Quorum sensing is a type of chemical communication by which bacterial populations control expression of their genes in a coordinated manner. This regulatory mechanism is commonly used by pathogens to control the expression of genes encoding virulence factors and that of genes involved in the bacterial adaptation to variations in environmental conditions. In phytopathogenic bacteria, several mechanisms of quorum sensing have been characterized. In this review, we describe the different quorum sensing systems present in phytopathogenic bacteria, such as those using the signal molecules named N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL), diffusible signal factor (DSF), and the unknown signal molecule of the virulence factor modulating (VFM) system. We focus on studies performed on phytopathogenic bacteria of major importance, including Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Agrobacterium, Xanthomonas, Erwinia, Xylella,Dickeya, and Pectobacterium spp. For each system, we present the mechanism of regulation, the functions targeted by the quorum sensing system, and the mechanisms by which quorum sensing is regulated.
(QS) is a cell-to-cell communication mechanism used by bacteria for promoting collective behavior within a population. This cooperative behavior relies on the production, detection, and response to signal molecules in a cell-density-dependent manner. At a low cell density, a basal level of the signal molecule is produced by bacteria. Signal molecules can be diffused or exported into the extracellular environment. As bacterial density increases, signal molecules accumulate. After reaching a threshold, signal molecules are perceived by the bacteria, which initiate a set of biological activities in a coordinated fashion. Acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) was the first signal molecule, identified in the 1980s[1][2]. Originally discovered in the bioluminescent marine bacterium
, these signal molecules were later characterized in a plethora of bacteria including
(formerly named
),
,
, and
[3][4]. Since then, several other types of QS signals have been identified, and most QS signals are either small organic molecules or peptides with 5 to 20 amino acids. In Gram-positive bacteria, the signal molecules are mainly peptides[5], while in Gram-negative bacteria, they are organic molecules smaller than 1000 Da. A universal signal described as autoinducer 2 (AI-2) is also produced by some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These signal molecules are produced (i) at a specific growth stage, (ii) under particular physiological conditions, or (iii) in response to an environmental change. QS controls the expression of the many genes involved in a variety of functions, such as biofilm formation, toxin production, exopolysaccharide synthesis, extracellular enzyme production, motility, and plasmid conjugation. In pathogenic bacteria and, therefore, in plant pathogenic bacteria, QS plays a major role in the regulation of virulence factor productions and the infectious processes.
This entry aims to describe how phytopathogenic bacteria incorporate QS mechanisms into the complex regulatory cascades that control genes in pathogenicity and colonization of the host, and thereby update the data reviewed more than 15 years ago in Von Bodman et al. [6]. We present QS systems harbored by phytopathogenic bacteria, i.e., the ones relying on AHL or diffusible signal factors (DSF), in addition to the virulence factor modulating (VFM) system. For each of these systems, we present the regulatory mechanism, the target genes of QS, and the mechanisms that are involved in the QS process. Mansfield et al. previously listed 10 species of phytopathogenic bacteria of major economic and scientific importance [
]. Here, we focus on the QS systems present in these species, including
,
,
spp., bacteria of the genus
spp.,
,
,
spp., and
spp. (
).
Quorum screening (QS) systems present in bacterial plant pathogen species. The table presents a ranked list of the bacteria according to Mansfield et al.
Top 10 Rank [7]
Top 10 Rank [7] |
Bacterial Pathogen Species
Bacterial Pathogen Species |
QS Mechanisms
QS Mechanisms |
Involvement in Virulence
Involvement in Virulence |
---|---|---|---|
1
1 |
Pseudomonas syringae
Pseudomonas syringae |
AHL
AHL |
Yes
Yes |
2
2 |
Ralstonia solanacearum
Ralstonia solanacearum |
AHL
AHL |
No
No |
DSF-derived signals
DSF-derived signals |
Yes
Yes |
||
3
3 |
Agrobacterium tumefaciens with pTi
Agrobacterium tumefaciens with pTi |
AHL
AHL |
Yes
Yes |
4
4 |
Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae
Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae |
DSF
DSF |
Yes
Yes |
5
5 |
Xanthomonas campestris pv
Xanthomonas campestris pv |
DSF
DSF |
Yes
Yes |
6
6 |
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv |
DSF
DSF |
Yes
Yes |
7
7 |
Erwinia amylovora
Erwinia amylovora |
AHL
AHL |
Yes *
Yes * |
8
8 |
Xylella fastidiosa
Xylella fastidiosa |
DSF
DSF |
Yes
Yes |
9
9 |
Dickeya spp.
Dickeya spp. |
AHL
AHL |
No **
No ** |
Vfm
Vfm |
Yes
Yes |
||
10
10 |
Pectobacterium carotovorum (and atrosepticum)
Pectobacterium carotovorum (and atrosepticum) |
AHL
AHL |
Yes
Yes |
Diffusible-Signal-Factor-Mediated QS is only present in three of the top 10 plant pathogenic bacteria:
pv.
(Xoo),
(Xcc),
and
. In addition,
can produce a DSF-derived signal molecule (
).
The Diffusible Signal Factor (DSF) family of signals features intriguing types of QS signal molecules found in diverse Gram-negative bacteria. Signal molecules are
2-unsaturated fatty acids that share a fatty acid carbon chain with variations in length, double-bond configurations, and side-chains[7]. Structural variants were mostly characterized using purification from culture supernatants followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). A much greater diversity of signals than previously anticipated was identified, including
-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF),
,
-11-methyldodeca-2,5-dienoic acid (CDSF),
-2- and
-2-decenoic acid (SDSF),
-10-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid (IDSF or DSF-II),
-9-methyl-2-decenoic acid,
-2-undecenoic acid, 2-
-unsaturated fatty acids (with the unsaturated fatty acids being 2-tetradecenoic acid (XfDSF1) or 2-
-hexadecanoic acid (XfDSF2)), and 13-methyltetradecanoic acid (LeDSF3) (
,
)[8]. A given organism can produce several signal molecules. Moreover, the growth environment affects the nature of the DSF variants[9][10].
General structure of the Diffusible Signal Factor (DSF). Signal molecules are
2-unsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acid carbon chains vary in their lengths, double-bond configurations, and side-chain modifications, particularly methylation. Fatty acid carbon chains range from 8 to 14 carbons. A given species is able to produce different molecules. Methylation occurs at the first carbon for
signal molecules 3-OH-PAME or 3-OH-MAME.
Overview of DSF-mediated
processes in phytopathogenic bacteria.
Signal Molecule | Species | Studied Strains | QS System | Pathology | Hosts | Targeted Functions | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OHHL OOHL |
Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci | 11528 | PsyI/PsyR | Wild-fire disease | Tobacco plants | Swarming, flagellum synthesis, assembly of pili, biofilm formation, chemotaxis, colonization, epiphytic viability, SST2, SST6, alginate synthesis | [11][12][13][14] |
No production of AHL | Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae | PsaR1, PsaR2, PsaR3 | Bacterial canker | Kiwifruit plants | Regulation of traits associated with survival in planta, cellular multiplication, swarming, oxidative stress resistance | [15][16] | |
HHL C8-HSL |
Ralstonia solanacearum | GMI1000 | SolI/ SolR |
Wilting | No Data | [6][17][18][19] | |
OOHL | Agrobacterium fabrum (tumefaciens) | C58 | TraI/ TraR |
Crown Gall | DNA replication, plasmid segregation in daughter cells, conjugative transfer of plasmid Ti | [20][21][22][23][24][25] | |
OHHL HHL |
Erwinia amylovora | Ea2 | EamR/EamI | fire blight | Apple, Pear | Amylovoran, levan, tolerance to hydrogen peroxide | [26][27][28][29][30] |
OHHL HHL DHL |
Dickeya dadantii | 3937 | ExpR/ExpI | Soft rot | Pineapple, Potato, Sweet potato, Banana, Maize, Dianthus spp., Philodendron, Pelargonium, Saintpaulia |
No implication in virulence | [31][32][33] |
OHHL OOHL |
Dickeya zeae | EC1 | ExpR/ExpI | Soft rot | Maize, Potato, Pineapple, Banana, Tobacco, Rice, Brachiaria, Chrysanthemum | Swarming, pigment synthesis, cellular aggregate formation, plant colonization, rice seed germination No implication in PCWDE production | [34] |
OHHL HHL |
Dickeya solani | ExpR/ExpI | Soft rot | Potato, Hyacinth | PCWDEs | [35] | |
OHHL OOHL |
Pectobacterium carotovorum | ExpI/ExpR1—ExpR2 CarR/CarI | Soft rot | Potato, carrot, green pepper | PCWDEs, oxidative stress resistance, antimicrobial activity, carbapenem biosynthesis |
[4][6][36][37] | |
OOHL C8-HSL OHHL |
Pectobacterium atrosepticum | ExpR/ExpI | Soft rot | Potato and chicory | Pectates lyases | [36][37][38][39][40][41] | |
OHHL | Pantoea stewartiisubsp. stewartii | Leaf blight and Stewart disease | Corn | Mobility, stewartan production, carotinoids pigments | [42][43] |
OHHL: N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-HSL; HHL: N-(hexanoyl)-HSL; DHL: N-(decanoyl)-HSL; OOHL: N-(3-oxo-octanoyl)-HSL; HSL: Homoserine Lactone; SST2 and SST6: secretion system type 2 and 6, respectively; PCWDE: plant cell wall degrading enzymes.
Three different types of DSF-mediated QS systems were defined. Classification depends on the genomic context of the involved genes. While the first group contains DSF systems whose genes encoding key signaling components are colocalized on the genome, systems belonging to the second group gather genes that are not clustered in the genome. Finally, the third class contains DSF systems whose genes are not clearly identified[8]. Systems belonging to the first group were first identified and characterized in the phytopathogen
pv.
(Xcc), which is responsible for black rot in crucifers. To date, every DSF system identified in plant pathogenic bacteria belongs to this first class. These DSF systems have also been studied in other
species and in
Briefly, three genes named
,
, and
encode the main components of the DSF biosynthetic pathway, which depends on fatty acid biosynthesis. RpfF is a DSF synthase, and RpfC–RpfG is a two-component regulatory system involved in signal perception and transduction. RpfF is a bifunctional enzyme with thioesterase activity that first cleaves the thioester bonds of acyl-ACPs to release holo–ACPs, and then its enoyl-CoA hydratase activity dehydrates the holo–ACP substrates to the final product[10] RpfF is active towards acyl-ACP substrates, with carbon chains ranging from 8 to 14. A given RpfF protein is able to produce multiple DSF signals[44][45]. RpfC is the DSF sensor, composed of a transmembrane domain (TM), an histidine kinase domain (HK), a receiver domain (REC), and a histidine phosphotransferase domain (HTP)[7]. The mechanism by which DSF is detected by this sensor is still unknown, but the sensor uses a phospho-relay mechanism to transfer the signal to the response regulator RpfG (
) [8][46][47][48]. The RpfG N-terminal response regulator (RR) domain interacts directly with RpfC, whereas its HD-GYP domain has phosphodiesterase activity that is activated by the DSF signal. This domain degrades cyclic di-GMP into two GMP molecules. Cyclic di-GMP binds to the global transcription factor Clp and represses
expression. When cyclic di-GMP is degraded, free forms of Clp dominate, which drives the expression of several hundred genes, including those encoding virulence factors[49].
The Diffusible Signal Factor-mediated
(DSF-QS) system. In phytopathogenic bacteria, the DSF system is encoded by the
gene cluster. RpfF is a bifunctional enzyme involved in the production of DSF molecules. RpfB is proposed to be involved in DSF turnover. RpfC–RpfG is a two-component regulatory system that is involved in signal perception and transduction. RpfC is a DSF sensor that uses a phospho-relay mechanism to transfer the signal to the response regulator, RpfG. The N-terminal RR response domain of RpfG interacts directly with RpfC. Its HD-GYP domain then degrades cyclic di-GMP. RpfC can also bind to RpfF using its C-terminal REC domain and negatively regulates DSF biosynthesis. At a low cell density, (i) RpfC forms a complex with RpfF, blocking its enzymatic activity and inhibiting DSF signal biosynthesis, and (ii) cyclic di-GMP binds to the global transcription factor Clp, which represses
expression. At a high cell density, RpfF is released and produces DSF signals, which allow the induction of QS regulation. Cyclic di-GMP is degraded by the HD-GYP domain of RpfG, and
is expressed, like several genes encoding virulence factors activated by Clp.
2.2. Induction, Maintenance, and Turnover of DSF-Mediated Quorum Sensing
2.2.2. Turnover of DSF Signals
In Xcc and Xoo, DSF signals accumulate in the early stationary phase, and their levels decline rapidly afterwards, suggesting the existence of a DSF signal turnover system [
]. Studies of RpfB in both Xcc and
have shown that RpfB is involved in DSF processing, as DSF-like fatty acid profiles whose production depends on RpfF are affected in
mutants [
]. In addition,
mutants boost DSF production during growth, while the overproduction of RpfB abolishes the DSF signal [
]. A reduction in insect colonization and transmission was observed, but not a reduction in plant colonization. A biochemical analysis performed in vitro suggested fatty acyl-CoA ligase activity for RpfB, but, surprisingly, its effects on the DSF and BDSF signals was limited, indicating that RpfB plays a more important role in pathogenesis by counteracting RpfF thioesterase activity [
]. Discrepancies in RpfB enzymatic activities measured in vitro and in vivo suggest the involvement of an additional factor.
The expression of
is negatively regulated by RpfC, RpfG, and Clp, which directly bind to the
promoter region when it is complexed with di-GMP-cyclic [
] (
). At a low cell density, the di-GMP-cyclic-Clp complex represses
expression, whereas at a high cell density, di-GMP-cyclic is degraded by RpfG, and
is expressed. Finally, the RpfB-dependent signal turnover system was also detected in several
including Xoo, but discrepancies were observed in bacterial virulence-associated traits [
].