Characterization of the systems ChrR-sigmaR and CC3476-sigmaT in the responses to oxidative and osmotic stresses in C. crescentus

Author(s)

Rogério Ferreira Lourenço

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2008-09-01

Examining board members

Suely Lopes Gomes; Frederico José Gueiros Filho; Marcia Giambiagi de Marval; Luis Eduardo Soares Netto; Beny Spira

• Advisor: Suely Lopes Gomes

Abstract

Caulobacter crescentus is among the bacteria whose genomes encode a high number of ECF sigma factors, which are involved in the transcriptional regulation of a limited set of genes in response to several environmental signals. In the present work, two ECF sigma factors from C. crescentus, σR e σT, were functionally characterized. Data showed that σR e σT are maintained in reduced expression levels under physiological growth conditions, due to the action of ChrR and CC3476, respectively. However, during C. crescentus exposure to cadmium, organic hydroperoxide, singlet oxygen and UVA irradiation, σR expression is positively auto-regulated. Transcriptome analyses showed that σR regulates the expression of genes involved in protecting cells against oxidative damages. Central to this transcriptional response is the inactivation of ChrR, with residues C186 and C188 of this protein being necessary for sensing cadmium but not organic hydroperoxide or singlet oxygen. In addition, data revealed that sigR and two other σR-dependent genes (cfaS and CC2258) are essential for C. crescentus survival when oxidative damages are generated in the cells for long periods of time. Similarly, σT expression increases at a transcriptional level in this bacterium under hyperosmotic conditions induced by NaCl or sucrose. Besides being positively auto-regulated, σT independently controls the expression of σU and σE, forming an expression cascade of ECF sigma factors in C. crescentus. σT, but not σU or σE, displays an essential role in C. crescentus survival during NaCl or sucrose exposure. Additionally, the absence of σT leads to an increased sensitivity of this bacterium to H2O2, despite the absence of induction in sigT, sigU or sigE expression under the same stress condition. Therefore, the present work has contributed to the understanding of two mechanisms of C. crescentus adaptation to oxidative and osmotic stresses (AU)