The H-NS protein silences the pyp regulatory network of Yersinia enterocolitica and is involved in controlling biofilm formation
Inga Blädel
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorKarin Wagner
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorAnna Beck
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJennifer Schilling
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorM. Alexander Schmidt
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Gerhard Heusipp
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Kleve, Germany
Correspondence: Gerhard Heusipp, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Center for Research, Innovation and Transfer, Marie-Curie-Str. 1, 47533 Kleve, Germany. Tel.: +49 2821 80673 116; fax: +49 2821 80673 160; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorInga Blädel
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorKarin Wagner
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorAnna Beck
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJennifer Schilling
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorM. Alexander Schmidt
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Gerhard Heusipp
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung (ZMBE), Institut für Infektiologie, Münster, Germany
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Kleve, Germany
Correspondence: Gerhard Heusipp, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Center for Research, Innovation and Transfer, Marie-Curie-Str. 1, 47533 Kleve, Germany. Tel.: +49 2821 80673 116; fax: +49 2821 80673 160; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Horizontal gene transfer plays an important role in bacterial evolution. DNA acquired by horizontal gene transfer has to be incorporated into existing regulatory networks. The histone-like nucleoid structuring protein H-NS acts as a silencer of horizontally acquired genes to avoid potential damage. However, specific regulators can overcome H-NS repression, resulting in the integration of newly acquired genes into existing regulatory networks. Here, we analyzed the influence of H-NS on the transcription of the Yersinia enterocolitica hreP gene and its regulators pypA, pypB, and pypC by establishing a dominant-negative H-NS version. Using transcriptional fusions and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we show that H-NS silences hreP, pypA, pypB, and pypC by direct interactions. While the H-NS antagonist RovA activates pypC, it has no effect on pypA and pypB. Furthermore, H-NS affects biofilm formation in Y. enterocolitica.
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