Bacteriocin production in Streptococcus gallolyticus is controlled by a complex 4-component regulatory system with activator and anti-activator activities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Proutière ◽  
Bruno Périchon ◽  
Laurence du Merle ◽  
Hugo Varet ◽  
Patrick Trieu-Cuot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Histidine Kinase ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Bacteriocin Production ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Component System ◽  
Streptococcus Gallolyticus ◽  
Two Component

AbstractBacteriocins are natural antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria to kill closely related competitors. The opportunistic pathogen Streptococcus gallolyticus (Sgg) was recently shown to outcompete commensal enterococci of the murine microbiota in tumoral conditions thanks to the production of a two-peptide bacteriocin named gallocin. We here identified 4 genes involved in the regulatory control of gallocin in Sgg UCN34, respectively encoding a histidine kinase/response regulator two-component system (BlpH/BlpR), a secreted peptide (GSP), and a putative regulator of unknown function (BlpS). While BlpR is a typical 243-aa response regulator possessing a phospho-receiver domain and a LytTR DNA-binding domain, BlpS is a 108-aa protein containing only a LytTR domain. Our results showed that the secreted peptide GSP activates the dedicated two-component system BlpH/BlpR to induce gallocin transcription. A genome-wide transcriptome analysis indicates that this regulatory system (GSP-BlpH/BlpR) is highly specific for bacteriocin production. Importantly, as opposed to BlpR, BlpS was shown to repress gallocin gene transcription. A conserved operator DNA sequence of 30-bp was found in all promoter regions regulated by BlpR and BlpS. EMSA assays showed direct and specific binding of the two gallocin regulators to various regulated promoter regions in a dose dependent manner. Gallocin expression appears tightly controlled in Sgg by quorum sensing and antagonistic activity of 2 LytTR-containing proteins.SignificanceStreptococcus gallolyticus (Sgg), formely known as S. bovis biotype I, is an opportunistic pathogen causing septicemia and endocarditis in the elderly often associated with asymptomatic colonic neoplasia. We previously showed that Sgg produces a bacteriocin, termed gallocin, enabling colonization of the colon in tumoral conditions by outcompeting commensal members of the gut. Here we characterized a 4-component regulatory system that regulates gallocin transcription, which is activated by the response regulator BlpR. BlpR itself is activated by a quorum sensing peptide GSP and a dedicated histidine kinase BlpH. Interestingly, BlpS, a small DNA-binding protein co-transcribed with BlpR was found to repress gallocin genes transcription, likely by antagonizing BlpR. Understanding gallocin regulation is crucial to prevent Sgg colon colonization in tumoral conditions.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Four-Component Regulatory System Controlling Bacteriocin Production in Streptococcus gallolyticus

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Proutière ◽  
Laurence du Merle ◽  
Bruno Périchon ◽  
Hugo Varet ◽  
Myriam Gominet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Response Regulator ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Bacteriocin Production ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Component System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Streptococcus Gallolyticus ◽  
Two Component

ABSTRACT Bacteriocins are natural antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria to kill closely related competitors. The opportunistic pathogen Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus was recently shown to outcompete commensal enterococci of the murine microbiota under tumoral conditions thanks to the production of a two-peptide bacteriocin named gallocin. Here, we identified four genes involved in the regulatory control of gallocin in S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus UCN34 that encode a histidine kinase/response regulator two-component system (BlpH/BlpR), a secreted peptide (GSP [gallocin-stimulating peptide]), and a putative regulator of unknown function (BlpS). While BlpR is a typical 243-amino-acid (aa) response regulator possessing a phospho-receiver domain and a LytTR DNA-binding domain, BlpS is a 108-aa protein containing only a LytTR domain. Our results showed that the secreted peptide GSP activates the dedicated two-component system BlpH/BlpR to induce gallocin transcription. A genome-wide transcriptome analysis indicates that this regulatory system (GSP-BlpH/BlpR) is specific for bacteriocin production. Importantly, as opposed to BlpR, BlpS was shown to repress gallocin gene transcription. A conserved operator DNA sequence of 30 bp was found in all promoter regions regulated by BlpR and BlpS. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and footprint assays showed direct and specific binding of BlpS and BlpR to various regulated promoter regions in a dose-dependent manner on this conserved sequence. Gallocin expression appears to be tightly controlled in S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus by quorum sensing and antagonistic activity of 2 LytTR-containing proteins. Competition experiments in gut microbiota medium and 5% CO2 to mimic intestinal conditions demonstrate that gallocin is functional under these in vivo-like conditions. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus, formerly known as Streptococcus bovis biotype I, is an opportunistic pathogen causing septicemia and endocarditis in the elderly often associated with asymptomatic colonic neoplasia. Recent studies indicate that S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus is both a driver and a passenger of colorectal cancer. We previously showed that S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus produces a bacteriocin, termed gallocin, enabling colonization of the colon under tumoral conditions by outcompeting commensal members of the murine microbiota such as Enterococcus faecalis. Here, we identified and extensively characterized a four-component system that regulates gallocin production. Gallocin gene transcription is activated by a secreted peptide pheromone (GSP) and a two-component signal transduction system composed of a transmembrane histidine kinase receptor (BlpH) and a cytosolic response regulator (BlpR). Finally, a DNA-binding protein (BlpS) was found to repress gallocin genes transcription, likely by antagonizing BlpR. Understanding gallocin regulation is crucial to prevent S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus colon colonization under tumoral conditions.

scholarly journals Identification of a Second Two-Component Signal Transduction System That Controls Fosfomycin Tolerance and Glycerol-3-Phosphate Uptake

2014 ◽  
Vol 197 (5) ◽  
pp. 861-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumiko Kurabayashi ◽  
Yuko Hirakawa ◽  
Koichi Tanimoto ◽  
Haruyoshi Tomita ◽  
Hidetada Hirakawa
Keyword(s):  
Phosphate Uptake ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Anaerobic Respiration ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Carbon Substrate ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Biological Cost

Particular interest in fosfomycin has resurfaced because it is a highly beneficial antibiotic for the treatment of refractory infectious diseases caused by pathogens that are resistant to other commonly used antibiotics. The biological cost to cells of resistance to fosfomycin because of chromosomal mutation is high. We previously found that a bacterial two-component system, CpxAR, induces fosfomycin tolerance in enterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli(EHEC) O157:H7. This mechanism does not rely on irreversible genetic modification and allows EHEC to relieve the fitness burden that results from fosfomycin resistance in the absence of fosfomycin. Here we show that another two-component system, TorSRT, which was originally characterized as a regulatory system for anaerobic respiration utilizing trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), also induces fosfomycin tolerance. Activation of the Tor regulatory pathway by overexpression oftorR, which encodes the response regulator, or addition of TMAO increased fosfomycin tolerance in EHEC. We also show that phosphorylated TorR directly represses the expression ofglpT, a gene that encodes a symporter of fosfomycin and glycerol-3-phosphate, and activation of the TorR protein results in the reduced uptake of fosfomycin by cells. However, cells in which the Tor pathway was activated had an impaired growth phenotype when cultured with glycerol-3-phosphate as a carbon substrate. These observations suggest that the TorSRT pathway is the second two-component system to reversibly control fosfomycin tolerance and glycerol-3-phosphate uptake in EHEC, and this may be beneficial for bacteria by alleviating the biological cost. We expect that this mechanism could be a potential target to enhance the utility of fosfomycin as chemotherapy against multidrug-resistant pathogens.

scholarly journals Regulation of Virulence by a Two-Component System in Group B Streptococcus

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (3) ◽  
pp. 1105-1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Mei Jiang ◽  
Michael J. Cieslewicz ◽  
Dennis L. Kasper ◽  
Michael R. Wessels
Keyword(s):  
Response Regulator ◽  
Newborn Infants ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Group B

ABSTRACT Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is frequently carried in the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract as a commensal organism, yet it has the potential to cause life-threatening infection in newborn infants, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic illness. Regulation of virulence factor expression may affect whether GBS behaves as an asymptomatic colonizer or an invasive pathogen, but little is known about how such factors are controlled in GBS. We now report the characterization of a GBS locus that encodes a two-component regulatory system similar to CsrRS (or CovRS) in Streptococcus pyogenes. Inactivation of csrR, encoding the putative response regulator, in two unrelated wild-type strains of GBS resulted in a marked increase in production of beta-hemolysin/cytolysin and a striking decrease in production of CAMP factor, an unrelated cytolytic toxin. Quantitative RNA hybridization experiments revealed that these two phenotypes were associated with a marked increase and decrease in expression of the corresponding genes, cylE and cfb, respectively. The CsrR mutant strains also displayed increased expression of scpB encoding C5a peptidase. Similar, but less marked, changes in gene expression were observed in CsrS (putative sensor component) mutants, evidence that CsrR and CsrS constitute a functional two-component system. Experimental infection studies in mice demonstrated reduced virulence of both CsrR and CsrS mutant strains relative to the wild type. Together, these results indicate that CsrRS regulates expression of multiple GBS virulence determinants and is likely to play an important role in GBS pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Physiological and Molecular Characterization of a Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 Mutant Lacking Histidine Kinase Slr1759 and Response Regulator Slr1760

2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 865-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Nodop ◽  
Iwane Suzuki ◽  
Aiko Barsch ◽  
Ann-Kristin Schröder ◽  
Karsten Niehaus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Histidine Kinase ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Bg11 Medium ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Metabolic Activities ◽  
Synechocystis Sp ◽  
Pcc 6803

Abstract The hybrid sensory histidine kinase Slr1759 of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 contains multiple sensory domains and a multi-step phosphorelay system. Immuno blot analysis provided evidence that the histidine kinase Slr1759 is associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. The gene slr1759 is part of an operon together with slr1760, encoding a response regulator. A comparative investigation was performed on Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 wild type (WT) and an insertionally inactivated slr1759-mutant (Hik14) which also lacks the transcript for the response regulator Slr1760. The mutant Hik14 grew significantly slower than WT in the early growth phase, when both were inoculated with a low cell density into BG11 medium without additional buffer and when aerated with air enriched with 2% CO2. Since the aeration with CO2-enriched air results in a decrease of the pH value in the medium, the growth experiments indicated that Hik14 is not able to adjust its metabolic activities as rapidly as WT to compensate for a larger decrease of the pH value in the medium. No significant differences in growth between Hik14 and WT were observed when cells were inoculated with a higher cell density in BG11 medium or when the BG11 medium contained 50 mm Epps-NaOH, pH 7.5, to prevent the pH drop. This Hik14 phenotype has so far only been seen under the above defined growth condition. Results of photosynthetic activity measurements as well as Northern blot-, immuno blot-, and metabolite analyses suggest that the two-component system Slr1759/Slr1760 has a function in the coordination of several metabolic activities which is in good agreement with the complex domain structure of Slr1759. The direct targets of this two-component system have so far not been identified.

scholarly journals Activated by Different Signals, the PhoP/PhoQ Two-Component System Differentially Regulates Metal Uptake

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (23) ◽  
pp. 7174-7181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunna Choi ◽  
Eduardo A. Groisman ◽  
Dongwoo Shin
Keyword(s):  
Metal Uptake ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Acidic Ph ◽  
Transporter Gene ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Input Signals ◽  
Two Component

ABSTRACT The PhoP/PhoQ two-component system controls several physiological and virulence functions in Salmonella enterica. This system is activated by low Mg2+, acidic pH, and antimicrobial peptides, but the biological consequences resulting from sensing multiple signals are presently unclear. Here, we report that the PhoP/PhoQ system regulates different Salmonella genes depending on whether the inducing signal is acidic pH or low Mg2+. When Salmonella experiences acidic pH, the PhoP/PhoQ system promotes Fe2+ uptake in a process that requires the response regulator RstA, activating transcription of the Fe2+ transporter gene feoB. In contrast, the PhoP-induced RstA protein did not promote feoB expression at neutral pH with low Mg2+. The PhoP/PhoQ system promotes the expression of the Mg2+ transporter mgtA gene only when activated in bacteria starved for Mg2+. This is because mgtA transcription promoted at high Mg2+ concentrations by the acidic-pH-activated PhoP protein failed to reach the mgtA coding region due to the mgtA leader region functioning as a Mg2+ sensor. Our results show that a single two-component regulatory system can regulate distinct sets of genes in response to different input signals.

DevR–DevS is a bona fide two-component system of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is hypoxia-responsive in the absence of the DNA-binding domain of DevR

Microbiology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. 865-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepak Kumar Saini ◽  
Vandana Malhotra ◽  
Deepanwita Dey ◽  
Neha Pant ◽  
Taposh K. Das ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Phosphoryl Transfer ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Two Component

Two-component systems play a central role in the adaptation of pathogenic bacteria to the environment prevailing within host tissues. The genes encoding the response regulator DevR (Rv3133c/DosR) and the cytoplasmic portion (DevS201) of the histidine kinase DevS (Rv3132c/DosS), a putative two-component system of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, were cloned and the protein products were overexpressed, purified and refolded as N-terminally His6-tagged proteins from Escherichia coli. DevS201 underwent autophosphorylation and participated in rapid phosphotransfer to DevR in a Mg2+-dependent manner. Chemical stability analysis and site-directed mutagenesis implicated the highly conserved residues His395 and Asp54 as the sites of phosphorylation in DevS and DevR, respectively. Mutations in Asp8 and Asp9 residues, postulated to form the acidic Mg2+-binding pocket, and the invariant Lys104 of DevR, abrogated phosphoryl transfer from DevS201 to DevR. DevR–DevS was thus established as a typical two-component regulatory system based on His-to-Asp phosphoryl transfer. Expression of the Rv3134c–devR–devS operon was induced at the RNA level in hypoxic cultures of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and was associated with an increase in the level of DevR protein. However, in a devR mutant strain expressing the N-terminal domain of DevR, induction was observed at the level of RNA expression but not at that of protein. DevS was translated independently of DevR and induction of devS transcripts was not associated with an increase in protein level in either wild-type or mutant strains, reflecting differential regulation of this locus during hypoxia.

scholarly journals Diversity of two-component systems: insights into the signal transduction mechanism by the Staphylococcus aureus two-component system GraSR

F1000Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uzma Muzamal ◽  
Daniel Gomez ◽  
Fenika Kapadia ◽  
Dasantila Golemi-Kotra
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Abc Transporter ◽  
Histidine Kinase ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Transduction Mechanism ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Auxiliary Protein

The response to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) in Staphylococcus aureus relies on a two-component system (TCS), GraSR, an auxiliary protein GraX and an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, VraF/G. To understand the signal transduction mechanism by GraSR, we investigated the kinase activity of the cytoplasmic domain of histidine kinase GraS and the interaction with its cognate response regulator GraR. We also investigated interactions among the auxiliary protein GraX, GraS/R and the ATPase protein of the ABC transporter, VraF. We found that GraS lacks autophosphorylation activity, unlike a similar histidine kinase, BceS, of Bacillus subtilis. In addition, the interaction between GraS and GraR is very weak in comparison to the stronger interaction observed between BceS and its conjugated response regulator, BceR, suggesting that CAMP signaling may not flow directly from GraS to GraR. We found that the auxiliary protein GraX interacts with VraF and GraR, and requires the histidine phosphotransfer and dimerization domain of GraS to interact with this protein. Further, VraF requires the GraS region that connects the membrane-bound domain with the cytoplasmic domain of this protein for interaction with GraS. The interactions of GraX with GraS/R and VraF indicate that GraX may serve as a scaffold to bring these proteins in close proximity to GraS, plausibly to facilitate activation of GraS to ultimately transduce the signal to GraR.

scholarly journals Intra- and intermolecular domain interactions among novel two-component system proteins coded by Rv0600c, Rv0601c and Rv0602c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (3) ◽  
pp. 772-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashmi Shrivastava ◽  
Ananta Kumar Ghosh ◽  
Amit Kumar Das
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Histidine Kinase ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Phosphoryl Group ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Domain Interactions ◽  
Cognate Response Regulator

Two-component signal transduction pathways comprising a histidine kinase and its cognate response regulator play a dominant role in the adaptation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to its host, and its virulence, pathogenicity and latency. Autophosphorylation occurs at a conserved histidine of the histidine kinase and subsequently the phosphoryl group is transferred to the conserved aspartate of its cognate response regulator. Among the twelve two-component systems of M. tuberculosis, Rv0600c (HK1), Rv0601c (HK2) and Rv0602c (TcrA) are annotated as a unique three-protein two-component system. HK1 contains an ATP-binding domain, and HK2, a novel Hpt mono-domain protein, contains the conserved phosphorylable histidine residue. HK1 and HK2 complement each other's functions. Interactions among different domains of the HK1, HK2 and TcrA proteins were studied using a yeast two-hybrid system. Self-interaction was observed for HK2 but not for HK1 or TcrA. HK2 was found to interact reasonably well with both HK1 and TcrA, but HK1 interacted weakly with TcrA. The conserved aspartate-containing receiver domain of TcrA interacted well with HK2 but not with HK1. These results suggest the existence of a novel signalling mechanism amongst HK1–HK2–TcrA, and a model for this mechanism is proposed.

scholarly journals Diversity of two-component systems: insights into the signal transduction mechanism by the Staphylococcus aureus two-component system GraSR

F1000Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uzma Muzamal ◽  
Daniel Gomez ◽  
Fenika Kapadia ◽  
Dasantila Golemi-Kotra
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Abc Transporter ◽  
Histidine Kinase ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Transduction Mechanism ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Auxiliary Protein

The response to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) in Staphylococcus aureus relies on a two-component system (TCS), GraSR, an auxiliary protein GraX and an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, VraF/G. To understand the signal transduction mechanism by GraSR, we investigated the kinase activity of the cytoplasmic domain of histidine kinase GraS and the interaction with its cognate response regulator GraR. We also investigated interactions among the auxiliary protein GraX, GraS/R and the ATPase protein of the ABC transporter, VraF. We found that GraS lacks autophosphorylation activity, unlike a similar histidine kinase, BceS, of Bacillus subtilis. In addition, the interaction between GraS and GraR is very weak in comparison to the stronger interaction observed between BceS and its conjugated response regulator, BceR, suggesting that CAMP signaling may not flow directly from GraS to GraR. We found that the auxiliary protein GraX interacts with VraF and GraR, and requires the histidine phosphotransfer and dimerization domain of GraS to interact with this protein. Further, VraF requires the GraS region that connects the membrane-bound domain with the cytoplasmic domain of this protein for interaction with GraS. The interactions of GraX with GraS/R and VraF indicate that GraX may serve as a scaffold to bring these proteins in close proximity to GraS, plausibly to facilitate activation of GraS to ultimately transduce the signal to GraR.

scholarly journals SwrA as global modulator of the two-component system DegS/U in B. subtilis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Ermoli ◽  
Giulia Vitali ◽  
Cinzia Calvio
Keyword(s):  
Response Regulator ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Dna Uptake ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Remarkable Effect ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Glutamate Biosynthesis ◽  
The Impact

The two-component system DegS/U of Bacillus subtilis controls more than one hundred genes involved in several different cellular behaviours. Since the consensus sequence recognized by the response regulator DegU has not been clearly defined yet, mutations in either component have been crucial in the identification of the cellular targets of this regulatory system. Over the years, the degU32Hy mutant allele, that was supposed to mimic the activated regulator, has been commonly used to define the impact of this TCS on its regulated genes in domestic strains. SwrA encodes a small protein essential for swarming motility and for poly-γ-glutamate biosynthesis and is only present in wild strains. Previous work indicated that SwrA is partnering with DegU~P in exerting its role on both phenotypes. In this work, inserting a degS200Hy mutation in swrA+ and swrA- isogenic strains we demonstrate that SwrA modulates the action of DegU~P on two new phenotypes, subtilisin expression and competence for DNA uptake, with a remarkable effect on transformation. These effects cannot not be appreciated with the DegU32Hy mutant as it does not mirror the wild-type DegU protein in its ability to interact with SwrA.

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