Genetic and biochemical analyses reveal direct interactions between LitR and genes important for <i>Vibrio fischeri</i> physiology, including biofilm production.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria can link gene expression to population density to promote group behaviors using quorum sensing. Quorum sensing controls a multitude of bacterial processes, such as virulence, motility, and biofilm formation. In Vibrio fischeri, the quorum-sensing-dependent transcription factor LitR inhibits biofilm formation. A previous study showed that LitR inhibits transcription (~1.4-fold) of the bcs locus, which comprises the genes responsible for producing the cellulose polysaccharide. However, beyond that, the mechanism of LitR-mediated inhibition of biofilm formation was unknown. Here, we find that LitR transcriptionally activates pdeV, which encodes a c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase that indirectly promotes cleavage of the large adhesive protein LapV from the surface of

SUBMITTER: Fung BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12369385 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature