title: Intercellular communication and conjugation are mediated by ESX secretion systems in mycobacteria.
abstract: Communal bacterial processes require intercellular communication mediated by secretion systems to coordinate appropriate molecular responses. Intercellular communication has not been described previously in mycobacteria. Here we show that the ESX secretion-system family member ESX-4 is essential for conjugal recipient activity in Mycobacterium smegmatis Transcription of esx4 genes in the recipient requires coculture with a donor strain and a functional ESX-1 apparatus in the recipient. Conversely, mutation of the donor ESX-1 apparatus amplifies the esx4 transcriptional response in the recipient. The effect of ESX-1 on esx4 transcription correlates with conjugal DNA transfer efficiencies. Our data show that intercellular communication via ESX-1 controls the expression of its evolutionary progenitor, ESX-4, to promote conjugation between mycobacteria.
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY 12201-2002, USA. todd.gray@health.ny.gov keith.derbyshire@health.ny.gov.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12201-02002, USA.
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY 12201-2002, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY 12201-2002, USA.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY 12201-2002, USA.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lapierre
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY 12201-2002, USA.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY 12201-2002, USA. todd.gray@health.ny.gov keith.derbyshire@health.ny.gov.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12201-02002, USA.
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Derbyshire
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D009154:Mutation; D020102:Mycobacterium smegmatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000069377:Type VII Secretion Systems / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D000069377:Type VII Secretion Systems