A Conserved Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Is Regulated by Quorum Sensing in a Shipworm Symbiont

Bacteria play important roles as symbionts in animals ranging from invertebrates to humans. Despite this recognized importance, much is still unknown about the molecular details of how these relationships are formed and maintained. Bacterial symbionts often provide critical functions for their hosts. For example, wood-boring bivalves called shipworms rely on cellulolytic endosymbionts for wood digestion. However, how the relationship between shipworms and their bacterial symbionts is formed and maintained remains unknown. Quorum sensing (QS) often plays an important role in regulating symbiotic relationships. We identified and characterized a QS system found in Teredinibacter sp. strain 2052S, a gill isolate of the wood-boring shipworm Bactronophorus cf. thoracites. We determined that 2052S produces the signal N-decanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C-10-HSL) and that this signal controls the activation of a biosynthetic gene cluster colocated in the symbiont genome that is conserved among all symbiotic Teredinibacter isolates. We subsequently identified extracellular metabolites associated with the QS regulon, including ones linked to the conserved biosynthetic gene cluster, using mass spectrometry-based molecular networking. Our results demonstrate that QS plays an important role in regulating secondary metabolism in this shipworm symbiont. This information provides a step toward deciphering the molecular details of the relationship between these symbionts and their hosts. Furthermore, because shipworm symbionts harbor vast yet underexplored biosynthetic potential, understanding how their secondary metabolism is regulated may aid future drug discovery efforts using these organisms. IMPORTANCE Bacteria play important roles as symbionts in animals ranging from invertebrates to humans. Despite this recognized importance, much is still unknown about the molecular details of how these relationships are formed and maintained. One of the proposed roles of shipworm symbionts is the production of bioactive secondary metabolites due to the immense biosynthetic potential found in shipworm symbiont genomes. Here, we report that a shipworm symbiont uses quorum sensing to coordinate activation of its extracellular secondary metabolism, including the transcriptional activation of a biosynthetic gene cluster that is conserved among many shipworm symbionts. This work is a first step toward linking quorum sensing, secondary metabolism, and symbiosis in wood-boring shipworms.

Automated summary

Bacteria play essential roles as symbionts in animals, but little is known about the molecular details of these relationships. The formation and maintenance of the relationship between shipworms and their bacterial symbionts remain unknown. This study identified a quorum sensing system in a shipworm symbiont and revealed its importance in regulating secondary metabolism. Understanding the molecular details of symbiotic relationships is crucial and may aid in drug discovery using these organisms.