The ComX quorum sensing peptide of Bacillus subtilis affects biofilm formation negatively and sporulation positively

Špacapan, Mihael (author), Danevčič, Tjaša (author), Štefanič, Polonca (author), Porter, Michael (author), Stanley-Wall, Nicola R. (author), Mandić-Mulec, Ines (author)

Quorum sensing (QS) is often required for the formation of bacterial biofilms and is a popular target of biofilm control strategies. Previous studies implicate the ComQXPA quorum sensing system of Bacillus subtilis as a promoter of biofilm formation. Here, we report that ComX signaling peptide deficient mutants form thicker and more robust pellicle biofilms that contain chains of cells. We confirm that ComX positively affects the transcriptional activity of the P$_{epsA}$ promoter, which controls the synthesis of the major matrix polysaccharide. In contrast, ComX negatively controls the P$_{tapA}$ promoter, which drives the production of TasA, a fibrous matrix protein. Overall, the biomass of the mutant biofilm lacking ComX accumulates more monosaccharide and protein content than the wild type. We conclude that this QS phenotype might be due to extended investment into growth rather than spore development. Consistent with this, the ComX deficient mutant shows a delayed activation of the pre-spore specific promoter, P$_{spoIIQ}$, and a delayed, more synchronous commitment to sporulation. We conclude that ComX mediated early commitment to sporulation of the wild type slows down biofilm formation and modulates the coexistence of multiple biological states during the early stages of biofilm development.

• Language: English
• Keywords: biofilm, pellicle, quorum, sporulation, bacillus, signal, communication, heterogeneity, matrix, surfactin
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 20 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 8, iss. 8, art. 1131
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-133795
• UDC: 579.22/.26:579.852.11
• ISSN on article: 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081131
• COBISS.SI-ID: 24045827
• Publication date in RUL: 15.12.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Microorganisms
• Shortened title: Microorganisms
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2076-2607
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523277081

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.08.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: mikrobne združbe, Bacillus subtilis, zaznavanje kvoruma, biofilm, sporulacija, surfaktin