Pseudomonas aeruginosa Thiol Peroxidase Protects against Hydrogen Peroxide Toxicity and Displays Atypical Patterns of Gene Regulation

Nawarat Somprasong, Thichakorn Jittawuttipoka, Jintana Duang-Nkern, Adisak Romsang, Pimchai Chaiyen, Herbert P. Schweizer, Paiboon Vattanaviboon, Skorn Mongkolsuk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 thiol peroxidase homolog (Tpx) belongs to a family of enzymes implicated in the removal of toxic peroxides. We have shown the expression of tpx to be highly inducible with redox cycling/superoxide generators and diamide and weakly inducible with organic hydroperoxides and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The PAO1 tpx pattern is unlike the patterns for other peroxide-scavenging genes in P. aeruginosa. Analysis of the tpx promoter reveals the presence of a putative IscR binding site located near the promoter. The tpx expression profiles in PAO1 and the iscR mutant, together with results from gel mobility shift assays showing that purified IscR specifically binds the tpx promoter, support the role of IscR as a transcriptional repressor of tpx that also regulates the oxidant-inducible expression of the gene. ecombinant Tpx has been purified and biochemically characterized. The enzyme catalyzes thioredoxin-dependent peroxidation and can utilize organic hydroperoxides and H2O2 as substrates. The Δtpx mutant demonstrates differential sensitivity to H2O2 only at moderate concentrations (0.5 mM) and not at high (20 mM) concentrations, suggesting a novel protective role of tpx against H2O2 in P. aeruginosa. Altogether, P. aeruginosa tpx is a novel member of the IscR regulon and plays a primary role in protecting the bacteria from submillimolar concentrations of H2O2.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3904-3912
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Bacteriology
Volume194
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

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