Construction of afurnull mutant and RNA-sequencing provide deeper global understanding of theAliivibrio salmonicidaFur regulon

Abstract

BackgroundThe ferric uptake regulator (Fur) is a transcription factor and the main regulator of iron acquisition in prokaryotes. When bound to ferric iron, Fur recognizes its DNA binding site and generally executes its function by repressing transcription of its target genes. Due to its importance in virulence, the Fur regulon is well studied for several model bacteria. In our previous work, we used computational predictions and microarray to gain insights into Fur-regulation inAliivibrio salmonicida, and have identified a number of genes and operons that appear to be under direct control of Fur. To provide a more accurate and deeper global understanding of the biological role of Fur we have now generated anA. salmonicida furknock-out strain and used RNA-sequencing to compare gene expression between the wild-type andfurnull mutant strains.ResultsAnA. salmonicida furnull mutant strain was constructed. Biological assays demonstrate that deletion offurresults in loss of fitness, with reduced growth rates, and reduced abilities to withstand low-iron conditions, and oxidative stress. When comparing expression levels in the wild-type and thefurnull mutant we retrieved 296 differentially expressed genes distributed among 18 of 21 functional classes of genes. A gene cluster encoding biosynthesis of the siderophore bisucaberin represented the highest up-regulated genes in thefurnull mutant. Other highly up-regulated genes all encode proteins important for iron acquisition. Potential targets for the RyhB sRNA was predicted from the list of down-regulated genes, and significant complementarities were found between RyhB and mRNAs of thefur,sodB,cysNand VSAL_I0422 genes. Other sRNAs with potential functions in iron homeostasis were identified.ConclusionThe present work provides by far the most comprehensive and deepest understanding of the Fur regulon inA. salmonicidato date. Our data also contribute to a better understanding of how Fur plays a key role in iron homeostasis in bacteria in general, and help to show how Fur orchestrates iron uptake when iron levels are extremely low.