Diversity and functional analysis of LuxR-type transcriptional regulators of cyclic lipopeptide biosynthesis in Pseudomonas fluorescens

Cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) are produced by many Pseudomonas species and have several biological functions, including a role in surface motility, biofilm formation, virulence, and antimicrobial activity. This study focused on the diversity and role of LuxR-type transcriptional regulators in CLP biosynthesis in Pseudomonas species and, specifically, viscosin production by Pseudomonas fluorescens strain SBW25. Phylogenetic analyses showed that CLP biosynthesis genes in Pseudomonas strains are flanked by LuxR-type regulators that contain a DNA-binding helix-turn-helix domain but lack N-acylhomoserine lactone-binding or response regulator domains. For SBW25, site-directed mutagenesis of the genes coding for either of the two identified LuxR-type regulators, designated ViscAR and ViscBCR, strongly reduced transcript levels of the viscABC biosynthesis genes and resulted in a loss of viscosin production. Expression analyses further showed that a mutation in either viscAR or viscBCR did not substantially (change o