The RpoN2‐PilRX regulatory system governs type IV pilus gene transcription and is required for bacterial motility and virulence in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

The type IV pilus (T4P), a special class of bacterial surface filament, plays crucial roles in surface adhesion, motility, biofilm formation, and virulence in pathogenic bacteria. However, the regulatory mechanism of T4P and its relationship to bacterial virulence are still little understood in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal pathogen of bacterial blight of rice. Our previous studies showed that the σ(54) factor RpoN2 regulated bacterial virulence on rice in a flagellum‐independent manner in Xoo. In this study, both yeast two‐hybrid and pull‐down assays revealed that RpoN2 directly and specifically interacted with PilRX, a homolog of the response regulator PilR of the two‐component system PilS‐PilR in the pilus gene cluster. Genomic sequence and reverse transcription PCR (RT‐PCR) analysis showed 13 regulons containing 25 genes encoding T4P structural components and putative regulators. A consensus RpoN2‐binding sequence GGN(10)GC was identified in the promoter sequences of most T4P gene transcriptional units. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed the direct binding of RpoN2 to the promoter of the major pilin gene pilAX, the inner membrane platform protein gene pilCX, and pilRX. Promoter activity and quantitative RT‐PCR assays demonstrated direct and indirect transcriptional regulation by RpoN2 of the T4P genes. In addition, individual deletions of pilAX, pilCX, and pilRX resulted in significantly reduced twitching and swimming motility, biofilm formation, and virulence in rice. Taken together, the findings from the current study suggest that the RpoN2‐PilRX regulatory system controls bacterial motility and virulence by regulating T4P gene transcription in Xoo.