Characterizing the hexose-6-phosphate transport system of Vibrio cholerae, a utilization system for carbon and phosphate sources.

The facultative human pathogen Vibrio cholerae transits between the gastrointestinal tract of its host and aquatic reservoirs. V. cholerae adapts to different situations by the timely coordinated expression of genes during its life cycle. We recently identified a subclass of genes that are induced at late stages of infection. Initial characterization demonstrated that some of these genes facilitate the transition of V. cholerae from host to environmental conditions. Among these genes are uptake systems lacking detailed characterization or correct annotation. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the function of the VCA0682-to-VCA0687 gene cluster, which was previously identified as in vivo induced. The results presented here demonstrate that the operon encompassing open reading frames VCA0685 to VCA0687 encodes an ABC transport system for hexose-6-phosphates with Km values ranging from 0.275 to 1.273 μM for glucose-6P and fructose-6P, respectively. Expression of the operon is induced by the presence of hexose-6P controlled by the transcriptional activator VCA0682, representing a UhpA homolog. Finally, we provide evidence that the operon is essential for the utilization of hexose-6P as a C and P source. Thereby, a physiological role can be assigned to hexose-6P uptake, which correlates with increased fitness of V. cholerae after a transition from the host into phosphate-limiting environments.