Identification of AbrB‐regulated genes involved in biofilm formation by <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>

Hamon, Mélanie; Stanley, Nicola R.; Britton, Robert A.; Grossman, Alan D.; Lazazzera, Beth

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04023.x

Cited by 194 publications

(210 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…SinR represses the epsA-O and tapA-sipW-tasA operon by competing for the binding sites of an activating protein, RemA (142). Spo0A∼P also represses AbrB, which, like SinR, is a repressor of the epsA-O and tapA-sipW-tasA operon as well as of bslA (113,143,144). Both SinR and AbrB are part of a double-negative feedback loop.…”

Section: Regulation Of Differentiation In B Subtilismentioning

confidence: 99%

Division of Labor in Biofilms: the Ecology of Cell Differentiation

2015

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The dense aggregation of cells on a surface, as seen in biofilms, inevitably results in both environmental and cellular heterogeneity. For example, nutrient gradients can trigger cells to differentiate into various phenotypic states. Not only do cells adapt physiologically to the local environmental conditions, but they also differentiate into cell types that interact with each other. This allows for task differentiation and, hence, the division of labor. In this article, we focus on cell differentiation and the division of labor in three bacterial species: Myxococcus xanthus, Bacillus subtilis , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . During biofilm formation each of these species differentiates into distinct cell types, in some cases leading to cooperative interactions. The division of labor and the cooperative interactions between cell types are assumed to yield an emergent ecological benefit. Yet in most cases the ecological benefits have yet to be elucidated. A notable exception is M. xanthus , in which cell differentiation within fruiting bodies facilitates the dispersal of spores. We argue that the ecological benefits of the division of labor might best be understood when we consider the dynamic nature of both biofilm formation and degradation.

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Section: Regulation Of Differentiation In B Subtilismentioning

confidence: 99%

Division of Labor in Biofilms: the Ecology of Cell Differentiation

2015

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“…The regulation of the expression of the epsA-O and tapA operons has been studied extensively (10,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Both operons are controlled indirectly by the master regulator, phosphorylated Spo0A (Spo0A∼P) (11,21,22).…”

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confidence: 99%

Interspecies interactions that result inBacillus subtilisforming biofilms are mediated mainly by members of its own genus

Shank

Klepac‐Ceraj

Collado‐Torres

et al. 2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Many different systems of bacterial interactions have been described. However, relatively few studies have explored how interactions between different microorganisms might influence bacterial development. To explore such interspecies interactions, we focused on Bacillus subtilis, which characteristically develops into matrix-producing cannibals before entering sporulation. We investigated whether organisms from the natural environment of B. subtilis-the soil-were able to alter the development of B. subtilis. To test this possibility, we developed a coculture microcolony screen in which we used fluorescent reporters to identify soil bacteria able to induce matrix production in B. subtilis. Most of the bacteria that influence matrix production in B. subtilis are members of the genus Bacillus, suggesting that such interactions may be predominantly with close relatives. The interactions we observed were mediated via two different mechanisms. One resulted in increased expression of matrix genes via the activation of a sensor histidine kinase, KinD. The second was kinase independent and conceivably functions by altering the relative subpopulations of B. subtilis cell types by preferentially killing noncannibals. These two mechanisms were grouped according to the inducing strain's relatedness to B. subtilis. Our results suggest that bacteria preferentially alter their development in response to secreted molecules from closely related bacteria and do so using mechanisms that depend on the phylogenetic relatedness of the interacting bacteria.

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“…In Bacillus species, AbrB plays a crucial regulatory role in the production of antibiotics (14,19,27), the formation of biofilms and fruiting bodies (5,10), the development of competence (9), stationary phase survival (19,24), sporulation gene expression (16,34), the production of extracellular proteases and other degradative enzymes (19), cannibalistic behavior (8), and, in B. anthracis, the expression of toxin genes (20). Critical for AbrB's global regulatory properties is its ability to recognize and specifically bind a diverse, yet finite, subset of differing base sequences located in the promoter regions of genes it controls (26).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%