Pseudomonas aeruginosa MutL promotes large chromosomal deletions through non-homologous end joining to prevent bacteriophage predation

Nucleic Acids Res. 2018 May 18;46(9):4505-4514. doi: 10.1093/nar/gky160.

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with a relatively large genome, and has been shown to routinely lose genomic fragments during environmental selection. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that promote chromosomal deletion are still poorly understood. In a recent study, we showed that by deleting a large chromosomal fragment containing two closely situated genes, hmgA and galU, P. aeruginosa was able to form 'brown mutants', bacteriophage (phage) resistant mutants with a brown color phenotype. In this study, we show that the brown mutants occur at a frequency of 227 ± 87 × 10-8 and contain a deletion ranging from ∼200 to ∼620 kb. By screening P. aeruginosa transposon mutants, we identified mutL gene whose mutation constrained the emergence of phage-resistant brown mutants. Moreover, the P. aeruginosa MutL (PaMutL) nicking activity can result in DNA double strand break (DSB), which is then repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), leading to chromosomal deletions. Thus, we reported a noncanonical function of PaMutL that promotes chromosomal deletions through NHEJ to prevent phage predation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology
  • Bacteriophages*
  • Chromosome Deletion*
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA End-Joining Repair*
  • MutL Proteins / genetics
  • MutL Proteins / metabolism*
  • MutL Proteins / physiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / virology
  • Recombinational DNA Repair

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • MutL Proteins