Pseudomonas syringae coordinates production of a motility-enabling surfactant with flagellar assembly

J Bacteriol. 2012 Mar;194(6):1287-98. doi: 10.1128/JB.06058-11. Epub 2011 Dec 22.

Abstract

Using a sensitive assay, we observed low levels of an unknown surfactant produced by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a that was not detected by traditional methods yet enabled swarming motility in a strain that exhibited deficient production of syringafactin, the main characterized surfactant produced by P. syringae. Random mutagenesis of the syringafactin-deficient strain revealed an acyltransferase with homology to rhlA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa that was required for production of this unidentified surfactant, subsequently characterized by mass spectrometry as 3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy) alkanoic acid (HAA). Analysis of other mutants with altered surfactant production revealed that HAA is coordinately regulated with the late-stage flagellar gene encoding flagellin; mutations in genes involved in early flagellar assembly abolish or reduce HAA production, while mutations in flagellin or flagellin glycosylation genes increase its production. When colonizing a hydrated porous surface, the bacterium increases production of both flagellin and HAA. P. syringae was defective in porous-paper colonization without functional flagella and was slightly inhibited in this movement when it lacked surfactant production. Loss of HAA production in a syringafactin-deficient strain had no effect on swimming but abolished swarming motility. In contrast, a strain that lacked HAA but retained syringafactin production exhibited broad swarming tendrils, while a syringafactin-producing strain that overproduced HAA exhibited slender swarming tendrils. On the basis of further analysis of mutants altered in HAA production, we discuss its regulation in Pseudomonas syringae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Flagella / physiology*
  • Flagellin / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Locomotion*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Pseudomonas syringae / genetics
  • Pseudomonas syringae / metabolism
  • Pseudomonas syringae / physiology*
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry
  • Surface-Active Agents / metabolism*

Substances

  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Flagellin