AtoS–AtoC two-component system acts directly on the
atoDAEB operon transcription to regulate the biosynthesis of short-chain poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate. This study sought to investigate
the effect of histamine and compound 48/80 on the regulation of AtoS–AtoC two-component system in
Escherichia coli K-12 MA255 (
speC
−,
speB
−) and the isogenic
E. coli strains BW25113 (
atoSC
+) and BW28878 (Δ
atoSC) transformed with plasmids carrying related genes. Histamine or compound 48/80 induced or tended to reduce
atoC transcription, respectively, while neither compound showed any effect on
atoDAEB operon transcription. Moreover, histamine down-regulated poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate biosynthesis, whereas compound 48/80
up-regulated its biosynthesis, maximal induction being obtained in the presence of multiple copies of AtoS–AtoC. Interestingly,
co-administration of histamine counteracted this inductive effect of compound 48/80. The reported data provide the first evidence
for a differential modulator role of histamine and compound 48/80 on the AtoS–AtoC two-component system signaling in potentially
pathogenic bacteria, leading to a new perspective on their symbiotic behavior.
Keywords: AtoS–AtoC – Compound 48/80 – Escherichia coli – Histamine – Poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate – Two-component system
Authors’ address: Ekaterini Tiligada, PhD (Wales), Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Medical
School, University of Athens, M. Asias 75, GR-115 27 Athens, Greece