Quorum sensing regulates the osmotic stress response in Vibrio harveyi.

TitleQuorum sensing regulates the osmotic stress response in Vibrio harveyi.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
Authorsvan Kessel, JC, Rutherford, ST, Cong, J-P, Quinodoz, S, Healy, J, Bassler, BL
JournalJ Bacteriol
Volume197
Issue1
Pagination73-80
Date Published2015 Jan 01
ISSN1098-5530
KeywordsBetaine, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Osmotic Pressure, Quorum Sensing, Repressor Proteins, Stress, Physiological, Trans-Activators, Vibrio
Abstract

<p>Bacteria use a chemical communication process called quorum sensing to monitor cell density and to alter behavior in response to fluctuations in population numbers. Previous studies with Vibrio harveyi have shown that LuxR, the master quorum-sensing regulator, activates and represses >600 genes. These include six genes that encode homologs of the Escherichia coli Bet and ProU systems for synthesis and transport, respectively, of glycine betaine, an osmoprotectant used during osmotic stress. Here we show that LuxR activates expression of the glycine betaine operon betIBA-proXWV, which enhances growth recovery under osmotic stress conditions. BetI, an autorepressor of the V. harveyi betIBA-proXWV operon, activates the expression of genes encoding regulatory small RNAs that control quorum-sensing transitions. Connecting quorum-sensing and glycine betaine pathways presumably enables V. harveyi to tune its execution of collective behaviors to its tolerance to stress.</p>

DOI10.1128/JB.02246-14
Alternate JournalJ Bacteriol
PubMed ID25313392
PubMed Central IDPMC4288691
Grant ListR01 GM065859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
5R01GM065859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
/ HHMI / Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States