Pseudomonas aeruginosa T6SS-mediated molybdate transport contributes to bacterial competition during anaerobiosis

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) Vol. 35; no. 2; p. 108957
• Main Authors: Wang, Tietao, Du, Xiao, Ji, Linxuan, Han, Yuying, Dang, Jing, Wen, Jing, Wang, Yarong, Pu, Qinqin, Wu, Min, Liang, Haihua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 13.04.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: anaerobic condition; Anaerobiosis - genetics; Animals; Anr regulator; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Ion Transport; Metalloendopeptidases - genetics; Metalloendopeptidases - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microbial Interactions - genetics; Microbial Viability; molybdate acquisition; Molybdenum - metabolism; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - genetics; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - metabolism; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - pathogenicity; Pseudomonas Infections - microbiology; Pseudomonas Infections - mortality; Pseudomonas Infections - pathology; Survival Analysis; T6SS; Trans-Activators - genetics; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Type VI Secretion Systems - genetics; Type VI Secretion Systems - metabolism; Virulence; Virulence Factors - genetics; Virulence Factors - metabolism; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; molybdate acquisition; anaerobic condition; T6SS; Anr regulator
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108957
• ISSN: 2211-1247

Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is widely distributed in Gram-negative bacteria and functions as a versatile protein export machinery that translocates effectors into eukaryotic or prokaryotic target cells. Growing evidence indicates that T6SS can deliver several effectors to promote bacterial survival in harmful environments through metal ion acquisition. Here, we report that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa H2-T6SS mediates molybdate (MoO42−) acquisition by secretion of a molybdate-binding protein, ModA. The expression of H2-T6SS genes is activated by the master regulator Anr and anaerobiosis. We also identified a ModA-binding protein, IcmP, an insulin-cleaving metalloproteinase outer membrane protein. The T6SS-ModA-IcmP system provides P. aeruginosa with a growth advantage in bacterial competition under anaerobic conditions and plays an important role in bacterial virulence. Overall, this study clarifies the role of T6SS in secretion of an anion-binding protein, emphasizing the fundamental importance of this bacterium using T6SS-mediated molybdate uptake to adapt to complex environmental conditions. [Display omitted] •H2-T6SS mediates molybdate acquisition by secretion of ModA•Expression of H2-T6SS is activated by the master regulator Anr and anaerobiosis•ModA interacts with the outer membrane protein IcmP and uses it to deliver molybdate•The T6SS-ModA-IcmP system plays a role for P. aeruginosa in bacterial competition Wang et al. show that P. aeruginosa H2-T6SS secretes a molybdate-binding protein, ModA, which cooperates with IcmP for molybdate acquisition during anaerobiosis. The T6SS-ModA-IcmP system provides P. aeruginosa growth advantage in bacterial competition under anaerobic conditions and plays a role in bacterial virulence.