Abstract |
Recent reports have shown that several strains of Pseudomonas putida produce N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). These signal molecules enable bacteria to coordinately express certain phenotypic traits in a density-dependent manner in a process referred to as quorum sensing. In this study we have cloned a genomic region of the plant growth-promoting P. putida strain IsoF that, when present in trans, provoked induction of a bioluminescent AHL reporter plasmid. Sequence analysis identified a gene cluster consisting of four genes: ppuI and ppuR, whose predicted amino acid sequences are highly similar to proteins of the LuxI-LuxR family, an open reading frame (ORF) located in the intergenic region between ppuI and ppuR with significant homology to rsaL from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a gene, designated ppuA, present upstream of ppuR, the deduced amino acid sequence of which shows similarity to long-chain fatty acid coenzyme A ligases from various organisms. Using a transcriptional ppuA::luxAB fusion we demonstrate that expression of ppuA is AHL dependent. Furthermore, transcription of the AHL synthase ppuI is shown to be subject to quorum-sensing regulation, creating a positive feedback loop. Sequencing of the DNA regions flanking the ppu gene cluster indicated that the four genes form an island in the suhB-PA3819 intergenic region of the currently sequenced P. putida strain KT2440. Moreover, we provide evidence that the ppu genes are not present in other AHL-producing P. putida strains, indicating that this gene cluster is so far unique for strain IsoF. While the wild-type strain formed very homogenous biofilms, both a ppuI and a ppuA mutant formed structured biofilms with characteristic microcolonies and water-filled channels. These results suggest that the quorum-sensing system influences biofilm structural development.
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Authors | Anette Steidle, Marie Allesen-Holm, Kathrin Riedel, Gabriele Berg, Michael Givskov, Søren Molin, Leo Eberl |
Journal | Applied and environmental microbiology
(Appl Environ Microbiol)
Vol. 68
Issue 12
Pg. 6371-82
(Dec 2002)
ISSN: 0099-2240 [Print] United States |
PMID | 12450862
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Lactones
- Ligases
- N-acylhomoserine lactone synthase
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Topics |
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Base Sequence
- Biofilms
- Cloning, Molecular
- Feedback
- Genes, Bacterial
(physiology)
- Lactones
(metabolism)
- Ligases
(genetics)
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Open Reading Frames
- Pseudomonas putida
(genetics, physiology)
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