Open AccessThe Wsp system ofPseudomonas aeruginosalinks surface sensing and cell envelope stress
Author(s) -
Lindsey O’Neal,
Claudine Baraquet,
Zehui Suo,
Julia E. Dreifus,
Yun Peng,
Tracy Raivio,
Daniel J. Wozniak,
Caroline S. Harwood,
Matthew R. Parsek
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2117633119
Subject(s) - periplasmic space , pseudomonas aeruginosa , cell envelope , biofilm , envelope (radar) , opportunistic pathogen , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , cell , cell membrane , biology , pathogen , environmental stress , biochemistry , escherichia coli , computer science , genetics , ecology , gene , telecommunications , radar
Significance Bacteria must respond quickly to environmental changes to survive. One way bacteria can respond to environmental stress is by undergoing a lifestyle transition from individual, free-swimming cells to a surface-associated community called a biofilm characterized by aggregative growth. The opportunistic pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosa uses the Wsp chemosensory system to sense an unknown surface-associated cue. Here we show that the Wsp system senses cell envelope stress, specifically conditions that promote unfolded or misregulated periplasmic and inner membrane proteins. This work provides direct evidence that cell envelope stress is an important feature of surface sensing inP. aeruginosa .