Expression of Borrelia burgdorferi OspC and DbpA is controlled by a RpoN-RpoS regulatory pathway.
RpoS and RpoN are two alternative sigma factors typically associated with general stress responses in bacteria. To date, there has been no experimental evidence that RpoS and RpoN can directly control the expression of one another. Herein, using a combined strategy of gene disruption and genetic complementation targeting rpoN and rpoS in Borrelia burgdorferi strain 297, we describe a regulatory network for B. burgdorferi. In this network, RpoN controls the expression of RpoS, which, in turn, governs the expression of two important membrane lipoproteins, outer surface protein C and decorin-binding protein A, and likely other proteins of B. burgdorferi. Our findings provide a foundation for elucidating further key regulatory networks that potentially impact many aspects of B. burgdorferi's parasitic strategy, host range, and virulence expression.
Hübner
A
A
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Yang
X
X
Nolen
D M
DM
Popova
T G
TG
Cabello
F C
FC
Norgard
M V
MV
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics*; D051877:RNA Polymerase Sigma 54; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C079616:OspC protein; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; C497751:rpoN protein, E coli; C069567:sigma factor KatF protein, Bacteria; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D051877:RNA Polymerase Sigma 54; C065908:dbpA protein, E coli; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases