scholarly journals A mathematical model of flagellar gene regulation and construction in Salmonella enterica

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiersten Utsey ◽  
James P. Keener
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Infection Process ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Flagellar Gene ◽  
Foodborne Illnesses ◽  
Master Regulator ◽  
Regulator Protein

AbstractMillions of people worldwide develop foodborne illnesses caused by Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) every year. The pathogenesis of S. enterica depends on flagella, which are appendages that the bacteria use to move through the environment. Interestingly, populations of genetically identical bacteria exhibit heterogeneity in the number of flagella. To understand this heterogeneity and the regulation of flagella quantity, we propose a mathematical model that connects the flagellar gene regulatory network to flagellar construction. A regulatory network involving more than 60 genes controls flagellar assembly. The most important member of the network is the master operon, flhDC, which encodes the FlhD4C2 protein. FlhD4C2 controls the construction of flagella by initiating the production of hook basal bodies (HBBs), protein structures that anchor the flagella to the bacterium. By connecting a model of FlhD4C2 regulation to a model of HBB construction, we investigate the roles of various feedback mechanisms. Analysis of our model suggests that a combination of regulatory mechanisms at the protein and transcriptional levels induce bistable FlhD4C2 levels and heterogeneous numbers of flagella. Also, the balance of regulatory mechanisms that become active following HBB construction is sufficient to provide a counting mechanism for controlling the total number of flagella produced.Author summarySalmonella causes foodborne illnesses in millions of people worldwide each year. Flagella, which are appendages that the bacteria use to move through the environment, are a key factor in the infection process. Populations of genetically identical bacteria have been observed to contain both motile cells, generally with 6–10 flagella, and nonmotile cells, with no flagella. In this paper, we use mathematical models of the gene network that regulates flagellar construction to explore how the bacteria controls the number of flagella produced. We suggest that a bacterium must accumulate a threshold amount of a master regulator protein to initiate flagella production and failure to reach the threshold results in no flagella. Downstream mechanisms that impact the amount of master regulator protein are sufficient to determine how many flagella are produced.

scholarly journals Genetic Analysis of Colistin Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

2009 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 2298-2305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Sun ◽  
Aurel Negrea ◽  
Mikael Rhen ◽  
Dan I. Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Mutation Rate ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Regulator Protein ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Sensor Kinases ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT Colistin is a cyclic cationic peptide that kills gram-negative bacteria by interacting with and disrupting the outer membrane. We isolated 44 independent mutants in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with reduced susceptibility to colistin and identified 27 different missense mutations located in the pmrA and pmrB genes (encoding the regulator and sensor of a two-component regulatory system) that conferred increased resistance. By comparison of the two homologous sensor kinases, PmrB and EnvZ, the 22 missense mutations identified in pmrB were shown to be located in four different structural domains of the protein. All five pmrA mutations were located in the phosphate receiver domain of the regulator protein. The mutants appeared at a mutation rate of 0.6 × 10−6 per cell per generation. The MICs of colistin for the mutants increased 2- to 35-fold, and the extent of killing was reduced several orders of magnitude compared to the susceptible strain. The growth rates of the mutants were slightly reduced in both rich medium and M9-glycerol minimal medium, whereas growth in mice appeared unaffected by the pmrA and pmrB mutations. The low fitness costs and the high mutation rate suggest that mutants with reduced susceptibility to colistin could emerge in clinical settings.

scholarly journals Screening Driving Transcription Factors in the Processing of Gastric Cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangzhong Xu ◽  
Kai Li ◽  
Nengwei Zhang ◽  
Bin Zhu ◽  
Guosheng Feng
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory Network ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Functional Enrichment ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory

Background. Construction of the transcriptional regulatory network can provide additional clues on the regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic applications in gastric cancer.Methods. Gene expression profiles of gastric cancer were downloaded from GEO database for integrated analysis. All of DEGs were analyzed by GO enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment. Transcription factors were further identified and then a global transcriptional regulatory network was constructed.Results. By integrated analysis of the six eligible datasets (340 cases and 43 controls), a bunch of 2327 DEGs were identified, including 2100 upregulated and 227 downregulated DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs showed that digestion was a significantly enriched GO term for biological process. Moreover, there were two important enriched KEGG pathways: cell cycle and homologous recombination. Furthermore, a total of 70 differentially expressed TFs were identified and the transcriptional regulatory network was constructed, which consisted of 566 TF-target interactions. The top ten TFs regulating most downstream target genes were BRCA1, ARID3A, EHF, SOX10, ZNF263, FOXL1, FEV, GATA3, FOXC1, and FOXD1. Most of them were involved in the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer.Conclusion. The transcriptional regulatory network can help researchers to further clarify the underlying regulatory mechanisms of gastric cancer tumorigenesis.

Regulation of Capsule Synthesis and Cell Motility in Salmonella enterica by the Essential Gene igaA

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 162 (4) ◽  
pp. 1513-1523
Author(s):  
David A Cano ◽  
Gustavo Domínguez-Bernal ◽  
Alberto Tierrez ◽  
Francisco Garcia-del Portillo ◽  
Josep Casadesús
Keyword(s):  
Cell Motility ◽  
Gene Product ◽  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Essential Gene ◽  
Fibroblast Cells ◽  
Null Mutant ◽  
Functional Interaction ◽  
Cells In Culture ◽  
System A

Abstract Mutants of Salmonella enterica carrying the igaA1 allele, selected as able to overgrow within fibroblast cells in culture, are mucoid and show reduced motility. Mucoidy is caused by derepression of wca genes (necessary for capsule synthesis); these genes are regulated by the RcsC/YojN/RcsB phosphorelay system and by the RcsA coregulator. The induction of wca expression in an igaA1 mutant is suppressed by mutations in rcsA and rcsC. Reduced motility is caused by lowered expression of the flagellar master operon, flhDC, and is suppressed by mutations in rcsB or rcsC, suggesting that mutations in the igaA gene reduce motility by activating the RcsB/C system. A null igaA allele can be maintained only in an igaA+/igaA merodiploid, indicating that igaA is an essential gene. Lethality is suppressed by mutations in rcsB, rcsC, and yojN, but not in rcsA, suggesting that the viability defect of an igaA null mutant is mediated by the RcsB/RcsC system, independently of RcsA (and therefore of the wca genes). Because all the defects associated with igaA mutations are suppressed by mutations that block the RcsB/RcsC system, we propose a functional interaction between the igaA gene product and either the Rcs regulatory network or one of its regulated products.

scholarly journals Molecular circuits for associative learning in single-celled organisms

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (34) ◽  
pp. 463-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrisantha T Fernando ◽  
Anthony M.L Liekens ◽  
Lewis E.H Bingle ◽  
Christian Beck ◽  
Thorsten Lenser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Associative Learning ◽  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Protein Kinases ◽  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Phosphorylated Protein ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Gene Regulatory

We demonstrate how a single-celled organism could undertake associative learning. Although to date only one previous study has found experimental evidence for such learning, there is no reason in principle why it should not occur. We propose a gene regulatory network that is capable of associative learning between any pre-specified set of chemical signals, in a Hebbian manner, within a single cell. A mathematical model is developed, and simulations show a clear learned response. A preliminary design for implementing this model using plasmids within Escherichia coli is presented, along with an alternative approach, based on double-phosphorylated protein kinases.

scholarly journals SlyA and HilD Counteract H-NS-Mediated Repression on the ssrAB Virulence Operon of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium and Thus Promote Its Activation by OmpR

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
María M. Banda ◽  
Crispín Zavala-Alvarado ◽  
Deyanira Pérez-Morales ◽  
Víctor H. Bustamante
Keyword(s):  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Additive Action ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Bacterial Fitness

ABSTRACT H-NS-mediated repression of acquired genes and the subsequent adaptation of regulatory mechanisms that counteract this repression have played a central role in the Salmonella pathogenicity evolution. The Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) is an acquired chromosomal region containing genes necessary for Salmonella enterica to colonize and replicate in different niches of hosts. The ssrAB operon, located in SPI-2, encodes the two-component system SsrA-SsrB, which positively controls the expression of the SPI-2 genes but also other many genes located outside SPI-2. Several regulators have been involved in the expression of ssrAB, such as the ancestral regulators SlyA and OmpR, and the acquired regulator HilD. In this study, we show how SlyA, HilD, and OmpR coordinate to induce the expression of ssrAB under different growth conditions. We found that when Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is grown in nutrient-rich lysogeny broth (LB), SlyA and HilD additively counteract H-NS-mediated repression on ssrAB, whereas in N-minimal medium (N-MM), SlyA antagonizes H-NS-mediated repression on ssrAB independently of HilD. Interestingly, our results indicate that OmpR is required for the expression of ssrAB independently of the growth conditions, even in the absence of repression by H-NS. Therefore, our data support two mechanisms adapted for the expression of ssrAB under different growth conditions. One involves the additive action of SlyA and HilD, whereas the other involves SlyA, but not HilD, to counteract H-NS-mediated repression on ssrAB, thus favoring in both cases the activation of ssrAB by OmpR. IMPORTANCE The global regulator H-NS represses the expression of acquired genes and thus avoids possible detrimental effects on bacterial fitness. Regulatory mechanisms are adapted to induce expression of the acquired genes in particular niches to obtain a benefit from the information encoded in the foreign DNA, as for pathogenesis. Here, we show two mechanisms that were integrated for the expression of virulence genes in Salmonella Typhimurium. One involves the additive action of the regulators SlyA and HilD, whereas the other involves SlyA, but not HilD, to counteract H-NS-mediated repression on the ssrAB operon, thus favoring its activation by the OmpR regulator. To our knowledge, this is the first report involving the coordinated action of two regulators to counteract H-NS-mediated repression.

scholarly journals Complete Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Siphophage Skate

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (27) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Rohren ◽  
Yicheng Xie ◽  
Chandler O’Leary ◽  
Rohit Kongari ◽  
Jason Gill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Complete Genome Sequence ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Complete Genome ◽  
Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Foodborne Illnesses ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Typhimurium Strain ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a Gram-negative pathogen and a primary cause of foodborne illnesses worldwide. Here, we present the complete 47,393-bp genome sequence of the siphophage Skate, which was isolated against S. Typhimurium strain LT2.

Continuous control of flagellar gene expression by the σ28-FlgM regulatory circuit in Salmonella enterica

2010 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 264-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supreet Saini ◽  
Emily Floess ◽  
Christine Aldridge ◽  
Jonathon Brown ◽  
Phillip D. Aldridge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Continuous Control ◽  
Flagellar Gene ◽  
Regulatory Circuit

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of the Mg2+-Responsive PhoP-PhoQ Regulon in Salmonella enterica

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (21) ◽  
pp. 6287-6294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Lejona ◽  
Andrés Aguirre ◽  
María Laura Cabeza ◽  
Eleonora García Véscovi ◽  
Fernando C. Soncini
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Direct Repeat ◽  
Infection Process ◽  
Promoter Regions

ABSTRACT The PhoP/PhoQ two-component system controls the extracellular magnesium deprivation response in Salmonella enterica. In addition, several virulence-associated genes that are mainly required for intramacrophage survival during the infection process are under the control of its transcriptional regulation. Despite shared Mg2+ modulation of the expression of the PhoP-activated genes, no consensus sequence common to all of them could be detected in their promoter regions. We have investigated the transcriptional regulation and the interaction of the response regulator PhoP with the promoter regions of the PhoP-activated loci phoPQ, mgtA, slyB, pmrD, pcgL, phoN, pagC, and mgtCB. A direct repeat of the heptanucleotide sequence (G/T)GTTTA(A/T) was identified as the conserved motif recognized by PhoP to directly control the gene expression of the first five loci, among which the first four are ancestral to enterobacteria. On the other hand, no direct interaction of the response regulator with the promoter of phoN, pagC, or mgtCB was apparent by either in vitro or in vivo assays. These loci are Salmonella specific and were probably acquired by horizontal DNA transfer. Besides, sequence analysis of pag promoters revealed the presence of a conserved PhoP box in 6 out of the 12 genes analyzed. Our results strongly suggest that the expression of a set of Mg2+-controlled genes is driven by PhoP via unknown intermediate regulatory mechanisms that could also involve ancillary factors.

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