Genetic Regulation of Biosynthesis and Resistance to Redox-Active Phenazines in Burkholderia spp.
This study identified genes involved in phenazine production, regulation, and resistance in Burkholderia lata 383, a member of the B. cepacia complex. We analyzed the transcriptomes of phenazine and quorum-sensing (QS) mutants of strain 383. Additionally, we examined transcriptome responses to phenazine in B. lata 383 and two closely related phenazine-non-producing Burkholderia strains. Burkholderia is a diverse genus that includes species of agricultural, medical, and environmental importance. Many of these bacteria produce phenazines, yet the mechanisms controlling phenazine biosynthesis and self-resistance are still not well understood. Our research highlights critical aspects of these pathways, showing similarities with pseudomonads in how these bacteria regulate and respond to these versatile, redox-active metabolites.