Project description:Orfamide A, a lipopeptide produced by Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5, is a key determinant of its biocontrol properties. In this study, we investigated the regulatory interactions among the GacS/A two-component system, small RNAs (sRNAs), repressor proteins, and two LuxR-type transcription factors in orfamide A biosynthesis. We found that GacS/A indirectly regulates orfamide A production by enhancing transcription of three sRNAs (RsmX, RsmY and RsmZ). RsmY and RsmZ synergistically relieve repression by RsmA and RsmE, while RsmX plays a lesser role, likely counteracting only one repressor. LuxR-type transcription factors LuxR1 and LuxR2, which positively regulate orfamide A synthesis, are directly repressed by RsmA and RsmE via binding to their 5′ untranslated regions, linking them to the Gac-Rsm signaling cascade. We further demonstrate that LuxR2 activates luxR1 expression, which in turn facilitates orfamide A production by binding to the promoter of the orfamide A biosynthetic gene cluster. Importantly, we show that this entire regulatory cascade operates in the rhizosphere and directly influences biocontrol efficacy. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the Gac-Rsm-LuxR pathway in orfamide A biosynthesis and offer valuable insights for the development of biocontrol agents based on Pseudomonas strains.
Project description:To know whether the microarray technique could be used to detect bacterial gene expression in soil, large quantity of RNA was extracted from soil cultures of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 containing a chloroaromatic degrading plasmid at the presence or absence of the growth substrate, 3-chlorobenzoate (3CB). The quality and quantity of the extracted RNA were proper for a typical microarray analysis. Gene expression patterns of soil cultures were analyzed by DNA microarray using the extracted RNA. Among 5346 genes on the array, 5% and 4.5% of genes showed up- or down-regulation. Analysis done at the DAVID Bioinformatics Resources server suggested that the benzoate degradation via hydroxylation pathway had the most significant changes after treatment with 3CB. Expression of the 3CB degradation genes located in the genome was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. In addition, real time RT-PCR analysis revealed that the fluorescent signals from plasmid genes on the microarray were saturated so that the induction ratio of the genes located in the plasmid was underestimated in microarray analysis. To our best knowledge, this report represents the first trial to use microarray technique to detect genome-wide bacterial gene expression in soil. A study using total RNA extracted from soil cultures of Pseudomonas putida KT2440/pSL1. Each chip measures the expression level of 5,341 genes from Pseudomonas putida KT2440 genome and 5 genes from an introduced plasmid pSL1 with fourteen 60-mer probes per gene which have five-fold technical redundancy.
Project description:The biocontrol agent Pseudomonas chlororaphis PA23 protects canola (Brassica napus) against infection by the necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Production of PA23 secondary metabolites is governed by a complex regulatory pathway that includes the GacA/GacS two component system, the PhzI/PhzR quorum-sensing system, and a novel LysR-type transcriptional regulator, called PtrA. Through RNA-sequencing, transcriptomic profiles of PA23-WT, two quorum sensing-deficient strains, PA23-AHL and PA23-phzR, and regulatory mutants PA23-gacA, PA23-gacS and PA23-ptrA were generated allowing elucidation of the PhzRI, Gac and PtrA regulons of P. chlororaphis PA23.
Project description:To gain an insight into molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions gene expression changes in rice plants in response to a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria such as the Pseudomonas putida, root transcriptome analysis through microarray technology was performed from rice roots in response to P. putida RF3. Species of Pseudomonas are well known as biocontrol agents hence defense response and genes related to root exudation of phytochemicals were analysed in detail. For treatment of rice plants with P. putida, aseptically germinated rice seedlings from half strength MS medium were transferred to flasks containing Hoaglands’ nutrient solution, treated with P. putida and incubated for 48 hours in growth chamber in an orbital shaker. Gene expression changes in rice roots were then analyzed by microarray experiment. Untreated roots served as control. Data analysis revealed defense responsive genes to be upregulated with greater fold changes. In addition to defense response genes, few genes involved in secondary metabolism were also upregulated significantly. Validation of microarray data was performed using real time PCR for defense responsive genes (OsPBZ, OsPR101a, OsCHIA, etc). Detailed analysis of the differentially expressed genes reveal the role of P. putida RF3 in inducing systemic resistance in plants thereby immunizing the rice plants against future attacks by pests/pathogens. Our study enhances the current understanding on gene expression changes occurring during plant-microbe associations and thus demonstrates the potential of P. putida RF3 as a biocontrol agent.
Project description:The plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum (Fgr) creates economic and health risks in cereals agriculture. Fgr causes head blight (or scab) of wheat and stalk rot of corn, reducing yield, degrading grain quality and polluting downstream food products with mycotoxins. Fungal plant pathogens must secrete proteases to access nutrition and to breakdown the structural protein component of the plant cell wall. Research into the proteolytic activity of Fgr is hindered by the complex nature of the suite of proteases secreted. We used a systems biology approach comprising genome analysis, transcriptomics and label-free quantitative proteomics to characterise the peptidases deployed by Fgr during growth. A combined analysis of published microarray transcriptome datasets revealed seven transcriptional groupings of peptidases based on in vitro growth, in planta growth, and sporulation behaviours. An orbitrap MS/MS proteomics technique defined the extracellular proteases secreted by Fusarium graminearum.