Activated by different signals, the PhoP/PhoQ two-component system differentially regulates metal uptake

J Bacteriol. 2009 Dec;191(23):7174-81. doi: 10.1128/JB.00958-09. Epub 2009 Oct 2.

Abstract

The PhoP/PhoQ two-component system controls several physiological and virulence functions in Salmonella enterica. This system is activated by low Mg(2+), acidic pH, and antimicrobial peptides, but the biological consequences resulting from sensing multiple signals are presently unclear. Here, we report that the PhoP/PhoQ system regulates different Salmonella genes depending on whether the inducing signal is acidic pH or low Mg(2+). When Salmonella experiences acidic pH, the PhoP/PhoQ system promotes Fe(2+) uptake in a process that requires the response regulator RstA, activating transcription of the Fe(2+) transporter gene feoB. In contrast, the PhoP-induced RstA protein did not promote feoB expression at neutral pH with low Mg(2+). The PhoP/PhoQ system promotes the expression of the Mg(2+) transporter mgtA gene only when activated in bacteria starved for Mg(2+). This is because mgtA transcription promoted at high Mg(2+) concentrations by the acidic-pH-activated PhoP protein failed to reach the mgtA coding region due to the mgtA leader region functioning as a Mg(2+) sensor. Our results show that a single two-component regulatory system can regulate distinct sets of genes in response to different input signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biological Transport / genetics
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cation Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / genetics
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Magnesium / pharmacology
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Metals / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Salmonella typhimurium / drug effects
  • Salmonella typhimurium / genetics
  • Salmonella typhimurium / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cation Transport Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Metals
  • PhoQ protein, Bacteria
  • PhoP protein, Bacteria
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • MgtA protein, bacteria
  • MgtB protein, Salmonella typhimurium
  • Magnesium