Divergent evolution of the activity and regulation of the glutamate decarboxylase systems in Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e and 10403S: roles in virulence and acid tolerance.
The glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) system has been shown to be important for the survival of Listeria monocytogenes in low pH environments. The bacterium can use this faculty to maintain pH homeostasis under acidic conditions. The accepted model for the GAD system proposes that the antiport of glutamate into the bacterial cell in exchange for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is coupled to an intracellular decarboxylation reaction of glutamate into GABA that consumes protons and therefore facilitates pH homeostasis. Most strains of L. monocytogenes possess three decarboxylase genes (gadD1, D2 & D3) and two antiporter genes (gadT1 & gadT2). Here, we confirm that the gadD3 encodes a glutamate decarboxylase dedicated to the intracellular GAD system (GADi), which produces GABA from cytoplasmic glutamate in the absence of antiport activity. We also compare the functionality of the GAD system between two commonly studied reference strains, EGD-e and 10403S with differences in terms of acid resistance. Through functional genomics we show that EGD-e is unable to export GABA and relies exclusively in the GADi system, which is driven primarily by GadD3 in this strain. In contrast 10403S relies upon GadD2 to maintain both an intracellular and extracellular GAD system (GADi/GADe). Through experiments with a murinised variant of EGD-e (EGDm) in mice, we found that the GAD system plays a significant role in the overall virulence of this strain. Double mutants lacking either gadD1D3 or gadD2D3 of the GAD system displayed reduced acid tolerance and were significantly affected in their ability to cause infection following oral inoculation. Since EGDm exploits GADi but not GADe the results indicate that the GADi system makes a contribution to virulence within the mouse. Furthermore, we also provide evidence that there might be a separate line of evolution in the GAD system between two commonly used reference strains.
Bacterial Stress Response Group, Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Conor
C
Feehily
Bacterial Stress Response Group, Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Aiden
A
Finnerty
Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Pat G
PG
Casey
Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Colin
C
Hill
Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Cormac G M
CG
Gahan
Bacterial Stress Response Group, Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Conor P
CP
O'Byrne
Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
Kimon-Andreas G
KA
Karatzas
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line / Q000382:microbiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000382:microbiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase