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Journal of Bacteriology, July 2008, p. 4941-4950, Vol. 190, No. 14
0021-9193/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00197-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Putative Hybrid Sensor Kinase SypF Coordinates Biofilm Formation in Vibrio fischeri by Acting Upstream of Two Response Regulators, SypG and VpsR

Cynthia L. Darnell, Elizabeth A. Hussa, and Karen L. Visick^*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois

Received 7 February 2008/ Accepted 5 May 2008

Colonization of the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes by the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri requires the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) gene cluster, which contributes to symbiotic initiation by promoting biofilm formation on the surface of the symbiotic organ. We previously described roles for the syp-encoded response regulator SypG and an unlinked gene encoding the sensor kinase RscS in controlling syp transcription and inducing syp-dependent cell-cell aggregation phenotypes. Here, we report the involvement of an additional syp-encoded regulator, the putative sensor kinase SypF, in promoting biofilm formation. Through the isolation of an increased activity allele, sypF1, we determined that SypF can function to induce syp transcription as well as a variety of biofilm phenotypes, including wrinkled colony formation, adherence to glass, and pellicle formation. SypF1-mediated transcription of the syp cluster was entirely dependent on SypG. However, the biofilm phenotypes were reduced, not eliminated, in the sypG mutant. These phenotypes were also reduced in a mutant deleted for sypE, another syp-encoded response regulator. However, SypF1 still induced phenotypes in a sypG sypE double mutant, suggesting that SypF1 might activate another regulator(s). Our subsequent work revealed that the residual SypF1-induced biofilm formation depended on VpsR, a putative response regulator, and cellulose biosynthesis. These data support a model in which a network of regulators and at least two polysaccharide loci contribute to biofilm formation in V. fischeri.

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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave., Bldg. 105, Rm. 3860A, Maywood, IL 60153. Phone: (708) 216-0869. Fax: (708) 216-9574. E-mail: kvisick{at}lumc.edu

Published ahead of print on 9 May 2008.

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Journal of Bacteriology, July 2008, p. 4941-4950, Vol. 190, No. 14
0021-9193/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00197-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

This article has been cited by other articles:

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• Geszvain, K., Visick, K. L. (2008). The Hybrid Sensor Kinase RscS Integrates Positive and Negative Signals To Modulate Biofilm Formation in Vibrio fischeri. J. Bacteriol. 190: 4437-4446 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hussa, E. A., Darnell, C. L., Visick, K. L. (2008). RscS Functions Upstream of SypG To Control the syp Locus and Biofilm Formation in Vibrio fischeri. J. Bacteriol. 190: 4576-4583 [Abstract] [Full Text]