RESUMO
The genus Xanthomonas includes more than 30 phytopathogenic species that infect a wide range of plants and cause severe diseases that greatly impact crop productivity. These bacteria are highly adapted to the soil and plant environment, being found in decaying material, as epiphytes, and colonizing the plant mesophyll. Signal transduction mechanisms involved in the responses of Xanthomonas to environmental changes are still poorly characterized. Xanthomonad genomes typically encode several representatives of the extracytoplasmic function σ (σECF) factors, whose physiological roles remain elusive. In this work, we functionally characterized the Xanthomonas citri pv. citri EcfL, a σECF factor homologous to members of the iron-responsive FecI-like group. We show that EcfL is not required or induced during iron starvation, despite presenting the common features of other FecI-like σECF factors. EcfL positively regulates one operon composed of three genes that encode a TonB-dependent receptor involved in cell surface signaling, an acid phosphatase, and a lectin-domain containing protein. Furthermore, we demonstrate that EcfL is required for full virulence in citrus, and its regulon is induced inside the plant mesophyll and in response to acid stress. Together, our study suggests a role for EcfL in the adaptation of X. citri to the plant environment, in this way contributing to its ability to cause citrus canker disease. IMPORTANCE The Xanthomonas genus comprises a large number of phytopathogenic species that infect a wide variety of economically important plants worldwide. Bacterial adaptation to the plant and soil environment relies on their repertoire of signal transduction pathways, including alternative sigma factors of the extracytoplasmic function family (σECF). Here, we describe a new σECF factor found in several Xanthomonas species, demonstrating its role in Xanthomonas citri virulence to citrus plants. We show that EcfL regulates a single operon containing three genes, which are also conserved in other Xanthomonas species. This study further expands our knowledge on the functions of the widespread family of σECF factors in phytopathogenic bacteria.
Assuntos
Citrus , Xanthomonas , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Citrus/microbiologia , Ferro/metabolismo , Doenças das Plantas/microbiologia , Fator sigma/genética , Fator sigma/metabolismo , Solo , Virulência/genética , Xanthomonas/metabolismoRESUMO
Bacteria of the Xanthomonas genus are mainly phytopathogens of a large variety of crops of economic importance worldwide. Xanthomonas spp. rely on an arsenal of protein effectors, toxins and adhesins to adapt to the environment, compete with other microorganisms and colonize plant hosts, often causing disease. These protein effectors are mainly delivered to their targets by the action of bacterial secretion systems, dedicated multiprotein complexes that translocate proteins to the extracellular environment or directly into eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Type I to type VI secretion systems have been identified in Xanthomonas genomes. Recent studies have unravelled the diverse roles played by the distinct types of secretion systems in adaptation and virulence in xanthomonads, unveiling new aspects of their biology. In addition, genome sequence information from a wide range of Xanthomonas species and pathovars have become available recently, uncovering a heterogeneous distribution of the distinct families of secretion systems within the genus. In this review, we describe the architecture and mode of action of bacterial type I to type VI secretion systems and the distribution and functions associated with these important nanoweapons within the Xanthomonas genus.
RESUMO
Several Xanthomonas species have a type IV secretion system (T4SS) that injects a cocktail of antibacterial proteins into neighbouring Gram-negative bacteria, often leading to rapid lysis upon cell contact. This capability represents an obvious fitness benefit since it can eliminate competition while the liberated contents of the lysed bacteria could provide an increase in the local availability of nutrients. However, the production of this Mega Dalton-sized molecular machine, with over a hundred subunits, also imposes a significant metabolic cost. Here we show that the chromosomal virB operon, which encodes the structural genes of this T4SS in X. citri, is regulated by the conserved global regulator CsrA. Relieving CsrA repression from the virB operon produced a greater number of T4SSs in the cell envelope and an increased efficiency in contact-dependent lysis of target cells. However, this was also accompanied by a physiological cost leading to reduced fitness when in co-culture with wild-type X. citri. We show that T4SS production is constitutive despite being downregulated by CsrA. Cells subjected to a wide range of rich and poor growth conditions maintain a constant density of T4SSs in the cell envelope and concomitant interbacterial competitiveness. These results show that CsrA provides a constant though partial repression on the virB operon, independent of the tested growth conditions, in this way controlling T4SS-related costs while at the same time maintaining X. citri's aggressive posture when confronted by competitors.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Homeostase , Óperon , Proteínas Repressoras/metabolismo , Sistemas de Secreção Tipo IV/biossíntese , Xanthomonas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas Repressoras/genética , Sistemas de Secreção Tipo IV/genética , Xanthomonas/genéticaRESUMO
Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (X. citri pv. citri) is the causal agent of Asiatic citrus canker and infects economically important citrus crops. X. citri pv. citri contains one type VI secretion system (T6SS) required for resistance to predation by the soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and induced by the ECF sigma factor EcfK in the presence of amoeba. In this work, we describe the analysis of T6SS gene expression during interaction with host plants. We show that T6SS genes and the cognate positive regulator ecfK are upregulated during growth in the plant surface (epiphytic) and maintain low expression levels during growth inside plant mesophyll. In addition, expression of the virulence-associated T3SS is also induced during epiphytic growth and shows a temporal induction pattern during growth inside plant leaves. The T6SS is not required for adhesion to leaf surface and biofilm formation during the first stages of plant colonization nor for killing of yeasts cells. Since the phyllosphere is colonized by eukaryotic predators of bacteria, induction of the X. citri pv. citri anti-amoeba T6SS during epiphytic growth suggests the presence of an environmental signal that triggers the resistance phenotype.
Assuntos
Citrus/microbiologia , Regulação Bacteriana da Expressão Gênica , Doenças das Plantas/microbiologia , Sistemas de Secreção Tipo VI/genética , Xanthomonas/metabolismo , Xanthomonas/patogenicidade , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Mutação , Folhas de Planta/microbiologia , Fator sigma/genética , Fator sigma/metabolismo , Sistemas de Secreção Tipo VI/metabolismo , Virulência , Xanthomonas/genética , Xanthomonas/crescimento & desenvolvimentoRESUMO
Bacteria have been constantly competing for nutrients and space for billions of years. During this time, they have evolved many different molecular mechanisms by which to secrete proteinaceous effectors in order to manipulate and often kill rival bacterial and eukaryotic cells. These processes often employ large multimeric transmembrane nanomachines that have been classified as types I-IX secretion systems. One of the most evolutionarily versatile are the Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs), which have been shown to be able to secrete macromolecules directly into both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Until recently, examples of T4SS-mediated macromolecule transfer from one bacterium to another was restricted to protein-DNA complexes during bacterial conjugation. This view changed when it was shown by our group that many Xanthomonas species carry a T4SS that is specialized to transfer toxic bacterial effectors into rival bacterial cells, resulting in cell death. This review will focus on this special subtype of T4SS by describing its distinguishing features, similar systems in other proteobacterial genomes, and the nature of the effectors secreted by these systems and their cognate inhibitors.
RESUMO
Salmonella enterica Enteritidis forms biofilms and survives in agricultural environments, infecting poultry and eggs. Bacteria in biofilms are difficult to eradicate compared to planktonic cells, causing serious problems in industry and public health. In this study, we evaluated the role of ihfA and ihfB in biofilm formation by S. enterica Enteritidis by employing different microbiology techniques. Our data indicate that ihf mutant strains are impaired in biofilm formation, showing a reduction in matrix formation and a decrease in viability and metabolic activity. Phenotypic analysis also showed that deletion of ihf causes a deficiency in curli fimbriae expression, cellulose production and pellicle formation. These results show that integration host factor has an important regulatory role in biofilm formation by S. enterica Enteritidis.
Assuntos
Biofilmes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Fímbrias Bacterianas/genética , Regulação Bacteriana da Expressão Gênica , Fatores Hospedeiros de Integração/genética , Plâncton/genética , Salmonella enteritidis/genética , Celulose/biossíntese , Fímbrias Bacterianas/metabolismo , Deleção de Genes , Aptidão Genética , Fatores Hospedeiros de Integração/deficiência , Plâncton/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Plâncton/metabolismo , Polissacarídeos Bacterianos/biossíntese , Polissacarídeos Bacterianos/deficiência , Subunidades Proteicas/deficiência , Subunidades Proteicas/genética , Salmonella enteritidis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Salmonella enteritidis/metabolismo , Salmonella enteritidis/patogenicidadeRESUMO
Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are multiprotein complexes that transport effector proteins and protein-DNA complexes through bacterial membranes to the extracellular milieu or directly into the cytoplasm of other cells. Many bacteria of the family Xanthomonadaceae, which occupy diverse environmental niches, carry a T4SS with unknown function but with several characteristics that distinguishes it from other T4SSs. Here we show that the Xanthomonas citri T4SS provides these cells the capacity to kill other Gram-negative bacterial species in a contact-dependent manner. The secretion of one type IV bacterial effector protein is shown to require a conserved C-terminal domain and its bacteriolytic activity is neutralized by a cognate immunity protein whose 3D structure is similar to peptidoglycan hydrolase inhibitors. This is the first demonstration of the involvement of a T4SS in bacterial killing and points to this special class of T4SS as a mediator of both antagonistic and cooperative interbacterial interactions.
Assuntos
Antibiose/fisiologia , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Bacteriólise/fisiologia , Modelos Moleculares , Sistemas de Secreção Tipo IV/metabolismo , Xanthomonas/fisiologia , Proteínas de Bactérias/imunologia , Clonagem Molecular , Cristalização , Escherichia coli , Immunoblotting , Imunoprecipitação , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Conformação Proteica , Espalhamento a Baixo Ângulo , Sistemas de Secreção Tipo IV/química , Difração de Raios X , Xanthomonas/metabolismoRESUMO
Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) are used by Gram-negative bacteria to translocate protein and DNA substrates across the cell envelope and into target cells. Translocation across the outer membrane is achieved via a ringed tetradecameric outer membrane complex made up of a small VirB7 lipoprotein (normally 30 to 45 residues in the mature form) and the C-terminal domains of the VirB9 and VirB10 subunits. Several species from the genera of Xanthomonas phytopathogens possess an uncharacterized type IV secretion system with some distinguishing features, one of which is an unusually large VirB7 subunit (118 residues in the mature form). Here, we report the NMR and 1.0 Å X-ray structures of the VirB7 subunit from Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (VirB7(XAC2622)) and its interaction with VirB9. NMR solution studies show that residues 27-41 of the disordered flexible N-terminal region of VirB7(XAC2622) interact specifically with the VirB9 C-terminal domain, resulting in a significant reduction in the conformational freedom of both regions. VirB7(XAC2622) has a unique C-terminal domain whose topology is strikingly similar to that of N0 domains found in proteins from different systems involved in transport across the bacterial outer membrane. We show that VirB7(XAC2622) oligomerizes through interactions involving conserved residues in the N0 domain and residues 42-49 within the flexible N-terminal region and that these homotropic interactions can persist in the presence of heterotropic interactions with VirB9. Finally, we propose that VirB7(XAC2622) oligomerization is compatible with the core complex structure in a manner such that the N0 domains form an extra layer on the perimeter of the tetradecameric ring.
Assuntos
Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/química , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/química , Xanthomonas/química , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genética , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/isolamento & purificação , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/metabolismo , Citrus sinensis/microbiologia , Cristalografia por Raios X/métodos , Teste de Complementação Genética , Immunoblotting , Lipoproteínas/química , Lipoproteínas/genética , Lipoproteínas/isolamento & purificação , Lipoproteínas/metabolismo , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/genética , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/isolamento & purificação , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Domínios e Motivos de Interação entre Proteínas , Multimerização Proteica , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína , Transporte Proteico , Alinhamento de Sequência , Deleção de Sequência , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Fatores de Virulência/química , Fatores de Virulência/genética , Fatores de Virulência/metabolismo , Xanthomonas/genética , Xanthomonas/metabolismoRESUMO
Sigma factors of the ECF subfamily are important regulators of stress responses in bacteria. Analysis of Caulobacter crescentus genome sequence has indicated the presence of 13 members of the ECF (extracytoplasmic function) subfamily, suggesting that these regulators play an important role in C. crescentus physiology. This work describes the characterization of two highly similar C. crescentus ECF sigma factors, sigma(U) and sigma(T). The corresponding genes are not essential under normal growth conditions and absence of sigma(U) does not impair bacterial resistance to the environmental stresses tested. However, absence of sigma(T) significantly affects the ability of C. crescentus cells to survive osmotic and oxidative stress. Using transcription fusions to sigT and sigU upstream regions we demonstrate that both genes are induced by osmotic stress in a sigma(T)-dependent manner. Determination of sigU and sigT transcription start sites revealed an identical promoter motif, typical of ECF-dependent promoters. Transcriptome analysis revealed 40 putative members of the sigma(T) regulon, including sigU and sigR, encoding another ECF subfamily member, and genes involved in general stress responses and cell envelope functions. Twenty of those genes exhibit the sigT/sigU promoter motif in their upstream regions. Our data indicate a role of sigma(T) in distinct stress responses in C. crescentus.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/fisiologia , Caulobacter crescentus/fisiologia , Regulação Bacteriana da Expressão Gênica , Estresse Oxidativo , Fator sigma/fisiologia , Fusão Gênica Artificial , Sítios de Ligação/genética , Caulobacter crescentus/genética , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Genes Reporter , Viabilidade Microbiana/genética , Pressão Osmótica , Sítio de Iniciação de Transcrição , beta-Galactosidase/biossíntese , beta-Galactosidase/genéticaRESUMO
Alternative sigma factors of the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) subfamily are important regulators of stress responses in bacteria and have been implicated in the control of homeostasis of the extracytoplasmic compartment of the cell. This work describes the characterization of sigF, encoding 1 of the 13 members of this subfamily identified in Caulobacter crescentus. A sigF-null strain was obtained and shown to be severely impaired in resistance to oxidative stress, caused by hydrogen peroxide treatment, exclusively during the stationary phase. Although sigF mRNA levels decrease in stationary-phase cells, the amount of sigma(F) protein is greatly increased at this stage, indicating a posttranscriptional control. Data obtained indicate that the FtsH protease is either directly or indirectly involved in the control of sigma(F) levels, as cells lacking this enzyme present larger amounts of the sigma factor. Increased stability of sigma(F) protein in stationary-phase cells of the parental strain and in exponential-phase cells of the ftsH-null strain is also demonstrated. Transcriptome analysis of the sigF-null strain led to the identification of eight genes regulated by sigma(F) during the stationary phase, including sodA and msrA, which are known to be involved in oxidative stress response.