Systematic identification of novel regulatory interactions controlling biofilm formation in the bacterium Escherichia coli

Author(s)

Amores, Gerardo Ruiz ^[1] ; de las Heras, Aitor ^{[2, 3]} ; Sanches-Medeiros, Ananda ^[1] ; Elfick, Alistair ^{[2, 3]} ; Silva-Rocha, Rafael ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, FMRP, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Edinburgh, Sch Engn, Inst Bioengn, Edinburgh, Midlothian - Scotland

^[3] Univ Edinburgh, SynthSys Res Ctr, Edinburgh, Midlothian - Scotland

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 7, DEC 1 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Here, we investigated novel interactions of three global regulators of the network that controls biofilm formation in the model bacterium Escherichia coli using computational network analysis, an in vivo reporter assay and physiological validation experiments. We were able to map critical nodes that govern planktonic to biofilm transition and identify 8 new regulatory interactions for CRP, IHF or Fis responsible for the control of the promoters of rpoS, rpoE, flhD, fliA, csgD and yeaJ. Additionally, an in vivo promoter reporter assay and motility analysis revealed a key role for IHF as a repressor of cell motility through the control of FliA sigma factor expression. This investigation of first stage and mature biofilm formation indicates that biofilm structure is strongly affected by IHF and Fis, while CRP seems to provide a fine-tuning mechanism. Taken together, the analysis presented here shows the utility of combining computational and experimental approaches to generate a deeper understanding of the biofilm formation process in bacteria. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/22386-3 - Construction and characterization of constitutive mutant promoters and regulated by the global regulators CRP and Fis in Escherichia coli
• Grantee: Ananda Sanches Medeiros
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 12/22921-8 - Synthetic biology approaches for deciphering the logic of signal integration in complex bacterial promoters
• Grantee: Rafael Silva Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants