Two cyanobacterial response regulators with diguanylate cyclase activity, Rre2 and Rre8, participate in biofilm formation.

Phototrophic bacteria face diurnal variations of environmental conditions such as light and osmolarity that affect their carbon metabolism and ability to generate organic compounds. The model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 forms a biofilm when it encounters extreme conditions like high salt stress, but the molecular mechanisms involved in perception of environmental changes that lead to biofilm formation are unknown. Here, we studied two two-component regulatory systems (TCSs) that contain diguanylate cyclases (DGCs), which produce the second messenger c-di-GMP, as potential components of the biofilm-inducing signaling pathway in Synechocystis. Analysis of single mutants provided evidence for involvement of the response regulators, Rre2 and Rre8 in biofilm formation. A bacterial two-hybrid assay showed that Rre2 and Rre8 each formed a TCS with a specific histidine kinase, Hik12 and Hik14, respectively. The in vitro assay showed that Rre2 had DGC activity regardless of its de/phosphorylation status, whereas Rre8 required phosphorylation for DGC activity. Hik14-Rre8 likely functioned as an inducible sensing system in response to environmental change. Biofilm assays with Synechocystis mutants suggested that pairs of hik12-rre2 and hik14-rre8 responded to high salinity-induced biofilm formation. Inactivation of hik12-rre2 and hik14-rre8 did not affect the performance of the light reactions of photosynthesis. These data suggest that Hik12-Rre2 and Hik14-Rre8 participate in biofilm formation in Synechocystis by regulating c-di-GMP production via the DGC activity of Rre2 and Rre8.

Hik36-Hik43 and Rre6 act as a two-component regulatory system to control cell aggregation in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

In response to environmental stress the model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 can switch from a planktonic state to autoaggregation and biofilm formation. The precise mechanism of this transition remains unknown. Here we investigated the role of a candidate two-component regulatory system (TCS) in controlling morphological changes, as a way to understand the intermediate molecular steps that are part of the signaling pathway. A bacterial two-hybrid assay showed that the response regulator Rre6 formed a TCS together with a split histidine kinase consisting of Hik36 and Hik43. Individual disruption mutants displayed autoaggregation in a static culture. In contrast, unlike in the wild type, high salinity did not induce biofilm formation in Δhik36, Δhik43 and Δrre6. The expression levels of exopolysaccharide (EPS) production genes were higher in Δhik36 and Δhik43, compared with the wild type, but lower in Δrre6, suggesting that the TCS regulated EPS production in Synechocystis. Rre6 interacted physically with the motor protein PilT2, that is a component of the type IV pilus system. This interaction was enhanced in a phosphomimic version of Rre6. Taken together, Hik36-Hik43-Rre6 function as an upstream component of the pili-related signal transduction cascade and control the prevention of cell adhesion and biofilm formation.

Reduction of Spermidine Content Resulting from Inactivation of Two Arginine Decarboxylases Increases Biofilm Formation in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803.

The phototropic bacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 is able to adapt its morphology in order to survive in a wide range of harsh environments. Under conditions of high salinity, planktonic cells formed cell aggregates in culture. Further observations using crystal violet staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and field emission-scanning electron microscopy confirmed that these aggregates were Synechocystis biofilms. Polyamines have been implicated in playing a role in biofilm formation, and during salt stress the content of spermidine, the major polyamine in Synechocystis, was reduced. Two putative arginine decarboxylases, Adc1 and Adc2, in Synechocystis were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Adc2 had high arginine decarboxylase activity, whereas Adc1 was much less active. Disruption of the adc genes in Synechocystis resulted in decreased spermidine content and formation of biofilms even under nonstress conditions. Based on the characterization of the adc mutants, Adc2 was the major arginine decarboxylase whose activity led to inhibition of biofilm formation, and Adc1 contributed only minimally to the process of polyamine synthesis. Taken together, in Synechocystis the shift from planktonic lifestyle to biofilm formation was correlated with a decrease in intracellular polyamine content, which is the inverse relationship of what was previously reported in heterotroph bacteria.IMPORTANCE There are many reports concerning biofilm formation in heterotrophic bacteria. In contrast, studies on biofilm formation in cyanobacteria are scarce. Here, we report on the induction of biofilm formation by salt stress in the model phototrophic bacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. Two arginine decarboxylases (Adc1 and Adc2) possess function in the polyamine synthesis pathway. Inactivation of the adc1 and adc2 genes leads to biofilm formation even in the absence of salt. The shift from planktonic culture to biofilm formation is regulated by a decrease in spermidine content in Synechocystis This negative correlation between biofilm formation and polyamine content, which is the opposite of the relationship reported in other bacteria, is important not only in autotrophic but also in heterotrophic bacteria.

Genetic analysis of the regulation of the voltage-gated calcium channel homolog Cch1 by the γ subunit homolog Ecm7 and cortical ER protein Scs2 in yeast.

The yeast Cch1/Mid1 Ca2+ channel is equivalent to animal voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and activated in cells incubated in low Ca2+ medium. We herein investigated the third subunit, Ecm7, under the same cell culture conditions. The deletion of ECM7 slightly lowered Ca2+ influx activity in the CNB1+ background, in which calcineurin potentially dephosphorylates Cch1, but markedly lowered this activity in the cnb1Δ background. The deletion of the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of Ecm7 also reduced Ca2+ influx activity. We identified a novel Cch1-interacting protein, Scs2, which is known as a cortical endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein. The deletion of SCS2 did not affect Ca2+ influx activity when calcineurin was inhibited by FK506, but enhanced this activity by 35% when the enzyme was not inhibited. However, this enhancement was canceled by the deletion of ECM7. These results suggest that Cch1/Mid1 is regulated differentially by Ecm7 and Scs2 in a manner that is dependent on the phosphorylation status of Cch1.