scholarly journals Novel Quorum-Sensing-Controlled Genes in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora: Identification of a Fungal Elicitor Homologue in a Soft-Rotting Bacterium

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Pemberton ◽  
N. A. Whitehead ◽  
M. Sebaihia ◽  
K. S. Bell ◽  
L. J. Hyman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Fusarium Oxysporum ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Stem Rot ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Global Regulator ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
New Genes ◽  
Dicotyledonous Plants

Seven new genes controlled by the quorum-sensing signal molecule N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (OHHL) have been identified in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora. Using TnphoA as a mutagen, we enriched for mutants defective in proteins that could play a role in the interaction between E. carotovora subsp. carotovora and its plant hosts, and identified NipEcc and its counterpart in E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica. These are members of a growing family of proteins related to Nep1 from Fusarium oxysporum which can induce necrotic responses in a variety of dicotyledonous plants. NipEcc produced necrosis in tobacco, NipEca affected potato stem rot, and both affected virulence in potato tubers. In E. carotovora subsp. carotovora, nip was shown to be subject to weak repression by the LuxR family regulator, EccR, and may be regulated by the negative global regulator RsmA.

scholarly journals RelA-Dependent (p)ppGpp Production Controls Exoenzyme Synthesis in Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (21) ◽  
pp. 7643-7652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhong Wang ◽  
Noemie Gardiol ◽  
Tom Burr ◽  
George P. C. Salmond ◽  
Martin Welch
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Nutrient Limitation ◽  
Pectate Lyase ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Competitive Inhibitor ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Potent Inducer

ABSTRACT In this report, we investigate the link between nutrient limitation, RelA-mediated (p)ppGpp production, and virulence in the phytopathogen Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica. A relA null mutant (JWC7) was constructed by allelic exchange, and we confirmed that, unlike the wild-type progenitor, this mutant did not produce elevated levels of (p)ppGpp upon nutrient downshift. However, (p)ppGpp production could be restored in strain JWC7 during nutrient limitation by supplying relA in trans. During growth on exoenzyme-inducing minimal medium, the relA mutant showed a diminution in secreted pectate lyase and protease activities and a severe defect in motility. The relA mutant was also impaired in its ability to cause rot in potato tubers. In the presence of serine hydroxamate (a competitive inhibitor of seryl tRNA synthase and a potent inducer of the stringent response in wild-type E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica), exoenzyme production was essentially abolished in JWC7 but could be restored in the presence of plasmid-borne relA. The inhibition of exoenzyme production in JWC7 caused by serine hydroxamate could not be overcome by addition of the quorum-sensing signal molecule, N-3-oxohexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis of selected RNA species confirmed that the effects of relA on secreted pectate lyase activity and motility could be attributed to a reduction in transcription of the corresponding genes. We conclude that nutrient limitation is a potent environmental cue that triggers (p)ppGpp-dependent exoenzyme production in E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica. Furthermore, our data suggest that nutrient limitation [or rather, (p)ppGpp accumulation] is a prerequisite for effective quorum-sensing-dependent activation of exoenzyme production.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Quorum Sensing in Serratia marcescens AS-1 by Synthetic Analogs of N-Acylhomoserine Lactone

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (20) ◽  
pp. 6339-6344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Morohoshi ◽  
Toshitaka Shiono ◽  
Kiyomi Takidouchi ◽  
Masashi Kato ◽  
Norihiro Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Serratia Marcescens ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Swarming Motility ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Acylhomoserine Lactone

ABSTRACT Quorum sensing is a regulatory system for controlling gene expression in response to increasing cell density. N-Acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) is produced by gram-negative bacteria, which use it as a quorum-sensing signal molecule. Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative opportunistic pathogen which is responsible for an increasing number of serious nosocomial infections. S. marcescens AS-1 produces N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and N-(3-oxohexanoyl) homoserine lactone and regulates prodigiosin production, swarming motility, and biofilm formation by AHL-mediated quorum sensing. We synthesized a series of N-acyl cyclopentylamides with acyl chain lengths ranging from 4 to 12 and estimated their inhibitory effects on prodigiosin production in AS-1. One of these molecules, N-nonanoyl-cyclopentylamide (C9-CPA), had a strong inhibitory effect on prodigiosin production. C9-CPA also inhibited the swarming motility and biofilm formation of AS-1. A competition assay revealed that C9-CPA was able to inhibit quorum sensing at four times the concentration of exogenous C6-HSL and was more effective than the previously reported halogenated furanone. Our results demonstrated that C9-CPA was an effective quorum-sensing inhibitor for S. marcescens AS-1.

Novel bacteria degrading N-acylhomoserine lactones and their use as quenchers of quorum-sensing-regulated functions of plant-pathogenic bacteria

Microbiology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 149 (8) ◽  
pp. 1981-1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Uroz ◽  
Cathy D'Angelo-Picard ◽  
Aurélien Carlier ◽  
Miena Elasri ◽  
Carine Sicot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Rhodococcus Erythropolis ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Signal Molecules ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Violacein Production ◽  
Regulated Functions

Bacteria degrading the quorum-sensing (QS) signal molecule N-hexanoylhomoserine lactone were isolated from a tobacco rhizosphere. Twenty-five isolates degrading this homoserine lactone fell into six groups according to their genomic REP-PCR and rrs PCR-RFLP profiles. Representative strains from each group were identified as members of the genera Pseudomonas, Comamonas, Variovorax and Rhodococcus. All these isolates degraded N-acylhomoserine lactones other than the hexanoic acid derivative, albeit with different specificity and kinetics. One of these isolates, Rhodococcus erythropolis strain W2, was used to quench QS-regulated functions of other microbes. In vitro, W2 strongly interfered with violacein production by Chromobacterium violaceum, and transfer of pathogenicity in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In planta, R. erythropolis W2 markedly reduced the pathogenicity of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in potato tubers. These series of results reveal the diversity of the QS-interfering bacteria in the rhizosphere and demonstrate the validity of targeting QS signal molecules to control pathogens with natural bacterial isolates.

scholarly journals Degradation of N-Acyl-l-Homoserine Lactones by Bacillus cereus in Culture Media and Pork Extract

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 2329-2332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Stella Medina-Martínez ◽  
Mieke Uyttendaele ◽  
Andreja Rajkovic ◽  
Pol Nadal ◽  
Johan Debevere
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
Yersinia Enterocolitica ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Microbial Interaction ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Homoserine Lactones ◽  
Degrading Bacterium

ABSTRACT Degradation of the quorum-sensing signal molecule N-acyl-l-homoserine lactone (AHL) in cocultures was verified with Bacillus cereus and Yersinia enterocolitica in culture medium and in pork extract. Results showed evidence of microbial interaction when the AHL-degrading bacterium and AHL-producing bacterium were cocultured in a food-simulating condition.

scholarly journals Azithromycin Inhibits MUC5AC Production Induced by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Autoinducer N-(3-Oxododecanoyl) Homoserine Lactone in NCI-H292 Cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 3457-3461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Imamura ◽  
Katsunori Yanagihara ◽  
Yohei Mizuta ◽  
Masafumi Seki ◽  
Hideaki Ohno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Bacterial Infection ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Diffuse Panbronchiolitis ◽  
Mucin Production ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Extracellular Signal

ABSTRACT The features of chronic airway diseases, including chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and diffuse panbronchiolitis, include chronic bacterial infection and airway obstruction by mucus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common pathogens in chronic lung infection, and quorum-sensing systems contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. The quorum-sensing signal molecule [N-(3-oxododecanoyl) homoserine lactone (3O-C12-HSL)] not only regulates bacterial virulence but also is associated with the immune response. In this study, we investigated whether 3O-C12-HSL could stimulate the production of a major mucin core protein, MUC5AC. The effect of a macrolide on MUC5AC production was also studied. 3O-C12-HSL induced NCI-H292 cells to express MUC5AC at both the mRNA and the protein levels in time- and dose-dependent manners. A 15-membered macrolide, azithromycin, inhibited MUC5AC production that was activated by 3O-C12-HSL. 3O-C12-HSL induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and I-κB phosphorylation in cells, and this induction was suppressed by azithromycin. 3O-C12-HSL-induced MUC5AC production was blocked by the ERK pathway inhibitor PD98059. Our findings suggest that the P. aeruginosa autoinducer 3O-C12-HSL contributes to excessive mucin production in chronic bacterial infection. Azithromycin seems to reduce this mucin production by interfering with intracellular signal transduction.

scholarly journals Transgenic Plants Producing the Bacterial Pheromone N-Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Exhibit Enhanced Resistance to the Bacterial Phytopathogen Erwinia carotovora

2001 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1035-1042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Mäe ◽  
Marcos Montesano ◽  
Viia Koiv ◽  
E. Tapio Palva
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Transgenic Tobacco ◽  
Plant Cell Wall ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Enhanced Resistance

Bacterial pheromones, mainly different homoserine lactones, are central to a number of bacterial signaling processes, including those involved in plant pathogenicity. We previously demonstrated that N-oxoacyl-homoserine lactone (OHL) is essential for quorum sensing in the soft-rot phytopathogen Erwinia carotovora. In this pathogen, OHL controls the coordinate activation of genes encoding the main virulence determinants, extracellular plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs), in a cell density-dependent manner. We suggest that E. carotovora employ quorum sensing to avoid the premature production of PCWDEs and subsequent activation of plant defense responses. To test whether modulating this sensory system would affect the outcome of a plant-pathogen interaction, we generated transgenic tobacco, producing OHL. This was accomplished by ectopic expression in tobacco of the E. carotovora gene expI, which is responsible for OHL biosynthesis. We show that expI-positive transgenic tobacco lines produced the active pheromone and partially complemented the avirulent phenotype of expI mutants. The OHL-producing tobacco lines exhibited enhanced resistance to infection by wild-type E. carotovora. The results were confirmed by exogenous addition of OHL to wild-type plants, which also resulted in increased resistance to E. carotovora.

scholarly journals Regulation of Motility in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora: Quorum-Sensing Signal Controls FlhDC, the Global Regulator of Flagellar and Exoprotein Genes, by Modulating the Production of RsmA, an RNA-Binding Protein

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1316-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asita Chatterjee ◽  
Yaya Cui ◽  
Pranjib Chakrabarty ◽  
Arun K. Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Translational Repression ◽  
Global Regulator ◽  
Acylhomoserine Lactone ◽  
Σ Factor ◽  
Regulatory Effects

Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora causes soft-rotting (tissue-macerating) disease in many plants and plant organs. Although pectinases are the primary determinants of virulence, several ancillary factors that augment bacterial virulence have also been identified. One such factor is bacterial motility. Flagellum formation and bacterial movement are regulated in many enterobacteria, including E. carotovora subsp. carotovora, by FlhDC, the master regulator of flagellar genes and FliA, a flagellum-specific σ factor. We document here that motility of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora is positively regulated by the quorum-sensing signal, N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL), and negatively regulated by RsmA, a post-transcriptional regulator. RsmA, an RNA-binding protein, causes translational repression and promotes RNA decay. Our data show that RsmA negatively regulates flhDC and fliA expression. Moreover, the chemical stabilities of transcripts of these genes are greater in an RsmA– mutant than in RsmA+ bacteria. These observations contrast with positive regulation of flhDC and motility by CsrA (= RsmA) in Escherichia coli. In the absence of AHL, the AHL receptors ExpR1/ExpR2 (= AhlR) in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora negatively regulate motility and expression of flhDC and fliA by activating RsmA production. In the presence of AHL, regulatory effects of ExpR1/ExpR2 are neutralized, resulting in reduced levels of rsmA expression and enhanced motility.

scholarly journals The Plant Pathogen Pantoea ananatis Produces N-Acylhomoserine Lactone and Causes Center Rot Disease of Onion by Quorum Sensing

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (22) ◽  
pp. 8333-8338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Morohoshi ◽  
Yuta Nakamura ◽  
Go Yamazaki ◽  
Akio Ishida ◽  
Norihiro Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Pantoea Ananatis ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Acylhomoserine Lactone ◽  
Sensing System ◽  
Quorum Sensing System ◽  
Rot Disease

ABSTRACT A number of gram-negative bacteria have a quorum-sensing system and produce N-acyl-l-homoserine lactone (AHL) that they use them as a quorum-sensing signal molecule. Pantoea ananatis is reported as a common colonist of wheat heads at ripening and causes center rot of onion. In this study, we demonstrated that P. ananatis SK-1 produced two AHLs, N-hexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C6-HSL). We cloned the AHL-synthase gene (eanI) and AHL-receptor gene (eanR) and revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of EanI/EanR showed high identity to those of EsaI/EsaR from P. stewartii. EanR repressed the ean box sequence and the addition of AHLs resulted in derepression of ean box. Inactivation of the chromosomal eanI gene in SK-1 caused disruption of exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis, biofilm formation, and infection of onion leaves, which were recovered by adding exogenous 3-oxo-C6-HSL. These results demonstrated that the quorum-sensing system involved the biosynthesis of EPS, biofilm formation, and infection of onion leaves in P. ananatis SK-1.

scholarly journals Elevated Temperature Enhances Virulence of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora Strain EC153 to Plants and Stimulates Production of the Quorum Sensing Signal, N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone, and Extracellular Proteins

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 4655-4663 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Hasegawa ◽  
A. Chatterjee ◽  
Y. Cui ◽  
A. K. Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Extracellular Enzymes ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Pectate Lyase ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Extracellular Proteins ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Tissue Maceration

ABSTRACT Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica, E. carotovora subsp. betavasculorum, and E. carotovora subsp. carotovora produce high levels of extracellular enzymes, such as pectate lyase (Pel), polygalacturonase (Peh), cellulase (Cel), and protease (Prt), and the quorum-sensing signal N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) at 28°C. However, the production of these enzymes and AHL by these bacteria is severely inhibited during growth at elevated temperatures (31.2°C for E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica and 34.5°C for E. carotovora subsp. betavasculorum and most E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strains). At elevated temperatures these bacteria produce high levels of RsmA, an RNA binding protein that promotes RNA decay. E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strain EC153 is an exception in that it produces higher levels of Pel, Peh, Cel, and Prt at 34.5°C than at 28°C. EC153 also causes extensive maceration of celery petioles and Chinese cabbage leaves at 34.5°C, which correlates with a higher growth rate and higher levels of rRNA and AHL. The lack of pectinase production by E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strain Ecc71 at 34.5°C limits the growth of this organism in plant tissues and consequently impairs its ability to cause tissue maceration. Comparative studies with ahlI (the gene encoding a putative AHL synthase), pel-1, and peh-1 transcripts documented that at 34.5°C the RNAs are more stable in EC153 than in Ecc71. Our data reveal that overall metabolic activity, AHL levels, and mRNA stability are responsible for the higher levels of extracellular protein production and the enhanced virulence of EC153 at 34.5°C compared to 28°C.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document