Abstract
Two-component systems are capable of profoundly affecting genetic regulation in bacteria by detecting environmental stimuli, allowing them to quickly adapt. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the small RNAs (sRNAs) RsmY and RsmZ are under the control of the GacS/A system. They have been described as ones of the major key players in the control of planktonic and surface-associated behaviors. Genetic regulation by these sRNAs is achieved by the titration of the negative post-transcriptional regulator RsmA which affects the expression of over 500 genes. There is increasing evidence pinpointing the importance of RsmY and RsmZ in the planktonic-sessile P. aeruginosa lifestyles switch control. Using swarming motility as a model, we show here that these sRNA are differentially regulated depending on the selected growth conditions (i.e., planktonic versus surface grown-cells). Also, we report that opposite to planktonically grown cells, rsmZ regulation does not implicate the response regulator GacA in swarming cells. Furthermore, we present data indicating that RsmY/Z expression influence swarming motility via the protein HptB which acts as a negative regulator of these sRNAs and that they do not strictly converge to RsmA as previously reported.
Highlights
Bacterial survival in the environment relies on their capacity to quickly adapt to changing conditions by either inducing or repressing specific sets of genes (Boor, 2006)
One adaptation mechanism used by bacteria consist of two-component systems (TCSs) (Hoch and Varughese, 2001), membrane-bound sensors coupled to cytoplasmic response regulators that permit the integration of external stimuli and induce global gene expression shifts (Beier and Gross, 2006)
Swarming motility has been identified as being under the control of the HptB regulon, which was determined to include flagella-related genes (Bhuwan et al, 2012); surprisingly, no effect was seen on flagellar functionality
Summary
Bacterial survival in the environment relies on their capacity to quickly adapt to changing conditions by either inducing or repressing specific sets of genes (Boor, 2006). One adaptation mechanism used by bacteria consist of two-component systems (TCSs) (Hoch and Varughese, 2001), membrane-bound sensors coupled to cytoplasmic response regulators that permit the integration of external stimuli and induce global gene expression shifts (Beier and Gross, 2006). The heterotrophic opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa exemplifies such a remarkable capacity to adapt to changing environments by encoding more than 60 TCS on its genome (Rodrigue et al, 2000). Controlled by the response regulator GacA, these sRNAs titrate the availability of RsmA, a post-transcriptional regulator modulating the expression of functions implicated in the transition
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