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59100.9946Muramyl Endopeptidase Spr Contributes to Intrinsic Vancomycin Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. The impermeability barrier provided by the outer membrane of enteric bacteria, a feature lacking in Gram-positive bacteria, plays a major role in maintaining resistance to numerous antimicrobial compounds and antibiotics. Here we demonstrate that mutational inactivation of spr, coding for a muramyl endopeptidase, significantly sensitizes Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium to vancomycin without any accompanying apparent growth defect or outer membrane destabilization. A similar phenotype was not achieved by deleting the genes coding for muramyl endopeptidases MepA, PbpG, NlpC, YedA, or YhdO. The spr mutant showed increased autolytic behavior in response to not only vancomycin, but also to penicillin G, an antibiotic for which the mutant displayed a wild-type MIC. A screen for suppressor mutations of the spr mutant phenotype revealed that deletion of tsp (prc), encoding a periplasmic carboxypeptidase involved in processing Spr and PBP3, restored intrinsic resistance to vancomycin and reversed the autolytic phenotype of the spr mutant. Our data suggest that Spr contributes to intrinsic antibiotic resistance in S. Typhimurium without directly affecting the outer membrane permeability barrier. Furthermore, our data suggests that compounds targeting specific cell wall endopeptidases might have the potential to expand the activity spectrum of traditional Gram-positive antibiotics.201830619108
71510.9946Transcription tuned by S-nitrosylation underlies a mechanism for Staphylococcus aureus to circumvent vancomycin killing. Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections is a constant challenge due to emerging resistance to vancomycin, a last-resort drug. S-nitrosylation, the covalent attachment of a nitric oxide (NO) group to a cysteine thiol, mediates redox-based signaling for eukaryotic cellular functions. However, its role in bacteria is largely unknown. Here, proteomic analysis revealed that S-nitrosylation is a prominent growth feature of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus. Deletion of NO synthase (NOS) or removal of S-nitrosylation from the redox-sensitive regulator MgrA or WalR resulted in thinner cell walls and increased vancomycin susceptibility, which was due to attenuated promoter binding and released repression of genes involved in cell wall metabolism. These genes failed to respond to H(2)O(2)-induced oxidation, suggesting distinct transcriptional responses to alternative modifications of the cysteine residue. Furthermore, treatment with a NOS inhibitor significantly decreased vancomycin resistance in S. aureus. This study reveals that transcriptional regulation via S-nitrosylation underlies a mechanism for NO-mediated bacterial antibiotic resistance.202337085493
880020.9944Expanded roles of lactate-sensing LldR in transcription regulation of the Escherichia coli K-12 genome: lactate utilisation and acid resistance. LldR is a lactate-responsive transcription factor (TF) that transcriptionally regulates the lldPRD operon consisting of lactate permease and lactate dehydrogenase. The lldPRD operon facilitates the utilisation of lactic acid in bacteria. However, the role of LldR in whole genomic transcriptional regulation, and the mechanism involved in adaptation to lactate remains unclear. We used genomic SELEX (gSELEX) to comprehensively analyse the genomic regulatory network of LldR to understand the overall regulatory mechanism of lactic acid adaptation of the model intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli. In addition to the involvement of the lldPRD operon in utilising lactate as a carbon source, genes related to glutamate-dependent acid resistance and altering the composition of membrane lipids were identified as novel targets of LldR. A series of in vitro and in vivo regulatory analyses led to the identification of LldR as an activator of these genes. Furthermore, the results of lactic acid tolerance tests and co-culture experiments with lactic acid bacteria suggested that LldR plays a significant role in adapting to the acid stress induced by lactic acid. Therefore, we propose that LldR is an l-/d-lactate sensing TF for utilising lactate as a carbon source and for resistance to lactate-induced acid stress in intestinal bacteria.202337219924
66130.9943A Putative Bacterial ABC Transporter Circumvents the Essentiality of Signal Peptidase. The type I signal peptidase of Staphylococcus aureus, SpsB, is an attractive antibacterial target because it is essential for viability and extracellularly accessible. We synthesized compound 103, a novel arylomycin-derived inhibitor of SpsB with significant potency against various clinical S. aureus strains (MIC of ~1 µg/ml). The predominant clinical strain USA300 developed spontaneous resistance to compound 103 with high frequency, resulting from single point mutations inside or immediately upstream of cro/cI, a homolog of the lambda phage transcriptional repressor cro These cro/cI mutations led to marked (>50-fold) overexpression of three genes encoding a putative ABC transporter. Overexpression of this ABC transporter was both necessary and sufficient for resistance and, notably, circumvented the essentiality of SpsB during in vitro culture. Mutation of its predicted ATPase gene abolished resistance, suggesting a possible role for active transport; in these bacteria, resistance to compound 103 occurred with low frequency and through mutations in spsB Bacteria overexpressing the ABC transporter and lacking SpsB were capable of secreting a subset of proteins that are normally cleaved by SpsB and instead were cleaved at a site distinct from the canonical signal peptide. These bacteria secreted reduced levels of virulence-associated proteins and were unable to establish infection in mice. This study reveals the mechanism of resistance to a novel arylomycin derivative and demonstrates that the nominal essentiality of the S. aureus signal peptidase can be circumvented by the upregulation of a putative ABC transporter in vitro but not in vivo IMPORTANCE: The type I signal peptidase of Staphylococcus aureus (SpsB) enables the secretion of numerous proteins by cleavage of the signal peptide. We synthesized an SpsB inhibitor with potent activity against various clinical S. aureus strains. The predominant S. aureus strain USA300 develops resistance to this inhibitor by mutations in a novel transcriptional repressor (cro/cI), causing overexpression of a putative ABC transporter. This mechanism promotes the cleavage and secretion of various proteins independently of SpsB and compensates for the requirement of SpsB for viability in vitro However, bacteria overexpressing the ABC transporter and lacking SpsB secrete reduced levels of virulence-associated proteins and are unable to infect mice. This study describes a bacterial resistance mechanism that provides novel insights into the biology of bacterial secretion.201627601569
37140.9943Single amino acid substitutions in the enzyme acetolactate synthase confer resistance to the herbicide sulfometuron methyl. Sulfometuron methyl, a sulfonylurea herbicide, blocks growth of bacteria, yeast, and higher plants by inhibition of acetolactate synthase (EC 4.1.3.18), the first common enzyme in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids. Spontaneous mutations that confer increased resistance to the herbicide were obtained in cloned genes for acetolactate synthase from Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The DNA sequence of a bacterial mutant gene and a yeast mutant gene revealed single nucleotide differences from their respective wild-type genes. The mutations result in single amino acid substitutions in the structurally homologous aminoterminal regions of the two proteins, but at different positions. The bacterial mutation results in reduced levels of acetolactate synthase activity, reduced sensitivity to sulfometuron methyl, and unaltered resistance to feedback inhibition by valine. The yeast mutation results in unaltered levels of acetolactate synthase activity, greatly reduced sensitivity to sulfometuron methyl, and slightly reduced sensitivity to valine.198616593715
70450.9943Aminoarabinose is essential for lipopolysaccharide export and intrinsic antimicrobial peptide resistance in Burkholderia cenocepacia(†). One common mechanism of resistance against antimicrobial peptides in Gram-negative bacteria is the addition of 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose (L-Ara4N) to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule. Burkholderia cenocepacia exhibits extraordinary intrinsic resistance to antimicrobial peptides and other antibiotics. We have previously discovered that unlike other bacteria, B. cenocepacia requires L-Ara4N for viability. Here, we describe the isolation of B. cenocepacia suppressor mutants that remain viable despite the deletion of genes required for L-Ara4N synthesis and transfer to the LPS. The absence of L-Ara4N is the only structural difference in the LPS of the mutants compared with that of the parental strain. The mutants also become highly sensitive to polymyxin B and melittin, two different classes of antimicrobial peptides. The suppressor phenotype resulted from a single amino acid replacement (aspartic acid to histidine) at position 31 of LptG, a protein component of the multi-protein pathway responsible for the export of the LPS molecule from the inner to the outer membrane. We propose that L-Ara4N modification of LPS provides a molecular signature required for LPS export and proper assembly at the outer membrane of B. cenocepacia, and is the most critical determinant for the intrinsic resistance of this bacterium to antimicrobial peptides.201222742453
64960.9943The VirAB ABC Transporter Is Required for VirR Regulation of Listeria monocytogenes Virulence and Resistance to Nisin. Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive intracellular pathogen that causes a severe invasive disease. Upon infecting a host cell, L. monocytogenes upregulates the transcription of numerous factors necessary for productive infection. VirR is the response regulator component of a two-component regulatory system in L. monocytogenes In this report, we have identified the putative ABC transporter encoded by genes lmo1746-lmo1747 as necessary for VirR function. We have designated lmo1746-lmo1747 virAB We constructed an in-frame deletion of virAB and determined that the ΔvirAB mutant exhibited reduced transcription of VirR-regulated genes. The ΔvirAB mutant also showed defects in in vitro plaque formation and in vivo virulence that were similar to those of a ΔvirR deletion mutant. Since VirR is important for innate resistance to antimicrobial agents, we determined the MICs of nisin and bacitracin for ΔvirAB bacteria. We found that VirAB expression was necessary for nisin resistance but was dispensable for resistance to bacitracin. This result suggested a VirAB-independent mechanism of VirR regulation in response to bacitracin. Lastly, we found that the ΔvirR and ΔvirAB mutants had no deficiency in growth in broth culture, intracellular replication, or production of the ActA surface protein, which facilitates actin-based motility and cell-to-cell spread. However, the ΔvirR and ΔvirAB mutants produced shorter actin tails during intracellular infection, which suggested that these mutants have a reduced ability to move and spread via actin-based motility. These findings have demonstrated that L. monocytogenes VirAB functions in a pathway with VirR to regulate the expression of genes necessary for virulence and resistance to antimicrobial agents.201829263107
618970.9942Characterization of all RND-type multidrug efflux transporters in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Resistance nodulation cell division (RND)-type efflux transporters play the main role in intrinsic resistance to various antimicrobial agents in many gram-negative bacteria. Here, we estimated 12 RND-type efflux transporter genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Because VmeAB has already been characterized, we cloned the other 11 RND-type efflux transporter genes and characterized them in Escherichia coli KAM33 cells, a drug hypersusceptible strain. KAM33 expressing either VmeCD, VmeEF, or VmeYZ showed increased minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for several antimicrobial agents. Additional four RND-type transporters were functional as efflux pumps only when co-expressed with VpoC, an outer membrane component in V. parahaemolyticus. Furthermore, VmeCD, VmeEF, and VmeYZ co-expressed with VpoC exhibited a broader substrate specificity and conferred higher resistance than that with TolC of E. coli. Deletion mutants of these transporter genes were constructed in V. parahaemolyticus. TM32 (ΔvmeAB and ΔvmeCD) had significantly decreased MICs for many antimicrobial agents and the number of viable cells after exposure to deoxycholate were markedly reduced. Strains in which 12 operons were all disrupted had very low MICs and much lower fluid accumulation in rabbit ileal loops. These results indicate that resistance nodulation cell division-type efflux transporters contribute not only to intrinsic resistance but also to exerting the virulence of V. parahaemolyticus.201323894076
901980.9942Deleting qseC downregulates virulence and promotes cross-protection in Pasteurella multocida. QseC, a histidine sensor kinase of the QseBC two-component system, acts as a global regulator of bacterial stress resistance, biofilm formation, and virulence. The function of QseC in some bacteria is well understood, but not in Pasteurella multocida. We found that deleting qseC in P. multocida serotype A:L3 significantly down-regulated bacterial virulence. The mutant had significantly reduced capsule production but increased resistance to oxidative stress and osmotic pressure. Deleting qseC led to a significant increase in qseB expression. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that 1245 genes were regulated by qseC, primarily those genes involved in capsule and LPS biosynthesis and export, biofilm formation, and iron uptake/utilization, as well as several immuno-protection related genes including ompA, ptfA, plpB, vacJ, and sodA. In addition to presenting strong immune protection against P. multocida serotypes A:L1 and A:L3 infection, live ΔqseC also exhibited protection against P. multocida serotype B:L2 and serotype F:L3 infection in a mouse model. The results indicate that QseC regulates capsular production and virulence in P. multocida. Furthermore, the qseC mutant can be used as an attenuated vaccine against P. multocida strains of multiple serotypes.202134801081
71090.9942The L box regulon: lysine sensing by leader RNAs of bacterial lysine biosynthesis genes. Expression of amino acid biosynthesis genes in bacteria is often repressed when abundant supplies of the cognate amino acid are available. Repression of the Bacillus subtilis lysC gene by lysine was previously shown to occur at the level of premature termination of transcription. In this study we show that lysine directly promotes transcription termination during in vitro transcription with B. subtilis RNA polymerase and causes a structural shift in the lysC leader RNA. We find that B. subtilis lysC is a member of a large family of bacterial lysine biosynthesis genes that contain similar leader RNA elements. By analogy with related regulatory systems, we designate this leader RNA pattern the "L box." Genes in the L box family from Gram-negative bacteria appear to be regulated at the level of translation initiation rather than transcription termination. Mutations of B. subtilis lysC that disrupt conserved leader features result in loss of lysine repression in vivo and loss of lysine-dependent transcription termination in vitro. The identification of the L box pattern also provides an explanation for previously described mutations in both B. subtilis and Escherichia coli lysC that result in lysC overexpression and resistance to the lysine analog aminoethylcysteine. The L box regulatory system represents an example of gene regulation using an RNA element that directly senses the intracellular concentration of a small molecule.200314523230
6355100.9942Regulation of resistance to copper in Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria. Copper-resistant strains of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria were previously shown to carry plasmid-borne copper resistance genes related to the cop and pco operons of Pseudomonas syringae and Escherichia coli, respectively. However, instead of the two-component (copRS and pcoRS) systems determining copper-inducible expression of the operons in P. syringae and E. coli, a novel open reading frame, copL, was found to be required for copper-inducible expression of the downstream multicopper oxidase copA in X. axonopodis. copL encodes a predicted protein product of 122 amino acids that is rich in histidine and cysteine residues, suggesting a possible direct interaction with copper. Deletions or frameshift mutations within copL, as well as an amino acid substitution generated at the putative start codon of copL, caused a loss of copper-inducible transcriptional activation of copA. A nonpolar insertion of a kanamycin resistance gene in copL resulted in copper sensitivity in the wild-type strain. However, repeated attempts to complement copL mutations in trans failed. Analysis of the genomic sequence databases shows that there are copL homologs upstream of copAB genes in X. axonopodis pv. citri, X. campestris pv. campestris, and Xylella fastidiosa. The cloned promoter area upstream of copA in X. axonopodis pv. vesicatoria did not function in Pseudomonas syringae or in E. coli, nor did the P. syringae cop promoter function in Xanthomonas. However, a transcriptional fusion of the Xanthomonas cop promoter with the Pseudomonas copABCDRS was able to confer resistance to copper in Xanthomonas, showing divergence in the mechanisms of regulation of the resistance to copper in phytopathogenic bacteria.200515691931
151110.9941Enhanced NADH Metabolism Involves Colistin-Induced Killing of Bacillus subtilis and Paenibacillus polymyxa. The commonly believed mechanism of colistin against Gram-negative bacteria is to cause cell membrane lysis, whereas the mechanism of colistin against Gram-positive bacteria is extremely fragmented. In this study, we found that colistin treatment on Bacillus subtilis WB800, Paenibacillus polymyxa C12 and Paenibacillus polymyxa ATCC842 enhances not only the activities of α-ketoglutaric dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, but also the relative expression levels of their encoding genes. Additionally, the oxaloacetate concentration also increases. Interestingly, the analysis of the relative expression of genes specific for respiratory chain showed that colistin treatment stimulates the respiratory chain in Gram-positive bacteria. Accordingly, the NAD⁺/NADH ratio increases and the oxidative level is then boosted up. As a result, the intensive oxidative damages are induced in Gram-positive bacteria and cells are killed. Notably, both rotenone and oligomycin, respectively, inhibiting NADH dehydrogenase and phosphorylation on respiratory chain can downgrade oxidative stress formation, thus alleviating the colistin-induced killing of Gram-positive cells. Besides, thiourea-based scavenging for reactive oxygen species also rescues the colistin-subjected cells. These data collectively demonstrate that colistin stimulates both TCA cycle and respiratory chain in Gram-positive bacteria, leading to the enhancement of NADH metabolism and resulting in the generation of oxidative damages in Gram-positive cells. Our studies provide a better understanding of antibacterial mechanism of colistin against Gram-positive bacteria, which is important for knowledge on bacterial resistance to colistin happening via the inhibition of respiratory chain and manipulation of its production.201930678237
558120.9941Thiamine pyrophosphate riboswitches are targets for the antimicrobial compound pyrithiamine. Thiamine metabolism genes are regulated in numerous bacteria by a riboswitch class that binds the coenzyme thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). We demonstrate that the antimicrobial action of the thiamine analog pyrithiamine (PT) is mediated by interaction with TPP riboswitches in bacteria and fungi. For example, pyrithiamine pyrophosphate (PTPP) binds the TPP riboswitch controlling the tenA operon in Bacillus subtilis. Expression of a TPP riboswitch-regulated reporter gene is reduced in transgenic B. subtilis or Escherichia coli when grown in the presence of thiamine or PT, while mutant riboswitches in these organisms are unresponsive to these ligands. Bacteria selected for PT resistance bear specific mutations that disrupt ligand binding to TPP riboswitches and derepress certain TPP metabolic genes. Our findings demonstrate that riboswitches can serve as antimicrobial drug targets and expand our understanding of thiamine metabolism in bacteria.200516356850
663130.9941Unveiling the role of the PhoP master regulator in arsenite resistance through ackA downregulation in Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. In bacteria, the two-component system PhoPR plays an important role in regulating many genes related to phosphate uptake and metabolism. In Lacticaseibacillus paracasei inactivation of the response regulator PhoP results in increased resistance to arsenite [As(III)]. A comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that the absence of PhoP has a strong effect on the transcriptome, with about 57.5 % of Lc. paracasei genes being differentially expressed, although only 92 of the upregulated genes and 23 of the downregulated genes reached a fold change greater than 2. Among them, the phnDCEB cluster, encoding a putative ABC phosphonate transporter and the acetate kinase encoding gene ackA (LCABL_01600) were downregulated tenfold and sevenfold, respectively. In vitro binding assays with selected PhoP-regulated genes showed that phosphorylation of PhoP stimulated its binding to the promoter regions of pstS (phosphate ABC transporter binding subunit), phnD and glnA glutamine synthetase) whereas no binding to the poxL (pyruvate oxidase) or ackA putative promoter regions was detected. This result identified for the first time three genes/operons belonging to the Pho regulon in a Lactobacillaceae species. Mapping of the reads obtained in the transcriptomic analysis revealed that transcription of ackA was severely diminished in the PhoP mutant after a hairpin structure located within the ackA coding region. Inactivation of phnD did not affect As(III) resistance whereas inactivation of ackA resulted in the same level of resistance as that observed in the PhoP mutant. These finding strongly suggests that PhoP mutant As(III) resistance is due to downregulation of ackA. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed.202540027449
626140.9941Enterococcus faecalis Adapts to Antimicrobial Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes by Lipid Rearrangement and Differential Expression of Membrane Stress Response Genes. Conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs) are emerging antimicrobials with broad spectrum activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria as well as fungi. Our previous in vitro evolution studies using Enterococcus faecalis grown in the presence of two related COEs (COE1-3C and COE1-3Py) led to the emergence of mutants (changes in liaF and liaR) with a moderate 4- to16-fold increased resistance to COEs. The contribution of liaF and liaR mutations to COE resistance was confirmed by complementation of the mutants, which restored sensitivity to COEs. To better understand the cellular target of COEs, and the mechanism of resistance to COEs, transcriptional changes associated with resistance in the evolved mutants were investigated in this study. The differentially transcribed genes encoded membrane transporters, in addition to proteins associated with cell envelope synthesis and stress responses. Genes encoding membrane transport proteins from the ATP binding cassette superfamily were the most significantly induced or repressed in COE tolerant mutants compared to the wild type when exposed to COEs. Additionally, differences in the membrane localization of a lipophilic dye in E. faecalis exposed to COEs suggested that resistance was associated with lipid rearrangement in the cell membrane. The membrane adaptation to COEs in EFC3C and EFC3Py resulted in an improved tolerance to bile salt and sodium chloride stress. Overall, this study showed that bacterial cell membranes are the primary target of COEs and that E. faecalis adapts to membrane interacting COE molecules by both lipid rearrangement and changes in membrane transporter activity. The level of resistance to COEs suggests that E. faecalis does not have a specific response pathway to elicit resistance against these molecules and this is supported by the rather broad and diverse suite of genes that are induced upon COE exposure as well as cross-resistance to membrane perturbing stressors.202032117172
599150.9941RNase III participates in control of quorum sensing, pigmentation and oxidative stress resistance in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. RNase III is a dsRNA-specific endoribonuclease, highly conserved in bacteria and eukarya. In this study, we analysed the effects of inactivation of RNase III on the transcriptome and the phenotype of the facultative phototrophic α-proteobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. RNA-seq revealed an unexpectedly high amount of genes with increased expression located directly downstream to the rRNA operons. Chromosomal insertion of additional transcription terminators restored wild type-like expression of the downstream genes, indicating that RNase III may modulate the rRNA transcription termination in R. sphaeroides. Furthermore, we identified RNase III as a major regulator of quorum-sensing autoinducer synthesis in R. sphaeroides. It negatively controls the expression of the autoinducer synthase CerI by reducing cerI mRNA stability. In addition, RNase III inactivation caused altered resistance against oxidative stress and impaired formation of photosynthetically active pigment-protein complexes. We also observed an increase in the CcsR small RNAs that were previously shown to promote resistance to oxidative stress. Taken together, our data present interesting insights into RNase III-mediated regulation and expand the knowledge on the function of this important enzyme in bacteria.202337823424
713160.9940OxyR-activated expression of Dps is important for Vibrio cholerae oxidative stress resistance and pathogenesis. Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, a dehydrating diarrheal disease. This Gram-negative pathogen is able to modulate its gene expression in order to combat stresses encountered in both aquatic and host environments, including stress posed by reactive oxygen species (ROS). In order to further the understanding of V. cholerae's transcriptional response to ROS, we performed an RNA sequencing analysis to determine the transcriptional profile of V. cholerae when exposed to hydrogen hydroperoxide. Of 135 differentially expressed genes, VC0139 was amongst the genes with the largest induction. VC0139 encodes a protein homologous to the DPS (DNA-binding protein from starved cells) protein family, which are widely conserved and are implicated in ROS resistance in other bacteria. Using a promoter reporter assay, we show that during exponential growth, dps is induced by H2O2 in a manner dependent on the ROS-sensing transcriptional regulator, OxyR. Upon entry into stationary phase, the major stationary phase regulator RpoS is required to transcribe dps. Deletion of dps impaired V. cholerae resistance to both inorganic and organic hydroperoxides. Furthermore, we show that Dps is involved in resistance to multiple environmental stresses. Finally, we found that Dps is important for V. cholerae adult mouse colonization, but becomes dispensable in the presence of antioxidants. Taken together, our results suggest that Dps plays vital roles in both V. cholerae stress resistance and pathogenesis.201728151956
6349170.9940High-level chromate resistance in Arthrobacter sp. strain FB24 requires previously uncharacterized accessory genes. BACKGROUND: The genome of Arthrobacter sp. strain FB24 contains a chromate resistance determinant (CRD), consisting of a cluster of 8 genes located on a 10.6 kb fragment of a 96 kb plasmid. The CRD includes chrA, which encodes a putative chromate efflux protein, and three genes with amino acid similarities to the amino and carboxy termini of ChrB, a putative regulatory protein. There are also three novel genes that have not been previously associated with chromate resistance in other bacteria; they encode an oxidoreductase (most similar to malate:quinone oxidoreductase), a functionally unknown protein with a WD40 repeat domain and a lipoprotein. To delineate the contribution of the CRD genes to the FB24 chromate [Cr(VI)] response, we evaluated the growth of mutant strains bearing regions of the CRD and transcript expression levels in response to Cr(VI) challenge. RESULTS: A chromate-sensitive mutant (strain D11) was generated by curing FB24 of its 96-kb plasmid. Elemental analysis indicated that chromate-exposed cells of strain D11 accumulated three times more chromium than strain FB24. Introduction of the CRD into strain D11 conferred chromate resistance comparable to wild-type levels, whereas deletion of specific regions of the CRD led to decreased resistance. Using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR, we show that expression of each gene within the CRD is specifically induced in response to chromate but not by lead, hydrogen peroxide or arsenate. Higher levels of chrA expression were achieved when the chrB orthologs and the WD40 repeat domain genes were present, suggesting their possible regulatory roles. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that chromate resistance in Arthrobacter sp. strain FB24 is due to chromate efflux through the ChrA transport protein. More importantly, new genes have been identified as having significant roles in chromate resistance. Collectively, the functional predictions of these additional genes suggest the involvement of a signal transduction system in the regulation of chromate efflux and warrants further study.200919758450
549180.9940Extracytoplasmic function sigma factor σ(D) confers resistance to environmental stress by enhancing mycolate synthesis and modifying peptidoglycan structures in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Mycolates are α-branched, β-hydroxylated, long-chain fatty acid specifically synthesized in bacteria in the suborder Corynebacterineae of the phylum Actinobacteria. They form an outer membrane, which functions as a permeability barrier and confers pathogenic mycobacteria to resistance to antibiotics. Although the mycolate biosynthetic pathway has been intensively studied, knowledge of transcriptional regulation of genes involved in this pathway is limited. Here, we report that the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor σ(D) is a key regulator of the mycolate synthetic genes in Corynebacterium glutamicum in the suborder. Chromatin immunoprecipitation with microarray analysis detected σ(D) -binding regions in the genome, establishing a consensus promoter sequence for σ(D) recognition. The σ(D) regulon comprised acyl-CoA carboxylase subunits, acyl-AMP ligase, polyketide synthase and mycolyltransferases; they were involved in mycolate synthesis. Indeed, deletion or overexpression of sigD encoding σ(D) modified the extractable mycolate amount. Immediately downstream of sigD, rsdA encoded anti-σ(D) and was under the control of a σ(D) -dependent promoter. Another σ(D) regulon member, l,d-transpeptidase, conferred lysozyme resistance. Thus, σ(D) modifies peptidoglycan cross-linking and enhances mycolate synthesis to provide resistance to environmental stress.201829148103
6199190.9940A bacterial gene homologous to ABC transporters protect Oenococcus oeni from ethanol and other stress factors in wine. The wine lactic acid bacteria Oenococcus oeni has to cope with harsh environmental conditions including an acidic pH, a high alcoholic content, non-optimal growth temperatures, and growth inhibitory compounds such as fatty acids, phenolic acids and tannins. We here describe characterisation and cloning of the O. oeni omrA gene encoding a protein belonging to the ATP-binding cassette superfamily of transporters. The OmrA protein displays the highest sequence similarity with the subfamily of ATP-dependent multidrug resistance (MDR) proteins, most notably the bacterial Lactococcus lactis LmrA homologue of the human MDR1 P-glycoprotein. The omrA gene proved to be a stress-responsive gene since its expression was increased at high temperature or under osmotic shock. The OmrA protein function was tested in Escherichia coli, and consistent with the omrA gene expression pattern, OmrA conferred protection to bacteria grown on a high salt medium. OmrA also triggered bacterial resistance to sodium laurate, wine and ethanol toxicity. The homologous LmrA protein featured the same stress-protective pattern than OmrA when expressed in E. coli, and the contribution to resistance of both OmrA and LmrA transporters was decreased by verapamil, a well-known inhibitor of the human MDR1 protein. Genes homologous to omrA were detected in other wine lactic acid bacteria, suggesting that this type of genes might constitute a well-conserved stress-protective molecular device.200415033264