Dataset Information

Separating Functions of the Phage-Encoded Quorum-Sensing-Activated Antirepressor Qtip.

ABSTRACT: Quorum sensing is a process of chemical communication that bacteria use to track cell density and coordinate gene expression across a population. Bacteria-infecting viruses, called phages, can encode quorum-sensing components that enable them to integrate host cell density information into the lysis-lysogeny decision. Vibriophage VP882 is one such phage, and activation of its quorum-sensing pathway leads to the production of an antirepressor called Qtip. Qtip interferes with the prophage repressor (cI_VP882), leading to host-cell lysis. Here, we show that Qtip interacts with the N terminus of cI_VP882, inhibiting both cI_VP882 DNA binding and cI_VP882 autoproteolysis. Qtip also sequesters cI_VP882, localizing it to the poles. Qtip can localize to the poles independently of cI_VP882. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis of Qtip shows that its localization and interference with cI_VP882 activities are separable. Comparison of Qtip to a canonical phage antirepressor reveals that despite both proteins interacting with their partner repressors, only Qtip drives polar localization.

SUBMITTER: Silpe JE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7148176 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Separating Functions of the Phage-Encoded Quorum-Sensing-Activated Antirepressor Qtip.

Silpe Justin E JE Bridges Andrew A AA Huang Xiuliang X Coronado Daniela R DR Duddy Olivia P OP Bassler Bonnie L BL

Cell host & microbe 20200225 4

Quorum sensing is a process of chemical communication that bacteria use to track cell density and coordinate gene expression across a population. Bacteria-infecting viruses, called phages, can encode quorum-sensing components that enable them to integrate host cell density information into the lysis-lysogeny decision. Vibriophage VP882 is one such phage, and activation of its quorum-sensing pathway leads to the production of an antirepressor called Qtip. Qtip interferes with the prophage repress ...[more]

PMID: 32101705

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Project description:Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of cell-to-cell communication that bacteria use to orchestrate collective behaviors. QS relies on the cell-density-dependent production, accumulation, and receptor-mediated detection of extracellular signaling molecules called autoinducers (AIs). Gram-negative bacteria commonly use N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as their AIs, and they are detected by LuxR-type receptors. Often, LuxR-type receptors are insoluble when not bound to a cognate AI. In this report, we show that LuxR-type receptors are encoded on phage genomes, and in the cases we tested, the phage LuxR-type receptors bind to and are solubilized specifically by the AHL AI produced by the host bacterium. We do not yet know the viral activities that are controlled by these phage QS receptors; however, our observations, coupled with recent reports, suggest that their occurrence is more widespread than previously appreciated. Using receptor-mediated detection of QS AIs could enable phages to garner information concerning the population density status of their bacterial hosts. We speculate that such information can be exploited by phages to optimize the timing of execution of particular steps in viral infection.IMPORTANCE Bacteria communicate with chemical signal molecules to regulate group behaviors in a process called quorum sensing (QS). In this report, we find that genes encoding receptors for Gram-negative bacterial QS communication molecules are present on genomes of viruses that infect these bacteria. These viruses are called phages. We show that two phage-encoded receptors, like their bacterial counterparts, bind to the communication molecule produced by the host bacterium, suggesting that phages can "listen in" on their bacterial hosts. Interfering with bacterial QS and using phages to kill pathogenic bacteria represent attractive possibilities for development of new antimicrobials to combat pathogens that are resistant to traditional antibiotics. Our findings of interactions between phages and QS bacteria need consideration as new antimicrobial therapies are developed.

Dataset Information

Separating Functions of the Phage-Encoded Quorum-Sensing-Activated Antirepressor Qtip.

Publications

Separating Functions of the Phage-Encoded Quorum-Sensing-Activated Antirepressor Qtip.

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