IMR Press / FBE / Volume 4 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.2741/e457

Frontiers in Bioscience-Elite (FBE) is published by IMR Press from Volume 13 Issue 2 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article

Role of the RNA-binding protein Hfq in Serratia plymuthica

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1 Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
2 Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

 

Front. Biosci. (Elite Ed) 2012, 4(4), 1263–1275; https://doi.org/10.2741/e457
Published: 1 January 2012
Abstract

The RNA-binding protein Hfq has been well studied as a global post-transcriptional regulator which controls diverse cellular processes in bacteria. However, the function in the genus of Serratia has remained unexplored. Here we show that beyond mutation in Hfq resulting in their growth defects, Hfq has global effects on a variety of biocontrol-related phenotypes in the endophytic strain G3 of Serratia plymuthica, including antifungal activity, production of exoenzymes, as well as motility and biofilm formation. Especially for the first time, Hfq is observed to control biosynthesis of auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and antibiotic pyrrolnitrin (PRN), which are key determinants responsible for plant growth promotion and suppression of phytopathogens, respectively by G3. Additionally, Hfq is also required for the production of RpoS, a major stress sigma factor in G3. In contrast to E. coli, translation of hfq in G3 is positively autoregulated. Further investigation of the detailed mechanisms for regulation of IAA and pyrrolnitrin production by Hfq and its role in the regulatory networks of G3 will help to optimize the beneficial plant-microbe interactions.

Keywords
Serratia plymuthica
Hfq
RNA-binding protein
post-transcriptional regulation
biocontrol traits
plant growth promotion
IAA
pyrrolnitrin
autoregulation
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