Detection of hssS, hssR, hrtA, and hrtB genes and their expression by hemin in Staphylococcus epidermidis

Juarez-Verdayes, Marco A.; Gonzalez-Uribe, Pilar M.; Peralta, Humberto; Rodriguez-Martinez, Sandra; Jan-Roblero, Janet; Escamilla-Hernandez, Rosalba; Cancino-Diaz, Mario E.; Cancino-Diaz, Juan C.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus employs a heme sensing system (HssR-HssS) and a heme-regulated transporter efflux pump (HrtA-HrtB) to avoid the accumulation of heme, which is toxic at high concentrations. The detoxification system to heme has not been studied in Staphylococcus epidermidis. In this work, the hssR, hssS, hrtA, and hrtB genes were detected, and their expression when stimulated by hemin in S. epidermidis was explored. In silico genomic analyses exhibited that the genetic organization of the hssRS and hrtAB genes was identical in 11 Staphylococcus species analyzed, including S. epidermidis. Slight variations were found in their syntenic regions. The predicted secondary structure of HrtAB proteins from these species was almost identical to these of S. aureus. Additionally, hrtAB promoter sequences of some species were analyzed, and 1 or 2 different nucleotide substitutions were found in the downstream motif. Concentrations of hemin above 5 mu mol/L inhibited S. epidermidis growth. However, S. epidermidis that was pre-exposed to a subinhibitory hemin concentration (1 mu mol/L) was able to grow when inoculated into medium containing above 5 mu mol/L hemin. The expression levels of hrtA and hrtB genes in S. epidermidis exhibited a significant difference when they were stimulated with hemin. Our results suggest that the HrtAB could be involved in hemin detoxification of S. epidermidis.

Más información

Título según WOS: ID WOS:000308368400005 Not found in local WOS DB
Título de la Revista: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
Volumen: 58
Número: 9
Editorial: CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS
Fecha de publicación: 2012
Página de inicio: 1063
Página final: 1072
DOI:

10.1139/W2012-086

Notas: ISI