Exploring the role of VpsT in Vibrio cholerae lifestyle switching

Biofilm formation is an important stage of the Vibrio cholerae lifecycle. The transcription factor VpsT is a master regulator of biofilm formation that activates the expression of biofilm matrix components in response to elevated intracellular c-di-GMP. VpsT has also been shown to repress the expression of rpoSand genes involved in motility. This suggests VpsT may have a wider role in the transition from a motile to sessile lifestyle. To better understand the role of VpsT in V. cholerae lifestyle switching ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA sequencing) was used to map VpsT binding across the genome. Our data reveals many additional targets, defines the DNA binding motif for VpsT, and expands the VpsT regulon to include genes involved in c-di-GMP metabolism, motility and virulence. The VpsT interaction at target promoters is c-di-GMP dependent and can repress or activate gene expression.