Analysis of quorum sensing regulation of expression of horizontally transferred luminescence genes (lux).

• Project/Area Number: 26850051
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: Urbanczyk Henryk 宮崎大学, 農学部, 准教授 (80546896)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: Vibrio / クオラムセンシング / quorum sensing / lux 遺伝子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Quorum sensing (QS) control of gene expression is an important process that allows bacteria to regulate gene expression in response to changes in cell density. We analyzed QS regulation of expression of luminescence genes in two species of marine bacteria, Vibrio chagasii and Photobacterium aquimaris. We completed whole genome sequencing of four representative strains from the two species. Evolutionary analysis indicated that luminescence genes of the two species were horizontally transferred from other Vibrionaceae species. We also identified homologues of QS regulatory genes in the two species. Later, we analyzed expression of luminescence genes during growth in rich medium. The expression analysis revealed that luminescence genes expression is controlled via a QS mechanism. Current research focuses on creation of mutant strains with disrupted QS genes. This research is a pioneering analysis of regulation of horizontally transferred luminescence genes of Vibrionaceae.