Project description:HutC in Pseudomonas is a representative member of the HutC/GntR family of transcriptional regulators, which possess a N-terminal winged helix-turn-helix (wHTH) DNA-binding domain and a C-terminal substrate binding domain. HutC is generally known to represses expression of histidine utilization (hut) genes through binding to the PhutU promoter with urocanate (the first intermediate of the histidine degradation pathway) as the direct inducer. Here we first describe the detailed molecular interactions between HutC and its PhutU target site in a plant growth promoting bacterium P. fluorescens SBW25, and further show that HutC possesses specific DNA-binding activities with many targets in SBW25 genome. Subsequent RNA-seq analysis and phenotypic assays revealed an unexpected global regulatory role of HutC for successful bacterial colonization in planta.
Project description:We report a genome update for Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate SBW25. The updated genome assembly, which was derived from the original isolate, is based on PacBio long-read sequence data. It shows three minor differences, compared with the previously published genome sequence. Original annotations were merged with recent automated annotations to preserve information.
Project description:Pseudomonas species are ubiquitous in plant-associated environments and produce an array of volatiles, enzymes and antimicrobials. The biosynthesis of many metabolites is regulated by the GacS/GacA two-component regulatory system. Transcriptome analysis of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 revealed that 702 genes were differentially regulated (fold change>4, P<0.0001) in a gacS::Tn5 mutant, with 300 and 402 genes up- and down-regulated, respectively. Genes that were significantly down-regulated are involved in viscosin biosynthesis (viscABC), protease production (aprA), motility, biofilm formation, and secretory systems. Genes that were significantly up-regulated are involved in siderophore biosynthesis and oxidative stress. In contrast to previous studies with gac-mutants of other Pseudomonas species/strains, the gacS mutant of SBW25 inhibited growth of oomycete, fungal and bacterial pathogens significantly more than parental strain SBW25. A potential candidate for this enhanced antimicrobial activity was a large nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster predicted to encode for an 8-amino-acid ornicorrugatin-like peptide. Site-directed mutagenesis of an NRPS gene in this cluster, however, did not lead to a reduction in the antimicrobial activity of the gacS mutant. Collectively these results indicate that a mutation in the GacS/GacA regulatory system causes major transcriptional changes in P. fluorescens SBW25 and significantly enhances its antimicrobial activities by yet unknown mechanisms.
Project description:Repeated evolution of functionally similar phenotypes is observed throughout the tree of life. The extent to which the underlying genetics are conserved remains an area of considerable interest. Previously, we reported the evolution of colony switching in two independent lineages of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25. The phenotypic and genotypic bases of colony switching in the first lineage (Line 1) have been described elsewhere. Here, we deconstruct the evolution of colony switching in the second lineage (Line 6). We show that, as for Line 1, Line 6 colony switching results from an increase in the expression of a colanic acid-like polymer (CAP). At the genetic level, nine mutations occur in Line 6. Only one of these-a nonsynonymous point mutation in the housekeeping sigma factor rpoD-is required for colony switching. In contrast, the genetic basis of colony switching in Line 1 is a mutation in the metabolic gene carB. A molecular model has recently been proposed whereby the carB mutation increases capsulation by redressing the intracellular balance of positive (ribosomes) and negative (RsmAE/CsrA) regulators of a positive feedback loop in capsule expression. We show that Line 6 colony switching is consistent with this model; the rpoD mutation generates an increase in ribosomal gene expression, and ultimately an increase in CAP expression.
Project description:Mature tRNA pools were measured using an adaptation of YAMAT-seq (Shigematsu et al., 2017; doi:10.1093/nar/gkx005 ) and further described in (Ayan et al., 2020; doi:10.7554/eLife.57947) in eight strains dervied from the model bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25. The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect on the mature tRNA pool of (i) removing multi-copy tRNA genes by genetic engineering, and (ii) duplicating tRNA genes during a subsequent, compensatory evolution experiment. We found that (i) results in a reduction in some tRNA isotypes in the mature tRNA pool, and (ii) results in an increase in a compensatory increase in their expression.
Project description:Pseudomonas species are ubiquitous in plant-associated environments and produce an array of volatiles, enzymes and antimicrobials. The biosynthesis of many metabolites is regulated by the GacS/GacA two-component regulatory system. Transcriptome analysis of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 revealed that 702 genes were differentially regulated (fold change>4, P<0.0001) in a gacS::Tn5 mutant, with 300 and 402 genes up- and down-regulated, respectively. Genes that were significantly down-regulated are involved in viscosin biosynthesis (viscABC), protease production (aprA), motility, biofilm formation, and secretory systems. Genes that were significantly up-regulated are involved in siderophore biosynthesis and oxidative stress. In contrast to previous studies with gac-mutants of other Pseudomonas species/strains, the gacS mutant of SBW25 inhibited growth of oomycete, fungal and bacterial pathogens significantly more than parental strain SBW25. A potential candidate for this enhanced antimicrobial activity was a large nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster predicted to encode for an 8-amino-acid ornicorrugatin-like peptide. Site-directed mutagenesis of an NRPS gene in this cluster, however, did not lead to a reduction in the antimicrobial activity of the gacS mutant. Collectively these results indicate that a mutation in the GacS/GacA regulatory system causes major transcriptional changes in P. fluorescens SBW25 and significantly enhances its antimicrobial activities by yet unknown mechanisms. This expression study used total RNA recovered from four separate wild-type cultures of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 and four separate cultures of the gacS mutant. Expression design was based on the updated genome sequence of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25, NC_012660.1 and associated plasmid pQBR0476 with nineteen 60-mer probe per gene. Each probe is replicated 3 times. The design includes random GC and other control probes.
Project description:Mature tRNA pools were measured using an adaptation of Y-shaped Adapter-ligated MAture tRNA sequencing (YAMAT-seq) (Shigematsu et al., 2017) in nine strains derived from the model bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25. The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect on the mature tRNA pool of (i) removing the single-copy serCGA gene by genetic engineering, and (ii) duplicating the serTGA gene during a subsequent, compensatory evolution experiment. We found that (i) results in the loss of tRNA-Ser(CGA) from the mature tRNA pool, and (ii) results in a 2-fold higher expression of tRNA-Ser(UGA). tRNA-Ser(UGA) presumably substitutes for tRNA-Ser(CGA) by wobble base pairing to translate codon 5'-UCG-3'.
Project description:Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and Beet soil-borne mosaic virus (BSBMV) belong to the genus Benyvirus. Both viruses share a similar genome organization, but disease development induced in their major host plant sugar beet displays striking differences. BNYVV induces excessive lateral root (LR) formation by hijacking auxin-regulated pathways; whereas BSBMV infected roots appear asymptomatic. To elucidate transcriptomic changes associated with the virus-specific disease development of BNYVV and BSBMV, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of a virus infected susceptible sugar beet genotype.
Project description:The histidine utilization (hut) locus of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 confers the ability to utilize histidine as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. Genetic analysis using a combination of site-directed mutagenesis and chromosomally integrated lacZ fusions showed the hut locus to be composed of 13 genes organized in 3 transcriptional units: hutF, hutCD, and 10 genes from hutU to hutG (which includes 2 copies of hutH, 1 of which is nonfunctional). Inactivation of hutF eliminated the ability to grow on histidine, indicating that SBW25 degrades histidine by the five-step enzymatic pathway. The 3 hut operons are negatively regulated by the HutC repressor with urocanate (the first intermediate of the histidine degradation pathway) as the physiological inducer. 5'-RACE analysis of transcriptional start sites revealed involvement of both sigma(54) (for the hutU-G operon) and sigma(70) (for hutF); the involvement of sigma(54) was experimentally demonstrated. CbrB (an enhancer binding protein for sigma(54) recruitment) was required for bacterial growth on histidine, indicating positive control of hut gene expression by CbrB. Recognition that a gene (named hutD) encoding a widely distributed conserved hypothetical protein is transcribed along with hutC led to analysis of its role. Mutational and gene fusion studies showed that HutD functions independently of HutC. Growth and fitness assays in laboratory media and on sugar beet seedlings suggest that HutD acts as a governor that sets an upper bound to the level of hut activity.