Exogenous Yersinia pestis quorum sensing molecules N-octanoyl-homoserine lactone and N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-homoserine lactone regulate the LcrV virulence factor.
LcrV is a key Yersinia pestis antigen, immune regulator, and component of the type III secretion system (T3SS). Researchers have shown that N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) can down-regulate the expression of the LcrV homolog, PcrV, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using ELISA, western blot, DNA microarray analysis, and real time PCR we demonstrate that the addition of AHL molecules N-octanoyl-homoserine lactone (C8) or N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-homoserine lactone (oxo-C8) to Y. pestis cultures down-regulates LcrV protein expression. DNA microarray analysis shows 10 additional T3SS genes are consistently down-regulated by C8 or oxo-C8. This is the first report demonstrating that AHLs regulate Y. pestis virulence factor expression.
Gelhaus
H Carl
HC
United States Army Medical Institute of Infectious Diseases, Bacteriology Division, 1425 Porter St., 21702 Ft. Detrick, MD, USA. carlgelhaus@yahoo.com
Rozak
David A
DA
Nierman
William C
WC
Chen
Dan
D
Varga
John J
JJ
Zadeh
Mojgan
M
Ulrich
Ricky L
RL
Adamovicz
Jeffrey J
JJ
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006714:Homoserine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism*; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007783:Lactones; C043908:LcrV protein, Yersinia; C091088:N-octanoylhomoserine lactone; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D006714:Homoserine