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Quorum sensing controls flagellar morphogenesis in Burkholderia glumae
Moon Sun Jang1, Eunhye Goo1, Jae Hyung An1
1Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Plos One
|January 14, 2014
Summary
Quorum sensing (QS) and temperature control flagellar development in Burkholderia glumae. QS-independent flagellar gene expression at 28°C allows flagella but not proper polar placement.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Burkholderia glumae possesses polar flagella and a LuxR/LuxI-type quorum sensing (QS) system, TofR/TofI.
- QS regulates flagellar master regulator genes (flhDC) via QsmR, impacting flagellar gene expression at 37°C.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interplay between QS and temperature in controlling polar flagellar morphogenesis in B. glumae.
- To elucidate the role of QS-independent flagellar gene expression in flagellar biogenesis and placement.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of flagellar gene expression and flagellar number at 28°C and 37°C in wild-type and QS-defective mutants (tofI::Ω, qsmR::Ω).
- Assessment of flhC and flhF gene expression and FlhF protein localization in QS mutants.
- Observation of bacterial motility and flagellar morphology.
Main Results:
- Wild-type B. glumae showed higher flagellar gene expression and number at 28°C than 37°C.
- QS mutants (tofI::Ω, qsmR::Ω) exhibited significant flhC expression and flagella at 28°C, but not at 37°C.
- FlhF was mislocalized in QS mutants at 28°C, leading to nonpolar flagellar formation and altered motility.
Conclusions:
- QS-independent flagellar gene expression at 28°C enables flagellar biogenesis but is insufficient for correct polar morphogenesis.
- Quorum sensing acts in concert with temperature to regulate polar flagellar development in Burkholderia glumae.
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