Starvation selection restores elastase and rhamnolipid production in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing mutant.
The las quorum-sensing system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa controls the expression of elastase and rhamnolipid. We report that starvation can select a mutant producing these virulence factors in spite of a lasR deletion. Expression of the autoinducer synthase gene rhlI was increased in this suppressor mutant, suggesting compensation by the rhl system. These data show that P. aeruginosa can restore elastase and rhamnolipid production in the absence of a functional las quorum-sensing system.
Van Delden
C
C
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
Pesci
E C
EC
Pearson
J P
JP
Iglewski
B H
BH
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008025:Ligases; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013489:Suppression, Genetic; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C081237:LasI protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; C080365:LasR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D008055:Lipids; C086515:RhlR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; C088697:rhamnosyltransferase 1; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C043859:pseudolysin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D008025:Ligases; C096955:RHLI protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa