The regulon of Brucella abortus two-component system BvrR/BvrS reveals the coordination of metabolic pathways required for intracellular life

PLoS One. 2022 Sep 21;17(9):e0274397. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274397. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Brucella abortus is a facultative intracellular pathogen causing a severe zoonotic disease worldwide. The two-component regulatory system (TCS) BvrR/BvrS of B. abortus is conserved in members of the Alphaproteobacteria class. It is related to the expression of genes required for host interaction and intracellular survival. Here we report that bvrR and bvrS are part of an operon composed of 16 genes encoding functions related to nitrogen metabolism, DNA repair and recombination, cell cycle arrest, and stress response. Synteny of this genomic region within close Alphaproteobacteria members suggests a conserved role in coordinating the expression of carbon and nitrogen metabolic pathways. In addition, we performed a ChIP-Seq analysis after exposure of bacteria to conditions that mimic the intracellular environment. Genes encoding enzymes at metabolic crossroads of the pentose phosphate shunt, gluconeogenesis, cell envelope homeostasis, nucleotide synthesis, cell division, and virulence are BvrR/BvrS direct targets. A 14 bp DNA BvrR binding motif was found and investigated in selected gene targets such as virB1, bvrR, pckA, omp25, and tamA. Understanding gene expression regulation is essential to elucidate how Brucella orchestrates a physiological response leading to a furtive pathogenic strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Brucella abortus* / metabolism
  • Brucellosis* / genetics
  • Carbon / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Nucleotides / metabolism
  • Regulon / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Nucleotides
  • Carbon
  • DNA
  • Nitrogen

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.19450661