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Sheng Q, Liu A, Yang P, Chen Z, Wang P, Sun H, Li C, McMinn A, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Su H, Chen X, Zhang Y. The FilZ Protein Contains a Single PilZ Domain and Facilitates the Swarming Motility of Pseudoalteromonas sp. SM9913. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1566. [PMID: 37375068 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Swarming regulation is complicated in flagellated bacteria, especially those possessing dual flagellar systems. It remains unclear whether and how the movement of the constitutive polar flagellum is regulated during swarming motility of these bacteria. Here, we report the downregulation of polar flagellar motility by the c-di-GMP effector FilZ in the marine sedimentary bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. SM9913. Strain SM9913 possesses two flagellar systems, and filZ is located in the lateral flagellar gene cluster. The function of FilZ is negatively controlled by intracellular c-di-GMP. Swarming in strain SM9913 consists of three periods. Deletion and overexpression of filZ revealed that, during the period when strain SM9913 expands quickly, FilZ facilitates swarming. In vitro pull-down and bacterial two-hybrid assays suggested that, in the absence of c-di-GMP, FilZ interacts with the CheW homolog A2230, which may be involved in the chemotactic signal transduction pathway to the polar flagellar motor protein FliMp, to interfere with polar flagellar motility. When bound to c-di-GMP, FilZ loses its ability to interact with A2230. Bioinformatic investigation indicated that filZ-like genes are present in many bacteria with dual flagellar systems. Our findings demonstrate a novel mode of regulation of bacterial swarming motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Ang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Peiling Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Zhuowei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Haining Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Chunyang Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Andrew McMinn
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia
| | - Yin Chen
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Yuzhong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Hainan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xiulan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yuqiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
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BarA/UvrY differentially regulates prodigiosin biosynthesis and swarming motility in Serratia marcescens FS14. Res Microbiol 2023; 174:104010. [PMID: 36410584 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2022.104010] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BarA/UvrY, a two-component system and global regulator that controls expression of more than a hundred of genes involved in virulence, motility, biofilm formation, and central carbon metabolism under various stress conditions. In this study, we investigated the function of BarA/UvrY system in Serratia marcescens FS14. The disruption of barA or/and uvrY results in the yield increase of secondary metabolite prodigiosin. We further demonstrated that BarA/UvrY system represses prodigiosin production by inhibiting the transcription level of pig gene cluster with direct binding to the pigA promoter. In addition, deletion of barA or/and uvrY abolished the swarming motility of FS14, but not the swimming motility. We revealed that BarA/UvrY activates swarming through directly upregulating the expression of the biosurfactant synthesis gene swrW rather than flagella system. We also observed that BarA/UvrY positively regulates the resistance to H2O2 same as in Escherichia coli highlighting the importance of BarA/UvrY on hydrogen peroxide resistance. Our results demonstrated that the BarA/UvrY system differentially regulates the biosynthesis of the secondary metabolite prodigiosin and swarming motility in S. marcescens FS14. Comparison of our results with those observed for Serratia sp. 39006 suggests that BarA/UvrY's role in regulation of secondary metabolite production is different among Serratia species.
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Zhu Y, Dou Q, Du L, Wang Y. QseB/QseC: a two-component system globally regulating bacterial behaviors. Trends Microbiol 2023:S0966-842X(23)00046-X. [PMID: 36849330 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
QseB/QseC is a two-component system that is involved in the regulation of multiple bacterial behaviors by regulating quorum sensing, bacterial pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance. Thus, QseB/QseC could provide a target for new antibiotic development. Recently, QseB/QseC has been found to confer survival advantages to environmental bacteria under stress conditions. The molecular mechanistic understanding of QseB/QseC has become an active area of research and revealed some emerging themes, including a deeper understanding of QseB/QseC regulation in different pathogens and environmental bacteria, the functional difference of QseB/QseC among species, and the possibility of analyzing QseB/QseC evolution. Here, we discuss the progression of QseB/QseC studies and describe several unresolved issues and future directions. Resolving these issues is among the challenges of future QseB/QseC studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Zhu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qin Dou
- College of Marine Life Sciences, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Liangcheng Du
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
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4
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Wölflingseder M, Tutz S, Fengler VH, Schild S, Reidl J. Regulatory Interplay of RpoS and RssB Controls Motility and Colonization in Vibrio cholerae. Int J Med Microbiol 2022; 312:151555. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2022.151555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Gangadharappa BS, Rajashekarappa S, Sathe G. Proteomic profiling of Serratia marcescens by high-resolution mass spectrometry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 10:123-135. [PMID: 32363156 PMCID: PMC7186543 DOI: 10.34172/bi.2020.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Serratia marcescens, an opportunistic human pathogen, is reported as an important cause of nosocomial infection and outbreaks. Although the genome of S. marcescens (ATCC 13880) was completely sequenced by 2014, there are no studies on the proteomic profile of the organism. The objective of the present study is to analyze the protein profile of S. marcescens (ATCC 13880) using a high resolution mass spectrometry (MS). Methods: Serratia marcescens ATCC 13880 strain was grown in Luria-Bertani broth and the protein extracted was subjected to trypsin digestion, followed by basic reverse phase liquid chromatography fractionation. The peptide fractions were then analysed using Orbitrap Fusion Mass Spectrometry and the raw MS data were processed in Proteome Discoverer software. Results: The proteomic analysis identified 15 009 unique peptides mapping to 2541 unique protein groups, which corresponds to approximately 54% of the computationally predicted protein-coding genes. Bioinformatic analysis of these identified proteins showed their involvement in biological processes such as cell wall organization, chaperone-mediated protein folding and ATP binding. Pathway analysis revealed that some of these proteins are associated with bacterial chemotaxis and beta-lactam resistance pathway. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first high-throughput proteomics study of S. marcescens (ATCC 13880). These novel observations provide a crucial baseline molecular profile of the S. marcescens proteome which will prove to be helpful for the future research in understanding the host-pathogen interactions during infection, elucidating the mechanism of multidrug resistance, and developing novel diagnostic markers or vaccine for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Somalapura Gangadharappa
- Department of Biotechnology, M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bengaluru-560054, Karnataka, India.,Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi-590018, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Gajanan Sathe
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore-560066, Karnataka, India.,Center for Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore-560029, Karnataka, India
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Cross-talk between bacterial two-component systems drives stepwise regulation of flagellar biosynthesis in swarming development. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 489:70-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.05.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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7
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Lin CS, Tsai YH, Chang CJ, Tseng SF, Wu TR, Lu CC, Wu TS, Lu JJ, Horng JT, Martel J, Ojcius DM, Lai HC, Young JD. An iron detection system determines bacterial swarming initiation and biofilm formation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36747. [PMID: 27845335 PMCID: PMC5109203 DOI: 10.1038/srep36747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron availability affects swarming and biofilm formation in various bacterial species. However, how bacteria sense iron and coordinate swarming and biofilm formation remains unclear. Using Serratia marcescens as a model organism, we identify here a stage-specific iron-regulatory machinery comprising a two-component system (TCS) and the TCS-regulated iron chelator 2-isocyano-6,7-dihydroxycoumarin (ICDH-Coumarin) that directly senses and modulates environmental ferric iron (Fe3+) availability to determine swarming initiation and biofilm formation. We demonstrate that the two-component system RssA-RssB (RssAB) directly senses environmental ferric iron (Fe3+) and transcriptionally modulates biosynthesis of flagella and the iron chelator ICDH-Coumarin whose production requires the pvc cluster. Addition of Fe3+, or loss of ICDH-Coumarin due to pvc deletion results in prolonged RssAB signaling activation, leading to delayed swarming initiation and increased biofilm formation. We further show that ICDH-Coumarin is able to chelate Fe3+ to switch off RssAB signaling, triggering swarming initiation and biofilm reduction. Our findings reveal a novel cellular system that senses iron levels to regulate bacterial surface lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Sheng Lin
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Huan Tsai
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chih-Jung Chang
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shun-Fu Tseng
- Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Tsung-Ru Wu
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chia-Chen Lu
- Department of Respiratory Therapy, Fu Jen University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ting-Shu Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jang-Jih Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jim-Tong Horng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jan Martel
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - David M. Ojcius
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of the Pacific, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Hsin-Chih Lai
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Research Center for Industry of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Graduate Institute of Health Industry Technology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - John D. Young
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, United States of America
- Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China
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8
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Shu HY, Lin LC, Lin TK, Chen HP, Yang HH, Peng KC, Lin GH. Transcriptional regulation of the iac locus from Acinetobacter baumannii by the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2015; 107:1237-47. [PMID: 25726082 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-015-0417-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The iac locus is involved in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) catabolism in Acinetobacter baumannii. Nine structural genes of iac are transcribed in the same direction, whereas iacR, which encodes a MarR-type transcriptional regulator, is transcribed in the opposite direction. The IacA protein, which is encoded by the second structural gene of the iac locus, is expressed in an IAA-dependent manner. Here, we characterized gene expression from this locus in wild type A. baumannii and in an iacR mutant; this revealed that the iacH promoter is negatively regulated by IacR. The transcriptional site of iacH was determined by using 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends; one IacR-binding site was identified between positions -35 and +28 of the iacH promoter. Sequence analysis and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that recombinant IacR binds specifically to a sequence with dyad symmetry in the iacR-iacH overlapping promoters in the absence of IAA. In addition, a two-plasmid expression system in Escherichia coli showed that IAA probably serves as a ligand that binds to IacR and releases it from the iacH promoter, thereby allowing RNA polymerase to transcribe iac. Thus, iac is expressed in order to promote IAA degradation, whereas free IacR is required for iac repression. We conclude that IacR serves as a key regulator of IAA degradation in A. baumannii in the rhizosphere. These results provide new insights into the possible role of A. baumannii in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Yu Shu
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, 711, Taiwan
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9
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ManA is regulated by RssAB signaling and promotes motility in Serratia marcescens. Res Microbiol 2014; 165:21-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2013.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 09/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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10
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Tsai YH, Wei JR, Lin CS, Chen PH, Huang S, Lin YC, Wei CF, Lu CC, Lai HC. RssAB signaling coordinates early development of surface multicellularity in Serratia marcescens. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24154. [PMID: 21887380 PMCID: PMC3162612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria can coordinate several multicellular behaviors in response to environmental changes. Among these, swarming and biofilm formation have attracted significant attention for their correlation with bacterial pathogenicity. However, little is known about when and where the signaling occurs to trigger either swarming or biofilm formation. We have previously identified an RssAB two-component system involved in the regulation of swarming motility and biofilm formation in Serratia marcescens. Here we monitored the RssAB signaling status within single cells by tracing the location of the translational fusion protein EGFP-RssB following development of swarming or biofilm formation. RssAB signaling is specifically activated before surface migration in swarming development and during the early stage of biofilm formation. The activation results in the release of RssB from its cognate inner membrane sensor kinase, RssA, to the cytoplasm where the downstream gene promoters are located. Such dynamic localization of RssB requires phosphorylation of this regulator. By revealing the temporal activation of RssAB signaling following development of surface multicellular behavior, our findings contribute to an improved understanding of how bacteria coordinate their lifestyle on a surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Huan Tsai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jun-Rong Wei
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Chuan-Sheng Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chang Gung University, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Po-Han Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Stella Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Ching Lin
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, and Research Center for Pathogenic Bacteria, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chia-Fong Wei
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, and Research Center for Pathogenic Bacteria, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chia-Chen Lu
- Department of Respiratory Therapy, Fu Jen Catholic University, Sinjhuang, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hsin-Chih Lai
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, and Research Center for Pathogenic Bacteria, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Serratia marcescens has long been recognized as an important opportunistic pathogen, but the underlying pathogenesis mechanism is not completely clear. Here, we report a key pathogenesis pathway in S. marcescens comprising the RssAB two-component system and its downstream elements, FlhDC and the dominant virulence factor hemolysin ShlBA. Expression of shlBA is under the positive control of FlhDC, which is repressed by RssAB signaling. At 37°C, functional RssAB inhibits swarming, represses hemolysin production, and promotes S. marcescens biofilm formation. In comparison, when rssBA is deleted, S. marcescens displays aberrant multicellularity favoring motile swarming with unbridled hemolysin production. Cellular and animal infection models further demonstrate that loss of rssBA transforms this opportunistic pathogen into hypervirulent phenotypes, leading to extensive inflammatory responses coupled with destructive and systemic infection. Hemolysin production is essential in this context. Collectively, a major virulence regulatory pathway is identified in S. marcescens.
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Horng YT, Chang KC, Liu YN, Lai HC, Soo PC. The RssB/RssA two-component system regulates biosynthesis of the tripyrrole antibiotic, prodigiosin, in Serratia marcescens. Int J Med Microbiol 2010; 300:304-12. [PMID: 20347390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2010.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2009] [Revised: 01/15/2010] [Accepted: 01/31/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Serratia marcescens CH-1 produces a red, cell-associated pigment, prodigiosin, synthesized by enzymes encoded in the pig operon. The underlying regulatory mechanism, especially its relationship with the RssAB two-component system signaling, remained uncharacterized. Here, we show that phosphorylated RssB (RssB-P) directly binds to the promoter region of the pig operon (pigA promoter), as observed using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Furthermore, we identify the RssB-P binding site located downstream of the -10 and -35 regions in pigA using a DNase I footprinting assay. A compilation of the RssB-P binding sites in flhDC, rssB and pigA promoter regions reveals the presence of a conserved core sequence, GAGATTTTAGCTAAATTAATBTTT (B=C, G, or T), which we believe is the RssB binding sequence. Site-specific mutation of conserved nucleotides within the conserved RssB binding sequence in the pigA promoter region leads to absence of retardation in the presence of RssB-P in vitro and elevated transcription of pigA in vivo. These data suggest that RssAB signaling negatively regulates prodigiosin production, and such inhibition is mediated through direct and specific repression of transcriptional activity of the pig operon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Tze Horng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University, College of Medicine, 701 Section 3, Zhongyang Road, Hualien 97004, Taiwan, ROC
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13
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A potential acyltransferase regulates swarming in Serratia marcescens. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 371:462-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.04.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2008] [Accepted: 04/17/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Williamson NR, Fineran PC, Ogawa W, Woodley LR, Salmond GPC. Integrated regulation involving quorum sensing, a two-component system, a GGDEF/EAL domain protein and a post-transcriptional regulator controls swarming and RhlA-dependent surfactant biosynthesis in Serratia. Environ Microbiol 2008; 10:1202-17. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2007.01536.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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15
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Regulation of swarming motility and flhDC(Sm) expression by RssAB signaling in Serratia marcescens. J Bacteriol 2008; 190:2496-504. [PMID: 18223092 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01670-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Serratia marcescens cells swarm at 30 degrees C but not at 37 degrees C, and the underlying mechanism is not characterized. Our previous studies had shown that a temperature upshift from 30 to 37 degrees C reduced the expression levels of flhDC(Sm) and hag(Sm) in S. marcescens CH-1. Mutation in rssA or rssB, cognate genes that comprise a two-component system, also resulted in precocious swarming phenotypes at 37 degrees C. To further characterize the underlying mechanism, in the present study, we report that expression of flhDC(Sm) and synthesis of flagella are significantly increased in the rssA mutant strain at 37 degrees C. Primer extension analysis for determination of the transcriptional start site(s) of flhDC(Sm) revealed two transcriptional start sites, P1 and P2, in S. marcescens CH-1. Characterization of the phosphorylated RssB (RssB approximately P) binding site by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed direct interaction of RssB approximately P, but not unphosphorylated RssB [RssB(D51E)], with the P2 promoter region. A DNase I footprinting assay using a capillary electrophoresis approach further determined that the RssB approximately P binding site is located between base pair positions -341 and -364 from the translation start codon ATG in the flhDC(Sm) promoter region. The binding site overlaps with the P2 "-35" promoter region. A modified chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was subsequently performed to confirm that RssB-P binds to the flhDC(Sm) promoter region in vivo. In conclusion, our results indicated that activated RssA-RssB signaling directly inhibits flhDC(Sm) promoter activity at 37 degrees C. This inhibitory effect was comparatively alleviated at 30 degrees C. This finding might explain, at least in part, the phenomenon of inhibition of S. marcescens swarming at 37 degrees C.
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Wei JR, Soo PC, Horng YT, Hsieh SC, Tsai YH, Swift S, Withers H, Williams P, Lai HC. Regulatory roles of spnT, a novel gene located within transposon TnTIR. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 348:1038-46. [PMID: 16899219 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.07.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2006] [Accepted: 07/25/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The transposon TnTIR contains spnIR quorum-sensing system regulating sliding motility and the production of nuclease, biosurfactant, and prodigiosin in Serratia marcescens. Within TnTIR, a gene named spnT is upstream of and co-transcribed with spnI. SpnT is a cytoplasmic protein and its level peaks during early stationary phase. spnT over-expression resulted in inhibition of sliding motility and synthesis of prodigiosin, and biosurfactant similar to spnR. spnT but not spnR over-expression induced cell elongation and aberrant DNA replication in S. marcescens and Escherichia coli strains. In comparison with wild-type E. coli strain, over-expression of spnT in an E. coli priA and dnaC double-mutant strain did not lead to the aberrant cell morphology phenotypes, suggesting SpnT may act through the recombination-dependent DNA replication system. As spnT over-expression inhibited swarming but not swimming motility, SpnT may indirectly function as a negative regulator of surface-dependent migration and secondary metabolite production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Rong Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Wei JR, Lai HC. N-Acylhomoserine lactone-dependent cell-to-cell communication and social behavior in the genus Serratia. Int J Med Microbiol 2006; 296:117-24. [PMID: 16483841 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2006.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the genus Serratia are increasingly responsible for nosocomial infections, the treatment of which may be complicated by the appearance of multi-antibiotic-resistant strains. Some but not all Serratia strains and species produce N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs), and possess luxR and luxI homologous genes. Phylogenetic comparisons have provided evidence for the lateral transfer of these quorum-sensing systems, and in at least one strain of S. marcescens, transfer via a complex transposon has been experimentally demonstrated. AHL-dependent quorum sensing in Serratia controls population surface migration, biofilm development, the biosynthesis of a carbapenem antibiotic and production of the red pigment, prodigiosin. Serratia also possesses LuxS and produces autoinducer-2 (AI-2) which appears to function as a second quorum-sensing system controlling many of the same phenotypes as the LuxR/AHL systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Rong Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No.1. Chang-Der Street, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
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18
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Wei JR, Tsai YH, Horng YT, Soo PC, Hsieh SC, Hsueh PR, Horng JT, Williams P, Lai HC. A mobile quorum-sensing system in Serratia marcescens. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:1518-25. [PMID: 16452435 PMCID: PMC1367221 DOI: 10.1128/jb.188.4.1518-1525.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Quorum-sensing systems that have been widely identified in bacteria play important roles in the regulation of bacterial multicellular behavior by which bacteria sense population density to control various biological functions, including virulence. One characteristic of the luxIR quorum-sensing genes is their diverse and discontinuous distribution among proteobacteria. Here we report that the spnIR quorum-sensing system identified in the enterobacterium Serratia marcescens strain SS-1 is carried in a transposon, TnTIR, which has common characteristics of Tn3 family transposons and is mobile between chromosomes and plasmids of different enterobacterial hosts. SpnIR functions in the new host and was shown to negatively regulate the TnTIR transposition frequency. This finding may help reveal the horizontal transfer and evolutionary mechanism of quorum-sensing genes and alter the way that we perceive regulation of bacterial multicellular behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Rong Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No.1. Chang-Der Street, Taipei 100, Taiwan, Republic of China
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