scholarly journals Coupling of Iron Assimilation and Pectinolysis in Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1181-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Franza ◽  
Isabelle Michaud-Soret ◽  
Pierrette Piquerel ◽  
Dominique Expert

Two major virulence determinants of the plant-pathogenic enterobacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi strain 3937 are the production of pectate lyase enzymes that degrade plant cell walls and expression of two high-affinity iron uptake systems mediated by two structurally unrelated siderophores, chrysobactin and achromobactin. Low iron availability is a signal that triggers transcription of the genes encoding pectate lyases PelD and PelE as well as that of genes involved in iron transport. This metalloregulation is mediated by the transcriptional repressor Fur. In this study, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms of this control. We purified the Erwinia chrysanthemi Fur protein. Band shift assays showed that Fur specifically binds in vitro to the regulatory regions of the genes encoding the ferrichrysobactin outer membrane receptor Fct and the pectate lyases PelD and PelE. We identified the Fur-binding sites of these promoter regions by performing DNase I footprinting experiments. From these data, we propose that Fur could inhibit the activation of the pelD and pelE genes by the cAMP receptor protein CRP according to an anti-activation mechanism. To identify other possible effectors involved in this control, we screened a bank of insertion mutants for an increase in transcriptional activity of pelD and fct genes in response to iron limitation. We isolated a mutant affected in the kdgK gene encoding the 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate (KDG) kinase, an enzyme involved in pectin catabolism. The growth of this mutant in the presence of pectic compounds led to a constitutive expression of iron transport genes as well as complete derepression of the pectinolysis genes. This effect was caused by intracellular accumulation of KDG. However, the derepression of iron transport genes by KDG does not involve the KdgR regulator of pectinolysis genes, which uses KDG as inducer. Thus, in Erwinia chrysanthemi, iron depletion or presence of KDG induces transcription of the genes involved in iron assimilation and pectinolysis. These important pathogenicity functions are coregulated by responding to common signals encountered in planta.

1999 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Franza ◽  
Christele Sauvage ◽  
Dominique Expert

Low iron availability is a triggering signal for coordinated expression of the genes encoding pectate lyases PelB, PelC, PelD, and PelE, and chrysobactin iron transport functions, which are two main determinants of phytopathogenicity of the Erwinia chrysanthemi strain 3937. The possible implication of the ferric uptake regulation (Fur) protein in this process was investigated. The E. chrysanthemi fur gene was cloned by functional complementation of an Escherichia coli fur mutant and sequenced. The 444-bp open reading frame identified was found to code for a protein highly similar to the E. coli Fur regulator. An E. chrysanthemi fur null mutant was constructed by reverse genetics. This mutant showed altered growth capacity and reduced pathogenicity on African violets. In a fur background, transcriptional lacZ fusions to genes belonging to the E. chrysanthemi high affinity iron transport systems were constitutively expressed. Transcription of the pelA, pelD, and pelE genes was analyzed, using fusions to the uidA reporter gene. Iron availability and a fur mutation did not influence the expression of pelA. In the presence of iron, pelD and pelE transcription levels were higher in the fur mutant than in the parental strain. Furthermore, iron deficiency stimulated the expression of both fusions in the fur mutant. These findings indicate that, in E. chrysanthemi 3937, (i) Fur negatively controls iron transport and genes encoding PelD and PelE, and (ii) additional factor(s) mediate iron regulation of the pel genes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 1205-1214 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Nasser ◽  
Sylvie Reverchon ◽  
Regine Vedel ◽  
Martine Boccara

Erwinia chrysanthemi strain 3937 is a necrotrophic bacterial plant pathogen. Pectinolytic enzymes and, in particular, pectate lyases play a key role in soft rot symptoms; however, the efficient colonization of plants by E. chrysanthemi requires additional factors. These factors include HrpN (harpin), a heat-stable, glycine-rich hydrophilic protein, which is secreted by the type III secretion system. We investigated the expression of hrpN in E. chrysanthemi 3937 in various environmental conditions and different regulatory backgrounds. Using lacZ fusions, hrpN expression was markedly influenced by the carbon source, osmolarity, growth phase, and growth substrate. hrpN was repressed when pectinolysis started and negatively regulated by the repressors of ectate lyase synthesis, PecS and PecT. Primer extension data and in vitro DNA-protein interaction experiments support a model whereby PecS represses hrpN expression by binding to the hrpN regulatory region and inhibiting transcript elongation. The results suggest coordinated regulation of HrpN and pectate lyases by PecS and PecT. A putative model of the synthesis of these two virulence factors in E. chrysanthemi during pathogenesis is presented.


2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (10) ◽  
pp. 2664-2673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Hugouvieux-Cotte-Pattat ◽  
Vladimir E. Shevchik ◽  
William Nasser

ABSTRACT Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 secretes an arsenal of pectinolytic enzymes, including at least eight endo-pectate lyases encoded by pel genes, which play a major role in the soft-rot disease caused by this bacterium on various plants. E. chrysanthemi also produces some hydrolases that cleave pectin. Three adjacent hydrolase genes, pehV, pehW, and pehX, encoding exo-poly-α-d-galacturonosidases, have been characterized. These enzymes liberate digalacturonides from the nonreducing end of pectin. We report the identification of a novel gene, named pehN, encoding a protein homologous to the glycosyl hydrolases of family 28, which includes mainly polygalacturonases. PehN has a low hydrolase activity on polygalacturonate and on various pectins. PehN action favors the activity of the secreted endo-pectate lyases, mainly PelB and PelC, and that of the periplasmic exo-pectate lyase PelX. However, removal of the pehN gene does not significantly alter the virulence of E. chrysanthemi. Regulation of pehN transcription was analyzed by using gene fusions. Like other pectinase genes, pehN transcription is dependent on several environmental conditions. It is induced by pectic catabolic products and is affected by growth phase, catabolite repression, osmolarity, anaerobiosis, nitrogen starvation, and the presence of calcium ions. The transcription of pehN is modulated by the repressor KdgR, which controls almost all the steps of pectin catabolism, and by cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP), the global activator of sugar catabolism. The regulator PecS, which represses the transcription of the pel genes but activates that of pehV, pehW, and pehX, also activates transcription of pehN. The three regulators KdgR, PecS, and CRP act by direct interaction with the pehN promoter region. The sequences involved in the binding of these three regulators and of RNA polymerase have been precisely defined. Analysis of the simultaneous binding of these proteins indicates that CRP and RNA polymerase bind cooperatively and that the binding of KdgR could prevent pehN transcription. In contrast, the activator effect of PecS is not linked to competition with KdgR or to cooperation with CRP or RNA polymerase. This effect probably results from competition between PecS and an unidentified repressor involved in peh regulation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (5) ◽  
pp. 1652-1663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir E. Shevchik ◽  
Harry C. M. Kester ◽  
Jacques A. E. Benen ◽  
Jaap Visser ◽  
Janine Robert-Baudouy ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 secretes several pectinolytic enzymes, among which eight isoenzymes of pectate lyases with an endo-cleaving mode (PelA, PelB, PelC, PelD, PelE, PelI, PelL, and PelZ) have been identified. Two exo-cleaving enzymes, the exopolygalacturonate lyase, PelX, and an exo-poly-α-d-galacturonosidase, PehX, have been previously identified in other E. chrysanthemi strains. Using a genomic bank of a 3937 mutant with the major pelgenes deleted, we cloned a pectinase gene identified aspelX, encoding the exopolygalacturonate lyase. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 3937 PelX is very similar to the PelX of another E. chrysanthemi strain, EC16, except in the 43 C-terminal amino acids. PelX also has homology to the endo-pectate lyase PelL of E. chrysanthemi but has a N-terminal extension of 324 residues. The transcription of pelX, analyzed by gene fusions, is dependent on several environmental conditions. It is induced by pectic catabolic products and affected by growth phase, oxygen limitation, nitrogen starvation, and catabolite repression. Regulation of pelX expression is dependent on the KdgR repressor, which controls almost all the steps of pectin catabolism, and on the global activator of sugar catabolism, cyclic AMP receptor protein. In contrast, PecS and PecT, two repressors of the transcription of most pectate lyase genes, are not involved inpelX expression. The pelX mutant displayed reduced pathogenicity on chicory leaves, but its virulence on potato tubers or Saintpaulia ionantha plants did not appear to be affected. The purified PelX protein has no maceration activity on plant tissues. Tetragalacturonate is the best substrate of PelX, but PelX also has good activity on longer oligomers. Therefore, the estimated number of binding subsites for PelX is 4, extending from subsites −2 to +2. PelX and PehX were shown to be localized in the periplasm ofE. chrysanthemi 3937. PelX catalyzed the formation of unsaturated digalacturonates by attack from the reducing end of the substrate, while PehX released digalacturonates by attack from the nonreducing end of the substrate. Thus, the two types of exo-degrading enzymes appeared complementary in the degradation of pectic polymers, since they act on both extremities of the polymeric chain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Stępniak ◽  
Magdalena A. Machnicka ◽  
Jakub Mieczkowski ◽  
Anna Macioszek ◽  
Bartosz Wojtaś ◽  
...  

AbstractChromatin structure and accessibility, and combinatorial binding of transcription factors to regulatory elements in genomic DNA control transcription. Genetic variations in genes encoding histones, epigenetics-related enzymes or modifiers affect chromatin structure/dynamics and result in alterations in gene expression contributing to cancer development or progression. Gliomas are brain tumors frequently associated with epigenetics-related gene deregulation. We perform whole-genome mapping of chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, DNA methylation patterns and transcriptome analysis simultaneously in multiple tumor samples to unravel epigenetic dysfunctions driving gliomagenesis. Based on the results of the integrative analysis of the acquired profiles, we create an atlas of active enhancers and promoters in benign and malignant gliomas. We explore these elements and intersect with Hi-C data to uncover molecular mechanisms instructing gene expression in gliomas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shai Abehsera ◽  
Shmuel Bentov ◽  
Xuguang Li ◽  
Simy Weil ◽  
Rivka Manor ◽  
...  

AbstractDuring their life, crustaceans undergo several molts, which if theoretically compared to the human body would be equivalent to replacing all bones at a single event. Such a dramatic repetitive event is coupled to unique molecular mechanisms of mineralization so far mostly unknown. Unlike human bone mineralized with calcium phosphate, the crustacean exoskeleton is mineralized mainly by calcium carbonate. Crustacean growth thus necessitates well-timed mobilization of bicarbonate to specific extracellular sites of biomineralization at distinct molt cycle stages. Here, by looking at the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus at different molting stages, we suggest that the mechanisms of bicarbonate ion transport for mineralization in crustaceans involve the SLC4 family of transporters and that these proteins play a key role in the tight coupling between molt cycle events and mineral deposition. This discovery of putative bicarbonate transporters in a pancrustacean with functional genomic evidence from genes encoding the SLC4 family—mostly known for their role in pH control—is discussed in the context of the evolution of calcium carbonate biomineralization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6557
Author(s):  
Li-Ying Ren ◽  
Heng Zhao ◽  
Xiao-Ling Liu ◽  
Tong-Kai Zong ◽  
Min Qiao ◽  
...  

Gastrodia elata is a well-known medicinal and heterotrophic orchid. Its germination, limited by the impermeability of seed coat lignin and inhibition by abscisic acid (ABA), is triggered by symbiosis with fungi such as Mycena spp. However, the molecular mechanisms of lignin degradation by Mycena and ABA biosynthesis and signaling in G. elata remain unclear. In order to gain insights into these two processes, this study analyzed the transcriptomes of these organisms during their dynamic symbiosis. Among the 25 lignin-modifying enzyme genes in Mycena, two ligninolytic class II peroxidases and two laccases were significantly upregulated, most likely enabling Mycena hyphae to break through the lignin seed coats of G. elata. Genes related to reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity in Mycena accounted for more than half of annotated genes, presumably contributing to symbiosis. After coculture, upregulated genes outnumbered downregulated genes in G. elata seeds, suggesting slightly increased biological activity, while Mycena hyphae had fewer upregulated than downregulated genes, indicating decreased biological activity. ABA biosynthesis in G. elata was reduced by the downregulated expression of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED-2), and ABA signaling was blocked by the downregulated expression of a receptor protein (PYL12-like). This is the first report to describe the role of NCED-2 and PYL12-like in breaking G. elata seed dormancy by reducing the synthesis and blocking the signaling of the germination inhibitor ABA. This study provides a theoretical basis for screening germination fungi to identify effective symbionts and for reducing ABA inhibition of G. elata seed germination.


Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 157 (3) ◽  
pp. 1169-1177
Author(s):  
Natalia E Abramova ◽  
Brian D Cohen ◽  
Odeniel Sertil ◽  
Rachna Kapoor ◽  
Kelvin J A Davies ◽  
...  

Abstract The DAN/TIR genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encode homologous mannoproteins, some of which are essential for anaerobic growth. Expression of these genes is induced during anaerobiosis and in some cases during cold shock. We show that several heme-responsive mechanisms combine to regulate DAN/TIR gene expression. The first mechanism employs two repression factors, Mox1 and Mox2, and an activation factor, Mox4 (for mannoprotein regulation by oxygen). The genes encoding these proteins were identified by selecting for recessive mutants with altered regulation of a dan1::ura3 fusion. MOX4 is identical to UPC2, encoding a binucleate zinc cluster protein controlling expression of an anaerobic sterol transport system. Mox4/Upc2 is required for expression of all the DAN/TIR genes. It appears to act through a consensus sequence termed the AR1 site, as does Mox2. The noninducible mox4Δ allele was epistatic to the constitutive mox1 and mox2 mutations, suggesting that Mox1 and Mox2 modulate activation by Mox4 in a heme-dependent fashion. Mutations in a putative repression domain in Mox4 caused constitutive expression of the DAN/TIR genes, indicating a role for this domain in heme repression. MOX4 expression is induced both in anaerobic and cold-shocked cells, so heme may also regulate DAN/TIR expression through inhibition of expression of MOX4. Indeed, ectopic expression of MOX4 in aerobic cells resulted in partially constitutive expression of DAN1. Heme also regulates expression of some of the DAN/TIR genes through the Rox7 repressor, which also controls expression of the hypoxic gene ANB1. In addition Rox1, another heme-responsive repressor, and the global repressors Tup1 and Ssn6 are also required for full aerobic repression of these genes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (22) ◽  
pp. eabg3362
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Shaye ◽  
Benjamin Stauch ◽  
Cornelius Gati ◽  
Vadim Cherezov

Metabotropic γ-aminobutyric acid G protein–coupled receptors (GABAB) represent one of the two main types of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. These receptors act both pre- and postsynaptically by modulating the transmission of neuronal signals and are involved in a range of neurological diseases, from alcohol addiction to epilepsy. A series of recent cryo-EM studies revealed critical details of the activation mechanism of GABAB. Structures are now available for the receptor bound to ligands with different modes of action, including antagonists, agonists, and positive allosteric modulators, and captured in different conformational states from the inactive apo to the fully active state bound to a G protein. These discoveries provide comprehensive insights into the activation of the GABAB receptor, which not only broaden our understanding of its structure, pharmacology, and physiological effects but also will ultimately facilitate the discovery of new therapeutic drugs and neuromodulators.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 782
Author(s):  
Joon-Yung Cha ◽  
Sang-Ho Kang ◽  
Myung Geun Ji ◽  
Gyeong-Im Shin ◽  
Song Yi Jeong ◽  
...  

Humic acid (HA) is a principal component of humic substances, which make up the complex organic matter that broadly exists in soil environments. HA promotes plant development as well as stress tolerance, however the precise molecular mechanism for these is little known. Here we conducted transcriptome analysis to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which HA enhances salt stress tolerance. Gene Ontology Enrichment Analysis pointed to the involvement of diverse abiotic stress-related genes encoding HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINs and redox proteins, which were up-regulated by HA regardless of salt stress. Genes related to biotic stress and secondary metabolic process were mainly down-regulated by HA. In addition, HA up-regulated genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) involved in plant development as well as abiotic stress tolerance, and down-regulated TF genes involved in secondary metabolic processes. Our transcriptome information provided here provides molecular evidences and improves our understanding of how HA confers tolerance to salinity stress in plants.


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