Regulator RcsB Controls Prodigiosin Synthesis and Various Cellular Processes in Serratia marcescens JNB5-1

Abstract

RcsB is a two-component response regulator in the Rcs phosphorelay system, and it plays versatile regulatory functions in Enterobacteriaceae . However, information on the function of the RcsB protein in bacteria, especially in S. marcescens , remains limited. In this work, we illustrated experimentally that the RcsB protein was involved in diverse cellular processes in S. marcescens , including prodigiosin synthesis, cell motility, capsular polysaccharide production, biofilm formation, and acid resistance. Additionally, the regulatory mechanism of the RcsB protein in these cellular processes was investigated. In conclusion, this work indicated that RcsB could be a regulator for prodigiosin synthesis and provides insight into the function of the RcsB protein in S. marcescens .