SrfJ, a Salmonella type III secretion system effector regulated by PhoP, RcsB, and IolR

J Bacteriol. 2012 Aug;194(16):4226-36. doi: 10.1128/JB.00173-12. Epub 2012 Jun 1.

Abstract

Virulence-related type III secretion systems are present in many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. These complex devices translocate proteins, called effectors, from the bacterium into the eukaryotic host cell. Here, we identify the product of srfJ, a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium gene regulated by SsrB, as a new substrate of the type III secretion system encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity island 2. The N-terminal 20-amino-acid segment of SrfJ was recognized as a functional secretion and translocation signal specific for this system. Transcription of srfJ was positively regulated by the PhoP/PhoQ system in an SsrB-dependent manner and was negatively regulated by the Rcs system in an SsrB-independent manner. A screen for regulators of an srfJ-lacZ transcriptional fusion using the T-POP transposon identified IolR, the regulator of genes involved in myo-inositol utilization, as an srfJ repressor. Our results suggest that SrfJ is synthesized both inside the host, in response to intracellular conditions, and outside the host, in myo-inositol-rich environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Gene Fusion
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / genetics
  • Salmonella typhimurium / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism*
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • SPI-2 protein, Salmonella
  • Transcription Factors
  • Virulence Factors
  • PhoP protein, Bacteria
  • RcsB protein, Bacteria
  • beta-Galactosidase