A small-RNA-mediated negative feedback loop controls quorum-sensing dynamics in Vibrio harveyi.

TitleA small-RNA-mediated negative feedback loop controls quorum-sensing dynamics in Vibrio harveyi.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsTu, KC, Waters, CM, Svenningsen, SL, Bassler, BL
JournalMol Microbiol
Volume70
Issue4
Pagination896-907
Date Published2008 Nov
ISSN1365-2958
KeywordsBacterial Proteins, DNA, Bacterial, Down-Regulation, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay, Feedback, Physiological, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Genes, Bacterial, Population Density, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Protein Binding, Quorum Sensing, Repressor Proteins, RNA, Bacterial, RNA, Messenger, Trans-Activators, Transcription, Genetic, Vibrio
Abstract

<p>The bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi uses a cell-to-cell communication process called quorum sensing (QS) to co-ordinate behaviours in response to changes in population density. QS is accomplished through the secretion and detection of extracellular signalling molecules called autoinducers. At the centre of the V. harveyi QS circuit are five small regulatory RNAs called Qrr1-5 which destabilize the mRNA of luxR, encoding LuxR, the master transcriptional regulator of QS target genes. Here we show that LuxR directly activates transcription of qrr2, qrr3 and qrr4, leading to the rapid downregulation of luxR. The LuxR-binding sites in the promoters of qrr2, qrr3 and qrr4 were identified and mutated to determine the consequences of this regulatory loop on QS dynamics. Disruption of the loop delays the transition from high to low cell density, and more significantly, decreases the cell density at which the population reaches a quorum. Our results suggest that feedback is essential for optimizing the dynamics of the transitions between individual and group behaviours.</p>

DOI10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06452.x
Alternate JournalMol Microbiol
PubMed ID18808382
PubMed Central IDPMC2680268
Grant ListR01 GM065859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
/ / Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States