scholarly journals Functional characterization of quorum sensing LuxR-type transcriptional regulator, EasR in Enterobacter asburiae strain L1

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10068
Author(s):  
Yin Yin Lau ◽  
Kah Yan How ◽  
Wai-Fong Yin ◽  
Kok-Gan Chan

Over the past decades, Enterobacter spp. have been identified as challenging and important pathogens. The emergence of multidrug-resistant Enterobacteria especially those that produce Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase has been a very worrying health crisis. Although efforts have been made to unravel the complex mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenicity of different Enterobacter spp., there is very little information associated with AHL-type QS mechanism in Enterobacter spp. Signaling via N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) is the most common quorum sensing (QS) mechanism utilized by Proteobacteria. A typical AHL-based QS system involves two key players: a luxI gene homolog to synthesize AHLs and a luxR gene homolog, an AHL-dependent transcriptional regulator. These signaling molecules enable inter-species and intra-species interaction in response to external stimuli according to population density. In our recent study, we reported the genome of AHL-producing bacterium, Enterobacter asburiae strain L1. Whole genome sequencing and in silico analysis revealed the presence of a pair of luxI/R genes responsible for AHL-type QS, designated as easI/R, in strain L1. In a QS system, a LuxR transcriptional protein detects and responds to the concentration of a specific AHL controlling gene expression. In E. asburiae strain L1, EasR protein binds to its cognate AHLs, N-butanoyl homoserine lactone (C4-HSL) and N–hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6-HSL), modulating the expression of targeted genes. In this current work, we have cloned the 693 bp luxR homolog of strain L1 for further characterization. The functionality and specificity of EasR protein in response to different AHL signaling molecules to activate gene transcription were tested and validated with β-galactosidase assays. Higher β-galactosidase activities were detected for cells harboring EasR, indicating EasR is a functional transcriptional regulator. This is the first report documenting the cloning and characterization of transcriptional regulator, luxR homolog of E. asburiae.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Servane Le Guillouzer ◽  
Marie-Christine Groleau ◽  
Eric Déziel

AbstractThe bacteriumBurkholderia thailandensispossesses three conservedN-acyl-L-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum sensing (QS) systems designated BtaI1/BtaR1 (QS-1), BtaI2/BtaR2 (QS-2), and BtaI3/BtaR3 (QS-3). These QS-systems are associated with the biosynthesis ofN-octanoyl-homoserine lactone (C8-HSL),N-3-hydroxy-decanoyl-homoserine lactone (3OHC10-HSL), as well asN-3-hydroxy-octanoyl-homoserine lactone (3OHC8-HSL), which are produced by the LuxI-type synthase BtaI1, BtaI2, and BtaI3, and modulated by the LuxR-type transcriptional regulators BtaR1, BtaR2, and BtaR3. BothbtaR1/btaI1andbtaR2/btaI2gene clusters contain an additional gene that is conserved in theBurkholderiagenus, homologous to a gene coding for the negative AHL biosynthesis modulatory protein RsaM originally identified in the phytopathogenPseudomonas fuscovaginae, and hence designatedrsaM1andrsaM2. We have characterized the function of these tworsaMhomologues and demonstrated their involvement in the regulation of AHLs biosynthesis inB. thailandensisstrain E264. We measured the production of C8-HSL, 3OHC10-HSL, and 3OHC8-HSL by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the wild-type strain and in thersaM1-andrsaM2-mutants, and monitored the transcription ofbtaI1,btaI2, andbtaI3 using chromosomal mini-CTX-luxtranscriptional reporters. The expression ofbtaR1,btaR2, andbtaR3 was also measured by quantitative everse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). We demonstrate that the QS-1 system is repressed by RsaM1, whereas RsaM2 principally represses the QS-2 system. We also found that bothrsaM1andrsaM2are QS-controlled, as well as negatively auto-regulated. We conclude that RsaM1 and RsaM2 are an integral part of the QS modulatory circuitry ofB. thailandensis, and play a major role in the hierarchical and homeostatic organization of the QS-1, QS-2, and QS-3 systems.ImportanceQuorum sensing (QS) is a global regulatory mechanism of genes expression depending on bacterial density. QS is commonly involved in the coordination of genes expression associated with the establishment of host-pathogen interactions and acclimatization to the environment. We present the functional characterization of the tworsaMhomologues designatedrsaM1andrsaM2in the regulation of the multiple QS systems coexisting in the non-pathogenic bacteriumBurkholderia thailandensis, widely used as a model system for the study of the pathogenBurkholderia pseudomallei. We found that inactivation of thesersaMhomologues, which are clustered with the other QS genes, profoundly affects the QS regulatory circuity ofB. thailandensis. It is proposed that these genes code for QS repressors and we conclude that they constitute essential regulatory components of the QS modulatory network ofB. thailandensis, and provide additional layers of regulation to modulate the expression of QS-controlled genes, including those encoding virulence/survival factors and linked to environmental adaptation inB. pseudomallei.


Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (3) ◽  
pp. 712-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Dekimpe ◽  
Eric Déziel

Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses the two major quorum-sensing (QS) regulatory systems las and rhl to modulate the expression of many of its virulence factors. The las system is considered to stand at the top of the QS hierarchy. However, some virulence factors such as pyocyanin have been reported to still be produced in lasR mutants under certain conditions. Interestingly, such mutants arise spontaneously under various conditions, including in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. Using transcriptional lacZ reporters, LC/MS quantification and phenotypic assays, we have investigated the regulation of QS-controlled factors by the las system. Our results show that activity of the rhl system is only delayed in a lasR mutant, thus allowing the expression of multiple virulence determinants such as pyocyanin, rhamnolipids and C4-homoserine lactone (HSL) during the late stationary phase. Moreover, at this stage, RhlR is able to overcome the absence of the las system by activating specific LasR-controlled functions, including production of 3-oxo-C12-HSL and Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS). P. aeruginosa is thus able to circumvent the deficiency of one of its QS systems by allowing the other to take over. This work demonstrates that the QS hierarchy is more complex than the model simply presenting the las system above the rhl system.


2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (11) ◽  
pp. 6589-6596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricky L. Ulrich ◽  
David DeShazer ◽  
Harry B. Hines ◽  
Jeffrey A. Jeddeloh

ABSTRACT Numerous gram-negative bacterial pathogens regulate virulence factor expression by using a cell density mechanism termed quorum sensing (QS). An in silico analysis of the Burkholderia mallei ATCC 23344 genome revealed that it encodes at least two luxI and four luxR homologues. Using mass spectrometry, we showed that wild-type B. mallei produces the signaling molecules N-octanoyl-homoserine lactone and N-decanoyl-homoserine lactone. To determine if QS is involved in the virulence of B. mallei, we generated mutations in each putative luxIR homologue and tested the pathogenicities of the derivative strains in aerosol BALB/c mouse and intraperitoneal hamster models. Disruption of the B. mallei QS alleles, especially in RJ16 (bmaII) and RJ17 (bmaI3), which are luxI mutants, significantly reduced virulence, as indicated by the survival of mice who were aerosolized with 104 CFU (10 50% lethal doses [LD50s]). For the B. mallei transcriptional regulator mutants (luxR homologues), mutation of the bmaR5 allele resulted in the most pronounced decrease in virulence, with 100% of the challenged animals surviving a dose of 10 LD50s. Using a Syrian hamster intraperitoneal model of infection, we determined the LD50s for wild-type B. mallei and each QS mutant. An increase in the relative LD50 was found for RJ16 (bmaI1) (>967 CFU), RJ17 (bmaI3) (115 CFU), and RJ20 (bmaR5) (151 CFU) compared to wild-type B. mallei (<13 CFU). These findings demonstrate that B. mallei carries multiple luxIR homologues that either directly or indirectly regulate the biosynthesis of an essential virulence factor(s) that contributes to the pathogenicity of B. mallei in vivo.


1997 ◽  
Vol 179 (9) ◽  
pp. 3004-3012 ◽  
Author(s):  
D L Milton ◽  
A Hardman ◽  
M Camara ◽  
S R Chhabra ◽  
B W Bycroft ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 290 (2) ◽  
pp. 872-882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Crowe ◽  
Peter J. Stogios ◽  
Israël Casabon ◽  
Elena Evdokimova ◽  
Alexei Savchenko ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 447-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Chane ◽  
Yvann Bourigault ◽  
Mathilde Bouteiller ◽  
Yoan Konto-Ghiorghi ◽  
Annabelle Merieau ◽  
...  

The geocaulosphere is home to microbes that establish communication between themselves and others that disrupt them. These cell-to-cell communication systems are based on the synthesis and perception of signaling molecules, of which the best known belong to the N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) family. Among indigenous bacteria, certain Gram-positive actinobacteria can sense AHLs produced by soft-rot Gram-negative phytopathogens and can degrade the quorum-sensing AHL signals to impair the expression of virulence factors. We mimicked this interaction by introducing dual-color reporter strains suitable for monitoring both the location of the cells and their quorum-sensing and -quenching activities, in potato tubers. The exchange of AHL signals within the pathogen’s cell quorum was clearly detected by the presence of bright green fluorescence instead of blue in a portion of Pectobacterium-tagged cells. This phenomenon in Rhodococcus cells was accompanied by a change from red fluorescence to orange, showing that the disappearance of signaling molecules is due to rhodococcal AHL degradation rather than the inhibition of AHL production. Rhodococci are victorious in this fight for the control of AHL-based communication, as their jamming activity is powerful enough to prevent the onset of disease symptoms.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 330-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumar Saurav ◽  
Ilia Burgsdorf ◽  
Roberta Teta ◽  
Germana Esposito ◽  
Rinat Bar-Shalom ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 195 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Swearingen ◽  
Anice Sabag-Daigle ◽  
Brian M. M. Ahmer

ABSTRACTManyProteobacteriaare capable of quorum sensing usingN-acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) signaling molecules that are synthesized by LuxI or LuxM homologs and detected by transcription factors of the LuxR family. Most quorum-sensing species have at least one LuxR and one LuxI homolog. However, members of theEscherichia,Salmonella,Klebsiella, andEnterobactergenera possess only a single LuxR homolog, SdiA, and no acyl-HSL synthase. The most obvious hypothesis is that these organisms are eavesdropping on acyl-HSL production within the complex microbial communities of the mammalian intestinal tract. However, there is currently no evidence of acyl-HSLs being produced within normal intestinal communities. A few intestinal pathogens, includingYersinia enterocolitica, do produce acyl-HSLs, andSalmonellacan detect them during infection. Therefore, a more refined hypothesis is that SdiA orthologs are used for eavesdropping on other quorum-sensing pathogens in the host. However, the lack of acyl-HSL signaling among the normal intestinal residents is a surprising finding given the complexity of intestinal communities. In this review, we examine the evidence for and against the possibility of acyl-HSL signaling molecules in the mammalian intestine and discuss the possibility that related signaling molecules might be present and awaiting discovery.


Author(s):  
Noha Laj ◽  
Muhammed Elayadeth-Meethal ◽  
V. Aldous J. Huxley ◽  
Raishy R. Hussain ◽  
Mohamed Saheer Kuruniyan ◽  
...  

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