Pages from J. Bacteriol.-2013-LaSarre-4310-8.pdf (980.39 kB)
Download fileRedundant Group A Streptococcus Signaling Peptides Exhibit Unique Activation Potentials
journal contribution
posted on 2014-03-18, 00:00 authored by Breah LaSarre, Jennifer C. Chang, Michael J. FederleAll bacterial quorum sensing (QS) systems are based on the production, secretion, and detection of small signaling molecules. Gram-positive bacteria typically use small peptides as QS effectors, and each QS circuit generally requires the interaction of a single signaling molecule with a single receptor protein. The recently described Rgg2 and Rgg3 (Rgg2/3) regulatory circuit of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus [GAS]) is one of only a few QS circuits known to utilize multiple signaling peptides. In this system, two distinct, endogenously produced peptide pheromones (SHP2 and SHP3) both function to activate the QS circuit. The aim of this study was to further define the roles of SHP2 and SHP3 in activation of the Rgg2/3 QS system, specifically with regard to shp gene identity and dosage. Results from our studies using transcriptional reporters and isogenic GAS mutants demonstrate that shp gene dosage does contribute to Rgg2/3 system induction, as decreased gene dosage results in decreased or absent induction. Beyond this, however, data indicate that the shp genes possess distinct potentials for supporting system activation, with shp3 more readily able to support system activation than shp2. Studies using synthetic peptides and shp gene mutants indicate that the disparate activities of endogenous SHPs are due to production, rather than signaling, differences and are conferred by the N-terminal regions rather than the C-terminal signaling regions of the peptides. These data provide evidence that the N-terminal, noneffector sequences of SHP pheromones influence their production efficiencies and thereby the relative activation potentials of endogenous SHPs.
Funding
Support for this work was provided by the NIH, grant AI091779, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
History
Publisher Statement
This is a copy of an article published in the Journal of Bacteriology © 2013 American Society for MicrobiologyPublisher
American Society for MicrobiologyLanguage
- en_US