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The effect of zinc limitation on the transcriptome of P seudomonas protegens Pf ‐5
Author(s) -
Lim Chee Kent,
Hassan Karl A.,
Penesyan Anahit,
Loper Joyce E.,
Paulsen Ian T.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02849.x
Subject(s) - biology , zinc , transcriptome , gene , pseudomonas fluorescens , zinc toxicity , downregulation and upregulation , transcriptional regulation , transcription (linguistics) , genetics , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , bacteria , chemistry , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
Summary Zinc is an important nutrient but can be lacking in some soil environments, influencing the physiology of soil‐dwelling bacteria. Hence, we studied the global effect of zinc limitation on the transcriptome of the rhizosphere biocontrol strain Pseudomonas protegens Pf ‐5 (formerly Pseudomonas fluorescens ). We observed that the expression of the putative zinc uptake regulator ( Z ur) gene was upregulated, and we mapped putative Z ur binding sites in the Pf ‐5 genome using bioinformatic approaches. In line with the need to regulate intracellular zinc concentrations, an array of potential zinc transporter genes was found to be zinc‐regulated. To adapt to low‐zinc conditions, a gene cluster encoding non‐zinc‐requiring paralogues of zinc‐dependent proteins was also significantly upregulated. Similarly, transcription of genes encoding non‐zinc‐requiring paralogues of ribosomal proteins L 31 and L 36 was increased by zinc limitation. A strong transcriptional downregulation of the putative copper chaperone gene ( copZ ) was also observed, suggesting interplay between zinc and copper homeostasis. Importantly, zinc also affected biocontrol attributes in Pf ‐5, most notably reducing the expression of the gene cluster responsible for biosynthesis of the antibiotic 2,4‐diacetylphloroglucinol ( DAPG ) under zinc limitation. This study clearly defines changes to the molecular physiology of Pf ‐5 that enable it to survive under zinc limitation.