Novel targets of the CbrAB/Crc carbon catabolite control system revealed by transcript abundance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e44637. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044637. Epub 2012 Oct 24.

Abstract

The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is able to utilize a wide range of carbon and nitrogen compounds, allowing it to grow in vastly different environments. The uptake and catabolism of growth substrates are organized hierarchically by a mechanism termed catabolite repression control (Crc) whereby the Crc protein establishes translational repression of target mRNAs at CA (catabolite activity) motifs present in target mRNAs near ribosome binding sites. Poor carbon sources lead to activation of the CbrAB two-component system, which induces transcription of the small RNA (sRNA) CrcZ. This sRNA relieves Crc-mediated repression of target mRNAs. In this study, we have identified novel targets of the CbrAB/Crc system in P. aeruginosa using transcriptome analysis in combination with a search for CA motifs. We characterized four target genes involved in the uptake and utilization of less preferred carbon sources: estA (secreted esterase), acsA (acetyl-CoA synthetase), bkdR (regulator of branched-chain amino acid catabolism) and aroP2 (aromatic amino acid uptake protein). Evidence for regulation by CbrAB, CrcZ and Crc was obtained in vivo using appropriate reporter fusions, in which mutation of the CA motif resulted in loss of catabolite repression. CbrB and CrcZ were important for growth of P. aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum medium, suggesting that the CbrAB/Crc system may act as an important regulator during chronic infection of the CF lung.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / metabolism*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Carbon

Grants and funding

Elisabeth Sonnleither was supported by the Hertha-Firnberg Research fellowship T448-B20 from the Austrian Science Fund. Karine Lapouge was supported by the Sandoz Family Foundation (Programme for academic promotion) and the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research (project 31003A-127587). Dieter Haas was supported by the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research (project 3100A0-100180). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.