Journal article
Evolution of a multi-step phosphorelay signal transduction system in Ensifer: recruitment of the sigma factor RpoN and a novel enhancer-binding protein triggers acid-activated gene expression
Molecular Microbiology, Vol.103(5), pp.829-844
2017
Abstract
Most Ensifer strains are comparatively acid sensitive, compromising their persistence in low pH soils. In the acid-tolerant strain Ensifer medicae WSM419, the acid-activated expression of lpiA is essential for enhancing survival in lethal acidic conditions. Here we characterise a multi-step phosphorelay signal transduction pathway consisting of TcsA, TcrA, FsrR, RpoN and its cognate enhancer-binding protein EbpA, which is required for the induction of lpiA and the downstream acvB gene. The fsrR, tcrA, tcsA and rpoN genes were constitutively expressed, whereas lpiA and acvB were strongly acid-induced. RACE mapping revealed that lpiA/acvB were co-transcribed as an operon from an RpoN promoter. In most Ensifer species, lpiA/acvB is located on the chromosome and the sequence upstream of lpiA lacks an RpoN-binding site. Nearly all Ensifer meliloti strains completely lack ebpA, tcrA, tcsA and fsrR regulatory loci. In contrast, E. medicae strains have lpiA/acvB and ebpA/tcrA/tcsA/fsrR co-located on the pSymA megaplasmid, with lpiA/acvB expression coupled to an RpoN promoter. Here we provide a model for the expression of lpiA/acvB in E. medicae. This unique acid-activated regulatory system provides insights into an evolutionary process which may assist the adaptation of E. medicae to acidic environmental niches.
Details
- Title
- Evolution of a multi-step phosphorelay signal transduction system in Ensifer: recruitment of the sigma factor RpoN and a novel enhancer-binding protein triggers acid-activated gene expression
- Authors/Creators
- R. Tian (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS. Heiden (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityW.A.M. Osman (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityJ.K. Ardley (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityE.K. James (Author/Creator) - James Hutton InstituteM.M. Gollagher (Author/Creator) - Curtin UniversityR. Tiwari (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityR. Seshadri (Author/Creator) - Joint Genome InstituteN.C. Kyrpides (Author/Creator) - Joint Genome InstituteW.G. Reeve (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Molecular Microbiology, Vol.103(5), pp.829-844
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing
- Identifiers
- 991005541342607891
- Copyright
- © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Murdoch University; School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences; Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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