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Bacterial Chemoreceptors and Chemosensory Pathways
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Bacterial Chemoreceptors and Chemosensory Pathways

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 22068

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tino Krell

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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
Interests: bacterial signal transduction; chemoreceptor; chemotaxis; Pseudomonas; two-component systems; molecular recognition; microcalorimetry; structural biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Miguel A. Matilla

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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 18008 Granada, Spain
Interests: molecular microbiology; chemosignaling; chemotaxis; chemoreceptor; rhizosphere colonization; plant-associated bacteria; antibiotics synthesis and regulation; Pseudomona; enterobacteria
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The analysis of bacterial genomes has revealed that more than half of the sequenced bacteria possess chemosensory signaling genes. Chemosensory pathways are activated by the recognition of specific signals by chemoreceptors, which are primarily responsible for modulating chemotactic responses, either chemoattraction or chemorepellence. However, a growing body of experimental evidence is revealing that chemoreceptors also carry out alternative cellular functions such as type IV pili-mediated motility or the intracelullar levels of second messengers such as c-di-GMP. Chemoreceptors form a highly diverse protein superfamily that differs in size, topology, domain composition, cellular location, function, or the mechanism of action. Much research is still needed to describe and understand the physiological and evolutionary relevance of this diversity. Thus, for the large majority of chemoreceptors, the function or the corresponding chemoeffectors are unknown, and such information will help to identify the forces that have shaped the evolution of chemoreceptors. Remarkably, contrary to the widespread misconception within the scientific community, not all chemoreceptors are activated by the direct binding of signals but by the recognition of chemoeffector-loaded periplasmic binding proteins or respond to growth under specific conditions (i.e., surface growth). Most of what we know on chemoreceptor function derives from the study of Escherichia coli proteins. However, research over mainly the last decade has expanded chemoreceptor and chemosensory pathway research onto a variety of different bacterial species with different lifestyles. As a result, a more global picture of chemoreceptor and chemosensory pathway function is emerging, which is frequently important for virulence, plant root colonization, or biodegradation efficiency.

In this context, the goal of this Special Issue is to further expand our knowledge of chemoremoreceptor and chemosensory pathway function, the molecular mechanisms that modulate their activity, as well as the selective pressures that have shaped their evolution. We welcome the submission of original research, review, and mini-review articles.

Dr. Tino Krell 
Dr. Miguel Matilla
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • bacteria
  • motility
  • chemoreceptor
  • chemoeffector
  • chemotaxis
  • aerotaxis/energy taxis
  • signal sensing
  • signal transduction
  • c-di-GMP
  • virulence
  • host colonization
  • biodegradation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 6376 KiB  
Article
The Cellular Abundance of Chemoreceptors, Chemosensory Signaling Proteins, Sensor Histidine Kinases, and Solute Binding Proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Provides Insight into Sensory Preferences and Signaling Mechanisms
by Miguel A. Matilla, Roberta Genova, David Martín-Mora, Sandra Maaβ, Dörte Becher and Tino Krell
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021363 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2229
Abstract
Chemosensory pathways and two-component systems are important bacterial signal transduction systems. In the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, these systems control many virulence traits. Previous studies showed that inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency induces virulence. We report here the abundance of chemosensory and two-component signaling [...] Read more.
Chemosensory pathways and two-component systems are important bacterial signal transduction systems. In the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, these systems control many virulence traits. Previous studies showed that inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency induces virulence. We report here the abundance of chemosensory and two-component signaling proteins of P. aeruginosa grown in Pi deficient and sufficient media. The cellular abundance of chemoreceptors differed greatly, since a 2400-fold difference between the most and least abundant receptors was observed. For many chemoreceptors, their amount varied with the growth condition. The amount of chemoreceptors did not correlate with the magnitude of chemotaxis to their cognate chemoeffectors. Of the four chemosensory pathways, proteins of the Che chemotaxis pathway were most abundant and showed little variation in different growth conditions. The abundance of chemoreceptors and solute binding proteins indicates a sensing preference for amino acids and polyamines. There was an excess of response regulators over sensor histidine kinases in two-component systems. In contrast, ratios of the response regulators CheY and CheB to the histidine kinase CheA of the Che pathway were all below 1, indicative of different signaling mechanisms. This study will serve as a reference for exploring sensing preferences and signaling mechanisms of other bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Chemoreceptors and Chemosensory Pathways)
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Review

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11 pages, 907 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Advantages, Disadvantages and Limitations of Chemotaxis Assays for Campylobacter spp.
by Bassam A. Elgamoudi and Victoria Korolik
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1576; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031576 - 29 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3744
Abstract
Reproducible qualitative and quantitative assessment of bacterial chemotactic motility, particularly in response to chemorepellent effectors, is experimentally challenging. Here we compare several established chemotaxis assays currently used to investigate Campylobacter jejuni chemotaxis, with the aim of improving the correlation between different studies and [...] Read more.
Reproducible qualitative and quantitative assessment of bacterial chemotactic motility, particularly in response to chemorepellent effectors, is experimentally challenging. Here we compare several established chemotaxis assays currently used to investigate Campylobacter jejuni chemotaxis, with the aim of improving the correlation between different studies and establishing the best practices. We compare the methodologies of capillary, agar, and chamber-based assays, and discuss critical technical points, in terms of reproducibility, accuracy, and the advantages and limitations of each. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Chemoreceptors and Chemosensory Pathways)
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26 pages, 6097 KiB  
Review
Multistep Signaling in Nature: A Close-Up of Geobacter Chemotaxis Sensing
by Marta A. Silva and Carlos A. Salgueiro
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 9034; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22169034 - 21 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3159
Abstract
Environmental changes trigger the continuous adaptation of bacteria to ensure their survival. This is possible through a variety of signal transduction pathways involving chemoreceptors known as methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCP) that allow the microorganisms to redirect their mobility towards favorable environments. MCP are [...] Read more.
Environmental changes trigger the continuous adaptation of bacteria to ensure their survival. This is possible through a variety of signal transduction pathways involving chemoreceptors known as methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCP) that allow the microorganisms to redirect their mobility towards favorable environments. MCP are two-component regulatory (or signal transduction) systems (TCS) formed by a sensor and a response regulator domain. These domains synchronize transient protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events to convert the stimuli into an appropriate cellular response. In this review, the variability of TCS domains and the most common signaling mechanisms are highlighted. This is followed by the description of the overall cellular topology, classification and mechanisms of MCP. Finally, the structural and functional properties of a new family of MCP found in Geobacter sulfurreducens are revisited. This bacterium has a diverse repertoire of chemosensory systems, which represents a striking example of a survival mechanism in challenging environments. Two G. sulfurreducens MCP—GSU0582 and GSU0935—are members of a new family of chemotaxis sensor proteins containing a periplasmic PAS-like sensor domain with a c-type heme. Interestingly, the cellular location of this domain opens new routes to the understanding of the redox potential sensing signaling transduction pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Chemoreceptors and Chemosensory Pathways)
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14 pages, 1430 KiB  
Review
Non-Genetic Diversity in Chemosensing and Chemotactic Behavior
by Jeremy Philippe Moore, Keita Kamino and Thierry Emonet
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 6960; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22136960 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3766
Abstract
Non-genetic phenotypic diversity plays a significant role in the chemotactic behavior of bacteria, influencing how populations sense and respond to chemical stimuli. First, we review the molecular mechanisms that generate phenotypic diversity in bacterial chemotaxis. Next, we discuss the functional consequences of phenotypic [...] Read more.
Non-genetic phenotypic diversity plays a significant role in the chemotactic behavior of bacteria, influencing how populations sense and respond to chemical stimuli. First, we review the molecular mechanisms that generate phenotypic diversity in bacterial chemotaxis. Next, we discuss the functional consequences of phenotypic diversity for the chemosensing and chemotactic performance of single cells and populations. Finally, we discuss mechanisms that modulate the amount of phenotypic diversity in chemosensory parameters in response to changes in the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Chemoreceptors and Chemosensory Pathways)
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14 pages, 1284 KiB  
Review
Chemotaxis of Beneficial Rhizobacteria to Root Exudates: The First Step towards Root–Microbe Rhizosphere Interactions
by Haichao Feng, Ruixin Fu, Xueqin Hou, Yu Lv, Nan Zhang, Yunpeng Liu, Zhihui Xu, Youzhi Miao, Tino Krell, Qirong Shen and Ruifu Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 6655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22136655 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 103 | Viewed by 7976
Abstract
Chemotaxis, the ability of motile bacteria to direct their movement in gradients of attractants and repellents, plays an important role during the rhizosphere colonization by rhizobacteria. The rhizosphere is a unique niche for plant–microbe interactions. Root exudates are highly complex mixtures of chemoeffectors [...] Read more.
Chemotaxis, the ability of motile bacteria to direct their movement in gradients of attractants and repellents, plays an important role during the rhizosphere colonization by rhizobacteria. The rhizosphere is a unique niche for plant–microbe interactions. Root exudates are highly complex mixtures of chemoeffectors composed of hundreds of different compounds. Chemotaxis towards root exudates initiates rhizobacteria recruitment and the establishment of bacteria–root interactions. Over the last years, important progress has been made in the identification of root exudate components that play key roles in the colonization process, as well as in the identification of the cognate chemoreceptors. In the first part of this review, we summarized the roles of representative chemoeffectors that induce chemotaxis in typical rhizobacteria and discussed the structure and function of rhizobacterial chemoreceptors. In the second part we reviewed findings on how rhizobacterial chemotaxis and other root–microbe interactions promote the establishment of beneficial rhizobacteria-plant interactions leading to plant growth promotion and protection of plant health. In the last part we identified the existing gaps in the knowledge and discussed future research efforts that are necessary to close them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Chemoreceptors and Chemosensory Pathways)
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