Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Matrix Polysaccharide Psl is Regulated Transcriptionally by RpoS and Post-Transcriptionally by RsmA

Author(s)

Yasuhiko Irie, University of DaytonFollow
Melissa Starkey, University of Iowa
Adrianne N. Edwards, Emory University
Daniel J. Wozniak, The Ohio State University
Tony Romeo, Emory University
Matthew R. Parsek, University of Washington - Seattle Campus

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2010

Publication Source

Molecular Microbiology

Abstract

Extracellular polysaccharides are important components of biofilms. In non-mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, the Pel and Psl polysaccharides are major structural components of the biofilm matrix. In this study, we demonstrate that the alternative σ-factor RpoS is a positive transcriptional regulator of psl gene expression. Furthermore, we show that psl mRNA has an extensive 5′ untranslated region, to which the post-transcriptional regulator RsmA binds and represses psltranslation. Our observations suggest that upon binding RsmA, the region spanning the ribosome binding site of psl mRNA folds into a secondary stem-loop structure that blocks the Shine–Dalgarno sequence, preventing ribosome access and protein translation. This constitutes a novel mechanism for translational repression by this family of regulators.

Inclusive pages

158–172

ISBN/ISSN

0950-382X

Comments

Permission documentation is on file.

Copyright

Copyright © 2010, John Wiley & Sons

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons

Volume

78

Peer Reviewed

yes

Issue

1

eCommons Citation

Irie, Yasuhiko; Starkey, Melissa; Edwards, Adrianne N.; Wozniak, Daniel J.; Romeo, Tony; and Parsek, Matthew R., "Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Matrix Polysaccharide Psl is Regulated Transcriptionally by RpoS and Post-Transcriptionally by RsmA" (2010). Biology Faculty Publications. 205.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/bio_fac_pub/205