DOI: 10.1128/jb.184.16.4400-4408.2002. icaR Encodes a Transcriptional Repressor Involved in Environmental Regulation of ica Operon Expression and Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis

icaR Encodes a Transcriptional Repressor Involved in Environmental Regulation of ica Operon Expression and Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis

10.1128/jb.184.16.4400-4408.2002

Crossref journal-article

American Society for Microbiology

Journal of Bacteriology (235)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Biofilm formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis is dependent upon the ica operon-encoded polysaccharide intercellular adhesin, which is subject to phase-variable and environmental regulation. The icaR gene, located adjacent to the ica operon, appears to be a member of the tetR family of transcriptional regulators. In the reference strain RP62A, reversible inactivation of the ica operon by IS 256 accounts for 25 to 33% of phase variants. In this study, icaA and icaR regulation were compared in RP62A and a biofilm-forming clinical isolate, CSF41498, in which IS 256 is absent. Predictably, ica operon expression was detected only in wild-type CSF41498 and RP62A but not in non-IS 256 -generated phase variants. In contrast, the icaR gene was not expressed in RP62A phase variants but was expressed in CSF41498 variants. An icaR ::Em r insertion mutation in CSF41498 resulted in an at least a 5.8-fold increase in ica operon expression but did not significantly alter regulation of the icaR gene itself. Activation of ica operon transcription by ethanol in CSF41498 was icaR dependent. In contrast, a small but significant induction of ica by NaCl and glucose (NaCl-glucose) was observed in the icaR ::Em r mutant. In addition, transcription of the icaR gene itself was not significantly affected by NaCl-glucose but was repressed by ethanol. Expression of the ica operon was induced by ethanol or NaCl-glucose in phase variants of CSF41498 ( icaR + ) but not in RP62A variants ( icaR deficient). These data indicate that icaR encodes a repressor of ica operon transcription required for ethanol but not NaCl-glucose activation of ica operon expression and biofilm formation.

Bibliography

Conlon, K. M., Humphreys, H., & OâGara, J. P. (2002). icaR Encodes a Transcriptional Repressor Involved in Environmental Regulation of ica Operon Expression and Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis. Journal of Bacteriology, 184(16), 4400â4408.

Authors 3

Kevin M. Conlon (first)
Hilary Humphreys (additional)
James P. O'Gara (additional)

References 39 Referenced 264

Dates

Type	When
Created	22 years, 11 months ago (Oct. 1, 2002, 3:36 p.m.)
Deposited	4 years, 1 month ago (July 29, 2021, 2:04 p.m.)
Indexed	1 week, 4 days ago (Aug. 26, 2025, 2:25 a.m.)
Issued	23 years ago (Aug. 15, 2002)
Published	23 years ago (Aug. 15, 2002)
Published Print	23 years ago (Aug. 15, 2002)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Conlon_2002, title={icaR Encodes a Transcriptional Repressor Involved in Environmental Regulation of ica Operon Expression and Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis}, volume={184}, ISSN={1098-5530}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jb.184.16.4400-4408.2002}, DOI={10.1128/jb.184.16.4400-4408.2002}, number={16}, journal={Journal of Bacteriology}, publisher={American Society for Microbiology}, author={Conlon, Kevin M. and Humphreys, Hilary and O’Gara, James P.}, year={2002}, month=aug, pages={4400–4408} }

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        "name": "publication_history",
        "label": "Publication History"
      }
    },
    {
      "value": "2020-12-20",
      "order": 2,
      "name": "published",
      "label": "Published",
      "group": {
        "name": "publication_history",
        "label": "Publication History"
      }
    }
  ]
}