scholarly journals LacR Is a Repressor oflacABCDand LacT Is an Activator oflacTFEG, Constituting thelacGene Cluster in Streptococcus pneumoniae

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (17) ◽  
pp. 5349-5358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Afzal ◽  
Sulman Shafeeq ◽  
Oscar P. Kuipers
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Carbon Source ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Sole Carbon Source ◽  
Transcriptional Repressor ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Transcriptional Activator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Elevated Expression

ABSTRACTComparison of the transcriptome ofStreptococcus pneumoniaestrain D39 grown in the presence of either lactose or galactose with that of the strain grown in the presence of glucose revealed the elevated expression of various genes and operons, including thelacgene cluster, which is organized into two operons, i.e.,lacoperon I (lacABCD) andlacoperon II (lacTFEG). Deletion of the DeoR family transcriptional regulatorlacRthat is present downstream of thelacgene cluster revealed elevated expression oflacoperon I even in the absence of lactose. This suggests a function of LacR as a transcriptional repressor oflacoperon I, which encodes enzymes involved in the phosphorylated tagatose pathway in the absence of lactose or galactose. Deletion oflacRdid not affect the expression oflacoperon II, which encodes a lactose-specific phosphotransferase. This finding was further confirmed by β-galactosidase assays with PlacA-lacZand PlacT-lacZin the presence of either lactose or glucose as the sole carbon source in the medium. This suggests the involvement of another transcriptional regulator in the regulation oflacoperon II, which is the BglG-family transcriptional antiterminator LacT. We demonstrate the role of LacT as a transcriptional activator oflacoperon II in the presence of lactose and CcpA-independent regulation of thelacgene cluster inS. pneumoniae.

scholarly journals Sialic Acid-Mediated Gene Expression in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Role of NanR as a Transcriptional Activator of thenanGene Cluster

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 3121-3131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Afzal ◽  
Sulman Shafeeq ◽  
Hifza Ahmed ◽  
Oscar P. Kuipers
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Sialic Acid ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Microarray Analysis ◽  
Transcriptional Activator ◽  
Transcriptomic Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Acetylneuraminic Acid ◽  
Elevated Expression

ABSTRACTIn this study, we investigated the transcriptomic response ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeD39 to sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid [Neu5Ac]). Transcriptome comparison of wild-type D39 grown in M17 medium with and without sialic acid revealed the elevated expression of various genes and operons, including thenangene cluster (nanoperon I andnanAgene). Our microarray analysis and promoter-lacZfusion studies showed that the transcriptional regulator NanR acts as a transcriptional activator ofnanoperon I and thenanAgene in the presence of sialic acid. The putative regulatory site of NanR in the promoter region ofnanoperon I is predicted and confirmed by promoter truncation experiments. Furthermore, the role of CcpA in the regulation of thenangene cluster is demonstrated through microarray analysis and promoter-lacZfusion studies, suggesting that in the presence of sialic acid and glucose, CcpA represses the expression ofnanoperon I while the expression of thenanAgene is CcpA independent.

Fucose-Mediated Transcriptional Activation of the fcs Operon by FcsR in Streptococcus pneumoniae

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 120-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan Manzoor ◽  
Sulman Shafeeq ◽  
Muhammad Afzal ◽  
Oscar P. Kuipers
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Transcriptional Activator ◽  
Regulatory Site ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
The Impact

In this study, we explore the impact of fucose on the transcriptome of <i>S. pneumoniae</i> D39. The expression of various genes and operons, including the fucose uptake PTS and utilization operon (<i>fcs</i> operon) was altered in the presence of fucose. By means of quantitative RT-PCR and β-galactosidase analysis, we demonstrate the role of the transcriptional regulator FcsR, present upstream of the <i>fcs</i> operon, as a transcriptional activator of the <i>fcs</i> operon. We also predict a 19-bp putative FcsR regulatory site (5′-ATTTGAACATTATTCAAGT-3′) in the promoter region of the <i>fcs</i> operon. The functionality of this predicted FcsR regulatory site was further confirmed by promoter-truncation experiments, where deletion of half of the FscR regulatory site or full deletion led to the abolition of expression of the <i>fcs</i> operon.

scholarly journals CelR-mediated activation of the cellobiose-utilization gene cluster in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Microbiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 157 (10) ◽  
pp. 2854-2861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulman Shafeeq ◽  
Tomas G. Kloosterman ◽  
Oscar P. Kuipers
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Sole Carbon Source ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Regulatory Site ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Direct Control ◽  
Atp Binding Cassette Transporters ◽  
Genes Encoding

The human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae harbours many genes encoding phosphotransferase systems and sugar ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporters, including systems for the utilization of the β-glucoside sugar cellobiose. In this study, we show that the transcriptional regulator CelR, which has previously been found to be important for pneumococcal virulence, activates the expression of the cellobiose-utilization gene cluster (cel locus) of S. pneumoniae. Expression directed by the two promoters present in the cel locus was increased in the presence of cellobiose as sole carbon source in the medium, while expression decreased in the presence of glucose in the medium. Furthermore, we have predicted a 22 bp putative CelR regulatory site (5′-YTTTCCWTAWCAWTWAGGAAAA-3′) in the promoters of celA and celB, and in silico analysis showed that it is highly conserved in other pathogenic streptococci as well. Promoter truncations of celA and celB, where the half or full CelR regulatory site was deleted, confirmed that the CelR-binding site in PcelA and PcelB is functional. Transcriptome studies with the celR mutant and in silico prediction of the CelR regulatory site in the entire D39 genome sequence show that the cel locus is the only cluster of genes under the direct control of CelR. Therefore, CelR is a regulator dedicated to the cellobiose-dependent transcriptional activation of the cel locus.

scholarly journals GalR Acts as a Transcriptional Activator of galKT in the Presence of Galactose in Streptococcus pneumoniae

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 363-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Afzal ◽  
Sulman Shafeeq ◽  
Irfan Manzoor ◽  
Oscar P. Kuipers
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Regulatory Mechanism ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Transcriptional Activator ◽  
Regulatory Site ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Leloir Pathway

We explored the regulatory mechanism of Leloir pathway genes in <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> D39. Here, we demonstrate that the expression of <i>galKT</i> is galactose dependent. By microarray analysis and quantitative RT-PCR, we further show the role of the transcriptional regulator GalR, present upstream of <i>galKT</i>, as a transcriptional activator of <i>galKT</i> in the presence of galactose. Moreover, we predict a 19-bp regulatory site (5′-GATAGTTTAGTAAAATTTT-3′) for the transcriptional regulator GalR in the promoter region of <i>galK</i>, which is also highly conserved in other streptococci. Growth comparison of D39 &#x0394;<i>galK</i> with the D39 wild type grown in the presence of galactose shows that <i>galK</i> is required for the proper growth of <i>S. pneumoniae</i> on galactose.

scholarly journals Mutation ofRv2887, amarR-Like Gene, Confers Mycobacterium tuberculosis Resistance to an Imidazopyridine-Based Agent

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 6873-6881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Winglee ◽  
Shichun Lun ◽  
Marco Pieroni ◽  
Alan Kozikowski ◽  
William Bishai
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Strong Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Drug

ABSTRACTDrug resistance is a major problem inMycobacterium tuberculosiscontrol, and it is critical to identify novel drug targets and new antimycobacterial compounds. We have previously identified an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-4-carbonitrile-based agent, MP-III-71, with strong activity againstM. tuberculosis. In this study, we evaluated mechanisms of resistance to MP-III-71. We derived three independentM. tuberculosismutants resistant to MP-III-71 and conducted whole-genome sequencing of these mutants. Loss-of-function mutations inRv2887were common to all three MP-III-71-resistant mutants, and we confirmed the role ofRv2887as a gene required for MP-III-71 susceptibility using complementation. The Rv2887 protein was previously unannotated, but domain and homology analyses suggested it to be a transcriptional regulator in the MarR (multiple antibiotic resistance repressor) family, a group of proteins first identified inEscherichia colito negatively regulate efflux pumps and other mechanisms of multidrug resistance. We found that two efflux pump inhibitors, verapamil and chlorpromazine, potentiate the action of MP-III-71 and that mutation ofRv2887abrogates their activity. We also used transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify genes which are differentially expressed in the presence and absence of a functional Rv2887 protein. We found that genes involved in benzoquinone and menaquinone biosynthesis were repressed by functional Rv2887. Thus, inactivating mutations ofRv2887, encoding a putative MarR-like transcriptional regulator, confer resistance to MP-III-71, an effective antimycobacterial compound that shows no cross-resistance to existing antituberculosis drugs. The mechanism of resistance ofM. tuberculosisRv2887mutants may involve efflux pump upregulation and also drug methylation.

scholarly journals A Novel CO-Responsive Transcriptional Regulator and Enhanced H2Production by an Engineered Thermococcus onnurineus NA1 Strain

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 1708-1714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Sik Kim ◽  
Ae Ran Choi ◽  
Seong Hyuk Lee ◽  
Hae-Chang Jung ◽  
Seung Seob Bae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Rate ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Bioreactor Culture ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory

ABSTRACTGenome analysis revealed the existence of a putative transcriptional regulatory system governing CO metabolism inThermococcus onnurineusNA1, a carboxydotrophic hydrogenogenic archaeon. The regulatory system is composed of CorQ with a 4-vinyl reductase domain and CorR with a DNA-binding domain of the LysR-type transcriptional regulator family in close proximity to the CO dehydrogenase (CODH) gene cluster. Homologous genes of the CorQR pair were also found in the genomes ofThermococcusspecies and “CandidatusKorarchaeum cryptofilum” OPF8. In-frame deletion of eithercorQorcorRcaused a severe impairment in CO-dependent growth and H2production. WhencorQandcorRdeletion mutants were complemented by introducing thecorQRgenes under the control of a strong promoter, the mRNA and protein levels of the CODH gene were significantly increased in a ΔCorR strain complemented with integratedcorQR(ΔCorR/corQR↑) compared with those in the wild-type strain. In addition, the ΔCorR/corQR↑strain exhibited a much higher H2production rate (5.8-fold) than the wild-type strain in a bioreactor culture. The H2production rate (191.9 mmol liter−1h−1) and the specific H2production rate (249.6 mmol g−1h−1) of this strain were extremely high compared with those of CO-dependent H2-producing prokaryotes reported so far. These results suggest that thecorQRgenes encode a positive regulatory protein pair for the expression of a CODH gene cluster. The study also illustrates that manipulation of the transcriptional regulatory system can improve biological H2production.

scholarly journals The Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein Regulates Quorum Sensing and Global Gene Expression in Yersinia pestis during Planktonic Growth and Growth in Biofilms

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy T. Ritzert ◽  
George Minasov ◽  
Ryan Embry ◽  
Matthew J. Schipma ◽  
Karla J. F. Satchell
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Carbon Source ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Yersinia Pestis ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Receptor Protein ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bacterial Physiology

ABSTRACT Cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (Crp) is an important transcriptional regulator of Yersinia pestis. Expression of crp increases during pneumonic plague as the pathogen depletes glucose and forms large biofilms within lungs. To better understand control of Y. pestis Crp, we determined a 1.8-Å crystal structure of the protein-cAMP complex. We found that compared to Escherichia coli Crp, C helix amino acid substitutions in Y. pestis Crp did not impact the cAMP dependency of Crp to bind DNA promoters. To investigate Y. pestis Crp-regulated genes during plague pneumonia, we performed RNA sequencing on both wild-type and Δcrp mutant bacteria growing in planktonic and biofilm states in minimal media with glucose or glycerol. Y. pestis Crp was found to dramatically alter expression of hundreds of genes in a manner dependent upon carbon source and growth state. Gel shift assays confirmed direct regulation of the malT and ptsG promoters, and Crp was then linked to Y. pestis growth on maltose as a sole carbon source. Iron regulation genes ybtA and fyuA were found to be indirectly regulated by Crp. A new connection between carbon source and quorum sensing was revealed as Crp was found to regulate production of acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) through direct and indirect regulation of genes for AHL synthetases and receptors. AHLs were subsequently identified in the lungs of Y. pestis-infected mice when crp expression was highest in Y. pestis biofilms. Thus, in addition to the well-studied pla gene, other Crp-regulated genes likely have important functions during plague infection. IMPORTANCE Bacterial pathogens have evolved extensive signaling pathways to translate environmental signals into changes in gene expression. While Crp has long been appreciated for its role in regulating metabolism of carbon sources in many bacterial species, transcriptional profiling has revealed that this protein regulates many other aspects of bacterial physiology. The plague pathogen Y. pestis requires this global regulator to survive in blood, skin, and lungs. During disease progression, this organism adapts to changes within these niches. In addition to regulating genes for metabolism of nonglucose sugars, we found that Crp regulates genes for virulence, metal acquisition, and quorum sensing by direct or indirect mechanisms. Thus, this single transcriptional regulator, which responds to changes in available carbon sources, can regulate multiple critical behaviors for causing disease.

scholarly journals A Bacterial Microcompartment Is Used for Choline Fermentation byEscherichia coli536

2018 ◽  
Vol 200 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor I. Herring ◽  
Tiffany N. Harris ◽  
Chiranjit Chowdhury ◽  
Sujit Kumar Mohanty ◽  
Thomas A. Bobik
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Bacterial Microcompartment ◽  
New Type ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACTBacterial choline degradation in the human gut has been associated with cancer and heart disease. In addition, recent studies found that a bacterial microcompartment is involved in choline utilization byProteusandDesulfovibriospecies. However, many aspects of this process have not been fully defined. Here, we investigate choline degradation by the uropathogenEscherichia coli536. Growth studies indicatedE. coli536 degrades choline primarily by fermentation. Electron microscopy indicated that a bacterial microcompartment was used for this process. Bioinformatic analyses suggested that the choline utilization (cut) gene cluster ofE. coli536 includes two operons, one containing three genes and a main operon of 13 genes. Regulatory studies indicate that thecutXgene encodes a positive transcriptional regulator required for induction of the maincutoperon in response to choline supplementation. Each of the 16 genes in thecutcluster was individually deleted, and phenotypes were examined. ThecutX,cutY,cutF,cutO,cutC,cutD,cutU, andcutVgenes were required for choline degradation, but the remaining genes of thecutcluster were not essential under the conditions used. The reasons for these varied phenotypes are discussed.IMPORTANCEHere, we investigate choline degradation inE. coli536. These studies provide a basis for understanding a new type of bacterial microcompartment and may provide deeper insight into the link between choline degradation in the human gut and cancer and heart disease. These are also the first studies of choline degradation inE. coli536, an organism for which sophisticated genetic analysis methods are available. In addition, thecutgene cluster ofE. coli536 is located in pathogenicity island II (PAI-II536) and hence might contribute to pathogenesis.

scholarly journals A Low-Affinity Penicillin-Binding Protein 2x Variant Is Required for Heteroresistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 3934-3941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hansjürg Engel ◽  
Moana Mika ◽  
Dalia Denapaite ◽  
Regine Hakenbeck ◽  
Kathrin Mühlemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Abc Transporter ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Population Analysis ◽  
Resistance Testing ◽  
Penicillin Binding Protein ◽  
Secondary Resistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Abc Transporter Genes

ABSTRACTHeteroresistance to penicillin inStreptococcus pneumoniaeis the ability of subpopulations to grow at a higher antibiotic concentration than expected from the MIC. This may render conventional resistance testing unreliable and lead to therapeutic failure. We investigated the role of the primary β-lactam resistance determinants, penicillin-binding protein 2b (PBP2b) and PBP2x, and the secondary resistance determinant PBP1a in heteroresistance to penicillin. Transformants containing PBP genes from the heteroresistant strain Spain23F2349in the nonheteroresistant strain R6 background were tested for heteroresistance by population analysis profiling (PAP). We found thatpbp2x, but notpbp2borpbp1aalone, conferred heteroresistance to R6. However, a change ofpbp2xexpression was not observed, and therefore, expression does not correlate with an increased proportion of resistant subpopulations. In addition, the influence of the CiaRH system, mediating PBP-independent β-lactam resistance, was assessed by PAP onciaRdisruption mutants but revealed no heteroresistant phenotype. We also showed that the highly resistant subpopulations (HOM*) of transformants containing low-affinitypbp2xundergo an increase in resistance upon selection on penicillin plates that partially reverts after passaging on selection-free medium. Shotgun proteomic analysis showed an upregulation of phosphate ABC transporter subunit proteins encoded bypstS,phoU,pstB, andpstCin these highly resistant subpopulations. In conclusion, the presence of low-affinitypbp2xenables certain pneumococcal colonies to survive in the presence of β-lactams. Upregulation of phosphate ABC transporter genes may represent a reversible adaptation to antibiotic stress.

scholarly journals The Catabolite Repressor/Activator Cra Is a Bridge Connecting Carbon Metabolism and Host Colonization in the Plant Drought Resistance-Promoting Bacterium Pantoea alhagi LTYR-11Z

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Muhang Li ◽  
Qiqi Li ◽  
Chaoqiong Chen ◽  
Meng Qu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Source ◽  
Carbon Metabolism ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Endophytic Bacterium ◽  
Bacterial Attachment ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Wheat Roots ◽  
Host Colonization ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Efficient root colonization is a prerequisite for application of plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria in improving health and yield of agricultural crops. We have recently identified an endophytic bacterium, Pantoea alhagi LTYR-11Z, with multiple PGP properties that effectively colonizes the root system of wheat and improves its growth and drought tolerance. To identify novel regulatory genes required for wheat colonization, we screened an LTYR-11Z transposon (Tn) insertion library and found cra to be a colonization-related gene. By using transcriptome (RNA-seq) analysis, we found that transcriptional levels of an eps operon, the ydiV gene encoding an anti-FlhD 4 C 2 factor, and the yedQ gene encoding an enzyme for synthesis of cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) were significantly downregulated in the Δ cra mutant. Further studies demonstrated that Cra directly binds to the promoters of the eps operon, ydiV , and yedQ and activates their expression, thus inhibiting motility and promoting exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and biofilm formation. Consistent with previous findings that Cra plays a role in transcriptional regulation in response to carbon source availability, the activating effects of Cra were much more pronounced when LTYR-11Z was grown within a gluconeogenic environment than when it was grown within a glycolytic environment. We further demonstrate that the ability of LTYR-11Z to colonize wheat roots is modulated by the availability of carbon sources. Altogether, these results uncover a novel strategy utilized by LTYR-11Z to achieve host colonization in response to carbon nutrition in the environment, in which Cra bridges a connection between carbon metabolism and colonization capacity of LTYR-11Z. IMPORTANCE Rapid and appropriate response to environmental signals is crucial for bacteria to adapt to competitive environments and to establish interactions with their hosts. Efficient colonization and persistence within the host are controlled by various regulatory factors that respond to specific environmental cues. The most common is nutrient availability. In this work, we unraveled the pivotal role of Cra in regulation of colonization ability of Pantoea alhagi LTYR-11Z in response to carbon source availability. Moreover, we identified three novel members of the Cra regulon involved in EPS synthesis, regulation of flagellar biosynthesis, and synthesis of c-di-GMP and propose a working model to explain the Cra-mediated regulatory mechanism that links carbon metabolism to host colonization. This study elucidates the regulatory role of Cra in bacterial attachment and colonization of plants, which raises the possibility of extending our studies to other bacteria associated with plant and human health.

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