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Interspecies modulation of bacterial development through iron competition and siderophore piracy
Author(s) -
Traxler Matthew F.,
Seyedsayamdost Mohammad R.,
Clardy Jon,
Kolter Roberto
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.12008
Subject(s) - streptomyces coelicolor , siderophore , biology , gene , locus (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , genetics , mutant
Summary While soil‐dwelling actinomycetes are renowned for secreting natural products, little is known about the roles of these molecules in mediating actinomycete interactions. In a previous co‐culture screen, we found that one actinomycete, A mycolatopsis sp. AA 4, inhibited aerial hyphae formation in adjacent colonies of S treptomyces coelicolor . A siderophore, amychelin, mediated this developmental arrest. Here we present genetic evidence that confirms the role of the amc locus in the production of amychelin and in the inhibition of S . coelicolor development. We further characterize the A mycolatopsis sp. AA 4 – S . coelicolor interaction by examining expression of developmental and iron acquisition genes over time in co‐culture. Manipulation of iron availability and/or growth near A mycolatopsis sp. AA 4 led to alterations in expression of the critical developmental gene bldN , and other key downstream genes in the S . coelicolor transcriptional cascade. In A mycolatopsis sp. AA 4, siderophore genes were downregulated when grown near S . coelicolor , leading us to find that deferrioxamine E , produced by S . coelicolor , could be readily utilized by A mycolatopsis sp. AA 4. Collectively these results suggest that competition for iron via siderophore piracy and species‐specific siderophores can alter patterns of gene expression and morphological differentiation during actinomycete interactions.