Influence of RpoS, cAMP-receptor protein, and ppGpp on expression of the opgGH operon and osmoregulated periplasmic glucan content of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Can J Microbiol. 2009 Nov;55(11):1284-93. doi: 10.1139/w09-086.

Abstract

A transcriptional fusion (opgG1::MudJ) to the opgGH operon of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) LT2, isolated by resistance to mecillinam, was used to study the influence of global regulators RpoS, ppGpp, and cAMP/cAMP-receptor protein (CRP) on expression of the opgGH operon and osmoregulated periplasmic glucan (OPG) content. Neither high growth medium osmolarity nor absence of ppGpp or CRP had important effects on opgG1::MudJ expression in exponential cultures. However, under the same conditions, OPG content was strongly decreased by high osmolarity or cAMP/CRP defectiveness, and reduced to a half by lack of ppGpp. In stationary cultures, high osmolarity as well as CRP loss caused significant descents in opgG1::MudJ expression that were compensated by inactivation of RpoS sigma factor. No effect of RpoS inactivation on OPG content was observed. It is concluded that opgGH expression in S. Typhimurium is only slightly affected by high osmolarity, but is inversely modulated by RpoS level. On the other hand, osmolarity and the cAMP/CRP global regulatory system appear to control OPG content, either directly or indirectly, mainly at the post-transcriptional level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Glucans / analysis
  • Glucans / metabolism*
  • Guanosine Tetraphosphate / genetics
  • Guanosine Tetraphosphate / metabolism
  • Operon
  • Periplasm / chemistry
  • Periplasm / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / analysis
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / genetics
  • Salmonella typhimurium / growth & development
  • Salmonella typhimurium / metabolism*
  • Sigma Factor / metabolism
  • Water-Electrolyte Balance

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein
  • Glucans
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Sigma Factor
  • sigma factor KatF protein, Bacteria
  • Guanosine Tetraphosphate