Exopolyphosphatase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is essential for the production of virulence factors, and its expression is controlled by NtrC and PhoB acting at two interspaced promoters (original) (raw)

2014, Microbiology (Reading, England)

The exopolyphosphatase (Ppx) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is encoded by the PA5241 gene (ppx). Ppx catalyses the hydrolysis of inorganic polyphosphates to orthophosphate (Pi). In the present work, we identified and characterized the promoter region of ppx and its regulation under environmental stress conditions. The role of Ppx in the production of several virulence factors was demonstrated through studies performed on a ppx null mutant. We found that ppx is under the control of two interspaced promoters, dually regulated by nitrogen and phosphate limitation. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, its expression was controlled from a σ(54)-dependent promoter activated by the response regulator NtrC. However, under Pi limitation, the expression was controlled from a σ(70) promoter, activated by PhoB. Results obtained from the ppx null mutant demonstrated that Ppx is involved in the production of virulence factors associated with both acute infection (e.g. motility-promoting factors, blue/g...