Multiple sensors control reciprocal expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa regulatory RNA and virulence genes.
The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for a wide range of acute and chronic infections. The transition to chronic infections is accompanied by physiological changes in the bacteria favoring formation of biofilm communities. Here we report the identification of LadS, a hybrid sensor kinase that controls the reciprocal expression of genes for type III secretion and biofilm-promoting polysaccharides. Domain organization of LadS and the range of LadS-controlled genes suggest that it counteracts the activities of another sensor kinase, RetS. These two pathways converge by controlling the transcription of a small regulatory RNA, RsmZ. This work identifies a previously undescribed signal transduction network in which the activities of signal-receiving sensor kinases LadS, RetS, and GacS regulate expression of virulence genes associated with acute or chronic infection by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms.
Ventre
Isabelle
I
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale et Microbiologie, Unité Propre de Recherche 9027, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
Goodman
Andrew L
AL
Vallet-Gely
Isabelle
I
Vasseur
Perrine
P
Soscia
Chantal
C
Molin
Søren
S
Bleves
Sophie
S
Lazdunski
Andrée
A
Lory
Stephen
S
Filloux
Alain
A
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C507835:RetS protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D037521:Virulence Factors; D012313:RNA; D011494:Protein Kinases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase