ABSTRACT
Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the main pathogen causing seafood related food poisoning worldwide, has strong biofilm formation ability. ToxR is a membrane binding regulatory protein, which has regulatory effect on biofilm formation of V. parahaemolyticus, but the specific mechanism has not been reported. c-di-GMP is an important second messenger in bacteria and is involved in regulating a variety of bacterial behaviors including biofilm formation. In this study, we investigated the regulation of ToxR on c-di-GMP metabolism in V. parahaemolyticus. Intracellular c-di-GMP in the wild type (WT) and toxR mutant (ΔtoxR) strains were extracted by ultrasonication, and the concentrations of c-di-GMP were then determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three c-di-GMP metabolism-related genes scrA, scrG and vpa0198 were selected as the target genes. Quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) was employed to calculate the transcriptional variation of each target gene between WT and ΔtoxR strains. The regulatory DNA region of each target gene was cloned into the pHR309 plasmid harboring a promoterless lacZ gene. The recombinant plasmid was subsequently transferred into WT and ΔtoxR strains to detect the β-galactosidase activity in the cellular extracts. The recombinant lacZ plasmid containing each of the target gene was also transferred into E. coli 100λpir strain harboring the pBAD33 plasmid or the recombinant pBAD33-toxR to test whether ToxR could regulate the expression of the target gene in a heterologous host. The regulatory DNA region of each target gene was amplified by PCR, and the over-expressed His-ToxR was purified. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was applied to verify whether His-ToxR directly bound to the target promoter region. ELISA results showed that the intracellular c-di-GMP level significantly enhanced in ΔtoxR strain relative to that in WT strain, suggesting that ToxR inhibited the production of c-di-GMP in V. parahaemolyticus. qPCR results showed that the mRNA levels of scrA, scrG and vpa0198 significantly increased in ΔtoxR strain relative to those in WT strain, suggesting that ToxR repressed the transcription of scrA, scrG and vpa0198. lacZ fusion assay showed that ToxR was able to repress the promoter activities of scrA, scrG and vpa0198 in both V. parahaemolyticus and E. coli 100λpir. EMSA results showed that His-ToxR was able to bind to the regulatory DNA regions of scrA and scrG, but not to the regulatory DNA region of vpa0198. In conclusion, ToxR inhibited the production of c-di-GMP in V. parahaemolyticus via directly regulating the transcription of enzyme genes associated with c-di-GMP metabolism, which would be beneficial for V. parahaemolyticus to precisely control bacterial behaviors including biofilm formation.
Subject(s)
Vibrio parahaemolyticus/metabolism , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Transcription Factors/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, BacterialABSTRACT
Bacterial biofilm refers to a tunicate-like biological group composed of polysaccharide, protein and nucleic acid secreted by bacteria on the surface of the mucous membrane or biological material. The biofilm formation is a major cause of chronic infections. Bacteria could produce some secondary metabolites during the growth and reproduction. Some of them act as signaling molecules allowing bacteria to communicate and regulate many important physiological behaviors at multiple-cell level, such as bioluminescence, biofilm formation, motility and lifestyles. Usually, these signal molecules play an important role in the formation of bacterial biofilm. We review here the effects of related signal molecules of Quorum Sensing, cyclic diguanylate, Two-Component Systems and sRNA on the biofilm formation. Focusing on these regulation mechanism of signal molecules in the process of biofilm formation is necessary for the prevention and treatment of some chronic diseases.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins , Biofilms , Cyclic GMP , Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial , Protein Binding , Quorum SensingABSTRACT
Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, é uma bactéria pertencente à classe das Gamaproteobactérias, fitopatogênica, que exibe uma especificidade patógeno-hospedeiro extremamente alta. X. citri infecta plantas do gênero Citrus, causando o cancro cítrico, uma doença destrutiva encontrada em cultivos ao redor do mundo. Esta bactéria apresenta em seu genoma 34 genes que codificam proteínas relacionadas com o metabolismo do segundo mensageiro c-di-GMP. Em geral, níveis elevados de c-di-GMP favorecem a sessilidade e a produção de exopolissacarídeos, enquanto níveis mais baixos resultam em maior motilidade e aumento na dispersão do biofilme. Com o intuito inicial de buscar novos alvos de X. citri que dependessem dos níveis intracelulares desse segundo mensageiro, foram analisados os proteomas de linhagens mutantes em diguanilato ciclases específicas. Nas análises proteômicas por eletroforese bidimensional foram identificadas 15 proteínas diferencialmente expressas presentes em mais de um dos proteomas dos mutantes analisados. Entre estas, duas proteínas reguladoras de resposta e preditas de participar de sistemas de dois componentes, XAC0834 e XAC3443, foram encontradas sendo mais expressas em mutantes que apresentavam fenótipo de alto c-di-GMP; enquanto uma proteína hipotética provavelmente presente na membrana, XAC3657, estava mais expressa em linhagens com fenótipos relacionados a baixos níveis de c-di-GMP. Por meio de uma análise por qRT-PCR foi verificado que os níveis de mRNA para XAC0834 e XAC3443 não variam entre as linhagens e, portanto, a diferença nos níveis de expressão destas proteínas deve ocorrer póstranscricionalmente. Como os sistemas de dois componentes e proteínas de membrana são importantes para a adaptação das bactérias a diferentes condições ambientais, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi a caracterização funcional de XAC0834, XAC3433 e XAC3657, com maiorênfase em XAC0834 e na provável proteína sensora cognata, XAC0835, de forma a contribuir para a melhor compreensão dos processos de regulação da virulência de bactérias. Na análise da organização gênica dos genes que codificam estas proteínas, foi verificado que os genes XAC0834 e XAC0835 formam um operon, juntamente com a tioesterase XAC0833 e, portanto, o nível transcricional destes genes ocorre pelos mesmos reguladores, apoiando a hipótese de se tratarem de um sistema de dois componentes; assim como os genes XAC3442 e XAC3443. Utilizando uma linhagem mutante em XAC0834, mostramos que esta proteína impacta positivamente a motilidade sliding e a formação de biofilme, e tem efeito contrário no crescimento de X. citri em meio rico 2xTY e na motilidade twitching. Como estes fenótipos são modulados por c-di-GMP, é possível que a deleção deste gene altere significativamente os níveis de c-di-GMP nas células. Além disto, foi verificado que as proteínas XAC0835, XAC3443 e XAC3657 não afetam a motilidade sliding, mas, individualmente, XAC0835 é importante para a formação de biofilme; XAC3657 afeta negativamente o crescimento de X. citri em meio rico 2xTY; e XAC3443 afeta negativamente a motilidade twitching. Na análise do transcritoma da superexpressão de XAC0834, foi observado que havia aumento na expressão de genes relacionados ao sistema de secreção do tipo IV e na montagem do pilus do tipo IV, em comparação com a linhagem selvagem, o que pode estar relacionado aos fenótipos observados. Este trabalho forneceu subsídios importantes para a compreensão do papel fisiológico do sistema de dois componentes XAC0834/XAC0835, assim como do regulador de resposta XAC3443 e da proteína hipotética, XAC3657, em X. citri, o que pode contribuir para o entendimento da relação de c-di-GMP com os sistemas de dois componentes
Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, is a phytopathogenic Gammaproteobacteria, with extremely high pathogen-host specificity. X. citri infects plants of the genus Citrus, causing citrus canker, a destructive disease found in crops around the world. The genome of X. citri pv. citri 306 (XAC 306) contains 34 genes encoding proteins related to the second messenger c-di-GMP metabolism. In general, high levels of c-di-GMP favor the sessility and exopolysaccharide production, whereas lower levels result in greater motility and increased biofilm dispersion. In order to initially search for new X. citri targets that depend on the intracellular levels of this second messenger, the proteomes of specific diguanylate cyclase mutant strains were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Fifteen differentially expressed proteins present in more than one of the mutant proteomes compared to wild type were identified. Among these, two proteins predicted to participate as response regulators in two-component systems, XAC0834 and XAC3443, were found to be more expressed in mutants with high c-di-GMP phenotypes; whereas a hypothetical membrane protein, XAC3657, was more expressed in strains with low cdi-GMP-related phenotypes. Relative mRNA levels for XAC0834 and XAC3443, as determined by qRT-PCR, do not vary among the analyzed strains, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation. Because two-component systems and membrane proteins are important for the adaptation of bacteria to different environmental conditions, the aim of this work was the functional characterization of XAC0834, XAC3433 and XAC3657, with greater emphasis on XAC0834 and its probable cognate sensor protein, XAC0835, contributing to a better understanding of the processes of bacterial virulence regulation. Genes XAC0834 and XAC0835 form an operon, together with the XAC0833 coding for a thioesterase, suggesting that they are co-regulated, aswell as the XAC3442 and XAC3443 genes. Using a mutant strain in XAC0834, we show that this protein positively impacts sliding motility and biofilm formation and has the opposite effect on X. citri growth in rich medium and twitching motility. Because these phenotypes are modulated by c-di-GMP, deletion of this gene may alter cellular c-di-GMP levels. In addition, we found that XAC0835, XAC3443 and XAC3657 proteins do not affect sliding motility, but XAC0835 is important for biofilm formation; XAC3657 negatively affects X. citri growth in rich medium; and XAC3443 negatively affects twitching motility. The RNA-seq transcriptome of X. citri overexpressing XAC0834 was compared to the control strain, and there was an increase in the expression of genes for the type IV secretion system and the assembly of the type IV pilus, which may be related to the observed phenotypes. This work provided important insights for understanding the physiological role of the XAC0834/XAC0835 two-component system as well as the XAC3443 response regulator and the hypothetical protein XAC3657, in X. citri which may contribute to the understanding of the relationship of c- di-GMP with two-component systems
Subject(s)
Xanthomonas/metabolism , Citrus/classification , Biofilms , Proteome/analysis , Molecular BiologyABSTRACT
Small RNAs(sRNAs) play a significant role in the regulation of bacterial growth.When sensing certain environmental cues such as fluctuation of nutrient concentration, temperature, pH, and osmolarity, sRNAs can influence the expression of target genes.The formation of biofilms is initiated by bacteria transitioning from the planktonic to the surface-associated mode of growth, which is a self-produced extracellular matrix composed of proteins, polysaccharides, and DNA.Recent evidences have shown that small RNA plays an important role in the regulation of bacterial biofilm formation.sRNAs have key roles in biofilm formation process by base pairing with target mRNAs or interaction with modulating proteins.This review discussed the regulation mechanism and pathway of sRNAs in bacterial biofilms formation, and summarized three classical regulatory models of sRNAs in bacterial biofilms formation, this review also gives the research status and development direction of sRNAs in bacterial biofilms formation.
ABSTRACT
Biofilm is prevalent in various ecological niches, in which microbial cells interconnect with each other through extracellular polymeric substances including polysaccharides, extracellular DNA, and proteins. When living in biofilms, the microbial cells employ small signalling chemicals as their "language" to communicate mutually, and exhibit remarkable differences in physiology compared to those living in planktonic state. It has been proven that the development of biofilm is subject to the regulation of c-di-GMP, an important second messenger found in prokaryotes. Given its important roles of biofilms in microbial infection, industry application, plant-microbe interactions and environmental pollustion, biofilm is one of frontier research areas in microbiology. This special issue of "Biofilm and c-di-GMP" systematically reviews the current progresses in the multiple research frontiers, including biotechnology, infectious diseases, environmental microbiology and plant pathology, with special focus on the methods and techniques in biofilm research. We hope that the issue will boost the interest of students and young scientists in this exciting area of microbiology.
ABSTRACT
Cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous nucleotide second messenger present in a wide variety of bacteria. It regulates many important bacterial physiological functions such as biofilm formation, motility, adhesion, virulence and extracellular polysaccharide synthesis. It binds with many different proteins or RNA receptors, one of which is called riboswitch that is usually located at the 5'-untranslational region (5'-UTR) in some mRNA. Riboswitch usually comprises a specific ligand-binding (sensor) domain (named aptamer domain, AD), as well as a variable domain, termed expression platform (EP), to regulate expression of downstream coding sequences. When a specific metabolite concentration exceeds its threshold level, it will bind to its cognate riboswitch receptor to induce a conformational change of 5'-UTR, leading to modulation of downstream gene expression. Two classes of c-di-GMP-binding riboswitches (c-di-GMP-Ⅰ and c-di-GMP-Ⅱ) have been discovered that bind with this second messenger with high affinity to regulate diverse downstream genes, underscoring the importance of this unique RNA receptor in this pathway. Class Ⅰ c-di-GMP riboswitches are present in a wide variety of bacteria, and are most common in the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, while class Ⅱ c-di-GMP riboswitches typically function as allosteric ribozymes, binding to c-di-GMP to induce folding changes at atypical splicing site junctions to modulate downstream gene expression. This review introduces the discovery, classification, function, and also the affected downstream genes of c-di-GMP riboswitches.
ABSTRACT
Bacterial biofilm plays an important role in persistent microbial infection. Delineation of the formation and development of bacterial biofilm would provide a promising strategy to treat recalcitrant infection. c-di-AMP (Cyclic diadenosine monophosphate) is a recently identified second messenger of bacteria and involved in plethora of bacterial activities, including cell growth, cell wall homeostasis, biofilm formation and microbial pathogenicity. Here we review the recent literature pertinent to the role and molecular mechanisms of c-di-AMP in regulating biofilm formation of bacteria. The potential application of c-di-AMP and its related proteins in the development of novel antimicrobial therapeutics has also been discussed.
ABSTRACT
The cyclic dinucleotide c-di-GMP is known as an important second messenger in bacteria, which controls various important cellular processes, such as cell differentiation, biofilm formation and virulence factors production. It is extremely vital for the development of new antibacterial agents by virtue of blocking c-di-GMP signal conduction. Current research indicates that there are three potential targets for discovering new antibacterial agents based on c-di-GMP regulated signal pathway, which are c-di-GMP synthases, c-di-GMP degrading enzymes and c-di-GMP receptors. Herein, we review small molecules that have been developed to inhibit c-di-GMP related enzymes and indicate perspectives of c-di-GMP inhibitors.
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Yersinia pestis, the cause of plague, is transmitted by flea bite. Y. pestis forms a biofilm in the proventriculus of its flea vector to enhance transmission. Biofilm formation in Y. pestis is positively regulated by the intracellular levels of the second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP). The c-di-GMP in Y. pestis is synthesized by two diguanylate cyclases (DGC), HmsT and HmsD, and degraded by phosphodiesterase (PDE), HmsP. Here we summarized the regulators that modulate c-di-GMP metabolism and biofilm formation in Y. pestis and discussed their regulatory mechanism.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the regulatory effects of cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) signaling on CheB and CheR, which were chemotaxis regulatory proteins relating to the motility of Leptospira interrogans.Methods Real-time PCR was used to determine the expression of cheB1, cheB2, cheB3, cheR1 and cheR2 genes at mRNA level during Leptospira interrogans infection.Fragments of these genes were amplified and cloned into the expression vector pET-28a, respectively, to construct the prokaryotic expression system for them.Colony morphologies of Escherichia coli (E.coli) strains that overexpressed the target genes were observed to determine the regulatory effects of c-di-GMP on CheB and CheR.Results The expression of cheB1 gene at mRNA level increased 60 min after infection and reached the peak at 90 min.Compared with the control group, the expression of cheB3 gene at mRNA level were up-regulated, while no significant difference in the expression of cheB2 and cheR genes was observed 60 min after infection.The prokaryotic expression system for the five genes was successfully constructed and the purified proteins were obtained.CheB1, CheB3 and CheR2 improved the motility of E.coli, but that was inhibited by the inhibitor of diguanylate cyclase (DGC) or phosphodiesterase (PDE).Conclusion CheB and CheR regulate the swarming motility of E.coli and are affected by intracellular c-di-GMP.
ABSTRACT
YfiBNR is a recently identified bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) signaling system in opportunistic pathogens. It is a key regulator of biofilm formation, which is correlated with prolonged persistence of infection and antibiotic drug resistance. In response to cell stress, YfiB in the outer membrane can sequester the periplasmic protein YfiR, releasing its inhibition of YfiN on the inner membrane and thus provoking the diguanylate cyclase activity of YfiN to induce c-di-GMP production. However, the detailed regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report the crystal structures of YfiB alone and of an active mutant YfiB(L43P) complexed with YfiR with 2:2 stoichiometry. Structural analyses revealed that in contrast to the compact conformation of the dimeric YfiB alone, YfiB(L43P) adopts a stretched conformation allowing activated YfiB to penetrate the peptidoglycan (PG) layer and access YfiR. YfiB(L43P) shows a more compact PG-binding pocket and much higher PG binding affinity than wild-type YfiB, suggesting a tight correlation between PG binding and YfiB activation. In addition, our crystallographic analyses revealed that YfiR binds Vitamin B6 (VB6) or L-Trp at a YfiB-binding site and that both VB6 and L-Trp are able to reduce YfiB(L43P)-induced biofilm formation. Based on the structural and biochemical data, we propose an updated regulatory model of the YfiBNR system.
Subject(s)
Amino Acid Sequence , Bacterial Proteins , Chemistry , Genetics , Metabolism , Binding Sites , Biofilms , Crystallography, X-Ray , Cyclic GMP , Metabolism , Dimerization , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Molecular Sequence Data , Mutagenesis , Protein Structure, Quaternary , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Metabolism , Sequence Alignment , Tryptophan , Chemistry , Metabolism , Vitamin B 6 , Chemistry , MetabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Previous studies have confirmed the presence of bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway in Streptococcus mutans, which construct the streptococcus mutans gcp gene knockout strains. OBJECTIVE:To compare the gene expression differences between Streptococcus mutans wild strains and gcp mutant strains, and to screen the biofilm-related genes from them for the fol ow-up study. METHODS:The total RNA of two kinds of strains were extracted and stained with cy3 and cy5 respectively after reverse transcription. The gene chip was scanned after hybridization and the differential gene were obtained through the data analysis. The different expression genes were verified by real-time PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Differential genes were mainly relative about glucose metabolism and biofilm formation. We selected two genes for real-time PCR verification. The PCR results were consistent with the microarray results. After Streptococcus mutans gcp gene knockout, the gene expressions of gcp mutant strains were upregulated and the gene expressions of phosphotransferase system were downregulated, this result suggested that two different genes were related with the c-di-GMP signal pathway downstream.
ABSTRACT
Recentemente, o bis-(3',5')-di-guanosina monofosfato cíclico (c-di-GMP) surgiu como uma importante molécula sinalizadora nas bactérias. Essa molécula foi identificada como uma das responsáveis pelo controle do comportamento bacteriano e está relacionada com a patogenicidade e a adaptação de diversas bactérias, coordenando a expressão de genes envolvidos com virulência, motilidade e formação de biofilme. O mecanismo pelo qual c-diGMP atua vem sendo motivo de estudo de vários grupos de pesquisa nos últimos anos. Já foi demonstrado o papel dessa molécula em diferentes etapas do controle da expressão gênica. Acredita-se que a manipulação dos níveis de c-di-GMP pode ser uma nova abordagem terapêutica contra bactérias patogênicas. Pseudomonas aeruginosa é uma proteobactéria do grupo gama, que atua como um patógeno oportunista, causando infecções em pacientes imunocomprometidos, sendo o maior causador de infecções crônicas em pacientes portadores de fibrose cística. O genoma de P. aeruginosa PA14 apresenta vários genes que codificam proteínas envolvidas no metabolismo e/ou ligação de c-di-GMP, o que pode indicar um amplo papel regulatório deste nucleotídeo nessa bactéria. Uma associação infundada entre níveis elevados de c-di-GMP e a resistência aos antibióticos é geralmente assumida, já que altos níveis de c-di-GMP levam à formação de biofilme, que é comprovadamente um modo de crescimento mais resistente. Nesse trabalho, utilizando uma abordagem proteômica, mostramos que Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 regula a expressão de cinco porinas em resposta a variações nos níveis de c-di-GMP, independentemente dos níveis de mRNA. Uma dessas porinas, OprD, é responsável pela entrada do antibiótico ß-lactâmico imipenem na célula e é menos abundante em condições de alto c-di-GMP. Também demonstramos que linhagens com altos níveis de c-di-GMP apresentam uma vantagem competitiva de crescimento em relação a linhagens com níveis mais baixo de c-di-GMP quando crescidas em meio contendo imipenem. Em contraste, observamos que células planctônicas com elevados níveis c-di-GMP são mais sensíveis a tobramicina. Em conjunto, estes resultados mostram que c-di-GMP pode regular a resistência a antibióticos em sentidos opostos, e independentemente do crescimento em biofilme
Following the genomic era, a large number of genes coding for enzymes predicted to synthesize and degrade 3'-5'-cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) was found in most bacterial genomes and this dinucleotide emerged as an important intracellular signal molecule controlling bacterial behavior. Diverse molecular mechanisms have been described as targets for c-di-GMP, but several questions remain to be addressed. An association between high c-di-GMP levels and antibiotic resistance is largely assumed, since high c-di-GMP upregulates biofilm formation and the biofilm mode of growth leads to enhanced antibiotic resistance; however, a clear understanding of this correlation is missing. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a versatile gamma-proteobacterium that behaves as an opportunistic pathogen to a broad range of hosts. The ability of P. aeruginosa to form biofilms contributes to its virulence and adaptation to different environments. The P. aeruginosa PA14 genome presents several genes encoding proteins involved in metabolism or binding to c-di-GMP, which may indicate a wide regulatory role of this nucleotide in this bacterium. Here, using a proteomic approach, we show that Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 regulates the amount of five porins in response to c-di-GMP levels, irrespective of their mRNA levels. One of these porins is OprD, decreased in high c-di-GMP conditions, which is responsible for the uptake of the ß-lactam antibiotic imipenem. We also demonstrate that this difference leads strains with high c-di-GMP to be more resistant to imipenem even when growing as planktonic cells, giving them a competitive advantage over cells with low c-di-GMP. Contrastingly, we found that planktonic cells with high c-di-GMP levels are more sensitive to aminoglycosides antibiotics. Together, these findings show that c-di-GMP levels can regulate the antibiotic resistance to different drugs in opposite ways and irrespective of a biofilm mode of growth