Open AccessThe chitinolytic cascade in Vibrios is regulated by chitin oligosaccharides and a two-component chitin catabolic sensor/kinase
Author(s) -
Xibing Li,
Saul Roseman
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.0307645100
Subject(s) - periplasmic space , chitin , histidine kinase , operon , biology , two component regulatory system , biochemistry , permease , vibrio cholerae , chitinase , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , mutant , bacteria , genetics , escherichia coli , chitosan
Chitin, a highly insoluble polymer of GlcNAc, is produced in massive quantities in the marine environment. Fortunately for survival of aquatic ecosystems, chitin is rapidly catabolized by marine bacteria. Here we describe a bacterial two-component hybrid sensor/kinase (of the ArcB type) that rigorously controls expression of approximately 50 genes, many involved in chitin degradation. The sensor gene, chiS, was identified in Vibrio furnissii and Vibrio cholerae (predicted amino acid sequences, full-length: 84% identical, 93% similar). Mutants of chiS grew normally on GlcNAc but did not express extracellular chitinase, a specific chitoporin, or beta-hexosaminidases, nor did they exhibit chemotaxis, transport, or growth on chitin oligosaccharides such as (GlcNAc)(2). Expression of these systems requires three components: wild-type chiS; a periplasmic high-affinity chitin oligosaccharide, (GlcNAc)(n) (n > 1), binding protein (CBP); and the environmental signal, (GlcNAc)(n). Our data are consistent with the following model. In the uninduced state, CBP binds to the periplasmic domain of ChiS and "locks" it into the minus conformation. The environmental signal, (GlcNAc)(n), dissociates the complex by binding to CBP, releasing ChiS, yielding the plus phenotype (expression of chitinolytic genes). In V. cholerae, a cluster of 10 contiguous genes (VC0620-VC0611) apparently comprise a (GlcNAc)(2) catabolic operon. CBP is encoded by the first, VC0620, whereas VC0619-VC0616 encode a (GlcNAc)(2) ABC-type permease. Regulation of chiS requires expression of CBP but not (GlcNAc)(2) transport. (GlcNAc)(n) is suggested to be essential for signaling these cells that chitin is in the microenvironment.