Listeria monocytogenes differential transcriptome analysis reveals temperature-dependent Agr regulation and suggests overlaps with other regulons

PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e43154. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043154. Epub 2012 Sep 14.

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous, opportunistic pathogenic organism. Environmental adaptation requires constant regulation of gene expression. Among transcriptional regulators, AgrA is part of an auto-induction system. Temperature is an environmental cue critical for in vivo adaptation. In order to investigate how temperature may affect AgrA-dependent transcription, we compared the transcriptomes of the parental strain L. monocytogenes EGD-e and its ΔagrA mutant at the saprophytic temperature of 25°C and in vivo temperature of 37°C. Variations of transcriptome were higher at 37°C than at 25°C. Results suggested that AgrA may be involved in the regulation of nitrogen transport, amino acids, purine and pyrimidine biosynthetic pathways and phage-related functions. Deregulations resulted in a growth advantage at 37°C, but affected salt tolerance. Finally, our results suggest overlaps with PrfA, σB, σH and CodY regulons. These overlaps may suggest that through AgrA, Listeria monocytogenes integrates information on its biotic environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Biological Transport / genetics
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Listeria monocytogenes / genetics*
  • Listeria monocytogenes / growth & development
  • Listeria monocytogenes / metabolism
  • Plankton / growth & development
  • Regulon / genetics*
  • Salt Tolerance / genetics
  • Sigma Factor / genetics
  • Temperature*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Sigma Factor
  • Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

This work was funded by local authorities grant support (Conseil Régional de Bourgogne Grant number PARI Agrale 11 [http://region-bourgogne.fr/Le-plan-d-actions-regional-pour-l-innovation-PARI,40,4438]). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.