scholarly journals LuxT is a Global Regulator of Low-Cell Density Behaviors Including Type III Secretion, Siderophore Production, and Aerolysin Secretion in Vibrio harveyi

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela J. Eickhoff ◽  
Chenyi Fei ◽  
Jian-Ping Cong ◽  
Bonnie L. Bassler
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Cell Density ◽  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Siderophore Production ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Global Regulator ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Regulatory Cascade ◽  
Low Cell Density

Quorum sensing (QS) is a chemical communication process in which bacteria produce, release, and detect extracellular signaling molecules called autoinducers. Via combined transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, QS allows bacteria to collectively alter gene expression on a population-wide scale. Recently, the LuxT transcription factor was shown to control V. harveyiqrr1, encoding the Qrr1 small RNA that functions at the core of the QS regulatory cascade. Here, we use RNA-Sequencing to reveal that, beyond control of qrr1, LuxT is a global regulator of 414 V. harveyi genes including those involved in type III secretion, siderophore production, and aerolysin toxin biosynthesis. Importantly, LuxT directly represses swrZ, encoding a transcription factor, and LuxT control of type III secretion, siderophore, and aerolysin genes occurs by two mechanisms, one that is SwrZ-dependent and one that is SwrZ-independent. All of these target genes specify QS-controlled behaviors that are enacted when V. harveyi is at low cell density. Thus, LuxT and SwrZ function in parallel with QS to drive particular low cell density behaviors. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that luxT is highly conserved among Vibrionaceae, but swrZ is less well conserved. In a test case to examine the relationship between LuxT and SwrZ, we find that in Aliivibrio fischeri, LuxT also functions as a swrZ repressor, and LuxT activates A. fischeri siderophore production via swrZ repression. Our results indicate that LuxT is a major regulator among Vibrionaceae, and, in the species that also possess swrZ, LuxT functions with SwrZ to control gene expression.

scholarly journals Identification of a regulatory cascade controlling Type III Secretion System 3 gene expression in Burkholderia pseudomallei

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang Wen Sun ◽  
Yahua Chen ◽  
Yichun Liu ◽  
Gek-Yen Gladys Tan ◽  
Catherine Ong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Burkholderia Pseudomallei ◽  
Type Iii Secretion System ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Regulatory Cascade

scholarly journals Effector ExoU from the Type III Secretion System Is an Important Modulator of Gene Expression in Lung Epithelial Cells in Response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection

2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 6035-6044 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. McMorran ◽  
L. Town ◽  
E. Costelloe ◽  
J. Palmer ◽  
J. Engel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Lung Epithelial ◽  
Factor C ◽  
Host Genes

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important pathogen in immunocompromised patients and secretes a diverse set of virulence factors that aid colonization and influence host cell defenses. An important early step in the establishment of infection is the production of type III-secreted effectors translocated into host cells by the bacteria. We used cDNA microarrays to compare the transcriptomic response of lung epithelial cells to P. aeruginosa mutants defective in type IV pili, the type III secretion apparatus, or in the production of specific type III-secreted effectors. Of the 18,000 cDNA clones analyzed, 55 were induced or repressed after 4 h of infection and could be classified into four different expression patterns. These include (i) host genes that are induced or repressed in a type III secretion-independent manner (32 clones), (ii) host genes induced specifically by ExoU (20 clones), and (iii) host genes induced in an ExoU-independent but type III secretion dependent manner (3 clones). In particular, ExoU was essential for the expression of immediate-early response genes, including the transcription factor c-Fos. ExoU-dependent gene expression was mediated in part by early and transient activation of the AP1 transcription factor complex. In conclusion, the present study provides a detailed insight into the response of epithelial cells to infection and indicates the significant role played by the type III virulence mechanism in the initial host response.

scholarly journals Hfq and sRNA 179 Inhibit Expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa cAMP-Vfr and Type III Secretion Regulons

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayley H. Janssen ◽  
Jodi M. Corley ◽  
Louise Djapgne ◽  
J. T. Cribbs ◽  
Deven Voelker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Expression Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Small Noncoding Rnas

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen causing skin and soft tissue, respiratory, and bloodstream infections. The type III secretion system (T3SS) is one important virulence factor. Production of the T3SS is controlled by ExsA, a transcription factor that activates expression of the entire T3SS regulon. Global regulators including Vfr, RsmA, and Hfq also contribute to regulation of the T3SS. Vfr is a cAMP-responsive transcription factor that activates exsA transcription. RsmA, an RNA-binding protein, inversely controls expression of the T3SS and the type VI secretion system (T6SS). Hfq is an RNA chaperone that functions by stabilizing small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) and/or facilitating base pairing between sRNAs and mRNA targets. A previous study identified sRNA 1061, which directly targets the exsA mRNA and likely inhibits ExsA synthesis. In this study, we screened an sRNA expression library and identified sRNA 179 as an Hfq-dependent inhibitor of T3SS gene expression. Further characterization revealed that sRNA 179 inhibits the synthesis of both ExsA and Vfr. The previous finding that RsmA stimulates ExsA and Vfr synthesis suggested that sRNA 179 impacts the Gac/Rsm system. Consistent with that idea, the inhibitory activity of sRNA 179 is suppressed in a mutant lacking rsmY and rsmZ, and sRNA 179 expression stimulates rsmY transcription. RsmY and RsmZ are small noncoding RNAs that sequester RsmA from target mRNAs. Our combined findings show that Hfq and sRNA 179 indirectly regulate ExsA and Vfr synthesis by reducing the available pool of RsmA, leading to reduced expression of the T3SS and cAMP-Vfr regulons. IMPORTANCE Control of gene expression by small noncoding RNA (sRNA) is well documented but underappreciated. Deep sequencing of mRNA preparations from Pseudomonas aeruginosa suggests that >500 sRNAs are generated. Few of those sRNAs have defined roles in gene expression. To address that knowledge gap, we constructed an sRNA expression library and identified sRNA 179 as a regulator of the type III secretion system (T3SS) and the cAMP-Vfr regulons. The T3SS- and cAMP-Vfr-controlled genes are critical virulence factors. Increased understanding of the signals and regulatory mechanisms that control these important factors will enhance our understanding of disease progression and reveal potential approaches for therapeutic intervention.

scholarly journals Vfr Directly ActivatesexsATranscription To Regulate Expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type III Secretion System

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (9) ◽  
pp. 1442-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Marsden ◽  
Peter J. Intile ◽  
Kayley H. Schulmeyer ◽  
Ethan R. Simmons-Patterson ◽  
Mark L. Urbanowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Virulence Gene ◽  
Type Iv Pili ◽  
Global Regulator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virulence Gene Expression ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Type Iv

ABSTRACTThePseudomonas aeruginosacyclic AMP (cAMP)-Vfr system (CVS) is a global regulator of virulence gene expression. Regulatory targets include type IV pili, secreted proteases, and the type III secretion system (T3SS). The mechanism by which CVS regulates T3SS gene expression remains undefined. Single-cell expression studies previously found that only a portion of the cells within a population express the T3SS under inducing conditions, a property known as bistability. We now report that bistability is altered in avfrmutant, wherein a substantially smaller fraction of the cells express the T3SS relative to the parental strain. Since bistability usually involves positive-feedback loops, we tested the hypothesis that virulence factor regulator (Vfr) regulates the expression ofexsA. ExsA is the central regulator of T3SS gene expression and autoregulates its own expression. AlthoughexsAis the last gene of theexsCEBApolycistronic mRNA, we demonstrate that Vfr directly activatesexsAtranscription from a second promoter (PexsA) located immediately upstream ofexsA. PexsApromoter activity is entirely Vfr dependent. Direct binding of Vfr to a PexsApromoter probe was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and DNase I footprinting revealed an area of protection that coincides with a putative Vfr consensus-binding site. Mutagenesis of that site disrupted Vfr binding and PexsApromoter activity. We conclude that Vfr contributes to T3SS gene expression through activation of the PexsApromoter, which is internal to the previously characterizedexsCEBAoperon.IMPORTANCEVfr is a cAMP-dependent DNA-binding protein that functions as a global regulator of virulence gene expression inPseudomonas aeruginosa. Regulation by Vfr allows for the coordinate production of related virulence functions, such as type IV pili and type III secretion, required for adherence to and intoxication of host cells, respectively. Although the molecular mechanism of Vfr regulation has been defined for many target genes, a direct link between Vfr and T3SS gene expression had not been established. In the present study, we report that Vfr directly controlsexsAtranscription, the master regulator of T3SS gene expression, from a newly identified promoter located immediately upstream ofexsA.

scholarly journals Concomitant Regulation by a LacI-Type Transcriptional Repressor XylR on Genes Involved in Xylan and Xylose Metabolism and the Type III Secretion System in Rice Pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 605-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumi Ikawa ◽  
Sayaka Ohnishi ◽  
Akiko Shoji ◽  
Ayako Furutani ◽  
Seiji Tsuge
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Type Iii Secretion System ◽  
Xylose Isomerase ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Xanthomonas Oryzae ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Xylose Metabolism ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Hrp Genes

The hypersensitive response and pathogenicity (hrp) genes of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal agent of bacterial leaf blight of rice, encode components of the type III secretion system and are essential for virulence. Expression of hrp genes is regulated by two key hrp regulators, HrpG and HrpX; HrpG regulates hrpX and hrpA, and HrpX regulates the other hrp genes on hrpB-hrpF operons. We previously reported the sugar-dependent quantitative regulation of HrpX; the regulator highly accumulates in the presence of xylose, followed by high hrp gene expression. Here, we found that, in a mutant lacking the LacI-type transcriptional regulator XylR, HrpX accumulation and hrp gene expression were high even in the medium without xylose, reaching the similar levels present in the wild type incubated in the xylose-containing medium. XylR also negatively regulated one of two xylose isomerase genes (xylA2 but not xylA1) by binding to the motif sequence in the upstream region of the gene. Xylose isomerase is an essential enzyme in xylose metabolism and interconverts between xylose and xylulose. Our results suggest that, in the presence of xylose, inactivation of XylR leads to greater xylan and xylose utilization and, simultaneously, to higher accumulation of HrpX, followed by higher hrp gene expression in the bacterium.

scholarly journals LINC00473 as an Immediate Early Gene under the Control of the EGR1 Transcription Factor

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Vincenza Aliperti ◽  
Emilia Vitale ◽  
Francesco Aniello ◽  
Aldo Donizetti
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Immediate Early Genes ◽  
Immediate Early Gene ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Immediate Early ◽  
Secondary Response ◽  
Early Genes ◽  
Regulatory Cascade ◽  
Non Coding Rnas

Immediate early genes play an essential role in cellular responses to different stimuli. Many of them are transcription factors that regulate the secondary response gene expression. Non-coding RNAs may also be involved in this regulatory cascade. In fact, they are emerging as key actors of gene expression regulation, and evidence suggests that their dysregulation may underly pathological states. We previously took a snapshot of both coding and long non-coding RNAs differentially expressed in neuronal cells after brain-derived neurotrophic factor stimulation. Among these, the transcription factor EGR1 (a well-known immediate early gene) and LINC00473 (a primate-specific long non-coding RNA) that has emerged as an interesting RNA candidate involved in neuronal function and in cancer. In this work, we demonstrated that LINC00473 gene expression kinetics resembled that of immediate early genes in SH-SY5Y and HEK293T cells under different cell stimulation conditions. Moreover, we showed that the expression of LINC00473 is under the control of the transcription factor EGR1, providing evidence for an interesting functional relationship in neuron function.

scholarly journals Control of Type III Secretion System Effector/Chaperone Ratio Fosters Pathogen Adaptation to Host-Adherent Lifestyle

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Netanel Elbaz ◽  
Yaakov Socol ◽  
Naama Katsowich ◽  
Ilan Rosenshine
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Type Iii Secretion System ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Host Colonization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Attached State

ABSTRACT The transition from a planktonic lifestyle to a host-attached state is often critical for bacterial virulence. Upon attachment to host cells, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) employs a type III secretion system (T3SS) to inject into the host cells ∼20 effector proteins, including Tir. CesT, which is encoded from the same operon downstream of tir, is a Tir-bound chaperone that facilitates Tir translocation. Upon Tir translocation, the liberated CesT remains in the bacterial cytoplasm and antagonizes the posttranscriptional regulator CsrA, thus eliciting global regulation in the infecting pathogen. Importantly, tight control of the Tir/CesT ratio is vital, since an uncontrolled surge in free CesT levels may repress CsrA in an untimely manner, thus abrogating colonization. We investigated how fluctuations in Tir translation affect the regulation of this ratio. By creating mutations that cause the premature termination of Tir translation, we revealed that the untranslated tir mRNA becomes highly unstable, resulting in a rapid drop in cesT mRNA levels and, thus, CesT levels. This mechanism couples Tir and CesT levels to ensure a stable Tir/CesT ratio. Our results expose an additional level of regulation that enhances the efficacy of the initial interaction of EPEC with the host cell, providing a better understanding of the bacterial switch from the planktonic to the cell-adherent lifestyle. IMPORTANCE Host colonization by extracellular pathogens often entails the transition from a planktonic lifestyle to a host-attached state. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), a Gram-negative pathogen, attaches to the intestinal epithelium of the host and employs a type III secretion system (T3SS) to inject effector proteins into the cytoplasm of infected cells. The most abundant effector protein injected is Tir, whose translocation is dependent on the Tir-bound chaperon CesT. Upon Tir injection, the liberated CesT binds to and inhibits the posttranscriptional regulator CsrA, resulting in reprogramming of gene expression in the host-attached bacteria. Thus, adaptation to the host-attached state involves dynamic remodeling of EPEC gene expression, which is mediated by the relative levels of Tir and CesT. Fluctuating from the optimal Tir/CesT ratio results in a decrease in EPEC virulence. Here we elucidate a posttranscriptional circuit that prevents sharp variations from this ratio, thus improving host colonization.

scholarly journals MucA-Mediated Coordination of Type III Secretion and Alginate Synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (22) ◽  
pp. 7575-7585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihui Wu ◽  
Hassan Badrane ◽  
Shiwani Arora ◽  
Henry V. Baker ◽  
Shouguang Jin
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Calcium Signal ◽  
Insertion Mutant ◽  
Type Iii

ABSTRACT The type III secretion system (T3SS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important virulence factor. The T3SS of P. aeruginosa can be induced by a low calcium signal or upon direct contact with the host cells. The exact pathway of signal sensing and T3SS activation is not clear. By screening a transposon insertion mutant library of the PAK strain, mutation in the mucA gene was found to cause repression of T3SS expression under both type III-inducing and -noninducing conditions. Mutation in the mucA gene is known to cause alginate overproduction, resulting in a mucoid phenotype. Alginate production responds to various environmental stresses and plays a protective role for P. aeruginosa. Comparison of global gene expression of mucA mutant and wild-type PAK under T3SS-inducing conditions confirmed the down regulation of T3SS genes and up regulation of genes involved in alginate biosynthesis. Further analysis indicated that the repression of T3SS in the mucA mutant was AlgU and AlgR dependent, as double mutants mucA/algU and mucA/algR showed normal type III expression. An algR::Gm mutant showed a higher level of type III expression, while overexpression of the algR gene inhibited type III gene expression; thus, it seems that the AlgR-regulated product inhibits the expression of the T3SS genes. It is likely that P. aeruginosa has evolved tight regulatory networks to turn off the energy-expensive T3SS when striving for survival under environmental stresses.

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