RNA-seq of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa grown under sublethal doses of UVA or in the dark up to early logarithmic phase

Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation is the major fraction of UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface; its harmful effects on microorganisms obey mainly to oxidative damage, with the consequent loss of bacterial viability. In this work, the global transcriptional response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to UVA was analyzed. P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen, also present in terrestrial and aquatic environments; its high ubiquity and versatily obeys to a complex regulatory network wich allows it to adapt to stressful conditions. To conduct this study, the PAO1 strain was grown in under sublethal doses of UVA or in the dark up to early logarithmic phase, and total RNA was obtained and sequenced by the RNA-seq technique. The analysis of the results, taking as significant a factor change ≥ 2 between irradiated and control samples, indicated that a total of 298 genes were regulated by UVA, representing 5.36 % of the total P. aeruginosa genome; half of these were induced and the other half were repressed. Data obtained by the transcriptomic study were validated by using RT qPCR of selected genes. The results presented in this study suggest that one of the main UVA targets are proteins carrying [Fe-S] clusters since several genes involved in the processes of synthesis, trafficking and assembly of these structures were upregulated. The management of intracellular iron levels also seems to be a robust response to this stress factor. The strong induction of genes involved in denitrification led us to suggest that this pathway and/or reactive nitrogen species such as nitric oxide could have a role in the response to this radiation. DNA also demonstrated to be an important UVA target as observed by the induction of SOS, prohage and pyocins genes. On the other hand, the down-regulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of PQS, a quorum sensing signal of P. aeruginosa with several functions, could be beneficial given its role as endogenous photosensitizer. The study of the effects of UVA radiation is interesting due to its ecological consequences in natural environments. In addition, taking into account the high sensitivity of P.aeruginosa to UVA radiation and the issues with using traditional antibacterial products by the intrinsec or acquired resistance of P. aeruginosa to these agents, specially in the case of biofilms, UVA studies could have important implications for human health, industrial facilities and environmental management.