Quorum‐sensing Cascades Governing Bacterial Multicellular Communities

Bloom-Ackermann, Zohar; Ganin, Hadas; Kolodkin‐Gal, Ilana

doi:10.1002/ijch.201400106

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Biofilms from multicellular collectives encased in the extracellular matrix and represent the default mode of microbial growth in nature [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Quorum sensing (QS) [ 4 ], is a microbial communications system that coordinates the cell density-dependent bacterial gene expression, which often regulates biofilm development [ 5 ]. Bacillus subtilis is the most studied species in the genus Bacillus [ 6 ], and has served over the years as an excellent model to study the development of metabolically dormant and heat resistant spores [ 7 ] and more recently as a model of biofilms [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], division of labor [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], and a variety of social interactions (reviewed in [ 16 ]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ComX Quorum Sensing Peptide of Bacillus subtilis Affects Biofilm Formation Negatively and Sporulation Positively

et al. 2020

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Quorum sensing (QS) is often required for the formation of bacterial biofilms and is a popular target of biofilm control strategies. Previous studies implicate the ComQXPA quorum sensing system of Bacillus subtilis as a promoter of biofilm formation. Here, we report that ComX signaling peptide deficient mutants form thicker and more robust pellicle biofilms that contain chains of cells. We confirm that ComX positively affects the transcriptional activity of the PepsA promoter, which controls the synthesis of the major matrix polysaccharide. In contrast, ComX negatively controls the PtapA promoter, which drives the production of TasA, a fibrous matrix protein. Overall, the biomass of the mutant biofilm lacking ComX accumulates more monosaccharide and protein content than the wild type. We conclude that this QS phenotype might be due to extended investment into growth rather than spore development. Consistent with this, the ComX deficient mutant shows a delayed activation of the pre-spore specific promoter, PspoIIQ, and a delayed, more synchronous commitment to sporulation. We conclude that ComX mediated early commitment to sporulation of the wild type slows down biofilm formation and modulates the coexistence of multiple biological states during the early stages of biofilm development.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ComX Quorum Sensing Peptide of Bacillus subtilis Affects Biofilm Formation Negatively and Sporulation Positively

et al. 2020

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“…The ComQXPA QS system upregulates surfactin production (21, 56, 57) and because surfactin promotes transcription of the epsA-O operon (49) it has been often assumed that ComX dependent QS and/or surfactin promote biofilm formation (4, 12, 13, 16, 39, 51–53). In this work, we further test this assumption and confirm that ComX does indeed appear to positively regulate transcription of the epsA-O operon in single cells (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biofilms are multicellular groups encased in extracellular matrix that are believed to be the default mode of microbial growth in nature (1–3). Biofilm formation is often regulated by quorum sensing (QS) (4), a wide spread microbial communication system that coordinates bacterial gene expression in accordance with cell density (5). Bacillus subtilis is the most studied species in the genus Bacillus (6, 7), which has served over the years as an excellent model to investigate development of metabolically dormant and heat resistant spores (8), a model for biofilm development (9–12), division of labor (13–16) and for a variety of intra and interspecies social interactions (17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quorum sensing inBacillus subtilisslows down biofilm formation by enabling sporulation bet hedging

Špacapan

Danevčič

Štefanič

et al. 2019

Preprint

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7 8 Running Head: Quorum sensing contributes to bet hedging in Bacillus 9 #Address correspondence to Ines Mandic-Mulec, ines.mandicmulec@bf.uni-lj.si. 10 42Biofilms are multicellular groups encased in extracellular matrix that are believed to be the 43 default mode of microbial growth in nature (1-3). Biofilm formation is often regulated by 44 quorum sensing (QS) (4), a wide spread microbial communication system that coordinates 45 bacterial gene expression in accordance with cell density (5). Bacillus subtilis is the most 46 studied species in the genus Bacillus (6, 7), which has served over the years as an excellent 47 model to investigate development of metabolically dormant and heat resistant spores (8), a 48 model for biofilm development (9-12), division of labor (13-16) and for a variety of intra 49 and interspecies social interactions (17). This Gram-positive spore former relies on peptide 50 based QS system, encoded by the comQXPA gene cluster (18, 19), which is wide spread 51 among Firmicutes (20). It controls transcriptional activity of several adaptive processes 52 including synthesis of a lipopetide antibiotic surfactin (21-23), exoprotease production (24, 53 25), and competence development (26). The extracellular signaling peptide ComX is 54 synthesized as a pre-peptide, cleaved and post-translationally modified by the isoprenoid 55 transferase ComQ (21, 27). Therefore, the gene comQ is essential for a functional and active 56 QS system. Mature and biologically active ComX accumulates extracellularly, where it 57interacts with the sensory histidine kinase ComP, which then phosphorylates ComA (28). 58ComA-P in its active phosphorylated form regulates transcription of several target genes (29-59 31). ComA-P also increases the transcription rates of the pleiotropic regulatory gene degQ 60 (25, 30, 32), which ultimately increases the DegU phosphorylation rate (25). DegU-P is 61 required for the activation of extracellular degradative enzyme production. This regulatory 62 network is relevant also during biofilm development (33), where operational ComX 63 dependent QS is required for exoprotease production (24). 64In biofilms, cells are encased in a structure formed out of extracellular polysaccharides (Eps), 65 proteins, and extracellular DNA (3); but the ratios of each biofilm constituent differ 66 depending on the specific strain, media and growth conditions (34). In B. subtilis the epsA-O 67 operon is involved in the production of the major polysaccharide component of the biofilm 68 matrix (35), which is essential for development of floating biofilm (pellicle) (36). TasA, the 69 major matrix protein, encoded by the tapA-tasA-sipW operon (hereafter referred to as the 70 tapA operon), gives structural support to floating biofilm. Although TasA and TapA proteins 71 are not essential for the formation of floating biofilms, the tasA mutant forms a less 72 prominent structures (37, 38). The molecular regulation of the operons involved in the 73 synthesis of the biofilm matrix components is very complex (39)....

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Enhanced molecular visualization of root colonization and growth promotion by Bacillus subtilis EA-CB0575 in different growth systems

Posada

Álvarez

Romero-Tabarez

et al. 2018

Microbiological Research

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Quorum‐sensing Cascades Governing Bacterial Multicellular Communities

Cited by 3 publications

References 104 publications

The ComX Quorum Sensing Peptide of Bacillus subtilis Affects Biofilm Formation Negatively and Sporulation Positively

The ComX Quorum Sensing Peptide of Bacillus subtilis Affects Biofilm Formation Negatively and Sporulation Positively

Quorum sensing inBacillus subtilisslows down biofilm formation by enabling sporulation bet hedging

Enhanced molecular visualization of root colonization and growth promotion by Bacillus subtilis EA-CB0575 in different growth systems

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