Characterization of combinatorial patterns generated by multiple two-component sensors in E. coli that respond to many stimuli.
Two-component systems enable bacteria to sense changes in their environment and adjust gene expression in response. Multiple two-component systems could function as a combinatorial sensor to discriminate environmental conditions. A combinatorial sensor is composed of a set of sensors that are non-specifically activated to different magnitudes by many stimuli, such that their collective activity pattern defines the signal. Using promoter reporters and flow cytometry, we measured the response of three two-component systems in Escherichia coli that have been previously reported to respond to many environmental stimuli (EnvZ/OmpR, CpxA/CpxR, and RcsC/RcsD/RcsB). A chemical library was screened for the ability to activate the sensors and 13 inducers were identified that produce different patterns of sensor activity. The activities of the three systems are uncorrelated with each other and the osmolarity of the inducing media. Five of the seven possible non-trivial patterns generated by three sensors are observed. This data demonstrate one mechanism by which bacteria are able to use a limited set of sensors to identify a diverse set of compounds and environmental conditions.
Graduate Group in Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, USA.
Elizabeth J
EJ
Clarke
Christopher A
CA
Voigt
D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D015398:Signal Transduction
D003470:Culture Media
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2002 Sep;66(9):1945-50
12400696
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 Feb;71(2):522-5
4360948
J Bacteriol. 2005 Mar;187(6):2038-49
15743952
Neuron. 2005 Nov 3;48(3):417-30
16269360
J Bacteriol. 1984 Jan;157(1):233-9
6360997
Biochem Soc Trans. 1991 Feb;19(1):36-9
2037169
J Bacteriol. 2006 Jun;188(12):4264-70
16740933
J Bacteriol. 2001 Dec;183(24):7213-23
11717281
J Mol Biol. 1981 Sep 5;151(1):1-15
6799653
Nat Rev Microbiol. 2004 Feb;2(2):161-6
15040263
Mol Microbiol. 2003 Aug;49(3):823-32
12864862
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2002 Nov;3(11):884-95
12415296
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1980 Jan;77(1):513-7
6102380
Acc Chem Res. 2004 Sep;37(9):663-72
15379582
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;631:200-13
18792691
Annu Rev Microbiol. 2005;59:379-405
16153174
J Bacteriol. 1976 Feb;125(2):670-8
1107328
Chem Rev. 2000 Jul 12;100(7):2649-78
11749299
J Bacteriol. 1988 Apr;170(4):1837-42
2832383
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 May 12;95(10):5442-7
9576901
Sci Am. 2001 Mar;284(3):29-30
11234503
Bioinspir Biomim. 2006 Mar;1(1):P1-P12
17671297
J Bacteriol. 1998 Feb;180(4):831-9
9473036
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 21;100(2):691-6
12522261
J Bacteriol. 1977 Aug;131(2):623-30
328490
J Biol Chem. 2002 Jul 19;277(29):26652-61
11953442
J Bacteriol. 1999 Jan;181(2):577-84
9882673
J Bacteriol. 2003 Apr;185(8):2432-40
12670966
J Bacteriol. 2009 Mar;191(6):1798-815
19103922
J Biol Chem. 1989 May 25;264(15):8563-7
2656684
J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2000 Oct;50(10):1750-8
11288303
J Bacteriol. 2004 Jul;186(14):4694-704
15231802
J Bacteriol. 2005 Aug;187(16):5723-31
16077119
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jun 24;100(13):7702-7
12805558
Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Jan;32(1):153-5
3279905
Mol Microbiol. 2002 Mar;43(6):1493-504
11952900
Mol Microbiol. 1998 Aug;29(3):835-50
9723922
Mol Microbiol. 2002 Oct;46(1):281-91
12366850
Cell. 2004 Jun 11;117(6):713-20
15186773
Waste Manag. 2007;27(2):302-9
16766175
J Bacteriol. 1985 Jun;162(3):1111-9
3888955
J Bacteriol. 1996 Feb;178(4):1204-6
8576059
Curr Opin Microbiol. 2006 Apr;9(2):143-52
16481212
J Bacteriol. 2003 Aug;185(16):4956-72
12897016
J Mol Biol. 2006 Jan 27;355(4):619-27
16330045
J Bacteriol. 2002 Aug;184(15):4246-58
12107143
J Bacteriol. 2003 Oct;185(19):5735-46
13129944
J Bacteriol. 1995 Aug;177(16):4696-702
7642497
J Gen Microbiol. 1992 Sep;138(9):1829-35
1328470
Arch Microbiol. 2000 Jan;173(1):78-82
10648109
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2004 Sep;65(4):457-64
15095024
Cell. 2009 Jul 23;138(2):233-44
19632175
J Bacteriol. 2008 Mar;190(6):2065-74
18192383
J Bacteriol. 1984 Apr;158(1):246-52
6325389
J Bacteriol. 1995 Sep;177(17):5062-9
7665485
J Bacteriol. 1991 Nov;173(21):6882-8
1718943