Impact of the histidine‐containing phosphocarrier protein hpr on carbon metabolism and virulence in staphylococcus aureus

Linda Pätzold, Anne Christine Brausch, Evelyn Laura Bielefeld, Lisa Zimmer, Greg A. Somerville, Markus Bischoff, Rosmarie Gaupp

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is a common mechanism pathogenic bacteria use to link central metabolism with virulence factor synthesis. In gram‐positive bacteria, catabolite control protein A (CcpA) and the histidine‐containing phosphocarrier protein HPr (encoded by ptsH) are the predominant mediators of CCR. In addition to modulating CcpA activity, HPr is essential for glucose import via the phosphotransferase system. While the regulatory functions of CcpA in Staphylococcus aureus are largely known, little is known about the function of HPr in CCR and infectivity. To address this knowledge gap, ptsH mutants were created in S. aureus that either lack the open reading frame or harbor a ptsH variant carrying a thymidine to guanosine mutation at position 136, and the effects of these mutations on growth and metabolism were assessed. Inactivation of ptsH altered bacterial physiology and decreased the ability of S. aureus to form a biofilm and cause infections in mice. These data demonstrate that HPr affects central metabolism and virulence in S. aureus independent of its influence on CcpA regulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number466
Pages (from-to)1-16
Number of pages16
JournalMicroorganisms
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2021

Keywords

  • Carbon catabolite repression
  • CcpA
  • HPr
  • Metabolism
  • Physiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Microbiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of the histidine‐containing phosphocarrier protein hpr on carbon metabolism and virulence in staphylococcus aureus'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this