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Repression of Escherichia coli PhoP-PhoQ Signaling by Acetate Reveals a Regulatory Role for Acetyl Coenzyme A

Department of Microbiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032

Received 23 September 2002/ Accepted 29 January 2003

The PhoP-PhoQ two-component system regulates the transcription of numerous genes in response to changes in extracellular divalent cation concentration and pH. Here we demonstrate that the Escherichia coli PhoP-PhoQ two-component system also responds to acetate. Signaling by the E. coli PhoP-PhoQ system was repressed during growth in acetate (25 mM) in a PhoQ-dependent manner. The periplasmic sensor domain of PhoQ was not required for acetate to repress signaling. Acetate-mediated repression of the PhoP-PhoQ system was not related to changes in the intracellular concentration of acetate metabolites such as acetyl-phosphate or acetyladenylate. Genetic analysis of acetate metabolism pathways suggested that a perturbation of acetyl coenzyme A turnover was the cause of decreased PhoP-PhoQ signaling during growth in acetate. Consistent with this hypothesis, intracellular acetyl coenzyme A levels rose during growth in the presence of exogenous acetate. Acetyl coenzyme A inhibited the autokinase activity of PhoQ in vitro, suggesting that the in vivo repressing effect may be due to a direct inhibition mechanism.

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