Identification of a novel regulator of the quorum-sensing systems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2009 Apr;293(2):196-204. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2009.01544.x. Epub 2009 Mar 2.

Abstract

Quorum sensing is a global gene-regulatory mechanism in bacteria that enables individual bacterial cells to communicate and coordinate their population behaviors. Quorum sensing is central to the pathogenesis of many bacterial pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and therefore has been exploited as a target for developing novel antipathogenic drugs. In P. aeruginosa, three intertwined quorum-sensing systems, las, rhl, and the 2-alkyl-4(1H)-quinolone system, which includes the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), control virulence factor production, and pathogenesis processes. Previously, we obtained a mutant with diminished expression of the phzA1B1C1D1E1F1G1 operon that is involved in the production of virulence factor phenazine compounds. In this study, the mutant was further characterized, and evidence indicating that the disrupted gene PA1196 in the mutant is a potential regulator of the rhl and PQS systems is presented. PA1196 positively controls the expression of the rhl and PQS systems and affects bacterial motility and multiple virulence factor expression via the quorum-sensing systems. This adds an important new player in the complex quorum-sensing network in P. aeruginosa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Locomotion
  • Phenazines / metabolism
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology*
  • Quorum Sensing*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / physiology*
  • Virulence Factors / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Phenazines
  • Trans-Activators
  • Virulence Factors