Temperature and pyoverdine-mediated iron acquisition control surface motility of Pseudomonas putida

• Published in: Environmental microbiology Vol. 9; no. 7; pp. 1842 - 1850
• Main Authors: Matilla, Miguel A, Ramos, Juan L, Duque, Estrella, de Dios Alché, Juan, Espinosa-Urgel, Manuel, Ramos-González, María Isabel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-07-2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Flagella - physiology; Genes, Bacterial - genetics; Genetic Complementation Test; Iron - metabolism; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Movement - physiology; Mutation - genetics; Oligonucleotides; Oligopeptides - genetics; Oligopeptides - metabolism; Pseudomonas putida; Pseudomonas putida - genetics; Pseudomonas putida - metabolism; Pseudomonas putida - physiology; Pseudomonas putida - ultrastructure; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Siderophores - metabolism; Temperature
• ISSN: 1462-2912; 1462-2920
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2007.01286.x

Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is unable to swarm at its common temperature of growth in the laboratory (30°C) but exhibits surface motility similar to swarming patterns in other Pseudomonas between 18°C and 28°C. These motile cells show differentiation, consisting on elongation and the presence of surface appendages. Analysis of a collection of mutants to define the molecular determinants of this type of surface movement in KT2440 shows that while type IV pili and lipopolysaccharide O-antigen are requisites flagella are not. Although surface motility of flagellar mutants was macroscopically undistinguishable from that of the wild type, microscopy analysis revealed that these mutants move using a distinct mechanism to that of the wild-type strain. Mutants either in the siderophore pyoverdine (ppsD) or in the FpvA siderophore receptor were also unable to spread on surfaces. Motility in the ppsD strain was totally restored with pyoverdine and partially with the wild-type ppsD allele. Phenotype of the fpvA strain was not complemented by this siderophore. We discuss that iron influences surface motility and that it can be an environmental cue for swarming-like movement in P. putida. This study constitutes the first report assigning an important role to pyoverdine iron acquisition in en masse bacterial surface movement.