title: ClpC acts as a negative regulator of competence in Streptococcus thermophilus.
abstract: The alternative sigma factor ComX is a key regulator of natural transformation in members of the genus Streptococcus. ComX controls expression of the late competence genes, which are essential for DNA binding, uptake and recombination. In Streptococcus pneumoniae, it has been demonstrated that ComX is degraded by ClpEP at the end of the competence period. In the present study we show that a different Clp protease complex, ClpCP, contributes to ComX degradation in Streptococcus thermophilus. Mutant strains lacking the ClpC chaperone displayed significantly increased transformability compared with the wild-type strain under conditions where ComX was expressed at relatively low levels. At higher expression levels, ClpCP appears to become saturated and unable to prevent the accumulation of ComX. Together, our results suggest that the role of ClpC is to mediate degradation of ComX when the sigma factor is produced in low amounts, i.e. when the environmental stimulus promoting competence development is weak. This would prevent S. thermophilus from developing the competent state at an inappropriate time and/or place.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
authors: Truls Johan
authors: TJ
authors: Biørnstad
authors: Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
authors: Leiv Sigve
authors: LS
authors: Håvarstein
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003470:Culture Media; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C087481:ClpC protein, Bacteria; C120829:ComX protein, Streptococcus; D003470:Culture Media; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors