Transcriptome analysis of sorbic acid-stressed Bacillus subtilis reveals a nutrient limitation response and indicates plasma membrane remodeling
article
The weak organic acid sorbic acid is a commonly used food preservative, as it inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds. We have used genome-wide transcriptional profiling of Bacillus subtilis cells during mild sorbic acid stress to reveal the growth-inhibitory activity of this preservative and to identify potential resistance mechanisms. Our analysis demonstrated that sorbic acid-stressed cells induce responses normally seen upon nutrient limitation. This is indicated by the strong derepression of the CcpA, CodY, and Fur regulon and the induction of tricarboxylic acid cycle genes, SigL- and SigH-mediated genes, and the stringent response. Intriguingly, these conditions did not lead to the activation of sporulation, competence, or the general stress response. The fatty acid biosynthesis (fab) genes and BkdR-regulated genes are upregulated, which may indicate plasma membrane remodeling. This was further supported by the reduced sensitivity toward the fab inhibitor cerulenin upon sorbic acid stress. We are the first to present a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional response of B. subtilis to sorbic acid stress. Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Topics
Biotechnologyceruleninsorbic acidtricarboxylic acidacidityarticleBacillus subtilisbacterial genebacterial genomebacterial growthbkdr regulated geneccpa genecell membranecodY genefag benefur genegenetic transcriptiongrowth inhibitionnonhumannutrient limitationpriority journalregulonsigh mediated genesigl mediated genesporogenesistranscriptomicsupregulationAnionsBacillus subtilisBacterial ProteinsCell MembraneCeruleninGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, BacterialHydrogen-Ion ConcentrationOligonucleotide Array Sequence AnalysisRegulonReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionSorbic AcidBacillus subtilis
TNO Identifier
240692
ISSN
00219193
Source
Journal of Bacteriology, 190(5), pp. 1751-1761.
Pages
1751-1761
Files
To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Repository.