Genomic SELEX Reveals Pervasive Role of the Flagella Master Regulator FlhDC in Carbon Metabolism

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 24; no. 4; p. 3696
• Main Authors: Takada, Hiraku, Kijima, Kaede, Ishiguro, Akira, Ishihama, Akira, Shimada, Tomohiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.02.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Binding sites; Biosynthesis; Carbon; carbon metabolism; Carbon sources; Dehydrogenases; E coli; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Escherichia coli Proteins - metabolism; Flagella; Flagella - metabolism; flagella master regulator FlhDC; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Gene regulation; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic transcription; Genomes; genomic SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) (gSELEX); Genomics; Glycolysis; Kinases; Metabolic pathways; Metabolism; Microorganisms; Motility; Phosphotransferase; Physiological aspects; Proteins; RNA polymerase; Sugar; Sugars - metabolism; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription; transcription factor; Japan; transcription factor; genomic SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) (gSELEX); flagella master regulator FlhDC; carbon metabolism; Escherichia coli
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043696

Flagella are vital bacterial organs that allow microorganisms to move to favorable environments. However, their construction and operation consume a large amount of energy. The master regulator FlhDC mediates all flagellum-forming genes in through a transcriptional regulatory cascade, the details of which remain elusive. In this study, we attempted to uncover a direct set of target genes in vitro using gSELEX-chip screening to re-examine the role of FlhDC in the entire genome regulatory network. We identified novel target genes involved in the sugar utilization phosphotransferase system, sugar catabolic pathway of glycolysis, and other carbon source metabolic pathways in addition to the known flagella formation target genes. Examining FlhDC transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo and its effects on sugar consumption and cell growth suggested that FlhDC activates these new targets. Based on these results, we proposed that the flagella master transcriptional regulator FlhDC acts in the activation of a set of flagella-forming genes, sugar utilization, and carbon source catabolic pathways to provide coordinated regulation between flagella formation, operation and energy production.