Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET), 2000, Rosario, Argentina.
Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2019 Oct 9;18(10):2363-2373. doi: 10.1039/c9pp00261h.
Sunlight is a ubiquitous environmental stimulus for the great majority of living organisms on Earth; therefore it is logical to expect the development of "seeing mechanisms" which lead them to successfully adapt to particular ecological niches. Although these mechanisms were recognized in photosynthetic organisms, it was not until recent years that the scientific community found out about light perception in chemotrophic ones. In this review we summarize the current knowledge about the mechanism of light sensing through the blue light receptor BlsA in Acinetobacter baumannii. We highlight its function as a global regulator that pleiotropically modulates a large number of physiological processes, many of which are linked to the ability of this opportunist pathogen to persist in adverse intrahospital environments. Moreover, we describe with some specific examples the molecular basis of how this photoregulator senses blue light and translates this physical signal by modulating gene expression of target regulons. Finally, we discuss the possible course of these investigations needed to dissect this complex regulatory network, which ultimately will help us better understand the A. baumannii physiology.
阳光是地球上绝大多数生物普遍存在的环境刺激因素；因此，我们可以合理地期待发展出“视觉机制”，使它们能够成功适应特定的生态位。尽管这些机制在光合生物中得到了认可，但直到最近几年，科学界才发现了化能营养生物中的光感知现象。在这篇综述中，我们总结了目前关于鲍曼不动杆菌中通过蓝光受体 BlsA 进行光感应的机制的知识。我们强调了它作为一种全局调节剂的功能，这种调节剂可以多效调节大量的生理过程，其中许多过程与这种机会性病原体在不利的医院环境中生存的能力有关。此外，我们用一些具体的例子描述了这个光感受器如何感知蓝光，并通过调节靶调控子的基因表达来转化这种物理信号的分子基础。最后，我们讨论了为剖析这个复杂的调控网络而进行这些研究的可能方向，这最终将帮助我们更好地理解鲍曼不动杆菌的生理学。
