The formation of persister cells in stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins.

Persister cells (persisters) are transiently tolerant to antibiotics and usually constitute a small part of bacterial populations. Persisters remain dormant but are able to re-grow after antibiotic treatment. In this study we found that the frequency of persisters correlated to the level of protein...

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Main Authors: Daria Leszczynska, Ewelina Matuszewska, Dorota Kuczynska-Wisnik, Beata Furmanek-Blaszk, Ewa Laskowska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3554633?pdf=render
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author Daria Leszczynska
Ewelina Matuszewska
Dorota Kuczynska-Wisnik
Beata Furmanek-Blaszk
Ewa Laskowska
author_facet Daria Leszczynska
Ewelina Matuszewska
Dorota Kuczynska-Wisnik
Beata Furmanek-Blaszk
Ewa Laskowska
author_sort Daria Leszczynska
collection DOAJ
description Persister cells (persisters) are transiently tolerant to antibiotics and usually constitute a small part of bacterial populations. Persisters remain dormant but are able to re-grow after antibiotic treatment. In this study we found that the frequency of persisters correlated to the level of protein aggregates accumulated in E. coli stationary-phase cultures. When 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid or an osmolyte (trehalose, betaine, glycerol or glucose) were added to the growth medium at low concentrations, proteins were prevented from aggregation and persister formation was inhibited. On the other hand, acetate or high concentrations of osmolytes enhanced protein aggregation and the generation of persisters. We demonstrated that in the E. coli stationary-phase cultures supplemented with MOPS or a selected osmolyte, the level of protein aggregates and persister frequency were not correlated with such physiological parameters as the extent of protein oxidation, culturability, ATP level or membrane integrity. The results described here may help to understand the mechanisms underlying persister formation.
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spelling doaj.art-9222e0fb909b4f24a5cbb0874b1ad4242022-12-21T23:54:30ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0181e5473710.1371/journal.pone.0054737The formation of persister cells in stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins.Daria LeszczynskaEwelina MatuszewskaDorota Kuczynska-WisnikBeata Furmanek-BlaszkEwa LaskowskaPersister cells (persisters) are transiently tolerant to antibiotics and usually constitute a small part of bacterial populations. Persisters remain dormant but are able to re-grow after antibiotic treatment. In this study we found that the frequency of persisters correlated to the level of protein aggregates accumulated in E. coli stationary-phase cultures. When 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid or an osmolyte (trehalose, betaine, glycerol or glucose) were added to the growth medium at low concentrations, proteins were prevented from aggregation and persister formation was inhibited. On the other hand, acetate or high concentrations of osmolytes enhanced protein aggregation and the generation of persisters. We demonstrated that in the E. coli stationary-phase cultures supplemented with MOPS or a selected osmolyte, the level of protein aggregates and persister frequency were not correlated with such physiological parameters as the extent of protein oxidation, culturability, ATP level or membrane integrity. The results described here may help to understand the mechanisms underlying persister formation.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3554633?pdf=render
spellingShingle Daria Leszczynska
Ewelina Matuszewska
Dorota Kuczynska-Wisnik
Beata Furmanek-Blaszk
Ewa Laskowska
The formation of persister cells in stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins.
PLoS ONE
title The formation of persister cells in stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins.
title_full The formation of persister cells in stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins.
title_fullStr The formation of persister cells in stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins.
title_full_unstemmed The formation of persister cells in stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins.
title_short The formation of persister cells in stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins.
title_sort formation of persister cells in stationary phase cultures of escherichia coli is associated with the aggregation of endogenous proteins
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3554633?pdf=render
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