AUTHOR=Fang Nan , Qu Shi , Yang Huiying , Fang Haihong , Liu Lei , Zhang Yiquan , Wang Li , Han Yanping , Zhou Dongsheng , Yang Ruifu 

TITLE=HmsB enhances biofilm formation in Yersinia pestis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00685

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2014.00685

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The <italic>hmsHFRS</italic> operon is responsible for biosynthesis and translocation of biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide. <italic>Yersinia pestis</italic> expresses the two sole diguanylate cyclases HmsT and HmsD and the sole phosphodiesterase HmsP, which are specific for biosynthesis and degradation, respectively, of 3′,5′-cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), a second messenger promoting exopolysaccharide production. In this work, the phenotypic assays indicates that <italic>Y. pestis</italic> sRNA HmsB enhances the production of c-di-GMP, exopolysaccharide, and biofilm. Further gene regulation experiments disclose that HmsB stimulates the expression of <italic>hmsB</italic>, <italic>hmsCDE</italic>, <italic>hmsT</italic>, and <italic>hmsHFRS</italic> but represses that of <italic>hmsP</italic>. HmsB most likely acts as a major activator of biofilm formation in <italic>Y. pestis</italic>. This is the first report of regulation of <italic>Yersinia</italic> biofilm formation by a sRNA. Data presented here will promote us to gain a deeper understanding of the complex regulatory circuits controlling <italic>Yersinia</italic> biofilm formation.</p>