Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid Secretion Protects Bacillus subtilis from Zinc and Copper Intoxication
ABSTRACT Zinc and copper are essential micronutrients that serve as a cofactors for numerous enzymes. However, when present at elevated concentrations, zinc and copper are highly toxic to bacteria. To combat the effects of zinc and copper excess, bacteria have evolved a wide array of defense mechani...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01329-21 |
| _version_ | 1817979280034889728 |
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| author | Reina Deol Ashweetha Louis Harper Lee Glazer Warren Hosseinion Anna Bagley Pete Chandrangsu |
| author_facet | Reina Deol Ashweetha Louis Harper Lee Glazer Warren Hosseinion Anna Bagley Pete Chandrangsu |
| author_sort | Reina Deol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Zinc and copper are essential micronutrients that serve as a cofactors for numerous enzymes. However, when present at elevated concentrations, zinc and copper are highly toxic to bacteria. To combat the effects of zinc and copper excess, bacteria have evolved a wide array of defense mechanisms. Here, we show that the Gram-positive soil bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, produces the extracellular polymeric substance, poly-gamma-glutamate (γ-PGA) as a protective mechanism in response to zinc and copper excess. Furthermore, we provide evidence that zinc and copper dependent γ-PGA production is independent of the DegS-DegQ two-component regulatory system and likely occurs at a posttranscriptional level through the small protein, PgsE. These data provide new insight into bacterial metal resistance mechanisms and contribute to our understanding of the regulation of bacterial γ-PGA biosynthesis. IMPORTANCE Zinc and copper are potent antimicrobial compounds. As such, bacteria have evolved a diverse range of tools to prevent metal intoxication. Here, we show that the Gram-positive model organism, Bacillus subtilis, produces poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) as a protective mechanism against zinc and copper intoxication and that zinc and copper dependent γ-PGA production occurs by a yet undefined mechanism independent of known γ-PGA regulation pathways. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:39:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a74cb99f3504cb899cb654531bfdf54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:39:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a74cb99f3504cb899cb654531bfdf542022-12-22T02:26:38ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972022-04-0110210.1128/spectrum.01329-21Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid Secretion Protects Bacillus subtilis from Zinc and Copper IntoxicationReina Deol0Ashweetha Louis1Harper Lee Glazer2Warren Hosseinion3Anna Bagley4Pete Chandrangsu5Keck Science Department, Scripps College, Claremont, California, USAKeck Science Department, Scripps College, Claremont, California, USAKeck Science Department, Scripps College, Claremont, California, USAKeck Science Department, Pitzer College, Claremont, California, USAKeck Science Department, Scripps College, Claremont, California, USAKeck Science Department, Scripps College, Claremont, California, USAABSTRACT Zinc and copper are essential micronutrients that serve as a cofactors for numerous enzymes. However, when present at elevated concentrations, zinc and copper are highly toxic to bacteria. To combat the effects of zinc and copper excess, bacteria have evolved a wide array of defense mechanisms. Here, we show that the Gram-positive soil bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, produces the extracellular polymeric substance, poly-gamma-glutamate (γ-PGA) as a protective mechanism in response to zinc and copper excess. Furthermore, we provide evidence that zinc and copper dependent γ-PGA production is independent of the DegS-DegQ two-component regulatory system and likely occurs at a posttranscriptional level through the small protein, PgsE. These data provide new insight into bacterial metal resistance mechanisms and contribute to our understanding of the regulation of bacterial γ-PGA biosynthesis. IMPORTANCE Zinc and copper are potent antimicrobial compounds. As such, bacteria have evolved a diverse range of tools to prevent metal intoxication. Here, we show that the Gram-positive model organism, Bacillus subtilis, produces poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) as a protective mechanism against zinc and copper intoxication and that zinc and copper dependent γ-PGA production occurs by a yet undefined mechanism independent of known γ-PGA regulation pathways.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01329-21zinccopperpoly-gamma-glutamic acidbiofilmBacillus subtilis |
| spellingShingle | Reina Deol Ashweetha Louis Harper Lee Glazer Warren Hosseinion Anna Bagley Pete Chandrangsu Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid Secretion Protects Bacillus subtilis from Zinc and Copper Intoxication Microbiology Spectrum zinc copper poly-gamma-glutamic acid biofilm Bacillus subtilis |
| title | Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid Secretion Protects Bacillus subtilis from Zinc and Copper Intoxication |
| title_full | Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid Secretion Protects Bacillus subtilis from Zinc and Copper Intoxication |
| title_fullStr | Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid Secretion Protects Bacillus subtilis from Zinc and Copper Intoxication |
| title_full_unstemmed | Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid Secretion Protects Bacillus subtilis from Zinc and Copper Intoxication |
| title_short | Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid Secretion Protects Bacillus subtilis from Zinc and Copper Intoxication |
| title_sort | poly gamma glutamic acid secretion protects bacillus subtilis from zinc and copper intoxication |
| topic | zinc copper poly-gamma-glutamic acid biofilm Bacillus subtilis |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01329-21 |
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