An evolutionarily conserved metabolite inhibits biofilm formation in Escherichia coli K-12.

ABSTRACT: Methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEcPP) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of isoprenoids in plant plastids and in bacteria, and acts as a stress signal in plants. Here, we show that MEcPP regulates biofilm formation in Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655. Increased MEcPP levels, triggered by genetic manipulation or oxidative stress, inhibit biofilm development and production of fimbriae. Deletion of fimE, encoding a protein known to downregulate production of adhesive fimbriae, restores biofilm formation in cells with elevated MEcPP levels. Limited proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry (LiP-MS) reveals that MEcPP interacts with the global regulatory protein H-NS, which is known to repress transcription of fimE. MEcPP prevents the binding of H-NS to the fimE promoter. Therefore, our results

SUBMITTER: Guo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11582573 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature