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PhyK, PhyR, σT and σU regulons

ABSTRACT: The extracytoplasmic function sigma factor σT is the master regulator of general stress response in Caulobacter crescentus, and controls the expression of its paralogue σU. This work showed that PhyR and NepR act as positive and negative regulators, respectively, of σT expression and function. Biochemical data also indicated that NepR directly binds σT and the phosphorylated form of PhyR. We also demonstrated the essential role of the histidine kinase gene CC3474, here denominated phyK, for expression of σT-dependent genes and for resistance to stress conditions. Additionally, in vivo evidence of PhyK-dependent phosphorylation of PhyR is presented. This study also identified a conserved cysteine residue (C95) present in the periplasmic portion of PhyK that is crucial for the function of the protein. Furthermore, we showed that PhyK, PhyR and σT regulate the same set of genes and that σT is apparently responsible for the direct control of its complete regulon. In contrast, σU seems to have a very modest contribution for expression of a subset of σT-dependent genes. In conclusion, this work describes the mechanism involved in the control of general stress response in C. crescentus.

ORGANISM(S): Caulobacter vibrioides NA1000 Caulobacter vibrioides CB15

PROVIDER: GSE26977 | GEO | 2011/12/21

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA135921

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:PhyR is an unusual type of response regulator consisting of a receiver domain and an extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor-like domain. It was recently described as a master regulator of general stress response in Methylobacterium extorquens. Orthologues of this regulator are present in essentially all free-living Alphaproteobacteria. In most of them, phyR is genetically closely linked to a gene encoding an ECF sigma factor. Here, we investigate the role of these two regulators in the soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110. Using deletion mutants and phenotypic assays, we showed that PhyR and the ECF sigma factor sigma(EcfG) are involved in heat shock and desiccation resistance upon carbon starvation. Both mutants had symbiotic defects on the plant hosts Glycine max (soybean) and Vigna radiata (mungbean). They induced fewer nodules than the wild type and these nodules were smaller, less pigmented, and their specific nitrogenase activity was drastically reduced 2 or 3 weeks after inoculation. Four weeks after infection, soybean nodule development caught up to a large extent whereas most mungbean nodules remained defective even 5 weeks after infection. Remarkably, both mutants triggered aberrant nodules on the different host plants with ectopically emerging roots. Microarray analysis revealed that PhyR and sigma(EcfG) control congruent regulons suggesting both regulators are part of the same signalling cascade. This finding was further substantiated by in vitro protein-protein interaction studies which are in line with a partner-switching mechanism controlling gene regulation triggered by phosphorylation of PhyR. The large number of genes of unknown function present in the PhyR/sigma(EcfG) regulon and the conspicuous symbiotic phenotype suggest that these regulators are involved in the Bradyrhizobium-legume interaction via yet undisclosed mechanisms. Comparative analysis of the B. japonicum phyR mutant 8402, ecfG mutant 8404 mutant and the wild type during exponential growth in rich medium (PSY) and after 24 hours starvation in carbon source-free minimal medium

Project description:A core component of the M-NM-1-proteobacterial general stress response is the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor EcfG, exclusively present in this taxonomic class. Half of the completed M-NM-1-proteobacterial genome sequences contain two or more copies of genes encoding M-OM-^CEcfG-like sigma factors, with the primary copy typically located adjacent to genes coding for a cognate anti-sigma factor (NepR) and two-component response regulator (PhyR). So far, the widespread occurrence of additional, non-canonical M-OM-^CEcfG copies has not satisfactorily been explained. This work explores the hierarchical relation between Rhizobium etli M-OM-^CEcfG1 and M-OM-^CEcfG2, canonical and non-canonical M-OM-^CEcfG proteins, respectively. Contrary to reports in other species, we find that M-OM-^CEcfG1 and M-OM-^CEcfG2 act in parallel, as nodes of a complex regulatory network, rather than in series, as elements of a linear regulatory cascade. We demonstrate that both sigma factors control unique yet also shared target genes, corroborating phenotypic evidence. M-OM-^CEcfG1 drives expression of rpoH2, explaining the increased heat sensitivity of an ecfG1 mutant, while katG is under control of M-OM-^CEcfG2, accounting for reduced oxidative stress resistance of an ecfG2 mutant. We also identify non-coding RNA genes as novel M-OM-^CEcfG targets. We propose a modified model for general stress response regulation in R. etli, in which M-OM-^CEcfG1 and M-OM-^CEcfG2 function largely independently. Based on a phylogenetic analysis and considering the prevalence of M-NM-1-proteobacterial genomes with multiple M-OM-^CEcfG copies, this model may also be applicable to numerous other species. In this study, we investigate to which degree R. etli EcfG1 and EcfG2 regulation is interdependent. Furthermore, we demonstrate that both sigma factors control distinct regulons and pinpoint unique EcfG2 target genes. We also identify non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as novel targets of EcfG1 and EcfG2 and show that expression of at least one of these ncRNAs is under direct EcfG control. The presence of ncRNAs in the regulon of an EcfG type sigma factor has not been described previously and adds an extra level of complexity to the regulation of the general stress response in Alpha-proteobacteria. Moreover, considering the widespread existence of Alpha-proteobacterial genomes with multiple EcfG copies, the here presented results not only lead to a better understanding of the general stress response in R. etli, but also contribute to a conceptual paradigm for general stress response regulation by multiple EcfG proteins in Alpha-proteobacteria. Comparative transcriptome analyses were carried out on four samples: the parental strain (WT) and mutants in either sigma factor gene ecfG1, sigma factor gene ecfG2, and both genes combined.

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PhyK, PhyR, σT and σU regulons

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