Functional versatility of Zur in metal homeostasis, motility, biofilm formation, and stress resistance in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

• Published in: Microbiology spectrum 2024-05, Vol.12 (5), p.e0375623-e0375623
• Main Authors: Gu, Yanchao, Liu, Yongde, Mao, Wei, Peng, Ying, Han, Xiaoru, Jin, Han, Xu, Jingling, Chang, Liyang, Hou, Yixin, Shen, Xihui, Liu, Xingyu, Yang, Yantao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; biofilm formation; Biofilms - growth & development; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Homeostasis; Metals - metabolism; Microbial Pathogenesis; motility; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Research Article; stress resistance; Stress, Physiological; transcriptomics; Virulence - genetics; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis - genetics; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis - metabolism; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis - physiology; Zinc - metabolism; Zur
• ISSN: 2165-0497; 2165-0497
• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03756-23

Zur (zinc uptake regulator) is a significant member of the Fur (ferric uptake regulator) superfamily, which is widely distributed in bacteria. Zur plays crucial roles in zinc homeostasis and influences cell development and environmental adaptation in various species. is a Gram-negative enteric that pathogen usually serves as a model organism in pathogenicity studies. The regulatory effects of Zur on the zinc transporter ZnuABC and the protein secretion system T6SS have been documented in . In this study, a comparative transcriptomics analysis between a ∆ mutant and the wild-type (WT) strain of was conducted using RNA-seq. This analysis revealed global regulation by Zur across multiple functional categories, including membrane transport, cell motility, and molecular and energy metabolism. Additionally, Zur mediates the homeostasis not only of zinc but also ferric and magnesium . There was a notable decrease in 35 flagellar biosynthesis and assembly-related genes, leading to reduced swimming motility in the ∆ mutant strain. Furthermore, Zur upregulated multiple simple sugar and oligopeptide transport system genes by directly binding to their promoters. The absence of Zur inhibited biofilm formation as well as reduced resistance to chloramphenicol and acidic stress. This study illustrates the comprehensive regulatory functions of Zur, emphasizing its importance in stress resistance and pathogenicity in . Bacteria encounter diverse stresses in the environment and possess essential regulators to modulate the expression of genes in responding to the stresses for better fitness and survival. Zur (zinc uptake regulator) plays a vital role in zinc homeostasis. Studies of Zur from multiple species reviewed that it influences cell development, stress resistance, and virulence of bacteria. is an enteric pathogen that serves a model organism in the study of pathogenicity, virulence factors, and mechanism of environmental adaptation. In this study, transcriptomics analysis of Zur's regulons was conducted in . The functions of Zur as a global regulator in metal homeostasis, motility, nutrient acquisition, glycan metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism, in turn, increasing the biofilm formation, stress resistance, and virulence were reviewed. The importance of Zur in environmental adaptation and pathogenicity of was emphasized.