Hierarchical expression of genes controlled by the Bacillus subtilis global regulatory protein CodY.

TitleHierarchical expression of genes controlled by the Bacillus subtilis global regulatory protein CodY.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsBrinsmade SR, Alexander EL, Livny J, Stettner AI, Segrè D, Rhee KY, Sonenshein AL
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume111
Issue22
Pagination8227-32
Date Published2014 Jun 03
ISSN1091-6490
KeywordsArginine, Bacillus subtilis, Bacterial Proteins, Carbon, Escherichia coli, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Glutamic Acid, Ligands, Sequence Analysis, RNA, Transaminases, Transcription Factors
Abstract

Global regulators that bind strategic metabolites allow bacteria to adapt rapidly to dynamic environments by coordinating the expression of many genes. We report an approach for determining gene regulation hierarchy using the regulon of the Bacillus subtilis global regulatory protein CodY as proof of principle. In theory, this approach can be used to measure the dynamics of any bacterial transcriptional regulatory network that is affected by interaction with a ligand. In B. subtilis, CodY controls dozens of genes, but the threshold activities of CodY required to regulate each gene are unknown. We hypothesized that targets of CodY are differentially regulated based on varying affinity for the protein's many binding sites. We used RNA sequencing to determine the transcription profiles of B. subtilis strains expressing mutant CodY proteins with different levels of residual activity. In parallel, we quantified intracellular metabolites connected to central metabolism. Strains producing CodY variants F71Y, R61K, and R61H retained varying degrees of partial activity relative to the WT protein, leading to gene-specific, differential alterations in transcript abundance for the 223 identified members of the CodY regulon. Using liquid chromatography coupled to MS, we detected significant increases in branched-chain amino acids and intermediates of arginine, proline, and glutamate metabolism, as well as decreases in pyruvate and glycerate as CodY activity decreased. We conclude that a spectrum of CodY activities leads to programmed regulation of gene expression and an apparent rerouting of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, suggesting that during changes in nutrient availability, CodY prioritizes the expression of specific pathways.

DOI10.1073/pnas.1321308111
Alternate JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID24843172
PubMed Central IDPMC4050614
Grant ListK99 GM099893 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
P30 NS047243 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R00 GM099893 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM042219 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States