scholarly journals The NtrC Family Regulator AlgB, Which Controls Alginate Biosynthesis in Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Binds Directly to the algD Promoter

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (2) ◽  
pp. 581-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Leech ◽  
April Sprinkle ◽  
Lynn Wood ◽  
Daniel J. Wozniak ◽  
Dennis E. Ohman
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Alginate Production ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay ◽  
Exponential Enrichment ◽  
Microarray Analyses ◽  
Phosphorylation Domain

ABSTRACT Alginate production in mucoid (MucA-defective) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is dependent upon several transcriptional regulators, including AlgB, a two-component response regulator belonging to the NtrC family. This role of AlgB was apparently independent of its sensor kinase, KinB, and even the N-terminal phosphorylation domain of AlgB was dispensable for alginate biosynthetic gene (i.e., algD operon) activation. However, it remained unclear whether AlgB stimulated algD transcription directly or indirectly. In this study, microarray analyses were used to examine a set of potential AlgB-dependent, KinB-independent genes in a PAO1 mucA background that overlapped with genes induced by d-cycloserine, which is known to activate algD expression. This set contained only the algD operon plus one other gene that was shown to be uninvolved in alginate production. This suggested that AlgB promotes alginate production by directly binding to the algD promoter (PalgD). Chromosome immunoprecipitation revealed that AlgB bound in vivo to PalgD but did not bind when AlgB had an R442E substitution that disrupted the DNA binding domain. AlgB also showed binding to PalgD fragments in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay at pH 4.5 but not at pH 8.0. A direct systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment approach showed AlgB binding to a 50-bp fragment located at bp −224 to −274 relative to the start of PalgD transcription. Thus, AlgB belongs to a subclass of NtrC family proteins that can activate promoters which utilize a sigma factor other than σ54, in this case to stimulate transcription from the σ22-dependent PalgD promoter.

scholarly journals Transcript analysis reveals an extended regulon and the importance of protein–protein co-operativity for the Escherichia coli methionine repressor

2006 ◽  
Vol 396 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferenc Marincs ◽  
Iain W. Manfield ◽  
Jonathan A. Stead ◽  
Kenneth J. Mcdowall ◽  
Peter G. Stockley
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Gene Replacement ◽  
Dna Arrays ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Metabolic Role ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay

We have used DNA arrays to investigate the effects of knocking out the methionine repressor gene, metJ, on the Escherichia coli transcriptome. We assayed the effects in the knockout strain of supplying wild-type or mutant MetJ repressors from an expression plasmid, thus establishing a rapid assay for in vivo effects of mutations characterized previously in vitro. Repression is largely restricted to known genes involved in the biosynthesis and uptake of methionine. However, we identified a number of additional genes that are significantly up-regulated in the absence of repressor. Sequence analysis of the 5′ promoter regions of these genes identified plausible matches to met-box sequences for three of these, and subsequent electrophoretic mobility-shift assay analysis showed that for two such loci their repressor affinity is higher than or comparable with the known metB operator, suggesting that they are directly regulated. This can be rationalized for one of the loci, folE, by the metabolic role of its encoded enzyme; however, the links to the other regulated loci are unclear, suggesting both an extension to the known met regulon and additional complexity to the role of the repressor. The plasmid gene replacement system has been used to examine the importance of protein–protein co-operativity in operator saturation using the structurally characterized mutant repressor, Q44K. In vivo, there are detectable reductions in the levels of regulation observed, demonstrating the importance of balancing protein–protein and protein–DNA affinity.

scholarly journals Role of MexZ and PA5471 in transcriptional regulation of mexXY in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (10) ◽  
pp. 3312-3321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Yamamoto ◽  
Atsuhisa Ueda ◽  
Makoto Kudo ◽  
Yasuhiro Matsuo ◽  
Jun Fukushima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Drug Efflux Pump ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay

MexXY, a drug efflux pump in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, confers resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. We recently reported that MexZ binds to the promoter region of the mexXY operon. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) using recombinant MexZ and oligonucleotide probes prepared from the intergenic region between mexZ and mexX revealed that MexZ binds to a 20 bp palindromic sequence. Culture of P. aeruginosa in the presence of tetracycline induced higher levels of MexX and MexZ, as measured by immunoblotting and EMSA, than in the absence of antibiotics. When MexZ was expressed by a mexZ expression plasmid, the plasmid-borne MexZ repressed drug-induced MexX production, further confirming that MexZ acts as a repressor of the mexXY operon. PA5471 protein has been reported to be essential for drug-induced MexXY production. Similarly to that report, we observed that plasmid-borne PA5471 induced both MexX and MexZ production in PAO1 cells. Interestingly, interaction between MexZ and PA5471 was observed in a yeast two-hybrid assay. Furthermore, EMSA and in vitro transcription assays revealed that interaction between PA5471 and MexZ reduced MexZ DNA-binding ability, leading to mexXY transcription. These findings contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of mexZ and mexXY by drug-induced PA5471 expression.

scholarly journals The Azotobacter vinelandii Response Regulator AlgR Is Essential for Cyst Formation

1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinthia Núñez ◽  
Soledad Moreno ◽  
Gloria Soberón-Chávez ◽  
Guadalupe Espín
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Azotobacter Vinelandii ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Sensor Kinase ◽  
Alginate Production ◽  
Key Enzyme

ABSTRACT Azotobacter vinelandii produces the exopolysaccharide alginate, which is essential for the encystment process. InPseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as in A. vinelandii, the ςE factor encoded byalgU is required for transcription of algD, which encodes a key enzyme of the alginate biosynthetic pathway. TheP. aeruginosa response regulator AlgR activates transcription of algD. fimS, located upstreamalgR, is proposed to encode the AlgR cognate sensor kinase. We have cloned and characterized the A. vinelandii algRgene; the deduced amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by this gene shows 79% identity with its P. aeruginosa homolog. Sequence analysis around the algR gene revealed the absence of a fimS homolog. Inactivation of A. vinelandii algR diminished alginate production by 50%, but did not affectalgD transcription, and completely impaired the capacity to form mature cysts. Electron microscopy of the cyst structures formed by the algR mutant revealed that the encystment process is blocked at the step of exine formation. The transcriptional regulation of the A. vinelandii algR gene and the role of AlgR in alginate production differ significantly from those of its P. aeruginosa counterparts. These differences could be due to the fact that in A. vinelandii, alginate plays a role in encystment, a function not found in P. aeruginosa.

scholarly journals Crystal structure of the nucleoid-associated protein Fis (PA4853) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 209-215
Author(s):  
Juan Zhou ◽  
Zengqiang Gao ◽  
Heng Zhang ◽  
Yuhui Dong
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Dna Inversion ◽  
Terminal Loop ◽  
Factor For Inversion Stimulation ◽  
Critical Residues ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay

Factor for inversion stimulation (Fis) is a versatile bacterial nucleoid-associated protein that can directly bind and bend DNA to influence DNA topology. It also plays crucial roles in regulating bacterial virulence factors and in optimizing bacterial adaptation to various environments. Fis from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA4853, referred to as PaFis) has recently been found to be required for virulence by regulating the expression of type III secretion system (T3SS) genes. PaFis can specifically bind to the promoter region of exsA, which functions as a T3SS master regulator, to regulate its expression and plays an essential role in transcription elongation from exsB to exsA. Here, the crystal structure of PaFis, which is composed of a four-helix bundle and forms a homodimer, is reported. PaFis shows remarkable structural similarities to the well studied Escherichia coli Fis (EcFis), including an N-terminal flexible loop and a C-terminal helix–turn–helix (HTH) motif. However, the critical residues for Hin-catalyzed DNA inversion in the N-terminal loop of EcFis are not conserved in PaFis and further studies are required to investigate its exact role. A gel-electrophoresis mobility-shift assay showed that PaFis can efficiently bind to the promoter region of exsA. Structure-based mutagenesis revealed that several conserved basic residues in the HTH motif play essential roles in DNA binding. These structural and biochemical studies may help in understanding the role of PaFis in the regulation of T3SS expression and in virulence.

scholarly journals Exogenous Alginate Protects Staphylococcus aureus from Killing by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2019 ◽  
Vol 202 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E. Price ◽  
Dustin G. Brown ◽  
Dominique H. Limoli ◽  
Vanessa V. Phelan ◽  
George A. O’Toole
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Late Time ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alginate Production ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients chronically infected with both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus have worse health outcomes than patients who are monoinfected with either P. aeruginosa or S. aureus. We showed previously that mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa can coexist with S. aureus in vitro due to the transcriptional downregulation of several toxic exoproducts typically produced by P. aeruginosa, including siderophores, rhamnolipids, and HQNO (2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide). Here, we demonstrate that exogenous alginate protects S. aureus from P. aeruginosa in both planktonic and biofilm coculture models under a variety of nutritional conditions. S. aureus protection in the presence of exogenous alginate is due to the transcriptional downregulation of pvdA, a gene required for the production of the iron-scavenging siderophore pyoverdine as well as the downregulation of the PQS (Pseudomonas quinolone signal) (2-heptyl-3,4-dihydroxyquinoline) quorum sensing system. The impact of exogenous alginate is independent of endogenous alginate production. We further demonstrate that coculture of mucoid P. aeruginosa with nonmucoid P. aeruginosa strains can mitigate the killing of S. aureus by the nonmucoid strain of P. aeruginosa, indicating that the mechanism that we describe here may function in vivo in the context of mixed infections. Finally, we investigated a panel of mucoid clinical isolates that retain the ability to kill S. aureus at late time points and show that each strain has a unique expression profile, indicating that mucoid isolates can overcome the S. aureus-protective effects of mucoidy in a strain-specific manner. IMPORTANCE CF patients are chronically infected by polymicrobial communities. The two dominant bacterial pathogens that infect the lungs of CF patients are P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, with ∼30% of patients coinfected by both species. Such coinfected individuals have worse outcomes than monoinfected patients, and both species persist within the same physical space. A variety of host and environmental factors have been demonstrated to promote P. aeruginosa-S. aureus coexistence, despite evidence that P. aeruginosa kills S. aureus when these organisms are cocultured in vitro. Thus, a better understanding of P. aeruginosa-S. aureus interactions, particularly mechanisms by which these microorganisms are able to coexist in proximal physical space, will lead to better-informed treatments for chronic polymicrobial infections.

scholarly journals Transcription Factors Pcr1 and Atf1 Have Distinct Roles in Stress- and Sty1-Dependent Gene Regulation

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 826-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Sansó ◽  
Madelaine Gogol ◽  
José Ayté ◽  
Chris Seidel ◽  
Elena Hidalgo
Keyword(s):  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Repressive Effect ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Promote Cell Survival ◽  
Stress Dependent ◽  
Microarray Analyses ◽  
Stress Activation

ABSTRACT The mitogen-activated protein kinase Sty1 is essential for the regulation of transcriptional responses that promote cell survival in response to different types of environmental stimuli in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Upon stress activation, Sty1 reversibly accumulates in the nucleus, where it stimulates gene expression via the Atf1 transcription factor. The Atf1 protein forms a heterodimer with Pcr1, but the specific role of this association is controversial. We have carried out a comparative analysis of strains lacking these proteins individually. We demonstrate that Atf1 and Pcr1 have similar but not identical roles in S. pombe, since cells lacking Pcr1 do not share all the phenotypes reported for Δatf1 cells. Northern blot and microarray analyses demonstrate that the responses to specific stresses of cells lacking either Pcr1 or Atf1 do not fully overlap, and even though most Atf1-dependent genes induced by osmotic stress are also Pcr1 dependent, a subset of genes require only the presence of Atf1 for their induction. Whereas binding of Atf1 to most stress-dependent genes requires the presence of Pcr1, we demonstrate here that Atf1 can bind to the Pcr1-independent promoters in a Δpcr1 strain in vivo. Furthermore, these analyses show that both proteins have a global repressive effect on stress-dependent and stress-independent genes.

scholarly journals The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sensor Kinase KinB Negatively Controls Alginate Production through AlgW-Dependent MucA Proteolysis

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (7) ◽  
pp. 2285-2295 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Heath Damron ◽  
Dongru Qiu ◽  
Hongwei D. Yu
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis Mutation ◽  
Strain Pao1 ◽  
Alginate Production ◽  
Mucoid Conversion ◽  
Σ Factor ◽  
Lung Infections

ABSTRACT Mucoidy, or overproduction of the exopolysaccharide known as alginate, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a poor prognosticator for lung infections in cystic fibrosis. Mutation of the anti-σ factor MucA is a well-accepted mechanism for mucoid conversion. However, certain clinical mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa have a wild-type (wt) mucA. Here, we describe a loss-of-function mutation in kinB that causes overproduction of alginate in the wt mucA strain PAO1. KinB is the cognate histidine kinase for the transcriptional activator AlgB. Increased alginate production due to inactivation of kinB was correlated with high expression at the alginate-related promoters P algU and P algD . Deletion of alternative σ factor RpoN (σ54) or the response regulator AlgB in kinB mutants decreased alginate production to wt nonmucoid levels. Mucoidy was restored in the kinB algB double mutant by expression of wt AlgB or phosphorylation-defective AlgB.D59N, indicating that phosphorylation of AlgB was not required for alginate overproduction when kinB was inactivated. The inactivation of the DegS-like protease AlgW in the kinB mutant caused loss of alginate production and an accumulation of the hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged MucA. Furthermore, we observed that the kinB mutation increased the rate of HA-MucA degradation. Our results also indicate that AlgW-mediated MucA degradation required algB and rpoN in the kinB mutant. Collectively, these studies indicate that KinB is a negative regulator of alginate production in wt mucA strain PAO1.

Distinct functional contributions of 2 GABP–NRF-2 recognition sites within the context of the human TOMM70 promoter

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 813-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
José R. Blesa ◽  
José Hernández-Yago
Keyword(s):  
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Outer Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
A Subunit ◽  
Expression Evidence ◽  
Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays

TOMM70 is a subunit of the outer mitochondrial membrane translocase that plays a major role as a receptor of hydrophobic preproteins targeted to mitochondria. We have previously reported 2 binding sites for the transcription factor GABP–NRF-2 in the promoter region of the human TOMM70 gene that are important in activating transcription. To assess the functionality and actual role of these sites, chromatin immunoprecipitation, site-directed mutagenesis, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were carried out. We conclude that GABP–NRF-2 binds in vivo to the TOMM70 promoter, and that the 2 GABP–NRF-2 binding sites of the promoter have different functional contributions in promoting TOMM70 expression. Evidence is provided that they work in an additive manner as single sites.

scholarly journals Role of LecA and LecB Lectins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Induced Lung Injury and Effect of Carbohydrate Ligands

2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 2065-2075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanez Chemani ◽  
Anne Imberty ◽  
Sophie de Bentzmann ◽  
Maud Pierre ◽  
Michaela Wimmerová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Acute Lung Injury ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
Parental Strain ◽  
A549 Cells ◽  
Carbohydrate Ligands ◽  
Vitro Model

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a frequently encountered pathogen that is involved in acute and chronic lung infections. Lectin-mediated bacterium-cell recognition and adhesion are critical steps in initiating P. aeruginosa pathogenesis. This study was designed to evaluate the contributions of LecA and LecB to the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa-mediated acute lung injury. Using an in vitro model with A549 cells and an experimental in vivo murine model of acute lung injury, we compared the parental strain to lecA and lecB mutants. The effects of both LecA- and Lec B-specific lectin-inhibiting carbohydrates (α-methyl-galactoside and α-methyl-fucoside, respectively) were evaluated. In vitro, the parental strain was associated with increased cytotoxicity and adhesion on A549 cells compared to the lecA and lecB mutants. In vivo, the P. aeruginosa-induced increase in alveolar barrier permeability was reduced with both mutants. The bacterial burden and dissemination were decreased for both mutants compared with the parental strain. Coadministration of specific lectin inhibitors markedly reduced lung injury and mortality. Our results demonstrate that there is a relationship between lectins and the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa. Inhibition of the lectins by specific carbohydrates may provide new therapeutic perspectives.

Chromatin structure and function: the heretical path to an RNA transcription factor

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 623-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarida O. Krause
Keyword(s):  
Chromatin Structure ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Myc Gene ◽  
And Function

This review represents a synthesis of the work of the author and her collaborators through 40 years of research aimed at an understanding of chromatin composition and functional arrangement. It describes the progressive experimental stages, starting with autoradiography and protein analysis and continuing on to a more functional approach testing the template properties of intact nuclei, as well as nuclei depleted of, or reconstituted with, defined fractions extracted from the chromatin of other cell lines or tissues. As new questions were raised at each phase of these studies, the investigation was shifted from chromosomal proteins to the role of a small RNA that coextracted with one protein fraction and whose properties suggested a transcription-activating function. The active RNA was identified as a class in RNA, designated as 7 SK. Its properties suggested a role in the activation of two oncogenes, the SV 40 T-antigen and the mammalian c-myc gene. A detailed analysis of the c-myc gene expression during transformation induction in temperature-sensitive mammalian cells finally culminated in in vivo evidence for a role of 7 SK in c-myc deregulation, using cells transfected with antisense oligonucleotides to block 7 SK activity. This was followed by an investigation of promoter targeting by 7 SK RNP using electrophoretic mobility shift assays with whole or 7 SK-depleted cell extracts. Taken together, these studies indicate that 7 SK RNP participates in transformation-dependent deregulation of the c-myc gene by activation of two c-myc minor promoters. The implications of these findings are discussed.Key words: chromatin structure, histones, nonhistones, 7 SK RNA, the c-myc gene, transcription regulation, SV 40, transformation.

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