Dataset Information

Transcriptional regulation of opaR, qrr2-4 and aphA by the master quorum-sensing regulator OpaR in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of infectious diarrhea and enterogastritis via the fecal-oral route. V. harveyi is a pathogen of fishes and invertebrates, and has been used as a model for quorum sensing (QS) studies. LuxR is the master QS regulator (MQSR) of V. harveyi, and LuxR-dependent expression of its own gene, qrr2-4 and aphA have been established in V. harveyi. Molecular regulation of target genes by the V. parahaemolyticus MQSR OpaR is still poorly understood.

Methodology/principal findings

The bioinformatics analysis indicated that V. parahaemolyticus OpaR, V. harveyi LuxR, V. vulnificu SmcR, and V. alginolyticus ValR were extremely conserved, and that these four MQSRs appeared to recognize the same conserved cis-acting signals, which was represented by the consensus constructs manifesting as a position frequency matrix and as a 20 bp box, within their target promoters. The MQSR box-like sequences were found within the upstream DNA regions of opaR, qrr2-4 and aphA in V. parahaemolyticus, and the direct transcriptional regulation of these target genes by OpaR were further confirmed by multiple biochemical experiments including primer extension assay, gel mobility shift assay, and DNase I footprinting analysis. Translation and transcription starts, core promoter elements for sigma factor recognition, Shine-Dalgarno sequences for ribosome recognition, and OpaR-binding sites were determined for the five target genes of OpaR, which gave a structural map of the OpaR-dependent promoters. Further computational promoter analysis indicated the above regulatory circuits were shared by several other closely related Vibrios but with slight exceptions.

Conclusions/significance

This study gave a comprehensive computational and characterization of the direct transcriptional regulation of five target genes, opaR, qrr2-4 and ahpA, by OpaR in V. parahaemolyticus. These characterized regulatory circuits were conserved in V. harveyi and V. parahaemolyticus.

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3323551 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Transcriptional regulation of opaR, qrr2-4 and aphA by the master quorum-sensing regulator OpaR in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Zhang Yiquan Y Qiu Yefeng Y Tan Yafang Y Guo Zhaobiao Z Yang Ruifu R Zhou Dongsheng D

PloS one 20120410 4

<h4>Background</h4>Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of infectious diarrhea and enterogastritis via the fecal-oral route. V. harveyi is a pathogen of fishes and invertebrates, and has been used as a model for quorum sensing (QS) studies. LuxR is the master QS regulator (MQSR) of V. harveyi, and LuxR-dependent expression of its own gene, qrr2-4 and aphA have been established in V. harveyi. Molecular regulation of target genes by the V. parahaemolyticus MQSR OpaR is still poorly understoo ...[more]

PMID: 22506036

Similar Datasets

Project description:To maintain the turgor pressure of the cell under high osmolarity, bacteria accumulate small organic compounds called compatible solutes, either through uptake or biosynthesis. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a marine halophile and an important human and shellfish pathogen, has to adapt to abiotic stresses such as changing salinity. Vibrio parahaemolyticus contains multiple compatible solute biosynthesis and transporter systems, including the ectABC-asp_ect operon required for de novo ectoine biosynthesis. Ectoine biosynthesis genes are present in many halotolerant bacteria; however, little is known about the mechanism of regulation. We investigated the role of the quorum sensing master regulators OpaR and AphA in ect gene regulation. In an opaR deletion mutant, transcriptional reporter assays demonstrated that ect expression was induced. In an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we showed that purified OpaR bound to the ect regulatory region indicating direct regulation by OpaR. In an aphA deletion mutant, expression of the ect genes was repressed, and purified AphA bound upstream of the ect genes. These data indicate that AphA is a direct positive regulator. CosR, a Mar-type regulator known to repress ect expression in V. cholerae, was found to repress ect expression in V. parahaemolyticus In addition, we identified a feed-forward loop in which OpaR is a direct activator of cosR, while AphA is an indirect activator of cosR Regulation of the ectoine biosynthesis pathway via this feed-forward loop allows for precise control of ectoine biosynthesis genes throughout the growth cycle to maximize fitness.IMPORTANCE Accumulation of compatible solutes within the cell allows bacteria to maintain intracellular turgor pressure and prevent water efflux. De novo ectoine production is widespread among bacteria, and the ect operon encoding the biosynthetic enzymes is induced by increased salinity. Here, we demonstrate that the quorum sensing regulators AphA and OpaR integrate with the osmotic stress response pathway to control transcription of ectoine biosynthesis genes in V. parahaemolyticus We uncovered a feed-forward loop wherein quorum sensing regulators also control transcription of cosR, which encodes a negative regulator of the ect operon. Moreover, our data suggest that this mechanism may be widespread in Vibrio species.

Dataset Information

Transcriptional regulation of opaR, qrr2-4 and aphA by the master quorum-sensing regulator OpaR in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Background

Methodology/principal findings

Conclusions/significance

Publications

Transcriptional regulation of opaR, qrr2-4 and aphA by the master quorum-sensing regulator OpaR in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets