O Cancro Cítrico, um dos mais graves problemas fitossanitários da citricultura atual, é uma doença causada pelo fitopatógeno Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac). Um estudo funcional do genoma de Xac foi iniciado com o intuito de identificar interações proteína-proteína envolvidas em processos de patogenicidade de Xac. Através da utilização do sistema duplo-híbrido de levedura, baseado nos domínios de ligação ao DNA e ativação da transcrição do GAL4, nós analisamos os principais componentes dos mecanismos de patogenicidade de Xac, incluindo o Sistema de Secreção do Tipo III (TTSS), Sistema de Secreção do Tipo IV (TFSS) e Sistema de \"Quorum Sensing\" composto pelas proteínas Rpf. Componentes desses sistemas foram utilizados como iscas na triagem de uma biblioteca genômica de Xac. O TTSS é codificado pelos genes denominados hrp (\"hypersensitive response and pathogenicity\"), hrc (\"hrp conserved\") e hpa (\"hrp associated\") localizados no locus hrp do cromossomo de Xac. Esse sistema de secreção é capaz de translocar proteínas efetoras do citoplasma bacteriano para o interior da célula hospedeira. Nossos resultados mostraram novas interações proteínaproteína entre componentes do próprio TTSS além de associações específicas com uma proteína hipotética: 1) HrpG, um regulador de resposta de um sistema de dois componentes responsável pela expressão dos genes hrp, e XAC0095, uma proteína hipotética encontrada apenas em Xanthomonas spp; 2) HpaA, uma proteína secretada pelo TTSS, HpaB e o domínio C-terminal da HrcV; 3) HrpB1, HrpD6 e HrpW, 4) HrpB2 e HrcU e 5) interações homotrópicas envolvendo a ATPase HrcN. Em Xac, foram encontrados dois loci vir que codificam proteínas que possuem similaridade com componentes do TFSS envolvido em processos de conjugação/secreção bacteriana: TFSS-plasmídeo localizado no plasmídeo pXAC64 e TFSS-cromossomo localizado no cromossomo de Xac. O TFSS-plasmídeo, o qual possui maior similaridade com sistemas de conjugação, mostrou interações envolvendo proteínas cujos genes estão localizados na mesma região do plasmídeo pXAC64: 1) interação homotrópica da TrwA; 2) XACb0032 e XACb0033; 3) interações homotrópicas da proteína XACb0035; 4) VirB1 e VirB9; 5) XACb0042 e VirB6; 6) XACb0043 e XACb0021b. O TFSS-cromossomo apresentou interações envolvendo as proteínas: 1) VirD4 e um grupo de 12 proteínas que contém similaridade entre si, incluindo XAC2609 cujo gene encontra-se no locus vir, 2) XAC2609 e XAC2610; 3) Interações homotrópicas da VirB11; 4) XAC2622 e VirB9. A análise do sistema de \"Quorum-Sensing\" composto pelas proteínas Rpf mostrou interações envolvendo componentes do próprio sistema: 1) RpfC e RpfF; 2) RpfC e RpfG; 3) interações homotrópicas da RpfF; 4) RpfC e CmfA, uma proteína similar a Cmf de Dictyostelium discoideum que, neste organismo, é fundamental para processos de \"quorum-sensing\". As interações proteína-proteína encontradas permitiram-nos entender melhor a composição, organização e regulação dos fatores envolvidos na patogenicidade de Xac. / Citrus Canker, caused by the bacterial plant pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) presents one of the most serious problems to Brazilian citriculture. We have initiated a project to identify protein-protein interactions involved in pathogenicity of Xac. Using a yeast two-hybrid system based on GAL4 DNA-binding and activation domains, we have focused on identifying interactions involving subunits, regulators and substrates of: Type Three Secretion System (TTSS), Type Four Secretion System (TFSS) and Quorum Sensing/Rpf System. Components of these systems were used as baits to screening a random Xac genomic library. The TTSS is coded by the hrp (hypersensitive response and pathogenicity), hrc (hrp conserved) and hpa (hrp associated) genes in the chromosomal hrp locus. This secretion system can translocate efector proteins from the bacterial cytoplasm into the host cells. We have identified several previously uncharacterized interactions involving: 1) HrpG, a two-component system response regulator responsible for the expression of Xac hrp operons, and XAC0095, a previously uncharacterized protein encountered only in Xanthomonas spp; 2) HpaA, a protein secreted by the TTSS, HpaB and the C-terminal domain HrcV; 3) HrpB1, HrpD6 and HrpW; 4) HrpB2 and HrcU; 5) Homotropic interactions were also identified for the ATPase HrcN. Xac contains two virB gene clusters, one on the chromosome and one on the pXAC64 plasmid, each of which codes for a unique and previously uncharacterized TFSS. Components of the TFSS of pXAC64, which is most similar to conjugation systems, showed interactions involving proteins coded by the same locus: 1) Homotropic interactions of TrwA; 2) XACb0032 and XACb0033; 3) XAC0035 homotropic interactions; 4) VirB1 and VirB9; 5) XACb0042 and VirB6; 6) XACb0043 and XACb0021 b. Components of the chromosomal TFSS exhibited interactions involving: 1) VirD4 and a group of 12 uncharacterized proteins with a common C-terminal domain motif, include XAC2609 whose gene resides within the vir locus; 2) XAC2609 and XAC261 O; 3) Homotropic interactions of VirB11; 4) XAC2622 and VirB9. Analysis of Quorum Sensing/Rpf System components revealed interactions between the principal Rpf proteins which control Xanthomonas quorum sensing: 1) RpfC and RpfF; 2) RpfC and RpfG; 3) RpfF homotropic interactions; 4) RpfC and CmfA, a protein that presents similarity with Cmf (conditioned medium factor) of Dictyostelium discoideum, which contrais quorum sensing in this organism. The protein-protein interactions that we have detected reveal insights into the composition, organization and regulation of these important mechanisms involved in Xanthomonas pathogenicity.

O trabalho aqui desenvolvido teve como objeto o estudo estrutural e funcional de várias proteínas do fitopatógeno Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri (Xac), dentre as quais se destacam as proteínas hipotéticas conservadas YaeQ e SufE, as proteínas RpfC, RpfF e RpfG envolvidas em quorum sensing e proteínas PilZ, FimX e PilB envolvidas na biogênese do pilus tipo IV. Para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho foram utilizadas diferentes técnicas incluindo: clonagem, expressão, purificação, desnaturação térmica, cristalografia, difração de raios-X, RMN, ensaios de 2-híbrido, produção de nocautes, mutação sítio dirigida, Western- e Far- Western, entre outras. Dentre os resultados mais importantes obtidos temos a determinação estrutural das proteínas YaeQ e PilZ pela técnica MAD. Em ambos os casos, as estruturas representaram topologias inéditas. Com base nos dados estruturais, mostramos que YaeQ pertence à família PD-(D/E)XK presente em endonucleases dependentes de magnésio, e a partir de ensaios funcionais obtivemos evidências que sugerem que YaeQ está envolvida em alguma via de reparo de DNA em Xac. A estrutura tridimensional de PilZ revelou uma inesperada variedade estrutural dentro da família PilZ e mostrou de forma clara porque ortólogos não interagem com o segundo mensageiro bacteriano, c-diGMP. A cadeia principal de PilZ foi assinalada por RMN e a estrutura secundária de PilZ em solução é consistente com aquela determinada por cristalografia. Duas proteínas que interagem com PilZ foram identificadas: PilB e FimX. Como PilZ, ambos exercem papéis na biogênese do pilus tipo IV (T4P). Mostramos que PilZ interage especificamente com o domínio EAL de FimX e que resíduos conservados na região do C-terminal de PilZ estão envolvidos na interação com PilB, mas não com FimX. Ensaios de mutação sítio dirigida mostraram que a Y22 de PilZ pode estar envolvida na regulação da interação de PilZ com FimX e com PilB. Apesar de PilZ não interagir com c-diGMP seu parceiro, FimX, interage. PilZ consegue interagir com PilB ao mesmo tempo em que interage com FimX, formando um complexo ternário que é independente da interação de FimX com c-diGMP. Com base em todos estes resultados propusemos possíveis mecanismos de ação de PilZ e FimX no controle da biogênese do T4P. Além dos resultados acima descritos, determinamos a estrutura de SufE e mostramos que esta aumenta a atividade cisteína dessulfarase de seu parceiro, SufS, em torno de 10 vezes, como ocorre com SufE-SufS de E.coli. Clonamos, expressamos, purificamos e fizemos ensaios de cristalização de algumas proteínas envolvidas no controle de quorum sensing em Xac. Tivemos êxito na cristalização do domínio HPT (histidina fosfotransferase) da proteína chave deste sistema, RpfC / The aim of the project was to perform structural and functional studies of different Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri (Xac) proteins including the hypothetical proteins YaeQ and SufE; RpfC, RpfF and RpfG involved in the quorum sensing and PilZ, FimX and PilB that play roles in type IV pilus (T4P) biogenesis. Several experimental techniques were employed including cloning, expression and purification of recombinant proteins, thermal denaturation, protein crystallography, X-ray diffraction, NMR, two-hybrid assays, Western- and Far-Western Blotting assays, site direct mutagenesis, and the production of Xac knockouts strains. The most important results include the determination of the three-dimensional crystal structures of PilZ and YaeQ using the MAD technique. In both cases, the structures reveled new protein topologies. The comparison of the YaeQ structure with others deposited in public databases revealed that YaeQ proteins represent a new variation within the PD-(D/E)XK magnesium dependent endonucleases superfamily. Functional assays suggest that YaeQ may be envolved in DNA repair in Xac. The PilZ three-dimensional structure revealed an unexpected structural variation within the PilZ domain superfamily and showed why PilZ orthologs are not able to bind the important bacterial second messenger, c-diGMP. We assigned the PilZ main chain by NMR and used this information to demonstrate that the PilZ secondary structure in solution is consistent with the PilZ crystal structure. We identified two proteins that interact with PilZ: PilB and FimX. As with PilZ, both PilB and FimX are involved in T4P biogenesis. PilZ binds specifically to the EAL domain of FimX and the conserved residues located in the PilZ unstructured C-terminal region contribute to binding with PilB but not with FimX. Site direct mutagenesis studies showed that PilZ residue Y22 is necessary for its capability to interact with both PilB and FimX. Although PilZ does not bind c-diGMP, her partner, FimX, does. We present evidence that PilZ can bind simultaneously to FimX and PilB, forming a ternary complex that is independent of c-diGMP. These results allow us to propose possible mechanisms by which PilZ and FimX control T4P biogenesis. Other results obtained during this period include the resolution of the crystal structure of the SufE protein from Xac using the molecular replacement technique. We show that SufE induces a 10-fold increase in the cysteine desulfurase activity of SufS, similar to that observed for the SufE-SufS complex from E. coli. Several proteins involved in quorum sensing and c-di-GMP signaling were cloned, expressed and submitted to crystallization trials. Crystals of the HPT (histidine phophotransferase) domain) of the RpfC sensor histidine kinase were obtained

Acinetobacter baumanii fait aujourd’hui partie des bactéries les plus problématiques dans le monde. Responsable de nombreux pics épidémiques d’infections nosocomiales auxquelles sont associés de forts taux de mortalité, cette bactérie puise sa pathogénie dans de multiples caractéristiques qui lui permettent ainsi d’échapper au système immunitaire de l’hôte et à la plupart des traitements actuels. Capable d’adhérer à de multiples surfaces, A. baumanii persiste dans l’environnement hospitalier à travers un mode de vie communautaire au sein duquel ses capacités de survie sont exacerbées. Chez les espèces du genre Acinetobacter, le mode de vie communautaire peut prendre deux formes distinctes : le biofilm et la pellicule. Dans la première partie de cette thèse, nous avons cherché à discriminer ces deux modes de vie, chez la souche ATCC 17978, par une analyse protéomique à large échelle. Nous avons confirmé la présence de nombreux marqueurs communs aux deux communautés (transporteurs, systèmes de sécrétion, d’acquisition d’ions, adhésines et pili) et mis en exergue des systèmes spécifiquement reliés à la formation du biofilm (pilus Fim, T2SS, T1SS/pompe A1S_0535-38, LPS/LOS, motif capsulaire) et à celle de la pellicule (Gac). Grâce à l’étude de la souche A. baumannii SDF en mode biofilm, qui présente un génome plus compact, nous montrons que très peu de mécanismes moléculaires sont partagés par les deux souches étudiées. Ce résultat témoigne de la difficulté quant au développement d’un traitement dirigé contre les biofilms A. baumannii. Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons testé deux approches pour prévenir et éradiquer les biofilms à A. baumannii. La première a ciblé le Quorum Sensing (QS), système de communication essentielle à la coordination des cellules. Nous avons pu montrer que les acides gras mono-insaturés (acide palmitoléique et acide myristoléique), au même titre que la virstatine, limitait la formation de communautés à A. baumannii en inhibant l’expression du régulateur abaR nécessaire au QS. Dans une seconde stratégie, nous avons finalement évalué l’action antibactérienne et antibiofilm d’un nouveau composé d’origine naturelle : la squalamine. Dans cette étude, nous montrons pour la première fois qu’A. baumannii est capable d’entrer dans un état de dormance (persistant/VBNC) pour survivre à de fortes doses de ciprofloxacine, mais que la squalamine est capable d’éradiquer ces cellules persistantes grâce à des concentrations inférieures à la concentration hémolytique. / Today, Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most problematic pathogens in the world. This bacterium is responsible for worldwide epidemic outbreaks associated with dramatic mortality rates. It possesses high capacities to evade the immune host system and to resist to numerous available antibacterial agents. A. baumannii is also able to persist into hospital environment due to high adhesion abilities which induce community development. This process is also associated to an enhanced survival rate. In Acinetobacter genus, community modes of lif can take two forms : biofilm and pellicle. In this study on the strain ATCC 17978, we tried to discriminate these two lifestyles by a large scale proteomic analysis. We have confirmed the presence of many common community markers (transporters, ion acquisition secretion systems, adhesins and pili) and highlighted systems specifically related to biofilm (pilus Fim, T2SS, T1SS / pump A1S_0535-38, LPS / LOS, capsular pattern) and pellicle communities. Furthermore the proteomic analysis of an avirulent A. baumannii strain, SDF, in biofilm allowed to highlight peculiar metabolic pathways, specific adhesion determinants but very few markers shared by ATCC 17978. This demonstrated the difficulty in developing a treatment directed against A. baumannii biofilm. Then, we tested different approaches to prevent and eradicate biofilms. The first one targeted the Quorum Sensing system (QS), an essential communication system for cell coordination. We have showed that monounsaturated fatty acids (palmitoleic acid and myristoleic acid), like virstatin prevent the community formation of A. baumannii by inhibiting the expression of the abaR regulator required for QS. In a second strategy, we have evaluated the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of a new natural compound : the squalamine. We showed for the first time that if ciprofloxacin treatment was able to induce a dormancy population (persistent/VBNCs) in A. baumannii, squalamine was able to eradicate this population of dormant cells.

No description available.

Candida albicans, le pathogène opportuniste le plus commun, peut subir des transitions morphologiques entre la forme levure et la forme hyphe, jouant un rôle dans la formation de biofilm. Le farnésol, un lipide endogène produit par C. albicans, est une molécule de quorum sensing qui inhibe cette transition morphologique. Certaines souches ne répondent pas au farnésol et nous avons vérifié les hypothèses que : 1) l’isolat clinique SC5314, la souche la mieux caractérisée, est un répondeur au farnésol; 2) la germination, la croissance et la formation de biofilm des non répondeurs diffèrent des répondeurs; 3) l’absence de la réponse au farnésol se manifeste en dehors de conditions de culture précises; 4) le farnésol agit via un récepteur nucléaire qui présente des altérations chez les non répondeurs; 5) la différence de la réponse au farnésol entre les souches s’explique par des variations au niveau transcriptionnel de certains gènes (CHK1, HST7, CPH1, GAP1, RAM2 et DPP3). Les non répondeurs produisent un plus grand nombre d’hyphes, forment 60% plus de biofilm et croissent 50% moins vite que les répondeurs. La souche SC5314 se comporte comme un répondeur. L’absence de la réponse au farnésol se manifeste indépendamment des conditions de culture. Cependant, elle ne s’explique pas par une différence dans le niveau d’expression des gènes proposés, excepté pour DPP3 qui est surexprimé chez le non répondeur ATTC® 36802, suggérant ainsi une surproduction de farnésol chez cette souche. De plus, si le farnésol agit via un récepteur nucléaire, il sera d’un type non décrit précédemment. / Candida albicans, the most common fungal pathogen, can undergo morphological transitions between yeast and hyphal forms, which are associated with biofilm formation. Farnesol, an endogenous lipid produced by C. albicans, is a quorum sensing molecule that inhibits this transition. Previous work identified two clinical isolates that didn’t respond to farnesol in colony morphology and biofilm assays. Our goal is to better understand C. albicans response to farnesol using these natural farnesol non responders. We have hypothesized that : 1) clinical isolate SC5314, the most characterized strain, is a farnesol responder; 2) non responders’ germination, growth and biofilm formation are different from those of responders; 3) lack of response to farnesol occurs even outside specific culture conditions; 4) farnesol acts through a nuclear receptor that is altered in non responders; 5) difference in farnesol response between strains is explained by transcriptional variations of specific genes (CHK1, HST7, CPH1, GAP1, RAM2 and DPP3), that were previously shown to be potentially involved in farnesol’s mechanism of action. Non responders produce more hyphae, form 60 % more biofilm and grow 50% slower than responders. The SC5314 strain acts like a responder. Lack of response to farnesol occurs regardless of culture conditions. However, the refractory response to farnesol is not explained by a difference in the proposed genes expression level, except for DPP3 that is upregulated in ATTC® 36802 non responder, suggesting an overproduction of farnesol by this strain. Furthermore, if farnesol acts trough a nuclear receptor, it will be a type not previously described.

Les salmonelles sont l'une des premières causes d'infections bactériennes d'origine alimentaire. Depuis le début des années 1990, l'isolement de salmonelles multirésistantes aux antibiotiques a considérablement accru avec l'émergence des souches épidémiques Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 qui sont, pour la majorité, résistantes à l'ampicilline, le chloramphénicol, la streptomycine, les sulfamides et les tétracyclines. Les gènes codant ces résistances sont regroupés sur un intégron complexe de classe 1 nommé In104, localisé lui-même sur un îlot génomique de 43 kb désigné Salmonella Genomic Island 1 (SGI1). Depuis sa première identification chez S. Typhimurium DT104, SGI1 a été identifié à travers le monde chez plusieurs sérovars de Salmonella, et plus récemment chez Proteus mirabilis. Chez ces souches, la multirésistance aux antibiotiques est liée, soit à l'îlot SGI1 dans sa forme initialement décrite, soit à des variants de SGI1 correspondant à la structure initiale de SGI1 comportant des modifications au niveau de l'intégron complexe In104. L'îlot génomique Salmonella Genomic Island 1 (SGI1) représente une préoccupation importante car le phénotype de multirésistance qu'il confère aux souches bactériennes est souvent responsable d'échecs thérapeutiques pouvant entrainer des complications importantes, voire la mort. Dans ce contexte, le travail de thèse a été centré sur l'enjeu sanitaire majeur représenté par cette diffusion épidémique du clone S. Typhimurium au cours des années 1990 chez l'homme et les bovins. Les travaux entrepris dans le cadre de la thèse ont eu, en premier lieu, l'objectif d'apprécier l'évolution moléculaire de SGI1 dix années après l'émergence de ces souches en élevage bovin, puis d'évaluer la diffusion de SGI1 chez des souches naturelles appartenant à d'autres genres bactériens que Salmonella. Il a ainsi été dressé un bilan de la multirésistance aux antibiotiques chez les souches de S. Typhimurium isolées de bovins malades en France de 2002 à 2007 et une recherche de la présence de SGI1, chez d'autres espèces bactériennes que Salmonella, et par sondage à partir de leurs phénotypes de résistance, a été mise en œuvre. Les résultats obtenus ont indiqué un faible pouvoir évolutif de SGI1 qui semble en contradiction avec les capacités moléculaires majeures de recombinaison et de transfert démontrées tant in vitro qu'in vivo. Les études menées ont toutefois permis la première description d'un nouveau variant, nommé SGI1-T, qui résulte d'une recombinaison intramoléculaire. Le deuxième grand objectif de la thèse a été de contribuer à une meilleure connaissance du rôle que pourrait avoir SGI1 dans la virulence bactérienne. Une première stratégie de modélisation expérimentale (salmonellose systémique murine) a ainsi été conduite, qui visait à comparer le pouvoir virulent in vivo de souches isogéniques ne se distinguant que par la présence ou l'absence de SGI1. Une seconde approche a été également menée, qui a consisté en une évaluation du rôle de SGI1 dans la formation de biofilms, l'organisation en biofilms favorisant une meilleure colonisation bactérienne, qui peut constituer à son tour un élément d'efficacité du pouvoir virulent final. Les résultats obtenus ont confirmé le rôle positif de SGI1 dans la formation de biofilms, et plus généralement son implication dans la signalisation cellulaire du Quorum Sensing.

The objective of this work is to better understand themetabolism and physiology ofEscherichiacoli(W3110) in defined medium cultures with thelong-term goal of improving cell yield and recombinant proteinproductivity. The order of amino acid utilization inE. colibatch cultures was investigated in a medium with16 amino acids and glucose. Ser, Pro, Asp, Gly, Thr, Glu andAla were rapidly consumed and depleted at the end of theexponential phase, while His, Arg, Val, Met, Ile, Leu, Phe, Lysand Tyr were consumed slowly during the following linear growthphase. The uptake order correlated to the maximum specificconsumption rate. Of the rapidly consumed amino acids onlyglyine and threonine improved growth when added individually.Serine was the first amino acid to be consumed, but inhibitedglucose uptake initially, which presumably is related to thefunction of PTS. Valine inhibited cell growth could be releasedby isoleucine. The critical medium concentration of valinetoxicity was 1.5 - 3 µmol L-1. Valine uptake was associated with exchange ofisoleucine out of the cells. Glycine significantly increased the cell yield,Yx/s,and growth rate ofE. coliin batch cultures in a glucose-mineral medium.Maximum effect occurred at pH 6.8, at 6 - 12 mmol L-1glycine, and below 1.15 g dw L-1.13C NMR technique was employed to identify [1-13C], [2-13C]and [1,2-13C]acetate in the cultures supplied with [2-13C]glycine. The NMR data revealed that littledegradation of added glycine occurred, and that serine/glycinebiosynthesis was repressed below 1.15 g dw L-1, implicating that glycine was a source ofglycine, serine, one-carbon units, and threonine. Above 1.15 gdw L-1, 53% of the consumed glycine carbon was excretedas acetate. Degradation of glycine was associated with anincreased uptake rate, cleavage by GCV, and degradation of bothglycine- and glucose-derived serine to pyruvate. This switch inmetabolism appears to be regulated by quorum sensing. A cell density-dependent metabolic switch occurred also inthe central metabolism. A 2 - 3 fold decrease in mostglycolytic and TCA cycle metabolites, but an increase inacetyl-CoA, occurred after the switch. The acetate productionrate decreased throughout the culture with a temporary increaseat the switch point, but the intracellular acetate poolremained relatively constant. Two mixtures of amino acids were fed together with glucosein fed-batch cultures ofE. coliW3110 pRIT44T2, expressing the recombinantprotein ZZT2. One mixture contained 20 amino acids and theother 5 so-called 'protein amino acids': Ala, Arg, Met, His andPhe. Although the amino aids increased the cell yield anddecreased the proteolysis rate in both cases, ZZT2 productionwas decreased. A decrease of ZZT2 synthesis rate is consideredto be the reason. Further studies of the 5 amino acidsindicated that a few amino acids disturb metabolism. Carbon mass balances were calculated in glucose limitedfed-batch cultures ofE. coli. In the end, the carbon recovery was ~90% basedon biomass, CO2and acetate, but ~100% if the all carbon in themedium was included. Outer membrane (OM) constituents,lipopolysaccharide, phospholipids, and carbohydratescontributed to 63% of the extracellular carbon. Little celllysis occurred and the unidentified (~30%) carbon was assumedto constitute complex carbohydrates. A novel cultivationtechnique Temperature-Limited Fed-Batch (TLFB) is developed toprevent OM shedding in high-cell density cultures. <b>Keywords</b>: Escherichia coli, amino acids, glycine, quorumsensing, metabolic switch, metabolite pools, carbon balance,outer membrane, lipopolysaccharide, batch culture, fed-batchculture

The waterborne bacterial pathogen Vibrio cholerae uses a process of cell-to-cell communication called quorum sensing (QS) to coordinate transcription of four sRNAs (Qrr1-4; quorum regulatory RNAs) in response to changes in extracellular QS signals that accumulate with cell density. The Qrr sRNAs are predicted to negatively control translation of several mRNAs, including hapR, which encodes the master QS transcription factor that controls genes for virulence factors, biofilm formation, protease production, and DNA uptake. The Qrr sRNAs are also predicted to positively control vca0939, which encodes a GGDEF family protein that promote biofilm formation by elevating intracellular levels of the second messenger molecule c-di-GMP. Using complementary in vivo, in vitro, and bioinformatic approaches, I showed that Qrr sRNAs base-pair with and repress translation of the mRNA encoding HapR. A single nucleotide mutation in Qrr RNA abolishes hapR pairing and thus prevents cholera toxin production and biofilm formation that are important in disease, and also alters expression of competence genes required for uptake of DNA in marine settings. I also demonstrated that base-pairing of the Qrr sRNAs with vca0939 disrupts an inhibitory structure in the 5' UTR of the mRNA. Qrr-activated translation of vca0939 was sufficient to promote synthesis of c-di-GMP and early biofilm formation in a HapR-independent manner. Thus, these studies define the non-coding Qrr sRNAs as a critical component allowing V. cholerae to sense and respond to environmental cues to regulate important developmental processes such as biofilm formation.

<p>The objective of this work is to better understand themetabolism and physiology of<i>Escherichiacoli</i>(W3110) in defined medium cultures with thelong-term goal of improving cell yield and recombinant proteinproductivity.</p><p>The order of amino acid utilization in<i>E. coli</i>batch cultures was investigated in a medium with16 amino acids and glucose. Ser, Pro, Asp, Gly, Thr, Glu andAla were rapidly consumed and depleted at the end of theexponential phase, while His, Arg, Val, Met, Ile, Leu, Phe, Lysand Tyr were consumed slowly during the following linear growthphase. The uptake order correlated to the maximum specificconsumption rate. Of the rapidly consumed amino acids onlyglyine and threonine improved growth when added individually.Serine was the first amino acid to be consumed, but inhibitedglucose uptake initially, which presumably is related to thefunction of PTS. Valine inhibited cell growth could be releasedby isoleucine. The critical medium concentration of valinetoxicity was 1.5 - 3 µmol L^-1. Valine uptake was associated with exchange ofisoleucine out of the cells.</p><p>Glycine significantly increased the cell yield,<i>Y</i>_x/s,and growth rate of<i>E. coli</i>in batch cultures in a glucose-mineral medium.Maximum effect occurred at pH 6.8, at 6 - 12 mmol L^-1glycine, and below 1.15 g dw L^-1.¹³C NMR technique was employed to identify [1-¹³C], [2-¹³C]and [1,2-¹³C]acetate in the cultures supplied with [2-¹³C]glycine. The NMR data revealed that littledegradation of added glycine occurred, and that serine/glycinebiosynthesis was repressed below 1.15 g dw L^-1, implicating that glycine was a source ofglycine, serine, one-carbon units, and threonine. Above 1.15 gdw L^-1, 53% of the consumed glycine carbon was excretedas acetate. Degradation of glycine was associated with anincreased uptake rate, cleavage by GCV, and degradation of bothglycine- and glucose-derived serine to pyruvate. This switch inmetabolism appears to be regulated by quorum sensing.</p><p>A cell density-dependent metabolic switch occurred also inthe central metabolism. A 2 - 3 fold decrease in mostglycolytic and TCA cycle metabolites, but an increase inacetyl-CoA, occurred after the switch. The acetate productionrate decreased throughout the culture with a temporary increaseat the switch point, but the intracellular acetate poolremained relatively constant.</p><p>Two mixtures of amino acids were fed together with glucosein fed-batch cultures of<i>E. coli</i>W3110 pRIT44T2, expressing the recombinantprotein ZZT2. One mixture contained 20 amino acids and theother 5 so-called 'protein amino acids': Ala, Arg, Met, His andPhe. Although the amino aids increased the cell yield anddecreased the proteolysis rate in both cases, ZZT2 productionwas decreased. A decrease of ZZT2 synthesis rate is consideredto be the reason. Further studies of the 5 amino acidsindicated that a few amino acids disturb metabolism.</p><p>Carbon mass balances were calculated in glucose limitedfed-batch cultures of<i>E. coli</i>. In the end, the carbon recovery was ~90% basedon biomass, CO₂and acetate, but ~100% if the all carbon in themedium was included. Outer membrane (OM) constituents,lipopolysaccharide, phospholipids, and carbohydratescontributed to 63% of the extracellular carbon. Little celllysis occurred and the unidentified (~30%) carbon was assumedto constitute complex carbohydrates. A novel cultivationtechnique Temperature-Limited Fed-Batch (TLFB) is developed toprevent OM shedding in high-cell density cultures.</p><p><b>Keywords</b>: Escherichia coli, amino acids, glycine, quorumsensing, metabolic switch, metabolite pools, carbon balance,outer membrane, lipopolysaccharide, batch culture, fed-batchculture</p>

Les opines sont des molécules produites dans les cellules végétales transformées par l'ADN-T d'A. tumefaciens. Ces opines peuvent être utilisées comme nutriments par le phytopathogène et certaines d'entre elles agissent comme signaux moléculaires contrôlant la dissémination du plasmide de virulence Ti via la signalisation quorum-sensing. Le présent travail vise à une compréhension élargie du rôle des opines au cours des interactions A. tumefaciens-plantes hôtes. En se basant d'abord sur des analyses transcriptomiques, le régulon AccR d'A. tumefaciens C58, contrôlé par les opines agrocinopines, a été défini : celui-ci inclut des fonctions associées (i) à l'assimilation des agrocinopines, (ii) à l'assimilation de la nopaline, (iii) à la signalisation quorum-sensing et la conjugaison du plasmide Ti, (iv) à la conjugaison du plasmide At. La corrélation entre la co-régulation des conjugaisons des plasmides Ti et At et le co-transfert des deux réplicons a en outre été mise en évidence. Dans un second temps, associant des approches de génétique fonctionnelle à des travaux collaboratifs en biologie structurale, l'avantage sélectif conféré par les opines nopaline et octopine à A. tumefaciens au sein des tumeurs végétales a été quantifié. Les bases moléculaires sous-jacentes à cet avantage sélectif, notamment celles associées à la perception et l'importation des deux opines dans le cytoplasme bactérien, ont été décrites. Enfin, en combinant des approches de métabolomique et de génétique inverse avec des tests de conjugaison in planta, les effets opposés de la signalisation GABA d'une part et des signalisations opine et quorum-sensing d'autre part sur la dissémination du plasmide Ti ont été démontrés. En conclusion, nos résultats révèlent l'intrication des signalisations opine, quorum-sensing et GABA au cours de l'interaction A. tumefaciens-plantes hôtes. Ils soulignent en particulier les impacts de cette intrication sur la colonisation de l'hôte ainsi que sur la dissémination des gènes de virulence et d'adaptation à l'environnement tumeur portés par les plasmides Ti et At.