1
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Guo L, Wang YH, Cui R, Huang Z, Hong Y, Qian JW, Ni B, Xu AM, Jiang CY, Zhulin IB, Liu SJ, Li DF. Attractant and repellent induce opposing changes in the four-helix bundle ligand-binding domain of a bacterial chemoreceptor. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002429. [PMID: 38079456 PMCID: PMC10735184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Motile bacteria navigate toward favorable conditions and away from unfavorable environments using chemotaxis. Mechanisms of sensing attractants are well understood; however, molecular aspects of how bacteria sense repellents have not been established. Here, we identified malate as a repellent recognized by the MCP2201 chemoreceptor in a bacterium Comamonas testosteroni and showed that it binds to the same site as an attractant citrate. Binding determinants for a repellent and an attractant had only minor differences, and a single amino acid substitution in the binding site inverted the response to malate from a repellent to an attractant. We found that malate and citrate affect the oligomerization state of the ligand-binding domain in opposing way. We also observed opposing effects of repellent and attractant binding on the orientation of an alpha helix connecting the sensory domain to the transmembrane helix. We propose a model to illustrate how positive and negative signals might be generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yun-Hao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhou Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Hong
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Wei Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - An-Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cheng-Ying Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Igor B. Zhulin
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Shuang-Jiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - De-Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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2
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Matilla MA, Monteagudo-Cascales E, Krell T. Advances in the identification of signals and novel sensing mechanisms for signal transduction systems. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:79-86. [PMID: 35896893 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Matilla
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Elizabet Monteagudo-Cascales
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
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3
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Chen X, Bi S, Ma X, Sourjik V, Lai L. Discovery of a New Chemoeffector for Escherichia coli Chemoreceptor Tsr and Identification of a Molecular Mechanism of Repellent Sensing. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2022; 2:386-394. [PMID: 37102165 PMCID: PMC10125284 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.1c00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Motile bacteria use chemotaxis to search for nutrients and escape from harmful chemicals. While the sensing mechanisms for chemical attractants are well established, the molecular details of chemorepellent detection are poorly understood. Here, by using combined computational and experimental approaches to screen potential chemoeffectors for the Escherichia coli chemoreceptor Tsr, we identified a specific chemorepellent, 1-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (ACHC). Our study strongly suggests that ACHC directly binds to the periplasmic sensory domain of Tsr and competes with l-serine, the amino acid attractant of Tsr. We further characterized the binding features of l-serine, ACHC, and l-leucine (a natural repellent that binds Tsr) and found that Asn68 plays a key role in mediating chemotactic response. Mutating Asn68 to Ala inverted the response to l-leucine from a repellent to an attractant. Our study provides important insights into the molecular mechanisms of ligand sensing via bacterial chemoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- BNLMS,
Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and
Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Center
for Quantitative Biology, Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shuangyu Bi
- Max
Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for
Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg 35043, Germany
- State
Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xiaomin Ma
- BNLMS,
Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and
Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Center
for Quantitative Biology, Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max
Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for
Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg 35043, Germany
| | - Luhua Lai
- BNLMS,
Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and
Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Center
for Quantitative Biology, Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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4
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The Wsp system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa links surface sensing and cell envelope stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117633119. [PMID: 35476526 PMCID: PMC9170161 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117633119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
SignificanceBacteria must respond quickly to environmental changes to survive. One way bacteria can respond to environmental stress is by undergoing a lifestyle transition from individual, free-swimming cells to a surface-associated community called a biofilm characterized by aggregative growth. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses the Wsp chemosensory system to sense an unknown surface-associated cue. Here we show that the Wsp system senses cell envelope stress, specifically conditions that promote unfolded or misregulated periplasmic and inner membrane proteins. This work provides direct evidence that cell envelope stress is an important feature of surface sensing in P. aeruginosa.
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5
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Bodhankar GA, Tohidifar P, Foust ZL, Ordal GW, Rao CV. Characterization of Opposing Responses to Phenol by Bacillus subtilis Chemoreceptors. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0044121. [PMID: 35007157 PMCID: PMC9017305 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00441-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis employs 10 chemoreceptors to move in response to chemicals in its environment. While the sensing mechanisms have been determined for many attractants, little is known about the sensing mechanisms for repellents. In this work, we investigated phenol chemotaxis in B. subtilis. Phenol is an attractant at low, micromolar concentrations and a repellent at high, millimolar concentrations. McpA was found to be the principal chemoreceptor governing the repellent response to phenol and other related aromatic compounds. In addition, the chemoreceptors McpC and HemAT were found to govern the attractant response to phenol and related compounds. Using chemoreceptor chimeras, McpA was found to sense phenol using its signaling domain rather than its sensing domain. These observations were substantiated in vitro, where direct binding of phenol to the signaling domain of McpA was observed using saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance. These results further advance our understanding of B. subtilis chemotaxis and further demonstrate that the signaling domain of B. subtilis chemoreceptors can directly sense chemoeffectors. IMPORTANCE Bacterial chemotaxis is commonly thought to employ a sensing mechanism involving the extracellular sensing domain of chemoreceptors. Some ligands, however, appear to be sensed by the signaling domain. Phenolic compounds, commonly found in soil and root exudates, provide environmental cues for soil microbes like Bacillus subtilis. We show that phenol is sensed as both an attractant and a repellent. While the mechanism for sensing phenol as an attractant is still unknown, we found that phenol is sensed as a repellent by the signaling domain of the chemoreceptor McpA. This study furthers our understanding of the unconventional sensing mechanisms employed by the B. subtilis chemotaxis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girija A. Bodhankar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Payman Tohidifar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Zachary L. Foust
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - George W. Ordal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Christopher V. Rao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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6
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Noncanonical Sensing Mechanisms for Bacillus subtilis Chemoreceptors. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0002722. [PMID: 35323015 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00027-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bodhankar et al. reported a noncanonical sensing mechanism that involves signal interaction with the McpA chemoreceptor signaling domain resulting in a chemorepellence response of Bacillus subtilis. The identified repellent binding site is analogous to that for attractant binding in McpB, another B. subtilis chemoreceptor.
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7
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Muok AR, Claessen D, Briegel A. Microbial hitchhiking: how Streptomyces spores are transported by motile soil bacteria. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:2591-2600. [PMID: 33723381 PMCID: PMC8397704 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-00952-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Streptomycetes are sessile bacteria that produce metabolites that impact the behavior of microbial communities. Emerging studies have demonstrated that Streptomyces spores are distributed through various mechanisms, but it remains unclear how spores are transported to their preferred microenvironments, such as plant roots. Here, we show that Streptomyces spores are capable of utilizing the motility machinery of other soil bacteria. Motility assays and microscopy studies reveal that Streptomyces spores are transported to plant tissues by interacting directly with the flagella of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Genetics experiments demonstrate that this form of motility is facilitated by structural proteins on the spore coat. These results demonstrate that nonmotile bacteria are capable of utilizing the motility machinery of other microbes to complete necessary stages of their lifecycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alise R. Muok
- grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Institute for Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands ,grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Claessen
- grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Institute for Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands ,grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ariane Briegel
- grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Institute for Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands ,grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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8
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Matilla MA, Velando F, Martín-Mora D, Monteagudo-Cascales E, Krell T. A catalogue of signal molecules that interact with sensor kinases, chemoreceptors and transcriptional regulators. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 46:6356564. [PMID: 34424339 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved many different signal transduction systems that sense signals and generate a variety of responses. Generally, most abundant are transcriptional regulators, sensor histidine kinases and chemoreceptors. Typically, these systems recognize their signal molecules with dedicated ligand-binding domains (LBDs), which, in turn, generate a molecular stimulus that modulates the activity of the output module. There are an enormous number of different LBDs that recognize a similarly diverse set of signals. To give a global perspective of the signals that interact with transcriptional regulators, sensor kinases and chemoreceptors, we manually retrieved information on the protein-ligand interaction from about 1,200 publications and 3D structures. The resulting 811 proteins were classified according to the Pfam family into 127 groups. These data permit a delineation of the signal profiles of individual LBD families as well as distinguishing between families that recognize signals in a promiscuous manner and those that possess a well-defined ligand range. A major bottleneck in the field is the fact that the signal input of many signaling systems is unknown. The signal repertoire reported here will help the scientific community design experimental strategies to identify the signaling molecules for uncharacterised sensor proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Matilla
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Félix Velando
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - David Martín-Mora
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Elizabet Monteagudo-Cascales
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
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9
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Matilla MA, Ortega Á, Krell T. The role of solute binding proteins in signal transduction. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1786-1805. [PMID: 33897981 PMCID: PMC8050422 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The solute binding proteins (SBPs) of prokaryotes are present in the extracytosolic space. Although their primary function is providing substrates to transporters, SBPs also stimulate different signaling proteins, including chemoreceptors, sensor kinases, diguanylate cyclases/phosphodiesterases and Ser/Thr kinases, thereby causing a wide range of responses. While relatively few such systems have been identified, several pieces of evidence suggest that SBP-mediated receptor activation is a widespread mechanism. (1) These systems have been identified in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and archaea. (2) There is a structural diversity in the receptor domains that bind SBPs. (3) SBPs belonging to thirteen different families interact with receptor ligand binding domains (LBDs). (4) For the two most abundant receptor LBD families, dCache and four-helix-bundle, there are different modes of interaction with SBPs. (5) SBP-stimulated receptors carry out many different functions. The advantage of SBP-mediated receptor stimulation is attributed to a strict control of SBP levels, which allows a precise adjustment of the systeḿs sensitivity. We have compiled information on the effect of ligands on the transcript/protein levels of their cognate SBPs. In 87 % of the cases analysed, ligands altered SBP expression levels. The nature of the regulatory effect depended on the ligand family. Whereas inorganic ligands typically downregulate SBP expression, an upregulation was observed in response to most sugars and organic acids. A major unknown is the role that SBPs play in signaling and in receptor stimulation. This review attempts to summarize what is known and to present new information to narrow this gap in knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Matilla
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, Granada 18008, Spain
| | - Álvaro Ortega
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 'B' and Immunology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Murcia, Spain
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, Granada 18008, Spain
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10
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Sensing of autoinducer-2 by functionally distinct receptors in prokaryotes. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5371. [PMID: 33097715 PMCID: PMC7584622 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19243-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is a quorum sensing signal that mediates communication within and between many bacterial species. However, its known receptors (LuxP and LsrB families) are not found in all the bacteria capable of responding to this signaling molecule. Here, we identify a third type of AI-2 receptor, consisting of a dCACHE domain. AI-2 binds to the dCACHE domain of chemoreceptors PctA and TlpQ of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, thus inducing chemotaxis and biofilm formation. Boron-free AI-2 is the preferred ligand for PctA and TlpQ. AI-2 also binds to the dCACHE domains of histidine kinase KinD from Bacillus subtilis and diguanylate cyclase rpHK1S-Z16 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris, enhancing their enzymatic activities. dCACHE domains (especially those belonging to a subfamily that includes the AI-2 receptors identified in the present work) are present in a large number of bacterial and archaeal proteins. Our results support the idea that AI-2 serves as a widely used signaling molecule in the coordination of cell behavior among prokaryotic species. The small molecule AI-2 acts as a quorum sensing signal, mediating communication within and between many bacterial species. Here, the authors identify a new type of AI-2 receptor, consisting of a dCACHE domain that is present in many bacterial and archaeal proteins.
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11
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Booth SC, Turner RJ. Phylogenetic characterization of the energy taxis receptor Aer in Pseudomonas and phenotypic characterization in Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2020; 165:1331-1344. [PMID: 31639075 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chemotaxis allows bacteria to sense gradients in their environment and respond by directing their swimming. Aer is a receptor that, instead of responding to a specific chemoattractant, allows bacteria to sense cellular energy levels and move towards favourable environments. In Pseudomonas, the number of apparent Aer homologues differs between the only two species it has been characterized in, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas putida. Here we combined bioinformatic approaches with deletional mutagenesis in Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 to further characterize Aer. It was determined that the number of Aer homologues varies between zero and four throughout the genus Pseudomonas, and they were phylogenetically classified into five subgroups. We also used sequence analysis to show that these homologous receptors differ in their HAMP signal transduction domains. Genetic analysis also indicated that some Aer homologues have likely been subject to horizontal transfer. P. pseudoalcaligenes KF707 was unique among strains for having three Aer homologues as well as the receptors CttP and McpB. Phenotypic characterization in this strain showed that the most prevalent homologue of Aer was key, but not essential, for energy taxis. This study demonstrates that energy taxis in Pseudomonas varies between species and provides a new naming convention and associated phylogenetic details for Aer chemoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C Booth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Raymond J Turner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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12
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Yang L, Chen X, Zeng X, Radosevich M, Ripp S, Zhuang J, Sayler GS. Surface-Adsorbed Contaminants Mediate the Importance of Chemotaxis and Haptotaxis for Bacterial Transport Through Soils. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2691. [PMID: 32038503 PMCID: PMC6988784 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotaxis and haptotaxis are important biological mechanisms that influence microbial movement toward concentrated chemoattractants in mobile liquids and along immobile surfaces, respectively. This study investigated their coupled effect, as induced by naphthalene (10 mg L−1), on the transport and retention of two pollutant-degrading bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens 5RL (Pf5RL) and Pseudomonas stutzeri DQ1 (PsDQ1), in quartz sand and natural soil. The results demonstrated that PsDQ1 was not chemotactic, whereas Pf5RL was chemotactic at 25°C but not at 4°C due to the restricted movement. In a quartz sand column, haptotaxis did not play a role in increasing the transport of Pf5RL as compared with chemotaxis. Compared with a naphthalene-free soil column, Pf5RL broke through naphthalene-presaturated soil columns to reach a stable effluent concentration 0.5 pore volumes earlier due to advective chemotaxis occurring behind the plume front in the bulk solution. Pf5RL also demonstrated greater retention (e.g., a doubled rate of attachment and a one-third smaller breakthrough percentage) due to along-surface haptotaxis and near-surface chemotaxis occurring in less mobile water near the soil surface. However, both chemotaxis and haptotaxis were weakened when Pf5RL co-transported with naphthalene due to reduced adsorption of naphthalene on the soil. This study suggests that surface adsorption of naphthalene can mediate the relative importance of advective chemotaxis (facilitating initial breakthrough), near-surface chemotaxis (increasing bacterial collision), and haptotaxis (increasing bacterial residence time).
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xijuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiangfeng Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Mark Radosevich
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Steven Ripp
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Jie Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China.,Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Gary S Sayler
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
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13
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Chemotaxis of Pseudomonas putida F1 to Alcohols Is Mediated by the Carboxylic Acid Receptor McfP. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.01625-19. [PMID: 31471307 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01625-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although alcohols are toxic to many microorganisms, they are good carbon and energy sources for some bacteria, including many pseudomonads. However, most studies that have examined chemosensory responses to alcohols have reported that alcohols are sensed as repellents, which is consistent with their toxic properties. In this study, we examined the chemotaxis of Pseudomonas putida strain F1 to n-alcohols with chain lengths of 1 to 12 carbons. P. putida F1 was attracted to all n-alcohols that served as growth substrates (C2 to C12) for the strain, and the responses were induced when cells were grown in the presence of alcohols. By assaying mutant strains lacking single or multiple methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins, the receptor mediating the response to C2 to C12 alcohols was identified as McfP, the ortholog of the P. putida strain KT2440 receptor for C2 and C3 carboxylic acids. Besides being a requirement for the response to n-alcohols, McfP was required for the response of P. putida F1 to pyruvate, l-lactate, acetate, and propionate, which are detected by the KT2440 receptor, and the medium- and long-chain carboxylic acids hexanoic acid and dodecanoic acid. β-Galactosidase assays of P. putida F1 carrying an mcfP-lacZ transcriptional fusion showed that the mcfP gene is not induced in response to alcohols. Together, our results are consistent with the idea that the carboxylic acids generated from the oxidation of alcohols are the actual attractants sensed by McfP in P. putida F1, rather than the alcohols themselves.IMPORTANCE Alcohols, released as fermentation products and produced as intermediates in the catabolism of many organic compounds, including hydrocarbons and fatty acids, are common components of the microbial food web in soil and sediments. Although they serve as good carbon and energy sources for many soil bacteria, alcohols have primarily been reported to be repellents rather than attractants for motile bacteria. Little is known about how alcohols are sensed by microbes in the environment. We report here that catabolizable n-alcohols with linear chains of up to 12 carbons serve as attractants for the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida, and rather than being detected directly, alcohols appear to be catabolized to acetate, which is then sensed by a specific cell-surface chemoreceptor protein.
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14
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Martín-Mora D, Fernández M, Velando F, Ortega Á, Gavira JA, Matilla MA, Krell T. Functional Annotation of Bacterial Signal Transduction Systems: Progress and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19123755. [PMID: 30486299 PMCID: PMC6321045 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria possess a large number of signal transduction systems that sense and respond to different environmental cues. Most frequently these are transcriptional regulators, two-component systems and chemosensory pathways. A major bottleneck in the field of signal transduction is the lack of information on signal molecules that modulate the activity of the large majority of these systems. We review here the progress made in the functional annotation of sensor proteins using high-throughput ligand screening approaches of purified sensor proteins or individual ligand binding domains. In these assays, the alteration in protein thermal stability following ligand binding is monitored using Differential Scanning Fluorimetry. We illustrate on several examples how the identification of the sensor protein ligand has facilitated the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of the regulatory process. We will also discuss the use of virtual ligand screening approaches to identify sensor protein ligands. Both approaches have been successfully applied to functionally annotate a significant number of bacterial sensor proteins but can also be used to study proteins from other kingdoms. The major challenge consists in the study of sensor proteins that do not recognize signal molecules directly, but that are activated by signal molecule-loaded binding proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Martín-Mora
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
| | - Matilde Fernández
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
| | - Félix Velando
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
| | - Álvaro Ortega
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 'B' and Immunology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, Campus of Espinardo, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - José A Gavira
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, IACT, (CSIC-UGR), Avenida las Palmeras 4, 18100 Armilla, Spain.
| | - Miguel A Matilla
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
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15
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Bi S, Jin F, Sourjik V. Inverted signaling by bacterial chemotaxis receptors. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2927. [PMID: 30050034 PMCID: PMC6062612 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05335-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms use transmembrane sensory receptors to perceive a wide range of environmental factors. It is unclear how rapidly the sensory properties of these receptors can be modified when microorganisms adapt to novel environments. Here, we demonstrate experimentally that the response of an Escherichia coli chemotaxis receptor to its chemical ligands can be easily inverted by mutations at several sites along receptor sequence. We also perform molecular dynamics simulations to shed light on the mechanism of the transmembrane signaling by E. coli chemoreceptors. Finally, we use receptors with inverted signaling to map determinants that enable the same receptor to sense multiple environmental factors, including metal ions, aromatic compounds, osmotic pressure, and salt ions. Our findings demonstrate high plasticity of signaling and provide further insights into the mechanisms of stimulus sensing and processing by bacterial chemoreceptors. Bacteria use chemotaxis receptors to perceive environmental factors. Here, the authors show that mutations in a chemotaxis receptor can invert the sensory response, e.g. from attractant to repellent, and use these mutants to map regions that enable the receptor to sense multiple environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyu Bi
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Fan Jin
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, 35043, Germany.
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16
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Bhuyan T, Bhattacharjee M, Singh AK, Ghosh SS, Bandyopadhyay D. Boolean-chemotaxis of logibots deciphering the motions of self-propelling microorganisms. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:3182-3191. [PMID: 29645047 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm00132d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate the feasibility of a self-propelling mushroom motor, namely a 'logibot', as a functional unit for the construction of a host of optimized binary logic gates. Emulating the chemokinesis of unicellular prokaryotes or eukaryotes, the logibots made stimuli responsive conditional movements at varied speeds towards a pair of acid-alkali triggers. A series of integrative logic operations and cascaded logic circuits, namely, AND, NAND, NOT, OR, NOR, and NIMPLY, have been constructed employing the decisive chemotactic migrations of the logibot in the presence of the pH gradient established by the sole or coupled effects of acid (HCl-catalase) and alkali (NaOH) drips inside a peroxide bath. The imposed acid and/or alkali triggers across the logibots were realized as inputs while the logic gates were functionally reconfigured to several operational modes by varying the pH of the acid-alkali inputs. The self-propelling logibot could rapidly sense the external stimuli, decide, and act on the basis of intensities of the pH triggers. The impulsive responses of the logibots towards and away from the external acid-alkali stimuli were interpreted as the potential outputs of the logic gates. The external stimuli responsive self-propulsion of the logibots following different logic gates and circuits can not only be an eco-friendly alternative to the silicon-based computing operations but also be a promising strategy for the development of intelligent pH-responsive drug delivery devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamanna Bhuyan
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam-781039, India.
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17
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Bi S, Sourjik V. Stimulus sensing and signal processing in bacterial chemotaxis. Curr Opin Microbiol 2018; 45:22-29. [PMID: 29459288 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Motile bacteria use chemotaxis to migrate towards environments that are favorable for growth and survival. The signaling pathway that mediates this behavior is largely conserved among prokaryotes, with Escherichia coli chemotaxis system being one of the simplest and the best studied. At the core of this pathway are the arrays of clustered chemoreceptors that detect, amplify and integrate various stimuli. Recent work provided deeper understanding of spatial organization and signal processing by these clusters and uncovered the variety of sensory mechanisms used to detect environmental stimuli. Moreover, studies of bacteria with different lifestyles have led to new insights into the diversity and evolutionary conservation of the chemotaxis pathway, as well as the physiological relevance of chemotactic behavior in different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyu Bi
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 16, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 16, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
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18
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Abstract
Although the mechanism of bacterial chemotaxis has been extensively studied in enteric bacteria, the hunt for novel and atypical chemoeffectors (in enterics and distantly-related species alike) has necessitated the modification of classic chemotaxis assays to deal with recalcitrant and potentially toxic chemicals. Here, we describe detailed protocols for the quantitative and qualitative assessment of chemotaxis responses that are categorized into short-term direct population response assays and long-term metabolism-based assays that can be used to identify novel chemoeffector molecules and the specific chemoreceptors involved. We emphasize the importance of behavior-based assays to verify the biochemical and physiological relevance of newly identified chemoeffector-receptor pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Parales
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jayna L Ditty
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, USA.
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19
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Abstract
Chemoreceptors in bacteria detect a variety of signals and feed this information into chemosensory pathways that represent a major mode of signal transduction. The five chemoreceptors from Escherichia coli have served as traditional models in the study of this protein family. Genome analyses revealed that many bacteria contain much larger numbers of chemoreceptors with broader sensory capabilities. Chemoreceptors differ in topology, sensing mode, cellular location, and, above all, the type of ligand binding domain (LBD). Here, we highlight LBD diversity using well-established and emerging model organisms as well as genomic surveys. Nearly a hundred different types of protein domains that are found in chemoreceptor sequences are known or predicted LBDs, but only a few of them are ubiquitous. LBDs of the same class recognize different ligands, and conversely, the same ligand can be recognized by structurally different LBDs; however, recent studies began to reveal common characteristics in signal-LBD relationships. Although signals can stimulate chemoreceptors in a variety of different ways, diverse LBDs appear to employ a universal transmembrane signaling mechanism. Current and future studies aim to establish relationships between LBD types, the nature of signals that they recognize, and the mechanisms of signal recognition and transduction.
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20
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Hughes JG, Zhang X, Parales JV, Ditty JL, Parales RE. Pseudomonas putida F1 uses energy taxis to sense hydroxycinnamic acids. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2017; 163:1490-1501. [PMID: 28954643 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Soil bacteria such as pseudomonads are widely studied due to their diverse metabolic capabilities, particularly the ability to degrade both naturally occurring and xenobiotic aromatic compounds. Chemotaxis, the directed movement of cells in response to chemical gradients, is common in motile soil bacteria and the wide range of chemicals detected often mirrors the metabolic diversity observed. Pseudomonas putida F1 is a soil isolate capable of chemotaxis toward, and degradation of, numerous aromatic compounds. We showed that P. putida F1 is capable of degrading members of a class of naturally occurring aromatic compounds known as hydroxycinnamic acids, which are components of lignin and are ubiquitous in the soil environment. We also demonstrated the ability of P. putida F1 to sense three hydroxycinnamic acids: p-coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acids. The chemotaxis response to hydroxycinnamic acids was induced during growth in the presence of hydroxycinnamic acids and was negatively regulated by HcaR, the repressor of the hydroxycinnamic acid catabolic genes. Chemotaxis to the three hydroxycinnamic acids was dependent on catabolism, as a mutant lacking the gene encoding feruloyl-CoA synthetase (Fcs), which catalyzes the first step in hydroxycinnamic acid degradation, was unable to respond chemotactically toward p-coumaric, caffeic, or ferulic acids. We tested whether an energy taxis mutant could detect hydroxycinnamic acids and determined that hydroxycinnamic acid sensing is mediated by the energy taxis receptor Aer2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Hughes
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Xiangsheng Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.,Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, PR China
| | - Juanito V Parales
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jayna L Ditty
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of St Thomas, St Paul, MN, USA
| | - Rebecca E Parales
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
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21
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Okada E, Nisenbaum M, Martínez Arca J, Murialdo SE. Chemotaxis detection towards chlorophenols using video processing analysis. J Microbiol Methods 2017; 142:15-19. [PMID: 28844722 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2017.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
To our knowledge, this communication is the first report of chemotaxis towards chlorophenols by any bacteria. We used a recently published method based on the agarose in-plug assay combined with video processing analysis and we also present a new index of bacterial mean speed for these assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Okada
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Nisenbaum
- Grupo de Ingeniería Bioquímica (GIB), Departamento de Ingeniería Química y en Alimentos, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Juan B Justo 4302, Mar del Plata y CONICET, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - J Martínez Arca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas en Electrónica, Laboratorio de Bioingeniería, Departamento de Ingeniería Electrónica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata y CONICET, Juan B Justo 4302, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S E Murialdo
- Grupo de Ingeniería Bioquímica (GIB), Departamento de Ingeniería Química y en Alimentos, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Juan B Justo 4302, Mar del Plata y La Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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22
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Bi S, Pollard AM, Yang Y, Jin F, Sourjik V. Engineering Hybrid Chemotaxis Receptors in Bacteria. ACS Synth Biol 2016; 5:989-1001. [PMID: 27285081 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.6b00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Most bacteria use transmembrane sensors to detect a wide range of environmental stimuli. A large class of such sensors are the chemotaxis receptors used by motile bacteria to follow environmental chemical gradients. In Escherichia coli, chemotaxis receptors are known to mediate highly sensitive responses to ligands, making them potentially useful for biosensory applications. However, with only four ligand-binding chemotaxis receptors, the natural ligand spectrum of E. coli is limited. The design of novel chemoreceptors to extend the sensing capabilities of E. coli is therefore a critical aspect of chemotaxis-based biosensor development. One path for novel sensor design is to harvest the large natural diversity of chemosensory functions found in bacteria by creating hybrids that have the signaling domain from E. coli chemotaxis receptors and sensory domains from other species. In this work, we demonstrate that the E. coli receptor Tar can be successfully combined with most typical sensory domains found in chemotaxis receptors and in evolutionary-related two-component histidine kinases. We show that such functional hybrids can be generated using several different fusion points. Our work further illustrates how hybrid receptors could be used to quantitatively characterize ligand specificity of chemotaxis receptors and histidine kinases using standardized assays in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyu Bi
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, Germany
| | - Abiola M. Pollard
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, Germany
| | - Yiling Yang
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, Germany
| | - Fan Jin
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, Germany
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23
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López-Farfán D, Reyes-Darias JA, Krell T. The expression of many chemoreceptor genes depends on the cognate chemoeffector as well as on the growth medium and phase. Curr Genet 2016; 63:457-470. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-016-0646-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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24
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Huang Z, Ni B, Jiang CY, Wu YF, He YZ, Parales RE, Liu SJ. Direct sensing and signal transduction during bacterial chemotaxis toward aromatic compounds inComamonas testosteroni. Mol Microbiol 2016; 101:224-37. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center, Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Bin Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center, Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
| | - Cheng-Ying Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center, Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
- IMCAS-RCEECAS Joint Laboratory for Environmental Microbial Technology; Beijing China
| | - Yu-Fan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center, Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Yun-Zhe He
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center, Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Rebecca E. Parales
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics; University of California; Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Shuang-Jiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center, Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
- IMCAS-RCEECAS Joint Laboratory for Environmental Microbial Technology; Beijing China
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25
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Jansari VH, Potharla VY, Riddell GT, Bardy SL. Twitching motility and cAMP levels: signal transduction through a single methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw119. [PMID: 27190147 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chp chemosensory system regulates twitching motility, intracellular adenosine 3('') 5(')-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels and is postulated to be involved in directional twitching towards phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Because PilJ is the only methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP) identified in the Chp system, we determined the role of PilJ in mediating signal transduction for the distinct outputs of this system. Mutants that lack the periplasmic domain of PilJ (pilJΔ74-273) showed lower levels of cAMP but retained directional twitching towards PE. While initial studies revealed reduced twitching motility by PilJΔ74-273, this was due to decreased cAMP levels. Our data illustrate the importance of the periplasmic domain of PilJ in regulating cAMP. This is the first time a defined domain within PilJ has been identified as having a distinct role in signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibhuti H Jansari
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Vishwakanth Y Potharla
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Geoff T Riddell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Sonia L Bardy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
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26
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Corral-Lugo A, De la Torre J, Matilla MA, Fernández M, Morel B, Espinosa-Urgel M, Krell T. Assessment of the contribution of chemoreceptor-based signalling to biofilm formation. Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:3355-3372. [PMID: 26662997 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Although it is well established that one- and two-component regulatory systems participate in regulating biofilm formation, there also exists evidence suggesting that chemosensory pathways are also involved. However, little information exists about which chemoreceptors and signals modulate this process. Here we report the generation of the complete set of chemoreceptor mutants of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and the identification of four mutants with significantly altered biofilm phenotypes. These receptors are a WspA homologue of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, previously identified to control biofilm formation by regulating c-di-GMP levels, and three uncharacterized chemoreceptors. One of these receptors, named McpU, was found to mediate chemotaxis towards different polyamines. The functional annotation of McpU was initiated by high-throughput thermal shift assays of the receptor ligand binding domain (LBD). Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that McpU-LBD specifically binds putrescine, cadaverine and spermidine, indicating that McpU represents a novel chemoreceptor type. Another uncharacterized receptor, named McpA, specifically binds 12 different proteinogenic amino acids and mediates chemotaxis towards these compounds. We also show that mutants in McpU and WspA-Pp have a significantly reduced ability to colonize plant roots. Data agree with other reports showing that polyamines are signal molecules involved in the regulation of bacteria-plant communication and biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Corral-Lugo
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Prof. Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Jesús De la Torre
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Prof. Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel A Matilla
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Prof. Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Matilde Fernández
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Prof. Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Bertrand Morel
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Prof. Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Espinosa-Urgel
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Prof. Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Prof. Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain.
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27
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Reyes-Darias J, García V, Rico-Jiménez M, Corral-Lugo A, Krell T. Identification and Characterization of Bacterial Chemoreceptors Using Quantitative Capillary and Gradient Plate Chemotaxis Assays. Bio Protoc 2016. [DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.1789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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28
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Martín-Mora D, Reyes-Darias JA, Ortega Á, Corral-Lugo A, Matilla MA, Krell T. McpQ is a specific citrate chemoreceptor that responds preferentially to citrate/metal ion complexes. Environ Microbiol 2015; 18:3284-3295. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David Martín-Mora
- Department of Environmental Protection; Estación Experimental del Zaidín; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; C/ Prof. Albareda, 1 18008 Granada Spain
| | - Jose-Antonio Reyes-Darias
- Department of Environmental Protection; Estación Experimental del Zaidín; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; C/ Prof. Albareda, 1 18008 Granada Spain
| | - Álvaro Ortega
- Department of Environmental Protection; Estación Experimental del Zaidín; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; C/ Prof. Albareda, 1 18008 Granada Spain
| | - Andrés Corral-Lugo
- Department of Environmental Protection; Estación Experimental del Zaidín; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; C/ Prof. Albareda, 1 18008 Granada Spain
| | - Miguel A. Matilla
- Department of Environmental Protection; Estación Experimental del Zaidín; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; C/ Prof. Albareda, 1 18008 Granada Spain
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection; Estación Experimental del Zaidín; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; C/ Prof. Albareda, 1 18008 Granada Spain
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29
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Identification of a Chemoreceptor for C2 and C3 Carboxylic Acids. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:5449-57. [PMID: 26048936 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01529-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemoreceptors are at the beginnings of chemosensory signaling cascades that mediate chemotaxis. Most bacterial chemoreceptors are functionally unannotated and are characterized by a diversity in the structure of their ligand binding domains (LBDs). The data available indicate that there are two major chemoreceptor families at the functional level, namely, those that respond to amino acids or to Krebs cycle intermediates. Since pseudomonads show chemotaxis to many different compounds and possess different types of chemoreceptors, they are model organisms to establish relationships between chemoreceptor structure and function. Here, we identify PP2861 (termed McpP) of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 as a chemoreceptor with a novel ligand profile. We show that the recombinant McpP LBD recognizes acetate, pyruvate, propionate, and l-lactate, with KD (equilibrium dissociation constant) values ranging from 34 to 107 μM. Deletion of the mcpP gene resulted in a dramatic reduction in chemotaxis toward these ligands, and complementation restored a native-like phenotype, indicating that McpP is the major chemoreceptor for these compounds. McpP has a CACHE-type LBD, and we present data indicating that CACHE-containing chemoreceptors of other species also mediate taxis to C2 and C3 carboxylic acids. In addition, the LBD of NbaY of Pseudomonas fluorescens, an McpP homologue mediating chemotaxis to 2-nitrobenzoate, bound neither nitrobenzoates nor the McpP ligands. This work provides further insight into receptor structure-function relationships and will be helpful to annotate chemoreceptors of other bacteria.
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30
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Parales RE, Luu RA, Hughes JG, Ditty JL. Bacterial chemotaxis to xenobiotic chemicals and naturally-occurring analogs. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015; 33:318-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 03/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Reyes-Darias JA, Yang Y, Sourjik V, Krell T. Correlation between signal input and output in PctA and PctB amino acid chemoreceptor ofPseudomonas aeruginosa. Mol Microbiol 2015; 96:513-25. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- José A. Reyes-Darias
- Department of Environmental Protection; Estación Experimental del Zaidín; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; C/ Prof. Albareda, 1 Granada 18008 Spain
| | - Yiling Yang
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Research Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO); Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 10 Marburg D-35043 Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Research Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO); Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 10 Marburg D-35043 Germany
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection; Estación Experimental del Zaidín; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; C/ Prof. Albareda, 1 Granada 18008 Spain
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Bi S, Lai L. Bacterial chemoreceptors and chemoeffectors. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:691-708. [PMID: 25374297 PMCID: PMC11113376 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1770-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 10/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria use chemotaxis signaling pathways to sense environmental changes. Escherichia coli chemotaxis system represents an ideal model that illustrates fundamental principles of biological signaling processes. Chemoreceptors are crucial signaling proteins that mediate taxis toward a wide range of chemoeffectors. Recently, in deep study of the biochemical and structural features of chemoreceptors, the organization of higher-order clusters in native cells, and the signal transduction mechanisms related to the on-off signal output provides us with general insights to understand how chemotaxis performs high sensitivity, precise adaptation, signal amplification, and wide dynamic range. Along with the increasing knowledge, bacterial chemoreceptors can be engineered to sense novel chemoeffectors, which has extensive applications in therapeutics and industry. Here we mainly review recent advances in the E. coli chemotaxis system involving structure and organization of chemoreceptors, discovery, design, and characterization of chemoeffectors, and signal recognition and transduction mechanisms. Possible strategies for changing the specificity of bacterial chemoreceptors to sense novel chemoeffectors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyu Bi
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Luhua Lai
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
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Abstract
Pseudomonads sense changes in the concentration of chemicals in their environment and exhibit a behavioral response mediated by flagella or pili coupled with a chemosensory system. The two known chemotaxis pathways, a flagella-mediated pathway and a putative pili-mediated system, are described in this review. Pseudomonas shows chemotaxis response toward a wide range of chemicals, and this review includes a summary of them organized by chemical structure. The assays used to measure positive and negative chemotaxis swimming and twitching Pseudomonas as well as improvements to those assays and new assays are also described. This review demonstrates that there is ample research and intellectual space for future investigators to elucidate the role of chemotaxis in important processes such as pathogenesis, bioremediation, and the bioprotection of plants and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca E Parales
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection, CSIC, Estacion Experimental del Zaidin, Granada, Spain
| | - Jane E Hill
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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Hu B, Tu Y. Precision sensing by two opposing gradient sensors: how does Escherichia coli find its preferred pH level? Biophys J 2014; 105:276-85. [PMID: 23823247 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.04.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Revised: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
It is essential for bacteria to find optimal conditions for their growth and survival. The optimal levels of certain environmental factors (such as pH and temperature) often correspond to some intermediate points of the respective gradients. This requires the ability of bacteria to navigate from both directions toward the optimum location and is distinct from the conventional unidirectional chemotactic strategy. Remarkably, Escherichia coli cells can perform such a precision sensing task in pH taxis by using the same chemotaxis machinery, but with opposite pH responses from two different chemoreceptors (Tar and Tsr). To understand bacterial pH sensing, we developed an Ising-type model for a mixed cluster of opposing receptors based on the push-pull mechanism. Our model can quantitatively explain experimental observations in pH taxis for various mutants and wild-type cells. We show how the preferred pH level depends on the relative abundance of the competing sensors and how the sensory activity regulates the behavioral response. Our model allows us to make quantitative predictions on signal integration of pH and chemoattractant stimuli. Our study reveals two general conditions and a robust push-pull scheme for precision sensing, which should be applicable in other adaptive sensory systems with opposing gradient sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Hu
- IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York, USA
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Banerjee P, Kintzios S, Prabhakarpandian B. Biotoxin detection using cell-based sensors. Toxins (Basel) 2013; 5:2366-83. [PMID: 24335754 PMCID: PMC3873691 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5122366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-based biosensors (CBBs) utilize the principles of cell-based assays (CBAs) by employing living cells for detection of different analytes from environment, food, clinical, or other sources. For toxin detection, CBBs are emerging as unique alternatives to other analytical methods. The main advantage of using CBBs for probing biotoxins and toxic agents is that CBBs respond to the toxic exposures in the manner related to actual physiologic responses of the vulnerable subjects. The results obtained from CBBs are based on the toxin-cell interactions, and therefore, reveal functional information (such as mode of action, toxic potency, bioavailability, target tissue or organ, etc.) about the toxin. CBBs incorporate both prokaryotic (bacteria) and eukaryotic (yeast, invertebrate and vertebrate) cells. To create CBB devices, living cells are directly integrated onto the biosensor platform. The sensors report the cellular responses upon exposures to toxins and the resulting cellular signals are transduced by secondary transducers generating optical or electrical signals outputs followed by appropriate read-outs. Examples of the layout and operation of cellular biosensors for detection of selected biotoxins are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratik Banerjee
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, 338 Robison Hall, 3825 Desoto Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Spyridon Kintzios
- School of Food Science, Biotechnology and Development, Faculty of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece; E-Mail:
| | - Balabhaskar Prabhakarpandian
- Bioengineering Laboratory Core, Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering, CFD Research Corporation, 701 McMillian Way NW, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA; E-Mail:
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Taxis of Pseudomonas putida F1 toward phenylacetic acid is mediated by the energy taxis receptor Aer2. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:2416-23. [PMID: 23377939 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03895-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The phenylacetic acid (PAA) degradation pathway is a widely distributed funneling pathway for the catabolism of aromatic compounds, including the environmental pollutants styrene and ethylbenzene. However, bacterial chemotaxis to PAA has not been studied. The chemotactic strain Pseudomonas putida F1 has the ability to utilize PAA as a sole carbon and energy source. We identified a putative PAA degradation gene cluster (paa) in P. putida F1 and demonstrated that PAA serves as a chemoattractant. The chemotactic response was induced during growth with PAA and was dependent on PAA metabolism. A functional cheA gene was required for the response, indicating that PAA is sensed through the conserved chemotaxis signal transduction system. A P. putida F1 mutant lacking the energy taxis receptor Aer2 was deficient in PAA taxis, indicating that Aer2 is responsible for mediating the response to PAA. The requirement for metabolism and the role of Aer2 in the response indicate that P. putida F1 uses energy taxis to detect PAA. We also revealed that PAA is an attractant for Escherichia coli; however, a mutant lacking a functional Aer energy receptor had a wild-type response to PAA in swim plate assays, suggesting that PAA is detected through a different mechanism in E. coli. The role of Aer2 as an energy taxis receptor provides the potential to sense a broad range of aromatic growth substrates as chemoattractants. Since chemotaxis has been shown to enhance the biodegradation of toxic pollutants, the ability to sense PAA gradients may have implications for the bioremediation of aromatic hydrocarbons that are degraded via the PAA pathway.
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Yang Y, Sourjik V. Opposite responses by different chemoreceptors set a tunable preference point inEscherichia colipH taxis. Mol Microbiol 2012; 86:1482-9. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yiling Yang
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg; DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance; Im Neuenheimer Feld 282; 69120; Heidelberg; Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg; DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance; Im Neuenheimer Feld 282; 69120; Heidelberg; Germany
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