H-NS Represses Biofilm Formation and c-di-GMP Synthesis in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the regulation of histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) on biofilm formation and cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) synthesis in Vibrio parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633.

Methods: Regulatory mechanisms were analyzed by the combined utilization of crystal violet staining, quantification of c-di-GMP, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, LacZ fusion, and electrophoretic-mobility shift assay.

Results: The deletion of hns enhanced the biofilm formation and intracellular c-di-GMP levels in V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633. H-NS can bind the upstream promoter-proximal DNA regions of scrA, scrG, VP0117, VPA0198, VPA1176, VP0699, and VP2979 to repress their transcription. These genes encode a group of proteins with GGDEF and/or EAL domains associated with c-di-GMP metabolism.

Conclusion: One of the mechanisms by which H-NS represses the biofilm formation by V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633 may be via repression of the production of intracellular c-di-GMP.

Keywords: Biofilm; C-di-GMP; H-NS; Vibrio parahaemolyticus.