Metabolic Contributions of Housekeeping DAHP Synthases to the Nutrient Flexibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Faculty Mentor
Benjamin Lundgren
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, including pneumonia and sepsis. Its ability to persist and cause disease is linked to the production of various virulence factors, many of which are synthesized from the common precursor 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP). DAHP is formed by DAHP synthases, which initiate the shikimate pathway for aromatic amino acid, vitamin, and toxin biosynthesis. The P. aeruginosa PAO1 genome encodes four DAHP synthases—PA1750, PA2943, PhzC1, and PhzC2—though their precise roles remain largely uncharacterized.
This study examined the physiological effects of deleting two of these enzymes, PA1750 and PA2943, individually and in combination. The three resulting mutants—ΔPA1750, ΔPA2943, and the double mutant ΔPA1750 ΔPA2943—were grown in synthetic MOPS minimal medium lacking aromatic supplements and further modified to create iron-limited and phosphate-limited environments. In these conditions, the double mutant displayed a prolonged lag phase of approximately 4.5 hours, compared to 2.5 hours for the wild type. However, both single mutants exhibited growth kinetics similar to wild-type cells, with no statistically significant differences in final cell density.
Interestingly, when grown in nutrient-rich King B medium containing aromatic compounds, the double mutant’s growth was restored to wild-type levels. These findings suggest that while PA1750 and PA2943 are not essential for P. aeruginosa growth, they are required for optimal adaptation to environments lacking aromatic metabolites. This study contributes to our understanding of the physiological relevance of DAHP synthases and their role in metabolic resilience under nutrient-limited conditions.
Recommended Citation
Alzuabidi, Farooq S. and Lundgren, Benjamin, "Metabolic Contributions of Housekeeping DAHP Synthases to the Nutrient Flexibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 27.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/ps_2025/p2_2025/27
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Metabolic Contributions of Housekeeping DAHP Synthases to the Nutrient Flexibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PUB NCR
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, including pneumonia and sepsis. Its ability to persist and cause disease is linked to the production of various virulence factors, many of which are synthesized from the common precursor 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP). DAHP is formed by DAHP synthases, which initiate the shikimate pathway for aromatic amino acid, vitamin, and toxin biosynthesis. The P. aeruginosa PAO1 genome encodes four DAHP synthases—PA1750, PA2943, PhzC1, and PhzC2—though their precise roles remain largely uncharacterized.
This study examined the physiological effects of deleting two of these enzymes, PA1750 and PA2943, individually and in combination. The three resulting mutants—ΔPA1750, ΔPA2943, and the double mutant ΔPA1750 ΔPA2943—were grown in synthetic MOPS minimal medium lacking aromatic supplements and further modified to create iron-limited and phosphate-limited environments. In these conditions, the double mutant displayed a prolonged lag phase of approximately 4.5 hours, compared to 2.5 hours for the wild type. However, both single mutants exhibited growth kinetics similar to wild-type cells, with no statistically significant differences in final cell density.
Interestingly, when grown in nutrient-rich King B medium containing aromatic compounds, the double mutant’s growth was restored to wild-type levels. These findings suggest that while PA1750 and PA2943 are not essential for P. aeruginosa growth, they are required for optimal adaptation to environments lacking aromatic metabolites. This study contributes to our understanding of the physiological relevance of DAHP synthases and their role in metabolic resilience under nutrient-limited conditions.
