Vibrio cholerae CytR is a repressor of biofilm development.
Vibrio cholerae is both a human pathogen and a natural inhabitant of aquatic environments. In the aquatic environment, microorganisms are found attached to surfaces in structures known as biofilms. We have identified a transcriptional repressor in V. cholerae that inhibits exopolysaccharide synthesis and biofilm development. Our studies show that this repressor is the V. cholerae homologue of Escherichia coli CytR, a protein that represses nucleoside uptake and catabolism when nucleosides are scarce. We propose that the role of CytR in V. cholerae biofilm development is to co-ordinate bacterial biofilm accumulation with the presence of nucleosides. Thus, nucleosides may be a signal to planktonic cells to join the biofilm.
Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, New England Medical Center, 750 Washington St., Box 041, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Adam J
AJ
Haugo
Paula I
PI
Watnick
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D003562:Cytidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C465565:CytR protein, Vibrio cholerae; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D009705:Nucleosides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C462660:udp protein, E coli; D003562:Cytidine