Molecular mechanism of siderophore regulation by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa BfmRS two-component system in response to osmotic stress

作者：Yingjie Song, Xi‐Yu Wu, Ze Li, Qin Qin, Rui Bao · 发表于：Communications Biology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1038/s42003-024-05995-z · 被引用次数：36 · 研究领域：Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing、Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology、Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common nosocomial pathogen, relies on siderophores to acquire iron, crucial for its survival in various environments and during host infections. However, understanding the molecular mechanisms of siderophore regulation remains incomplete. In this study, we found that the BfmRS two-component system, previously associated with biofilm formation and quorum sensing, is essential for siderophore regulation under high osmolality stress. Activated BfmR directly bound to the promoter regions of pvd, fpv, and femARI gene clusters, thereby activating their transcription and promoting siderophore production. Subsequent proteomic and phenotypic analyses confirmed that deletion of BfmRS reduces siderophore-related proteins and impairs bacterial survival in iron-deficient conditions. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the high conservation of the BfmRS system across Pseudomonas species, functional evidences also indicated that BfmR homologues from Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and Pseudomonas sp. MRSN12121 could bind to the promoter regions of key siderophore genes and osmolality-mediated increases in siderophore production were observed. This work illuminates a novel signaling pathway for siderophore regulation and enhances our understanding of siderophore-mediated bacterial interactions and community establishment.