Title
Transcriptome analysis of sorbic acid-stressed Bacillus subtilis reveals a nutrient limitation response and indicates plasma membrane remodeling
Author
ter Beek, A.
Keijser, B.J.F.
Boorsma, A.
Zakrzewska, A.
Orij, R.
Smits, G.J.
Brul, S.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2008
Abstract
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.
Subject
Biology
Biotechnology
cerulenin
sorbic acid
tricarboxylic acid
acidity
article
Bacillus subtilis
bacterial gene
bacterial genome
bacterial growth
bkdr regulated gene
ccpa gene
cell membrane
codY gene
fag bene
fur gene
genetic transcription
growth inhibition
nonhuman
nutrient limitation
priority journal
regulon
sigh mediated gene
sigl mediated gene
sporogenesis
transcriptomics
upregulation
Anions
Bacillus subtilis
Bacterial Proteins
Cell Membrane
Cerulenin
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
Regulon
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sorbic Acid
Bacillus subtilis
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:72c81467-946b-4af0-bee0-45bfb84afd67
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.01516-07
TNO identifier
240692
ISSN
0021-9193
Source
Journal of Bacteriology, 190 (5), 1751-1761
Document type
article