Rga, a RofA-like regulator, is the major transcriptional activator of the PI-2a pilus in Streptococcus agalactiae

Microb Drug Resist. 2012 Jun;18(3):286-97. doi: 10.1089/mdr.2012.0005. Epub 2012 Mar 20.

Abstract

Rapid adaptation to changing environments is key in determining the outcome of infections caused by the opportunistic human pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae. We previously demonstrated that the RofA-like protein (RALP) regulators RogB and Rga activate their downstream divergently transcribed genes, that is, the pilus operon PI-2a and the serine-rich repeat encoding gene srr1, respectively. Characterization of the Rga regulon by microarray revealed that the PI-2a pilus was strongly controlled by Rga, a result confirmed at the protein level. Complementation experiments showed that the expression of Rga, but not RogB, in the double ΔrogB/Δrga mutant, or in the clinical strain 2603V/R displaying frameshift mutations in rogB and rga genes, is sufficient to restore wild-type expression levels of PI-2a pilus and Srr1. Biofilm formation was impaired in the Δrga and Δrga/rogB mutants and restored on complementation with rga. Paradoxically, adherence to intestinal epithelial cells was unchanged in the Δrga mutant. Finally, the existence of several clinical isolates mutated in rga highlights the concept of strain-specific regulatory networks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminoacyltransferases / genetics
  • Aminoacyltransferases / metabolism
  • Bacterial Adhesion / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / microbiology
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Mutation
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / genetics*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / metabolism
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / pathogenicity*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Aminoacyltransferases
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases