Environmental factors affecting the expression of type IV pilus genes as well as piliation of Thermus thermophilus
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Environmental factors affecting the expression of type IV pilus genes as well as piliation of Thermus thermophilus. / Salzer, Ralf; Kern, Timo; Joos, Friederike; Averhoff, Beate.
In: FEMS Microbiology Letters, Vol. 357, No. 1, 08.2014, p. 56-62.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental factors affecting the expression of type IV pilus genes as well as piliation of Thermus thermophilus
AU - Salzer, Ralf
AU - Kern, Timo
AU - Joos, Friederike
AU - Averhoff, Beate
N1 - © 2014 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/8
Y1 - 2014/8
N2 - The thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27 is known for its highly efficient natural transformation system, which has become a model system to study the structure and function of DNA transporter in thermophilic bacteria. The DNA transporter is functionally linked to type IV pili (T4P), which are essential for twitching motility and adhesion to solid surfaces. However, the pilus structures themselves are dispensable for natural transformation. Here, we report that the cellular mRNA levels of the major structural subunit of the T4P, PilA4, are regulated by environmental factors. Growth of T. thermophilus in minimal medium or low temperature (55 °C) leads to a significant increase in pilA4 transcripts. In contrast, the transcript levels of the minor pilin pilA1 as well as other T4P genes are nearly unaffected. The elevated pilA4 mRNA levels are accompanied by an increase in piliation of the cells but not by elevated natural transformation frequencies. Hyperpiliation leads to increased adhesion to plastic surfaces. The increased cell-surface interactions are suggested to represent an adaptive response to temperature stress and may be advantageous for survival of T. thermophilus.
AB - The thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27 is known for its highly efficient natural transformation system, which has become a model system to study the structure and function of DNA transporter in thermophilic bacteria. The DNA transporter is functionally linked to type IV pili (T4P), which are essential for twitching motility and adhesion to solid surfaces. However, the pilus structures themselves are dispensable for natural transformation. Here, we report that the cellular mRNA levels of the major structural subunit of the T4P, PilA4, are regulated by environmental factors. Growth of T. thermophilus in minimal medium or low temperature (55 °C) leads to a significant increase in pilA4 transcripts. In contrast, the transcript levels of the minor pilin pilA1 as well as other T4P genes are nearly unaffected. The elevated pilA4 mRNA levels are accompanied by an increase in piliation of the cells but not by elevated natural transformation frequencies. Hyperpiliation leads to increased adhesion to plastic surfaces. The increased cell-surface interactions are suggested to represent an adaptive response to temperature stress and may be advantageous for survival of T. thermophilus.
KW - Bacterial Proteins/genetics
KW - Biological Transport/genetics
KW - DNA, Bacterial/genetics
KW - Environment
KW - Fimbriae, Bacterial/genetics
KW - Genes, Bacterial/genetics
KW - RNA, Messenger/genetics
KW - Temperature
KW - Thermus thermophilus/genetics
KW - Transformation, Bacterial/genetics
U2 - 10.1111/1574-6968.12506
DO - 10.1111/1574-6968.12506
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 24935261
VL - 357
SP - 56
EP - 62
JO - F E M S Microbiology Letters
JF - F E M S Microbiology Letters
SN - 0378-1097
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 196441768