CsrA impacts survival of Yersinia enterocolitica by affecting a myriad of physiological activities

Background A previous study identified a Yersinia enterocolitica transposon mutant, GY448, that was unable to export the flagellar type three secretion system (T3SS)-dependent phospholipase, YplA. This strain was also deficient for motility and unable to form colonies on Lauria-Bertani agar medium. Preliminary analysis suggested it carried a mutation in csrA. CsrA in Escherichia coli is an RNA-binding protein that is involved in specific post-transcriptional regulation of a myriad of physiological activities. This study investigated how CsrA affects expression of the flagellar regulatory cascade that controls YplA export and motility. It also explored the effect of csrA mutation on Y. enterocolitica in response to conditions that cue physiological changes important for growth in environments found both in nature and the laboratory. Results The precise location of the transposon insertion in GMY448 was mapped within csrA. Genetic complementation restored disruptions in motility and the YplA export phenotype (Yex), which confirmed this mutation disrupted CsrA function. Mutation of csrA affected expression of yplA and flagellar genes involved in flagellar T3SS dependent export and motility by altering expression of the master regulators flhDC. Mutation of csrA also resulted in increased sensitivity of Y. enterocolitica to various osmolytes, temperatures and antibiotics. Conclusions The results of this study reveal unique aspects of how CsrA functions in Y. enterocolitica to control its physiology. This provides perspective on how the Csr system is susceptible to adaptation to particular environments and bacterial lifestyles.


Background
Yersinia enterocolitica produces a phospholipase, YplA, that is secreted by the flagellar type 3 secretion system (T3SS) under standard laboratory conditions and can also be exported by the Ysa and Ysc T3SS under different conditions [1,2]. In a previous study, our laboratory developed a transposon mutant library that identified 77 mutants that exhibited a deficiency for YplA export phenotype (Yex) under standard conditions [3]. Three of the mutants carried an insertion of the transposon within the yplA locus. Among the remaining Yex − strains, 74 of these mutants additionally exhibited defects for motility. Subsequent analysis confirmed that the insertion mutation harbored by 71 of these Yex − strains mapped to genes encoding components of the flagellar T3SS (unpublished data). This result corroborated results from previous studies that established YplA export depends on this T3SS [2,4]. Two of the remaining Yex − mutants were affected for production and sensing of the ubiquitous signaling molecule cyclic AMP (cAMP) and the cAMP receptor protein (CRP), which are necessary for normal expression of the flagellar, Ysa and Ysc T3SS [3]. These strains carried mutations mapping to cya and crp, respectively. The single remaining motility deficient mutant, GY448, was noted to have another striking phenotype; it was not able to grow on Lauria-Bertani (LB) agar medium, but could grow on tryptone yeast extract (TYE) agar medium. Preliminary analysis had suggested GY448 carried a transposon insertion located within a gene homologous to Escherichia coli carbon storage regulator A (csrA).
The csrA gene, and its ortholog rsmA, has been characterized in E. coli and a wide variety of other bacterial species as one that encodes an RNA-binding protein (reviewed in [5]). CsrA is involved in post-transcriptional regulation of many specific genes and consequently coordinates a myriad of physiological activities including metabolism, adaptation to changing environmental conditions and the temporal expression of colonization and virulence factors. Mechanistically, CsrA binds to target mRNAs and, depending on the context of the binding site, is capable of either activating or repressing translation [6]. CsrA function is modulated by additional components of the Csr system. Two highly structured small non-coding regulatory RNA molecules (ncRNA), CsrB and CsrC, are ncRNAs that titrate the amount of CsrA available within the cell by binding to CsrA and sequestering it from target mRNAs [6][7][8]. Stability of CsrB and CsrC is controlled by CsrD, adding an additional layer of modulation that ultimately affects CsrA availability [9].

Results and discussion
A) Y. enterocolitica strain GY448 phenotypes can be restored by complementation of csrA on a low-copy plasmid.
In order to understand the nature of the defect that affected YplA export, motility and growth of GY448 on LB media, the mutation was further characterized. The site of the transposon insertion within the Y. enterocolitica genome was precisely mapped. Determination of the DNA sequence of the transposon/chromosome junction revealed the location to be at codon 29 of a predicted orf (Figure 1). The 61 amino acid protein encoded by this orf is 95% identical to CsrA from E. coli, differing only at amino acids 58-60. This orf is also, 94% identical Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, serovar Typhimurium and exhibits a high degree of amino acid similarity to various other bacteria. In E. coli, CsrA functions as a homodimer in which two critical regions, amino acids 2-7 and 40-47, interact in an antiparallel manner to form a functional domain [10][11][12]. Thus the transposon insertion was predicted to result in a null mutation since the C-terminal truncation excluded the critical dimerization domain containing residues 40-47.
The prediction that CsrA in GY448 is non-functional was supported by results from genetic complementation analysis. A fragment of DNA with csrA was cloned into the low copy plasmid pTM100 to produce pGY1298. The plasmid was introduced into GY448, resulting in strain GY6535 (csrA/csrA+). As a negative control, the vector, pTM100, was also introduced into GY448, resulting in strain GY6536 (VC). These strains were examined for the ability to export YplA and for motility. The presence of pGY1298, but not pTM100 restored the Yex + phenotype ( Figure 2A) and motility ( Figure 2B). These results demonstrate that the mutation carried by GY448 disrupted CsrA function. B) Y. enterocolitica CsrA activates expression of genes encoding the master motility regulators FlhDC.
The Yex − phenotype of the csrA mutant of Y. enterocolitica may be the result of altered yplA expression. Therefore, to determine whether CsrA affected yplA expression, a lac reporter system was used in which lacZ was driven by the promoter region of yplA. Gene expression in wild-type (WT) and the csrA mutant (csrA) was quantified by measuring β-galactosidase activity ( Figure 3). Expression of yplA was significantly reduced in the csrA mutant relative to wild-type, indicating CsrA indeed affects yplA expression. The gene encoding yplA is one of a collection of genes within the hierarchical regulatory cascade of the flagellar T3SS of Y. enterocolitica defined as Class III genes [2,13]. Other Class III genes encode proteins essential for maturation of the flagellum, including the filament proteins FleA, FleB and FleC. To determine whether CsrA affected other genes within this class of flagellar genes, expression of fleB was also examined ( Figure 3). The csrA mutant expressed significantly less fleB than wild-type, indicating the effect of CsrA on Class III genes was not limited to yplA. Considering that CsrA affected expression of two different Class III genes, we reasoned that CsrA may act at a higher level within the regulatory cascade. Class III genes are regulated by a sigma factor, FliA, which is encoded by the Class II gene, fliA [13,14]. Expression of fliA is, in turn, governed by the master motility regulators, FlhD and FlhC. The FlhDC complex is encoded by Class I genes and is required for expression of all other flagellar genes [15][16][17]. Therefore, to determine the effect of CsrA on the upstream regulators of yplA and fleB, expression of fliA and flhDC was examined ( Figure 3). Expression of fliA and flhDC were significantly less in the csrA mutant relative to wild-type. When csrA was reintroduced on a low copy plasmid into the csrA mutant, β-galactosidase activity was restored at all levels of the flagellar regulatory cascade. These results indicate CsrA affects yplA expression by activating the upstream regulatory genes WT csrA VC csrA/csrA+ B Figure 2 Complementation of GY448 with csrA restores the Yex phenotype and motility. GY123 (WT), GY448 (csrA), GY6536 (VC) and GY6535 (csrA/csrA+) strains were examined. A) The Yex phenotype was examined by determining phospholipase activity using a modified radial-diffusion assay. Individual colonies were streaked for isolation onto PLA indicator medium. Subsequently, phospholipase activity was detected as a bright white zone of precipitation emanating from isolated colonies. Representative images from three independent experiments. B) Phenotypic assays for motility were initiated by spotting a small portion of a colony at the center of plates containing TYE medium with 0.3% agar. Subsequently, motility was scored positive if the strains exhibited growth and migration emanating from the point of inoculation. Representative images from three independent experiments.
flhDC. Furthermore, these results reveal CsrA affects motility by acting at the top of the regulatory hierarchy that affects flagellar gene expression. The effect of CsrA on motility has been investigated in numerous bacterial species within the family of Enterobacteriaceae, which includes the Yersiniae. These studies indicate that regulation of motility by CsrA is not conserved. Mutation of csrA in E. coli, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and S. Typhimurium results in loss of flagella [18][19][20][21]. In E. coli, it was demonstrated that regulatory control by CsrA occurs by binding to and stabilizing the transcript of the master regulator, flhDC [19,22]. This appears to also be true in S. Typhimurium since mutation of csrA results in decreased levels of flhDC mRNA [21]. Yet S. Typhimurium differs because CsrA appears to additionally modulate motility by affecting expression of hilD, a master regulator of virulence genes including those required for motility, and STM1344, a negative regulator of motility [21,23]. CsrA in Y. pseudotuberculosis also directly regulates motility by binding to flhDC transcript [20]; yet control of motility by the Csr system in this bacterium also differs because CsrA additionally acts indirectly through activation of rovM, an activator of motility [20,24]. It is possible that the same levels of regulatory control occur in Y. enterocolitica since there is a rovM homologue present in the genome. In contrast, CsrA (RsmA) in Erwinia carotovora negatively regulates production of flagella by destabilizing the mRNA transcripts of flhDC and fliA [25]. Thus, even within the family Enterobacteriaceae, the role of CsrA in coordinating physiology is highly malleable. Further diversity in the effect of CsrA on motility is seen in Helicobacter pylori, where CsrA is also required for motility [26]; however, the defect is not due alterations in the amount of major flagellin proteins or assembled flagellar structures. Instead, CsrA appears to either act at a relatively late stage in the motility regulatory hierarchy or affect the ability to use flagella. The diversity seen in how CsrA affects motility exemplifies how the Csr regulon has been differentially shaped to fit the varied lifestyles of bacteria.
C) Mutation of csrA in Y. enterocolitica results in sensitivity to sodium chloride and other osmolytes.
Among the original observations that distinguished GY448 was that it grew on TYE medium but not on LB. The only difference between these two media is the inclusion of 90 mM sodium chloride in LB. To determine the concentration of sodium chloride that led to growth attenuation of the csrA mutant, wild-type and csrA mutant strains were cultivated on TYE agar with added sodium chloride at 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 100 and 200 mM ( Figure 4A). The csrA mutant was significantly inhibited in the ability to form colonies compared to wild-type when plated on media containing as little as 10 mM sodium chloride (p < 0.0001). Complementation of csrA completely restored growth at all concentrations of sodium chloride tested. The cloning vector had no effect on the phenotype of the csrA mutant. This growth attenuation was due to a bacteriostatic effect. Bacteria cultivated in TYE, collected and resuspended in a medium containing 300 mM sodium chloride were used to determine if the csrA mutant could be recovered on TYE agar. There was no significant difference in the ability of the csrA mutant and wild-type strains to recover and grow on TYE agar after 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, eight hours or 24 hours of sodium chloride exposure (data not shown). These results indicate that Y. enterocolitica with mutation in csrA is sensitive to even low concentrations sodium chloride and that this effect is bacteriostatic.
While the regulatory mechanisms of the Csr system have been well studied, the environmental signals that this complex system responds to remain somewhat obscure [6,8,9,27,28]. It is clear that quorum sensing and environmental pH are important [27,29,30]; however the influence of osmolarity has not been investigated. Therefore, we further probed whether the limitation of growth of the csrA mutant due to sodium chloride might be an effect caused by anionic identity, ionic strength or osmolarity. To distinguish the contribution of the anion, the effect of a monovalent salt, a divalent salt and a non-metabolizable carbohydrate were determined ( Figure 4B, C and D). It was observed in each case that the csrA mutant displayed growth attenuation and the severity of the effect was titratable. Treatment with potassium chloride and calcium chloride indicated that significantly fewer csrA mutant colonies formed at 20 mM (p < 0.0001) and 40 mM (p < 0.0001), respectively ( Figure 4B and C). At concentrations of 60 mM for both salts, the csrA mutant completely lost the ability to form colonies. Treatment with rhamnose did not eliminate colony formation of the csrA mutant at any concentration examined and significantly fewer colonies, relative to wild-type, formed at 100 mM (p < 0.0001) ( Figure 4D). Complementation of csrA on a low-copy plasmid completely restored the ability of the csrA mutant to form colonies in all cases. These results suggest that high osmolarity is, at least, one element of stress that limits growth.
It is interesting to consider how sensitivity to high ionic strength and high osmolarity may affect the study of csrA mutant bacteria. Studies in E. coli K-12 are routinely performed on LB medium, using a strain with a transposon insertion located at codon 51, which reportedly retains partial CsrA activity [31,32]. Development of an E. coli K-12 csrA deletion mutant has been attempted but was unsuccessful [32]. This report showed that csrA was essential for growth on LB medium by demonstrating activation of an inducible plasmid encoding csrA could restore growth of a csrA deletion mutant on LB. It was noted that various growth conditions were used while attempting to make the mutant; however it is unclear whether variation in osmolarity was among them. Additionally, S. Typhimurium and Y. pseudotuberculosis csrA mutants are attenuated for growth on LB medium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa rsmA mutants are restricted for growth when cultured in nutrient yeast broth (NYB) or nutrient broth (NB). All of these media include 90 mM sodium chloride [20,23,[33][34][35]. These reports of varying degrees of growth attenuation, in combination with the findings from this study, make it interesting to consider how CsrA affects bacterial responses to environmental osmolarity in different species. It is possible that CsrA affects both shared and species-specific signaling pathways that coordinate the bacterial response to osmotic cues. The effect of sodium chloride was not explored in the preceding reports; consequently, this study is the first to provide evidence that osmolarity of the growth medium may account for the previously observed phenotypes.
It is also noteworthy to consider how the osmolarity of media may impact experimental outcomes and analysis of the resulting data. For example, Y. pseudotuberculosis wild-type and csrA mutant strains were analyzed for expression of the virulence genes rovA and rovM when bacteria were cultured under two different growth conditions [20]. Bacteria were grown in either LB media that included the addition of 90 mM sodium chloride or in minimal media that contained 0.9 mM sodium chloride and 1 mM magnesium sulfate salts. Results of this study indicated that the Csr system affects expression of rovA and rovM in a media-dependent manner. While the media-dependent effect on expression of csrA itself was modest, the level of csrC expression was greatly reduced in minimal medium compared to LB medium. This suggests that medium-dependent regulation of virulence Growth of many bacterial species is critical to control when it poses a threat to human health or contributes to any of a wide spectrum of economic losses [36]. Food-borne human pathogens and food spoilage microorganisms are most commonly constrained by storing food at low temperatures to minimize health risks, medical costs, food spoilage and recall of produce. Low temperatures affect bacterial growth by compromising membrane functions and reducing DNA replication, transcription and translation [36,37]. Yet some psychrotrophic bacteria are capable of growing despite low temperatures, which allows them to survive the cooling processes used within the food chain. For this reason, it is important to understand how bacteria respond to temperature as an environmental signal. Yersiniae are of particular concern within food systems because they can grow at a wide range of temperatures, from as low as 5°C to as high as 42°C [38]. To examine whether CsrA affects growth of Y. enterocolitica at different temperatures important for food safety, wild-type and csrA mutant bacteria were grown to stationary phase and plated on TYE. Bacteria were incubated at 6°C, 26°C, 37°C and 42°C and bacterial growth was quantified ( Figure 5). When incubated at 26°C or 37°C, there was no significant difference between the number of colonies formed from cultures of wild-type and csrA mutant bacteria ( Figure 5B and C). However, at 6°C the csrA mutant was unable to grow ( Figure 5A). To determine whether the bacteria remained viable, these plates were subsequently transferred to the more favorable growth temperature of 37°C. This revealed a three log reduction in colony forming units (CFU) for the csrA mutant relative to wild-type (data not shown), indicating incubation at 6°C results in some lethality. The ability of bacteria to grow at 42°C was also examined. At this temperature, Y. enterocolitica does not form individual colonies. However, a threshold at which the collective population would form a lawn on the plate was observed. Using this as the criterion, there was a four log reduction in growth of the csrA mutant relative to wild-type ( Figure 5D). These combined results reveal csrA is essential for growth of Y. enterocolitica at both the low and high ends of the temperature spectrum at which it can grow. Within scientific literature, it is evident that the Csr system plays an important role in regulating responses of many bacterial species to temperature. A csrA mutant of S. Typhimurium was severely impaired for colony formation at 10°C, 15°C and 21°C, but not at 37°C [39]. Mutation of csrA in H. pylori had no effect on bacterial viability in response to heat shock; however, in a csrA mutant, transcription of genes involved in the heat shock response was altered [26]. Also, expression of csr genes themselves are differentially regulated over a broad range of temperatures in E. coli and Legionella pneumophila [40,41]. In combination with results of the current study, these reports suggest CsrA may be an important target for investigating temperature-dependent growth of bacterial species, including those that are of significant human health and economic importance. Considering the various of physiological changes that are modulated by CsrA, we speculated the csrA mutant may be altered in ways that affect susceptibility to antibiotics. Therefore, to investigate a broader range of functions that the loss of csrA may affect, we examined two different classes of antibiotics, a cell wall synthesis inhibitor, ampicillin, and a protein synthesis inhibitor, spectinomycin ( Figure 6 and Table 1). The sensitivity of wild-type and csrA mutant bacteria to these antibiotics was investigated using a disk diffusion assay ( Figure 6). The zone of growth inhibition around a disk containing 100 mg/ml ampicillin or 50 mg/ml spectinomycin was significantly larger for the csrA mutant relative to wild-type, indicating mutation of csrA increased susceptibility of Y. enterocolitica to these antibiotics. Another measure of sensitivity to antibiotics, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing, was also used ( Spectinomycin sensitivity * * * * Figure 6 Susceptibility of Y. enterocolitica strain JB580v and GY448 to ampicillin and spectinomycin. Strains GY123 (WT), GY448 (csrA), GY6536 (VC) and GY6535 (csrA/csrA+) were cultured and bacteria were spread onto TYE agar medium. A disk containing A) 100 mg/ml ampicillin or B) 50 mg/ml spectinomycin was placed in the center of the plate. After incubation at 26°C for 48 hours, the diameter of the zone of growth inhibition around the disk was measured. Results represent averages ± standard deviation from three independent experiments performed in duplicate. *The p-value compared to WT was < 0.0001. greater for wild-type than the csrA mutant, since the csrA mutant was inhibited by the lowest concentration of spectinomycin examined. These experimental outcomes indicate mutation of csrA in Y. enterocolitica results in increased susceptibility to two antibiotics with different mechanisms of action. It is not apparent from studies of CsrA in other bacterial species whether increased sensitivity to antibiotics has been observed in csrA mutant bacteria. This is the first report, to our knowledge, to indicate a role for CsrA in modulating bacterial responses to antibiotics. It is particularly noteworthy that CsrA controls physiological responses to antibiotics with different mechanisms of action. This finding, in combination with other results from this study, indicates CsrA is involved in controlling multiple regulatory cascades that coordinate bacterial responses to a wide variety of environmental cues.

Conclusions
This study compiled evidence that CsrA has the ability to function differently in closely related species of bacteria and showed it modulates a diverse array of physiological processes in Y. enterocolitica. These findings may reflect bacterial lifestyle characteristics. Y. enterocolitica has an unusual ability to grow at low temperatures that occur during its free-living stages in terrestrial environments which are interrupted by episodes of parasitic growth as a pathogen in mammalian hosts. Also based on the results of this study, it is interesting to consider how alterations in temperature, osmolarity and antibiotic concentrations may be useful tools on a practical level. It is possible that modification of growth conditions may aid development of csrA mutant strains and help circumvent issues related to growth attenuation of csrA mutants.

Characterization of transposon insertions sites and DNA sequencing
Chromosomal DNA was isolated from mutants that contained TnMod-RKm' insertions and was digested with EcoRI. The digested DNA was ligated overnight, and replicating plasmids were recovered by electroporation of E. coli S17-1 λpir followed by selection for kanamycin resistance [48]. Direct cloning of the transposon/ chromosome junction was facilitated by the presence of a conditional oriR6K in TnMod-RKm' that can function in specialized E. coli strains that carry a copy of pir [44]. Plasmids were isolated and analyzed by restriction digest to confirm the integrity of the transposon sequences. The sequence of the chromosomal DNA immediately adjacent to the transposon was then determined using primers that annealed near the ends of TnMod-RKm' (primer KM1, 5′ -CCCCGAGCTCTTAATTAA -3′, and primer KM2, 5′ -GAACACTTAACGGCTGAC -3′). DNA sequence was obtained using an ABI Prism® 3730 Genetic Analyzer and BigDye® Terminator v. 3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit with Gel Company Better Buffer (Applied Biosystems Inc., Foster City, CA).

Phospholipase assays
Phospholipase activity in a sample was determined by a modified radial-diffusion assay [53]. Individual colonies were streaked for isolation onto TYE plates containing 1% Tween 80 and 1 mM CaCl 2 (PLA medium) [1,4]. Plates were imaged after incubation at 26°C for 48 hr. Phospholipase activity was detected as a zone of precipitation emanating from isolated colonies. Plates were imaged on a BioSpectrum Multispectral Imaging System (UVP, Upland, CA).

Assays for motility
Phenotypic assays for motility were initiated by spotting a small portion of a colony at the center of fresh TYE plates containing 0.3% agar, as described previously [17]. After 48 hours incubation at 26°C, plates were imaged on a BioSpectrum Multispectral Imaging System (UVP, Upland, CA). Motility was scored as positive if the strains exhibited growth and migration emanating from the point of inoculation.
Measurements of β-galactosidase activity Y. enterocolitica harboring lacZYA ranscriptional fusions were cultured overnight at 26°C in TYE medium and subcultured to an OD 600 of 0.1 in 5 ml TYE. Cultures were incubated at 26°C for 6 hours. Bacterial cells were harvested then assayed for β-galactosidase activity as previously described [54].
Osmolyte and temperature sensitivity assays Y. enterocolitica was grown in TYE medium at 26°C overnight. Serial dilutions were plated in triplicate onto plates containing TYE medium. For osmolyte assays, plates with added NaCl, KCl, CaCl 2 or rhamnose at final concentrations of 10 mM, 20 mM, 40 mM, 60 mM, 100 mM and 200 mM were also used. Plates were incubated at 26°C for 48 hours except where noted for temperature sensitivity assays, in which case replicate plates were also incubated at 6°C for three weeks, 37°C for 24 hours and 42°C for 24 hours. Subsequently, colony forming units were quantified, with the exception of plates incubated at 42°C. At this temperature, bacteria were unable to form individual colonies at any dilution. Bacteria either exhibited no growth or growth in the form of a lawn. Therefore, bacterial growth was reported as the dilution at which a lawn was present (threshold lawn formation).
Antibiotic susceptibility assays Y. enterocolitica was grown in TYE medium at 26°C overnight. Sterile cotton swabs were used to distribute bacteria evenly across the surface of TYE agar medium. A disk containing either 100 mg/ml ampicillin or 50 mg/ml spectinomycin was placed in the center of the plate and incubated at 26°C for 48 hours. The diameter of the zone of clearing around the disk was measured in centimeters. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ampicillin and spectinomycin was also performed as previously described [55]. Briefly, indicated strains were grown to 0.5 McFarland standard and inoculated into TYE broth containing 1:2 dilutions of ampicillin or spectinomycin. MIC was determined based on visible growth after incubation for 36 hours at 26°C.

Statistical analysis
Data were analyzed using one-way between subjects analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test, except where indicated, to determine statistically significant p-values at p < 0.05.