Molecular Cell
Volume 37, Issue 4, 26 February 2010, Pages 567-579
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Article
Negative Feedback Loops Involving Small Regulatory RNAs Precisely Control the Vibrio harveyi Quorum-Sensing Response

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Summary

Quorum-sensing (QS) bacteria assess population density through secretion and detection of molecules called autoinducers (AIs). We identify and characterize two Vibrio harveyi negative feedback loops that facilitate precise transitions between low-cell-density (LCD) and high-cell-density (HCD) states. The QS central regulator LuxO autorepresses its own transcription, and the Qrr small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) posttranscriptionally repress luxO. Disrupting feedback increases the concentration of AIs required for cells to transit from LCD to HCD QS modes. Thus, the two cooperative negative feedback loops determine the point at which V. harveyi has reached a quorum and control the range of AIs over which the transition occurs. Negative feedback regulation also constrains the range of QS output by preventing sRNA levels from becoming too high and preventing luxO mRNA levels from reaching zero. We suggest that sRNA-mediated feedback regulation is a network design feature that permits fine-tuning of gene regulation and maintenance of homeostasis.

Highlights

► Negative feedback loops control the timing of quorum-sensing gene expression ► sRNAs repress luxO and luxR mRNA by sequestration and degradation, respectively ► The V. harveyi quorum-sensing circuit maintains core regulators at a minimum ► Negative feedback loops may generally be used for dynamic range control

RNA
MICROBIO

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These authors contributed equally to this work