The IclR-family regulator BapR controls biofilm formation in B. cenocepacia H111

PLoS One. 2014 Mar 21;9(3):e92920. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092920. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

In Burkholderia cenocepacia H111, the large surface protein BapA plays a crucial role in the formation of highly structured communities, known as biofilms. We have recently demonstrated that quorum sensing (QS) is necessary for the maximal expression of bapA. In this study we identify BapR, a protein from the IclR family of transcriptional regulators that, in conjunction with QS, controls biofilm formation by affecting the expression of bapA. We present evidence that, in addition to bapA, BapR influences the expression of extracellular proteases, swimming motility and has a profound impact in the incidence of persister cells, making this regulator an interesting target for persister cells and biofilm eradication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biofilms*
  • Burkholderia cenocepacia / physiology*
  • Extracellular Space / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Mutation
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Quorum Sensing

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Peptide Hydrolases

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE52769

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Project 31003A_143773). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.