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Impact of the accessory gene regulatory system (Agr) on extracellular proteins, codY expression and amino acid metabolism in Staphylococcus epidermidis
Author(s) -
Batzilla Christoph F.,
Rachid Shwan,
Engelmann Susanne,
Hecker Michael,
Hacker Jörg,
Ziebuhr Wilma
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
proteomics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.26
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1615-9861
pISSN - 1615-9853
DOI - 10.1002/pmic.200500732
Subject(s) - mutant , virulence , biology , quorum sensing , proteome , gene , lactococcus lactis , transcriptome , major facilitator superfamily , staphylococcus epidermidis , gene expression , genetics , biochemistry , bacteria , staphylococcus aureus , lactic acid
The quorum‐sensing system Agr is part of a complex regulatory network of gene expression in staphylococci. This study presents the effect of an agr mutation on a biofilm‐forming Staphylococcus epidermidis isolate by employing proteome and transcriptome analysis. The agr mutant exhibited a significantly lowered amount of extracellular proteins: amongst others SspA, AtlE, GehD and the phenol soluble modulins PSM1/2. Cytoplasmic proteome analysis and expression profiling indicated that the agr inactivation led to a strongly altered regulation of metabolism and virulence. Most strikingly, expression of CodY, a global regulator of virulence and stationary phase gene expression, was decreased in the agr mutant. In this respect, homologous genes known to be controlled by CodY in Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis were found to be up‐regulated in the S. epidermidis agr mutant. The combined data show that wild‐type and agr mutant differ with respect to amino acid biosynthesis and oligopeptide transport, carbohydrate utilization, as well as GMP and IMP interconversion. Due to the varying physiological properties S. epidermidis agr mutants, which often occur spontaneously, might be capable of colonizing alternative ecological niches in the human host and could, therefore, have an advantage in adapting to changing environmental conditions.