Structural and functional characterization of FleQ from Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas: a main transcriptional factor responsible for flagellar gene expression and biofilm formation

• Grant number: 11/24168-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Vicente de Albuquerque Salles Navarro
• Grantee: Bruno Yasui Matsuyama
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/13238-0 - Structural and functional studies of proteins involved in c-di-GMP-mediated signalling pathways , AP.JP

Abstract

To date it is known that biofilm formation is related to several external factors like nutrients levels and antibiotics presence, however in recent years this process has been elucidated at molecular level, and a novel secondary messenger molecule, c-di-GMP has emerged in the spotlight of scientific research. This molecule is only present among bacteria and its intracellular levels regulate cell adhesion and exopolysaccharide synthesis, thus controlling biofilm formation, responsible for a variety of infectious diseases, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Although c-di-GMP turnover is well known, only a few molecular targets of c-di-GMP have been identified. Among them, FleQ from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a transcriptional factor that is the main responsible for the flagellar gene expression and that acts also as a exopolysaccharide repressor, this last function being mediated by c-di-GMP. Recent studies reported that FleQ from Xanthomonas is also involved in the flagellar genes expression, however, as a repressor, suggesting that FleQ has distinct roles in different bacteria. The high identity between FleQ from those organisms suggests that Xanthomonas' protein could also be a c-di-GMP receptor. This project aims to characterize X. axonopodis pv. citri FleQ as a c-di-GMP receptor, structural and functional studies of FleQ from both organisms and consequently establish a new mechanism of interaction between this secondary messenger with FleQ and to determine new interacting motifs. In the long term, these studies will lead to the development of new targets and tools for the development of therapeutic agents against bacterial infections. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MATSUYAMA, BRUNO Y.; KRASTEVA, PETYA V.; BARAQUET, CLAUDINE; HARWOOD, CAROLINE S.; SONDERMANN, HOLGER; NAVARRO, MARCOS V. A. S.. Mechanistic insights into c-di-GMP-dependent control of the biofilm regulator FleQ from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, v. 113, n. 2, p. E209-E218, JAN 12 2016. (09/13238-0, 11/24168-2)

MATSUYAMA, BRUNO Y.; KRASTEVA, PETYA V.; BARAQUET, CLAUDINE; HARWOOD, CAROLINE S.; SONDERMANN, HOLGER; NAVARRO, MARCOS V. A. S.. Mechanistic insights into c-di-GMP-dependent control of the biofilm regulator FleQ from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. 113, n. 2, p. 10-pg., 2016-01-12. (11/24168-2, 09/13238-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MATSUYAMA, Bruno Yasui. Structural and functional characterization of FleQ, a transcriptional factor related to flagellar gene expression and biofilm formation. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT) São Carlos.