Cytolytic toxin production by Staphylococcus aureus is dependent upon the activity of the protoheme IX farnesyltransferase
Stevens, Emily (Milner Centre for Evolution, Dept. of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath)
Laabei, Maisem (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol)
Gardner, Stewart (School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Somerville, Greg A. (School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Massey, Ruth C. (School of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Bristol)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2017
Abstract:	Staphylococcus aureus is a medically important pathogen with an abundance of virulence factors that are necessary for survival within a host, including the production of cytolytic toxins. The regulation of toxin production is mediated by the Agr quorum sensing system, and a poorly defined post-exponential growth phase signal independent of Agr. As part of a recent genome wide association study (GWAS) to identify novel loci that alter the expression of cytolytic toxins, a polymorphism in the cyoE gene, which encodes a protoheme IX farnesyltransferase, was identified. This enzyme is essential for processing heme into the electron transport chain for use as an electron acceptor. Interestingly, without this enzyme S. aureus were repressed in their ability to secrete cytolytic toxins, and this appears to be mediated through repression of the Agr quorum sensing system. We hypothesize that the loss of electron transport is inducing feedback inhibition of metabolic capabilities that suppress the TCA cycle, and that this coupled with decreased RNAIII transcription prevents synthesis of cytolytic toxins.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Scientific reports, Vol. 7 (october 2017) , ISSN 2045-2322

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14110-8
PMID: 29062030

9 p, 1.3 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut d'Investigació en Ciencies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles