A role for TonB1 in biofilm formation and quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
This study revealed that a Pseudomonas aeruginosa tonB1 mutant was unable to produce a mature biofilm and showed reduced swarming and twitching motilities compared with the parent strain. The tonB1 mutant was also found to produce significantly lower cell-free and cell-associated levels of the quorum sensing (QS) signal molecule 3-oxo-C12-AHL. Altered biofilm and motility phenotypes were restored to wildtype with the addition of exogenous N-acylhomoserine lactones. These functions were independent of the role of TonB1 in iron uptake. This is the first time that a link has been established between TonB1 activity and QS.
Abbas
Abdelhamid
A
Microbiology Department, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
Adams
Claire
C
Scully
Norma
N
Glennon
Jeremy
J
O'Gara
Fergal
F
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C489181:tonB protein, E coli; D015107:4-Butyrolactone