Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Dec 21;10(6):e0153322. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01533-22. Epub 2022 Oct 27.
The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is capable of secreting a variety of metal-binding proteins involved in metal ion uptake, and it mediates an active metal ion transport system that contributes to competition between bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa H2-T6SS can increase molybdenum ion acquisition and enhance bacterial survival advantage by promoting the secretion of the molybdate-binding protein ModA, in which the expression of H2-T6SS core genes , , and is activated by anaerobic conditions and are all regulated by the global regulator Anr. Here, we report the regulation of T6SS by Dnr, a dedicated dissimilatory nitrate respiration regulator in P. aeruginosa. Of the three distinct T6SS loci carried by P. aeruginosa, only the anaerobic expression of H2-T6SS was activated by Dnr; H1-T6SS or H3-T6SS did not respond to anaerobically induced activation. We also demonstrated that Dnr promotes the anaerobic secretion of ModA, which acts as a potential substrate for H2-T6SS, providing an advantage not only for the anaerobic growth of bacteria but also for functional competition. Overall, this study elucidates the important role played by Dnr in mediating the anaerobic expression of T6SS in P. aeruginosa, indicating that the functional advantage of H2-T6SS in response to anaerobic induction may be a conditional environmental adaptation. It also extends our understanding of the function of Dnr as a specific regulator of dissimilatory nitrate respiration. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) plays an important role in bacterial competition by mediating the transport of active metal ions. Pseudomonas aeruginosa carries three distinct T6SS loci (H1-, H2-, and H3-T6SS). The H2-T6SS promotes the secretion of the molybdate-binding protein ModA for the acquisition of molybdenum ions to adapt to anaerobic survival. Here, we report that the specialized dissimilatory nitrate respiration regulator Dnr in P. aeruginosa controls the anaerobic expression of H2-T6SS and that this regulation is essential for ModA protein secretion, anaerobic growth, and bacterial competition. This study elucidates the regulatory mechanism of Dnr on H2-T6SS in P. aeruginosa, revealing an important role played by H2-T6SS in adapting to an anaerobic environment.
VI 型分泌系统(T6SS)能够分泌多种参与金属离子摄取的金属结合蛋白,并介导一种主动的金属离子转运系统,有助于细菌之间的竞争。铜绿假单胞菌 H2-T6SS 可以通过促进钼结合蛋白 ModA 的分泌来增加钼离子的获取,并增强细菌的生存优势,其中 H2-T6SS 核心基因 、 、 的表达受厌氧条件激活,并全部受全局调控因子 Anr 调控。在这里,我们报告了 Dnr 对 T6SS 的调控,Dnr 是铜绿假单胞菌中专门用于异化硝酸盐呼吸的调控因子。在铜绿假单胞菌携带的三个不同的 T6SS 基因座中,只有 H2-T6SS 的厌氧表达被 Dnr 激活;H1-T6SS 或 H3-T6SS 没有响应厌氧诱导的激活。我们还证明 Dnr 促进 ModA 的厌氧分泌,ModA 作为 H2-T6SS 的潜在底物,不仅为细菌的厌氧生长提供了优势,也为功能竞争提供了优势。总的来说,这项研究阐明了 Dnr 在介导铜绿假单胞菌 T6SS 的厌氧表达中所起的重要作用,表明 H2-T6SS 对厌氧诱导的功能优势可能是一种条件性的环境适应。它还扩展了我们对 Dnr 作为异化硝酸盐呼吸特定调控因子的功能的理解。VI 型分泌系统(T6SS)通过介导活性金属离子的转运,在细菌竞争中发挥重要作用。铜绿假单胞菌携带三个不同的 T6SS 基因座(H1-、H2-和 H3-T6SS)。H2-T6SS 促进钼结合蛋白 ModA 的分泌,以获取钼离子适应厌氧生存。在这里,我们报告铜绿假单胞菌中专门的异化硝酸盐呼吸调控因子 Dnr 控制 H2-T6SS 的厌氧表达,这种调控对于 ModA 蛋白的分泌、厌氧生长和细菌竞争是必不可少的。这项研究阐明了 Dnr 对铜绿假单胞菌 H2-T6SS 的调控机制,揭示了 H2-T6SS 在适应厌氧环境中的重要作用。