Involvement of type VI secretion system in secretion of iron chelator pyoverdine in Pseudomonas taiwanensis

Sci Rep. 2016 Sep 8:6:32950. doi: 10.1038/srep32950.

Abstract

Rice bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most destructive rice diseases worldwide. Therefore, in addition to breeding disease-resistant rice cultivars, it is desirable to develop effective biocontrol agents against Xoo. Here, we report that a soil bacterium Pseudomonas taiwanensis displayed strong antagonistic activity against Xoo. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry, we identified an iron chelator, pyoverdine, secreted by P. taiwanensis that could inhibit the growth of Xoo. Through Tn5 mutagenesis of P. taiwanensis, we showed that mutations in genes that encode components of the type VI secretion system (T6SS) as well as biosynthesis and maturation of pyoverdine resulted in reduced toxicity against Xoo. Our results indicated that T6SS is involved in the secretion of endogenous pyoverdine. Mutations in T6SS component genes affected the secretion of mature pyoverdine from the periplasmic space into the extracellular medium after pyoverdine precursor is transferred to the periplasm by the inner membrane transporter PvdE. In addition, we also showed that other export systems, i.e., the PvdRT-OpmQ and MexAB-OprM efflux systems (for which there have been previous suggestions of involvement) and the type II secretion system (T2SS), are not involved in pyoverdine secretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Control Agents
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Iron Chelating Agents / metabolism*
  • Mutagenesis
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides / genetics
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism*
  • Oryza / microbiology
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • Plant Diseases / prevention & control
  • Pseudomonas / genetics
  • Pseudomonas / metabolism*
  • Siderophores / chemistry
  • Siderophores / genetics
  • Siderophores / metabolism
  • Type VI Secretion Systems / genetics
  • Type VI Secretion Systems / metabolism*
  • Xanthomonas / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Biological Control Agents
  • Iron Chelating Agents
  • Oligopeptides
  • Siderophores
  • Type VI Secretion Systems
  • pyoverdin