Open AccessAntimicrobial peptides trigger a division block in Escherichia coli through stimulation of a signalling system
Author(s) -
Srujana S. Yadavalli,
Jeffrey N. Carey,
Rachel S. Leibman,
Annie I. Chen,
Andrew M. Stern,
Manuela Roggiani,
Andrew M. Lippa,
Mark Goulian
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nature communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.559
H-Index - 365
ISSN - 2041-1723
DOI - 10.1038/ncomms12340
Subject(s) - escherichia coli , antimicrobial peptides , antimicrobial , filamentation , cell division , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , peptide , regulator , cell , biochemistry , genetics , gene , laser , physics , optics
Antimicrobial peptides are an important component of the molecular arsenal employed by hosts against bacteria. Many bacteria in turn possess pathways that provide protection against these compounds. In Escherichia coli and related bacteria, the PhoQ/PhoP signalling system is a key regulator of this antimicrobial peptide defence. Here we show that treating E. coli with sublethal concentrations of antimicrobial peptides causes cells to filament, and that this division block is controlled by the PhoQ/PhoP system. The filamentation results from increased expression of QueE, an enzyme that is part of a tRNA modification pathway but that, as we show here, also affects cell division. We also find that a functional YFP–QueE fusion localizes to the division septum in filamentous cells, suggesting QueE blocks septation through interaction with the divisome. Regulation of septation by PhoQ/PhoP may protect cells from antimicrobial peptide-induced stress or other conditions associated with high-level stimulation of this signalling system.