Shewanella oneidensis Hfq promotes exponential phase growth, stationary phase culture density, and cell survival

Background: Hfq is an RNA chaperone protein that has been broadly implicated in sRNA function in bacteria. Here we describe the construction and characterization of a null allele of the gene that encodes the RNA chaperone Hfq in Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1, a dissimilatory metal reducing bacterium. Results: Loss of hfq in S. oneidensis results in a variety of mutant phenotypes, all of which are fully complemented by addition of a plasmid-borne copy of the wild type hfq gene. Aerobic cultures of the hfq Delta mutant grow more slowly through exponential phase than wild type cultures, and hfq Delta cultures reach a terminal cell density in stationary phase that is similar to 2/ 3 of that observed in wild type cultures. We have observed a similar growth phenotype when the hfq Delta mutant is cultured under anaerobic conditions with fumarate as the terminal electron acceptor, and we have found that the hfq Delta mutant is defective in Cr(VI) reduction. Finally, the hfq Delta mutant exhibits a striking loss of colony forming units in extended stationary phase and is highly sensitive to oxidative stress induced by H2O2 or methyl viologen (paraquat). Conclusions: The hfq mutant in S. oneidensis exhibits pleiotropic phenotypes, including a defect in metal reduction. Our results also suggest that hfq mutant phenotypes in S. oneidensis may be at least partially due to increased sensitivity to oxidative stress.