in all domains of life. In prokaryotes, most of their functionality is associated with general lifestyle and metabolic adaptations, often in response to environmental fluctuations of physical parameters. In the last two decades, cyclic di-AMP has emerged as an important signaling nucleotide in many prokaryotic lineages, including Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria. Its importance is highlighted by the fact that both the lack and overproduction of cyclic di-AMP affect viability of prokaryotes that utilize cyclic di-AMP, and that it generates a strong innate immune response in eukaryotes. In bacteria that produce the second messenger, most molecular targets of cyclic di-AMP are associated with cell volume control. Besides, other evidence links the second messenger to cell wall remodeling, DNA damage repair, sporulation, central metabolism, and the regulation of glycogen turnover. In this review, we take a biochemical, quantitative approach to address the main cellular processes that are directly regulated by cyclic di-AMP and show that these processes are very connected and require regulation of a similar set of proteins to which cyclic di-AMP binds. Altogether, we argue that cyclic di-AMP is a master regulator of cell volume and that other cellular processes can be connected with cyclic di-AMP through this core function. We further highlight important directions in which the cyclic di-AMP field has to develop to gain a full understanding of the cyclic di-AMP signaling network and why some processes are regulated, while others are not.

Metabolic Reprogramming and Longevity in Quiescence

Since Jacques Monod's foundational work in the 1940s, investigators studying bacterial physiology have largely (but not exclusively) focused on the exponential phase of bacterial cultures, which is characterized by rapid growth and high biosynthesis activity in the presence of excess nutrients. However, this is not the predominant state of bacterial life. In nature, most bacteria experience nutrient limitation most of the time. In fact, investigators even prior to Monod had identified other aspects of bacterial growth, including what is now known as the stationary phase, when nutrients become limiting. This review will discuss how bacteria transition to growth arrest in response to nutrient limitation through changes in transcription, translation, and metabolism. We will then examine how these changes facilitate survival during potentially extended periods of nutrient limitation, with particular attention to the metabolic strategies that underpin bacterial longevity in this state.

Identification of a Putative CodY Regulon in the Gram-Negative Phylum Synergistetes

CodY is a dominant regulator in low G + C, Gram-positive Firmicutes that governs the regulation of various metabolic pathways and cellular processes. By using various bioinformatics analyses and DNA affinity precipitation assay (DAPA), this study confirmed the presence of CodY orthologues and corresponding regulons in Gram-negative Synergistetes. A novel palindromic sequence consisting of AT-rich arms separated by a spacer region of variable length and sequence was identified in the promoters of the putative codY-containing operons in Synergistetes. The consensus sequence from genera Synergistes and Cloacibacillus (5′-AATTTTCTTAAAATTTCSCTTGATATTTACAATTTT) contained three AT-rich regions, resulting in two palindromic sequences; one of which is identical to Firmicutes CodY box (5′-AATTTTCWGAAAATT). The function of the consensus sequence was tested by using a recombinant CodY protein (His-CodY_DSM) of Cloacibacillus evryensis DSM19522 in DAPA. Mutations in the central AT-rich sequence reduced significantly the binding of His-CodY_DSM, whereas mutations in the 5′ or 3′ end AT-rich sequence slightly reduced the binding, indicating that CodY_DSM could recognize both palindromic sequences. The proposed binding sequences were found in the promoters of multiple genes involved in amino acids biosynthesis, metabolism, regulation, and stress responses in Synergistetes. Thus, a CodY-like protein from Synergistetes may function similarly to Firmicutes CodY.

Adaptation of Listeria monocytogenes to perturbation of c-di-AMP metabolism underpins its role in osmoadaptation and identifies a fosfomycin uptake system

The human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes synthesizes and degrades c-di-AMP using the diadenylate cyclase CdaA and the phosphodiesterases PdeA and PgpH respectively. c-di-AMP is essential because it prevents the uncontrolled uptake of osmolytes. Here, we studied the phenotypes of cdaA, pdeA, pgpH and pdeA pgpH mutants with defects in c-di-AMP metabolism and characterized suppressor mutants restoring their growth defects. The characterization of the pdeA pgpH mutant revealed that the bacteria show growth defects in defined medium, a phenotype that is invariably suppressed by mutations in cdaA. The previously reported growth defect of the cdaA mutant in rich medium is suppressed by mutations that osmotically stabilize the c-di-AMP-free strain. We also found that the cdaA mutant has an increased sensitivity against isoleucine. The isoleucine-dependent growth inhibition of the cdaA mutant is suppressed by codY mutations that likely reduce the DNA-binding activity of encoded CodY variants. Moreover, the characterization of the cdaA suppressor mutants revealed that the Opp oligopeptide transport system is involved in the uptake of the antibiotic fosfomycin. In conclusion, the suppressor analysis corroborates a key function of c-di-AMP in controlling osmolyte homeostasis in L. monocytogenes.

Second messengers and divergent HD-GYP phosphodiesterases regulate 3',3'-cGAMP signaling

3',3'-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) is the third cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) to be discovered in bacteria. No activators of cGAMP signaling have yet been identified, and the signaling pathways for cGAMP have been inferred to display a narrow distribution based upon the characterized synthases, DncV and Hypr GGDEFs. Here, we report that the ubiquitous second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) is an activator of the Hypr GGDEF enzyme GacB from Myxococcus xanthus. Furthermore, we show that GacB is inhibited directly by cyclic di-GMP, which provides evidence for cross-regulation between different CDN pathways. Finally, we reveal that the HD-GYP enzyme PmxA is a cGAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (GAP) that promotes resistance to osmotic stress in M. xanthus. A signature amino acid change in PmxA was found to reprogram substrate specificity and was applied to predict the presence of non-canonical HD-GYP phosphodiesterases in many bacterial species, including phyla previously not known to utilize cGAMP signaling.

Identification, Expression and Activity of Candidate Nitrite Reductases From Orange Beggiatoaceae, Guaymas Basin

Orange filamentous Beggiatoaceae form massive microbial mats on hydrothermal sediments in Guaymas Basin; these bacteria are considered to oxidize sulfide with nitrate and nitrite as electron acceptors. From a previously analyzed genome of an orange Beggiatoaceae filament, three candidate genes for enzymes with nitrite-reducing function - an orange octaheme cytochrome, a nirS nitrite reductase, and a nitrite/tetrathionate-reducing octaheme cytochrome - were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed and purified orange cytochrome showed reduced nitrite-reducing activity compared to the multifunctional native protein obtained from microbial mats. The nirS gene product showed in vitro but no in-gel nitrite-reducing activity; and the nitrite/tetrathionate-reducing octaheme cytochrome was capable of reducing both nitrite and tetrathionate in vitro. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the orange Beggiatoaceae nirS, in contrast to the other candidate nitrite reductases, does not form monophyletic lineages with its counterparts in other large sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, and most likely represents a recent acquisition by lateral gene transfer. The nitrite/tetrathionate-reducing enzyme of the orange Beggiatoaceae is related to nitrite- and tetrathionate reductases harbored predominantly by Gammaproteobacteria, including obligate endosymbionts of hydrothermal vent tubeworms. Thus, the orange Guaymas Basin Beggiatoaceae have a repertoire of at least three different functional enzymes for nitrite reduction. By demonstrating the unusual diversity of enzymes with a potential role in nitrite reduction, we show that bacteria in highly dynamic, sulfide-rich hydrothermal vent habitats adapt to these conditions that usually prohibit nitrate and nitrite reduction. In the case of the orange Guaymas Beggiatoaceae, classical denitrification appears to be replaced by different multifunctional enzymes for nitrite and tetrathionate reduction; the resulting ecophysiological flexibility provides a new key to the dominance of these Beggiatoaceae in hydrothermal hot spots.

Branching Out: Alterations in Bacterial Physiology and Virulence Due to Branched-Chain Amino Acid Deprivation

The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs [Ile, Leu, and Val]) represent important nutrients in bacterial physiology, with roles that range from supporting protein synthesis to signaling and fine-tuning the adaptation to amino acid starvation. In some pathogenic bacteria, the adaptation to amino acid starvation includes induction of virulence gene expression: thus, BCAAs support not only proliferation during infection, but also the evasion of host defenses.

The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs [Ile, Leu, and Val]) represent important nutrients in bacterial physiology, with roles that range from supporting protein synthesis to signaling and fine-tuning the adaptation to amino acid starvation. In some pathogenic bacteria, the adaptation to amino acid starvation includes induction of virulence gene expression: thus, BCAAs support not only proliferation during infection, but also the evasion of host defenses. A body of research has accumulated over the years to describe the multifaceted physiological roles of BCAAs and the mechanisms bacteria use to maintain their intracellular levels. More recent studies have focused on understanding how fluctuations in their intracellular levels impact global regulatory pathways that coordinate the adaptation to nutrient limitation, especially in pathogenic bacteria. In this minireview, we discuss how these studies have refined the individual roles of BCAAs, shed light on how BCAA auxotrophy might promote higher sensitivity to exogenous BCAA levels, and revealed pathogen-specific responses to BCAA deprivation. These advancements improve our understanding of how bacteria meet their nutritional requirements for growth while simultaneously remaining responsive to changes in environmental nutrient availability to promote their survival in a range of environments.

MsaB and CodY Interact To Regulate Staphylococcus aureus Capsule in a Nutrient-Dependent Manner

Staphylococcus aureus has a complex regulatory network for controlling the production of capsule polysaccharide. In S. aureus, capsule production is controlled by several regulators in response to various environmental stimuli. Previously, we described MsaB as a new regulator that specifically binds to the cap promoter in a growth phase- or nutrient-dependent manner. In addition to MsaB, several other regulators have also been shown to bind the same region. In this study, we examined the interactions between MsaB and other nutrient-sensing regulators (CodY and CcpE) with respect to binding to the cap promoter in a nutrient-dependent manner. We observed that msaABCR and ccpE interact in a complex fashion to regulate capsule production. However, we confirmed that ccpE does not bind cap directly. We also defined the regulatory relationship between msaABCR and CodY. When nutrients (branched-chain amino acids) are abundant, CodY binds to the promoter region of the cap operon and represses its transcription. However, when nutrient concentrations decrease, MsaB, rather than CodY, binds to the cap promoter. Binding of MsaB to the cap promoter activates transcription of the cap operon. We hypothesize that this same mechanism may be used by S. aureus to regulate other virulence factors.IMPORTANCE Findings from this study define the mechanism of regulation of capsule production in Staphylococcus aureus Specifically, we show that two key regulators, MsaB and CodY, coordinate their functions to control the expression of capsule in response to nutrients. S. aureus fine-tunes the production of capsule by coordinating the activity of several regulators and by sensing nutrient levels. This study demonstrates the importance of incorporating multiple inputs prior to the expression of costly virulence factors, such as capsule.

Impact of growth pH and glucose concentrations on the CodY regulatory network in Streptococcus salivarius

Background

Streptococcus salivarius is an abundant isolate of the human oral microbiota. Since both pH and glucose availability fluctuate frequently in the oral cavity, the goal of this study was to investigate regulation by CodY, a conserved pleiotropic regulator of Gram positive bacteria, in response to these two signals. The chemostat culture system was employed to precisely control the growth parameters, and the transcriptomes of wild-type S. salivarius 57.I and its CodY-null derivative (ΔcodY) grown at pH 7 and 5.5, with limited and excessive glucose supply were determined.

Results

The transcriptomic analysis revealed that CodY was most active at pH 7 under conditions of glucose limitation. Based on whether a CodY binding consensus could be located in the 5′ flanking region of the identified target, the transcriptomic analysis also found that CodY shaped the transcriptome via both direct and indirect regulation. Inactivation of codY reduced the glycolytic capacity and the viability of S. salivarius at pH 5.5 or in the presence of H₂O₂. Studies using the Galleria mellonella larva model showed that CodY was essential for the toxicity generated from S. salivarius infection, suggesting that CodY regulation was critical for immune evasion and systemic infections. Furthermore, the CodY-null mutant strain exhibited a clumping phenotype and reduced attachment in biofilm assays, suggesting that CodY also modulates cell wall metabolism. Finally, the expression of genes belonging to the CovR regulon was affected by codY inactivation, but CodY and CovR regulated these genes in opposite directions.

Conclusions

Metabolic adaptation in response to nutrient availability and growth pH is tightly linked to stress responses and virulence expression in S. salivarius. The regulation of metabolism by CodY allows for the maximal utilization of available nutrients and ATP production. The counteractive regulation of the CovR regulon could fine tune the transcriptomes in response to environmental changes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4781-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Controlled branched-chain amino acids auxotrophy in Listeria monocytogenes allows isoleucine to serve as a host signal and virulence effector

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a saprophyte and intracellular pathogen. Transition to the pathogenic state relies on sensing of host-derived metabolites, yet it remains unclear how these are recognized and how they mediate virulence gene regulation. We previously found that low availability of isoleucine signals Lm to activate the virulent state. This response is dependent on CodY, a global regulator and isoleucine sensor. Isoleucine-bound CodY represses metabolic pathways including branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) biosynthesis, however under BCAA depletion, as occurs during infection, BCAA biosynthesis is upregulated and isoleucine-unbound CodY activates virulence genes. While isoleucine was revealed as an important input signal, it was not identified how internal levels are controlled during infection. Here we show that Lm regulates BCAA biosynthesis via CodY and via a riboregulator located upstream to the BCAA biosynthesis genes, named Rli60. rli60 is transcribed when BCAA levels drop, forming a ribosome-mediated attenuator that cis-regulates the downstream genes according to BCAA supply. Notably, we found that Rli60 restricts BCAA production, essentially starving Lm, a mechanism that is directly linked to virulence, as it controls the internal isoleucine pool and thereby CodY activity. This controlled BCAA auxotrophy likely evolved to enable isoleucine to serve as a host signal and virulence effector.

Bacterial pathogens must adapt to their host environment to carry out a successful infection. Sensing host-derived signals precedes adaptation, and triggers switching to the virulent state. Within mammalian cells L. monocytogenes responds to branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) deficiency by inducing virulence gene expression. In this study, we provide compelling evidence that fine tuning BCAA biosynthesis in L. monocytogenes allows the bacteria to sense isoleucine as a host-specific signal. Tightly controlled BCAA production depends on Rli60, a riboregulator, which is transcribed upstream to the BCAA biosynthesis genes. Rli60 functions as a ribosome mediated attenuator that cis-regulates BCAA production under limiting conditions. This study highlights the remarkable cross-regulation of metabolism and virulence in bacterial pathogens.

Repression of branched-chain amino acid synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus is mediated by isoleucine via CodY, and by a leucine-rich attenuator peptide

Staphylococcus aureus requires branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs; isoleucine, leucine, valine) for protein synthesis, branched-chain fatty acid synthesis, and environmental adaptation by responding to their availability via the global transcriptional regulator CodY. The importance of BCAAs for S. aureus physiology necessitates that it either synthesize them or scavenge them from the environment. Indeed S. aureus uses specialized transporters to scavenge BCAAs, however, its ability to synthesize them has remained conflicted by reports that it is auxotrophic for leucine and valine despite carrying an intact BCAA biosynthetic operon. In revisiting these findings, we have observed that S. aureus can engage in leucine and valine synthesis, but the level of BCAA synthesis is dependent on the BCAA it is deprived of, leading us to hypothesize that each BCAA differentially regulates the biosynthetic operon. Here we show that two mechanisms of transcriptional repression regulate the level of endogenous BCAA biosynthesis in response to specific BCAA availability. We identify a trans-acting mechanism involving isoleucine-dependent repression by the global transcriptional regulator CodY and a cis-acting leucine-responsive attenuator, uncovering how S. aureus regulates endogenous biosynthesis in response to exogenous BCAA availability. Moreover, given that isoleucine can dominate CodY-dependent regulation of BCAA biosynthesis, and that CodY is a global regulator of metabolism and virulence in S. aureus, we extend the importance of isoleucine availability for CodY-dependent regulation of other metabolic and virulence genes. These data resolve the previous conflicting observations regarding BCAA biosynthesis, and reveal the environmental signals that not only induce BCAA biosynthesis, but that could also have broader consequences on S. aureus environmental adaptation and virulence via CodY.

Structure of the Branched-chain Amino Acid and GTP-sensing Global Regulator, CodY, from Bacillus subtilis

CodY is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) and GTP sensor and a global regulator of transcription in low G + C Gram-positive bacteria. It controls the expression of over 100 genes and operons, principally by repressing during growth genes whose products are required for adaptations to nutrient limitation. However, the mechanism by which BCAA binding regulates transcriptional changes is not clear. It is known that CodY consists of a GAF (cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterases, adenylate cyclases, FhlA) domain that binds BCAAs and a winged helix-turn-helix (wHTH) domain that binds to DNA, but the way in which these domains interact and the structural basis of the BCAA dependence of this interaction are unknown. To gain new insights, we determined the crystal structure of unliganded CodY from Bacillus subtilis revealing a 10-turn α-helix linking otherwise discrete GAF and wHTH domains. The structure of CodY in complex with isoleucine revealed a reorganized GAF domain. In both complexes CodY was tetrameric. Size exclusion chromatography with multiangle laser light scattering (SEC-MALLS) experiments showed that CodY is a dimer at concentrations found in bacterial cells. Comparison of structures of dimers of unliganded CodY and CodY-Ile derived from the tetramers showed a splaying of the wHTH domains when Ile was bound; splaying is likely to account for the increased affinity of Ile-bound CodY for DNA. Electrophoretic mobility shift and SEC-MALLS analyses of CodY binding to 19-36-bp operator fragments are consistent with isoleucine-dependent binding of two CodY dimers per duplex. The implications of these observations for effector control of CodY activity are discussed.

Predicting changes of reaction networks with partial kinetic information

We wish to predict changes of reaction networks with partial kinetic information that lead to target changes of their steady states. The changes may be either increases or decreases of influxes, reaction knockouts, or multiple changes of these two kinds. Our prime applications are knockout prediction tasks for metabolic and regulation networks. In a first step, we propose a formal modeling language for reaction networks with partial kinetic information. The modeling language has a graphical syntax reminiscent to Petri nets. Each reaction in a model comes with a partial description of its kinetics, based on a similarity relation on kinetic functions that we introduce. Such partial descriptions are able to model the regulation of existing metabolic networks for which precise kinetic knowledge is usually not available. In a second step, we develop prediction algorithms that can be applied to any reaction network modeled in our language. These algorithms perform qualitative reasoning based on abstract interpretation, by which the kinetic unknowns are abstracted away. Given a reaction network, abstract interpretation produces a finite domain constraint in a novel class. We show how to solve these finite domain constraints with an existing finite domain constraint solver, and how to interpret the solution sets as predictions of multiple reaction knockouts that lead to a desired change of the steady states. We have implemented the prediction algorithm and integrated it into a prediction tool. This journal article extends the two conference papers John et al. (2013) and Niehren et al. (2015) while adding a new prediction algorithm for multiple gene knockouts. An application to single gene knockout prediction for surfactin overproduction was presented in Coutte et al. (2015). It illustrates the adequacy of the model-based predictions made by our algorithm in the wet lab.

CodY, a master integrator of metabolism and virulence in Gram-positive bacteria

A growing body of evidence points to CodY, a global regulator in Gram-positive bacteria, as a critical link between microbial physiology and pathogenesis in diverse environments. Recent studies uncovering graded regulation of CodY gene targets reflect the true nature of this transcription factor controlled by ligands and reveal nutrient availability as a potentially critical factor in modulating pathogenesis. This review will serve to update the status of the field and raise new questions to be answered.

The role of two branched-chain amino acid transporters in Staphylococcus aureus growth, membrane fatty acid composition and virulence

The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are vital to both growth and virulence of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. In addition to supporting protein synthesis, the BCAAs serve as precursors for branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), which are predominant membrane fatty acids, and, in association with the global regulatory protein CodY, the BCAAs are key co-regulators of virulence factors. Despite these critical functions, S. aureus represses Leu and Val synthesis, instead preferring to acquire them from the extracellular milieu. We previously identified BrnQ1 as a BCAA transporter, yet a brnQ1 mutant remained capable of BCAA acquisition. Here, we describe BcaP as an additional BCAA transporter, and determine that it plays a secondary role to BrnQ1 during S. aureus growth in a chemically defined medium. Furthermore, membrane fatty acid composition analysis revealed that BrnQ1, and not BcaP, is required for transporting Leu and Val to be used for iso-BCFA synthesis. Despite a predominant role for BrnQ1 in vitro, both BrnQ1 and BcaP are required for S. aureus fitness in vivo in a hematogenous spread infection model and a nasal colonisation model. These data demonstrate the importance of BrnQ1 and BcaP for growth, environmental adaptation and virulence of S. aureus.

The structure of the pleiotropic transcription regulator CodY provides insight into its GTP-sensing mechanism

GTP and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are metabolic sensors that are indispensable for the determination of the metabolic status of cells. However, their molecular sensing mechanism remains unclear. CodY is a unique global transcription regulator that recognizes GTP and BCAAs as specific signals and affects expression of more than 100 genes associated with metabolism. Herein, we report the first crystal structures of the full-length CodY complex with sensing molecules and describe their functional states. We observed two different oligomeric states of CodY: a dimeric complex of CodY from Staphylococcus aureus with the two metabolites GTP and isoleucine, and a tetrameric form (apo) of CodY from Bacillus cereus. Notably, the tetrameric state shows in an auto-inhibitory manner by blocking the GTP-binding site, whereas the binding sites of GTP and isoleucine are clearly visible in the dimeric state. The GTP is located at a hinge site between the long helical region and the metabolite-binding site. Together, data from structural and electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses improve understanding of how CodY senses GTP and operates as a DNA-binding protein and a pleiotropic transcription regulator.

A spectrum of CodY activities drives metabolic reorganization and virulence gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus

The global regulator CodY controls the expression of dozens of metabolism and virulence genes in the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus in response to the availability of isoleucine, leucine and valine (ILV), and GTP. Using RNA-Seq transcriptional profiling and partial activity variants, we reveal that S. aureus CodY activity grades metabolic and virulence gene expression as a function of ILV availability, mediating metabolic reorganization and controlling virulence factor production in vitro. Strains lacking CodY regulatory activity produce a PIA-dependent biofilm, but development is restricted under conditions that confer partial CodY activity. CodY regulates the expression of thermonuclease (nuc) via the Sae two-component system, revealing cascading virulence regulation and factor production as CodY activity is reduced. Proteins that mediate the host-pathogen interaction and subvert the immune response are shut off at intermediate levels of CodY activity, while genes coding for enzymes and proteins that extract nutrients from tissue, that kill host cells, and that synthesize amino acids are among the last genes to be derepressed. We conclude that S. aureus uses CodY to limit host damage to only the most severe starvation conditions, providing insight into one potential mechanism by which S. aureus transitions from a commensal bacterium to an invasive pathogen.

Systems Level Analyses Reveal Multiple Regulatory Activities of CodY Controlling Metabolism, Motility and Virulence in Listeria monocytogenes

Bacteria sense and respond to many environmental cues, rewiring their regulatory network to facilitate adaptation to new conditions/niches. Global transcription factors that co-regulate multiple pathways simultaneously are essential to this regulatory rewiring. CodY is one such global regulator, controlling expression of both metabolic and virulence genes in Gram-positive bacteria. Branch chained amino acids (BCAAs) serve as a ligand for CodY and modulate its activity. Classically, CodY was considered to function primarily as a repressor under rich growth conditions. However, our previous studies of the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes revealed that CodY is active also when the bacteria are starved for BCAAs. Under these conditions, CodY loses the ability to repress genes (e.g., metabolic genes) and functions as a direct activator of the master virulence regulator gene, prfA. This observation raised the possibility that CodY possesses multiple functions that allow it to coordinate gene expression across a wide spectrum of metabolic growth conditions, and thus better adapt bacteria to the mammalian niche. To gain a deeper understanding of CodY's regulatory repertoire and identify direct target genes, we performed a genome wide analysis of the CodY regulon and DNA binding under both rich and minimal growth conditions, using RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq techniques. We demonstrate here that CodY is indeed active (i.e., binds DNA) under both conditions, serving as a repressor and activator of different genes. Further, we identified new genes and pathways that are directly regulated by CodY (e.g., sigB, arg, his, actA, glpF, gadG, gdhA, poxB, glnR and fla genes), integrating metabolism, stress responses, motility and virulence in L. monocytogenes. This study establishes CodY as a multifaceted factor regulating L. monocytogenes physiology in a highly versatile manner.

Intermediate Levels of Bacillus subtilis CodY Activity Are Required for Derepression of the Branched-Chain Amino Acid Permease, BraB

The global transcriptional regulator, CodY, binds strongly to the regulatory region of the braB gene, which encodes a Bacillus subtilis branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) permease. However, under conditions that maximize CodY activity, braB expression was similar in wild-type and codY null mutant cells. Nonetheless, expression from the braB promoter was significantly elevated in cells containing partially active mutant versions of CodY or in wild-type cells under growth conditions leading to intermediate levels of CodY activity. This novel pattern of regulation was shown to be due to two opposing mechanisms, negative and positive, by which CodY affects braB expression. A strong CodY-binding site located downstream of the transcription start point conferred negative regulation by direct interaction with CodY. Additionally, sequences upstream and downstream of the promoter were required for repression by a second pleiotropic B. subtilis regulator, ScoC, whose own expression is repressed by CodY. ScoC-mediated repression of braB in codY null mutants cells was as efficient as direct, CodY-mediated repression in wild-type cells under conditions of high CodY activity. However, under conditions of reduced CodY activity, CodY-mediated repression was relieved to a greater extent than ScoC-mediated repression was increased, leading to elevated braB expression. We conclude that restricting increased expression of braB to conditions of moderate nutrient limitation is the raison d’être of the feed-forward regulatory loop formed by CodY and ScoC at the braB promoter. The increase in BraB expression only at intermediate activities of CodY may facilitate the uptake of BCAA when they are not in excess but prevent unneeded BraB synthesis when other BCAA transporters are active.

Expression of Bacillus subtilis BraB, a branched-chain amino acid permease, is under both negative and positive control by a global transcriptional regulator CodY. The negative control is direct and the positive control is indirect and mediated by another B. subtilis pleiotropic transcriptional regulator, ScoC, which, in turn, is repressed by CodY. Thus, CodY and ScoC form a feed-forward regulatory loop at the braB promoter. In a very unusual manner, the interaction of CodY and ScoC results in high braB expression only at intermediate CodY activities; braB expression remains low both at high and low CodY activities. The novel regulation of braB shows that important, novel regulatory phenomena can be missed by analyzing null mutants in regulatory genes but revealed by using mutants with partial activity.

Role of branched-chain amino acid transport in Bacillus subtilis CodY activity

CodY is a branched-chain amino acid-responsive transcriptional regulator that controls the expression of several dozen transcription units in Bacillus subtilis. The presence of isoleucine, valine, and leucine in the growth medium is essential for achieving high activity of CodY and for efficient regulation of the target genes. We identified three permeases-BcaP, BraB, and BrnQ-that are responsible for the bulk of isoleucine and valine uptake and are also involved in leucine uptake. At least one more permease is capable of efficient leucine uptake, as well as low-affinity transport of isoleucine and valine. The lack of the first three permeases strongly reduced activity of CodY in an amino acid-containing growth medium. BcaP appears to be the most efficient isoleucine and valine permease responsible for their utilization as nitrogen sources. The previously described strong CodY-mediated repression of BcaP provides a mechanism for fine-tuning CodY activity by reducing the availability of amino acids and for delaying the utilization of isoleucine and valine as nitrogen and carbon sources under conditions of nutrient excess.

IMPORTANCE

Bacillus subtilis CodY is a global transcriptional regulator that is activated by branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Since the level of BCAA achieved by intracellular synthesis is insufficient to fully activate CodY, transport of BCAA from the environment is critical for CodY activation, but the permeases needed for such activation have not been previously identified. This study identifies three such permeases, reports their amino acid transport specificity, and reveals their impact on CodY activation.

The metabolic regulator CodY links Listeria monocytogenes metabolism to virulence by directly activating the virulence regulatory gene prfA

Metabolic adaptations are critical to the ability of bacterial pathogens to grow within host cells and are normally preceded by sensing of host-specific metabolic signals, which in turn can influence the pathogen's virulence state. Previously, we reported that the intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes responds to low availability of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) within mammalian cells by up-regulating both BCAA biosynthesis and virulence genes. The induction of virulence genes required the BCAA-responsive transcription regulator, CodY, but the molecular mechanism governing this mode of regulation was unclear. In this report, we demonstrate that CodY directly binds the coding sequence of the L. monocytogenes master virulence activator gene, prfA, 15 nt downstream of its start codon, and that this binding results in up-regulation of prfA transcription specifically under low concentrations of BCAA. Mutating this site abolished CodY binding and reduced prfA transcription in macrophages, and attenuated bacterial virulence in mice. Notably, the mutated binding site did not alter prfA transcription or PrfA activity under other conditions that are known to activate PrfA, such as during growth in the presence of glucose-1-phosphate. This study highlights the tight crosstalk between L. monocytogenes metabolism and virulence, while revealing novel features of CodY-mediated regulation.

Role of BrnQ1 and BrnQ2 in branched-chain amino acid transport and virulence in Staphylococcus aureus

The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs; Ile, Leu, and Val) not only are important nutrients for the growth of Staphylococcus aureus but also are corepressors for CodY, which regulates virulence gene expression, implicating BCAAs as an important link between the metabolic state of the cell and virulence. BCAAs are either synthesized intracellularly or acquired from the environment. S. aureus encodes three putative BCAA transporters, designated BrnQ1, BrnQ2, and BrnQ3; their functions have not yet been formally tested. In this study, we mutated all three brnQ paralogs so as to characterize their substrate specificities and their roles in growth in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that in the community-associated, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) strain USA300, BrnQ1 is involved in uptake of all three BCAAs, BrnQ2 transports Ile, and BrnQ3 does not have a significant role in BCAA transport under the conditions tested. Of the three, only BrnQ1 is essential for USA300 to grow in a chemically defined medium that is limited for Leu or Val. Interestingly, we observed that a brnQ2 mutant grew better than USA300 in media limited for Leu and Val, owing to the fact that this mutation leads to overexpression of brnQ1. In a murine infection model, the brnQ1 mutant was attenuated, but in contrast, brnQ2 mutants had significantly increased virulence compared to that of USA300, a phenotype we suggest is at least partially linked to enhanced in vivo scavenging of Leu and Val through BrnQ1. These data uncover a hitherto-undiscovered connection between nutrient acquisition and virulence in CA-MRSA.

Integration of metabolism and virulence in Clostridium difficile

Synthesis of the major toxin proteins of the diarrheal pathogen, Clostridium difficile, is dependent on the activity of TcdR, an initiation (sigma) factor of RNA polymerase. The synthesis of TcdR and the activation of toxin gene expression are responsive to multiple components in the bacterium's nutritional environment, such as the presence of certain sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids. This review summarizes current knowledge about the mechanisms responsible for repression of toxin synthesis when glucose or branched-chain amino acids or proline are in excess and the pathways that lead to synthesis of butyrate, an activator of toxin synthesis. The regulatory proteins implicated in these mechanisms also play key roles in modulating bacterial metabolic pathways, suggesting that C. difficile pathogenesis is intimately connected to the bacterium's metabolic state.

Hierarchical expression of genes controlled by the Bacillus subtilis global regulatory protein CodY

Global regulators that bind strategic metabolites allow bacteria to adapt rapidly to dynamic environments by coordinating the expression of many genes. We report an approach for determining gene regulation hierarchy using the regulon of the Bacillus subtilis global regulatory protein CodY as proof of principle. In theory, this approach can be used to measure the dynamics of any bacterial transcriptional regulatory network that is affected by interaction with a ligand. In B. subtilis, CodY controls dozens of genes, but the threshold activities of CodY required to regulate each gene are unknown. We hypothesized that targets of CodY are differentially regulated based on varying affinity for the protein's many binding sites. We used RNA sequencing to determine the transcription profiles of B. subtilis strains expressing mutant CodY proteins with different levels of residual activity. In parallel, we quantified intracellular metabolites connected to central metabolism. Strains producing CodY variants F71Y, R61K, and R61H retained varying degrees of partial activity relative to the WT protein, leading to gene-specific, differential alterations in transcript abundance for the 223 identified members of the CodY regulon. Using liquid chromatography coupled to MS, we detected significant increases in branched-chain amino acids and intermediates of arginine, proline, and glutamate metabolism, as well as decreases in pyruvate and glycerate as CodY activity decreased. We conclude that a spectrum of CodY activities leads to programmed regulation of gene expression and an apparent rerouting of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, suggesting that during changes in nutrient availability, CodY prioritizes the expression of specific pathways.

The Streptococcus mutans aminotransferase encoded by ilvE is regulated by CodY and CcpA

The aminotransferase IlvE was implicated in the acid tolerance response of Streptococcus mutans when a mutation in its gene resulted in an acid-sensitive phenotype (B. Santiago, M. MacGilvray, R. C. Faustoferri, and R. G. Quivey, Jr., J. Bacteriol. 194:2010-2019, 2012). The phenotype suggested that amino acid metabolism is important for acid adaptation, as turnover of branched-chain amino acids (bcAAs) could provide important signals to modulate expression of genes involved in the adaptive process. Previous studies have demonstrated that ilvE is regulated in response to the external pH, though the mechanism is not yet established. CodY and CcpA have been shown to regulate expression of branched-chain amino acid biosynthetic genes, suggesting that the ability to sense carbon flow and the nutritional state of the cell also plays a role in the regulation of ilvE. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using the ilvE promoter and a purified recombinant CodY protein provided evidence of the physical interaction between CodY and ilvE. In order to elucidate the signals that contribute to ilvE regulation, cat reporter fusions were utilized. Transcriptional assays demonstrated that bcAAs are signaling molecules involved in the repression of ilvE through regulation of CodY. In a codY deletion background, ilvE transcription was elevated, indicating that CodY acts a repressor of ilvE transcription. Conversely, in a ccpA deletion background, ilvE transcription was reduced, showing that CcpA activated ilvE transcription. The effects of both regulators were directly relevant for transcription of ilvE under conditions of acid stress, demonstrating that both regulators play a role in acid adaptation.

Dual role of CcpC protein in regulation of aconitase gene expression in Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus subtilis

The role of the CcpC regulatory protein as a repressor of the genes encoding the tricarboxylic acid branch enzymes of the Krebs cycle (citrate synthase, citZ; aconitase, citB; and isocitrate dehydrogenase, citC) has been established for both Bacillus subtilis and Listeria monocytogenes. In addition, hyperexpression of citB-lacZ reporter constructs in an aconitase null mutant strain has been reported for B. subtilis. We show here that such hyperexpression of citB occurs in L. monocytogenes as well as in B. subtilis and that in both species the hyperexpression is unexpectedly dependent on CcpC. We propose a revision of the existing CcpC-citB regulatory scheme and suggest a mechanism of regulation in which CcpC represses citB expression at low citrate levels and activates citB expression when citrate levels are high.

Expression in Lactococcus lactis of functional genes related to amino acid catabolism and cheese aroma formation is influenced by branched chain amino acids

Formation of cheese aroma compounds by Lactococcus lactis from amino acid catabolism depends on a complex network of reactions, which involve enzymes such as aminotransferases, dehydrogenases, lyases, and decarboxylases, among others. Based on the ability of some L. lactis strains to grow with low requirements of amino acids, we have studied in L. lactis IFPL730 the effect of the branched chain amino acid (BCAA) content on the expression of functional genes related to amino acid catabolism and aroma compound formation (araT, bcaT, kivD, ytjE and panE). L. lactis IFPL730 growth rate decreased under leucine, valine or isoleucine starvation but the strain reached similar viable counts at the stationary phase in all culture conditions studied. The level of expression of some genes encoding enzymes involved in amino acid catabolism changed significantly (P<0.05) when those conditions were compared. Specially, α-ketoisovalerate decarboxylase (kivD), BCAA-specific aminotransferase (bcaT) and C-S lyase (yjtE) gene expressions increased markedly by both isoleucine and valine starvation. In addition to gene expression, formation of volatile compounds was determined in all growth conditions. The results showed that BCAA starvation conditions caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in the formation of metabolic end products related to cheese aroma, such as 3-methylbutanal and 3-methylbutanol.

Integrative genomic analysis identifies isoleucine and CodY as regulators of Listeria monocytogenes virulence

Intracellular bacterial pathogens are metabolically adapted to grow within mammalian cells. While these adaptations are fundamental to the ability to cause disease, we know little about the relationship between the pathogen's metabolism and virulence. Here we used an integrative Metabolic Analysis Tool that combines transcriptome data with genome-scale metabolic models to define the metabolic requirements of Listeria monocytogenes during infection. Twelve metabolic pathways were identified as differentially active during L. monocytogenes growth in macrophage cells. Intracellular replication requires de novo synthesis of histidine, arginine, purine, and branch chain amino acids (BCAAs), as well as catabolism of L-rhamnose and glycerol. The importance of each metabolic pathway during infection was confirmed by generation of gene knockout mutants in the respective pathways. Next, we investigated the association of these metabolic requirements in the regulation of L. monocytogenes virulence. Here we show that limiting BCAA concentrations, primarily isoleucine, results in robust induction of the master virulence activator gene, prfA, and the PrfA-regulated genes. This response was specific and required the nutrient responsive regulator CodY, which is known to bind isoleucine. Further analysis demonstrated that CodY is involved in prfA regulation, playing a role in prfA activation under limiting conditions of BCAAs. This study evidences an additional regulatory mechanism underlying L. monocytogenes virulence, placing CodY at the crossroads of metabolism and virulence.

Intracellular bacterial pathogens have developed sophisticated mechanisms to invade and replicate within eukaryotic cells. For successful replication, pathogens have adapted metabolically to the intracellular niche. While this adaptation is fundamental to the ability to cause disease, we know little about pathogen's intracellular metabolism and its association with virulence. In this study we took a global approach that combines computational and experimental methods to decipher the intracellular metabolic requirements of the human bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. We identified 12 metabolic pathways to be differentially active during infection in comparison to growth in rich lab media. We validated the essentiality of the active pathways for L. monocytogenes intracellular replication. Pathways included: biosynthesis of histidine, arginine, purine, and branch chain amino acids (BCAAs), as well as the catabolism of L-rhamnose and glycerol. Next we analyzed whether the requirement for these nutrients associates with virulence. We found that limiting concentrations of BCAAs, primarily of isoleucine, results in robust induction of the bacterial virulence state, a response that is dependent on the isoleucine responsive regulator, CodY. CodY was responsible for the up-regulation of the major virulence regulator of L. monocytogenes, PrfA. This study supports the premise that pathogens metabolism and virulence are closely interlinked.

Recent progress in Bacillus subtilis sporulation

The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis can initiate the process of sporulation under conditions of nutrient limitation. Here, we review some of the last 5 years of work in this area, with a particular focus on the decision to initiate sporulation, DNA translocation, cell-cell communication, protein localization and spore morphogenesis. The progress we describe has implications not only just for the study of sporulation but also for other biological systems where homologs of sporulation-specific proteins are involved in vegetative growth.

Bacillus subtilis CodY operators contain overlapping CodY binding sites

CodY is a global transcriptional regulator that is activated by branched-chain amino acids. A palindromic 15-bp sequence motif, AATTTTCNGAAAATT, is associated with CodY DNA binding. A gel mobility shift assay was used to examine the effect of pH on the binding of Bacillus subtilis CodY to the hutPp and ureAp(3) promoters. CodY at pH 6.0 has higher affinity for DNA, more enhanced activation by isoleucine, and a lower propensity for nonspecific DNA binding than CodY at pH 8.0. DNase I footprinting was used to identify the CodY-protected regions in the hutPp and ureAp(3) promoters. The CodY-protected sequences for both promoters were found to contain multiple copies of the 15-bp motif with 6-bp overlaps. Mutational analysis of the hutPp regulatory region revealed that two overlapping sequence motifs were required for CodY-mediated regulation. The presence of overlapping sequence motifs in the regulatory regions of many B. subtilis CodY-regulated genes suggests that CodY binds to native operators that contain overlapping binding sites.

The CodY pleiotropic repressor controls virulence in gram-positive pathogens

CodY is involved in the adaptive response to starvation in at least 30 different low G+C gram-positive bacteria. After dimerization and activation by cofactor binding, CodY binds to a consensus palindromic DNA sequence, leading to the repression of approximately 5% of the genome. CodY represses the transcription of target genes when bound to DNA by competition with the RNA polymerase for promoter binding, or by interference with transcriptional elongation as a roadblock. CodY displays enhanced affinity for its DNA target when bound to GTP and/or branched chain amino acids (BCAA). When nutrients become limiting in the postexponential growth phase, a decrease of intracellular levels of GTP and BCAA causes a deactivation of CodY and decreases its affinity for DNA, leading to the induction of its regulon. CodY-regulated genes trigger adaptation of the bacteria to starvation by highly diverse mechanisms, such as secretion of proteases coupled to expression of amino acid transporters, and promotion of survival strategies like sporulation or biofilm formation. Additionally, in pathogenic bacteria, several virulence factors are regulated by CodY. As a function of their access to nutrients, pathogenic gram-positive bacteria express virulence factors in a codY-dependant manner. This is true for the anthrax toxins of Bacillus anthracis and the haemolysins of Staphylococcus aureus. The purpose of this review is to illustrate CodY-regulated mechanisms on virulence in major gram-positive pathogens.

Contributions of multiple binding sites and effector-independent binding to CodY-mediated regulation in Bacillus subtilis

CodY is a branched-chain amino acid-responsive transcriptional regulator that controls, directly or indirectly, the expression of more than 100 genes and operons in Bacillus subtilis. Using DNase I footprinting and gel-shift experiments, we identified two CodY-binding regions upstream of a B. subtilis gene (bcaP, previously known as yhdG) that encodes a transporter of branched-chain amino acids. Mutational analysis revealed that both CodY-binding regions contribute to repression in vivo and do so independently of each other. Thus, a single CodY-binding site is apparently sufficient for substantial CodY-dependent regulation. By analyzing affinities of wild-type and mutant CodY-binding sites for CodY and their regulation by wild-type CodY and forms of CodY with various levels of activation by branched-chain amino acids, we concluded that unliganded CodY cannot repress transcription in vivo and that the level of endogenously produced effectors is sufficient for CodY-mediated regulation of promoters with stronger sites. Because the sites with higher affinity apparently respond to lower concentrations of CodY effectors and saturate faster as the concentrations of effectors increase, having two sites of binding with different affinities for CodY permits a promoter to respond to a wider range of intracellular concentrations of effectors.

Direct targets of CodY in Staphylococcus aureus

More than 200 direct CodY target genes in Staphylococcus aureus were identified by genome-wide analysis of in vitro DNA binding. This analysis, which was confirmed for some genes by DNase I footprinting assays, revealed that CodY is a direct regulator of numerous transcription units associated with amino acid biosynthesis, transport of macromolecules, and virulence. The virulence genes regulated by CodY fell into three groups. One group was dependent on the Agr system for its expression; these genes were indirectly regulated by CodY through its repression of the agr locus. A second group was regulated directly by CodY. The third group, which includes genes for alpha-toxin and capsule synthesis, was regulated by CodY in two ways, i.e., by direct repression and by repression of the agr locus. Since S. aureus CodY was activated in vitro by the branched chain amino acids and GTP, CodY appears to link changes in intracellular metabolite pools with the induction of numerous adaptive responses, including virulence.

Transcriptional regulation of the Bacillus subtilis asnH operon and role of the 5'-proximal long sequence triplication in RNA stabilization

The Bacillus subtilis asnH operon, comprising yxbB, yxbA, yxnB, asnH and yxaM, is induced dramatically in the transition between exponential growth and stationary phase in rich sporulation medium. The asnH operon is transcribed to produce an unstable long transcript covering the entire operon as well as a short one corresponding to the first three genes. Northern blot analysis revealed that the discrete band corresponding to the short transcript was detectable even 1 h after the addition of excess rifampicin, suggesting its unusual stability. The transcription start site of the operon was determined; its corresponding promoter was most likely sigma-A dependent and under tight control of AbrB and CodY. Within the 5'-proximal region of the transcript preceding yxbB, there is a mysterious long sequence triplication (LST) segment, consisting of a tandem repeat of two highly conserved 118 bp units and a less conserved 129 bp unit. This LST segment was not involved in regulation by AbrB and CodY. Transcriptional fusion of the 5'-region containing the LST segment to lacZ resulted in a significant increase in beta-galactosidase synthesis in cells; the LST segment was thought to prevent degradation of the 5'-region-lacZ fusion transcript. These results suggest that the 5'-region containing the LST segment could function as an mRNA stabilizer that prolongs the lifetime of the transcript to which it is fused.

Structural rearrangement accompanying ligand binding in the GAF domain of CodY from Bacillus subtilis

The GAF domain is a simple module widespread in proteins of diverse function, including cell signalling proteins and transcription factors. Its structure, typically spanning 150 residues, has three tiers: a basal layer of two or more alpha-helices, a middle layer of beta-pleated sheet and a top layer formed by segments of the polypeptide that connect strands of the beta-sheet. In structures of GAF domains in complex with their effectors, these polypeptide segments envelop the ligand, enclosing it in a cavity whose base is formed by the beta-sheet, such that ligand binding and release must be accompanied by conformational rearrangements of the distal portion of the structure. Descriptions of binding are presently limited by the absence of a GAF domain for which both liganded and unliganded structures are known. Earlier, we solved the crystal structure of the GAF domain of CodY, a branched-chain amino acid and GTP-responsive regulator of the transcription of stationary-phase and virulence genes in Bacillus, in complexes with isoleucine and valine. Here, we report the structure of this domain in its unliganded form, allowing definition of the structural changes accompanying ligand binding. The core of the protein and its dimerisation interface are essentially unchanged, in agreement with circular dichroism spectroscopy experiments that show that the secondary structure composition is unperturbed by ligand binding. There is however extensive refolding of the binding site loops, with up to 15-A movements of the coiled segment linking beta3 and beta4, such that the binding pocket is not formed in the absence of the ligand. The implications of these structural rearrangements for ligand affinity and specificity are discussed. Finally, saturation-transfer-difference NMR spectroscopy showed binding of isoleucine but not that of GTP to the GAF domain, suggesting that the two cofactors do not have a common binding site.