Project description:The Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing (QS) systems contribute to bacterial homeostasis and pathogenicity. Although many regulators have been characterized to control the production of virulence factors and QS signaling molecules, its detailed regulatory mechanisms still remain elusive. Here, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) on 10 key QS regulators. The direct regulation of these genes by corresponding regulator has been confirmed by Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCR). Binding motifs are found by using MEME suite and verified by footprint assays in vitro. Collectively, this work provides new cues to better understand the detailed regulatory networks of QS systems. ChIP-seq of 10 QS regulators in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Project description:Regulatory networks including virulence-related transcriptional factors (TFs) determine bacterial pathogenicity in response to different environmental cues. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen of humans, recruits numerous TFs in quorum sensing (QS) system, type III secretion system (T3SS) and Type VI secretion system (T6SS) to mediate the pathogenicity. Although many virulence-related TFs have been illustrated individually, very little is known about their crosstalks and regulatory network. Here, based on chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) and transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq), we primarily focused on understanding the crosstalks of 20 virulence-related TFs, which led to construction of a virulence regulatory network named PAGnet (Pseudomonas aeruginosa Genomic integrated regulatory network), including 82 crosstalk targets. The PAGnet uncovered the intricate mechanism of virulence regulation and revealed master regulators in QS, T3SS and T6SS pathways. In particular, GacA and ExsA showed novel functions in QS and nitrogen metabolism. In addition, an online PAGnet platform was provided to analyze these TFs and more virulence factors. Taken together, the present study revealed the function-specific crosstalks of virulence regulatory network, which might provide new strategies for treating infections in P. aeruginosa in the future.
Project description:The Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing (QS) systems contribute to bacterial homeostasis and pathogenicity. Although many regulators have been characterized to control the production of virulence factors and QS signaling molecules, its detailed regulatory mechanisms still remain elusive. Here, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) on 10 key QS regulators. The direct regulation of these genes by corresponding regulator has been confirmed by Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCR). Binding motifs are found by using MEME suite and verified by footprint assays in vitro. Collectively, this work provides new cues to better understand the detailed regulatory networks of QS systems.
Project description:We performed ChIP-seq analyses of RhlR to map the C4-homoserine lactone-dependent and PqsE-dependent RhlR binding sites in the P. aeruginosa genome.
Project description:Determination of the binding sites of 55 transcription factors (all response regulators) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PAO1, PA14 and IHMA87.
Project description:Sigma factors are master regulators of bacterial transcription which direct gene expression of specific subsets of genes. In particular, alternative sigma factors are well-known to be key players of bacterial adaptation to changing environments. To elucidate the regulatory network of sigma factors in P. aeruginosa, an integrative approach including ChIP-seq of 11 polyhistidine-tag sigma factors was performed to define the primary regulon of each sigma factor.
Project description:Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA3973 encodes a putative TetR family transcriptional regulator, with a helix-turn-helix motif involved in DNA binding. We applied phenotype analyses, as well as transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq), and genome-wide identification of binding sites using ChIP-seq to unravel the biological role of PA3973. The ChIP-seq analysis identified more than 300 PA3973 binding sites in the P. aeruginosa genome, among them 139 were located in intergenic regions. The 13 bp sequence was identified as the preferential binding site of PA3973. The PA3973 regulon encompasses genes involved in stress response, including the putative PA3973-PA3970 operon. Transcriptional profiling of P. aeruginosa PAO1161 overexpressing PA3973 showed changes in the mRNA level of 648 genes; among them, 374 were down-regulated. Concomitantly, ChIP-seq analysis identified more than 300 PA3973 binding sites in the P. aeruginosa genome, among them 139 were located in intergenic regions. The 13 bp sequence was identified as the preferential binding site of PA3973.
Project description:Sigma factors are master regulators of bacterial transcription which direct gene expression of specific subsets of genes. In particular, alternative sigma factors are well-known to be key players of bacterial adaptation to changing environments. To elucidate the regulatory network of sigma factors in P. aeruginosa, an integrative approach including ChIP-seq of 11 polyhistidine-tag sigma factors was performed to define the primary regulon of each sigma factor. Sigma factor genes were fused to a polyhistidine-tag and provided in trans. Under optimal conditions regarding sigma factor activity and induction of sigma factor expression, DNA-sigma factor interactions were conserved by formaldehyde treatment. Upon DNA fragmentation by sonication, the complexes were specifically immunoprecipitated by polyclonal anti-6X His-tag antibodies and the purified DNA was analyzed by Illumina sequencing. DNA enrichment to a control strain was calculated and used for peak calling within promoter region (-500,+100) to identify directly regulated genes/operons.