The AHL- and BDSF-dependent quorum sensing systems control specific and overlapping sets of genes in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e49966. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049966. Epub 2012 Nov 20.

Abstract

Quorum sensing in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 involves two signalling systems that depend on different signal molecules, namely N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) and the diffusible signal factor cis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF). Previous studies have shown that AHLs and BDSF control similar phenotypic traits, including biofilm formation, proteolytic activity and pathogenicity. In this study we mapped the BDSF stimulon by RNA-Seq and shotgun proteomics analysis. We demonstrate that a set of the identified BDSF-regulated genes or proteins are also controlled by AHLs, suggesting that the two regulons partially overlap. The detailed analysis of two mutually regulated operons, one encoding three lectins and the other one encoding the large surface protein BapA and its type I secretion machinery, revealed that both AHLs and BDSF are required for full expression, suggesting that the two signalling systems operate in parallel. In accordance with this, we show that both AHLs and BDSF are required for biofilm formation and protease production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acyl-Butyrolactones / metabolism*
  • Biofilms
  • Burkholderia cenocepacia* / genetics
  • Burkholderia cenocepacia* / metabolism
  • Burkholderia cenocepacia* / pathogenicity
  • Cell Communication / genetics
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Peptide Hydrolases / biosynthesis
  • Peptide Hydrolases / genetics
  • Quorum Sensing / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • 2-dodecenoic acid
  • Acyl-Butyrolactones
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Peptide Hydrolases

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Project 31003A_122013) to LE, the Swiss SystemsX.ch initiative (grant IPP 2011/121) to CHA and LE and the Biomedical Research Council, the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) to LHZ. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.