MucR, a novel membrane-associated regulator of alginate biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009 Feb;75(4):1110-20. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02416-08. Epub 2008 Dec 16.

Abstract

Alginate biosynthesis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was shown to be regulated by the intracellular second messenger bis-(3'-5')-cyclic-dimeric-GMP (c-di-GMP), and binding of c-di-GMP to the membrane protein Alg44 was required for alginate production. In this study, PA1727, a c-di-GMP-synthesizing enzyme was functionally analyzed and identified to be involved in regulation of alginate production. Deletion of the PA1727 gene in the mucoid alginate-overproducing P. aeruginosa strain PDO300 resulted in a nonmucoid phenotype and an about 38-fold decrease in alginate production; thus, this gene is designated mucR. The mucoid alginate-overproducing phenotype was restored by introducing the mucR gene into the isogenic DeltamucR mutant. Moreover, transfer of the MucR-encoding plasmid into strain PDO300 led to an about sevenfold increase in alginate production, wrinkly colony morphology, increased pellicle formation, auto-aggregation, and the formation of highly structured biofilms as well as the inhibition of swarming motility. Outer membrane protein profile analysis showed that overproduction of MucR mediates a strong reduction in the copy number of FliC (flagellin), required for flagellum-mediated motility. Translational reporter enzyme fusions with LacZ and PhoA suggested that MucR is located in the cytoplasmic membrane with a cytosolic C terminus. Deletion of the proposed C-terminal GGDEF domain abolished MucR function. MucR was purified and identified using tryptic peptide fingerprinting and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Overall, experimental evidence was provided suggesting that MucR specifically regulates alginate biosynthesis by activation of alginate production through generation of a localized c-di-GMP pool in the vicinity of Alg44.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / genetics
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / analysis
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Glucuronic Acid / biosynthesis
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Locomotion
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / chemistry
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • Cyclic GMP