title: A complex network regulates expression of eps and other virulence genes of Pseudomonas solanacearum.
abstract: We have discovered an unusual and complex regulatory network used by the phytopathogen Pseudomonas solanacearum to control transcription of eps, which encodes for production of its primary virulence factor, the exopolysaccharide EPS I. The major modules of this network were shown to be three separate signal transduction systems: PhcA, a LysR-type transcriptional regulator, an dual two-component regulatory systems, VsrA/VsrD and VsrB/VsrC. Using lacZ fusions and RNA analysis, we found that both PhcA and VsrA/VsrD control transcription of another network component, xpsR, which in turn acts in conjunction with vsrB/vsrC to increase transcription of the eps promoter by > 25-fold. Moreover, gel shift DNA binding assays showed that PhcA specifically binds to the xpsR promoter region. Thus, the unique XpsR protein interconnects the three signal transduction systems, forming a network for convergent control of EPS I in simultaneous response to multiple environmental inputs. In addition, we demonstrate that each individual signaling system of the network also acts independently to divergently regulate other unique sets of virulence factors. The purpose of this complex network may be to allow this phytopathogen to both coordinately or independently regulate diverse virulence factors in order to cope with the dynamic situations and conditions encountered during interactions with plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Weissinger
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000235:genetics*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013489:Suppression, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C082933:PhcA protein, Ralstonia solanacearum; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C086708:VsrA protein, Ralstonia solanacearum; C092195:VsrC protein, Ralstonia solanacearum; C092196:VsrD protein, Ralstonia solanacearum; C092197:XpsR protein, Ralstonia solanacearum