Precise timing of transcription by c-di-GMP coordinates cell cycle and morphogenesis in Caulobacter.

Andreas Kaczmarczyk, Antje M Hempel, Christoph von Arx, Raphael Böhm, Badri N Dubey, Jutta Nesper, Tilman Schirmer, Sebastian Hiller, Urs Jenal

Nature communications 2020 Feb 10

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Bacteria adapt their growth rate to their metabolic status and environmental conditions by modulating the length of their G1 period. Here we demonstrate that a gradual increase in the concentration of the second messenger c-di-GMP determines precise gene expression during G1/S transition in Caulobacter crescentus. We show that c-di-GMP stimulates the kinase ShkA by binding to its central pseudo-receiver domain, activates the TacA transcription factor, and initiates a G1/S-specific transcription program leading to cell morphogenesis and S-phase entry. Activation of the ShkA-dependent genetic program causes c-di-GMP to reach peak levels, which triggers S-phase entry and promotes proteolysis of ShkA and TacA. Thus, a gradual increase of c-di-GMP results in precise control of ShkA-TacA activity, enabling G1/S-specific gene expression that coordinates cell cycle and morphogenesis.

Citation

Andreas Kaczmarczyk, Antje M Hempel, Christoph von Arx, Raphael Böhm, Badri N Dubey, Jutta Nesper, Tilman Schirmer, Sebastian Hiller, Urs Jenal. Precise timing of transcription by c-di-GMP coordinates cell cycle and morphogenesis in Caulobacter. Nature communications. 2020 Feb 10;11(1):816