Award details

Global control of bacterial translation by specific ribosome modification

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA570
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Jacob Malone
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	55,848
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	31/12/2014
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	27 months

Abstract

Translational regulation plays a critical role in determining the responses of bacteria to their environment. Based on our extensive preliminary data, we propose that the widespread glutamate ligase RimK functions as an important, previously uncharacterized global regulator of bacterial mRNA translation. RimK adds glutamate residues to the C-terminus of ribosomal protein RpsF. Our results suggest that this modification affects both ribosomal stability and function, and induces a specific, directed change in the composition of the bacterial proteome. Deletion of rimK leads to significantly reduced virulence in the destructive plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae and compromises wheat rhizosphere colonisation by the biocontrol bacterium P. fluorescens. In both of these plant-associated Pseudomonads the rim operon also encodes RimA; a phosphodiesterase for the bacterial motility, virulence and biofilm controller cyclic-di-GMP (cdG). Deletion of P. fluorescens rimA induces similar plant interaction phenotypes to ?rimK. Furthermore RimA and RimK physically interact in vitro, consistent with an exciting new potential role for cdG in the control of bacterial mRNA translation. This project will use a combination of protein biochemistry, molecular microbiology and emerging whole-cell analysis techniques (e.g. Ribo-seq, iTRAQ mass spectroscopy) to examine the relationship between the three Rim proteins and the Pseudomonas ribosome. The first objective of this proposal is to functionally characterize RimK, and to determine exactly how RimK ribosomal modification leads to altered mRNA translation. Next, we will focus on RimA/RimB and define their biological activity, interactions with RimK and the contribution of cdG to the control of RimK activity. Finally, we will investigate the physiological role of RimK translational regulation in two economically important model systems: plant virulence and pathogenicity in P. syringae, and wheat rhizosphere colonisation by P. fluorescens.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Crop Science, Microbiology, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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