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Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series
Published on: May 10, 2020
Cross-talk between bacterial two-component systems drives stepwise regulation of flagellar biosynthesis in swarming
Chia-Fong Wei1, Yu-Huan Tsai1, Sheng-Hui Tsai1
1Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Swarming motility is a mode of bacterial movement over a solid surface driven by rotating flagella in a coordinated manner. Bacteria can use two-component system (TCS), which typically comprises a sensor kinase and a specific cognate response regulator, to properly react to environmental changes. We previously showed that the TCS RssAB suppresses flagellar biosynthesis master regulator flhDC specifically in swarming lag phase to control surface migration timing without affecting expansion rate in Serratia marcescens swarming development. Here we demonstrate that the TCS QseBC, which has been found in several human pathogens involved in flagellar and virulence regulation, has cross-talk with RssAB. We demonstrate that the phosphorylated QseB repressed flhDC expression, reducing swarming migration rate with modest effect on migration initiation. Unexpectedly, the QseC can dephosphorylate non-cognate response regulator RssB. Deletion of qseC prolonged RssAB signaling, reduced flhDC expression, and delayed migration initiation. Our data suggest that QseC is a flagellar biosynthesis activator by de-repressing RssB ∼ P and QseB ∼ P respectively in lag and migration phases in a stage-specific manner in swarming development.
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