1. Mini-Tn7 vectors for stable expression of diguanylate cyclase PleD* in Gram-negative bacteria.
- Author
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Romero-Jiménez L, Rodríguez-Carbonell D, Gallegos MT, Sanjuán J, and Pérez-Mendoza D
- Subjects
- Cyclic GMP analogs & derivatives, Cyclic GMP metabolism, Escherichia coli Proteins genetics, Genomic Instability, Gram-Negative Bacteria genetics, Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases genetics, Recombination, Genetic, DNA Transposable Elements, Escherichia coli Proteins biosynthesis, Gene Expression, Genetics, Microbial methods, Gram-Negative Bacteria enzymology, Molecular Biology methods, Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases biosynthesis
- Abstract
Background: The cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is currently considered an ubiquitous second messenger in bacteria that influences a wide range of cellular processes. One of the methodological approaches to unravel c-di-GMP regulatory networks involves raising the c-di-GMP intracellular levels, e.g. by expressing a diguanylate cyclase (DGC), to provoke phenotypic changes., Results: We have constructed mini-Tn7 delivery vectors for the integration and stable expression of the pleD* gene encoding a highly active DGC, which can be used to artificially increase the intracellular levels of c-di-GMP in Gram negative bacteria. The functionality of these new vectors has been validated in several plant-interacting α- and γ-proteobacteria. Similarly to vector plasmid-borne pleD*, the genome-borne mini-Tn7pleD* constructs provide significant increases in intracellular c-di-GMP, provoking expected phenotypic changes such as enhanced polysaccharide production, biofilm formation and reduced motility. However, the mini-Tn7pleD* constructs resulted far more stable in the absence of antibiotics than the plasmid-based pleD* constructs. Furthermore, we have also implemented an inducible system to modulate pleD* expression and intracellular c-di-GMP rises "on demand"., Conclusions: mini-Tn7pleD* constructs are very stable and are maintained during bacterial free-living growth as well as during interaction with eukaryotic hosts, in the absence of selective pressure. This high stability ensures experimental homogeneity in time and space with regard to enhancing c-di-GMP intracellular levels in bacteria of interest.
- Published
- 2015
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