title: RpoN Regulates Virulence Factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa via Modulating the PqsR Quorum Sensing Regulator.
abstract: The alternative sigma factor RpoN regulates many cell functions, such as motility, quorum sensing, and virulence in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). P. aeruginosa often evolves rpoN-negative variants during the chronic infection in cystic fibrosis patients. It is unclear how RpoN interacts with other regulatory mechanisms to control virulence of P. aeruginosa. In this study, we show that RpoN modulates the function of PqsR, a quorum sensing receptor regulating production of virulence factors including the phenazine pyocyanin. The ∆rpoN mutant is able to synthesize 4-quinolone signal molecule HHQ but unable to activate PqsR and Pseudomonas quinolone signal (pqs) quorum sensing. The ∆rpoN mutant produces minimal level of pyocyanin and is unable to produce the anti-staphylococcal agents. Providing pqsR in trans in the ∆rpoN mutant restores its pqs quorum sensing and virulence factor production to the wild-type level. Our study provides evidence that RpoN has a regulatory effect on P. aeruginosa virulence through modulating the function of the PqsR quorum sensing regulator.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. caiz0013@e.ntu.edu.sg.|Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. caiz0013@e.ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. liu_yang@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. chenyc@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Yicai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. yamk0002@e.ntu.edu.sg.|Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. yamk0002@e.ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Joey Kuok Hoong
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. schew005@e.ntu.edu.sg.|Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. schew005@e.ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Su Chuen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. chuasonglin@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Song Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530000, China. keewang@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. mgivskov@sund.ku.dk.|Costerton Biofilm Center, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 København N, Denmark. mgivskov@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Givskov
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. yangliang@ntu.edu.sg.|School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551. yangliang@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000235:genetics; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000235:genetics*; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; pqsR; quorum sensing; rpoN