细菌群体感应参与铜绿假单胞菌胞内聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控

群体感应是细菌根据细胞密度变化调控基因表达的一种调节机制。铜绿假单胞菌中QS系统由lasI和rhlI合成的信号分子3OC12-HSL和C4-HSL以及各自的受体蛋白LasR、RhlR组成,它们以级联方式调控多个基因表达。【目的】研究细菌群体感应(QS)对聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。【方法】利用铜绿假单胞菌PAO1及其QS突变株为材料通过气相色谱、荧光定量PCR在生理和分子水平上研究QS对聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。【结果】QS信号分子合成抑制剂阿奇霉素处理铜绿假单胞菌PAO1和QS突变株导致胞内PHA积累量显著减少;铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中C4-HSL合成酶基因rhlI缺失突变株PAO210胞内PHA积累量与野生型无差别;而3OC12-HSL合成酶基因lasI缺失突变株PAO55、3OC12-HSL受体合成酶基因lasR缺失突变株PAO56以及lasI/lasR双缺失突变株PAO57胞内PHA含量与野生型相比明显减少;lasI和lasR的突变株体内PHA合成酶基因phaC1的表达量显著降低,信号分子3OC12-HSL回补实验使phaC1的表达量可恢复到野生株水平,但只可部分恢复lasI缺失导致的胞内PHA合成。【结论】由此推测,铜绿假单胞菌群体感应系统中lasI/lasR系统参与胞内聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。     

P1 ParB Domain Structure Includes Two Independent Multimerization Domains

ParB is one of two P1-encoded proteins that are required for active partition of the P1 prophage in Escherichia coli. To probe the native domain structure of ParB, we performed limited proteolytic digestions of full-length ParB, as well as of several N-terminal and C-terminal deletion fragments of ParB. The C-terminal 140 amino acids of ParB form a very trypsin-resistant domain. In contrast, the N terminus is more susceptible to proteolysis, suggesting that it forms a less stably folded domain or domains. Because native ParB is a dimer in solution, we analyzed the ability of ParB fragments to dimerize, using both the yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro chemical cross-linking of purified proteins. These studies revealed that the C-terminal 59 amino acids of ParB, a region within the protease-resistant domain, are sufficient for dimerization. Cross-linking and yeast two-hybrid experiments also revealed the presence of a second self-association domain within the N-terminal half of ParB. The cross-linking data also suggest that the C terminus is inhibitory to multimerization through the N-terminal domain in vitro. We propose that the two multimerization domains play distinct roles in partition complex formation.     

Promoter Specificity Elements in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-Sensing-Controlled Genes

The LasR-dependent and RhlR-dependent quorum-sensing systems are global regulators of gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Previous studies have demonstrated that promoter elements of the quorum-sensing-controlled genes lasB and hcnABC are important in density-dependent regulation. We have identified LasR- and RhlR-dependent determinants in promoters of quorum-sensing-controlled genes qsc102, qsc117 (acpP), and qsc131 (phzA to -G) by in silico, deletion, point-mutational, and primer extension analyses. Each of these genes (in addition to lasI and rsaL) is activated by LasR, and qsc117 and qsc131 also respond to RhlR. Point mutations in the promoters of the LasR-specific gene, qsc102, relax specificity so that this promoter can respond to RhlR in addition to LasR. Our findings indicate that quorum-sensing-controlled promoters in P. aeruginosa are either specific for LasR or respond to both LasR and RhlR and that critical bases in the promoter elements determine specificity.