Part:BBa_K131016

LuxOU from Vibrio harveyi

Vibrio harveyi luminescence regulatory protein LuxO (GenBank accession# P0C5S5) and phosphorelay protein LuxU (GenBank accession# AAD12737).

Quorum-sensing bacteria produce and release chemical signal molecules termed autoinducers (AIs) whose external concentration increases as a function of increasing cell-population density. Bacteria detect the accumulation of a minimal threshold stimulatory concentration of these autoinducers and alter gene expression, and therefore their behavior. Using these signal-response systems, bacteria synchronize particular behaviors on a population-wide scale and thus function as multicellular organisms. The bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi uses three different AIs—AHL, CAI-1, and AI-2—to control the expression of genes responsible for bioluminescence and numerous other traits. We have designed our System 2 based on V. harveyi AI-2 signaling. V. harveyi AI-2 signal is a furanosyl borate diester, production of which requires the LuxS enzyme. Biosynthesis of AI-2 is dependent on the usage of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) by the cell in various methylation reactions. For this reason, during periods of exponential growth, there is a very large production of AI-2, thus perhaps signaling to neighbors that a suitable environment for growth (i.e. rich in nutrients) has been found. LuxS catalyzes the formation of the (S)-4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (DPD) intermediate which spontaneously cyclizes and reacts with borate to give AI-2. AI-2 is bound in the periplasm by the protein LuxP, which is constitutively bound to LuxQ, a membrane bound histidine kinase sensor. The binding of AI-2 to LuxP is necessary in regulating the activity of the periplasm-bound LuxQ. At low cell density, in the absence of significant amounts of autoinducers, LuxQ acts as a kinase, autophosphorylates, and subsequently transfers the phosphate to the cytoplasmic protein LuxU. LuxU passes the phosphate to the DNA-binding response regulator protein LuxO. Phospho-LuxO, in conjunction with a transcription factor termed σ54, involved in nitrogen metabolism, activates transcription of the genes encoding five regulatory small RNAs (sRNAs) termed Qrr1–5 (for Quorum Regulatory RNA). The Qrr sRNAs interact with an RNA chaperone termed Hfq, involved in mRNA splicing. The sRNAs, together with Hfq, bind to and destabilize the mRNA encoding the transcriptional activator termed LuxR. LuxR is required to activate transcription of the luciferase operon: luxCDABE. Thus, at low cell density, because the luxR mRNA is degraded, the bacteria do not express the genes necessary for bioluminescence. At high cell density, when the autoinducers accumulate to the level required for detection, the kinase activity of LuxQ is overtaken by its phosphatase activity and thus drains phosphate from LuxO via LuxU. Unphosphorylated LuxO cannot induce expression of the sRNAs. This allows translation of luxR mRNA, production of LuxR, resulting in bioluminescence.

Reference: Waters C.M. and Bassler B.L. Quorum sensing: cell-to-cell communication in bacteria. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2005;21:319-46.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

  Illegal BsaI.rc site found at 854
  Illegal SapI.rc site found at 816