LsrR-mediated quorum sensing controls invasiveness of Salmonella typhimurium by regulating SPI-1 and flagella genes

PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e37059. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037059. Epub 2012 May 18.

Abstract

Bacterial cell-to-cell communication, termed quorum sensing (QS), controls bacterial behavior by using various signal molecules. Despite the fact that the LuxS/autoinducer-2 (AI-2) QS system is necessary for normal expression of Salmonella pathogenicity island-1 (SPI-1), the mechanism remains unknown. Here, we report that the LsrR protein, a transcriptional regulator known to be involved in LuxS/AI-2-mediated QS, is also associated with the regulation of SPI-1-mediated Salmonella virulence. We determined that LsrR negatively controls SPI-1 and flagella gene expressions. As phosphorylated AI-2 binds to and inactivates LsrR, LsrR remains active and decreases expression of SPI-1 and flagella genes in the luxS mutant. The reduced expression of those genes resulted in impaired invasion of Salmonella into epithelial cells. Expression of SPI-1 and flagella genes was also reduced by overexpression of the LsrR regulator from a plasmid, but was relieved by exogenous AI-2, which binds to and inactivates LsrR. These results imply that LsrR plays an important role in selecting infectious niche of Salmonella in QS dependent mode.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carbon-Sulfur Lyases / metabolism
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Female
  • Flagella / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Quorum Sensing / genetics
  • Quorum Sensing / physiology*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / genetics*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / metabolism
  • Salmonella typhimurium / pathogenicity*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / physiology
  • Virulence / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / genetics*
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • Spi1 protein, Salmonella
  • Virulence Factors
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • Carbon-Sulfur Lyases
  • LuxS protein, Bacteria