Abstract
Natural transformation is regarded as an important mechanism in bacteria that allows for adaptation to different environmental stressors by ensuring genome plasticity. Since the discovery of this phenomenon in Streptococcus pneumoniae, remarkable progress has been made in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms and pathways coordinating this process. Recently, the advent of high-throughput sequencing allows the posing of questions that address the system at a larger scale but also allow for the creation of high-resolution maps of transcription. Thus, while much is already known about genetic competence in streptococci, recent studies continue to reveal intricate novel regulation pathways and components. In this perspective article, we highlight the use of transcriptional profiling and mapping as a valuable resource in the identification and characterization of “hidden gems” pertinent to the natural transformation system. Such strategies have recently been employed in a variety of different species. In S. mutans, for example, genome editing combined with the power of promoter mapping and RNA-Seq allowed for the identification of a link between the ComCDE and the ComRS systems, a ComR positive feedback loop mediated by SigX, and the XrpA peptide, encoded within sigX, which inhibits competence. In S. pneumoniae, a novel member of the competence regulon termed BriC was found to be directly under control of ComE and to promote biofilm formation and nasopharyngeal colonization but not competence. Together these new technologies enable us to discover new links and to revisit old pathways in the compelling study of natural genetic transformation.
Highlights
Reviewed by: Adam Blanchard, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom M
After competence gene expression was found to depend on a peptide pheromone (CSP; Håvarstein et al, 1995) and a two-component signal transduction system (TCSTS) receptor for the peptide (ComDE; Håvarstein et al, 1996; Pestova et al, 1996), the restriction of orthologous quorum sensing (QS) circuits to the mitis and anginosus groups of streptococci raised doubts as to functional competence regulons in species of the other groups, among which reports of transformation were largely sporadic at best (Martin et al, 2006)
Building a more comprehensive overview of natural genetic transformation and its fine-tuning mechanisms in bacteria is highly warranted considering the relevance of this system in adaptation to different environments and stress response
Summary
Roger Junges 1, Gabriela Salvadori 1, Tsute Chen 2, Donald A. While much is already known about genetic competence in streptococci, recent studies continue to reveal intricate novel regulation pathways and components In this perspective article, we highlight the use of transcriptional profiling and mapping as a valuable resource in the identification and characterization of “hidden gems” pertinent to the natural transformation system. We highlight the use of transcriptional profiling and mapping as a valuable resource in the identification and characterization of “hidden gems” pertinent to the natural transformation system Such strategies have recently been employed in a variety of different species. In S. pneumoniae, a novel member of the competence regulon termed BriC was found to be directly under control of ComE and to promote biofilm formation and nasopharyngeal colonization but not competence Together these new technologies enable us to discover new links and to revisit old pathways in the compelling study of natural genetic transformation
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