Regulation of Hfq by the RNA CrcZ in Pseudomonas aeruginosa carbon catabolite repression

What are the signals that control catabolite repression in Pseudomonas?

Metabolically versatile bacteria exhibit a global regulatory response known as carbon catabolite repression (CCR), which prioritizes some carbon sources over others when all are present in sufficient amounts. This optimizes growth by distributing metabolite fluxes, but can restrict yields in biotechnological applications. The molecular mechanisms and preferred substrates for CCR vary between bacterial groups. Escherichia coli prioritizes glucose whereas Pseudomonas sp. prefer certain organic acids or amino acids. A significant issue in understanding (and potentially bypassing) CCR is the lack of information about the signals that trigger this regulatory response. In E. coli, several key compounds act as flux sensors, governing the flow of metabolites through catabolic pathways and preventing imbalances. These flux sensors can also modulate the CCR response. It has been suggested that the order of substrate preference is determined by carbon uptake flux rather than substrate identity. For Pseudomonas, much less information is available, as the signals that induce CCR are poorly understood. This article briefly discusses the available evidence on the signals that trigger CCR and the questions that remain to be answered in Pseudomonas.

Dynamics and Function of sRNA/mRNAs Under the Scrutiny of Computational Simulation Methods

Molecular dynamics simulations have proved extremely useful in investigating the functioning of proteins with atomic-scale resolution. Many applications to the study of RNA also exist, and their number increases by the day. However, implementing MD simulations for RNA molecules in solution faces challenges that the MD practitioner must be aware of for the appropriate use of this tool. In this chapter, we present the fundamentals of MD simulations, in general, and the peculiarities of RNA simulations, in particular. We discuss the strengths and limitations of the technique and provide examples of its application to elucidate small RNA's performance.

Aminoglycoside uptake, stress, and potentiation in Gram-negative bacteria: new therapies with old molecules

SUMMARYAminoglycosides (AGs) are long-known molecules successfully used against Gram-negative pathogens. While their use declined with the discovery of new antibiotics, they are now classified as critically important molecules because of their effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria. While they can efficiently cross the Gram-negative envelope, the mechanism of AG entry is still incompletely understood, although this comprehension is essential for the development of new therapies in the face of the alarming increase in antibiotic resistance. Increasing antibiotic uptake in bacteria is one strategy to enhance effective treatments. This review aims, first, to consolidate old and recent knowledge about AG uptake; second, to explore the connection between AG-dependent bacterial stress and drug uptake; and finally, to present new strategies of potentiation of AG uptake for more efficient antibiotic therapies. In particular, we emphasize on the connection between sugar transport and AG potentiation.

In vivo genetic analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa carbon catabolic repression through the study of CrcZ pseudo-revertants shows that Crc-mediated metabolic robustness is needed for proficient bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance

IIMPORTANCE

Hfq and Crc regulate P. aeruginosa carbon catabolic repression at the post-transcriptional level. In vitro work has shown that Hfq binds the target RNAs and Crc stabilizes the complex. A third element in the regulation is the small RNA CrcZ, which sequesters the Crc-Hfq complex under no catabolic repression conditions, allowing the translation of the target mRNAs. A ΔcrcZ mutant was generated and presented fitness defects and alterations in its virulence potential and antibiotic resistance. Eight pseudo-revertants that present different degrees of fitness compensation were selected. Notably, although Hfq is the RNA binding protein, most mutations occurred in Crc. This indicates that Crc is strictly needed for P. aeruginosa efficient carbon catabolic repression in vivo. The compensatory mutations restore in a different degree the alterations in antibiotic susceptibility and virulence of the ΔcrcZ mutant, supporting that Crc plays a fundamental role linking P. aeruginosa metabolic robustness, virulence, and antibiotic resistance.

Fructose promotes pyoluteorin biosynthesis via the CbrAB-CrcZ-Hfq/Crc pathway in the biocontrol strain Pseudomonas PA1201

Biocontrol strain Pseudomonas PA1201 produces pyoluteorin (Plt), which is an antimicrobial secondary metabolite. Plt represents a promising candidate pesticide due to its broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial activity. Although PA1201 contains a complete genetic cluster for Plt biosynthesis, it fails to produce detectable level of Plt when grown in media typically used for Pseudomonas strains. In this study, minimum medium (MM) was found to favor Plt biosynthesis. Using the medium M, which contains all the salts of MM medium except for mannitol, as a basal medium, we compared 10 carbon sources for their ability to promote Plt biosynthesis. Fructose, mannitol, and glycerol promoted Plt biosynthesis, with fructose being the most effective carbon source. Glucose or succinic acid had no significant effect on Plt biosynthesis, but effectively antagonized fructose-dependent synthesis of Plt. Promoter-lacZ fusion reporter strains demonstrated that fructose acted through activation of the pltLABCDEFG (pltL) operon but had no effect on other genes of plt gene cluster; glucose or succinic acid antagonized fructose-dependent pltL induction. Mechanistically, fructose-mediated Plt synthesis involved carbon catabolism repression. The two-component system CbrA/CbrB and small RNA catabolite repression control Z (crcZ) were essential for fructose-induced Plt synthesis. The small RNA binding protein Hfq and Crc negatively regulated fructose-induced Plt. Taken together, this study provides a new model of fructose-dependent Plt production in PA1201 that can help improve Plt yield by biosynthetic approaches.

Spatial heterogeneity in biofilm metabolism elicited by local control of phenazine methylation

Within biofilms, gradients of electron acceptors such as oxygen stimulate the formation of physiological subpopulations. This heterogeneity can enable cross-feeding and promote drug resilience, features of the multicellular lifestyle that make biofilm-based infections difficult to treat. The pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces pigments called phenazines that can support metabolic activity in hypoxic/anoxic biofilm subzones, but these compounds also include methylated derivatives that are toxic to their producer under some conditions. In this study, we uncover roles for the global regulators RpoS and Hfq/Crc in controlling the beneficial and detrimental effects of methylated phenazines in biofilms. Our results indicate that RpoS controls phenazine methylation by modulating activity of the carbon catabolite repression pathway, in which the Hfq/Crc complex inhibits translation of the phenazine methyltransferase PhzM. We find that RpoS indirectly inhibits expression of CrcZ, a small RNA that binds to and sequesters Hfq/Crc, specifically in the oxic subzone of P. aeruginosa biofilms. Deletion of rpoS or crc therefore leads to overproduction of methylated phenazines, which we show leads to increased metabolic activity-an apparent beneficial effect-in hypoxic/anoxic subpopulations within biofilms. However, we also find that under specific conditions, biofilms lacking RpoS and/or Crc show increased sensitivity to phenazines indicating that the increased metabolic activity in these mutants comes at a cost. Together, these results suggest that complex regulation of PhzM allows P. aeruginosa to simultaneously exploit the benefits and limit the toxic effects of methylated phenazines.

Medium-chain alkane biodegradation and its link to some unifying attributes of alkB genes diversity

Hydrocarbon footprints in the environment, via biosynthesis, natural seepage, anthropogenic activities and accidents, affect the ecosystem and induce a shift in the healthy biogeochemical equilibrium that drives needed ecological services. In addition, these imbalances cause human diseases and reduce animal and microorganism diversity. Microbial bioremediation, which capitalizes on functional genes, is a sustainable mitigation option for cleaning hydrocarbon-impacted environments. This review focuses on the bacterial alkB functional gene, which codes for a non-heme di‑iron monooxygenase (AlkB) with a di‑iron active site that catalyzes C₈-C₁₆ medium-chain alkane metabolism. These enzymes are ubiquitous and share common attributes such as being controlled by global transcriptional regulators, being a component of most super hydrocarbon degraders, and their distributions linked to horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events. The phylogenetic approach used in the HGT detection suggests that AlkB tree topology clusters bacteria functionally and that a preferential gradient dictates gene distribution. The alkB gene also acts as a biomarker for bioremediation, although it is found in pristine environments and absent in some hydrocarbon degraders. For instance, a quantitative molecular method has failed to link alkB copy number to contamination concentration levels. This limitation may be due to AlkB homologues, which have other functions besides n-alkane assimilation. Thus, this review, which focuses on Pseudomonas putida GPo1 alkB, shows that AlkB proteins are diverse but have some unifying trends around hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria; it is erroneous to rely on alkB detection alone as a monitoring parameter for hydrocarbon degradation, alkB gene distribution are preferentially distributed among bacteria, and the plausible explanation for AlkB affiliation to broad-spectrum metabolism of hydrocarbons in super-degraders hitherto reported. Overall, this review provides a broad perspective of the ecology of alkB-carrying bacteria and their directed biodegradation pathways.

Hfq-licensed RNA-RNA interactome in Pseudomonas aeruginosa reveals a keystone sRNA

The RNA chaperone Hfq plays important regulatory roles in many bacteria by facilitating the base pairing between small RNAs (sRNAs) and their cognate mRNA targets. In the gram-negative opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, over a hundred putative sRNAs have been identified but for most, their regulatory targets remained unknown. Using RIL-seq with Hfq in P. aeruginosa, we identified the mRNA targets for dozens of previously known and unknown sRNAs. Strikingly, hundreds of the RNA-RNA interactions we discovered involved PhrS. This sRNA was thought to mediate its effects by pairing with a single target mRNA and regulating the abundance of the transcription regulator MvfR required for the synthesis of the quorum sensing signal PQS. We present evidence that PhrS controls many transcripts by pairing with them directly and employs a two-tiered mechanism for governing PQS synthesis that involves control of an additional transcription regulator called AntR. Our findings in P. aeruginosa expand the repertoire of targets for previously known sRNAs, reveal potential regulatory targets for previously unknown sRNAs, and suggest that PhrS may be a keystone sRNA with the ability to pair with an unusually large number of transcripts in this organism.

Catabolite repression control protein antagonist, a novel player in Pseudomonas aeruginosa carbon catabolite repression control

In the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pae), carbon catabolite repression (CCR) orchestrates the hierarchical utilization of N and C sources, and impacts virulence, antibiotic resistance and biofilm development. During CCR, the RNA chaperone Hfq and the catabolite repression control protein Crc form assemblies on target mRNAs that impede translation of proteins involved in uptake and catabolism of less preferred C sources. After exhaustion of the preferred C-source, translational repression of target genes is relieved by the regulatory RNA CrcZ, which binds to and acts as a decoy for Hfq. Here, we asked whether Crc action can be modulated to relieve CCR after exhaustion of a preferred carbon source. As Crc does not bind to RNA per se, we endeavored to identify an interacting protein. In vivo co-purification studies, co-immunoprecipitation and biophysical assays revealed that Crc binds to Pae strain O1 protein PA1677. Our structural studies support bioinformatics analyzes showing that PA1677 belongs to the isochorismatase-like superfamily. Ectopic expression of PA1677 resulted in de-repression of Hfq/Crc controlled target genes, while in the absence of the protein, an extended lag phase is observed during diauxic growth on a preferred and a non-preferred carbon source. This observations indicate that PA1677 acts as an antagonist of Crc that favors synthesis of proteins required to metabolize non-preferred carbon sources. We present a working model wherein PA1677 diminishes the formation of productive Hfq/Crc repressive complexes on target mRNAs by titrating Crc. Accordingly, we propose the name CrcA (catabolite repression control protein antagonist) for PA1677.

Multifaceted Interplay between Hfq and the Small RNA GssA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Behind the pathogenic lifestyle of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exists a complex regulatory network of intertwined switches at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Major players that mediate translation regulation of several genes involved in host-P. aeruginosa interaction are small RNAs (sRNAs) and the Hfq protein. The canonical role of Hfq in sRNA-driven regulation is to act as a matchmaker between sRNAs and target mRNAs. Besides, the sRNA CrcZ is known to sequester Hfq and abrogate its function of translation repression of target mRNAs. In this study, we describe the novel sRNA GssA in the strain PA14 and its multifaceted interplay with Hfq. We show that GssA is multiresponsive to environmental and physiological signals and acts as an apical repressor of key bacterial functions in the human host such as the production of pyocyanin, utilization of glucose, and secretion of exotoxin A. We suggest that the main role of Hfq is not to directly assist GssA in its regulatory role but to repress GssA expression. In the case of pyocyanin production, we suggest that Hfq interplays with GssA also by converging a positive effect on this pathway. Furthermore, our results indicate that both Hfq and GssA play a positive role in anaerobic growth, possibly by regulating the respiratory chain. On the other hand, we show that GssA can modulate not only Hfq expression at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels but also that of CrcZ, thus potentially influencing the pleiotropic role of Hfq. IMPORTANCE The pathogenic lifestyle of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading cause of life-threatening infections in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients, is based on the fine regulation of virulence-associated factors. Regulatory small RNAs (sRNAs) and the RNA-binding protein Hfq are recognized key components within the P. aeruginosa regulatory networks involved in host-pathogen interaction. In this study, we characterized in the highly virulent P. aeruginosa strain PA14 the novel sRNA GssA. We found that it can establish a many-sided reciprocal interplay with Hfq which goes beyond the canonical mechanism of direct physical interaction that had previously been characterized for other sRNAs. Given that the Hfq-driven regulatory network of virulence factors is very broad and important for the progression of infection, we consider GssA as a new RNA target that can potentially be used to develop new antibacterial drugs.

Spatial heterogeneity in biofilm metabolism elicited by local control of phenazine methylation

Within biofilms, gradients of electron acceptors such as oxygen stimulate the formation of physiological subpopulations. This heterogeneity can enable cross-feeding and promote drug resilience, features of the multicellular lifestyle that make biofilm-based infections difficult to treat. The pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces pigments called phenazines that can support metabolic activity in hypoxic/anoxic biofilm subzones, but these compounds also include methylated derivatives that are toxic to their producer under some conditions. Here, we uncover roles for the global regulators RpoS and Hfq/Crc in controlling the beneficial and detrimental effects of methylated phenazines in biofilms. Our results indicate that RpoS controls phenazine methylation by modulating activity of the carbon catabolite repression pathway, in which the Hfq/Crc complex inhibits translation of the phenazine methyltransferase PhzM. We find that RpoS indirectly inhibits expression of CrcZ, a small RNA that binds to and sequesters Hfq/Crc, specifically in the oxic subzone of P. aeruginosa biofilms. Deletion of rpoS or crc therefore leads to overproduction of methylated phenazines, which we show leads to increased metabolic activity-an apparent beneficial effect-in hypoxic/anoxic subpopulations within biofilms. However, we also find that biofilms lacking Crc show increased sensitivity to an exogenously added methylated phenazine, indicating that the increased metabolic activity in this mutant comes at a cost. Together, these results suggest that complex regulation of PhzM allows P. aeruginosa to simultaneously exploit the benefits and limit the toxic effects of methylated phenazines.

The acetoin assimilation pathway of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is regulated by overlapping global regulatory elements that respond to nutritional cues

Many microorganisms produce and excrete acetoin (3-hydroxy-2-butanone) when growing in environments that contain glucose or other fermentable carbon sources. This excreted compound can then be assimilated by other bacterial species such as pseudomonads. This work shows that acetoin is not a preferred carbon source of Pseudomonas putida, and that the induction of genes required for its assimilation is down-modulated by different, independent, global regulatory systems when succinate, glucose or components of the LB medium are also present. The expression of the acetoin degradation genes was found to rely on the RpoN alternative sigma factor and to be modulated by the Crc/Hfq, Cyo and PTS^Ntr regulatory elements, with the impact of the latter three varying according to the carbon source present in addition to acetoin. Pyruvate, a poor carbon source for P. putida, did not repress acetoin assimilation. Indeed, the presence of acetoin significantly improved growth on pyruvate, revealing these compounds to have a synergistic effect. This would provide a clear competitive advantage to P. putida when growing in environments in which all the preferred carbon sources have been depleted and pyruvate and acetoin remain as leftovers from the fermentation of sugars by other microorganisms.

Translational regulation by Hfq-Crc assemblies emerges from polymorphic ribonucleoprotein folding

The widely occurring bacterial RNA chaperone Hfq is a key factor in the post-transcriptional control of hundreds of genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. How this broadly acting protein can contribute to the regulatory requirements of many different genes remains puzzling. Here, we describe cryo-EM structures of higher order assemblies formed by Hfq and its partner protein Crc on control regions of different P. aeruginosa target mRNAs. Our results show that these assemblies have mRNA-specific quaternary architectures resulting from the combination of multivalent protein-protein interfaces and recognition of patterns in the RNA sequence. The structural polymorphism of these ribonucleoprotein assemblies enables selective translational repression of many different target mRNAs. This system elucidates how highly complex regulatory pathways can evolve with a minimal economy of proteinogenic components in combination with RNA sequence and fold.

Regulation of hierarchical carbon substrate utilization, nitrogen fixation, and root colonization by the Hfq/Crc/CrcZY genes in Pseudomonas stutzeri

Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas consume preferred carbon substrates in nearly reverse order to that of enterobacteria, and this process is controlled by RNA-binding translational repressors and regulatory ncRNA antagonists. However, their roles in microbe-plant interactions and the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. Here we show that root-associated diazotrophic Pseudomonas stutzeri A1501 preferentially catabolizes succinate, followed by the less favorable substrate citrate, and ultimately glucose. Furthermore, the Hfq/Crc/CrcZY regulatory system orchestrates this preference and contributes to optimal nitrogenase activity and efficient root colonization. Hfq has a central role in this regulatory network through different mechanisms of action, including repressing the translation of substrate-specific catabolic genes, activating the nitrogenase gene nifH posttranscriptionally, and exerting a positive effect on the transcription of an exopolysaccharide gene cluster. Our results illustrate an Hfq-mediated mechanism linking carbon metabolism to nitrogen fixation and root colonization, which may confer rhizobacteria competitive advantages in rhizosphere environments.

The function of small RNA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the main conditional pathogen causing nosocomial infection, is a gram-negative bacterium with the largest genome among the known bacteria. The main reasons why Pseudomonas aeruginosa is prone to drug-resistant strains in clinic are: the drug-resistant genes in its genome and the drug resistance easily induced by single antibiotic treatment. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatics, the functions of various small RNAs (sRNA) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are being revealed. Different sRNAs regulate gene expression by binding to protein or mRNA to play an important role in the complex regulatory network. In this article, first, the importance and biological functions of different sRNAs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are explored, and then the evidence and possibilities that sRNAs served as drug therapeutic targets are discussed, which may introduce new directions to develop novel disease treatment strategies.

Rewiring of Gene Expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa During Diauxic Growth Reveals an Indirect Regulation of the MexGHI-OpmD Efflux Pump by Hfq

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the RNA chaperone Hfq and the catabolite repression protein Crc act in concert to regulate numerous genes during carbon catabolite repression (CCR). After alleviation of CCR, the RNA CrcZ sequesters Hfq/Crc, which leads to a rewiring of gene expression to ensure the consumption of less preferred carbon and nitrogen sources. Here, we performed a multiomics approach by assessing the transcriptome, translatome, and proteome in parallel in P. aeruginosa strain O1 during and after relief of CCR. As Hfq function is impeded by the RNA CrcZ upon relief of CCR, and Hfq is known to impact antibiotic susceptibility in P. aeruginosa, emphasis was laid on links between CCR and antibiotic susceptibility. To this end, we show that the mexGHI-opmD operon encoding an efflux pump for the antibiotic norfloxacin and the virulence factor 5-Methyl-phenazine is upregulated after alleviation of CCR, resulting in a decreased susceptibility to the antibiotic norfloxacin. A model for indirect regulation of the mexGHI-opmD operon by Hfq is presented.

The RNA Chaperone Protein Hfq Regulates the Characteristic Sporulation and Insecticidal Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of the most widely used bio-insecticides at present. It can produce many virulence factors and insecticidal crystal proteins during growth and sporulation. Hfq, on the other hand, is a bacterial RNA chaperone that can regulate the function of different kinds of RNAs, thereby affecting various bacterial phenotypes. To further explore the physiological functions of Hfq in Bt, we took BMB171 as the starting strain, knocked out one, two, or three hfq genes in its genome in different combinations, and compared the phenotypic differences between the deletion mutant strains and the starting strain. We did observe significant changes in several phenotypes, including motility, biofilm formation, sporulation, and insecticidal activity against cotton bollworm, among others. Afterward, we found through transcriptome studies that when all hfq genes were deleted, 32.5% of the genes in Bt were differentially transcribed, with particular changes in the sporulation-related and virulence-related genes. The above data demonstrated that Hfq plays a pivotal role in Bt and can regulate its various physiological functions. Our study on the regulatory mechanism of Hfq in Bt, especially the mining of the regulatory network of its sporulation and insecticidal activity, could lay a theoretical foundation for the better utilization of Bt as an effective insecticide.

Implications of carbon catabolite repression for plant-microbe interactions

Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) plays a key role in many physiological and adaptive responses in a broad range of microorganisms that are commonly associated with eukaryotic hosts. When a mixture of different carbon sources is available, CCR, a global regulatory mechanism, inhibits the expression and activity of cellular processes associated with utilization of secondary carbon sources in the presence of the preferred carbon source. CCR is known to be executed by completely different mechanisms in different bacteria, yeast, and fungi. In addition to regulating catabolic genes, CCR also appears to play a key role in the expression of genes involved in plant-microbe interactions. Here, we present a detailed overview of CCR mechanisms in various bacteria. We highlight the role of CCR in beneficial as well as deleterious plant-microbe interactions based on the available literature. In addition, we explore the global distribution of known regulatory mechanisms within bacterial genomes retrieved from public repositories and within metatranscriptomes obtained from different plant rhizospheres. By integrating the available literature and performing targeted meta-analyses, we argue that CCR-regulated substrate use preferences of microorganisms should be considered an important trait involved in prevailing plant-microbe interactions.

The Small RNA AmiL Regulates Quorum Sensing-Mediated Virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic and nosocomial pathogen of humans with hundreds of its virulence factors regulated by quorum sensing (QS) system. Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are also key regulators of bacterial virulence. However, the QS regulatory sRNAs (Qrrs) that have been characterized in P. aeruginosa are still largely unknown. Here, sRNA AmiL (PA3366.1) in the amiEBCRS operon of PAO1 was identified as a novel Qrr by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). The expression of AmiL was negatively regulated by the las or rhl system, of which RhlR probably inhibited its transcription. AmiL deletion mutant and overexpressing strains were constructed in PAO1. Broad phenotypic changes were found, including reduced pyocyanin synthesis, elastase activity, biofilm formation, hemolytic activity, and cytotoxicity, as well as increased rhamnolipid production and swarming motility. AmiL appears to be a new regulator that influences diverse QS-mediated virulence. Furthermore, AmiL directly targeted PhzC, a key member of pyocyanin synthesis. AmiL also negatively regulated lasI expression in the early growth of PAO1, but predominantly increased rhlI expression and C4-HSL production in the middle and late stages. Therefore, a novel QS-sRNA signaling cascade of las/rhl (RhlR)-AmiL-PhzC/las/rhl was demonstrated, and it will help to shed new light on the virulence regulatory network of P. aeruginosa PAO1.

IMPORTANCEP. aeruginosa is a common nosocomial pathogen that causes diverse opportunistic infections in humans. The virulence crucial for infection is mainly regulated by QS. Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) involved in virulence regulation have also been identified in many bacteria. Recently, there is a growing interest in the new sRNA species, QS regulatory sRNAs (Qrrs). Understanding Qrrs-mediated regulation in P. aeruginosa virulence is therefore important to combat infection. In this study, a previously uncharacterized sRNA AmiL in PAO1 has been identified as a novel Qrr. It has been found to influence diverse QS-mediated virulence factors including pyocyanin, elastase, rhamnolipid, and hemolysin, as well as biofilm formation, swarming motility, and cytotoxicity. Furthermore, PhzC essential for pyocyanin synthesis was a direct target of AmiL. QS gene expression and C4-HSL production were also regulated by AmiL. This study provides insights into the roles of Qrr AmiL in modulating P. aeruginosa virulence.

The Regulatory Hierarchy Following Signal Integration by the CbrAB Two-Component System: Diversity of Responses and Functions

CbrAB is a two-component system, unique to bacteria of the family Pseudomonaceae, capable of integrating signals and involved in a multitude of physiological processes that allow bacterial adaptation to a wide variety of varying environmental conditions. This regulatory system provides a great metabolic versatility that results in excellent adaptability and metabolic optimization. The two-component system (TCS) CbrA-CbrB is on top of a hierarchical regulatory cascade and interacts with other regulatory systems at different levels, resulting in a robust output. Among the regulatory systems found at the same or lower levels of CbrAB are the NtrBC nitrogen availability adaptation system, the Crc/Hfq carbon catabolite repression cascade in Pseudomonas, or interactions with the GacSA TCS or alternative sigma ECF factor, such as SigX. The interplay between regulatory mechanisms controls a number of physiological processes that intervene in important aspects of bacterial adaptation and survival. These include the hierarchy in the use of carbon sources, virulence or resistance to antibiotics, stress response or definition of the bacterial lifestyle. The multiple actions of the CbrAB TCS result in an important competitive advantage.

Role of Two-Component System Networks in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pathogenesis

Two-component systems (TCS) are the largest family of signaling systems in the bacterial kingdom. They enable bacteria to cope with a wide range of environmental conditions via the sensing of stimuli and the transduction of the signal into an appropriate cellular adaptation response. Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesses one of the richest arrays of TCSs in bacteria and they have been the subject of intense investigation for more than 20 years. Most of the P. aeruginosa TCSs characterized to date affect its pathogenesis, via the regulation of virulence factors expression, modulation of the synthesis of antibiotic/antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and/or via linking virulence to energy metabolism. Here, we give an overview of the current knowledge on P. aeruginosa TCSs, citing key examples for each of the above-mentioned regulatory actions. We then conclude by mentioning few small molecule inhibitors of P. aeruginosa TCSs that have shown an antimicrobial action in vitro.

Bacterial RNA chaperones and chaperone-like riboregulators: behind the scenes of RNA-mediated regulation of cellular metabolism

In all domains of life, RNA chaperones safeguard and guide the fate of the cellular RNA pool. RNA chaperones comprise structurally diverse proteins that ensure proper folding, stability, and ribonuclease resistance of RNA, and they support regulatory activities mediated by RNA. RNA chaperones constitute a topologically diverse group of proteins that often present an unstructured region and bind RNA with limited nucleotide sequence preferences. In bacteria, three main proteins - Hfq, ProQ, and CsrA - have been shown to regulate numerous complex processes, including bacterial growth, stress response and virulence. Hfq and ProQ have well-studied activities as global chaperones with pleiotropic impact, while CsrA has a chaperone-like role with more defined riboregulatory function. Here, we describe relevant novel insights into their common features, including RNA binding properties, unstructured domains, and interplay with other proteins important to RNA metabolism.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa whole genome sequence: A 20th anniversary celebration

Toward the end of August 2000, the 6.3 Mbp whole genome sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 was published. With 5570 open reading frames (ORFs), PAO1 had the largest microbial genome sequenced up to that point in time-including a large proportion of metabolic, transport and antimicrobial resistance genes supporting its ability to colonize diverse environments. A remarkable 9% of its ORFs were predicted to encode proteins with regulatory functions, providing new insight into bacterial network complexity as a function of network size. In this celebratory article, we fast forward 20 years, and examine how access to this resource has transformed our understanding of P. aeruginosa. What follows is more than a simple review or commentary; we have specifically asked some of the leaders in the field to provide personal reflections on how the PAO1 genome sequence, along with the Pseudomonas Community Annotation Project (PseudoCAP) and Pseudomonas Genome Database (pseudomonas.com), have contributed to the many exciting discoveries in this field. In addition to bringing us all up to date with the latest developments, we also ask our contributors to speculate on how the next 20 years of Pseudomonas research might pan out.

Sub-Inhibitory Antibiotic Exposure and Virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a prime opportunistic pathogen, one of the most important causes of hospital-acquired infections and the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis lung infections. One reason for the bacterium's pathogenic success is the large array of virulence factors that it can employ. Another is its high degree of intrinsic and acquired resistance to antibiotics. In this review, we first summarise the current knowledge about the regulation of virulence factor expression and production. We then look at the impact of sub-MIC antibiotic exposure and find that the virulence-antibiotic interaction for P. aeruginosa is antibiotic-specific, multifaceted, and complex. Most studies undertaken to date have been in vitro assays in batch culture systems, involving short-term (<24 h) antibiotic exposure. Therefore, we discuss the importance of long-term, in vivo-mimicking models for future work, particularly highlighting the need to account for bacterial physiology, which by extension governs both virulence factor expression and antibiotic tolerance/resistance.

The Small RNA ErsA Impacts the Anaerobic Metabolism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Through Post-Transcriptional Modulation of the Master Regulator Anr

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most critical opportunistic pathogens in humans, able to cause both lethal acute and chronic lung infections. In previous work, we indicated that the small RNA ErsA plays a role in the regulatory network of P. aeruginosa pathogenicity in airways infection. To give further insight into the lifestyle functions that could be either directly or indirectly regulated by ErsA during infection, we reanalyzed the categories of genes whose transcription appeared dysregulated in an ersA knock-out mutant of the P. aeruginosa PAO1 reference strain. This preliminary analysis indicated ErsA as a candidate co-modulator of denitrification and in general, the anaerobiosis response, a characteristic physiologic state of P. aeruginosa during chronic infection of the lung of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. To explain the pattern of dysregulation of the anaerobic-lifestyle genes in the lack of ErsA, we postulated that ErsA regulation could target the expression of Anr, a well-known transcription factor that modulates a broad regulon of anoxia-responsive genes, and also Dnr, required for the transcription activation of the denitrification machinery. Our results show that ErsA positively regulates Anr expression at the post-transcriptional level while no direct ErsA-mediated regulatory effect on Dnr was observed. However, Dnr is transcriptionally downregulated in the absence of ErsA and this is consistent with the well-characterized regulatory link between Anr and Dnr. Anr regulatory function is critical for P. aeruginosa anaerobic growth, both through denitrification and fermentation of arginine. Interestingly, we found that, differently from the laboratory strain PAO1, ErsA deletion strongly impairs the anaerobic growth by both denitrification and arginine fermentation of the RP73 clinical isolate, a multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa CF-adapted strain. This suggests that P. aeruginosa adaptation to CF lung might result in a higher dependence on ErsA for the transduction of the multiple signals to the regulatory network of key functions for survivance in such a complex environment. Together, our results suggest that ErsA takes an upper place in the regulatory network of airways infection, transducing host inputs to biofilm-related factors, as underlined in our previous reports, and to functions that allow P. aeruginosa to thrive in low-oxygen conditions.

Riboregulation in bacteria: From general principles to novel mechanisms of the trp attenuator and its sRNA and peptide products

Gene expression strategies ensuring bacterial survival and competitiveness rely on cis- and trans-acting RNA-regulators (riboregulators). Among the cis-acting riboregulators are transcriptional and translational attenuators, and antisense RNAs (asRNAs). The trans-acting riboregulators are small RNAs (sRNAs) that bind proteins or base pairs with other RNAs. This classification is artificial since some regulatory RNAs act both in cis and in trans, or function in addition as small mRNAs. A prominent example is the archetypical, ribosome-dependent attenuator of tryptophan (Trp) biosynthesis genes. It responds by transcription attenuation to two signals, Trp availability and inhibition of translation, and gives rise to two trans-acting products, the attenuator sRNA rnTrpL and the leader peptide peTrpL. In Escherichia coli, rnTrpL links Trp availability to initiation of chromosome replication and in Sinorhizobium meliloti, it coordinates regulation of split tryptophan biosynthesis operons. Furthermore, in S. meliloti, peTrpL is involved in mRNA destabilization in response to antibiotic exposure. It forms two types of asRNA-containing, antibiotic-dependent ribonucleoprotein complexes (ARNPs), one of them changing the target specificity of rnTrpL. The posttranscriptional role of peTrpL indicates two emerging paradigms: (1) sRNA reprograming by small molecules and (2) direct involvement of antibiotics in regulatory RNPs. They broaden our view on RNA-based mechanisms and may inspire new approaches for studying, detecting, and using antibacterial compounds. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Small Molecule-RNA Interactions RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs.

Inactivation of CbrAB two-component system hampers root colonization in rhizospheric strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PGPR2

Two-component systems (TCS) are one of the signal transduction mechanisms, which sense physiological/biological restraints and respond to changing environmental conditions by regulating the gene expression. Previously, by employing a forward genetic screen (INSeq), we identified that cbrA gene is essential for the fitness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PGPR2 during root colonization. Here, we report the functional characterization of cbrAB TCS in PGPR2 during root colonization. We constructed insertion mutants in cbrA and its cognate response regulator cbrB. Genetic characterization revealed drastic down-regultion of sRNA crcZ gene in both mutant strains which play a critical role in carbon catabolite repression (CCR). The mutant strains displayed 10-fold decreased root colonization efficiency when compared to the wild-type strain. On the other hand, mutant strains formed higher biofilm on the abiotic surface, and the expression of pelB and pslA genes involved in biofilm matrix formation was up-regulated. In contrast, the expression of algD, responsible for alginate production, and its associated sigma factor algU was significantly down-regulated in mutant strains. We further analyzed the transcript levels of rsmA, controlled by the algU sigma factor, and found that the expression of rsmA was hampered in both mutants. The ability of mutant strains to swim and swarm was significantly hindered. Also, the expression of genes associated with type III secretion system (T3SS) was dysregulated in mutant strains. Taken together, regulation of gene expression by CbrAB TCS is intricate, and we confirm its role beyond carbon and nitrogen assimilation.

Post-Transcriptional Control in the Regulation of Polyhydroxyalkanoates Synthesis

The large production of non-degradable petrol-based plastics has become a major global issue due to its environmental pollution. Biopolymers produced by microorganisms such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are gaining potential as a sustainable alternative, but the high cost associated with their industrial production has been a limiting factor. Post-transcriptional regulation is a key step to control gene expression in changing environments and has been reported to play a major role in numerous cellular processes. However, limited reports are available concerning the regulation of PHA accumulation in bacteria, and many essential regulatory factors still need to be identified. Here, we review studies where the synthesis of PHA has been reported to be regulated at the post-transcriptional level, and we analyze the RNA-mediated networks involved. Finally, we discuss the forthcoming research on riboregulation, synthetic, and metabolic engineering which could lead to improved strategies for PHAs synthesis in industrial production, thereby reducing the costs currently associated with this procedure.

RNA-binding protein Hfq downregulates locus of enterocyte effacement-encoded regulators independent of small regulatory RNA in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) causes severe human diseases worldwide. The type 3 secretion system and effector proteins are essential for EHEC infection, and are encoded by the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE). RNA-binding protein Hfq is essential for small regulatory RNA (sRNA)-mediated regulation at a posttranscriptional level and full virulence of many pathogenic bacteria. Although two early studies indicated that Hfq represses LEE expression by posttranscriptionally controlling the expression of genes grlRA and/or ler, both of which encode LEE regulators mediating a positive regulatory loop, the detailed molecular mechanism and biological significance remain unclear. Herein, we show that LEE overexpression was caused by defective RNA-binding activity of the Hfq distal face, which posttranscriptionally represses grlA and ler expression. In vitro analyses revealed that the Hfq distal face directly binds near the translational initiation site of grlA and ler mRNAs, and inhibits their translation. Taken together, we conclude that Hfq inhibits grlA and ler translation by binding their mRNAs through the distal face in an sRNA-independent manner. Additionally, we show that Hfq-mediated repression of LEE is critical for normal EHEC growth because all suppressor mutations that restored the growth defect in the hfq mutant abolished hfq deletion-induced overexpression of LEE.

Specific and Global RNA Regulators in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pae) is an opportunistic pathogen showing a high intrinsic resistance to a wide variety of antibiotics. It causes nosocomial infections that are particularly detrimental to immunocompromised individuals and to patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. We provide a snapshot on regulatory RNAs of Pae that impact on metabolism, pathogenicity and antibiotic susceptibility. Different experimental approaches such as in silico predictions, co-purification with the RNA chaperone Hfq as well as high-throughput RNA sequencing identified several hundreds of regulatory RNA candidates in Pae. Notwithstanding, using in vitro and in vivo assays, the function of only a few has been revealed. Here, we focus on well-characterized small base-pairing RNAs, regulating specific target genes as well as on larger protein-binding RNAs that sequester and thereby modulate the activity of translational repressors. As the latter impact large gene networks governing metabolism, acute or chronic infections, these protein-binding RNAs in conjunction with their cognate proteins are regarded as global post-transcriptional regulators.

The global regulator Hfq exhibits far more extensive and intensive regulation than Crc in Pseudomonas protegens H78

The biocontrol rhizobacterium Pseudomonas protegens H78 can produce a large array of antimicrobial secondary metabolites, including pyoluteorin (Plt), 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), and pyrrolnitrin (Prn). Our preliminary study showed that the biosynthesis of antibiotics including Plt is activated by the RNA chaperone Hfq in P. protegens H78. This prompted us to explore the global regulatory mechanism of Hfq, as well as the catabolite repression control (Crc) protein in H78. The antimicrobial capacity of H78 was positively controlled by Hfq while slightly down-regulated by knockout of crc. Similarly, cell growth of H78 was significantly impaired by deletion of hfq and slightly inhibited by knockout of crc. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that hfq mutation resulted in significant down-regulation of 688 genes and up-regulation of 683 genes. However, only 113 genes were significantly down-regulated and 105 genes up-regulated by the crc mutation in H78. Hfq positively regulated the expression of gene clusters involved in secondary metabolism (plt, prn, phl, hcn, and pvd), the type VI secretion system, and aromatic compound degradation. However, Crc only positively regulated the biosynthesis of Plt but not other antibiotics. Hfq also regulated expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and flagellar biogenesis. In addition, Hfq and Crc activated transcription of crcY/Z sRNAs by feedback. In summary, Hfq processes far more extensive and intensive regulatory capacity than Crc and shows small cross-regulation with Crc in H78. This study lays the foundation for clarifying the Hfq and/or Crc-dependent global regulatory network and improving antibiotic production by genetic engineering in P. protegens.

Stabilization of Hfq-mediated translational repression by the co-repressor Crc in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa the RNA chaperone Hfq and the catabolite repression control protein (Crc) govern translation of numerous transcripts during carbon catabolite repression. Here, Crc was shown to enhance Hfq-mediated translational repression of several mRNAs. We have developed a single-molecule fluorescence assay to quantitatively assess the cooperation of Hfq and Crc to form a repressive complex on a RNA, encompassing the translation initiation region and the proximal coding sequence of the P. aeruginosa amiE gene. The presence of Crc did not change the amiE RNA-Hfq interaction lifetimes, whereas it changed the equilibrium towards more stable repressive complexes. This observation is in accord with Cryo-EM analyses, which showed an increased compactness of the repressive Hfq/Crc/RNA assemblies. These biophysical studies revealed how Crc protein kinetically stabilizes Hfq/RNA complexes, and how the two proteins together fold a large segment of the mRNA into a more compact translationally repressive structure. In fact, the presence of Crc resulted in stronger translational repression in vitro and in a significantly reduced half-life of the target amiE mRNA in vivo. Although Hfq is well-known to act with small regulatory RNAs, this study shows how Hfq can collaborate with another protein to down-regulate translation of mRNAs that become targets for the degradative machinery.

The impact of carbon and nitrogen catabolite repression in microorganisms

Organisms have cellular machinery that is focused on optimum utilization of resources to maximize growth and survival depending on various environmental and developmental factors. Catabolite repression is a strategy utilized by various species of bacteria and fungi to accommodate changes in the environment such as the depletion of resources, or an abundance of less-favored nutrient sources. Catabolite repression allows for the rapid use of certain substrates like glucose over other carbon sources. Effective handling of carbon and nitrogen catabolite repression in microorganisms is crucial to outcompete others in nutrient limiting conditions. Investigations into genes and proteins linked to preferential uptake of different nutrients under various environmental conditions can aid in identifying regulatory mechanisms that are crucial for optimum growth and survival of microorganisms. The exact time and way bacteria and fungi switch their utilization of certain nutrients is of great interest for scientific, industrial, and clinical reasons. Catabolite repression is of great significance for industrial applications that rely on microorganisms for the generation of valuable bio-products. The impact catabolite repression has on virulence of pathogenic bacteria and fungi and disease progression in hosts makes it important area of interest in medical research for the prevention of diseases and developing new treatment strategies. Regulatory networks under catabolite repression exemplify the flexibility and the tremendous diversity that is found in microorganisms and provides an impetus for newer insights into these networks.

The Multiple Regulatory Relationship Between RNA-Chaperone Hfq and the Second Messenger c-di-GMP

RNA chaperone protein Hfq is an important post-transcriptional regulator in bacteria, while c-di-GMP is a second messenger signaling molecule widely distributed in bacteria. Both factors have been found to play key roles in post-transcriptional regulation and signal transduction pathways, respectively. Intriguingly, the two factors show some common aspects in the regulation of certain physiological functions such as bacterial motility, biofilm formation, pathogenicity and so on. Therefore, there may be regulatory relationship between Hfq and c-di-GMP. For example, Hfq can directly regulate the activity of c-di-GMP metabolic enzymes or alter the c-di-GMP level through other systems, while c-di-GMP can indirectly enhance or inhibit the hfq gene expression through intermediate factors. In this article, after briefly introducing the Hfq and c-di-GMP regulatory systems, we will focus on the direct and indirect regulation reported between Hfq and c-di-GMP, aiming to compare and link the two regulatory systems to further study the complicated physiological and metabolic systems of bacteria, and to lay a solid foundation for drawing a more complete global regulatory network.

The LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator BsrA (PA2121) Controls Vital Metabolic Pathways in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a facultative human pathogen causing nosocomial infections, has complex regulatory systems involving many transcriptional regulators. LTTR (LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator) family proteins are involved in the regulation of various processes, including stress responses, motility, virulence, and amino acid metabolism. The aim of this study was to characterize the LysR-type protein BsrA (PA2121), previously described as a negative regulator of biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. Genome wide identification of BsrA binding sites using chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing analysis revealed 765 BsrA-bound regions in the P. aeruginosa PAO1161 genome, including 367 sites in intergenic regions. The motif T-N₁₁-A was identified within sequences bound by BsrA. Transcriptomic analysis showed altered expression of 157 genes in response to BsrA excess; of these, 35 had a BsrA binding site within their promoter regions, suggesting a direct influence of BsrA on the transcription of these genes. BsrA-repressed loci included genes encoding proteins engaged in key metabolic pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The panel of loci possibly directly activated by BsrA included genes involved in pilus/fimbria assembly, as well as secretion and transport systems. In addition, DNA pull-down and regulatory analyses showed the involvement of PA2551, PA3398, and PA5189 in regulation of bsrA expression, indicating that this gene is part of an intricate regulatory network. Taken together, these findings reveal the existence of a BsrA regulon, which performs important functions in P. aeruginosa.

IMPORTANCE This study shows that BsrA, a LysR-type transcriptional regulator from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, previously identified as a repressor of biofilm synthesis, is part of an intricate global regulatory network. BsrA acts directly and/or indirectly as the repressor and/or activator of genes from vital metabolic pathways (e.g., pyruvate, acetate, and tricarboxylic acid cycle) and is involved in control of transport functions and the formation of surface appendages. Expression of the bsrA gene is increased in the presence of antibiotics, which suggests its induction in response to stress, possibly reflecting the need to redirect metabolism under stressful conditions. This is particularly relevant for the treatment of infections caused by P. aeruginosa. In summary, the findings of this study demonstrate that the BsrA regulator performs important roles in carbon metabolism, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa.

Impacts of Small RNAs and Their Chaperones on Bacterial Pathogenicity

Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) are critical post-transcriptional regulators that exert broad effects on cell physiology. One class of sRNAs, referred to as trans-acting sRNAs, base-pairs with mRNAs to cause changes in their stability or translation. Another class of sRNAs sequesters RNA-binding proteins that in turn modulate mRNA expression. RNA chaperones play key roles in these regulatory events by promoting base-pairing of sRNAs to mRNAs, increasing the stability of sRNAs, inducing conformational changes on mRNA targets upon binding, or by titrating sRNAs away from their primary targets. In pathogenic bacteria, sRNAs and their chaperones exert broad impacts on both cell physiology and virulence, highlighting the central role of these systems in pathogenesis. This review provides an overview of the growing number and roles of these chaperone proteins in sRNA regulation, highlighting how these proteins contribute to bacterial pathogenesis.

MD simulations reveal the basis for dynamic assembly of Hfq-RNA complexes

The conserved protein Hfq is a key factor in the RNA-mediated control of gene expression in most known bacteria. The transient intermediates Hfq forms with RNA support intricate and robust regulatory networks. In Pseudomonas, Hfq recognizes repeats of adenine–purine–any nucleotide (ARN) in target mRNAs via its distal binding side, and together with the catabolite repression control (Crc) protein, assembles into a translation–repression complex. Earlier experiments yielded static, ensemble-averaged structures of the complex, but details of its interface dynamics and assembly pathway remained elusive. Using explicit solvent atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we modeled the extensive dynamics of the Hfq–RNA interface and found implications for the assembly of the complex. We predict that syn/anti flips of the adenine nucleotides in each ARN repeat contribute to a dynamic recognition mechanism between the Hfq distal side and mRNA targets. We identify a previously unknown binding pocket that can accept any nucleotide and propose that it may serve as a ‘status quo’ staging point, providing nonspecific binding affinity, until Crc engages the Hfq–RNA binary complex. The dynamical components of the Hfq–RNA recognition can speed up screening of the pool of the surrounding RNAs, participate in rapid accommodation of the RNA on the protein surface, and facilitate competition among different RNAs. The register of Crc in the ternary assembly could be defined by the recognition of a guanine-specific base–phosphate interaction between the first and last ARN repeats of the bound RNA. This dynamic substrate recognition provides structural rationale for the stepwise assembly of multicomponent ribonucleoprotein complexes nucleated by Hfq–RNA binding.

The World of Stable Ribonucleoproteins and Its Mapping With Grad-Seq and Related Approaches

Macromolecular complexes of proteins and RNAs are essential building blocks of cells. These stable supramolecular particles can be viewed as minimal biochemical units whose structural organization, i.e., the way the RNA and the protein interact with each other, is directly linked to their biological function. Whether those are dynamic regulatory ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) or integrated molecular machines involved in gene expression, the comprehensive knowledge of these units is critical to our understanding of key molecular mechanisms and cell physiology phenomena. Such is the goal of diverse complexomic approaches and in particular of the recently developed gradient profiling by sequencing (Grad-seq). By separating cellular protein and RNA complexes on a density gradient and quantifying their distributions genome-wide by mass spectrometry and deep sequencing, Grad-seq charts global landscapes of native macromolecular assemblies. In this review, we propose a function-based ontology of stable RNPs and discuss how Grad-seq and related approaches transformed our perspective of bacterial and eukaryotic ribonucleoproteins by guiding the discovery of new RNA-binding proteins and unusual classes of noncoding RNAs. We highlight some methodological aspects and developments that permit to further boost the power of this technique and to look for exciting new biology in understudied and challenging biological models.

RNA release via membrane vesicles in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is associated with the growth phase

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 membrane vesicles (MVs) are known to play a role in cell-to-cell communication. Several studies have shown that the MV composition and physicochemical properties vary according to the bacterial growth stage, but the impact this might have on the externalization of RNA via MVs has not been addressed. Therefore, a study to characterize the RNA content from MVs retrieved at different growth phases was conducted. First, the transcriptome analyses revealed a higher abundance of around 300 RNA species in MVs when compared with the cells. The vesiculation rate along the growth curve was determined, showing that the release of MVs increased during the transition to the stationary phase, whereas it decreased in the late stationary phase. RNA-seq of MVs retrieved along the transition to the stationary phase demonstrated that the RNA cargo of vesicles did not vary. However, the amount of smaller RNAs (<200 nt) inside MVs retrieved in the late exponential phase was higher than in the stationary phase MVs. These results indicate that the externalization of RNA via MVs occurs during late exponential phase and implies the secretion of different types of MVs during growth.

A Grad-seq View of RNA and Protein Complexes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa under Standard and Bacteriophage Predation Conditions

The Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not only a major cause of nosocomial infections but also serves as a model species of bacterial RNA biology. While its transcriptome architecture and posttranscriptional regulation through the RNA-binding proteins Hfq, RsmA, and RsmN have been studied in detail, global information about stable RNA-protein complexes in this human pathogen is currently lacking. Here, we implement gradient profiling by sequencing (Grad-seq) in exponentially growing P. aeruginosa cells to comprehensively predict RNA and protein complexes, based on glycerol gradient sedimentation profiles of >73% of all transcripts and ∼40% of all proteins. As to benchmarking, our global profiles readily reported complexes of stable RNAs of P. aeruginosa, including 6S RNA with RNA polymerase and associated product RNAs (pRNAs). We observe specific clusters of noncoding RNAs, which correlate with Hfq and RsmA/N, and provide a first hint that P. aeruginosa expresses a ProQ-like FinO domain-containing RNA-binding protein. To understand how biological stress may perturb cellular RNA/protein complexes, we performed Grad-seq after infection by the bacteriophage ΦKZ. This model phage, which has a well-defined transcription profile during host takeover, displayed efficient translational utilization of phage mRNAs and tRNAs, as evident from their increased cosedimentation with ribosomal subunits. Additionally, Grad-seq experimentally determines previously overlooked phage-encoded noncoding RNAs. Taken together, the Pseudomonas protein and RNA complex data provided here will pave the way to a better understanding of RNA-protein interactions during viral predation of the bacterial cell.

MAPS integrates regulation of actin-targeting effector SteC into the virulence control network of Salmonella small RNA PinT

A full understanding of the contribution of small RNAs (sRNAs) to bacterial virulence demands knowledge of their target suites under infection-relevant conditions. Here, we take an integrative approach to capturing targets of the Hfq-associated sRNA PinT, a known post-transcriptional timer of the two major virulence programs of Salmonella enterica. Using MS2 affinity purification and RNA sequencing (MAPS), we identify PinT ligands in bacteria under in vitro conditions mimicking specific stages of the infection cycle and in bacteria growing inside macrophages. This reveals PinT-mediated translational inhibition of the secreted effector kinase SteC, which had gone unnoticed in previous target searches. Using genetic, biochemical, and microscopic assays, we provide evidence for PinT-mediated repression of steC mRNA, eventually delaying actin rearrangements in infected host cells. Our findings support the role of PinT as a central post-transcriptional regulator in Salmonella virulence and illustrate the need for complementary methods to reveal the full target suites of sRNAs.

Coupled Transcription-Translation in Prokaryotes: An Old Couple With New Surprises

Coupled transcription-translation (CTT) is a hallmark of prokaryotic gene expression. CTT occurs when ribosomes associate with and initiate translation of mRNAs whose transcription has not yet concluded, therefore forming "RNAP.mRNA.ribosome" complexes. CTT is a well-documented phenomenon that is involved in important gene regulation processes, such as attenuation and operon polarity. Despite the progress in our understanding of the cellular signals that coordinate CTT, certain aspects of its molecular architecture remain controversial. Additionally, new information on the spatial segregation between the transcriptional and the translational machineries in certain species, and on the capability of certain mRNAs to localize translation-independently, questions the unanimous occurrence of CTT. Furthermore, studies where transcription and translation were artificially uncoupled showed that transcription elongation can proceed in a translation-independent manner. Here, we review studies supporting the occurrence of CTT and findings questioning its extent, as well as discuss mechanisms that may explain both coupling and uncoupling, e.g., chromosome relocation and the involvement of cis- or trans-acting elements, such as small RNAs and RNA-binding proteins. These mechanisms impact RNA localization, stability, and translation. Understanding the two options by which genes can be expressed and their consequences should shed light on a new layer of control of bacterial transcripts fate.

Distinctive Regulation of Carbapenem Susceptibility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Hfq

Carbapenems are often the antibiotics of choice to combat life threatening infections caused by the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The outer membrane porins OprD and OpdP serve as entry ports for carbapenems. Here, we report that the RNA chaperone Hfq governs post-transcriptional regulation of the oprD and opdP genes in a distinctive manner. Hfq together with the recently described small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) ErsA and Sr0161 is shown to mediate translational repression of oprD, whereas opdP appears not to be regulated by sRNAs. At variance, our data indicate that opdP is translationally repressed by a regulatory complex consisting of Hfq and the catabolite repression protein Crc, an assembly known to be key to carbon catabolite repression in P. aeruginosa. The regulatory RNA CrcZ, which is up-regulated during growth of P. aeruginosa on less preferred carbon sources, is known to sequester Hfq, which relieves Hfq-mediated translational repression of genes. The differential carbapenem susceptibility during growth on different carbon sources can thus be understood in light of Hfq-dependent oprD/opdP regulation and of the antagonizing function of the CrcZ RNA on Hfq regulatory complexes.

Hfq CLASH uncovers sRNA-target interaction networks linked to nutrient availability adaptation

By shaping gene expression profiles, small RNAs (sRNAs) enable bacteria to efficiently adapt to changes in their environment. To better understand how Escherichia coli acclimatizes to nutrient availability, we performed UV cross-linking, ligation and sequencing of hybrids (CLASH) to uncover Hfq-associated RNA-RNA interactions at specific growth stages. We demonstrate that Hfq CLASH robustly captures bona fide RNA-RNA interactions. We identified hundreds of novel sRNA base-pairing interactions, including many sRNA-sRNA interactions and involving 3’UTR-derived sRNAs. We rediscovered known and identified novel sRNA seed sequences. The sRNA-mRNA interactions identified by CLASH have strong base-pairing potential and are highly enriched for complementary sequence motifs, even those supported by only a few reads. Yet, steady state levels of most mRNA targets were not significantly affected upon over-expression of the sRNA regulator. Our results reinforce the idea that the reproducibility of the interaction, not base-pairing potential, is a stronger predictor for a regulatory outcome.

Widespread targeting of nascent transcripts by RsmA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, RsmA is an RNA-binding protein that plays critical roles in the control of virulence, interbacterial interactions, and biofilm formation. Although RsmA is thought to exert its regulatory effects by binding full-length transcripts, the extent to which RsmA binds nascent transcripts has not been addressed. Moreover, which transcripts are direct targets of this key posttranscriptional regulator is largely unknown. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput DNA sequencing, with cells grown in the presence and absence of the RNA polymerase inhibitor rifampicin, we identify hundreds of nascent transcripts that RsmA associates with in P. aeruginosa We also find that the RNA chaperone Hfq targets a subset of those nascent transcripts that RsmA associates with and that the two RNA-binding proteins can exert regulatory effects on common targets. Our findings establish that RsmA associates with many transcripts as they are being synthesized in P. aeruginosa, identify the transcripts targeted by RsmA, and suggest that RsmA and Hfq may act in a combinatorial fashion on certain transcripts. The binding of posttranscriptional regulators to nascent transcripts may be commonplace in bacteria where distinct regulators can function alone or in concert to achieve control over the translation of transcripts as soon as they emerge from RNA polymerase.

Small RNA-binding protein RapZ mediates cell envelope precursor sensing and signaling in Escherichia coli

The RNA‐binding protein RapZ cooperates with small RNAs (sRNAs) GlmY and GlmZ to regulate the glmS mRNA in Escherichia coli. Enzyme GlmS synthesizes glucosamine‐6‐phosphate (GlcN6P), initiating cell envelope biosynthesis. GlmZ activates glmS expression by base‐pairing. When GlcN6P is ample, GlmZ is bound by RapZ and degraded through ribonuclease recruitment. Upon GlcN6P depletion, the decoy sRNA GlmY accumulates through a previously unknown mechanism and sequesters RapZ, suppressing GlmZ decay. This circuit ensures GlcN6P homeostasis and thereby envelope integrity. In this work, we identify RapZ as GlcN6P receptor. GlcN6P‐free RapZ stimulates phosphorylation of the two‐component system QseE/QseF by interaction, which in turn activates glmY expression. Elevated GlmY levels sequester RapZ into stable complexes, which prevents GlmZ decay, promoting glmS expression. Binding of GlmY also prevents RapZ from activating QseE/QseF, generating a negative feedback loop limiting the response. When GlcN6P is replenished, GlmY is released from RapZ and rapidly degraded. We reveal a multifunctional sRNA‐binding protein that dynamically engages into higher‐order complexes for metabolite signaling.

Pseudomonad reverse carbon catabolite repression, interspecies metabolite exchange, and consortial division of labor

Microorganisms acquire energy and nutrients from dynamic environments, where substrates vary in both type and abundance. The regulatory system responsible for prioritizing preferred substrates is known as carbon catabolite repression (CCR). Two broad classes of CCR have been documented in the literature. The best described CCR strategy, referred to here as classic CCR (cCCR), has been experimentally and theoretically studied using model organisms such as Escherichia coli. cCCR phenotypes are often used to generalize universal strategies for fitness, sometimes incorrectly. For instance, extremely competitive microorganisms, such as Pseudomonads, which arguably have broader global distributions than E. coli, have achieved their success using metabolic strategies that are nearly opposite of cCCR. These organisms utilize a CCR strategy termed 'reverse CCR' (rCCR), because the order of preferred substrates is nearly reverse that of cCCR. rCCR phenotypes prefer organic acids over glucose, may or may not select preferred substrates to optimize growth rates, and do not allocate intracellular resources in a manner that produces an overflow metabolism. cCCR and rCCR have traditionally been interpreted from the perspective of monocultures, even though most microorganisms live in consortia. Here, we review the basic tenets of the two CCR strategies and consider these phenotypes from the perspective of resource acquisition in consortia, a scenario that surely influenced the evolution of cCCR and rCCR. For instance, cCCR and rCCR metabolism are near mirror images of each other; when considered from a consortium basis, the complementary properties of the two strategies can mitigate direct competition for energy and nutrients and instead establish cooperative division of labor.

TpiA is a Key Metabolic Enzyme That Affects Virulence and Resistance to Aminoglycoside Antibiotics through CrcZ in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The increase in bacterial resistance against antibiotics imposes a severe threat to public health. It is urgent to identify new drug targets and develop novel antimicrobials. Metabolic homeostasis of bacteria plays an essential role in their virulence and resistance to antibiotics. Recent studies demonstrated that antibiotic efficacies can be improved by modulating the bacterial metabolism. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic human pathogen that causes various infections. The bacterium is intrinsically resistant to antibiotics. In this study, we provide clear evidence that TpiA (triosephosphate isomerase) plays an essential role in the metabolism of P. aeruginosa and influences bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance. The significance of this work is in identifying a key enzyme in the metabolic network, which will provide clues as to the development of novel treatment strategies against infections caused by P. aeruginosa.

Carbon metabolism plays an essential role in bacterial pathogenesis and susceptibility to antibiotics. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Crc, Hfq, and a small RNA, CrcZ, are central regulators of carbon metabolism. By screening mutants of genes involved in carbon metabolism, we found that mutation of the tpiA gene reduces the expression of the type III secretion system (T3SS) and bacterial resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. TpiA is a triosephosphate isomerase that reversibly converts glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to dihydroxyacetone phosphate, a key step connecting glucose metabolism with glycerol and phospholipid metabolisms. We found that mutation of the tpiA gene enhances the bacterial carbon metabolism, respiration, and oxidative phosphorylation, which increases the membrane potential and promotes the uptake of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Further studies revealed that the level of CrcZ is increased in the tpiA mutant due to enhanced stability. Mutation of the crcZ gene in the tpiA mutant background restored the expression of the T3SS genes and the bacterial resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. Overall, this study reveals an essential role of TpiA in the metabolism, virulence, and antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa.

Conditional Hfq Association with Small Noncoding RNAs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Revealed through Comparative UV Cross-Linking Immunoprecipitation Followed by High-Throughput Sequencing

The Gram-negative bacterium P. aeruginosa is ubiquitously distributed in diverse environments and can cause severe biofilm-related infections in at-risk individuals. Although the presence of a large number of putative sRNAs and widely conserved RNA chaperones in this bacterium implies the importance of posttranscriptional regulatory networks for environmental fluctuations, limited information is available regarding the global role of RNA chaperones such as Hfq in the P. aeruginosa transcriptome, especially under different environmental conditions. Here, we characterize Hfq-dependent differences in gene expression and biological processes in two physiological states: the planktonic and biofilm forms. A combinatorial comparative CLIP-seq and total RNA-seq approach uncovered condition-dependent association of RNAs with Hfq in vivo and expands the potential direct regulatory targets of Hfq in the P. aeruginosa transcriptome.

Bacterial small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) play posttranscriptional regulatory roles in cellular responses to changing environmental cues and in adaptation to harsh conditions. Generally, the RNA-binding protein Hfq helps sRNAs associate with target mRNAs to modulate their translation and to modify global RNA pools depending on physiological state. Here, a combination of in vivo UV cross-linking immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (CLIP-seq) and total RNA-seq showed that Hfq interacts with different regions of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa transcriptome under planktonic versus biofilm conditions. In the present approach, P. aeruginosa Hfq preferentially interacted with repeats of the AAN triplet motif at mRNA 5′ untranslated regions (UTRs) and sRNAs and U-rich sequences at rho-independent terminators. Further transcriptome analysis suggested that the association of sRNAs with Hfq is primarily a function of their expression levels, strongly supporting the notion that the pool of Hfq-associated RNAs is equilibrated by RNA concentration-driven cycling on and off Hfq. Overall, our combinatorial CLIP-seq and total RNA-seq approach highlights conditional sRNA associations with Hfq as a novel aspect of posttranscriptional regulation in P. aeruginosa.

IMPORTANCE The Gram-negative bacterium P. aeruginosa is ubiquitously distributed in diverse environments and can cause severe biofilm-related infections in at-risk individuals. Although the presence of a large number of putative sRNAs and widely conserved RNA chaperones in this bacterium implies the importance of posttranscriptional regulatory networks for environmental fluctuations, limited information is available regarding the global role of RNA chaperones such as Hfq in the P. aeruginosa transcriptome, especially under different environmental conditions. Here, we characterize Hfq-dependent differences in gene expression and biological processes in two physiological states: the planktonic and biofilm forms. A combinatorial comparative CLIP-seq and total RNA-seq approach uncovered condition-dependent association of RNAs with Hfq in vivo and expands the potential direct regulatory targets of Hfq in the P. aeruginosa transcriptome.