Chemoreceptor family in plant-associated bacteria responds preferentially to the plant signal molecule glycerol 3-phosphate

Velando, Félix, Xing, Jiawei, Genova, Roberta, Cerna-Vargas, Jean Paul, Vázquez-Santiago, Raquel, Matilla, Miguel A, Zhulin, Igor B, Krell, Tino (August 2025) Chemoreceptor family in plant-associated bacteria responds preferentially to the plant signal molecule glycerol 3-phosphate. Genome Biology, 26 (1). p. 260. ISSN 1474-760X

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chemotaxis to plant compounds is frequently the initial step for the colonization of plants by bacteria. Plant pathogens and plant-associated bacteria contain approximately twice as many chemoreceptors as the bacterial average does, indicating that chemotaxis is particularly important for bacteria-plant interactions. However, information on the corresponding chemoreceptors and their chemoeffectors is limited. RESULTS: We identify the chemoreceptor PacP from the phytopathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum, which exclusively recognizes phosphorylated C3 compounds at its sCache ligand binding domain, mediating chemoattraction. Using a motif of PacP amino acid residues involved in ligand binding, we identify a chemoreceptor family, termed sCache_PC3, that is specific for phosphorylated C3 compounds. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies reveal that family members preferentially bind glycerol 3-phosphate, a key plant signaling molecule. Family members recognize glycerol 2-phosphate and glycolysis intermediates glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, and 3-phosphoglycerate. This study presents the first evidence of chemoreceptors that bind phosphorylated compounds. We show that the sCache_PC3 family has evolved from an ancestral sCache domain that responds primarily to Krebs cycle intermediates. Members of the sCache_PC3 family are predominantly found in plant-associated bacteria, including many important phytopathogens belonging to the genera Brenneria, Dickeya, Musicola, Pectobacterium, and Herbaspirillum. Consistently, glycerol 3-phosphate is a signal molecule that is excreted by plants in response to stress and infection. CONCLUSIONS: Chemotaxis toward glycerol 3-phosphate may be a means for bacteria to localize stressed plants and move to infection sites. This study lays the groundwork for investigating the role of chemotaxis to phosphorylated C3 compounds in plant-bacteria interactions and virulence.

Item Type:	Paper
Subjects:	organism description > plant
CSHL Authors:	Xing, Jiawei
Communities:	CSHL labs > Siepel lab
SWORD Depositor:	CSHL Elements
Depositing User:	CSHL Elements
Date:	29 August 2025
Date Deposited:	02 Sep 2025 14:45
Last Modified:	02 Sep 2025 14:45
PMCID:	PMC12395807
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/41951

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