Genome-wide Methylation Profiling Reveals Epigenetic Regulation of Virulence and Metabolism in the Phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae

Core Concepts

DNA methylation, particularly N6-methyladenine (6mA), plays a critical role in regulating virulence and metabolic pathways in the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae.

Abstract

The study profiled the DNA methylation landscape of three model Pseudomonas syringae pathovars using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. Key findings:

Genome-wide methylome analysis identified distinct patterns of N6-methyladenine (6mA), N4-methylcytosine (4mC), and N5-methylcytosine (5mC) modifications across the three strains.

Comparative analysis revealed that 25-40% of methylated genes were conserved across two or more strains, indicating functional conservation of DNA methylation in P. syringae.

Transcriptomic analysis of a 6mA-specific methyltransferase (HsdMSR) mutant in P. syringae pv. phaseolicola (Psph) showed that HsdMSR regulates virulence-related pathways, including the Type III secretion system and biofilm formation, as well as metabolic processes like ribosomal protein synthesis.

The regulatory effect of HsdMSR on gene expression was found to depend on the full methylation of both DNA strands within its recognition motif, as demonstrated for the hrpF gene involved in the Type III secretion system.

Overall, this work provides insights into the critical role of DNA methylation, particularly 6mA, in modulating virulence and metabolism in the important phytopathogen P. syringae.

Stats

The expression of T3SS effector genes hopAE1, hrpF, hrpA2, hrpK1, and hrpW1 was significantly higher in the ΔhsdMSR mutant compared to the wild-type Psph strain.
The expression of alginate biosynthesis genes alg8, algE, alg44, algF, and algD was significantly increased in the ΔhsdMSR mutant compared to the wild-type Psph strain.
The expression of ribosomal protein genes rplS, rpmD, rpsS, and rpsJ was significantly lower in the ΔhsdMSR mutant compared to the wild-type Psph strain.

Quotes

"HsdMSR inhibited the expression of T3 effectors under KB conditions, and the loss of this modification system enhanced the pathogenicity of the strain during plant infection."
"The regulatory effect of HsdMSR on transcription was dependent on both strands being fully 6mA methylated."

Key Insights Distilled From

DNA Methylome Regulates Virulence and Metabolism in Pseudomonas syringae

by Huang,J., Ch... at www.biorxiv.org 02-12-2024

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.12.579912v1

Deeper Inquiries

How do the specific DNA methylation patterns and regulatory mechanisms identified in P. syringae compare to those in other important plant pathogenic bacteria?

In P. syringae, the DNA methylation patterns identified, particularly the prevalence of N6-methyladenine (6mA) modifications, play a crucial role in regulating virulence and metabolism. These patterns are similar to those found in other plant pathogenic bacteria, such as Xanthomonas spp., where DNA methylation is also involved in gene regulation and adaptation to environmental changes. However, the specific motifs and targets of DNA methylation systems can vary between different bacterial species, highlighting the diversity of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in plant pathogens.

What are the potential implications of targeting DNA methylation systems as a strategy for controlling P. syringae infections in agricultural settings?

Targeting DNA methylation systems in P. syringae could offer a promising strategy for controlling infections in agricultural settings. By understanding the specific DNA methylation patterns and regulatory mechanisms that contribute to virulence and metabolism in P. syringae, researchers could potentially develop targeted interventions to disrupt these pathways. This could involve the design of inhibitors or modulators that specifically target the DNA methylation enzymes responsible for regulating key virulence factors or metabolic pathways in P. syringae. By disrupting these regulatory mechanisms, it may be possible to attenuate the pathogenicity of P. syringae and reduce its impact on agricultural crops.

What other epigenetic mechanisms, beyond DNA methylation, might be involved in regulating virulence and metabolism in P. syringae and other phytopathogens?

In addition to DNA methylation, other epigenetic mechanisms may also play a role in regulating virulence and metabolism in P. syringae and other phytopathogens. One such mechanism is histone modification, which involves the post-translational modification of histone proteins to alter chromatin structure and gene expression. Histone acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation have been implicated in the regulation of virulence factors and metabolic pathways in various bacterial species. Another epigenetic mechanism is non-coding RNA-mediated gene regulation, where small regulatory RNAs can modulate gene expression by targeting specific mRNAs for degradation or translational repression. These non-coding RNAs can influence virulence-related pathways and metabolic processes in phytopathogens. Overall, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between different epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation, is essential for unraveling the complex regulatory networks that govern pathogenicity in phytopathogenic bacteria like P. syringae.