Choline catabolism, s54 factor and NtrC are required for the full expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phosphorylcholine phosphatase gene

MASSIMELLI, MJ; SACHEZ, DG; BUCHIERI, MV; OLVERA, L; BEASSONI, PR; SCHWEIZER, HP; MORETT, E; LISA, AT

MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2010 vol. 166 p. 380 - 390

0944-5013

Choline favors the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa because hemolyticphospholipase C and phosphorylcholine phosphatase (PchP) are synthesized as a consequence of itscatabolism. The experiments performed here resulted in the identification of the factors that regulateboth the catabolism of choline and the gene coding for PchP. We have also identified and characterizedthe promoter of the pchP gene, its transcriptional organization and the factors that affect itsexpression. Deletion analyses reveal that the region between 188 and 68 contains all controllingelements necessary for pchP expression: a hypothetical -12/- 24 promoter element, a consensussequence for the integration host factor (-141/-133), and a palindromic sequence resembling a bindingsite for a potential enhancer binding protein (-190/-174). Our data also demonstrate that cholinecatabolism and NtrC (nitrogen regulatory protein) are necessary for the full expression of pchP and ispartially dependent on σ54 factor.